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title: Wikivoyage:Copyleft


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Coquitlam

Coquitlam is a suburb of Vancouver. There aren't any must-see attractions for the traveller, but there are a number of nice parks for walking or relaxing.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

Coquitlam borders Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and New Westminster. It is easily accessible from the Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), Lougheed Highway, Barnett Highway and North Road.

Get around
Car access is easy and parking is free most places. Taxis are easy to get locally and walking and cycling are options with several designated bike routes in the city.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30PM, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If travelling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel. Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

In Coquitlam, travellers can ride buses, SkyTrain and the West Coast Express. SkyTrain's Millennium Line connects Coquitlam directly to Vancouver's neighbourhood of East Van, and beyond Vancouver to Burnaby and Port Moody. Public transit from Vancouver to Coquitlam is on weekdays and  on weekends and evenings after 6:30PM.

Park and Ride lots at the Coquitlam Central and Douglas Lafarge stations offer inexpensive all day parking. Parking is otherwise restricted close to SkyTrain stations to prevent unauthorized park and ride.

Buy
Coquitlam is home to a variety of shopping options and features a large shopping mall.

 * Coq-ctr2.jpg
 * Surrounding the Coquitlam Centre area are a variety of large chain stores in Pinetree Village and Sunwood Square, including Chapters, Save-On-Foods, and Superstore.
 * The City of Lougheed (Lougheed Mall) is a mall across the street from Coquitlam's western city limits. See "Buy" under Burnaby for details.

Hospitals
The nearest hospitals are in New Westminster and Port Moody.

Go next
The other cities in the "Tri-Cities" area -- Port Coquitlam and Port Moody -- are all very accessible. To the west, along Highway 1, is the North Shore with many outdoor recreation options, while to the east, along Highway 1 or Highway 7, is the Fraser Valley, which also offers more outdoor pursuits and some local wineries.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Coquitlam


text:
Coral Bay

Coral Bay is a small beach resort town in the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia, with a population in 2016 of 207. The big attraction is Ningaloo Reef, a 300-km fringing reef with its crest about 1 km offshore in this area, enclosing the placid lagoon of Bill's Bay. Coral Bay in particular is known for its tours to swim with manta rays. Unfortunately as of mid-2022 most of the famous just-off-the-beach coral gardens are dead (see details below), but there are still amazing snorkeling spots farther from land (accessible by tour or to more adventurous snorkelers) and outside of town. Unlike Exmouth, known for its backpacker parties, Coral Bay is quiet and family-oriented and has a noise curfew. Serious rowdiness, drunkenness or similar misconduct will get the offender run out of town. On the other hand, its easy walkability and beautiful beach right next to the accommodations make it a nice place for a chill getaway.

Understand
The Thalandji are the Aboriginal dwellers of this area. Early European settlement from 1884 was some 3 km further north at "Maud's Landing" - little more than a jetty and a shed for shipping supplies in, and wool and sheep out. Farming was difficult in this hot arid scrub, and it remained an isolated undeveloped place until 1968, when water sports became popular and road links improved. Then the Coral Bay Hotel opened, to found the present small town.

All of Ningaloo is a protected marine park with restricted activities, and Bill's Bay is a "green zone" with no boats permitted except a couple of glass-bottomed sightseeing boats. So the corals within the lagoon are protected from much natural and human damage and are superb, within easy snorkelling distance from shore. One monster coral is believed to be 4000 years old.

The climate is dry tropical, and by road from the south you pass the sign for the Tropic of Capricorn, latitude 23°26ʹ south. (That means that the noon sun is directly overhead Coral Bay on midsummer's day, Dec 21, and almost directly overhead for a few days either side.) Fresh water is limited and expensive. It's drawn from boreholes - expect a salty taste on your lips after having a shower.

Coral Bay's Coral Reefs
Coral Bay is famous for being along one of the most accessible parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Ningaloo Reef, which rivals the Great Barrier Reef of eastern Australia for scenery and diversity (it's the country's second largest after the Great Barrier). Though the crest of the reef here is about a kilometre offshore, the back lagoon (shallow area between the reef crest and the beach) is filled with coral growth almost right up to the beach. Unfortunately, the coral near the beach went through a massive die-off in April 2022, and is now almost all dead in the areas most easily accessible to swimmers. Damage farther out, where tour boats and more intrepid independent snorkellers go, varies from location to location, with some very good living coral gardens still to be found.

Tour guides will be quick to remind you that brown coral doesn't equal dead coral - this is true, as many coral species are naturally shades of brown or grey (in healthy parts of Ningaloo you'll usually find some purples, blues, and greens among them). But observant snorkellers will be able to tell the difference between healthy brown coral, whose surface is covered with an intricate pattern of coral polyps or their sleeping holes, and dead coral, which is covered with a layer of brown algal muck (and sometimes fallen over broken).

Interestingly, this die-off wasn't one of the usual "bleaching events" commonly reported on in other places such as the Great Barrier Reef, which are caused by water getting too warm for the coral's symbiotic algae - certainly correlated to global warming. Coral Bay's die-off, which has happened several times in recorded history, about 20 years apart, was instead caused by a coral spawning gone wrong. Basically, too many of the corals tried to reproduce all at the same time during the wrong weather, and without enough currents to bring in fresh ocean water, they smothered in their own sperm. Thousands of fish died along with them, all within a period of days or weeks. A similar event happened in the 1980s, and a smaller one in the early 2000s, and it may be up for debate whether climate changed has contributed or not, but this latest die-off seems to be the biggest yet.

On the bright side, even the dead coral gardens near the beaches have a decent variety of colourful tropical fish, so the issue is more that it's a little sad, not that it's boring. And you should be able to see some of the healthier parts of the reef if you take a boat tour. For tips on the best places to find live coral and increased biodiversity while snorkelling from shore, see the "Do" section of this article below.

By plane
The nearest airport is Learmonth, 40 km south of Exmouth and 120 km north of Coral Bay. Skywest and Qantas fly daily between Learmonth and Perth. Shuttle transfer to Coral Bay is available (Coral Coast Tours 0427 180 568, reckon 80 mins and $100 pp), but must be booked in advance.

You can bring your own light aircraft into Coral Bay (YCOY) airstrip, with the landowner's permission as it's the Cardabia Station's private strip. The surface was upgraded in 2009 but there's no landing lights or Avgas, just a bit of rope to tether your Cessna against the winds.

By road
Integrity Coaches run three times a week between Perth and Exmouth, and will drop-off and pick-up at Coral Bay town and Learmonth Airport if pre-booked - see Exmouth (Western Australia) for details. The northbound buses continue from Exmouth to Port Hedland and Broome.

Perth is 1140 km away and the buses do it in 30 hours by changes of drivers, but driving yourself allow at least two days, preferably three. Follow North West Coastal Highway 1 north past Carnarvon to Minilya then branch off down the Exmouth road. A few km later, a sign marks the Tropic of Capricorn. Eventually you reach the turnoff left for Coral Bay; follow it for 12 km to town. All these roads are tarmacked.

From Exmouth it's 150 km, simply head south past the airport until you see the Coral Bay turn-off.

From north coast towns such as Karratha or Port Hedland, take the NW Coastal Highway south, and turn off for Exmouth along Burkett Road. Then south along the Exmouth-Minilya Highway to the Coral Bay turnoff.

As you enter town, Banksia Ave turns off left to a 24-hour filling station (unstaffed) and the boat-launching area 2 km south of town. The main drag (now called Robinson Street) continues past a little shopping arcade, a couple of cafes and a caravan park, to dead-end on the shore outside the Ningaloo Reef Resort.

Get around
From Ningaloo Reef Resort at the road's end, to the shopping arcade at the edge of town, will take most of ten minutes to walk.

There's no car or bike hire here, you'd need to pick up from Exmouth.

See

 * Beaches: The main beach right in town is very beautiful, maybe the most beautiful around, and good for shallow-water play. Paradise Beach around the point is more rugged but much quieter (can be very windy). There's also a popular beach at Fiver Fingers Reef 5km south of town, accessible only by 4WD (see "Do > From Shore > Snorkeling" below)
 * The View: Coral Bay is fairly flat, so there aren't a lot of views, but the "Look Out Point" perched on a high dune just past the public parking lot at the end of the road gives a decent overview of both the main beach and Paradise Beach.
 * is the north end of Bill's Bay, also known as Skeleton Bay. In spring (Nov-Jan) the shallows act as a nursery for dozens of young tiger sharks. View them from shore, as wading in only scares them into deeper water. You want high tide, a still day (this area is breezy, and choppy water obscures the view) and not too late in the afternoon (as the glare of the westering sun also obscures them). It's an easy 1-2 km walk but wear beach shoes as some parts are stony, and small children may need carrying.
 * was the settlement's original landing area. Nice beach but breezy and no coral, dogs welcome.

From shore
The beach around the bay is sandy with shallow entry, and the lagoon is calm. The tidal range is only about a metre so the currents are seldom more than a gentle onshore drift, and the absence of motor boat traffic or jet skis adds to safety. But there are no lifeguards, and watch out for jellyfish (not usually a big problem, especially in the winter high season (roughly June to August). Much of the area around the beach is actually too shallow to swim, but you may find a decent strip of deep-enough water between the beach and the edge of the coral growth, or above the coral growth in deeper parts (be careful not to hurt yourself - though the coral here is mostly dead, it's still very hard and sharp!).

Snorkelling
Coral Beach is a popular place for snorkelling from shore. If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent it from the Ningaloo Reef Dive and Snorkel shop in the shopping arcade.

For the best corals, walk around the headland south for 200-500 m, "Paradise Beach" on some maps, then enter the water and drift-snorkel back to the bay. Any further south you risk boat traffic, and north end of the bay (called "Skeleton Beach") is exposed to the winds and gets choppy. In spring this north end is also a nursery for reef sharks, see above. Unfortunately all the coral near Paradise Beach and the main town beach here is dead as of mid-2022 (see the "Understand" section above), but there are still lots of colourful and interesting fish, including some stingrays in the sandy string along Paradise Beach.

Experienced snorkellers can still find impressive living coral gardens by swimming beyond about 500 m straight out from the point of Paradise Beach, or out to the white mooring buoy southwest of the point. Do not attempt this if you're not comfortable floating for hours without touching the bottom, and stay aware of currents (when we did it during a rising tide, there was a northward current running parallel to the coast). In some areas, you'll also be in glass-bottom boat territory, and the crews can reportedly get grumpy about swimmers in their way, but there's no rule against it. Do be careful not to get hit though! Luckily, no other boats are allowed in this area. To completely avoid boat traffic, go in the late afternoon after the tours are over.

For more casual snorkelers, and perhaps the experienced ones as well, it might be more worthwhile go to Five Fingers Reef five kilometers south of town, where coral growth is less dense but mostly alive, and a good variety of wildlife is visible right from shore, almost all within the first 100 m. The bad news is that you can't drive here without a real 4WD vehicle - for the last few kilometers beyond the boat landing, the road is an unpaved sand track (the most hazardous part is on the loop back, where you have to drive over a large dune of deep, soft sand). However, in decent weather it's walkable (an hour or two each way from town, or shorter if you park at the boat landing), but on hot days think twice and bring lots of water. Hitchhiking is also doable - despite sounding isolated, Fiver Figners is a popular place for afternoons at the beach. The "Quad-Trek" ATV tours also go here, but you better ask about the itinerary if you're hoping to have time to snorkel.

The "five fingers" of Five Fingers Reef are a row of coral-built ridges just underwater, running perpendicular out from the shore, and most of the good snorkelling is between them. It's common to see reef sharks, stingrays, and turtles here, as well as a greater variety of colorful fish than in town. Don't bother to swim a few hundred meters out to the denser part of the reef - that area is mostly all one species of table coral, in shallow water and with a much lower diversity of fish.

Kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding
These are available for rent starting at $20 per hour. Kayak Adventures, the hire shop, is by the caravan park (or at the car park at the end of the road?).

Fishing
Line fishing from shore is permitted in Bill's Bay, but not fishing from a boat or spearfishing.

From a boat
Any boat-based activity, except for the glass-bottomed boats, will involve a minibus pick-up at the shop in town, then a ride down Banksia Ave to Monck Head jetty ("the boat landing") 2 km south.

Glass-bottom Boat
A good way to see the coral, especially for visitors too young, frail or disinclined to snorkel, though they tend to get good reviews even from people who do snorkel. Extended trips of 3 hours include snorkelling, the one hour trip without will do fine for non-swimmers. The boats leave from the shore at road's end, booking is in the arcade or the caravan park, reckon $50 per adult for the one hour trip. The lagoon is placid so you won't need sea-sickness tablets. See "Understand" above for information on the health of the reef - glass-bottom tours should take you to some of the still-healthy spots.

Snorkelling and diving
Boat tours are one of the best ways to really see why Ningaloo Reef ranks as a world heritage site. The quality, variety and quantity of coral and marine life is impressive: turtles, dolphins, mantas and reef sharks are common. The sheltered lagoon enables hard coral to thrive in shallow water close to shore, whereas on most shores (without a barrier reef) wave action wrecks anything shallow and only soft pliable species survive. Though the 2022 coral die-off (see "Understand" above) has done great damage to many parts of the reef, there is little evidence of other common coral reef scourges such as bleaching, human damage, trash, or invasive species.

These boat tours generally include snorkel equipment (including wetsuits) and some light refreshments. "All-day" tours (which run from about 9AM to 3PM) normally include lunch. Of the several tour operators in town, the two cheaper ones are probably Ningaloo Coral Bay (aka Bayview, with office at the reception to the Ningaloo Coral Bay caravan park) and the Ningaloo Reef Dive and Snorkel shop in the shopping arcade. These two have similar prices, with Bayview also offering a 10% discount for customers of the backpacker's hostel. The dive shop takes snorkellers and divers out on the same tours, so there's a chance that they'll be catering a little less to snorkellers, but the sites they go to are supposed to all be easily snorkellable. These two operators offer the full wildlife experience, but higher-priced operators may offer extra comforts, such as a bigger boat or a nicer lunch.

Most boat trips stay within the lagoon, visiting reefs a few hundred metres out that are beyond easy shore-swimming range. The water is shallow, seldom deeper than 10 m, and currents are light. So these trips are suitable for indifferent swimmers and novice and trainee divers, and experienced divers will surface from a one-hour dive with most of their air tank unused. The higher energy sites are found at the cuts, where open ocean water funnels through gaps in the reef into the lagoon, back and forth according to the tide. Rufty-tufty divers and big marine beasts tend to prefer these sites.

Not every tour is offered every day, and tours can easily fill up days ahead, so try to book in advance if you're only going to be in town for a short time.

Swimming with Manta Rays
Coral Bay's specialty is the opportunity to snorkel with manta rays, harmless ocean beasts that make their home within the lagoon north of town. Because tour boats cooperate with a spotter plane to find where the mantas are each day, it's generally possible to swim with mantas every single time, though it's not guaranteed, and it's not unheard-of for the manta segment to be called off if the weather turns bad. You don't need any special skills to swim with the mantas, but you are expected to be a reasonably good swimmer, as you need to swim fast to keep up with the rays. If you think you might need an extra boost of speed, you could consider renting bigger fins from the dive shop before your trip, since some of the tours with other companies only include short fins.

"Half day" manta ray tours usually run from about 9AM to 1PM and include one offshore reef snorkeling site in addition to the mantas. "Full day" tours continue until about 3PM, including two reef sites and lunch, and the guides will try their best to find some other cool wildlife for you, like sharks and turtles. In season, you may get a bit of bonus whale-watching thrown in as well. Half-day tours start from about $160 per adult, and full day tours from about $200.

Swimming with Whale Sharks
Exmouth up the coast is better known for whale shark tours, Coral Bay has them too. Whale sharks congregate around Ningaloo Reef from late March to July. They're on many people's bucket list and tour places are restricted, so book early and expect to pay over $400 per person. Spotter planes guide the boats to whale sharks that are close to surface and appear suitable for encounter. The boats manoeuvre ahead then drop snorkelers in, to fin like fury as the whale shark effortlessly trucks on by and out of sight. Don't encumber yourself with a camera in the water unless you're really slick, which the boat photographer will be, and she'll take better shots. Ningaloo Marine Interactions are based in the arcade.

Swimming with Humpback Whales
Ningaloo Reef is one of the only places in the world where tour operators can take you out to swim with humpback whales. These tours may not always be offered, and generally don't guarantee that you get to go in the water with the beasts, so ask carefully. Expect to pay over $400.

Reef Snorkeling only
Some operators also offer tours that don't involve chasing manta rays, whale sharks, or whales, and these tend to be a bit cheaper (think around $100 per adult). These should still take you to good parts of the coral reef, where you'll see colorful fish and quite possibly sharks or turtles.

ATV group tours
Guided "Quad-Trek" tours with ATVs (4-wheel motorbikes) along smaller roads into the bush that 2WD cars can't reach. Usually 2 hours long, these tours take you around sand dunes to snorkel, see turtles, or just see the sunset. You'll be driving your own vehicle, with a guide at the front leading the way and looking out for the novices. A valid driving license is necessary, prices start around $75 per bike. Coastal Adventure Tours and Coral Coast Tours are both based in the arcade.

Bushwalking
Coral Bay is surrounding by arid dunes, with a variety of desert plants and wildlife, but next to no shade. If you're really into nature and interested in checking it out, there are obvious tracks and trails between the vegetation all over the area. Bird specialties include the striking blue-and-white White-winged Fairywren (though the colorful males can take awhile to find even for experienced birders). Common Wallaroos (aka "Euros"), a common type of small kangaroo, are commonly seen in the late afternoon and early evening, even right at the edge of town (the back entrance to the People's Park caravan park is a good spot). Watch out for snakes and the midday heat.

Buy

 * Coral Bay shopping arcade, which contains most of the town's shops, is arranged around a pleasant courtyard right on the main street. There is a dive shack, boutique, convenience store, bakery, photo shop, ATM and a supermarket in the complex. Foodworks is the closest thing Coral Bay has to a supermarket, open M-Sa 7:30AM-6:30PM, Su 7:30AM-3PM.
 * Coral Coast Supermarket next to Fin's is open 7:30AM-6PM. It has less of a selection than the arcade.
 * Coral Bay Shells & Boutique is a craft shop at 44 Robinson St, open daily 8AM-midnight.
 * Caltex filling station is south on Banksia Drive (behind the caravan parks), self-serve 24 hr, card only.

Eat
Coral Bay is generally considered an expensive place to eat. You'll be hard-pressed to find dinner for under $25

 * Shades cafe and bar (formerly "Sails") is within Ningaloo Beach Resort, open M-Sa 8AM-8:30PM, Su 8AM-7PM.
 * Coral Resort Bakery is within the shopping arcade, open daily 6AM-5:30PM.
 * Coral Resort Bakery is within the shopping arcade, open daily 6AM-5:30PM.
 * Coral Resort Bakery is within the shopping arcade, open daily 6AM-5:30PM.

Drink
Coral Bay's water comes from salty underground wells, and much of the town's running water is too salty to drink. Special freshwater taps, where the water actually tastes quite good, are provided at certain points in the accommodations (there's one on the outside wall of the Bayview complex, around the right side at the back by the carvan park's showers).

 * Shades within the Reef Resort serves non-residents.
 * Shades within the Reef Resort serves non-residents.

Sleep

 * This is a small resort that soon fills up at popular times, and free-camping is strictly prohibited. There are exactly four places to stay, the latter two of which are owned by the same company:

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Coral Bay has 4G from both Telstra and Optus. The mobile signal extends up to the junction with the main highway; after that it's dead until you approach Learmonth Airport. Optus, being the newcomer and less popular our here, actually has much faster internet than Telstra at the moment - Telstra signal gets particularly bad in the evening when hundreds of caravans are trying to stream Netflix all at once through the town's single cell tower. There's also signal from both carriers at least as far down the coast as Five Fingers Reef.

As of Jan 2022 there was no signal from Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area. Reef Cafe and Fins have decent wifi. Check with your accomodations before assuming that there's wifi where you're staying.

Go next

 * North the road leads past Learmonth Airport to Exmouth. To go further north towards Karratha, Onslow, Port Hedland and Broome, take this road then turn east onto Burkett Road to rejoin the North West Coastal Highway - you don't have to backtrack to Minilya.

 * South via Minilya, the main places of interest and overnight stopovers are Carnarvon, Shark Bay and Monkey Mia, and the softer pastoral country between Geraldton, Greenough and Dongara. After two or three days (or one very long day with at least two drivers trading off), Perth looms into view.

title: Coral Bay


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Coral Coast

Coral Coast is a popular backpacking destination between Sigatoka and Suva in Fiji.

Understand
The pretty riverside town of Sigatoka is the tourist hub for the Coral Coast.

The main town of any size between the International Airport town of Nadi and the Capitol of Suva is Sigatoka, located approximately one hour east of Nadi on the Sigatoka River.

Beyond Pacific Harbour, you'll find very few accommodations and places to stop before you reach Suva, the capitol and largest city. Do find an opportunity to visit Suva if you find the time, however. It's about 45 minutes east of Pacific Harbour, and despite your greatest fears, is not that hard to drive in nor navigate. (Be aware of pedestrians and take your time and you'll do fine.)

Get in
You can easily drive to the Coral Coast from Nadi. Sigatoka is the largest town you'll encounter heading east from Nadi. You'll get to Sigatoka in about an hour or a bit over. If you are driving to Sigatoka for the first time, from Nadi, take a left at the roundabout and look for parking. There are low cost parking meters you can find for a few coins, and it is also possible to find free parking if you are patient. There are no airports in the Sigataoka area, but there is a bus stop and, as in any major area in Fiji, taxis are frequent and generally inexpensive. (To be assured of a certain rate, negotiate your fare before your taxi departs.)

See
Beyond Sigatoka, going east, here are other areas and places to be aware of:

Do
Right across from the Outrigger on the Lagoon is Kula EcoPark (http://www.fijiwild.com/), an ambitious and well-run center for the captive breeding of endangered species & the environmental education of school children. It's low entrance fee is well worth the stop to tour this beautiful park and see in person hundreds of species of birds (especially Fiji's colourful parrots), bats, fish, turtles and iguanas. Although not known for it, Kula EcoPark is also a botanic garden, with a good sampling of local trees, plants and flowers that you'll find along the way. Don't miss Kula EcoPark!

The Arts Village at Pacific Harbour. A well-maintained, South Pacific style series of shops offers a bit of everything for the tourist: excellent restaurants (The Oasis comes recommended); a food store catering to Western tastes (a rare find in Fiji); a Colonial bank and two ATM's; a decent "island massage" business; a smoothie shop; several handicraft shops; a backpacker resort; and more make The Arts Village at fun way to kill a few hours. The cultural centre there offers firewalking and cultural shows regularly also. (Beyond The Arts Village, Pacific Harbour offers several hotels, a couple of bed and breakfasts, a Japanese restaurant, headquarters of several sports and adventure tour groups; diving centers; real estate offices; and a large Robert Trent golf course.

Buy
The town boasts several very colourful and busy blocks of shops, including Fiji national chains of Prouds (offering finer glassware, cookware, electronics and other fine goods), Jack's Handicrafts (a well-managed two-level handicraft store with friendly staff and fair prices), and a Morris Headstrom (or MH) Supermarket. Beyond that, most of the remaining shops, which are found by the dozens, are far less Westernized. Don't miss both the Indigenous Women's Craft Market (across the street from Jack's Handicrafts, on the river), and the Sigatoka market, where you will find a vast array of produce and seafood. A small handful of pushy crafts dealers who are lined up in the market will vie for your attention and make it hard to say no.

Eat
For lunch options, you are likely better off eating elsewhere ... try the Outrigger on the Lagoon resort only 4 km east of Sigatoka, or Vilisite's Seafood Restaurant near the mosque in Sigatoka if you find yourself there at lunchtime. There's also a deli-style take away offering (chicken and fish may be your main offerings) at MH. Sigatoka can be a fun place, but try to keep a low profile (there food traffic there, as in Nadi and Suva, can be horrific), don't visibly show big dollar bills, and avoid anything that seems seedy or odd.

Connect
There are a number of internet shops offering low cost net access.

title: Coral Coast


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Coral Gables

Coral Gables is a city in Greater Miami, in Florida.

Just south of downtown Miami is beautiful Coral Gables, or simply "The Gables" as it is known to natives. The city is perhaps best known as the home of the University of Miami, one of the nation's leading private universities.

Understand
The University of Miami is well known for its top academic programs in business, marine science, medicine, music and other fields. It also is well known for its premiere athletic programs. With five national championships since the early 1980s, the University of Miami football team has won more national championships than any other Division I football program. Its baseball team also is a national powerhouse and has won the College World Series numerous times.

This planned section of town is an oasis of quiet stately homes, shopping and Miami restaurants in the heart of Miami. If you're tired of South Beach and the downtown scene and are looking for some classy fun, take a trip to the Gables.

The city is home to many historic landmarks as well as 22 parks, 33 public tennis courts, two public golf courses, and other first-class recreation amenities. Among them: the largest tropical botanical garden in the continental United States, a spring-fed grotto swimming pool made of native coral rock with underwater caves, tree-lined bike paths and walking trails, and more.

In the past three decades, the city has experienced healthy growth, which has bolstered the economic base. Today, Coral Gables is home to 175 multinationals, 26 consulates and trade offices and more than 30 fine art galleries. It is also known as the Fine Dining Capital of South Florida and has the highest concentration of live theater in Miami-Dade County. Growth in the commercial sector has brought a wealth of new activities for residents, including nighttime entertainment, live music, casual and fine dining, and new retail options. It has also helped maintain low property taxes. At the same time, the residential areas have remained protected from commercial intrusion.

The city supports both the residential and business sectors with excellent city services, having attained the highest possible standards in every field. In fact, Coral Gables is the only city in the state of Florida and one of only two cities nationwide to have a Class 1 Fire Department, a fully-accredited Police Department, and the highest awarded Building and Zoning Department rating. In addition, Coral Gables has been named a "Tree City USA" for 14 consecutive years, it has an award-winning Communications Division and offers one of the most comprehensive Parks and Recreation programs in the state.

Coral Gables is well-known for its outstanding restaurants. With more than 40 great places to eat, all within walking distance in the downtown area, the hardest decision will be which one to try first. There are places to meet for a casual outdoor lunch as well as elegant, top-rated restaurants for fine dining.

Get in
As part of the Miami urban area, there are many routes that can be taken to access Coral Gables. Miami International Airport is not far north of Coral Gables. FL-953 (42nd Ave) goes south from the airport to Coral Gables. FL-976 enters the city from the west. US-1, or the Dixie Highway passes through Coral Gables coming out of Miami.

If going via mass transportation, the University stop (for University of Miami) is the station in Coral Gables.

Get around
Miami-Dade Transit runs buses around Coral Gables and to nearby MetroRail stations.

The Coral Gables Trolley is a free circulator through the city. It runs primarily north and south along Ponce de Leon Boulevard with stops at the central retail district, Miracle Mile. It also connects to the Douglas Road MetroRail station and local buses.

Consulates
Most consulates in the area are in Miami, and a few honorary consulates are in Ft Lauderdale.

 * 🇧🇧 Barbados
 * 🇧🇿 Belize
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇲🇨 Monaco
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand

Go next
Coral Gables is in the metropolitan area of Miami. Nearby is Crandon Park Beach in Key Biscayne (on an island in the Biscayne Bay) and Parrot Jungle Island in Miami (close to the port).

title: Coral Gables


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Coral Island

There's more than one place called Coral Island:

Malaysia

 * Pulau Tulai (also known as Coral Island) - a small uninhabitated island near the island of Tioman - see the Tioman article for details

Thailand

 * Ko Hae (also known as Coral Island) - an island near Phuket
 * Ko Larn (also known as Coral Island) - an island near Pattaya

title: Coral Island


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Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a state park located in Utah's Canyon Country between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab. The park offers recreation for both motorized and non-motorized users, with over 125,000 yearly visitors, and at the same time it protects endangered species endemic to the park.

History
The Dunes were established in 1963. The 3,730 acres of Bureau of Land Management land was established as a Utah state park in 1963.

Landscape
Starting about 15,000 years ago, piles of coral pink colored sand blew through a notch between the Moquith Mountains and Moccasin Mountain. The wind tossed it into the valley where it now lies in drifts of sand in this southern Utah state park. The reddish grains of sand come from the eroding Navajo sandstone, thus giving the dunes its name. Hills of dunes are vegetation free, and other sections are dotted with juniper, pine trees, bushes and wildflowers. From the sandy hills of the park there is a breathtaking view of the Vermillion Cliffs. The skies above are brilliantly clear.

Flora and fauna

In the lower vegetation zone of the high desert, pinon pines and junipers thrive, thrown in among the trees and sand are a spackling of wildflowers, grasses and cactus. Ponderosa Pines peer down from the higher elevations in the distinct, upper vegetation zone. The animals search out pools of water where they can survive. Odd enough the tiger salamander and toads live at the park. There are also small mammals such as jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, fox, coyote, bobcats, mountain lions, ring-tailed cat and mule deer. A few birds and reptiles make their home at the park including the a few harmless snakes, the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and the golden eagle.

Climate
The summers are hot and the winters are cool at the arid dunes. In the summer expect day time temperatures around 90 degrees with occasional thunderstorms. In the winter the snows usually begins in December and can continue, off and on, until April with a quick snow storm occasionally in May.

Get in

The road to the signed turn-off to the park (Yellow Jacket Road) is located 3 miles from Mount Carmel Junction, off Highway 89. Follow this road another 8 miles to the park entrance.

To get to the park from Kanab, get on Highway 89 and turn-off the signed road (Hancock Road). Continue to the park entrance. It is 22 miles from Kanab to the park.

The third entrance is from UT-389. This is a long dirt road that gets little use by park visitors.

Fees and permits
Hours: Daylight hours, seven days a week. Day Visits: $8. Camping: $20.

Get around

Most people head for the park entrance, pay their fee and then walk out on the boardwalk. That is a good start and there is a marked trail to take that meanders around the dunes. If you are not into four-wheeling then take your buckets and shovels and play away. ATV users will find trails galore. There are a couple of locations where you can hike to pictographs, but you will need a four-wheeler to get to the trailheads.

See

 * Boardwalk
 * Half-mile trail by the Boardwalk
 * Ponderosa Grove Picnic Area
 * Moquith Mountain
 * Harris Mountains
 * South Fork Indian Canyon Pictographs
 * Helldive Canyon Pictographs
 * Jr. Ranger Program – Kids will enjoy this. Just check in at the visitor center.
 * Sightseeing

Do

 * Four-wheeling
 * Sledding in the winter
 * Hiking
 * Playing in the sand
 * Picnic
 * The backcountry around the dunes is wild and fun to explore. There are many side roads to take and places to hike, but they are not actual trails for the most part.
 * The backcountry around the dunes is wild and fun to explore. There are many side roads to take and places to hike, but they are not actual trails for the most part.

Buy
The visitor center sells firewood for $5 a bundle, Off Highway Vehicle Registration, and ice. Fires are only permitted in designated fire rings located in the campground.

Nearby towns with stores include:
 * Mount Carmel Junction
 * Kanab
 * Colorado City or Hildale

Eat
There are vending machines at the visitor center that have chips, cookies, crackers.

Drink
The vending machine at the visitor center has soda and water.

Lodging
There is no lodging at the dunes but both Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab have hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins and RV Parks.

Camping
The Coral Pink Sand Dunes has an outstanding campground with full showers. They are wonderful after a hot day in the sand. The campgrounds can get noisy from all the four-wheelers, but there is a noise curfew.

Stay safe
Have a spare for trips out in the dunes and a means to change it. Taking plenty of water is important in this environment. It's hot in the desert and little water around.

Go next

 * Zion National Park
 * Grand Canyon North Rim
 * Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
 * Bryce Canyon
 * Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

title: Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park


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Coral Sea Islands

The Coral Sea Islands is a federal territory off the northeast coast of Australia, just east of the Great Barrier Reef. They were separated from Queensland in 1969.

Understand

Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on Willis Island. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. These tropical sand and coral reefs and islands are an important nesting area for birds and turtles.

The Coral Sea was the location of the Battle of the Coral Sea in the Second World War.

By plane
There are no airports in the Coral Sea Islands.

By boat
There are no harbours in the Coral Sea Islands however you may be able to dock somewhere.

Get around
Your only way to get around is by walking or by your own private boat.

Buy
As the Coral Sea Islands is an Australian external territory, the Australian dollar is the official currency, but there is no economic activity in the Coral Sea Islands.

Sleep
There are no public accommodations in the Coral Sea Islands you will have to either leave or set up a tent.

Go next

 * The Great Barrier Reef has much more to offer than these islands

title: Coral Sea Islands


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Coral Springs

Coral Springs is a city in Broward County, Florida.

Understand
Chartered in 1963, the city has a population of 133,000. Unique among South Florida cities, the city has aesthetic codes prohibiting large commercial signs. It is known for quality schools, parks, and recreation opportunities.

By plane
Coral Springs is less than 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). From the airport, take I-595 West to I-95 North. Exit west on Sample Road and continue across Powerline Road and State Road 7 (441).

Coral Springs is also easily accessible from West Palm Beach and Miami via the Florida Turnpike and Sawgrass Expressway.

By car
The easiest way to get around Coral Springs and South Florida is by car. If renting, it is substantially cheaper to rent a car from a location outside of the airport. The city is set up on grid system, and is fairly easy to navigate. Broward County is served by three major Interstates (I-75, I-95, I-595) and some U.S. Highways including U.S. Highway 1, US 27 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike and State Highway 869, also known as the Sawgrass Expressway.

By taxi
Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place.

By bus

 * Metrobus in Miami-Dade County
 * Palm Tran in Palm Beach County.
 * Palm Tran in Palm Beach County.

Buy
Fort Lauderdale is served by two English-language newspapers, the South Florida-Sun Sentinel and The Miami Herald, as well as two Spanish language newspapers El Sentinel del Sur de la Florida and El Nuevo Herald.

Sleep
There are several hotels in Coral Springs with varying amenities. All feature nearby restaurants and shopping.

Connect
In order to make local phone calls, all ten digits of the phone number are required. The area codes they are 954 and 754. To call Miami you must dial 1 + area code 305 or 786 and the number. To call Boca Raton/Palm Beach you must dial 1 + 561 and the number.

Go next

 * East to Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach
 * Everglades National Park

title: Coral Springs


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Coraopolis

Coraopolis is a town on the southern bank of the Ohio River approximately 10 miles west of Pittsburgh.

Understand
Coraopolis has been revitalized by new storefront businesses and façade improvements in the central business district. In 2017, two new brewpubs, a craft distillery, a coffee shop, a restaurant, and several other small businesses opened their doors. The 1896 Richardsonian Romanesque train station is also being restored, and will become a community center and event space once completed.

See
Coraopolis is known for its numerous brick streets and many old large homes.

title: Coraopolis


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Jim Corbett National Park

Jim Corbett National Park is in the state of Uttarakhand in the Himalayan North region of India. The park is open to visitors from mid-September to mid-June.

Understand
Once inside the park, you get to enjoy a spectacular panorama of the jungle, reminding you of Kipling's Jungle Book. Apart from this, you can see and photograph many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, flora, etc. Corbett National Park has been the hot favourite getaway for the tourists, wildlife fans, and adventure seekers for many years. However, only a few regions of the Corbett Tiger Reserve are open for the tourists to explore its spectacular scenery and the varied wildlife. Every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park.

History
The park was created as the Hailey National Park after Governor Hailey, on August 6, 1936. It was India's first national park. After independence, the park was renamed, this time after the Ramganga River, and was hence called the Ramganga National Park. The park was renamed again in 1957. It was named after James E. Corbett who helped to set up the park and spent most of his life in the area.

The area of the park was increased in 1991 when the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary was added to the park.

Flora and fauna
Flora: There are almost 488 species of plants in the park.

Fauna: This park has almost 33 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians, around 7 species of fish, and 37 species of dragonflies.

Climate
There are three well defined seasons: the winter season which lasts from November to February, the summer season which lasts from March to June, and the rainy season which covers the rest of the months. The summer rains cause flooding in the park. The temperature in the winters can go down to 4 °C at night and the entire jungle is dry in the summer months as the temperature goes up to 44 °C. The annual rainfall in the park ranges between 1400mm and 2800mm.

Get in
It is normally accessed from the town of Ramnagar, and is a two hour drive to the north.

The main areas (Dhikala and Bijrani) of Jim Corbett National Park are closed from 16 June - 14 Nov for the monsoon season. Jhirna & Sitabani (Buffer Zone) remain opened all year round.

Fees and permits
At the office in Ramnagar you can buy the tickets to get into the park. One can also enter the park through Kotdwar, which is situated on the other side of the park. Travellers can use their own vehicles from Kotdwar towards Jim Corbett. You can contact at +91-9690049033 or mail at: corbettparksafari@gmail.com, for assistance with your safari permit and gypsy bookings.

Safari
Jim Corbett Safari Booking has to be done in Forest Department registered fully open 4-wheel drive Gypsy with a seating capacity of maximum 6 people. Every safari is better to be accompanied by a registered Naturalist / Guide. Each gypsy costs about ₹1800-2500, depends upon the negotiation for two days. Bookings of safaris starts 45 days in advance for Indian Nationals and 90 days in advance for Foreign Nationals.

Safari timing
Depending upon the season, the morning safari in all the zones starts at around 5:45AM, 6AM or 6:30AM. And the afternoon safari starts from 1PM, 1:30PM, or 2PM.

Get around
In Ramnagar you can organize a 4WD with a driver.

See
To see a tiger, you should plan on taking more than one day of safari, because there aren't that many tigers. chances of sighting tigers can be significantly raised by staying at Dhikala Forest rest house & leaving early morning for Safari, as Dhikala is rest house is in the core area of jungle.

Dhikala:

It is one of the most popular destinations in Jim Corbett National Park for tourists. Dhikala Forest Rest House, located on the banks of Ramganga River, offers an amazing and uninterrupted view of the Ramganga Reservoir and famous Chaurs (Grasslands) of Dhikala.

Bijrani:

Bijrani area was once formed part of a shooting block. This shooting block area covers the entire in and around area of Bijrani. This place was most famous during the British time for hunting. Bijrani terrain is drier in comparison to Dhikla and it also has more diverse vegetation then Dhikla. It is a prime location for wildlife enthusiasts seeking an opportunity to witness a variety of animals, including elephants, deer, and a plethora of bird species.

Jhirna:

Jhirna is a rest house which lies inside the south area boundary of the park. This rest house is on the road from Ramngar to Kalagarh. Landscape in this area is drier than Dhikla. Jhirna was one of the farming village till 1994 and after that it was taken under project tiger.

Durga Devi:

All those who are avid bird lovers shall not miss this zone. From the Black Chinned Yuhina to Maroon Orile to Grey Headed Fishing Eagle. Further, tourists will be glad to know that it is the same zone where the endangered Mahsheer fish come to breed.

Dhela Zone:

It is the newest zone in Corbett National Park. Opened on 1 December 2014, the zone only allows day visits. Unlike other zones, tourists can roam in this zone under the guidance of security personal. It is the first time that such facility has been introduced in this park. This zone is very famous place among birdwatchers.

Corbett Museum: Tourists can know about the life history of Mr. Jim Corbett and see some of his belongings in the museum.

Do

 * Jeep safari: This is one more way to explore the beauty of this national park. Jeeps to visit the park can be taken on rent from the Ramnagar, from the various travel agencies.
 * Birdwatching: There are many spots and location in and around Corbett and Ramnagar city which offers very good sightings and photography opportunity of birds. You can contact Mr. Prashant who is a birdwatcher from Corbett and organize local and outstation birdwatching tours. Contact him at: +91-8126171822

Buy
You can buy souvenirs and books at the souvenir shops in Ramnagar city.

Eat
Good food is available at canteens in Guest Houses (Dhikala, Gairal, etc) and also at the entrance gates (Dhangari). Non-veg food is not allowed inside the park.

Drink
Drinking alcohol is prohibited inside the park.

Lodging
A few guest houses are available, Dhikala and Gairal being the most sought after. Advance booking can be done at tourism office at Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. On the spot booking can be done at Ramnagar. A stay is very reasonable. Around ₹2500 is charged for double bed room with all basic facilities (st Dhikala forest rest house). This guest house is high in demand so it is always advisable to book well in advance. Maximum stay of 3 nights at a time is permitted. Electric fences are present around the housing area.

Camping
There are several camps you can choose to stay at. The facilities in these camps are in surprisingly good condition: hot buckets, nice food, and good beds.

Stay safe
Don't wear bright clothes as it tends to attract animals. Also don't stroll at night or in the early morning by yourself. In Dhikala zone, don't bring food, or else you will be attacked by groups of monkeys.

Go next
Yamunotri: Yamunotri is a famous pilgrim centre in Uttarkashi district. You can visit Yamunotri temple with ample trekking opportunity at places like Dodital.

title: Jim Corbett National Park


text:
Corbridge

Corbridge is a village in the Tyne valley of Northumberland, 16 miles west of Newcastle and 4 miles east of Hexham. It's an attractive small place and the main reasons to visit are to see the Roman town of Coria, and to explore Hadrian's Wall further north. In 2021 Corbridge had a population of 2888.

Get in
Newcastle Airport is at Ponteland 20 miles northeast: take the Metro to city centre for buses and trains to Corbridge. In 2023 a taxi might be £45.

Trains run hourly from Newcastle upon Tyne, taking 35 min via Metrocentre and Prudhoe, and continuing west to Hexham. These trains usually start from Nunthorpe near Middlesbrough. The Morpeth-Newcastle-Carlisle trains seldom stop here. Change at Newcastle for London Kings Cross, Leeds, York and Edinburgh.

The is half a mile south of town centre. It's a simple platform halt with ticket machines but no other facilities. There's a ramp to the Newcastle-bound platform. The footbridge is broken in 2023, so everyone reaches the Hexham-bound platform via the southside car park.

Tynedale Bus X84 / 85 runs from Newcastle Eldon Square M-Sa every 30 min, taking 50 min via Denton, Throckley, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Wylam and Ovington, and continuing to Hexham. There's only two on Sunday.

Go North East Bus 10 runs from Newcastle Eldon Square via the railway station, Metro Centre, Blaydon, Prudhoe and Riding Mill, taking 70 min to Corbridge and another ten to Hexham. It's every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday.

There's no bus station, buses make several stops along the main street.

Corbridge is 16 miles west of Newcastle upon Tyne and 4 miles east of Hexham. It lies just off the A69 Newcastle to Carlisle road, a fast dual carriageway. This crosses coast-to-coast at low altitude, so it stays open when other routes such as A66 are blocked. It's not motorway and cyclists may use it, but they will feel safer using loops of the former main road.

A68 is a scenic and fairly fast route from Darlington to Corbridge, where it joins A69 for a couple of miles before continuing north to Jedburgh and Edinburgh. It follows the straight line of the Roman road Dere Street, with switchback progress up hill down dale, punctuated by blind crests and occasional tight bends.

Get around
The town is compact and walkable. You need wheels for Aydon Castle and Hadrian's Wall.

Executive Taxis are on +44 1434 605601. There are others based in Hexham.

See

 * is central in town. The church was first erected by monks of Hexham Abbey in 676 AD and some Saxon components remain, plus a hotchpotch of later styles. It's Anglican and generally open in daylight hours.
 * Vicar's Pele in the northeast corner of the churchyard is a three-storey defensive pele tower of 1318 that doubled as the vicarage, and is now a pub and wedding venue.
 * was built in 1674 to replace that of 1235. It's a graceful seven-arch span, widened in 1881, which carried the A68 until this was re-routed onto A69 Hexham Bypass.
 * are two large kilns, reached by strolling up Milkwell Lane.
 * are two large kilns, reached by strolling up Milkwell Lane.

Do

 * Hadrian's Wall Path is a grassy trail across the fields following the vallum, the ditch and embankment. The wall masonry hereabouts has long ago been taken for other buildings.
 * Northumberland County Show is held in late May at Bywell six miles east, see Prudhoe.
 * Corbridge Steam Rally is in June on Tynedale Park.
 * Corbridge Music Festival is usually at the end of June, but it's been on hold since 2019.

Buy

 * Coop Food at 3 Hill St, open daily 7AM-10PM.
 * Nearby Hexham has bigger supermarkets. For a big-ticket shop, head to Metrocentre west edge of Newcastle.

Eat

 * Corbridge Tandoori in Market Place gets mixed reviews. It's open daily 5-11PM.
 * Corbridge Larder is a deli cafe at 18 Hill St, open M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

Drink

 * The Pele, the fortified vicarage, is now a pub open Th-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM.
 * The Blue Bell on Hill St is open daily noon-11PM.

Connect
As of Feb 2023, Corbridge and its approach roads have 4G with all UK carriers. 5G is snaking outwards from Newcastle but has not yet reached the town.

Go next

 * Hadrian's Wall passes three miles north: B6318 follows its course. The section from Newcastle to Chesters is little more than a ditch, and the best of it is further west above Haltwhistle.
 * Hexham four miles west has a medieval abbey and jail.
 * Kielder Forest is in the hills north towards the Scottish border, with various outdoor activities.
 * Newcastle upon Tyne is easily reached for big city amusements.

title: Corbridge


text:
Corby

Corby is a town of 57,000 people (2011) in Northamptonshire, England.

Understand
Corby was once known as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of Scottish workers who came to Corby for its steelworks.

By train
is on the Oakham-Kettering line, which is served by one train per hour to and from London St Pancras via Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford and Luton.

title: Corby


text:
Corciano

Corciano is a village in Umbria nearby Perugia.

Understand
Corciano is between Perugia and Lake Trasimeno. It was originally Etruscan and then fell under Roman influence, when it became an important agricultural area. In the Middle Ages its good fortifications made it a prized asset and it was much fought over.

Get in
Corciano is close to the main highway that links Perugia with Siena and the A1 North-South Autostrada. It can be reached by train from Terontola, connecting there with trains from Rome and Florence and the line continues to Perugia and Foligno.

Go next
Corciano is in the middle of the fascinating area of northern Umbria and southern Tuscany. There are numerous cities to visit:
 * Perugia
 * Lake Trasimeno

title: Corciano


text:
Corcovado National Park

Parque Nacional Corcovado is on the Osa Peninsula in South Pacific Costa Rica.

Understand
While the park is one of the more remote in the national park system, Corcovado provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

History
The park was established on October 24, 1975.

Flora and fauna
National Geographic magazine called Corcovado National Park the "most biologically intense place on Earth" and this is no exaggeration. All four of the monkeys species found within Costa Rica (Mantled Howler, Squirrel Monkey, Spider Monkey and White-faced Capuchin) exist in large numbers throughout the park. Two crocodilians (the occasionally large and saline tolerant American Crocodile and the small Spectacled Caiman) persist within all of the park's major waterways, as do Bull sharks. The Jaguar population within the park is the healthiest in all of Central America, however it is still extremely unlikely for a visitor to spot one (most locals have never seen them either.) Many other elusive cats call the park home as well, including the Puma (which is slightly smaller and more arboreal in Central American than in the United States, probably due to competition with the Jaguar,) Ocelot, Jaguarundi and Margay. The park is one of the last strongholds of the Baird's Tapir and there are hundreds within decent proximity from Sirena Station, usually found lounging in the shade or in shallow pools of stagnant water. There are dozens of snake species present, many of them venomous, including the Fer-de-lance (also known as terciopelo or "Costa Rican landmine",) the Bushmaster, the Eyelash Pit Viper, and the Coral Snake. The largest snake within the park is the non-venomous Boa Constrictor. Numerous other small mammals and reptiles are common within the park including, but by no means limited to, the White-nosed Coati, Sloth, Tamandua, Giant Anteater, Basilisk, and Ctenosaur. Birds include the highly endangered Scarlet Macaw, the Tiger Heron, Black Vulture and the Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan, among hundreds of others including the critically endangered Harpy Eagle.

Climate

 * Dry season. Running from mid-December until mid-April with occasional rain showers.
 * Wet season. Running mid-April until mid-December.

Get in
Travel to and through the park is perilous and is best accomplished during the dry season.

 * Sendero El Tigre in Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre is the most accessible trail into Corcovado as it is possible to travel to and walk in one day. The trail is 8 km (5 mi) long and takes between six and eight hours; depending upon walking speeds and time taken to stop to view wildlife. Dos Brazos is 12 km (7.5 mi) from Puerto Jiménez and can be reached by taxi or bus. The cost for this trail (guide included) is US$125 for two people, which includes the US$30 entrance fee to the park. Reservations can be made directly with the tourism office of Dos Brazos by calling +506 8323-8695 or via email which can be found on the Dos Brazos website. Dos Brazos has several great accommodations and activities such as: gold mining tours, horseback riding, El Salto natural swimming hole, night hikes, botany and birding tours, and Bonanza waterfall.
 * Drake Bay lies on the north side of the park and provides entrance and easy access to its trails. Drake Bay, although sometimes difficult to get to, is an excellent alternative to traveling through Puerto Jiménez.
 * Puerto Jimenez. This is the nearest sizeable town to the park and most people entering the park will probably need to pass through this town.
 * From the north. Travel along the beach through San Pedrillo.
 * From the south. Travel along the beach through Carate.
 * From the east. Through . It is a 13-km hike (3-hr) from La Palma to Los Patos, and you must cross the Rincon River around 30 times. Taxis will take you this distance during the dry season. At the ranger station there is a house with a park ranger and an area for camping. Bring your own tent and food. The trail from Los Patos to La Sirena is home to many birds. Another trail from Los Patos cuts through the center of the park above the lagoon and will meet up with the trail from San Pedrillo to La Sirena. That trail is used very infrequently (a guide is suggested) and will take approximately 14 hours.

By bus

 * Regular bus service is available to Puerto Jiménez. Passenger truck service from Puerto Jiménez to the southern entrance at Carate occurs on a biweekly or greater basis. The journey generally takes between 3 and 5 hours by road depending on weather, traffic conditions. In May 2007 passenger trucks were on a twice a day schedule (morning, and late afternoon).
 * To Sendero El Tigre in Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre: In the center of Puerto Jiménez, the El Tigre colectivo (local minibus service) runs to Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre (12 km/7.5 mi west of Puerto Jiménez). M-F 11:00 and 16:00 at the Super 96 Supermarket. The fare is ₡1,300.

By 4WD
All roads on the Osa Peninsula exhibit the disrepair characteristic of Costa Rica outside of the main tourist destinations. The road from Puerto Jimenez to Carate require a 4WD vehicle as it is a gravel road with several required river fordings. This drive should only be attempted during the dry season, or after inquiring with local guides. Note that Carate is next to the beach. Take care not to pass Carate as it is poorly marked, but there is a well marked airstrip where the traditional walk on the beach towards the park starts. Parking is available by paying the store/bus stop which is Carate. Free parking is available next to the airstrip (do not leave valuables in the car).

From Puerto Jiménez to Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre (12 km/7.5 mi): it will take about 30 minutes. 4 km (2.5 mi) west of town, take your first left, after the Rio Tigre bridge where you will see signs for Dos Brazos and Parque Nacional Corcovado. After 3 km (1.8 mi), you will arrive in the town of Gallardo. Where you will pass a bar called Oasis and will take your 2nd left. Again you will see a signs for Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre. 5 km (3.1 mi) more down the road, you will arrive in the town of Dos Brazos del Rio Tigre. On your right before the bridge, you will see the Oficina de Turismo (Tourism Office). Park in the parking lot next to the Tourism Office. The drive to Dos Brazos is relatively easy with no river crossings and is safe to drive year round. The drive is possible with a small car, but a 4x4 is recommended.

 * 4WD taxis are available for the passage from Puerto Jiménez to Carate. They are easy to find on the main strip of Puerto Jiménez. Taxis are also available to Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre from Puerto Jiménez and will cost around US$25.

By foot

 * From Carate, it is a 4-km walk on the beach to the park entrance at the ranger station Las Leonas. Park permits and camping are available at the ranger station.

Park passes are required a month in advance of going into the park and can be purchased on line.
 * From the tourism office in Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre, the Sendero El Tigre entrance is a 5-10-minute walk. Reservations can be made with the Tourism Office of Dos Brazos.  The Tourism Office will handle all permits.

By plane

 * Small planes fly from the city of Golfito on the mainland directly to the small airstrip at the central ranger station.
 * You can fly to Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay with Skyway Airlines from San Jose in a 40 minute flight, then you will need to get a boat ride to the National Park.

Corcovado driver's map
Corcovado Map

Fees and permits
Permits must be reserved in advance. You must have a permit to stay overnight at Sirena. In practice, the Park often allows campers with their own food to enter without advance reservations and prepayment, but during busy times of the year even the camping areas are filled, especially Sirena Ranger Station. Sirena is the only ranger station that offers dormitory lodging and hot meals in addition to camping. La Leona, San Pedrillo, and Los Patos offer only camping with no food service. It is possible to secure park permits directly from the Ranger Station in Puerto Jiménez, but they do not accept credit cards, so it requires passing through Puerto Jiménez and a trip to the bank to make the payment or costly international wire transfers. The Park Service (MINAE) does not issue park permits more than one month in advance of anticipated arrival.

Vendors to assist with obtaining permits:

CafeNet El Sol offers a reservation service for a fee of US$30, or $10 for one-day passes; details on their Corcovado page, enabling travellers to obtain their permits in advance by credit card payment without having to travel to Puerto Jiménez or carry cash to the park. The park does not accept payments by cash or credit card, only by in-country bank deposit (no international wires). You can still pay for your park passes through CafeNet El Sol.

CorcovadoBlog Tour Operator and Booking Manager offers booking service fee and you can make the payment online with debit/credit card.

For the El Tigre trail in Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre, the fee is US$125 for two people (guide included), which includes the US$30 fee for the park entrance. The Tourism Office of Dos Brazos will handle all permits for you, saving you the trouble of making a reservation with MINAE. Contact information for the Tourism Office can be found at

Trails

 * Sendero El Tigre. A 8-km (5-mi) looped trail. It is a medium-high difficulty trail with large hills at the beginning and end.  It can be walked in four hours or less; but most finish in six to eight hours.  Time depends on walking speeds and number of stops to view the abundant wildlife.
 * Carate to La Leona. 3.5-km hike along the beach.
 * La Leona to La Sirena. The 16-km-long hike to La Leona is on a trail which is on and off the beach. It is imperative that visitors time the hike so as to arrive at the river fording 2 km shy of La Sirena at the lowest possible tide. There is potable water at a stream "Quebrada la Chancha" (Chancha Stream) just east of "Ponta La Chancha" (Chancha Point).
 * Los Patos to La Sirena. This 20-km hike is approximately eight hours through secondary rainforest. The trail slopes slightly down toward La Sirena.
 * San Pedrillo to La Sirena. This 29-km hike is 13-14 hours and is almost entirely along the beach. Most of the trail has been closed since 2009. Only the San Pedrillo to Llorona section remains open (as of 2019).
 * Drake to San Pedrillo. This trail is outside of the park and leads to its entrance. The hike is approximately six hours along the beach and just inside the forest.

There are several short trails in and around Sirena
 * Ria Clero
 * Espaveles
 * Naranjos
 * Guanaenste
 * Ollas Corcovado

See

 * Wildlife. The park is home to:
 * Over 350 species of birds including Scarlet Macaws.
 * 116 types of amphibians and reptiles including poison dart frogs.
 * 139 mammals, including Tapirs, Squirrel Monkeys, and large cats such as Puma and Jaguar.
 * Natural beauty:
 * Natural rock formations.
 * Waterfalls.
 * Beaches.
 * Rivers.
 * Rainforest. It grows right up to the oceans.

Do

 * Visit La Sirena. In fact it is recommended that you spend as much time as possible here since it makes a good central base for exploring the park. It is 20 km from each entrance.
 * Take pictures. Take as many as possible so as to enjoy the beauty long after you have left.
 * Kayak. Ask the locals for a kayak ride through the rainforest.
 * Hire a guide. The guides know the animals' habits and are able to tell you where the tapirs normal routes are.  However, be sure to also make sure to take the time to explore on your own.

Buy

 * There is nothing for sale within the park, including food or souvenirs.

Eat

 * Meals are available at the central ranger station with advance reservation.
 * People often bring food inside the park with them. Commonly it is food that is easy to pack, lightweight, and non-perishable such as pastas, rice, beans, or soup packets.

Drink

 * There is potable water available at each Ranger Station.
 * Remember to carry plenty of water during your hikes. If staying for multiple days, many people choose to bring powdered drink mixes.

Sleep

 * Casa Corcovado Lodge. Located in the jungle, Casa Corcovado Lodge borders Corcovado National Park. The hotel keeps in touch with its natural surroundings and sits in harmony with the local environment.

Lodging

 * Beds are available at the Sirena ranger station with advance reservation. You will need to bring your own bedsheets.
 * Poor Mans Paradise and Amaya Family Cabins is the only local Tico-owned and operated eco resort, near northern border of Corcovado National Park on the beachfront portion of the Amaya family farm (37 ha).
 * Poor Mans Paradise and Amaya Family Cabins is the only local Tico-owned and operated eco resort, near northern border of Corcovado National Park on the beachfront portion of the Amaya family farm (37 ha).
 * Poor Mans Paradise and Amaya Family Cabins is the only local Tico-owned and operated eco resort, near northern border of Corcovado National Park on the beachfront portion of the Amaya family farm (37 ha).
 * Poor Mans Paradise and Amaya Family Cabins is the only local Tico-owned and operated eco resort, near northern border of Corcovado National Park on the beachfront portion of the Amaya family farm (37 ha).
 * Poor Mans Paradise and Amaya Family Cabins is the only local Tico-owned and operated eco resort, near northern border of Corcovado National Park on the beachfront portion of the Amaya family farm (37 ha).

Camping

 * Camping is possible only at the ranger stations at the entrances and at the central ranger station. Sirena station is a series adjoining structures connected by covered walkway. A covered platform next to a kitchen area and restroom provides needed shelter for pitching free standing tents and mosquito nets. As the platform is covered, you do not need to bring a fly if you are bringing a tent. Showers are available.

Backcountry

 * Backcountry camping is not permitted within the park due to the fragile ecosystem. Outside of the park it is permitted and an attractive option for adventure trekkers looking for something more than a nice tidy three day park trip. See  for a windy description of an out of park trail that dovetails nicely into a multi-day park trip and provides a deeper perspective into Osa history. This route used to be the route between Carate and Jimenez for those that could not afford to charter a bush plane.

Basic considerations

 * Drinking water. The water at the ranger stations is supposedly potable, but it is highly advised to bring some sort of portable water purifier or sterilizer as it is unrealistic to cart all of your own water in. Be especially careful while hiking from La Leona to Sirena Station- the park recommends the bare minimum of 1.5 liters but at least 3 liters is safer. Dehydration and heat exhaustion can and do kill very quickly.
 * Sunscreen. The walk from La Leona to La Sirena is very exposed and it is very ill-advised to not wear proper protection.
 * Bugspray. Malaria is not a concern in Corcovado, but Dengue fever is a possibility.
 * Buddy or Guide. Stay safe, walk as a team. The river crossings are often underestimated and can be especially dangerous for solo hikers.

Other precautions

 * Avoid swimming. The ocean tides in this area are extremely powerful, while crocodiles and bullsharks are present in both the Rio Claro and Rio Sirena. River crossings should be done quickly and carefully. NEVER risk crossing either of these rivers at high-tide or during stormy weather. Caimans may be present in all rivers and streams but are not considered a threat to humans.
 * Snakes. There are Fer de Lance and various other poisonous snakes here. Fer de Lance or Tercioepelo, as it is known locally, is most active at night commonly along stream beds.
 * Nature's defenses. Be careful of trees covered by thorns, spines, or ants.
 * Peccaries Also known as Javelinas. There are two different species of peccaries in Corcovado, the Collared and the White-lipped Peccary. They run in packs and can be very aggressive. If threatened by a group of peccaries, climb a tree until you are six feet or higher off the ground.
 * Emergencies. Park officials all own short wave radios and there is a pilot on-call. There are landing strips at Drake, La Sirena ranger station, and in Puerto Jiménez. There is also a local doctor in Drake.
 * Maps Best maps locally are given out by the rangers, and are hand-drawn and not to scale. You may want to bring your own topo. However, topographic maps are neither required (the few trails are clearly visible) nor useful (almost impossible to find out where you are on the topographical maps).

Respect
The reason Corcovado is so amazing is because it has been so remote and a conscious decision to keep it beautiful is required.

 * Carry out all trash and waste and leave no trace.
 * Please pick up any trash you see that was left inside the park.
 * Encourage others to do the same.

Go next

 * Chirripo National Park
 * Manuel Antonio National Park
 * Santiago de Veraguas

title: Corcovado National Park


text:
Luzon Cordilleras

The Cordilleras is a highland region in the northern part of Luzon. Its landscape and geography is dominated by the Cordillera Central, which also extends to parts of nearby Ilocos Region. This article only covers the area forming the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The region is the homeland of the Igorot, a group of various culturally-related tribes such as the Kalinga, Ifugao, Kankana-ey, Illian, Baliwon and many others, spread in isolated communities in the various parts of the region. Despite differences in ethnicity and language, the Igorot have commonalities in costumes, music, dances and even customs. The Igorot consider themselves culturally distinct from most Filipinos, but are also proud of their Austronesian roots. In the central part of the Cordillera, rice terraces abound - from Ifugao to Mountain Province, famous of which is the Banaue Rice Terraces. The UNESCO declared five clusters of rice terraces in various towns in Ifugao as World Heritage Sites. Other hidden rice terraces can found in Natonin, Mountain Province. Scenic terrains of cornfields can be found in Paracelis, Mountain Province, a town next to Natonin.

Provinces
There are six provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region:
 * — the northernmost province of the region
 * — home to the Ibaloy, Kankana-ey, and Kalanguya peoples
 * — home to Banaue Rice Terraces and other rice terraces that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * — home to Banaue Rice Terraces and other rice terraces that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cities

 * — the region’s only true city, dating back to the American era, and the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” for its cool climate
 * — known for its stunning rice terraces
 * — a gateway to Banaue and locations further north
 * — a small town with an annual strawberry festival and community artwork formed by 200 painted houses
 * — a destination for whitewater rafting

Other destinations

 * — a peaceful hamlet set amongst exhilarating views without the din of motor vehicles
 * — come to get a traditional Butbut tattoo
 * — the summit views the third highest mountain in the Philippines are breath-taking
 * — famous for its beautiful caves, hanging coffins, and the serene mountains

History
The Cordilleras are one of the few regions of the Philippines not significantly conquered by the Spaniards. At the late 1500s, the Spanish colonial administrators have sent expeditions in search of gold, but many of these failed due to the rugged terrain and the hostile Igorot. Other colonial administrators sent further expeditions to pacify and Christianize the Igorot, but many of these largely failed. During that time, the Igorot were historically known as fierce headhunters, feared by the colonizers.

The modern Cordillera region dates back to the founding of Mountain Province during the American colonial era. Mountain Province occupied a larger region, including areas now part of Ilocos Sur and La Union, until 1920. Mountain Province covered most of the Cordillera until it is split into smaller provinces in 1967, and its territory reduced to a tenth of its original size.

The 1970s and 1980s were marked by a conflict between the Igorot and the Philippine government. After declaring martial law in 1972, Ferdinand Marcos ordered a dam be built along the Chico River, which many Igorot tribes opposed as it would be built on their ancestral land without their consultation. Empowered by his right to order warrantless arrests, Marcos ordered the neutralization of Igorot opposition to the dam's construction, which precipitated a conflict with the Igorot which lasted until the 1980s. Following the assassination of Macli-ing Dulag, a tribal chief of the Butbut Kalinga in 1980, Marcos eventually scrapped the dam project, but the low-level conflict continued until the ousting of Marcos in 1986. One lasting effect of the conflict is the wishes for Cordilleran autonomy; the Igorot consider themselves a distinct cultural and ethnic identity from most Filipinos.

The present Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is created in 1987, and the Ilocano majority province of Abra, then grouped with Ilocos was moved to the new region. It is intended to be made an autonomous region like the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but laws supporting these are voted down twice in 1989 and 1997. The latest bill to provide the Igorot autonomy dates to 2014, pending approval from the Philippine government. The people of Nueva Vizcaya, a Igorot-majority province in Cagayan Valley, also support inclusion into a larger Cordillera region, but they are not included in the latest version of the bill.

Geography and climate
The Cordillera region is the only landlocked region of the Philippines, being surrounded by Ilocos to the west and Cagayan Valley to the east. It is largely mountainous, being the center of the Cordillera Central of Luzon.

The climate in the Cordillera is temperate in general, being cooler that the tropical lowland areas. It often sees frosts during the cool dry season from November to March (but there is no snow), and it rains a lot during the wet season. Average temperatures are generally between the mid 10s and 30s (50-86°F), and rarely reach over 30 even in dry season. Peak tourism season is during the cool period, especially during Christmas and New Year season.

People
The Cordillera is the ancestral land of the Igorot or the Cordillerans, the collective name of about thirteen highland indigenous ethnic groups that mostly escaped Spanish colonialism. The Igorot maintain a somewhat distinct cultural and ethnic identity from Filipinos, and retain many tribal aspects of their closely related but distinct cultures. There are about 1,500,000 Igorot scattered in the country, the majority in provinces forming CAR.

There are about 13 ethnic groups that are considered Igorot, the most notable being the Bontoc, the Ibaloi, the Ifugao, the Isneg, the Kalinga, the Kalanguya, and the Kankana-ey (pronounced cuhng-kuh-NUH-ee, the "ey" correctly pronounced ee). These peoples are closely related culturally and ethnically, the primary difference being in language, and also Austronesian as most Filipinos. Most Igorot continue to practice animist tribal religions, but there are significant numbers of converts to Christianity; the majority being Catholics, Protestants or Anglicans.

The Igorot, especially the Ifugao, are renowned builders of rice terraces, the most notable being the Banaue Rice Terraces. Other Igorot groups live by mining, forestry or hunting.

In contrast to most of the provinces of the Cordillera, the provinces of Abra and Apayao are majority Ilocano. Ilocanos form a significant minority in the Cordilleras, and their language serve as the lingua franca. Most Ilocanos in the Cordillera came from nearby Ilocos as part of a transmigration program in the 1970s. Abra was originally majority Igorot until the 1970s.

Talk
Ilocano is the primary language throughout the region, due to Ilocano migration to the region. The Igorot speak their respective indigenous languages like Ifugao, Ibaloi, Kalinga and Kankana-ey, which are also Austronesian languages, but will generally switch to Ilocano, Tagalog or English when facing visitors. Cordillerans are known for their better proficiency in English, something to do with their native languages having sounds found in English but normally absent in other Philippine languages, such as F, V and the schwa.

Get in
Despite being centrally located between Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, the region has limited entry points from neighboring regions and provinces due to its topographic configuration mostly of steep slopes and mountain ranges.

By bus
By land, major bus companies in Manila ply the route Manila-Baguio. Cable Tours operates night buses from Quezon City and Manila up to Bontoc.

From Cagayan Valley, buses ply the route from Solano to Banaue. From Santiago City, there are buses to Paracelis.

From Ilocos Region, buses from Manila plies to Abra via Ilocos Sur.

By car
Driving to the Cordilleras is hard and dangerous due to the terrain, but they also provide a chance to see the scenery. Most roads entering the Cordilleras will be winding and bendy, and drivers must beware of the distances involved to travel between towns.

The major roads into the Cordilleras are Kennon Road and Naguilian Road/Quirino Highway (Route 54), Marcos Highway/Aspiras-Palispis Highway (Route 208), Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road (Route 110), all which lead to Baguio. Other major highways to the Cordilleras are the Abra-Ilocos Sur Road (Route 204) from Ilocos Sur and Kalinga-Cagayan Road (Route 52) from Cagayan. Less-traveled routes connect Apayao with northern Cagayan and Abra with Ilocos Norte.

By plane
The region's only operating airport is Loakan Airport in Baguio, served by Philippine Airlines from Cebu as of 2023.

Bagabag Airport in Nueva Vizcaya is served by charter flights on Platinum Skies from Clark.

Get around
Getting across the region is only by land, and is challenging due to the rugged terrain. The main route across the region is the Halsema Hwy (Rte 204), which connects Baguio with Bontoc. Travel is primarily by bus or jeepney, but most towns are only served by jeepneys, which are often packed full.

See
Tourist attractions in the region include the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces in the province of Ifugao. This is supposedly considered as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Natural attractions of the region include the Sumaguing Cave in Sagada and the mummy caves of Benguet and Mountain Province. There are four national parks in the Cordilleras: Cassamata Hill, Mt Pulag (the third highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,922 m of 9,600 ft above sea level), Mt Data, and Balbalasang-Balbalan (in the province of Kalinga).

Baguio, which was developed during the American era, has many sights dating back to that period, such as Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), and the Art Deco commercial buildings along Session Road. Other sights are its pine forests, Mines View Park and the Lion’s Head.

In Abra Province, the Pinaing (or Sacred) Stones in Dumayco stones are placed in the hollow of a huge Balete tree and symbolize the spirits of village ancestors. Don Teodoro Brillantes Family Museum displays Spanish artifacts and personal mementos of the Brillantes family. The Tugot ni Angalo are huge footprints believed to be made by a giant in San Quintin. The prints are 15 m long, 5 m wide, and 3 m deep.

Do
Climb Mt. Pulag: Pulag is the highest mountain on Luzon and the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It has an elevation of. Several trails can be used, the most difficult being Akiki and the easiest being Ambangeg. You will need at least two days to climb Mt. Pulag. Pulag Climb offers a package includes round trip transfer from Baguio or Manila, meals, tour guide and entrance fee.

Explore the stalagmites at the Libtec Underground River and Sibud-Sibud Cave in Abra Province.

Participate in the Arya Abra Festival, celebrating the creation of the province, and the Tingguian Festival, which features songs and dances of the Tingguian ethnic group.

Drink
Tapey or rice wines.

Stay safe
Landslides are a major danger, especially during the typhoon season. Roads in the region have more curves owing to the geography, and driving is clearly not for the inexperienced.

Go next

 * Cagayan Valley
 * Ilocos Region

title: Luzon Cordilleras


text:
Córdoba

There's more than one place called Córdoba:

Argentina

 * Córdoba (city, Argentina) - Argentina's second largest city, in Cordoba province
 * Córdoba (province, Argentina) - a province in the Pampas region

Colombia

 * Córdoba (Colombia) - an administrative division

Mexico

 * Córdoba (Mexico) - a city in Veracruz

Spain

 * Córdoba (city, Spain) - a Spanish city in Córdoba province
 * Córdoba (province, Spain) - a province in the Andalucia region

title: Córdoba