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Monterrey

Monterrey is the third largest city in Mexico and the capital of the state of Nuevo León. It is the commercial, industrial, educational, and transportation hub of northern Mexico, also third in economic importance after Mexico City and Mexico State. Although it is historically an industrial and commercial city (in fact most foreign visitors come for business purposes), tourists will be surprised at the wealth of cultural and entertainment attractions that the city has to offer.

Understand
Monterrey traces its modern history to its founding in 1596, when Diego de Montemayor founded the city, together with 12 first families. The story is told by a mural on one of the modern grey concrete and black glass government office towers downtown, just off the Macroplaza. The mural seems odd in its juxtaposition of Spanish conquistadors set next to a modern city of skyscrapers and factories. It does capture the spirit of Monterrey though -- a city that isn't so much a product of its past as it is a product of its future.

Monterrey is an aggressively modern city, unlike most destinations in Mexico. Although it does have some colonial era sights, and its Barrio Antiguo district preserves a sense of Monterrey as it was in its once "sleepy town" days, the city is very much a product of the industrial age of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Today, Monterrey has a culture that values education and business ethics. Often referred to as "an industrial giant", the label is more true in the imagination than it is in reality. Monterrey's big steel and iron works have been shut down for almost three decades, and even the concrete, glass, and brewing industries don't dominate the economy as they once did. Instead, people in Monterrey are today more likely to work in retail, in banking, in telecommunications, IT, health care or education.

The city enjoys one of Mexico's highest standards of living, and the population is more educated and cultured than average.

Monterrey is also a large city. The central downtown has a population of about a million, but the metropolitan area that includes all of its adjacent suburban municipalities brings its total city population to just over 5 million --- similar in size to the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S.

While it is true that visitors seeking the traditional flavor of colonial Mexico find little to love about Monterrey, the city has emerged as a leading cultural center: it likes cutting edge contemporary architecture (like the visually stunning Puente Atirantado or Puente Viaducto de la Unidad in San Pedro Garza Garcia, the new circular Tec business school in el Valle, or the physics-defying twin leaning bookends look of that shocking white concrete and black glass building that you see as you drive past the ITESM campus). It's also a youthful city that tends to prefer cutting edge rockeros like Plastilina Mosh or Kinky to the cowboy-hat wearing cumbia groups that built the city's music industry in the 1970s and 1980s. Monterrey is a city where international cuisine finds a welcoming reception, and where high-speed broadband internet connections are more commonplace than in many U.S. communities. Monterrey is a progressive, modern city that likes to learn, likes to work, and likes to live for the weekend.

Get in
Monterrey is a large city with a wide variety of transportation options. Bus, plane, or personal car are the most practical ways to get to Monterrey.

By plane
Monterrey has two airports. All commercial flights use Monterrey International (MTY) -- the city's main airport. Private and cargo carriers use Del Norte Airport.

Ground transportation to/from MTY

 * For a taxi, you have to locate a bank of kiosks inside the terminal, outside the baggage claim area. Use these kiosks to select a taxi company and pay the fare to the part of the city (zone) where you want to go. Once you pay you are given a ticket that has to be shown to the driver in order to be let into a cab. The usual taxi fare to go from the airport to the city and vice versa is about M$600. From the city, any taxi will take you and the fare will be the same from any point of the city to the airport. Local taxis and ride-share services are not permitted to pick up passengers at the airport.
 * Noreste Bus offers a one-way fare of M$115 (March 2022). It takes you from the airport to the central bus station. The buses have air-conditioning. You can find the Noreste counter next to the domestic arrivals or visit the website to make your reservation. The buses departs about 50 m in front of the arrivals building. The bus goes to the Terminal Fierro and then to the central bus station. The VivaBus from the airline VivaAerobus is a cooperation with Noreste, it's the same bus. The VivaBus is an economical option to reach downtown destinations and it stops at the main bus station (Central de Autobuses). The bus takes 60-70 mins from the airport to the, if no traffic jams, depending on the airport terminal you're at.
 * Another possibility is to take a Ruta Express bus from the airport to the metro station "Y Griega" for M$15 (January 2024). There change to the metro or local bus. Moovit shows you a public transport transport connection with this bus from the airport to your accommodation.
 * Rental car counters are located inside the terminal building and just outside the domestic arrival area (to your right as you exit customs from the international arrivals door). Rates are no higher than in the U.S., and you can book online through any major car rental company web site. Companies with rental locations on-site at MTY airport include: National, Advantage, Europcar, Thrifty, Alamo, Payless, Hertz, Budget, and Avis.

Airlines serving MTY

 * International Service: Foreign airlines serving MTY include Air Canada, American, Delta, Spirit, and United.

 * Both International and Domestic Service: Aeromexico, Magni, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus.

 * Domestic Service Only: Aerus, and TAR

By bus
Inside the bus station are Mexican fast food chains like Doña Tota, El Carbonero and El Sabor de Villa de Santiago. They have main dishes from M$49 (March 2022). There is also the US-American Popeye's.

Inside the station's building is a luggage storage for M$10 per hour (March 2022). And there is a BanBajío ATM behind the Domino's right next to the branch of Taxi Seguro. You can also find a Santander ATM behind the luggage storage.

Central de Autobuses is located in the heart of Monterrey on Av. Colon. You can get to the Central de Autobuses using the Metrorrey subway system.

From San Luis Potosí this first-class bus has a considerably lower price: Apolo Platinum for M$400 (March 2022). They are with air conditioning and run at night. In San Luis Potosí they depart near the central bus station at Hotel Sand's. In Monterrey they arrive near the bus station. The whatsapp number of the bus company is +525565788344.

Bus lines operating between Monterrey and Texas and other southern U.S. state destinations include (among others):
 * Adame
 * Americanos and Amigos
 * El Expreso
 * Autobuses Garcia
 * Tornado
 * Turimex Internacional

First-class and executive-level bus lines operating between Monterrey and other Mexican cities include (among others):
 * Estrella Blanca (Turistar, Futura, Chihuahenses, more)
 * ETN
 * Grupo Senda (Sendor, Tamaulipas, Coahuilenses, more)
 * Olimpia
 * Omnibus de Mexico
 * Transportes del Norte

Some bus lines also have small company-specific bus stations on the outskirts of the city, for example, Grupo Senda has a stop near the Cintermex, which can be convenient for passengers arriving by way of the McAllen/Reynosa border crossing.

By car
Monterrey is about 200 km south of the U.S./Mexico border. The most common border crossings, both in South Texas, used to get to Monterrey are Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and McAllen-Hidalgo/Reynosa. The travel time from either Reynosa or Nuevo Laredo is about two hours. Many regios (As residents of Monterrey are nicknamed) drive to San Antonio and all points north through Puente Colombia (Colombia Solidarity Bridge) outside of Nuevo Laredo. This might sometimes be attributed to safety concerns following press coverage of Nuevo Laredo's international drug trade violence, but most often, knowledgeable travelers prefer the Colombia checkpoint because crossing is faster and easier, especially at peak crossing times.

From points in the United States, take Interstate 35 south. The highway ends at International Bridge 2 in Laredo. The Aduana office for handling vehicle import paperwork is on the river road in between Bridge 1 and Bridge 2. Mexican auto insurance can also be purchased there. From Nuevo Laredo, take Mexico Highway 85 south and it brings you right into Monterrey.

Guia Roji maps to Mexico are indispensable for drivers in Mexico. You can buy them online ahead of time, or they are sold in every Sanborns store in Mexico. You will need a map to drive in Monterrey because the city is large and complex, though today, Google Maps will usually serve travelers better than paper maps --- just make sure you have international roaming enabled and/or a plan that includes Mexico coverage.

Get around
E-hailing and walking are the best choices. Buses are common. The subway is good, but has limited coverage.

By e-hailing
Uber, Didi and Cabify serve the city. Usually Cabify has the lowest fares.

By taxi
Taxis come in two color schemes: older ones are lime green and white, while the newer ones are yellow and white. The difference is just cosmetic as they are both affordable and plentiful. Taxis use meters in Monterrey, and to avoid overcharges, insist that the driver use the meter.

By public transport
For finding a connection, Moovit and Google Maps cover the city.

City bus
One ride costs about M$12 (March 2022) and is paid to driver when entering. Buses stop only at dedicated bus stops. Not every bus stop has a sign. Just have a look where other people are waiting or ask somebody around where the bus stop is.

Buses with route numbers 1-199 are local/urban buses that stay in a certain part of the city. Numbers 200-300 go to most part of the city (multiple colonias/municipalities). 300-502 are minibuses. Also there is a Metrobus service in Guadalupe and San Bernabe area. There are three routes in San Bernabe and one in Guadalupe. For more info go to Metrorrey website.

Ecovia
Ecovia is a bus-rapid-transit (BRT) system operating large, new articulated buses on dedicated transit lanes. As of 2023, one route with 39 stations is operational with a second route under construction. The Ecovia route follows Av. Ruiz Cortines for 30 km from northwest Monterrey (Lincoln) to downtown Monterrey and then east to San Nicolas and Guadalupe. Ecovia travel times average 50% faster than using a car or taxi.

Transfer points from Ecovia to Metrorrey are at Ruiz Cortinas (Line 1) and Mitras (Line 3). Ecovia passengers can transfer to Metrorrey without additional charge.

The new Ecovia route will go from Guadalupe through San Pedro and Santa Catarina to Garcia. The two routes will not intersect.

Metrorrey
The Metrorrey subway system is clean, modern, and very inexpensive. One ride costs M$6 (November 2022) and at some stations, can be paid in cash without having the metro card. At several stations, a rechargeable metro card is required as no single-ride tickets are sold there. A metro card costs M$20 (March 2022) and can be recharged in any amount.

The Metro can be used to go between downtown areas like Macroplaza or Barrio Antiguo and the Central de Autobuses bus station. It also stops near the Cerveceria Cuahtemoc and the Coliseo and is a good choice if you are staying in the Eastern suburban municipalities of Guadalupe or San Nicolas. The useful stops for a tourist include:

 * Central: main bus station, Coliseo
 * Cuahtemoc: transfer point, brewery
 * Padre Mier: shopping near Morelos (Zona Rosa), iStay, Mision hotel
 * Zaragoza: Macroplaza, Barrio Antiguo, MARCO, Hotel Monterrey, Krystal, Gran Ancira, Santa Rosa Suites
 * Parque Fundidora: Parque Fundidora, Museo Acero Horno 3, Cintermex, Arena Monterrey, Holiday Inn Fundidora
 * Universidad: Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Parque Niños Héroes, Estadio Universitario (Tigres)
 * Santa Lucia: Paseo Santa Lucia, Parque Fundidora, Baseball Hall of Fame, IMSS Hospital

In 2021, line 3 of the system opened which connects a major hospital in San Nicolas with downtown and is operated together with line 2 in a rough u-shape.

Rolling stock is quite diverse with Mexican and Chinese made trains as well as 1980s built former Frankfurt-am-Main rolling stock refurbished for service in Monterrey.

By car
Renting a car is a possibility, though it can be expensive and navigating the streets can be a bit tricky. As with any major metro area, parking is always an issue, though parking is generally easier in Monterrey than in other cities of similar size. Many downtown hotels offer free parking and free valet parking for their guests. A large public lot under the Macroplaza usually has spaces available.

Downtown tourism transportation
In the downtown area, there is a tourist trolley that does regular circuits around the Macroplaza and Barrio Antiguo areas.

Riverboats on the Paseo Santa Lucia can be used to go between the Macroplaza area and Parque Fundidora. The boats leave from the waterway below the Museo de Historia Mexicana, near the Palacio del Gobierno.

See

 * - (Also known as 'Puente de la Unidad San Pedro'). Futuristic suspension bridge set against a dramatic backdrop of nearby mountains. You can walk on it and enjoy the view of Monterrey.
 * - (Also known as 'Puente de la Unidad San Pedro'). Futuristic suspension bridge set against a dramatic backdrop of nearby mountains. You can walk on it and enjoy the view of Monterrey.
 * - (Also known as 'Puente de la Unidad San Pedro'). Futuristic suspension bridge set against a dramatic backdrop of nearby mountains. You can walk on it and enjoy the view of Monterrey.

Do
Monterrey offers a wide array of activities, celebrations, and special events.

Adrenaline junkies will find ample opportunities for mountaineering activities, including rappeling, caving, canyoneering, mountain biking, and hiking in the mountains and parks surrounding the city.

Families will want to check out the and modern architecture downtown. Visit to experience a Mexican amusement park.

Events

 * Festival Internacional Cine (International Film Festival) - since 2005, movies have been the talk of the town during the month of April when film makers come to show off their work.
 * Expo Feria Guadalupe (Guadalupe) - For more than 70 years, Regios have gathered each May for northern Mexico's biggest and boldest livestock show and fair. There's food, there's music, there's games, and so much more.
 * Luztopia (Parque Fundidora) - every year throughout the month of December, the pathways around the Paseo Santa Lucia light up with colorful lights and Christmas displays delight the entire family.
 * Festival Internacional Santa Lucia - the festival is a celebration of art and culture in Nuevo Leon with participation from communities throughout the state. The festival includes films, concerts, regional music and dance, and exhibits of visual arts.

Sports

 * Fuerza Regia (basketball) - Professional basketball seems to be taking off in Mexico and the Fuerza Regia play in the massive, ultramodern new Arena Monterrey.
 * Sultanes(baseball) - Monterrey's AAA-level Mexican League Baseball team is the Sultanes --- one of the best and most enduring teams in Mexico. Now 2 teams in 1 since the Sultanes have also joined the AAA-level Liga Pacifica (a winter league), letting fans enjoy baseball year round. Kick back in the 40,000-seat Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey on any warm evening, have a couple ice cold Carta Blancas, and cheer when the Sultanes smack in another jonron!
 * Rayados (football/soccer) - The Rayados (sometimes also called La Pandilla) are one of two professional soccer teams --- both very good --- playing in Monterrey. Games are played in the newly built Estadio BBVA with a capacity of 53,500.
 * Tigres (football/soccer) - The Tigres are Monterrey's "other" first-division professional soccer team, playing at the 43,000 seat Estadio Universitario. (A new 65,000 seat stadium is being built on the UANL campus.) The biggest game of the year is the Clasico Regiomontano, pitting the two hometown teams against each other.
 * Borregos Salvajes (football/American) - College football with a Mexican accent, the Borregos Salvajes are the team for ITESM (also known as "Tec de Monterrey").
 * Autenticos Tigres (football/American) - College football with a Mexican accent, the Autenticos Tigres are the team for UANL.

Hiking

 * . This hiking destination is inside the Sierra Las Mitras. It's mountains are up to 1,000 m higher than the elevation of Monterrey. Cama de Piedra is a 30 min hike uphill. From there the trail continues in the direction of the mountain top. Near the start of the trail the bus line 23 is said to operate coming from the metro station Alameda in the center of Monterrey.
 * – 13 km. Mountain range and a huge hikiking area next to San Pedro Garza Garcia: hiking trails, biking trails, recreation areas, full-service restaurant with panoramic vistas of Monterrey, rustic cabins and lodge for overnight guests. It is advisable to buy entrance tickets beforehand at their website ("Entrada a chipinque" option), not to lose time. Buying online and showing confirmation on the phone is the only option, even if you are at the gate. Taxi / Uber is allowed only until the entrance / front gate, it is still about an hour of ; from there till the main park area, even though some locals on cars may be kind enough to give you a lift. The best views that do not require a guide are from the "Resbaladeros" playground area near the Hotel Chipinque, and from the "Meseta del Pinal" viewpoint. To hike very beatufiul La M, La Ventana, Las Antenas, or El Copete del Águila peaks - you need to book a guide at the park website, at least 1 day beforehand, as a tour starts at 7:00 or earier, so if you arrive on the day, all guides will be gone, or there will be no group potentially. It is both illegal and dangerous to hike on your own: it's easy to get lost on the unmarked trails, especailly the climbing up / via ferrata portion; and if caught you will be kicked off from the park as well as need to pay a fine of around $5000mxn. You will need a seaprate day for each peak, if you want to hike all of them, see the website.
 * – 13 km. Mountain range and a huge hikiking area next to San Pedro Garza Garcia: hiking trails, biking trails, recreation areas, full-service restaurant with panoramic vistas of Monterrey, rustic cabins and lodge for overnight guests. It is advisable to buy entrance tickets beforehand at their website ("Entrada a chipinque" option), not to lose time. Buying online and showing confirmation on the phone is the only option, even if you are at the gate. Taxi / Uber is allowed only until the entrance / front gate, it is still about an hour of ; from there till the main park area, even though some locals on cars may be kind enough to give you a lift. The best views that do not require a guide are from the "Resbaladeros" playground area near the Hotel Chipinque, and from the "Meseta del Pinal" viewpoint. To hike very beatufiul La M, La Ventana, Las Antenas, or El Copete del Águila peaks - you need to book a guide at the park website, at least 1 day beforehand, as a tour starts at 7:00 or earier, so if you arrive on the day, all guides will be gone, or there will be no group potentially. It is both illegal and dangerous to hike on your own: it's easy to get lost on the unmarked trails, especailly the climbing up / via ferrata portion; and if caught you will be kicked off from the park as well as need to pay a fine of around $5000mxn. You will need a seaprate day for each peak, if you want to hike all of them, see the website.

Other activities

 * Some people find it bloody and barbaric, but it's an authentic slice of Spanish heritage and the bullfights in Monterrey feature top-tier professional matadors. Bullfights no longer take place in the historic Plaza Monumental bullring, but instead, are typically held indoors at the Arena Monterrey in Parque Fundidora.
 * Some people find it bloody and barbaric, but it's an authentic slice of Spanish heritage and the bullfights in Monterrey feature top-tier professional matadors. Bullfights no longer take place in the historic Plaza Monumental bullring, but instead, are typically held indoors at the Arena Monterrey in Parque Fundidora.
 * Some people find it bloody and barbaric, but it's an authentic slice of Spanish heritage and the bullfights in Monterrey feature top-tier professional matadors. Bullfights no longer take place in the historic Plaza Monumental bullring, but instead, are typically held indoors at the Arena Monterrey in Parque Fundidora.

Out of town trips

 * – 85 km. A beautiful colonial city. The temperatures are colder than in Monterrey because of the higher altitude. From the central bus station of Monterrey several bus companies depart frequently. The price is about M$160 (March 2022) and the ride takes around 1:45h. There are buses going back to Monterrey even in the late evening and during the night.
 * – 45 km. Take a day trip out to the park and see the waterfalls. There is a bus from the central station to El Cerado, a neighborhood of Santiago, for M$30 (March 2022). It departs every half hour. At the Plaza del Cercado is said to be a bus to the waterfalls. Otherwise take a taxi for the 7 km.
 * – 40 km. This is one of the dams that provides the water supply for the city. This is a popular recreational spot for the local population. Here you will find lots of traditional products, handcrafts, regional cuisine and some other goods. It is recommended for its traditional atmosphere. Also you may hire a service to do horse riding, sailing, karting or biking. The shops are magnificent. At the lake is the so-called magic village of Santiago. The historic center is up on the hill around the church Parroquia Santiago Apostol. An elegant lunch in the historic center can be enjoyed at the restaurant Las Palomas. From the central bus station you can take a bus to Santiago for M$30 (March 2022). They leave every 30 min and the ride takes about 1:30h. Departures back are until 22:30. Going back from Santiago to Monterrey you could also take the white buses marked Alamo. They go hourly and cost M$15 (March 2022).
 * – 45 km. About 45 min away. See the caves, there is a cable car that takes you to the entrance. Then you have to pay for a guided tour that lasts for about an hour. To García take an intercity bus from the bus station for M$30 (March 2022). Or you could take the regional bus line 107 for M$15 (March 2022), which departs in front of the bus station about every 10 min. Leave the regional bus in Garcia at the Soriana. In Garcia take a taxi, Uber or Didi for about M$50-100 (March 2022) to the cable car of the caves. The cable car costs M$80 round-trip (March 2022) or you walk uphill to the caves. For the way back to García you could also try hitchhicking.
 * – 45 km. An internationally renowned rock climbing area 1 hr ride outside the city. It is also great for biking and trail running.
 * – 95 km. A Mecca for the rugged outdoors sportsman, it's a narrow, whitewater river rushing through the Sierra Madres, cascading over waterfalls, and forcing its way with all due haste towards the Gulf of Mexico. People come to Matacanes to hike the verdant green mountain trails, to swim in the cool pools, to rappel down sheer cliff faces, and to see a side of Northern Mexico that few guide books take the time to explore.
 * – 80 km. (Also called Safari Parque Estrella). Located about 1 hour from Monterrey this wildlife safari park features treks through the Serengeti, a petting zoo, and a variety of attractions for the whole family.

ATMs
Low withdrawal fees in the Zona Rosa are:
 * Banco del Bienestar for just M$12 (March 2022)
 * Banca Inbursa
 * BanCoppel

In the Barrio Antiguo you find:
 * Banorte

And there are ATM with low fees around the bus station:
 * BanCoppel inside the Coppel Store
 * BanBajío inside the bus station behind the Domino's
 * Banamex inside the Soriana Hiper
 * Santander inside the Soriana Express

Groceries
In the Zona Rosa, Barrio Antiguo and around the bus station are Oxxo, 7-eleven and minimarkets (tiendas) around. A bigger variety has Waldo's and. Large supermarkets are near the central bus station: and.

Shopping
The shopping scene in Monterrey is excellent. You'll find many international labels and designer houses in the upper-end malls. The downtown area is full of small shops selling everything you never knew you needed.

Several shopping malls are located throughout the city, but especially in San Pedro Garza Garcia. These malls are like malls elsewhere in the world, and they're usually anchored by Mexican chains (like Liverpool or Palacio del Hierro) and U.S. chains (like Sears or JCPenny). The downtown Zona Rosa area is Monterrey's traditional shopping area and features a pedestrian shopping mall with several department stores (Liverpool, Sears, el Nuevo Mundo, Del Sol) on major roads.

Local character is on display on the Carretera Nacional (MEX 85), heading south of the city. A 1.6-km (1-mile) stretch of highway near the town of Santiago is lined with small open-air shops, restaurants, and marketplaces. You can get great deals on rustic furniture, clothing, household goods, homemade food products, and just about anything else you can imagine. Parking can be difficult on weekends, but the selection is at its best and the atmosphere is the closest thing you'll find to the big outdoor markets boasted by cities in the rest of the Latin world.

Although Monterrey is not known for any specific types of popular folk art, their regional candies are widely sold throughout the city and make excellent gifts to bring back home. Look for any kind of "leche quemada", especially the deliciously carmelized "Glorias", crusted in chopped pecans.

Eat
Monterrey is a paradise for spicy food lovers and anyone who loves the smoky flavor of fresh meats grilled over smoldering wood embers will be right at home in any restaurant serving authentic Northern Mexican cuisine. Worthwhile local delicacies are: Some good restaurants for authentic Northern Mexican food include El Regio and El Rey del Cabrito, or, if just looking for a quick sampling, the cafe chain Dona Tota for some gorditas.
 * cabrito - Whole kid goats are splayed over hot coals and slow roasted for hours. Usually served with hot tortillas, fresh sliced onions, and house salsa.
 * machacado - Breakfast in Monterrey often includes machacado con huevo, dried salted beef is shredded into a pan and lightly braised, then eggs are scrambled in -- serve with warm tortillas and salsa.
 * atropellado - Dry meat with tomato, onion and peppers, really good!
 * cafe de olla - Rustic-style coffee brewed with a touch of cinnamon. Delicious!
 * arracherra - What's known as fajitas in some places is arracherra in Monterrey -- grilled marinated skirt steak topped with melted white cheese and served with hot tortillas and caramelized onions.
 * leche quemada - Nuevo León is famous for its succulently sweet caramel candies made from scorched sweetened goat milk. The candies are available in several forms, including small balls dusted with fine granular sugar, rolls, and of course, Glorias -- the queen of leche quemada, with a healthy dollop of chopped pecans to enhance its already nutty sweet flavor
 * discada - It gets its name because traditionally you make in a used plow disc that's been welded shut. Meat, pork, chicken, sausage, chilaca, onion, beer and bacon with some tortillas.

For eating recommendations including street food in the popular Centro district, have a look into the dedicated article.

Drink
Monterrey is a famous brewing city and is the home for popular brands like Dos Equis and Bohemia. You can stop by the beer garden in front of the brewery anytime during the day for a free glass of beer under the towering oak trees. If you like craft beers, the buzzword to ask for in bars and restaurants is cerveza artesanal. You'll find several craft beer bars in the Barrio Antiguo. In other parts of Monterrey, stop by the Sierra Madre Brewing Company (several locations throughout the city, each featuring fresh beer and brick-oven pizzas). The clubbing scene in Monterrey is very hot. Nightclubs range from the typical "dive bar" to the very expensive, valet-please-park-my-Lamborghini places. Because Monterrey is home to the top colleges in Mexico, thousands of young people from all over Mexico party as early as Wednesday. You will surely find a club that suits your taste. There are 2 major clubbing areas to know about, downtown in the Barrio Antiguo and the Centrito, in San Pedro Garza Garcia.
 * Casino gambling is not permitted, but off-track horse race betting is. If gambling is your game, head to Caliente. The larger, nicer location is near Galerias Monterrey, just off Gral. Pablo Gonzales Garza by the Hampton Inn. Another location is downtown in the Macroplaza area, on Zaragoza next door to the Hotel Monterrey Macroplaza.
 * A night out is not complete until you finish eating "breakfast" at a local taqueria or hot dog stand. It is very common to find outdoor grills going full-tilt on city streets at 04:00 Tacos del Julio and Tacos del Güero are two of the most sought-out establishments for this purpose.
 * The traffic fine for being caught driving under the influence can reach up to US$2,500 or three days imprisonment. Police roadblocks on Saturday nights are common. It's not worth the risk.

Sleep
From basic lodging to modern class hotel towers that almost look like they could compete with something out of Dubai, Monterrey offers a full spectrum of lodging choices, including hostels and camping options. The most popular neighborhoods for staying are Zona Rosa and Barrio Antiguo. The newest and most upscale hotels are found in the municipality of San Pedro Garza Garcia.

There are several decent low-priced hotels clustered within a few blocks of the bus station. The guest rating on Google Maps gives you a hint of the quality.

The hotels near the bus station along the street Miguel Nieto can only be booked for 4 or 12 hours. 4 hours for 2 persons are M$280 (March 2022).

To see the sleeping suggestions of the popular Centro district, have a look into the dedicated article.

Connect
High-speed broadband internet is widely available and most hotels provide wi-fi hotspots. Cyber cafes provide short-term internet access for about US$1 per hour. Yes, there are still some cyber cafes around Monterrey, but they are an endangered species as everyone has messaging on their cell phones.

Newspapers are still a viable business in Mexico and several daily papers are sold in Monterrey, including:
 * El Norte
 * El Porvenir
 * Milenio
 * El Sol
 * El Regio

Stay healthy
The sun is bright in Monterrey with high solar radiation, and while higher elevations can feel cooler, the sun still burns. Sunburn and premature skin aging are preventable. Use SPF 50 sunblock.

Water
Most areas in Monterrey have potable tap water. Although the careful traveler will probably still heed the general advice to not drink the water in Mexico, you actually can drink tap water in most of Monterrey, particularly in areas with newer development, such as the hotel zone in San Pedro. It's probably still safer to stick to bottled water, since visitors won't know where the safe (or unsafe) areas are, but there's definitely no need to freak out because you inadvertently brushed your teeth or chomped on an ice cube.

Stay safe
Every large city has public safety issues and Monterrey is no exception although the city is mostly safe and is well patrolled by several municipal police departments as well as by the Nuevo Leon state police.

Police generally patrol with their red and blue emergency lights on. Municipal police vehicles are light yellow and white within the city of Monterrey, and black and white in the municipalities of Guadalupe, San Pedro, Santa Catarina, San Nicolas and Apodaca. State police usually drive black pickup trucks.

Avoiding high-crime areas
Tourists sometimes encounter trouble by straying into neighborhoods that have no touristic sights, no hotels, and no upscale restaurants. Well-trafficked neighborhoods are very safe. Tourists are unlikely to ever have safety issues in San Pedro Garza Garcia or in most areas of el Centro (including Parque Fundidora, Barrio Antiguo, and the Macroplaza). There are non-tourist friendly areas in some of the more working class neighborhoods in Guadalupe, San Nicolas, and Santa Catarina. In Monterrey, Colonia Independencia is regarded as an unsafe neighborhood due to the presence of drug crime. Pickpockets may be in any crowded area and have been reported in and around the main bus station (Central de Autobuses). Use caution in those areas and avoid carrying valuables. Use common sense and avoid being alone in unfamiliar areas.

Avoiding crime when getting around
Walking in tourist areas is generally safe, though it would be prudent to avoid walking at night in unfamiliar areas without people around.

The safest way to get around the city is by Uber or a known taxi (meaning one you call, or get from a populated sitio, not one hailed on the street). Although rare today, there were problems in the mid 2000s to mid 2010s with taxis robbing or sometimes kidnapping riders. These were generally fake taxis operated by criminal gangs. The crimes generally stopped when people began using more Ubers and by taking precautions like having a friend (or hotel doorman) take note of the taxi numbers and license plate numbers even when using known taxis called to a hotel or restaurant.

Several kinds of public transportation exist in Monterrey and many are quite safe. The Metrorrey subway system is generally safe as is the Eco-Via bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The state of Nuevo Leon operates an extensive bus network throughout the greater Monterrey region. The buses are calle Trans-Metro and are modern green and white buses emblazoned with "Muevo Leon" on the side. These are generally safe, particularly in daylight hours, but they do serve some sketchy areas that are best avoided at night, especially if you are alone.

Natural disasters
Monterrey is generally safe from natural disasters because it is a warm climate (no snow and ice) that is inland (not subject to hurricanes). Monterrey does suffer from high temperatures and low precipitation. Heat stroke can be a serious problem in summer months and drought can sometimes occur.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇹 Guatemala
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Monterrey in the summer can be hot, so you may want to head for higher elevations. Your next destination can be...

To the west

 * Saltillo – 90 km
 * Parras de la Fuente – 230 km

To the north-west

 * Cuatro Ciénegas – 270 km

To the north

 * Laredo (Texas, USA) – 220 km. From there to San Antonio.

To the south

 * Real de Catorce – 350 km. A ghost town, which still has several open hotels.
 * Matehuala – 320 km. On the way to San Luis Potosí.
 * San Luis Potosí – 510 km. To see the details of the buses have a look into the Get In section of the SLP article.

By air
Monterrey has many direct low cost flights, especially from Viva Aerobus and from charter airline Magni. Dirt cheap fares are usually available to Mexico City and all of the major beach resort areas on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Monterrey can be an excellent gateway to every major destination in Mexico.

title: Monterrey


text:
Monterrey/Outer Monterrey

Outer Monterrey refers to the parts of the city of Monterrey beyond the Centro district. This is a very large area and includes areas north and west of el Centro (including Cumbres and Anahuac) and areas to the south and east of el Centro (including Tecnologico and Contry).

Get in
See the main article for details about getting to Monterrey.

By bus
The main bus station for all of Monterrey is in Monterrey/Centro, but some bus companies also operate secondary company-specific bus terminals in Colonia Roma, along Avenida Garza Sada. Travellers arriving in Monterrey from destinations along the Gulf of Mexico coast, including Ciudad Victoria, Tampico, and Veracruz may find these stations more convenient, particularly for hotels and other places to the south of Centro, including the Tec campus and neighborhoods in Guadalupe. All buses arriving and departing here travel via the Central de Autobuses, so be aware that even though you buy a ticket here, the buses sometimes arrive completely full. Also, there is a limited number of destinations served from this side of town (only buses traveling a specific highway will pass along Av. Garza Sada).

Get around
In addition to city buses, taxis, and rideshares (see Monterrey), the Tec campus (ITESM) operates its own bus service, called Expreso Tec, between the main campus in Colonia Tecnologico (south of downtown/centro) and most residential areas throughout the Monterrey metropolitan area. The service includes nine regular routes that operate all year, and additional routes that operate limited schedules during the semester. The service is for Tec students, staff, and affiliates, but if you are coming to Monterrey for academic purposes, that might be you. A bus pass costs about M$4000 per semester.

Do

Connect
See the main article.

Go next
If you're in the southern part of Monterrey, you're already well on your way to the nearby town of Santiago, which has been designated by the Mexican government as a "Pueblo Magico". Santiago is about 32 km southeast of Monterrey on Carreterra Nacional (MEX 85). It is a popular weekend destination for people in the city. The town sits atop a hill above the highway and has a pleasant zocalo with an old church and an excellent restaurant called Las Palomas. Shop the myriad vendors along the Carreterra for a uniquely regional shopping experience, visit the Cascadas Cola de Caballo (Horsetail Falls), do a caving trip (maybe even visit the "Bat Cave" (Cueva de Murcielagos) where millions of bats fly out of their cave at dusk), or maybe kayak on the Presa de Boca. There are also myriad opportunities for outdoor adventures into the adjacent Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey (everything from extreme canyoneering to backcountry horseback rides).

Further south are the Pueblos Mágicos of Linares and Montemorelos.

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

title: Monterrey/Outer Monterrey


text:
Monterrey/Centro

Centro is the central downtown area of Monterrey. It includes popular tourist areas like the Macroplaza and Barrio Antiguo. For the purposes of this district article, it is bounded by Ruiz Cortines on the north, Churubusco on the east, Carranza on the west, and the Santa Catarina River to the south.

Understand
El Centro is the traditional downtown area of Monterrey. It is home to most state and local government facilities as well as most of the Monterrey area's significant tourist attractions (museums, monuments, and historical sites). Although new shopping malls in the San Pedro area have become retail magnets, the traditional shopping area of Monterrey is downtown, particularly along Padre Mier, where department stores like Sears and Nuevo Mundo remain popular Many major hotels are in el Centro, with the Barrio Antiguo providing some good hostels for budget travelers seeking rooms with local color and flavor.

Get in
See the main article for a more detailed discussion of urban transportation in the Monterrey area.

By metro
Use Metrorrey Line 2 or 3 to get to el Centro.

Zaragoza is the best stop for travelers going to see the sights around the Macroplaza or the Barrio Antiguo, (though Padre Mier may be more convenient for Zona Rosa shopping). The entrance to the Zaragoza station is on the Macroplaza on Padre Meir, in between Zaragoza and Zuazua.

Santa Lucia (line 3) and Parque Fundidora (line 2) are the best stops for attractions in Parque Fundidora.

The Parque Fundidora station is 2 blocks walk from Arena Monterrey or 4 blocks to park entrance 4, close to many of the park's main attractions. The Santa Lucia station is convenient to the southwest end of park, near the Baseball Hall of Fame (from the Santa Lucia station, walk 50m north on Av. Gomez, then turn right on Gregorio Torres and walk about 250m. Enter the park through the parking garage for the Baseball Hall of Fame (the guards will point you to the elevators that will take you up to park level).

Get around
Walking is the best way to get around the downtown area, and several pedestrian-only options make el Centro increasingly enjoyable for walking. The Macroplaza is criss-crossed with sidewalks, Calle Morelos is closed to vehicle traffic, and the Paseo Santa Lucia offers quiet, safe walkways beside the waterway from the Museo de la Historia Mexicana all the way to Parque Fundidora.

Taxis and buses are plentiful and are good options for getting out of the Macroplaza area. See the main article about Monterrey for details.

See

Do

 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.
 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.
 * Ride a Bike: Monterrey is not a particularly bike-friendly city, but the Parque Fundidora is very bike friendly with wide, paved pathways and rental bikes available. You could also rent a bike and venture out on your own, or you could join an organized bike tour and see the downtown area in the company of other 2-wheel friends. Rentals and tours are both available from BCPK Bike Shop. Tours ride through the downtown area starting at 7pm. Most tours are in Spanish, but the Monday bike tours are in English.

Street food
You can find street food everywhere in el Centro. Near the central bus station, there are some vendors as you walk towards the nearby Soriana hiper. There is a with delicious food, for example a gringa for M$40 (March 2022). It's the last food stall on the street C. Julián Villagrán between the 7-eleven and Michoacana.

There is also in the middle of the centro, for example at Calle Aramberri / Calle Juan Méndez Nte with a gordita for M$10 (March 2022) during day-time. At the end of Morelos in the Zona Rosa, there are several street food vendors as you walk up Hidalgo (away from Macroplaza). Some are there during the day, more open up at night.

In Barrio Antiguo, dozens of street food vendors set up on street corners. They aren't out during the day, but when the party crowds come out at night, the food vendors are everywhere.

in the Zona Rosa

 * Interplaza Food Court Peatonal Morelos at Av. Benito Juarez - levels 2 and 3, dozens of fast food options
 * Plaza Mexico Food Court Peatonal Morelos - level 2, dozens of fast food options
 * Interplaza Food Court Peatonal Morelos at Av. Benito Juarez - levels 2 and 3, dozens of fast food options
 * Plaza Mexico Food Court Peatonal Morelos - level 2, dozens of fast food options

Drink
The east side of Macroplaza constitutes Barrio Antiguo (Old Town). At night, you will find plenty of bars with live music that stay open until early in the morning. Keep an eye out for people handing out "No Cover" passes on the street, as well as flyers advertising events and special offers (example: 2x1 on bottles before midnight, girls 50% off cover fee) at the different nightclubs.

Coffee
Whether it's a morning necessity, or an alternative to alcoholic beverages, coffee is increasingly becoming a social drink of choice. Monterrey is blessed with many independent coffee houses that offer a refreshing change of pace from over-marketed ubiquitous coffee chains.

Connect
Broadband internet is ubiquitous and all major hotels and restaurants offer free WiFi service. Cell reception is excellent throughout the area with 5G coverage in all parts of the city. See main article for details.

title: Monterrey/Centro


text:
Monterrico

Monterrico is the most popular beach in Guatemala and also the closest to Guatemala City and Antigua. The beaches are full of interesting but awkward steep angles due to the strength of the pounding surf. The ocean floor here drops off very steeply after only 6-12 m (20- 40 feet), making the undertow here very strong; only strong swimmers should venture out very far. This topography also provides some nice waves for surfing. There are lifeguards on duty during the weekend. Don't forget to bring some sandals as the sand is of the black volcanic variety. It is a stunning feature for the beauty of it, but it is too hot to walk on after 10am. The beach is 15-25 m (50-80 feet) wide and stretches for miles. It is busiest(not crowded by any measure) on Sunday with mostly Guatemalans.

Get in
By public bus: From Guatemala City to Iztapa (from the bus terminal in zona 4, 05:00-18:00 more or less every hour, 1 hour and 45 min), boat across the canal of Chiquimulilla to Puerto Viejo, and from there by bus to Monterrico (four buses a day). Or by bus to Taxisco, another bus (or pickup truck) to La Avellana, and finally a lancha (boat) to Monterrico. If you don't want to boat you can now (as of Nov 2008 at least) take roads totally over-land in any combination of bus, mini-bus or mini-van all the way to the main intersection in Monterrico. There are also 3 direct buses from Guatemala City to La Avellana, leaving the bus terminal in zona 4 (may have moved) at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 (check the schedule with Transportes Cubanita). By shuttle: From Antigua you can take a direct mini-bus shuttle for US$18 round-trip which leaves at 08:00 and returns at 15:00 daily.

By car: Head for Escuintla - Puerto Quetzal - Iztapa - across the bridge to Puerto Viejo - and then to Monterrico. Or you can take the Carretera al Pacífico from Escuintla - Taxisco - La Avellana and a ferry to Monterrico.

Get around

Walk, run, bike, mini-van, horseback ride, boat in the canals.

See

 * Turtle Release
 * The mangrove swamp

Do
You should know that Monterrico is for relaxing, meeting people, having a meal or some drinks, and then relaxing some more. To put it plainly, there isn't much going on in Monterrico yet. The weekends-only night-life, internet cafe (1 only as of Nov 2008) and mangrove swamp is pretty much it. At times there is a lot of litter along the main street, but as the town grows more tourist-aware, the local businesses have a campaign of cleanliness, including new garbage cans in public. The beaches are mostly clean, and the hotels between the Dulce y Salado and the Eco Beach place generally keep it the best. You can take a 2-hour boat tour of the mangrove swamp for US$5. The main road leads from the beach to the mangrove swamp dock and is a pleasant little 10-minute walk. There are a few mosquitos at night and you will get bitten so bring repellent. Some hotel rooms have mosquito netting covering the bed, but not all. The waves at the beach have a short and dangerous break.

There is an internet cafe with 2 terminals on the main road along the beach, and they charge Q12 an hour.

There is a Spanish language school.

Horses are available to ride on the beach.

Baby turtle release is one of the most fun activities. There are several places along the beach that collect eggs laid by sea turtles and when hatched, they will mass release all the turtles. Ask your hotel manager or locals for more information. Generally the laying and release season runs from June through March.

Affluent Guatemalans drive their ATVs up and down the beach. So do the police. Be aware.

More affluent folk fly their single or twin propeller plane in for the weekend and often fly low along the beach. There is a grassy landing strip along the main road, owned by the Aeroclub de Guatemala. Helicopters also fly along the beach once in a while, usually the affluent folk touring around before landing at their beach houses. If possible take an ATV ride along the beach, (west or east for about 10 Km) you will see some fascinating houses.

Buy

Not much here in the way of local textiles as in other regions of Guatemala, but there are some local specialties worth noting; this region grows and dries massive loofas (they can be found drying hanging from most any surface in early November). There is also a profusion of coconuts here, so plentiful in fact that they sit in big piles at the base of trees scattered all over town, and local merchants gather them and put them in big coolers. For Q2 you can have a freshly opened coconut with cool natural coconut milk inside, and then you can pour other drinks into it or smash it open and eat the coconut meat, which is delicious.

Money
You may want to bring all the cash you need for your stay. There is a bank where you can cash traveler's checks, get credit card cash advances and other banking needs like change. There is one ATM in Monterrico in the local convenience store and when it runs out of cash or is shut down it can be days before it's in service again. Some of the more expensive hotels have been known to exchange American Express travelers checks e.g. Johnnys Place, but they will not give you the best of exchange rates. Similarly, a few hotels and restaurants accept Visa credit cards, though often with a 5% surcharge. Visa traveler's checks are not accepted anywhere in town.

Eat
Many of the hotels along the beach have restaurants. Some of the best are at the Hotels "El Delfin", "Cafe del Sol", "Pez de Oro", "Johnny's" and "Mañanitas Beach Lounge" (no hotel).

Food in most of the beach restaurants is more expensive, but dependable and you might feel much more comfortable depending on your level of travel exposure. The best part is, you get a great sunset almost everynight. Budget-food you get along Calle Principal. Here you will find a place selling chow mein tostadas for a bargain price. But be careful you can also get stomach problems. Vegetarian food is particularly hard to come by here with seafood being predominant on most menus.

On the main road from the beach to the mangrove dock street vendors sell chicken sandwiches for Q5 and fried chicken with fries for Q6. You can get a small slice of cake for Q2 at some of the local stores (tienda in Spanish). "'

Drink
El Caracol The best place for an ice cold beer and for watching the sunset. The food, drinks and the view are awesome! It's a hotel also. If you want to see new pics go to: http://elcaracolmonterico.hi5.com for information call +502 78481645, +502 78481646 and +502 59781018 ask for Milton Ambrocio. English spoken.

 * Mañanitas Beach Lounge Chill out atmosphere, great cocktails and food. Right on the beach at the end of the main street (Calle Principal).
 * El Cafe del Sol enjoy the sunset with a tasty tropical cocktail - on the best part of the beach.
 * El Cafe del Sol enjoy the sunset with a tasty tropical cocktail - on the best part of the beach.

A cold 600 ml plastic bottle of Coca Cola cost Q5 at the local stores.

Sleep
The beach hotels usually operate with different prices for weekends-weekdays. On the weekends it can be difficult to get a room at your hotel of choice. Book ahead, or be prepared to walk along the beach asking for available rooms. Children often will greet you as you arrive by bus and show you the way to a hotel but they do not know about the availability of the rooms and will expect a small tip of some kind.

 * Hotel El Delfin, a great budget option for backpackers or anyone looking for a great deal. Prices starting at Q40 per person. Delicious, clean, and cheap restaurant and a fun beach front bar perfect for chilling out. Lots of hammocks, so there is plenty of space to relax. It was taken over by a young couple, who are making the place more comfortable and friendly. English and Spanish are spoken by staff. Tel.: +502 5702-6701 hoteldelfinmonterrico@gmail.com Check out their new website: (http://www.hotel-el-delfin.com)
 * Hotel "Café del Sol". Excellent menus, nice and clean rooms, sunset-terrace on the beach, ask for mangrove-tours and horse-backriding. Q180/140. Tel +502 5810-0821 (http://www.cafe-del-sol.com/)
 * El Mangle, Tel +502 5514-6517, +502 5490-1336. Q180/150 double weekend/weekdays. Nice grounds, roof terrace with hammocks. Restaurant serves clay oven pizza. Accepts Visa cards.
 * Hotel Baule Beach
 * Brisas del Mar, excellent value for money hotel with basic but clean van or aircon rooms, large swimming pool. From Q60 per night per person.
 * Brisas del Mar, excellent value for money hotel with basic but clean van or aircon rooms, large swimming pool. From Q60 per night per person.
 * Brisas del Mar, excellent value for money hotel with basic but clean van or aircon rooms, large swimming pool. From Q60 per night per person.
 * Brisas del Mar, excellent value for money hotel with basic but clean van or aircon rooms, large swimming pool. From Q60 per night per person.

Go next
There are at least two different shuttles to Antigua (mini-buses full of mostly young backpacking gringos) that leave at 13:00 and 15:00 every day. They can be booked along Calle Principal (the signs are fairly obvious) for Q75 or US$10. It is cheaper to buy a roundtrip in Antigua for US$18 (contrary to what Lonely Planet says - the locals caught on).

title: Monterrico


text:
Monte San Savino

Monte San Savino is a town in the Italian province of Arezzo. It lies at the centre of a triangle formed by important cities such as Florence, Siena and Perugia. The town is located on a hill in the valley of Chiana. Arezzo, the major town of the area is 20 km away.

See
The Pottery Museum of Monte San Savino.

Do

 * "Sagra della Porchetta Savinese" festival held every September.

title: Monte San Savino


text:
Monte Sant'Angelo

Monte Sant'Angelo is a city in the province of Foggia in the region of Apulia (Puglia). It is famous for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
The city stands on a spur of the Gargano in a wooded area not far from the sea.

By plane
Monte Sant'Angelo can be reached from three airports in Puglia:

Foggia airport is the closest to the city.
 * Foggia "Gino Lisa" airport
 * Bari "Palese" airport
 * Brindisi airport

By car
To arrive by car you must reach the A14 Bologna/Taranto motorway. Continuing along this highway you can take:

 * the San Severo exit (Km 57). Take the state road 272 towards San Marco in Lamis continue towards San Giovanni Rotondo and 24 km Monte Sant'Angelo;
 * the Foggia exit (Km 54). Take the SS 89 towards Manfredonia, in Macchia take the detour to Monte Sant'Angelo

By train
By train, the nearest airport is the Foggia station. From Foggia station you can reach Monte Sant'Angelo by bus or taxi.

By bus
There are many ways to reach the town by bus:

 * Long Range Lines of Ferrovie del Gargano: daily connect several large Italian cities with the municipalities of the Gargano.
 * SAPS National and International Lines: in this case, you get to Foggia, and then use other local lines (e.g. Ferrovie del Gargano and SITA) to Monte Sant'Angelo.

Get around
There is an urban transport bus service in the city.

See
The CardMSA allows you to visit the main sites of interest in the city with a single ticket: the Lapidary Museum and the Devotional Museum of the UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary, the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Tumba, the Norman Castle- Svevo-Aragonese, the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions of the Gargano. The city card also includes discounts at the restaurants and hotels participating in the project. The cost of the card is €6 (August 2021).

title: Monte Sant'Angelo


text:
Montes Claros

Montes Claros is a city of 413,000 people (2020) in Northern Minas Gerais. It has several natural, historical and cultural attractions, such as the Municipal Parks Milton Prates, Guimarães Rosa and Sapucaia, which are important green areas, and buildings such as the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora Aparecida and the Igrejinha dos Morrinhos, in addition to the various archaeological sites.

Climate
Montes Claros has dry and mild winters and rainy summers with high temperatures.

See

 * Montes Claros has innumerous caves and 164 catalogued archaeological sites, among which the most important are the caves of Lapa Grande, where there is an underground river with a length of more than 1km. Lapa Grande is in the Serra da Vieira, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Montes Claros.
 * Vieira River
 * Vieira River

Do

 * In the city there are several large parks, among which the most important are Parque Municipal Milton Prates, with a lake and zoo. In the rural area there is Parque Sapucaia, a forest reserve and Parque Guimarães Rosa along the banks of the Córrego Carrapato.
 * August Festival
 * Pequi Festival - Celebrating the pequi, a small pulpy fruit popular only in central Brasil.

title: Montes Claros


text:
Montespluga

Montespluga is a hamlet in Italy. In the province of Sondrio, in the Lombardy region

Get in
The village is situated on the Italian side of the Passo Della Spluga (German: Splügenpass) crossing from Italy to Switzerland and is the last town on the Italian part of the Via Spluga, yet it is often cut off from both countries in winter. Milan is the nearest airport, yet Zurich is an option, but only in summer as the pass is closed in winter. From here a road is the only way to reach Montespluga.

Get around
This is a very small place, so on foot is the best way, there are no bus services in the village.

See
There are genuinely no major attractions in Montespluga, it is very much a activity place. The only real thing to see is the spectacular high mountain scenery as this is the border between the Rhaetian and Lepontine Alps.

Do

 * Ski Touring
 * Hiking
 * Mountain Pass driving

title: Montespluga


text:
Montevarchi

Montevarchi is a city in the province of Arezzo in Tuscany. This article also covers the neighbouring towns San Giovanni Valdarno and Terranuova Bracciolini.

Get in
Montevarchi has its own train station on the Florence-Rome line. Journey time from Florence about 1 hour and trains run almost every hour. It's 5 km from the Valdarno junction of the A1 Autostrada by car.

Get around
The town is sufficiently small to be explored on foot. Via Roma, the main street, is closed to traffic after 10:00 making walking more pleasant.

Montevarchi
There are a number of small museums in Montevarchi but the most interesting are:
 * Museo del Cassero, corner of Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via Trieste, Thursdays to Sundays, 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00 or 19.00 at weekends. Over 500 Italian sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries, an epoch usually overlooked in Italian museums, featuring works by Monti, Bortolotti and Galeffi. The Cassero, or barracks, building was sensitively restored in 2010 to house this museum and is wheelchair friendly. Admission €3 (reduced €1).
 * Museo dell'Arte Sacra (Museum of sacred art), Via Isidoro del Lungo, 4, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 18:00. It's a tiny museum, little more than 2 rooms, but the star of the show is the Andrea della Robbia temple, constructed in 1505 in the adjoining church, then dismantled in 1709 and finally reconstructed in its present position in 1973. It alone is worth the admission price of €3 (reduced €1).

San Giovanni Valdarno

 * Convent of San Francesco a Montecarlo. It houses an Incoronation of the Virgin by Neri di Bicci (1472–1475)
 * Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie (built in 1484, but with a 19th-century Neoclassical façade). Its museum houses Beato Angelico's Annunciation.
 * Church of San Lorenzo (early 14th century)
 * Church of San Lorenzo (early 14th century)

Do

 * Centro Storico (the town's oval shaped medieval centre) is very atmospheric and well worth exploring. Tthe defensive walls and gates were demolished long ago. You can still glimpse parts of the town walls by the Dogana river and the paving of Piazza Vittorio Veneto has a series of lights following the line of the walls discovered during building works. However Montevarchi's central street pattern survives intact from the Middle Ages: two oval shaped roads, one inside the other, linked by Via Roma up the middle and lots of narrow alleys across. On Via Poggio Bracciolini is the Chiostro di Cennano (Cennano cloister) which frequently has free exhibitions and concerts in summer.

Buy
This ancient market town on the River Arno has been an important crossroads for trade in the region. Silk, wool, textiles and later ceramics have all been traded here. Montevarchi has still one of the busiest markets (Thursday mornings) in Tuscany, and is popular with tourists due to the Prada outlet store.

Eat

 * La Buca di Ipo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 34, 055 982233, Thursday to Tuesday evenings only. Excellent value trattoria much frequented by the locals. Specialises in fish dishes but all tastes catered for.

Drink

 * Dolcenero Caffé, Via Roma 64 (on corner of main piazza), closed Mondays. Excellent choice for late breakfasts, light lunches or drinks at any time during the day. Good prices. Outdoor tables are in the shade of the town hall's monumental colonnade overlooking the piazza. This is the bar where former UK Prime Minister Cameron was famously not brought his cappuccino in 2011! Closes at 20:00. Free wifi.
 * Via Roma 7 (on Piazza Vittorio Veneto, diagonally opposite the Cassero Museum). Pricey bar with nibbles and music. Outdoor tables in the piazza in summer. Stays open late in the evenings. Free wifi.

Sleep
The more characterful accommodation is in the countryside outside Montevarchi:
 * Erboli Residence Villa Loc. Erboli, 166 Cavriglia. A villa with rental holiday apartments and a pool near Cavriglia in green countryside with rolling hills with a typical Tuscan atmosphere.
 * Erboli Residence Villa Loc. Erboli, 166 Cavriglia. A villa with rental holiday apartments and a pool near Cavriglia in green countryside with rolling hills with a typical Tuscan atmosphere.
 * Erboli Residence Villa Loc. Erboli, 166 Cavriglia. A villa with rental holiday apartments and a pool near Cavriglia in green countryside with rolling hills with a typical Tuscan atmosphere.
 * Erboli Residence Villa Loc. Erboli, 166 Cavriglia. A villa with rental holiday apartments and a pool near Cavriglia in green countryside with rolling hills with a typical Tuscan atmosphere.
 * Erboli Residence Villa Loc. Erboli, 166 Cavriglia. A villa with rental holiday apartments and a pool near Cavriglia in green countryside with rolling hills with a typical Tuscan atmosphere.

Go next
Arezzo to the east and Florence to the north-west would be obvious places to go next.

title: Montevarchi


text:
Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves

Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves are in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica.

Get in
The cheapest way to get to Monteverde is by bus, but you may also choose to use the "Jeep-boat-jeep" option (which in reality is more of a "bus-boat-bus" trip) if you are coming from La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano area.

Travellers going to Monteverde by public bus have limited options. From the west (Tamarindo, Liberia, Nicoya), you take any bus going to San Jose, and ask to get off at La Irma for Monteverde. You will be dropped off at a gas station at a crossroads. Cross the street to the road going up the hill and there will be a small bus stop for buses going up to Las Juntas and Monteverde. Only 2 public buses per day go to Monteverde from La Irma, at 10:00 and 15:00. The afternoon buses can often be up to 30 minutes late. Taxis are available from here and cost US$60 for up to 4 people; speaking a bit of Spanish helps as the drivers will tell you about the region and stop at viewpoints.

You may also choose to get a rental car. The roads within Santa Elena are now paved, but only as far as the gas station. The road to the reserve is not paved. Renting a car is thus not such a bad idea. In the dry season there is no need for a 4WD. While the road up to Montverde is unsealed it is graded, with much non 4WD traffic daily. In the wet season a 4WD would be the safer route, or at the very least a vehicle with ample ground clearance and where the spare tyre is in good condition - you may have to use it.

There are also private transportation companies that offer private transfers in a private vehicle. There are also shuttle services that charge around US$29 per person from anywhere in the country. These are not private, however, and sometimes use window vans that are packed like sardines. Instead of paying your hostel to book the shuttle you can book yourself for some companies like RocaVerde.

Beware of pickpockets on the public bus. Don't put your backpack in the overhead rack.

Get around
There are several taxi companies, and local bus services are going up and down the hill every 2 hours every day. Many of the activities in the area are in walking distance. The ones further away have free transportation included in their price.

See
The most scenic parts of Monteverde are at the Trocha in San Luis, at the Ventana in the Monteverde Reserve or at the Mirador in the Santa Elena Reserve. Mist and clouds often obscure these views.

Do
Monteverde's appeal centers on its scenery and nature. Many ecosystems exist in the numerous reserves, such as Bajo del Tigre, the Santa Elena Reserve, the Bosque Eterno de los Niños and the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Organized activities in Monteverde are not cheap. Simple guided tours can cost US$35-40, and more intense activities such as ziplining cost $45 and up. Commissions are a driving force in Monteverde and your hotel receptionist will not always sell the best tour, but the one that gives the largest commission. For example when you book a night tour and pay US$25 for the 2-hour hike, the hotel will be paid $10 for making the booking. You paid the hotel $10 per person for calling and making a booking for you. The ziplines offer a minimum $25 commission to book them. You will be pressured to book those things that offer the largest commissions at many places, especially if the room is cheap! So make sure to book directly through the attraction.

A major industry is the zipline business, and there are several choices, including the Original Canopy Tour, Sky Trek and Selvatura Park. These "canopy tours" offer a good albeit fast look at the canopy from dizzying heights. Often there are hanging bridges and cloud forest hikes at these locations as well and they provide better views of wildlife but less adrenalin.

Other attractions include:
 * the Bat Jungle, with live bats, museum & an Argentinean restaurant
 * the Frog Pond
 * the Victorian-style Butterfly Garden at Selvatura Park
 * the astounding Insect Museum in the same complex
 * the San Luis waterfall
 * the very interesting Bajo del Tigre night walk
 * horseback riding. All-day cowboy ride and San Luis Waterfall ride.
 * horseback riding. All-day cowboy ride and San Luis Waterfall ride.
 * horseback riding. All-day cowboy ride and San Luis Waterfall ride.

Buy
All throughout the main drag of Santa Elena, T-shirts, shot glasses and other standard tourist fares are sold. Coffee products are sold throughout town as well, though the Coffee Roaster in Monteverde is particularly noteworthy. A women's art commune, CASEM, is a good place to look for wooden wares and a variety of rainforest themed stuffed animals, but is not cheap. Cerro Plano also boasts a South American clothing store, which is relatively cheap but certainly not Costa Rican. Overall, Monteverde souvenirs are tourist-geared kitsch, however.

Books
If you're looking for something to read there aren't too many options. Librería Chunches, the local "book store" wasn't open when I was around and based on the photos it seems like they only have tourist books. However, the Monteverde Coffee Center has a book exchange (give a book take a book). Also, The Pension Santa Elena Hotel has a small collection of used books in the lobby that you may be able to read or exchange for.

Eat
Food options at the Santa Elena Reserve are limited. There is a small cafe that mostly serves dead animals. If you came to the reserve because you wanted to see live animals, you may want to bring your own snacks.

Go to downtown Santa Elena to get the best food. There is a variety of cuisines to choose from Sushi to tapas to Tipico and burger joints. Sophias Restaurant has really exotic food. Tramonti is great for Italian food. Fried chicken next to the bank in Santa Elena. Great chocolates at Café Caburé. Orchid Cafe do great panini and smoothies.

Drink
Despite being packed with tourists, Santa Elena is not a party destination, and much of the town shuts down after 21:00. However, the bars do stay open for any people who do want to have a night out.

The Guarida del Sapo is a more upscale and much more expensive locale, with beers going at a criminal ₡1200. However, the service is amazing and the music is never as loud as Bar Amigos.

The Unicornio is a locals only spot for the most part, with beers at ₡700 and (hilariously bad) karaoke most every night. Proceed to Unicornio with prudence and trepidation; you're likely to stick out here as a tourist of any kind.

The Bromelias souvenir shop sometimes converts into a bar with great live music, but this is rare. Beers here are also ₡700, but Bromelias is by and large the best place to drink when it's functional.

Go next
Go to the beach or to the nearest destination - Arenal Volcano & Fortuna.

Jeep-boat-jeep options from Monteverde to La Fortuna are US$20-25 and take about 3-4 hours and can be booked from any hotel. The public bus is far cheaper, but can take 7-8 hours, and requires changes via Tilaran.

It is possible to go directly from Monteverde all the way to Panama or Nicaragua (Pena Blanca crossing) in one day, you should take the morning bus leaving Monteverde.