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Capri

The small Italian island of Capri is 5 km from the mainland in the Bay of Naples, a celebrated beauty spot and coastal resort since the days of the Roman Republic until now. It is also part of Campania.

Cities

 * — the second town of Capri with no sea views except on Monte Solaro, but a fun place nonetheless
 * — the main town

Understand
Capri, known in Greek mythology as the isle of the sirens, was a favored resort of the Roman emperors. Most notoriously, the emperor Tiberius had his villa on the island, the location (supposedly) of debaucherous orgies. Those who displeased the emperor were flung to their deaths from the cliffs. The island is world-famous and is very touristy, especially when swamped with tourists in July & August, but other times of year it is calmer and more relaxing.

Related readings
The isle of Capri is the setting for William Somerset Maugham's The Lotus Eater, a short story in which the Bostonian protagonist arrives in Capri on holiday, wherein he is so enchanted by the place that he abandons his job and decides to spend the rest of his life in leisure on the island.

Villa San Michele in Anacapri is the former residence of Swedish physician Axel Munthe (1857-1949) and the main scenery of his memoir, The Story of San Michele. Among other stories, he describes his youthful discovery of the ruins (1874) out of which he eventually created the villa (1895).

Pronunciation of the name
Many brand names of products are pronounced kuh-PREE in English-speaking countries, but if you want to pronounce the name of the island like Italians do, you have to say KAH-pree.

By boat

 * Capri is reached in about 40 minutes by hydrofoil from the port of Ischia or Forio, docking at on the north side of the island. There are also daily ferries from Naples (20 per day, €16, 40 minutes), Amalfi, Positano and from Sorrento (15 per day, €20, 30 minutes (Oct 2019)). Boats are operated by Caremar and SNAV.
 * For arriving in style, Capritime Boats specialises in water taxi direct transfers from Naples, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Ischia to Capri. They also provide luxury full-day and half-day boat tours to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Coast from Capri, tailor itineraries for cruise ship passengers docked in Sorrento, Capri, Naples and Amalfi and also offer special Capri and Ischia island boat excursions.
 * From Marina Grande, a funicular goes up to Capri Town, and boats leave for the Blue Grotto. The fourth store to the right of the funicular provides baggage storage for €2.50/day per bag, from 08:30-18:00. Tickets for buses, funicular, and return boats are for sale at kiosks, along with public toilets. The Tourist Information office offers €1 maps, open daily April to October 08:30-20:30, November to March 09:00-13:00 & 15:30-14:30. The Bar Augusto has internet access from 06:00-20:00.

Get around

 * By foot: from the main harbour to the town up the hill leads a range of stairs. Stairs and walkways, mostly signposted, crisscross the island.
 * By funicolare: this mountain tram (same stuff as in Naples, Heidelberg, Barcelona and San Francisco) connects the harbour with the town up the hill. €2 per trip (Oct 2019). Read also about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.
 * By taxi: The open top taxis are expensive, but if there are a group of you, worth considering. Haggle to get a price to ferry you around the island for the day (it won't be cheap - but very little on Capri is!).
 * By bus: Island buses are readily available to take you to the various areas of the island. They run on a schedule and cost €2 per ride (Oct 2019). Buses run from:
 * Marina Grande to Capri town (4 per hour) and then take bus to Anacapri (4 per hour) but the Capri to Anacapri bus gets crowded, so you could take a bus direct from Marina to Anacapri (2 per hour)
 * Anacapri Buses go to Capri (at least 4 per hour) and to the Blue Grotto

See

 * Sunrise - If you take the early ferry from Naples (the one at 06:45), then as you travel to Capri, the sun rises over the mountains. The sky turns from deep violet to pink to orange to gold. It is an amazingly beautiful sight, certainly worth waking up at the ungodly hour!
 * Sunrise - If you take the early ferry from Naples (the one at 06:45), then as you travel to Capri, the sun rises over the mountains. The sky turns from deep violet to pink to orange to gold. It is an amazingly beautiful sight, certainly worth waking up at the ungodly hour!

Anacapri

 * Capri Diorama in a courtyard near the Tourist Information office, is a large, painted model of the island. Avoid it between 14:00 & 15:00, when cruise ship crowds deluge it, on Via G. Orlandi, €3, open daily 09:00-19:30, closed November to march. Telephone: 081-837-1169.
 * The Monte Solaro Chairlift goes up to the high summit of Mt. Solaro, with a commanding view at the top of the entire Naples Bay. It takes 15 minutes up or down, €9 round-trip, €7 one way (you can hike for 40 minutes down from the summit), open daily in summer 09:30-17:00, last run down at 17:30, November to March last run at 15:30.
 * The Faro Lighthouse, reached by bus from Anacapri (2 an hour) is a great place to enjoy the sunset, along with its beach pool, and restaurants.
 * The Monte Solaro Chairlift goes up to the high summit of Mt. Solaro, with a commanding view at the top of the entire Naples Bay. It takes 15 minutes up or down, €9 round-trip, €7 one way (you can hike for 40 minutes down from the summit), open daily in summer 09:30-17:00, last run down at 17:30, November to March last run at 15:30.
 * The Faro Lighthouse, reached by bus from Anacapri (2 an hour) is a great place to enjoy the sunset, along with its beach pool, and restaurants.

Do
Capri is a place to do as little or as much as you like. The four cafes in the main square are the place to be seen in the evenings after the deluge of day trippers have left. Celebrities can occasionally be found sipping drinks there. High end shops line the streets if you feel the need for retail therapy.

 * Walk Take one of the public footpaths which let you reach, for instance, the "Arco Naturale" and other beautiful sights which the large majority of tourists will only see from their boat trips around the island. Some of these paths are very steep and you need to walk up and down long stairs sometimes. The map you can buy for a small fee at the main tourist office in the harbor shows most of the footpaths. However, it is difficult to get lost on such a small island.
 * Hike Nearly the entire perimeter of the island is accessible for hiking. Few people, except local fishers and hunters, take advantage of these beautiful natural trails. Several abandoned forts are found along the path and there are trails and paved descents that can take you all the way to the water's edge. This is a great way to explore the natural beauty of the island when the day tripping tourists flood the more populous regions of the island. Bring plenty of water and comfortable shoes if you do hike; you may be a long distance from the nearest road or bus stop.
 * Rent a motor boat For anywhere up to 5 people per boat, you pay around €35 for two hours and drive the boat yourself - the perfect way to see the island from the sea - no schedule, you can stop wherever you please to take a swim. Enquire near to the port for the companies who provide these boats.
 * Rent a motor scooter to tour the island.  Gets you around much quicker than on foot, but still allows you to easily maneuver the winding roads. Beware of crazy bus drivers especially around corners! Beware as they may only allow experienced drivers to rent scooters.
 * Take the chairlift ride Called the Seggiovia by locals, it goes from Anacapri up to Monte Solaro. On a clear day the views over the bay of Naples from the summit are indescribable and there are some really pretty gardens and orchards underfoot on the way up the mountain (passing over private homes). The ride takes 15 minutes each way and is a remarkably peaceful break from the tourist crowds elsewhere in Capri. You'll want at the very least 30 minutes at the top, where a restaurant and toilets are available. Round trip is €12 or €9 one way. Open daily in summer 09:30 to 17:00, last run down at 17:30, November to March last run down at 15:30. Very windy at wintertime.
 * Swim, many locals swim in the Blue Grotto after 18:00 when the boats stop and in any of the other grottos around the island. Swimming is much safer however at the small beach to the left of the ticket kiosk for the furnicolare in Marina Grande or on the other side of the island at Marina Piccola (resort-like beach) or at any of the natural beaches reachable by boat. Swimming in grottos is only for experienced swimmers and is not for the faint-hearted, as tidal waves frequently close and open the openings to the grottos, and in the process, potentially injure a swimmer against the rocks when trying to enter or exit. Never do this alone, go with a local if you really feel the need to swim inside a grotto or the Blue Grotto which has a very low mouth opening.
 * Marina Piccola is on the opposite end of the island from Marina Grande. You can walk, but the bus is probably easier. The Marina Piccola is a quieter area which has two beach areas where you can swim or layout on the smooth rock beach. But in July and August finding space on the pebbles is very difficult.

Events
From April to the end of the summer, the island also comes to life from an artistic and cultural point of view. Concerts are organized almost every evening in the squares or the splendid villas built by Tiberius, as well as painting and sculpture exhibitions, plays and dance performances. This wonderful island is a destination that attracts visitors of all nationalities!

 * Festival of San Costanzo On May 14 every year, the patron saint of the town of Capri, San Costanzo, is celebrated.
 * Festival of Sant’Antonio On June 13 every year, the patron saint of the town of Anacapri is celebrated with a large rustic festival.
 * International Folklore Festival During the 1st week of August, Anacapri plays host to a range of events in its squares, featuring musical bands and folk dance companies.
 * Settembrata Anacaprese September. A large rustic festival for celebrating the grape harvest: 10 days of celebration dedicated to the island’s typical produce, including shows, competitions and games.
 * Capri Film Festival Every December since 1991, Capri has hosted an international festival dedicated to the cinema. The event attracts Italian artistes, Hollywood stars and independent filmmakers keen to present their works in this exclusive location.

Arco Naturale—natural arch reachable by a beautiful hike around the southern edge of Capri.

Eat
Some restaurants, especially around the town center, can be very expensive. A good alternative: go to the local grocery store (one near the port, another in Anacapri) and make your own delicious sandwiches. (However there are few park benches and few public spaces to sit and eat on Capri.) Cafes at the harbour are particularly costly (a can of coke will cost €5, while the same thing can be bought from a food shop in the town for €1).

 * Donna Rachele Is a new and very good restaurant pretty close to the main square in Capri. Prices are not cheap but they are certainly worth it. They have a good wine selection and will make a nice recommendation if asked. There is also a beautiful tile mosaic on the second floor. Telephone: +39 081 8375387. Via Padre Serafino Cimino, 2bis.
 * Donna Rachele Is a new and very good restaurant pretty close to the main square in Capri. Prices are not cheap but they are certainly worth it. They have a good wine selection and will make a nice recommendation if asked. There is also a beautiful tile mosaic on the second floor. Telephone: +39 081 8375387. Via Padre Serafino Cimino, 2bis.
 * Donna Rachele Is a new and very good restaurant pretty close to the main square in Capri. Prices are not cheap but they are certainly worth it. They have a good wine selection and will make a nice recommendation if asked. There is also a beautiful tile mosaic on the second floor. Telephone: +39 081 8375387. Via Padre Serafino Cimino, 2bis.
 * Donna Rachele Is a new and very good restaurant pretty close to the main square in Capri. Prices are not cheap but they are certainly worth it. They have a good wine selection and will make a nice recommendation if asked. There is also a beautiful tile mosaic on the second floor. Telephone: +39 081 8375387. Via Padre Serafino Cimino, 2bis.
 * Donna Rachele Is a new and very good restaurant pretty close to the main square in Capri. Prices are not cheap but they are certainly worth it. They have a good wine selection and will make a nice recommendation if asked. There is also a beautiful tile mosaic on the second floor. Telephone: +39 081 8375387. Via Padre Serafino Cimino, 2bis.

Capri town
After getting off the train that goes up the hill, walk up to the square with the pillars all around, and you'll find a little drink stand. Buy a Red Orange Smoothie; they are excellent when the weather gets hot.

Anacapri
Bellavista, Casa Caprille, Villa Capri, Senaria, Loreley, La Porta, Due Pini Residence, Il Mulino, Da Gelsolmina Migliera

Stay safe
As with many other places, hike at your own risk. Cacti, prickly pears, bees, and steep slopes and edges are the primary things to be cautious of on some trails, but otherwise, hiking on Capri's trails is generally quite safe. However, be careful when walking down paths around the villas when alone, as many of the residents of the villas keep large dogs which may roam freely onto the public pathways; these dogs are not particularly friendly to outsiders.

Swimming in the grottoes is only for the very experienced, as tides can easily open and close the grottoes and dash swimmers against the rocks when trying to enter or exit. Swimming alone in the grottoes is highly discouraged.

Go next
From Capri’s port there are daily ferry trips to:

 * Ischia
 * Naples (2/hour, 40 minutes, €18)
 * Amalfi (mid-May–September only, 2/day hydrofoil, 1 hour, €14 or 2/day slow boat, 75 minutes, €11.50)
 * Sorrento (at least hourly, fast ferry 25 minutes, €5.80 or jet boat, 20 minutes, €12)
 * Pompeii
 * Praia a Mare
 * Positano (mid-May to September only, 2/day fast boat, 40 minutes, €15 or 1/day slow boat, 50 minutes, €12.50)
 * Vesuvius
 * Procida

Confirm schedule, last boats usually leave between 18:00 & 20:00

title: Capri


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Central Queensland

Central Queensland is the coastal area north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

Cities
Listed north to south
 * - unofficial capital of North Queensland with about 160,000 people (including Thuringowa)
 * - this town on the frontier between coast and country has a colourful history in gold mining and agriculture.
 * - the 'sugar capital' is full of Australian history and boasts a beautiful tropical botanic gardens.
 * - the commercial centre of the region, promoting itself as the "beef capital of Australia"
 * - this port town allows visitors to experience hundreds of years of industrial history through museums and tours.
 * (Seventeen Seventy) - this town on the frontier between coast and country has a colourful history in gold mining and agriculture. The nearby resort of Agnes Water contains the most northerly surfing beach on Australia's east coast.
 * – sugarcane, rum and ginger beer
 * – the longest unsupported tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere
 * – many historic colonial buildings
 * – whale and dolphin watching and the gateway to K'gari
 * – picturesque coastal town hosting some of Queensland's best activities
 * - Australia's "Peanut Capital"
 * – the longest unsupported tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere
 * – many historic colonial buildings
 * – whale and dolphin watching and the gateway to K'gari
 * – picturesque coastal town hosting some of Queensland's best activities
 * - Australia's "Peanut Capital"
 * - Australia's "Peanut Capital"
 * - Australia's "Peanut Capital"

Other destinations

 * - southern rainforest town near Townsville
 * - 74 perfect islands off the coast of tourist haven Airlie Beach, with white-sand beaches and clear turquoise water all around
 * - in the Southern Reef Islands
 * - a coral cay with a diversity of bird and marine life, and resort facilities, in the Southern Reef Islands
 * - the world's largest sand island
 * – contains one of only two everglades systems in the world
 * - the world's largest sand island
 * – contains one of only two everglades systems in the world
 * – contains one of only two everglades systems in the world

Understand
Central Queensland is sometimes known as Capricornia and a divided region centred around the east coast of the Tropic of Capricornia. It is full of protected areas, vast tracts of bush, coastal landscapes, remote communities and the most part very hard to get to. The city of Rockhampton makes a good base to explore due to a lot of tourist infrastructure.

Because of its mining industry, Central Queensland is also one of the world-leading exports of black coal.

Get in
Central Queensland is served with flights from most major centres in Australia through its coastal airports. Cairns and Gold Coast airports also serve some international destinations.

Highway 1 enters Central Queensland from Brisbane to the south and continues north to Cairns.

Get around
A drive from top to bottom of this region will take 13 hours from Townsville to Rainbow Beach. There isn't much of a passenger train network, and without a car you be reliant on buses and planes.

See

 * Whales, at Hervey Bay, the local centre for watching these majestic creatures.
 * The 'singing ship' memorial to Captain James Cook at Yeppoon.

Do

 * Fossick for gems near the appropriately-named towns of Emerald, Rubyvale and Sapphire.
 * Explore the trails of the pristine Carnarvon National Park.
 * Take a railway tour at the former gold-mining town of Mount Morgan.
 * Prospect for gold at the Prophet Gold Mine in Kilkivan.

Eat

 * Amazing pies at Joccheim's Bakery in Bowen, in the footsteps of Australia actors Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

Drink

 * Bundaberg rum in Bundaberg.
 * Whatever the locals are drinking at the pub in Gin Gin, 45 minutes out of Bundaberg.

Stay safe

 * Watch out for snakes when venturing into Central Queensland's pristine nature.

Go next
To the North:

 * Cairns

To the South:

 * The cities of Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast
 * Amazing views and ancient bunya pines at Bunya Mountains National Park.

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

title: Central Queensland


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Caprivi

The Caprivi, also known as the Caprivi Strip is a long, skinny panhandle extending north-east from Namibia, separating Angola (to the north) from Botswana (to the south) and ending near the south-western corner of Zambia.

Cities

 * — a small town on the banks of the Zambezi River

Other destinations

 * — the largest of the region's parks, and an important migration route from Botswana to Angola for African elephant and other game species
 * — home to large numbers of elephants in the dry season, and animals like the buffalo, zebra, leopard, hyaena and roan antelope
 * (ex Mamili) — a swampland region that is not particularly well-known

Understand
The Caprivi Strip is named after German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi who acquired it from Great Britain in 1890 for the German colony of German South-West Africa (Namibia) in order to have a river connection to the German colony of Tanganyika. The connection proved unsuccessful, due to the Victoria Falls. Due to the colonial connotation the area is officially called Zambezi Region in Namibia but tourists and tourist maps still commonly call it the Caprivi.

There was a conflict in Caprivi in 1999, but it lasted only a few days, and the strip has been peaceful since then.

It is a tropical, wet stretch of land, known for its typical round huts along the street.

Talk
You will mostly hear the locals speaking their local languages. English is almost the only foreign language spoken. Other languages like German and Afrikaans are not spoken or understood by the locals.

By plane
There are some small landing strips in the far part of the strip, but otherwise the best way in is by road.

By road
Due to the scarcity of other options, most travellers will arrive by car. The major highway in the region is the B8 which is part of the Trans-Caprivi Highway. Travellers from Zambia will cross the bridge over the Zambezi at Sesheke to get into Katima Mulilo. Travellers from Botswana will cross the bridge over the Chobe to get into Ngoma.

By public transport
Between towns you can catch a minibus. Katima Mulilo is on the route of the big coaches that travel between Windhoek and Lusaka.

By boat
There are a few river crossings into Angola, Zambia, and Botswana; they do not follow a fixed schedule.

Get around
The B8 is tarred and in very good condition. The C48 from Botswana to Bagani is a gravel road and in fair condition, easily passable with an ordinary sedan. Other roads (D-roads and those without letters or numbers) tend to be rough, sandy, heavily corrugated, and muddy after rainfall. The roads in the wetlands east of Katima Mulilo will normally require a 4x4. During the rainy season (Oct-April) they might not be passable with any type of car, phone your host to enquire about road conditions.

Do
The Caprivi is a game-rich area and includes three wonderful national parks which are still somewhat under-utilized in comparison to the parks in neighboring Botswana.

Take a game drive, camping trip or boat cruise in any of the parks.

For additional on the parks and downloadable brochures go http://www.met.gov.na/national-parks/17/ here].

Stay safe
All of northern Namibia, and particularly the tropical Caprivi, is a Malaria risk zone. Take the necessary precautions.

The Caprivi is famous for its many elephants. Don't drive too close, and don't drive too fast, even (and particularly) on the B8. Unless accompanied by a screeching halt, 10-15 m will normally not put your party in danger and is close enough for good holiday pictures. Come any closer and the younger elephants might play with your car, the older ones might get angry, either way your car might end upside down. You'll know that an elephant is angry when he shakes his head. In this case, stay in the car, switch off the engine, and avoid all unnatural noise (cell phone, camera, such things). They will eventually walk away; wait for this to happen instead of trying a daring escape.

The Kavango River also has crocodiles and hippos. It is not safe to swim there. Outside the settlements it is not safe to even go near, as hippos are both aggressive and territorial and can easily outrun a human on land.

Namibia has the larges variety of poisonous snakes on the planet, and many inhabit the Caprivi. Specifically, the Black Mamba and the Mozambique spitting cobra are more common in this region than you may think. Be extra careful, even when in the premises of a lodge, or even in your room or dining area.

Go next

 * In the south lies Botswana and its natural wonders, the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park.
 * The Victoria Falls are not far away from the Caprivi Strip. Depending which side of the Falls you want to visit, you can reach the Zambian side by crossing the border at Katima Mulilo over Sesheke Bridge. From there the Falls are about to the east, on a road that is so terrible that you might not have seen anything like it before. Expect to spend an entire day on this road chain of potholes. To reach the Zimbabwean side you cross the border into Botswana at Ngoma. The  stretch of road from there to the Falls is tarred and decidedly better.
 * Further west is the Etosha National Park

title: Caprivi


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Caprock Canyons State Park

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway falls between the Llano Estacado and North Central Plains regions of the Texas Panhandle.

Flora and fauna
The area contains badlands with mesquite, cacti and junipers with tall grasses, plums, hackberries and cottonwoods in the canyons.

The park hosts the Texas state bison herd. At the urging of his wife, Charles Goodnight preserved several plains bison from those that were being slaughtered. This herd became one of the genetic sources from which current bison herds descend. The state herd only contains plains bison which have no cattle DNA.

African aoudad sheep (barbary sheep), mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, porcupines, numerous species of snakes and lizards, and over 175 species of birds including Golden Eagles are found within the park. Lake Theo contains bass and catfish.

Climate
Average minimum temperature in January is. The average maximum in July is. Average rainfall is $$.

Get in
Access is by Texas Highway 256 east of Silverton and northwest of Turkey.

Fees and permits
$3 per day, per person 13 and older, 12 and under free. Special entrance rates for holders of:
 * Texas State Parks Pass.
 * Youth Group Annual Entrance Permit.
 * Texas Parklands Passport (Bluebonnet Pass)

See
The official Texas State Buffalo Herd.

Do
Hike, bike, and ride horses on almost of marked trails, including the Trailway, a  stretch that was once a railroad line. The path crosses 46 bridges and passes through Clarity Tunnel as it weaves its way from the top of the Caprocks down to the North Central Plains, terminating at the small town of Estelline. Excluding the Trailway, some of the trails here are not for the beginner, with steep climbs and precipitous drops. Check with a ranger before embarking. Ranger Station - +1 806-455-1492

Camping
Information line: +1-800-792-1112. Fees are charged in addition to the campsite or facility fee. Pets are not allowed in any Texas State Park buildings. Maximum 8 people per campsite unless otherwise noted. Applicable daily entrance fees are charged in addition to the campsite or facility fee.

title: Caprock Canyons State Park


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Captain Cook

Captain Cook is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii.

By car
Captain Cook lies on Mamalahoa Highway, which goes around the coast of the Big Island, and connects it to other coastal cities.

Do
Park your car at the ocean and walk towards the small pier. The locals are likely to offer to rent you a kayak, and you should accept their offer. You can then kayak across the bay to the Captain Cook monument. The monument is a great snorkel location.

title: Captain Cook


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Captiva Island

Captiva Island is an island Southwest Florida, just north of Sanibel Island.

Understand
Captiva Island was once said to have pirates and conquistadores exploring its subtropical terrains in search for treasure. Indeed, Captiva Island is Florida’s treasure, boasting spectacular pristine beaches, perfect for viewing breathtaking sunsets or digging for the ocean’s tiny treasures beneath the sand- seashells. Both Captiva, and its larger sister island, Sanibel Island are world-famous for their seashells and their beautiful flora and fauna. Just a short drive across the bay from Ft. Myers, Captiva Island has something for every visitor. Dine at fabulous restaurants, play a game of golf, or sail away on the warm blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Stroll through Captiva’s downtown village, and come across an array of welcoming people and an abundance of hand-made gifts and trinkets.

Do
Captiva’s subtropical climate is perfect for the adventurous sportsman. You will find numerous activities on the island including: fishing, golf, boating, kayaking, canoeing, tennis, swimming, and bike riding.

Book a boating trip, during which you travel down waterways where you encounter dolphins, blue herons, raccoons, and different vibrant species of birds. Captiva Cruises features memorable dolphin and sunset cruises.

Rent a bike (Finnimore’s Cycle Shops). Bike riding on Captiva is a pleasurable and scenic experience, and can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages.

Beachcomb, Captiva Island’s beaches are the perfect place to discover your own treasure. Captiva is actually made up of shells, created over thousands of years, and is one of the islands considered the best in the world for shelling. Because the islands’ geography lies east and west, opposed the more widespread north and south, this phenomenon allows Captiva to capture tons of shells from the Gulf of Mexico. The peak shelling season is from May through September.

Relax on one of Captiva’s pristine white beaches, and bath in the hot Floridian sun. When you get too warm, simply stroll over to the waters’ edge and swim in some of Florida’s bluest waters.

Buy
"Shop 'til you drop," is the motto of island visitors when promenading through the town’s stores and boutiques. Captiva's shops are located mainly at the north end of Captiva Drive and on Andy Rosse Lane. Here you will discover casual fashions, antiques, pottery, hand-painted furniture, and unique gifts.

title: Captiva Island


text:
Capurganá

Capurganá is a city in the Choco region of Colombia. Despite the written accent on the final syllable, locals pronounce the town's name with the accent on the third syllable.

Surrounded on three sides by dense jungle, Capurganá is the last town of any reasonable size on the Colombian Caribbean coast before the border with Panama. A sleepy little place with a laid-back atmosphere, it is popular with Colombians, but is only just starting to put in an appearance on the Gringo trail; mainly because it is the last place on the coast with a DAS office where you can get stamped out of Colombia.

If you are passing through, Capurganá is a great place to spend a few days relaxing and savouring one of the few places left with no cars (there are no roads to Capurganá, so the only form of land-based transport there are horses or bicycles). It has a couple of small beaches (although with strong currents, so take care when swimming), and is a great place for snorkelling.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants scattered throughout the place, so there are plenty of options for the budget traveller (who are likely to arrive on the bone-shaking launches from Puerto Obaldia or Turbo), and more up-market choices for those who can afford to fly in.

By plane
Capurganá has an airstrip and tiny airport, from which a couple of companies provide regular and charter flights from Medellín:

 * Searca : provide passenger and cargo flights: +574 444 4232

Boat
Most people are likely to come in on one of the launches from Turbo in Colombia, or Puerto Obaldia in Panama.

The price from Turbo is COP$75,000. If you have more than 10 kg of luggage it is COP$1,000 per kg overload. (July 2019)

There are no roads leading to Capurganá, hence the feeling of being in an island.

Get around
The town is small enough enough that you can walk from one edge to the other in about five minutes. A few tuk-tuks are available near the dock, although they appeared to be used mostly for transporting heavy items.

Do

 * Dive and Green. A place providing diving services. For more information see the website . 2 dives: COP$180,000.

Buy
There are no ATMs in Capurgana. If you have trouble because you are running low on cash, you can sleep, eat and book boats and flights at the Hostal Capurgana on the main road and pay them with credit card (6% service fee). Or, you can book the boat at the harbor, but they take a 19% service fee for credit card payments.

Connect
Several places provide internet services.

 * A public internet service for COP$3,000 is also provided at an office in the high school, although the connection is painfully slow.

You can buy SIM cards at a little shop on the corner of the football field that has a sign “Colombanco” hanging outside. They can help you setting up the SIM and putting balance on the card as well booking a predpaid data plan.

Go next

 * Angel National Park

Boat
There are launches to Turbo leaving every morning (COP$55,000). There is an office selling tickets on the sea front where you can reserve your ticket the day before. Launches to Puerto Obaldia depart at 7AM and 1PM daily (COP$25,000) and private boats can be hired (COP$100,000). If the office is closed, ask around to find Marcelino, almost everyone will be able to point you to the right person. Days when the plane is coming to Puerto Obaldia, the boat leaves early enough so that you can make the connection with the plane on the same day, you don't need to travel a day before and spend a night there as it's not very tourist orientated.

Furthermore, there is a ferry to Necoclí. During mid-2021, the route was heavily used westbound by Haitian refugees heading to the United States, causing changes in scheduling and costs. 10 kg of luggage is included and every additional kilo costs COP$1,000. There several direct buses from there to Cartagena. This way beats the previous way through Turbo in many aspects. The boat ride is less bumpy, it is better boat, has a shorter ride and less travel time to Cartagena plus the town of Necocli appears less dodgy. You can buy the tickets for the ferry in an office at the harbor.

There are boats to Sapzurro every day (COP$7,000). Passengers pay a small tax to use the dock.

It is also possible to arrange launches to La Miel, further along the Colombian coast.

Walk
It is possible to walk over the mountain to the town of Sapzurro on the border with Panamá, with an almost perfect circular bay. A nominal fee is charged to hikers near the high point of the trail, and a small selection of snacks and refreshments is also available there. From Sapzurro you can continue your hike over the border to the La Miel, Panama. A small coastal town with white sandy beaches.

title: Capurganá


text:
Cap Vert-Thies

Cap Vert-Thies is a region in Senegal. It includes the Cap-Vert Peninsula and the administrative region of Thies.

Cities

 * — capital city
 * — Birthplace of Leopold Sedar Senghor, Senegal's first president.
 * — small town on the coast north-east of Dakar
 * — village on the coast south of Dakar
 * — village on the coast south of Dakar

Get in

 * Aéroport international Blaise-Diagne

title: Cap Vert-Thies


text:
Caracas

Caracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, in northern Venezuela, near the Caribbean. Venezuela’s urban spirit can be discovered mainly from understanding Caracas, its capital city, a busy metropolis famous for its food, cultural diversity, and perfect climate, thanks to the unique combination of a high elevation and proximity to the Caribbean Sea.

Understand
Caracas is a cosmopolitan city, congested and noisy. The restaurants in Caracas are still excellent and have a lot to offer. Wear light clothing, comfortable shoes and clothing or jewelry of little value. Also tourists who do not know the language, it is recommended to take a dictionary with Spanish translation to make it easier for them to stay in the country. The people of Caracas are usually quite hospitable and friendly. Caracas is a city of contrasts. El Rosal and Las Mercedes are the most exclusive districts of the city. The boulevard of Sabana Grande is the main commercial corridor of the city and is visited by more than 500,000 people every day. Plaza Bolívar, Plaza El Venezolano and Plaza Diego Ibarra are the most emblematic of the historic center. Plaza Altamira is the icon of the east of the city and has been the center of opposition protests for almost two decades. Caracas is not one of the top touristic destinations of Venezuela, and travelers often bypass the capital city in order to see the country’s amazing natural attractions. However, the Venezuelan capital can be a fascinating city to explore, replete with excellent art, food and a bustling nightlife. Caracas is a modern, dynamic and diverse city where multiple realities converge at the same time. The architectural, cultural and socioeconomic identity of Caracas has been fragmentation and is the key to understanding Venezuela.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Caracas was a small city that reached La Candelaria. The city grew slowly until the 1940s. Later, the towns of Sabana Grande, Chacao, Las Mercedes and Petare would grow rapidly and be urbanized. Most of the architectural heritage of Caracas was built in the twentieth century. The Towers of Parque Central Complex, even though they no longer hold the title of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America, remain the tallest twin towers in the region. Sabana Grande was the favorite place of Juan Domingo Perón during his golden exile in Venezuela, when he lived in the El Rosal and El Bosque neighborhoods. Caracas stands in a beautiful valley, overlooked by Mount Avila, an impressive mountain that separates the city from the Caribbean Sea and shapes most of the city’s landscape. It is a popular weekend destination for the city’s residents (known as Caraqueños) and is easily reached by taking a very modern cable car that goes all the way from the mountain base to the newly nationalized Waraira Repano park, at the top of the mountain.

In Caracas, the staggering inequalities of wealth that characterize Venezuela’s economic situation are on display. They range from very poor neighborhoods in the hills of the city, called “barrios”, to the modern business district of El Rosal, Las Mercedes, Sabana Grande and La Castellana or even the huge mansions of the rich neighborhoods. Petare, located in East Caracas, is the biggest favela (barrio) of Caracas. The middle class is mainly concentrated in the east of the city (El Recreo de Libertador, Chacao, Baruta, Sucre and El Hatillo), but San Bernardino, La Candelaria, San Pedro and El Paraiso are also important centers of the middle class. The historic center of the city is Plaza Bolívar, the grid has been modified though. The most luxurious urbanization, Caracas Country Club, has occurred between Parroquia El Recreo of the Libertador Municipality and the Chacao Municipality of the Miranda State. The geographical center of the Metropolitan District of Caracas has been set at Sabana Grande, considered the Eastern Gate of Caracas. The district of Sabana Grande is the one with the best coverage by the Caracas Metro, but the center of Caracas, Chacao, El Rosal, El Bosque and Altamira are also easily accessible. Most of the embassies are located in the Chacao and Baruta municipalities. However, some have a limited presence in El Recreo. The most important business center nowadays is El Rosal.

The city’s streets and highways are always crowded with vehicles, as Venezuela has the cheapest gasoline in the world (at about US$0.02/litre in 2023). Subsidized gasoline and inadequate infrastructure have helped spur pollution and big traffic lines in almost all of the inner city motorways. Caracas’ subway system, once one of the best in all Latin America, is still quick but is often crowded and prone to delays. Caracas remains one of the most violent cities in the world, with large parts of the city effectively "no go" areas to outsiders. Murder tallies of as many as 20 are not uncommon on weekends, so exercising caution and common sense - especially at night - is essential to a safe visit.

Entertainment and nightlife
Caracas is a cosmopolitan city and is admired for its gastronomy. It has restaurants and bars inspired by the cuisine of many different countries and cultures due to great waves of immigration from Europe and the Middle East after the Second World War. Since the arrival of the Spaniards, Venezuela has been a country of contrasts. Venezuelan gastronomy from the beginning was influenced by multiple cultures. For example, the Venezuelan pan andino has its origin in the first settlers of America, of Sephardic Jewish origin.

The city is filled with “centros comerciales” and department stores, and the popular restaurants and clubs in the towering malls due to security concerns. In the San Ignacio Mall you’ll find the city’s young, rich and beautiful drinking whiskey and “Las Mercedes”, "El Rosal" and “La Castellana” districts are also popular late night hot spots. "Sabana Grande", "Chacao" and "El Hatillo" are important late night hot spots as well, but "El Rosal" and "Las Mercedes" are the fanciest. Sabana Grande is the bohemian district of the city.

People often party until 04:00 or 05:00, so take a cab when heading out.

Climate
Caracas has a tropical climate with very little variation between summer and winter temperatures. Set in a valley some 900 meters above sea level, its climate is often described as its best feature: never cold, seldom too hot. Average daily temperature in summer ranges from a minimum of 18˚C (64˚F) to a maximum of 28˚C (82˚F). Winter temperatures are only two to three degrees cooler. Most rainfall occurs during the period from May to November and can be accompanied by electrical storms.

By plane
Maiquetía's

Due to political and economic instability and the amounts of unpaid or withheld fares owing to the foreign airlines many had ceased services to Caracas from their respective countries throughout 2016 and 2019. Other airlines may suspend service with or without notice. Therefore, see their respective sites (or ask them) as to when they plan to suspend service (if any) and what alternatives for onward transportation or compensation would they offer should they suspend service without notice before departure to Venezuela or for the unused portions of the ticket while in Venezuela. As of March 2019 The following carriers still offer flights to Caracas:

 * Terminal Internacional Flights from Europe and Middle East: Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas (Spain), Estelar Latinoamerica, LASER and Turkish. Flights from Cuba, Trinidad and the Caribbean: Cubana de Aviacion and Caribbean Airlines. From Central and South America: Copa Airlines and Wingo.
 * Terminal Nacional (Domestic Terminal) The following are Venezuelan flag carriers offering domestic flights: Albatros, Aeropostal, Rutaca, Avior, Conviasa,  Estelar Latinoamerica, LASER; Línea Turística Aereotuy (only to Roques) and Venezolana. Some of the Venezuelan flag carriers also offer international flights from the Caribbean, Panama, other neighboring South American countries and/or Europe to the international terminal.

With everything in a state of flux any one of the above carriers may cease service to Venezuela from their respective countries or cease or reduce service altogether (as with the domestic carriers).

Taxi fares are continuously increasing due to the rampant inflation. As of Sept 2017 the taxi rate with TaxiToCaracas.com is US$40. There are many unlicensed taxis offering their services and travelers should exercise caution as taxi robberies do happen with this option. In particular, it is advised to agree on a price before getting into the taxi, not sharing with anyone other than the driver, with a preference given to the airport's official black Ford Explorer cabs. Check with your hotel to see if they arrange airport pickup - it may need to be booked in advance. There is also a new taxi service that you can book online at TaxiToCaracas.

If transiting through the area such as arriving from Europe on a late arrival and leaving for another Venezuelan city in the morning (or even the afternoon of the next day) it is advisable to stay in Catia La Mar, a city/town northwest of the airport grounds with many hotels. Some are able to provide shuttle transportation between the airport and their respective properties. Due to the ongoing turmoil in Caracas it would best to book onward travel by plane to another Venezuelan city than risk going into town to the bus station.

In and around the airport there are ATMs, currency exchange houses (charging the official rate) and unofficial brokers willing to provide bolívares at a more advantageous rate (but not the best rate that you can find on internet sites).

By car
Nice and pretty highways connect Caracas with La Guaira and the airport to the north; Maracay, Valencia and Maracaibo in the west; Barcelona and Puerto La Cruz in the east.

While driving in Caracas can be a hectic experience, renting a car to experience the outlying areas is a wonderful way to leave behind the well-traveled routes.

Car rental is available in the following locations:

By bus
Buses from the airport to Caracas give passengers the option of alighting either at Gato Negro metro station (somewhat unsafe at street level) or under a bridge at the Parque Central bus terminal, from where you'll need to get a taxi to your final destination or walk about 1 km along a busy road to the Bellas Artes metro station.

There is also a government-run bus service to the Alba Hotel in Bellas Artes. Passengers do not need to be guests at Alba. Further information is available from the two tourist board offices in the international terminal of Maiquetía airport.

The La Bandera bus terminal connects Caracas with towns and cities to the west of the capital such as La Victoria (1 hour), Maracay (1½ hours), Valencia (2½ hours) and Mérida (~12 hours). The 800-m walk from La Bandera metro station to the bus terminal is unsafe after dark and travelers should exercise caution at all times. For the eastern part of the country there's the Terminal del Oriente. Beware of the small "independent" bus services which are announced by "voceros" on both terminals. Although they have more flexible departure times, the buses can be small and uncomfortable, with speakers that blast loud music even at night.

There are also private carriers that offer more comfort. They also cost a little more. The most well known are Expresos Alianza and Expresos del Oriente, which operate from their own private terminals, something to consider if you plan on transferring for a destination they don’t cover.

Get around

Taxis can be easily hailed in the street and are generally (but not always) safe. They have no meters so prices should be agreed on before getting in. Some reports indicate that the situation has improved and there are fixed rates posted. Caracas traffic is notoriously bad and the metro is a better option if your destination is near a station. Licensed taxis have yellow plates and while some private cars with white plates are taxis too, it’s generally safer to take a licensed cab.

Venezuelan taxi cab drivers may quote you about double the actual price when you ask how much a ride will be. Bargaining is totally acceptable in this case. Simply respond with a more reasonable price that you are willing to pay, and it’s more than likely you can meet in the middle. If the taxi driver continues to quote an outrageous price, simply walk away and try another.

The Caracas metro is clean, modern, safe and extremely cheap. Tickets are available for a single journey, ida y vuelta (round trip), or a 10-journey multi abono. The metro is frequently overcrowded, particularly during peak hours.

The metro system is backed up by a network of metrobuses that depart from certain metro stations and take fixed routes to areas of the city not reached by the underground. Like the metro, metrobuses are cheap and clean, but passengers complain of bus shortages. Most services run only about every 20 minutes. The buses have fixed stops and will not pick up passengers elsewhere.

The ubiquitous minibuses, or por puestos, run along many main roads in Caracas, often ending up in obscure residential neighborhoods that are not accessible by metro. They can be flagged down anywhere and you can generally ask the driver to let you jump off whenever he stops, such as traffic lights. Although sometimes useful (for reaching the Sabas Nieves entrance to El Avila from the Altamira metro station) the buses are more expensive than the metro, slower, less safe, and are invariably in a very bad condition.

See
Caracas has more than enough sights and attractions to fill three or four days although it is often overlooked by international travellers.

Do

 * Casa John Boulton Caracas 2.jpg Avila mountain to the north of Caracas is highly recommended for hiking, views of Caracas, and its fresh air. The Sabas Nieves entrance, accessible by bus from Altamira, is the most popular.
 * The Teleferico is a cable-car that takes visitors up the Avila. The ascent provides a beautiful view of the city. At the top (altitude approximately 2600 m), there is a view of Caracas to the south, and of the ocean (Caribbean Sea) to the north on a clear day. Reduced fares are available for students, seniors and children. Take the ride up to Avila as early as possible before an afternoon haze obstructs your view from the top of the mountain. There are a few restaurants, many food kiosks, and numerous attractions suitable for children. These include a small skating rink, some small rides, and jungle-gyms. There is a well known fondue restaurant also located at the top. Some hiking trails branch off from the teleferico station, but without a map it is not easy to find them or know where they go, as they are not marked.
 * The MetroCable close to Parque Central. It is co-located in the Parque Central Metro station. It's free and provides a fantastic view of the city, although the surrounding area is generally considered unsafe by locals.

Buy
Most ATMs will ask you the last two numbers of a local ID, type 00 when it asks this to make withdrawal with a foreign card possible. CitiBank's ATMs don't ask this information. There is one CitiBank branch in El Recreo shopping mall, Avenida Casanova, in Sabana Grande. See also Venezuela.

La Castellana

Drink

 * Nightlife in Sabana Grande.jpgRestaurant at Las Mercedes.jpg

Exclusive modern nightclubs:

 * Le Club - The most exclusive club in Caracas. Paseo Las Mercedes. Neighborhood Las Mercedes.
 * Sawu.
 * Discovery.
 * 360º Roof Bar

LGBT friendly:

 * Cool Café Bar - in La Castellana, the best option for LGBT community in Caracas.
 * Moskowa Disco. - in Macaracuay. Nice place.
 * Triskel. in Altamira.
 * Discovery. A really nice place for LGBT couples.
 * Pasaje Asuncion, the oldest gay street of the city. A charming place that has many sad and happy stories to tell.
 * La Fragata, Sabana Grande. Frequented by lower middle class Venezuelans.
 * Pullman Bar, Sabana Grande. Plaza Venezuela metro stop. Bear community.

Sleep
Caracas has many hotels, but lacks youth hostels found in other South American countries. Backpackers will find that Caracas is not a cheap destination and there are not rooms available in the US$20-30 typical hostel range. While the whole of the city is considered to be dangerous at night, it’s preferable to stay near Sabana Grande or farther east.

Many hotels in the Sabana Grande area will offer rooms on an hourly basis (euphemistically known as love hotels) which are primarily for unmarried Venezuelan couples.

Budget
Most hotels are in Sabana Grande, which is the geographic center of the city or midtown. The true downtown or historic city center, is known as "el centro", which is not a good place to stay. While Sabana Grande has affordable hotel rates (from US$100–400 for a five-star), you need to be wary of occasional street crime in the form of purse-snatching and pick-pocketing. Anyway, the Sabana Grande Boulevard sports high-shining lamp posts and police officers along the way. However, crooked cops are also known to sometimes harass hippie-looking travelers during the day, searching for drugs. Sabana Grande is a pleasantly walkable promenade, fantastic for people-watching and casual shopping. As for the large shopping malls around Sabana Grande, they are absolutely safe, especially one known as El Recreo. All this makes Sabana Grande one of the best place to stay for many. Las Mercedes and El Rosal are the fanciest districts of the city, but fewer people walk these streets. You should rent a car or arrange a taxi in Las Mercedes district.

Stay safe
Violent crime in Caracas is a major problem, and it has been getting steadily worse: Caracas is now by some counts the world's most dangerous city. If you are robbed, hand over what is asked of you. For this reason it is advisable to carry a “decoy” wallet with small bills (around US$50). Most thieves carry guns and they will use them regardless of the consequences (there is a sense of immunity due to poor policing).

Stick to the tourist areas and dress like the average Venezuelans (jeans and short-sleeved shirt) and do not wear any expensive-looking jewelry. The barrios (poor neighborhoods/shantytowns) are to be avoided. They are mostly built into the hills around the west side of Caracas, similar to the favelas in Brazil. These neighborhoods are extremely dangerous, but they are far from the main tourist areas.

Kidnapping is a major problem for upper-class Venezuelans, but is unlikely to be a concern for travelers. As with many other developing nations, petty theft is a problem. Ask hotel management to store your valuables when you leave your room and use a money belt for your passport/extra cash when traveling.

The police tend to be corrupt, including at the international airport. According to the Lonely Planet guide: "Avoid the blue uniformed police. The only 'safe' police are the Chacao police with tan yellow uniforms". However, Venezuelans in general are friendly and helpful.

Connect
There are many "Centros de Conexiones" in which you can easily make domestic and international calls. There is also a growing number of internet cafes.

 * Free WiFi
 * Pizzeria Va Bene, Boulevard of Sabana Grande.
 * Pizzeria Va Bene, Boulevard of Sabana Grande.

Cope
Caracas has been the staging ground of violent political conflict in the last few years, as well as suffering from a high incidence of crime. While taking appropriate precautions (dressing down, keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding dangerous areas) will probably keep you out of harm's way, paranoia abounds. Traveling with a partner or in groups is advisable.

Embassies
Due to ongoing civil unrest some embassies may have closed or have suspended their services to the public till further notice. Check the website or call the corresponding embassy or consulate (if possible) before going. Next nearest set of embassies are in Bogota, Port of Spain, Mexico City and Washington DC:

Go next
El Litoral, or the narrow band of coast between El Avila and the Caribbean Sea, is also known at the State of Vargas and the location of the best airport hotels. These beaches are not well known with visitors, but are popular with Caraqueños on weekends. The area has been slow to recover from the disastrous mudslides of December 1999 which made the beaches better. Still they are of lesser quality than the beaches of Choroni, Morrocoy, Mochima or Margarita.

 * La Guaira - historic port district
 * Macuto - long history as the favored among the urbanite Caraqueños and most crowded on weekends
 * Caraballeda - upscale district with yacht marina
 * Naiguatá - surf and cultural festival zone
 * Catia La Mar - west of the airport with cheaper hotels that do airport pickup. Marginal neighborhood and beaches
 * El Hatillo - nice restaurants and pretty colonial architecture.

title: Caracas


text:
Caracol

Caracol is in the Cayo Region of Belize.

History
Caracol was a major city in the Maya world.

Get in
Arrange a tour in Cayo

Lodging
Stay in San Ignacio (Cayo).

title: Caracol


text:
Caraga

Caraga is a region in the northeastern corner of Mindanao in the Philippines.

Cities

 * the regional center of the Caraga region, and de facto capital. The city guide also includes places in the nearby towns of Buenavista, Carmen, Las Nieves, and Nasipit.
 * – Agusan del Norte provincial capital.
 * – Agusan del Norte provincial capital.
 * – Agusan del Norte provincial capital.
 * – Agusan del Norte provincial capital.
 * – Agusan del Norte provincial capital.

Other destinations

 * , an island with good surfing and quite a bit of tourism

Understand
Caraga is a peaceful nature refuge away from the insecurity Mindanao experiences. That said, the region has a relatively relaxed tourism industry, except for Siargao. The region has plenty of undiscovered natural wonders, slowly being uncovered by tourists.

Most of the people in the area are Cebuano speakers, with a minority of indigenous ethnic groups like Surigaonon, Butuanon, and numerous Lumad tribes. Caraga is one of the most impoverished regions in the Philippines, with families having a daily income of as of 2001.

The region derives its name from the Cebuano or Surigaonon word kalagan, which means spirits or souls, but the real etymology is shrouded by legends.

Talk
Cebuano (Bisaya) is widely spoken throughout Caraga, but there are also languages indigenous to Caraga such as Surigaonon and Butuanon.

These are also Visayan languages like Cebuano.

By plane
Surigao City, Siargao and Butuan have airports receiving domestic flights from Manila, Cebu, or Davao. Surigao City has flights from Cebu with Cebgo. Siargao receives flights from Manila, Cebu and Davao on Cebgo and PAL Express. Butuan is served by daily flights from Cebu on Cebgo and Manila on Cebu Pacific and PAL Express using Airbus A320s. All the other airports with commercial flights are primarily served by turboprop aircraft due to infrastructure limitations.

By bus

By ferry
There are ferries connecting Caraga with Leyte, Cebu and Bohol. Except services from Cebu and Manila, all take vehicles on board, and are part of the Nautical Highway system.

By car
Highways of decent quality connect Caraga with Davao region and Northern Mindanao. Major highways are the Mindanao leg of the Maharlika Highway (Rte 1/AH26), and the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Rd (Rte 9)

From Manila or the Visayas, cars take the ferry (see shipping line listings above).

Get around
Caraga is a sparsely populated region, and most cities, towns, and the barangays separating them are more spread out. Most of the region and forested, and the provinces facing the Pacific are separated by mountains.

There are highways connecting the region's major cities. Maharlika Highway (Asian Highway 26/Rte 1) connects Butuan, Surigao City, and Bayugan, while another highway from Surigao connects the coastal cities of Tandag and Bislig.

Provincial buses connect the major cities, with the bulk of routes run by Bachelor Express, which is based in Butuan. Most cities and towns have at least one bus station or stopover.

There are also UV Express vans that serve as non-stop alternatives to buses, and the only way to reach small towns not served by buses. Beware of unlicensed (colorum) van services, but they have been reduced somehow.

Ferries connect the island of Siargao, as well as the remote Dinagat Islands.

Stay safe
The Islamist insurgency in the rest of Mindanao is not experienced in the region, but communist rebels hide in remote areas. Most likely for the travellers are road accidents, most commonly incidents involving motorcyclists. Wear helmets securely and avoid driving drunk if you rent a motorbike. Driving habits are also dangerously reckless, so beware of other local drivers around.

title: Caraga


text:
Caraguatatuba

Caraguatatuba is a beach town in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is often referred to as simply Caraguá.

Understand
The city's name comes from the Tupi language and refers to the abundance of caraguatá, a spiny bromeliad native to the area. Caraguatatuba is the largest city on the São Paulo north shore and is a jetsetter of high society of São Paulo — in the summer the city becomes one of the biggest hotspots in the country with more than 1.5 million tourists. The urban area and farmlands are within the coastline and valley areas, while the majority of its northern bounds are heavily forested and few roads reach the area.

By bus

 * From São Paulo on Litorânea bus company, departing from Tietê Bus Terminal. R$34.60, 3 hours.
 * From São José dos Campos on Litorânea from the main bus terminal. R$19.30. Hourly departures.
 * From Ubatuba and São Sebastião on Litorãnea or Praiamar bus lines, from the main bus terminal or any bus stop along the way.

By car

 * Tamoios Highway (Rodovia dos Tamoios) - Connects to São José dos Campos to the north.
 * BR-101 passes through town, connecting it to Ubatuba and São Sebastião.

Dr. Candido Motta Square
The Praça Dr. Candido Motta is the site of several historical monuments, big and small, which are protected by municipal law.

Beachfront

 * Calçadão - This quaint brick-paved pedestrian mall in the center of town serves as the local meeting place and makes for a pleasant stroll.

Beaches
From north to south:

Stay safe
Caraguatatuba has a poor reputation as the most violent city of the São Paulo coast. In reality, murders in the city are mostly related to drug trafficking, and for the ordinary tourist, Caraguatatuba is relatively safe, actually safer than the core Baixada Santista cities (Santos, Guarujá and São Vicente).

Yet, the city offers certain risks for the visitor. Avoid walking during the night, including the beach, except in well-lit areas with other people in the streets. For example, during the evening you can visit the crafts fair in the city center, which stays open until late in high season. When renting a summer house, check the security of the area and security devices, as groups of armed criminals are known to assault summer houses (if you have doubt, stay in a hotel). Never venture into lower-class neighborhoods, not even during the day.

Stay healthy
As elsewhere in Brazil, some beaches in Caraguatatuba are not suitable for bathing, and conditions can change from day to day. On the day of your visit, check the map of the latest weekly beach quality bulletin (in Portuguese, boletim de qualidade das praias) of the state's Environment Department (CETESB).

Go next
Hostels and private rooms are offered:

in the south and west:

 * São Sebastião – 30 km. The beaches of São Sebastião are a mixture of rustic paradisiac nature with first class night life. Contains one of the most famous beaches of the São Paulo coast, Maresias.
 * Ilhabela – 35 km. It is an archipelago with various savage beaches and ecotourism options.
 * Camburi and Boicucanga – 70 km. It is considered by Paulistas as one of the best beaches on their coastline. There are also quite a few small restaurants and bars along the road going through Camburi. Camburizinho beach is right next door.
 * Bertioga – 120 km. A laid-back sea-side town with excellent beaches. It's one of the safest towns of the São Paulo coast. From there to Guarujá, Santos or São Paulo.

in the north(-east):

 * Ubatuba – 50km. Beautiful beaches are the main attraction of this place, as well as its well-preserved nature. You can do mountain biking and trekking. One of the best places in Brazil to practice surf, nautical sports, diving and birdwatching.
 * Paraty – 120 km. A fully-conserved 18th-century colonial town by the ocean, hidden by tall jungle-covered mountains which used to be a hideout for pirates after the Portuguese ships; a must-see for people interested in history and culture; also good for rainforest hiking and kayaking.

title: Caraguatatuba


text:
Caraíva

Caraíva is a village in the south coast of Bahia.

Get in
Caraíva is a piece of paradise situated about 50km south of Porto Seguro, and can be accessed by one of two dirt roads from Porto Seguro/Trancoso. There is a local bus service or you can negotiate with a taxi to take you there for a fixed price, or you can walk along the beaches from Trancoso, about 38km. The town is separated from the road by a river and there are no cars in the village itself; you have to get rowed across in a kind of canoe, which costs a couple of reais (the price is fixed). There is no electricity, although most bars and guesthouses have generators. Its an extremely rustic place in terms of infrastructure, but the beaches are fabulous, and the people, tourists and locals alike, are really laid back, even by Brazilian standards. There's no point in being rushed or getting impatient, things happen by a different clock here. A great place for taking it nice and slow.

Get around
Only on foot. The 'streets' are of soft sand and tough going sometimes. Stick to the sides of the tracks where its not so soft and wear something on your feet, because the sand can get unbearably hot during the day, and "Bicho do Pe" a parasitic worm that burrows into the skin of your feet (not really harmful and easy to cure, but rather uncomfortable) is not entirely uncommon (but you shouldn't get paranoid about it).

See
The Pataxó Indian village a few km walk down the beach to the south. A good opportunity to see how 'modern' Indians live. You can rent a horse and guide or just walk and go north to Praia do Espelho, one of the most beautiful beaches on the south coast of Bahia a few km to the north of Caraíva. In the high season, there are organized schooner trips to nearby beaches, including Espelho. These leave from around the river mouth, on the beach. They may not operate in the low season.

Drink
There are a number of bars. Because of a total lack of police in the village, it is normal for people to openly smoke marijuana while sitting in the bars and on the beaches. In fact, many people go there for this reason.

Sleep
There are many guesthouses, at a variety of rates, and a camping ground. It would probably be a good idea to have a reservation if you're going for New Year, January or during the July school holidays (its a popular destination for teenagers on their school vacations). During the rest of the year its not necessary.

Stay healthy
Don't drink the tap water and make certain that any drink made with water or that contains ice, like juice or caipirinha, is made with bottled water.

title: Caraíva


text:
Caral

Caral is in Central Coast of Peru. It's been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Understand
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe is the oldest civilisation found in South America, dating from roughly 3000 B.C. about the same age as Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisation. Near the reception of the site, there is a centre of interpretation but text is Spanish only. Most signboards and explanation boards elsewhere on the site are both Spanish and English. The site mostly comprises about 18 ruins of pyramids and other structures, of which 7 large pyramids are the star attraction.

The 66 ha site has become under threat by land developers during the 2020 Covid pandemic, and reduced security has led to some of the site's heritage being destroyed to make room for avocado and fruit trees. There were also reports of looting of archaeological artefacts, including mummies.

Along the Rio Supe valley, near the Caral-Supe site are other archeological sites (not UNESCO heritage inscribed, some barely visible on satellite image and difficult to access) of settlements contemporary to Caral-Supe, including:

 * Llaqta
 * Allcapoto
 * Cerro Colorado
 * (Sitio arqueologico) Pueblo Nuevo
 * (Sitio arqueologico) Pando
 * Era de Pando
 * Liman - not placemarked on Google maps yet
 * Pampa de los Geoglifos de Caral
 * Piedra Parada
 * Chupacigarro
 * (Sitio Arqueológico) El Áspero - with site museum, access from Supe-Puerto, turn off main road then 2.1km / 27min if walking
 * Rurihuasi
 * Lurihuasi
 * Miraya

Of these, Rurihuasi, Lurihuasi, Chupacigarro and Miraya are adjacent to Caral-Supe site, along the south bank of river Supe.

further afield are:

 * (Sitio Arqueológico) Vichama, 27km south-west from Caral
 * (Zona arqueologica monumental) Los Huacos
 * (Zona Arqueológica en) Centinela and Centinela II
 * (Zona Arqueológica de la Cultura) Chancay

Get in
Full-time transport from Lima is about 5–6 hours one-way, especially if going by public transport.

The nearest sizeable town with good amenities is Barranca. From Barranca take minibus (numerous and frequent, cost S/ 2.50) to Supe, at Centro Supe (corner with Jiron La Mar) take combi to Caral (23 km, S/6 soles) to Caral settlement, walk 1.2km to pedestrian bridge (puente peatonal, crossing Rio Supe), then further 1.7km to reach site entrance (museum).

By car
From the south, after Tiroles, turn right off Panamerica Norte onto Desvio Caral, then 22km to Museo sitio Caral.

From the north, at major junction after Supe, turn off Antigua Panamericana Norte onto road 102 (Carretera Caral-Las Minas-Ambar) eastward toward Caral, turn right at Caral settlement, then 1.2km to reach car park, then walk 1.6km (including crossing pedestrian bridge) to reach Museo sitio Caral.

Alternatively it is possible to drive cross Rio Supe during dry season (May to November) via road 102 then turn off into Acceso Caral, then 3.7km to reach Museo sitio Caral from the west, this avoids walking.

By public transport
To get in from Barranca, take a minibus to Supe (or Barranca) with one of the following:

As of 2019, combis leave from Barranca at a garage on the south side of Jirón Berenice Davila just west of Jirón Arequipa. Get off at the village of Caral, which is northeast of the site and on the opposite side of the Supe River. Walk down the road leading southwest out of the village, turning right when it meets the river, cross the pedestrian bridge, and follow the signs for the archaeological site. It's about a 30 minute walk from the village. If returning to Barranca at the end of the day, taking a taxi from the site itself is probably simplest. If you head back to the village of Caral, there will still be combis running but they may take you only as far as Supe; from there you can easily catch another combi back to Barranca.

By tours
Tours leave from Lima on weekends only, but the trip is around 3 hours each way by tour (longer as independent) and makes for a long day. These buses usually come in from the highway turning off at Vegeta.

Archeological site organized visit for about 90 sol from 'Puerta principal del Museo de la nacion (Av Javier Prado Este 2465, San Borja, East of San Isidro). see website (Spanish only) for more.

Get around
There are other archeological sites around that you can visit too if you are on a tour or with your own vehicle.

Eat
There is little food stalls or shop on archeological site (at reception and near the bridge), more on week-ends than during week. Caral has few places to eat and some street stalls. Supe has a small market.

Sleep
Options are limited but it seems possible to sleep in Caral (but probably limited choice and not any kind of budget). Supe is said to be avoided. Else It's better to stay at Barranca. If you are not sleeping around, there is no given place to store luggages. You can ask at bus counter or archeological site entrance if possible to keep bags if needed.

Stay safe
Caral is in a green area but archeological site is in a desert one and can be very sunny. It's advised to have water, hat and sunscreen. Outside of reception, there is no shelter to rest or get some shadow, so be prepared.

Go next
Can only leave through Supe or Barranca to Lima and possibly Chimbote or Trujillo.

title: Caral


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Caramoan

Caramoan is a town on the Philippines island of Luzon.

Get in
Options are: 1. Bus/van/POV to Naga 2. Fly Manila-Naga/Pili

Then: take a van or jeep going to Sabang Partido (1 or 2 hr), or a bus to Lagonoy (getting off at San Jose, 1.5 hr) then take a boat ride from Sabang port to Caramoan (Guijalo port) for 2-3hr, These are usually early boats, i.e. 5:30, 7:00, 8AM etc. It is also possible (if you have a large group) to take a fast craft (owned by provincial Governor L Ray Villafuerte) from Nato Port (Sagnay). You need to organise this through Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (1 hr to Gota Beach Resort).

Alternatively: You can take a jeep from Goa Terminal to Caramoan (only safe during dry season) 4 hr.

Or: 3. Fly to Virac, Catanduanes. From Virac, take a jeep ride to barangay Cabcab, or barangay codon, or barangay bislig in San Andres town, then hire an out-triggered motorboat to Guijalo, Caramoan. It takes one hour only to cross the maqueda channel. Cebu Pacific airlines fly this route.

Check [httpp://www.typhoon2000.com here] to make sure a typhoon or storm system is not lurking in the area. All boat rides can be very dangerous in the area during these times.

The best way to do it is to spend the night at Sabang, San Jose, Camarines Sur. This is for you to take the earliest boat (6AM) to Guijalo.

Get around
When you have arrived in Guijalo port (south coast of peninsula), you can take a trike to town proper (~, 20 min), or direct to the northern port of Bikal, or Paniman (30 min, ).

Most people visit Caramoan to go island hopping to see the unique Rock formations, similar to that of Northern Palawan, to swim and laze on the beaches, or to be adventurous and get off the beaten path. Hiring a boat from Bikal or Paniman should cost you  for the whole day. It is possible to camp almost anywhere in the area, assuming you ask permission from Barangay captains, you tread lightly, remove your and anyone else's rubbish and generally respect the environment. It is advisable to have the boatman stay with you overnight if you are in a semi-remote area for emergency purposes.

See
When they say go "island hopping," that meant visiting the beautiful islands and isles using a powered outrigger canoe of the Caramoan Peninsula, chartered for about US$26/day. Caramoan is both a town and a region, but it also points to the islands surrounding Caramoan. Bring your swimming trunk, bikinis, body board, swim vests, etc., along and have food or drinks catered over. You will need a minimum of two full days to really see and enjoy this place.

Top ten Caramoan destinations, these are must see:

 * Lahuy Island
 * Lahus Island
 * Cotivas Island
 * Sabitang Laya Island
 * Gota beach (mainland)
 * Hunognan Cove (mainland)
 * Matukad Island
 * Minalahos Island
 * Pitogo Island
 * Tinago Island

Do
There are various activities available at the provincial government owned Gota and Hunungan Beach resorts, if these do not interest you, or staying here is prohibitively expensive then you should still be able to visit to avail of their services and activities. You could also go out for night fishing tour with the local fishermen if you like fishing. Nights are usually cold so don't forget to bring extra clothing on the tour.

The ongoing ability of tourists visiting these islands, beaches and sensitive areas relies upon them taking care not to damage the fragile environment, annoy the people, or act inappropriately. Respect your surroundings and ensure its ongoing sustainability by taking only photographs and leaving only footprints.

Eat
The restaurants in Caramoan serves Filipino food only. There are a large variety of fresh fish, poultry or beef as well as pork with vegetables. You won't find any McDonalds or other international food chains here!

Go next
Boats from Guijalo port to Sabang are available early morning then periodically throughout the day. If in doubt plan for an early exit so as not to get stuck, and ask the locals what the current schedule is. Check www.Typhoon2000.com to make sure a typhoon or storm system is not lurking in the area. Boat rides can be very dangerous in the area during these times.

The first boat trip out of Guijalo Port is at 7AM, ideally. The boat will leave only if it has enough passengers on it. It may leave earlier than scheduled if the boat fills up quickly or may leave beyond schedule as it waits for passengers. This practice often causes delay in the departure of the boat trips. Later trips are usually scheduled at 9AM, 11AM, and sometimes also at 2PM. Prices of outrigger boat rides between Guijalo and Sabang ports range from to.

In Sabang port, vans to Naga City (where the airport is) are queued. Similar to the boat schedules, vans leave for the city at erratic times, depending on the number of passengers. Price for the van is per person. If there are no vans, you can catch a jeepney at the same price, but a bit more uncomfortable.

title: Caramoan


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Carate

Carate is a small town in the Osa Peninsula of South Pacific Costa Rica near Corcovado National Park.

Get in
By collectivo from Puerto Jiménez in the dry season, it takes 2½ hr or more depending on stops. By taxi, it should only take 1½ hr. You can also fly on AlphaRomeo (Alvaro) from Puerto Jimenez to Carate in about 10 minutes.

Do

 * Walk. There is a 35-minute walk along the beach between Carate and the entrance to Corcovado National Park at La Leona Ranger Station.

Eat

 * There is a small snack stand, but people who are entering Corcovado through this route should make sure that they purchase food in Puerto Jimenez to bring into the park.

Sleep
There are some hotels along the beach.

 * La Leona EcoLodge.

title: Carate


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Caravaca de la Cruz

Caravaca de la Cruz is a town of 26,000 people (2018) in the Murcia region of Spain. It is the fifth holiest place in Catholic Christianity in the world, celebrating the Jubilee year every 7 years, the next being in 2024. Caravaca is dominated by the medieval Santuario de la Vera Cruz (Sanctuary of True Cross), and contains several convents and a fine parish church, with a cross believed to have its healing power. Caravaca is home to many monuments and museums, many of which are important tourist attractions.

Understand
The hills which extend to the north are rich in marble and iron. The town is a considerable industrial centre, with large iron-works, tanneries and paper, chocolate and oil factories.

Besides being known by the Christian cross believed to have healing power, it also has a festival in honour of it, held between 1 and 5 May of each year. Along with processions and parades of Moors and Christians, the celebration of Horses of Wine is especially relevant, which now aspires to be the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The Neoclassical painter Rafael Tejeo was born in Caravaca.

A gigantic archeological site was found in 2009. It is composed of 1300 graves from 2400 to 1950 BC.

See

 * Sanctuary of the Santísima y Vera Cruz was built as a Moorish castle, then occupied and extended by various Christian forces after the reconquista, in particular by the Knights Templar. The current baroque façade dates back a couple of hundred years. The castle is gorgeous, towers over the town, and is relatively undiscovered!

Museums

 * Museo de la Vera Cruz, inside the Castle of Santa Cruz.
 * Museo de la Fiesta about the festivities in honour of the Santissima y Vera Cruz de Caravaca.
 * Museo José Carrilero: sculpture
 * Museo Arqueológico Municipal
 * Museo de música étnica de Barranda
 * Museo Etnográfico en Miniatura "Angel Reinón"

Do

 * Festivals of Santísima y Vera Cruz Moorish and Christian forces stage mock battles as the cross is carried through the town in early May. A highlight of the festival is the parade of wine horses, horses adorned in embroidered harnesses (the sanctuary has many examples of these harnesses from centuries past).
 * Thuiller Theatre, built in 1843 on the old "Court of Comedy".
 * The Culture House and the cultural centre built in the Church of the Society of Jesus are the centres of where cultural activity, and of film and artistic community.
 * One of the most established cultural events is the Theatre Week Caravaca de la Cruz, which has run since 1980. It is held at the end of July each year in the Plaza de Toros in the town.

title: Caravaca de la Cruz


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Caravelas

Caravelas is a coastal city in Bahia, a state of Northeast Brazil.

By car

 * From the north, continue on BR101 until you reach Teixeira de Freitas. From here you will drive for about 90 km before you reach Caravelas.
 * From the south, turn right and head towards Juerana village. This is the quickest way of coming from the south if you're driving a good four-wheel drive. In total it is a stretch of 80 km of really bad road until you reach Caravelas.
 * If your car is not four-wheel drive, carry on BR101 continue on BR101 until you reach Teixeira de Freitas (it is about 50 km from the entrance to Juerana). From here you will drive for about 90 km before you reach Caravelas.

These roads are pretty good and you can develop some good speed, but you should be aware of pedestrians and animals crossing the road. There are many people cycling between towns and they do not pay much attention when crossing the road. Animals are also a problems due to the farms surrounding the road. "Blind bends" are extremely dangerous, so do not enter them on full speed. Always reduce your speed. If driving at night you must double your attention and run-overs of humans and animals are frequent in this road.

By bus
Take any bus going to Caravelas. The bus station is in the heart of town and the town is very small. After five minutes walking you can find your way around.

On foot
It is the best way to get around town. It is very small town and you can basically reach anywhere on foot.

By car
Not much need for a car. Once you arrive with your car and park it at the hotel, you probably won't need it until you're leaving town. Unless, of course, you're too lazy to walk... :o)

By boat
It is not for getting around town, but is a good way to know Viçosa and Caribê rivers and their beautiful mangroves.

See
There is not much to see in Caravelas itself (the continental part) and people normally go to Caravelas to visit and dive in Abrolhos an archipelago off Caravelas coast.

While in Caravelas you must see:

 * Abrolhos - It is an archipelago off the coast of Caravelas. The best time to visit is between July and November when whales arrive from Antarctica to breed in its warm coastal waters...
 * Parcel das Paredes - If you are going to Parcel das Paredes be ready to spend the night. If a rocking boat is a problem, you're better off not going or you should take something for sea sickness. A good choice of guide is Sérginho (also, go with him to the Mangue, see below). His contact is as follows: Sérgio Freire, phone (073) 8808 9987
 * Mangue - Mangue stands for mangrove in Portuguese.[[Image:Mangrove.JPG|thumb|Mangrove on Viçosa River]]

The main river (Viçosa) is of a salty water and good for swimming and fishing.

There are many different types of fish, shrimp, crabs, oyster (which can be harvested in the mangrove and eaten on the spot). Alongside the river there are the people locally known as ribeirinhas.

These people live pretty much an unspoiled way of life in the quietness of the river. If you have the opportunity, you should visit them. They are very welcoming and humble people who enjoy talking to outsiders.

If you plan to visit the mangrove and swim among the mangrove trees, make sure you have a T-shirt on you. There are loads of tiny fish around looking for food and they tend to bite. It does not hurt, but for those not used to it may be an odd and uncomfortable experience.

Also do not step on the mangrove ground. You should float at all times! The main reason for not stepping on the ground is that it after the low tide the oysters end up hidden in the water and if you step on them you can cut yourself pretty bad.

If you plan to visit the mangue, you will go on a small fishing boat and spend the day out. You can contact Sérginho who is a great guide and will show the place. He also owns a nice restaurant where he is the chef. He's a great cook! The contact details are: Sérgio Freire, phone (073) 8808 9987.

 * Caribê River: It is one of the arms of the main river and its banks are covered mainly in mangroves. The forest around the river is intact and keeps its natural untouched beauty.

Eat

 * Carenagem restaurant

Drink
Not many places to go, but there are some nice local bars where you can mingle with the locals. A nice restaurant (with good food) is Carenagem at the end of the main road next to the gas station.

Sleep

 * Pousada dos Navegantes, Rua das Palmeiras Nº 45 - Centro. ZIP Code: 45900-000, Phones: +55 73 3297-1401 / +55 73 8811-2592 (abrolhos@pousadanavegantes.com.br) . A very cosy B&B in the heart of Caravelas. The owners (Josanar and Ana) are a very friendly couple who are always ready to help. If you need any help, talk to them and they will sort you out.

Go next
The shortest way out by car is via Juerana village. However, the map shows this stretch of 70 km as being asphalt. The truth is something else. You will probably find 3 km of asphalt at best. The rest is a tremendous offroad experience and the 70 km becomes 300 km, as you cannot develop speed unless you're driving an SUV.

If you, however, want some offroad experience, then it may be worth your while. Just ensure your car is in good shape or you're driving with someone else in case of a breakdown.

Otherwise, you should head straight to Teixeira de Freitas and get onto BR101 (which is in bad state, but drivable). Be careful of potholes and "craters" on BR101.

By car

 * To the north by car, BR101 North will take you to some other beautiful and sought-after spots such as Ilhéus, Porto Seguro, Morro de São Paulo and Salvador. All these cities are within the state of Bahia.
 * To the south on BR101, your first stop should be São Matheus, in the state of Espírito Santo. This is a great place to visit with beautiful beaches. Make a special effort to go to Guriri.

 * If you continue south, the next best option is Linhares with Brazil's largest lakes. Other options in Espírito Santo are: Pontal do Ipiranga (which can be reached from Linhares) and Vitória, the state's capital city.

title: Caravelas


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Caraz

Caraz is a pretty little town in Peru.

Understand
It's one of the few places in Peru that has not been destroyed by earthquakes. With an elevation of 2270 m, near to the Cordillera Blanca and the famous Santa Cruz trek, it's an ideal location for preparing a multi-day trek or doing some day hikes.

Get in
Caraz can be reached by bus from Lima (10 hours) via Huaraz with several bus companies or from Chimbote directly (4-5 hours) with Yungai Express up to three times daily. There are several buses a day going to Lima.

There are frequent combis from Huaraz leaving at the terminal terrestre (about S/8 direct).

Get around
Caraz is a small town. Getting around is basically done by foot. The only public transportation is a taxi or mototaxi.

See
Caraz is well preserved from earthquakes, and offers an amazing glimpse of a rich colonial past, with its houses plenty of balconies, red tailed roofs, narrow streets and colourful plazas. The Plaza de Armas has a brass water fountain built on 1891, and a Musical Pavilion (called Glorieta) dating from 1927.

Do

 * Explore Huascarán National Park: Visit the nearby Laguna Paron or complete the challenging Santa Cruz Trek.

Eat

 * Polleria Jeny: Here you get chicken at very reasonable prices.
 * Café La Terraza: Just near the main square, this café serves good coffee, home made ice creams, pizzas, and offers a hearty menu del día.

Sleep
Hostal la Alameda (US$17): Its a pretty hostal, run by some elderly women who will mother you. The hostal has a nice garden to hang around or to relax after an exhausting trek.

Go next
The Cañon del Pato is a spectacular alternative route down to the coast at Chimbote, then onwards to Trujillo. They leave Caraz 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00.

title: Caraz


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Carbis Bay

Carbis Bay is a neighbour of Saint Ives, Cornwall.

By car
For those travelling from the North exit the M5 at J31, follow signs to Launceston, Redruth and Penzance via the A30. At Loggans Roundabout take the A30 to Penzance not Hayle, at the next roundabout turn right to St Ives and Carbis Bay along the A3074. Pass through Lelant to reach Carbis Bay before St Ives.

By train
Click on and plan your route e.g. London Paddington stops just before Penzance at St Erth which then links directly to Carbis Bay Railway Station, this then connects to St Ives.

By plane
For flight info to Newquay from Stansted Airport  or from London Gatwick, Manchester, Leeds Bradford or Bristol into Newquay. http://www.bmibaby.com have flights from Birmingham and Durham Tees Valley to Newquay.

Do
St Ives is considered to be the jewel in the crown of Cornwall, if so then Carbis Bay is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Carbis Bay beach is privately owned and maintained by Carbis Bay Hotel so is not overcrowded, parking is offered by the beach with lifeguard cover provided in high season. Toilets and shop by the beach.

You can take the train from Carbis Bay and be in St Ives in less than 5 minutes, but the 20 minute walk is one that you must make at least once on your holiday. Take the path down the beach and across in front of the Carbis Bay Hotel, join the path up to the railway bridge. Cross over the bridge and take in the view across St Ives Bay to Trevose Head. Up the gentle incline until it levels off, take the lower path to enjoy the best views. Follow the road and around the corner you get the first dramatic view of St Ives (above), drop down to the beautiful Porthminster beach or enjoy a spot of lunch in the famous Porthminster Cafe. Past the lifeboat station you find yourself by the Harbour. A quick tour of St Ives would take you past Smeaton Pier to Porthgwidden beach, up to St Nicholas Chapel on the Island, drop down to the Tate at Porthmeor, then  find your way back through the cobbled streets, stopping off at the many art galleries along the way.

Porth Kidney Sands is sometimes claimed by Lelant but is in fact a lesser known beach of Carbis Bay. Reached at low tide from Carbis Bay beach around Hawkes Point, Porthkidney stretches as far as the Hayle Estuary and is backed by sand dunes and unspoilt by buildings. The views across the beach to Godrevy create evocative images which have been the inspiration of many artists including John Miller. The coastal path from Carbis Bay past Porth Kidney House will reveal the old miners' steps which you can take down to Porth Kidney Sands at low tide, alternatively take the Headland Road coast path from Carbis Bay, past The Sea Urchin Apartments to get a higher perspective of these dramatic views. Approaching Lelant village, follow the signs to St Uny church and park nearby, the footpath takes you through the sand dunes along the beach to Porth Kidney Sands. These stunning views are across the Hayle estuary to Mexico Towans, Hayle Towans, Gwithian and Godrevy Lighthouse and back to St Ives.

title: Carbis Bay


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Carbondale

There is more than one place called Carbondale:

United States of America

 * Carbondale (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Carbondale (Pennsylvania) - A city in Pennsylvania.

title: Carbondale


text:
Carbondale (Illinois)

Carbondale is a small city of about 25,000 (2020) in Southern (Illinois) about 14 miles (22 km) east of the Mississippi River at roughly the southern edge of the plains, and the northern limit of the Shawnee hills. The surrounding area boasts some pleasant countryside, particularly in the Shawnee National Forest preserve.

The town hosts the main campus of Southern Illinois University.

By train
Carbondale is served daily by Amtrak's The Saluki, Ilini, and City of New Orleans trains to and from Chicago (with intermediate stops, e.g., at Champaign-Urbana), and New Orleans (stops in Memphis).

The Saluki train departs Chicago at 9:15AM and greets Carbondale at 2:45PM (on the reverse it leaves Carbondale at 7:30AM and arrives to Chicago at 1PM). Illini train usually departs in the afternoon around 4PM and arrives at 9:30PM (same on reverse), but the New Orleans southbound to Memphis and New Orleans (leaves Chicago at 8PM) doesn't arrive until 1:20AM, and the northbound to Chicago doesn't arrive until 3:10AM (arrives Chicago 9AM).

By bus
Greyhound has a station across the street from the train station. Amtrak also runs a regular express bus to St. Louis, Missouri, which leaves from the train station at (ugh) 4AM.

By car
Carbondale sits at the crossroads of Illinois Highway 13, and U.S. route 51. Most visitors who drive in will arrive via IL 13 from Marion, where it intersects with Interstate Highway 57. Another much more scenic option for those driving from St. Louis, Missouri, is to take IL 3 South to IL 149 East, which intersects with IL 13 in Murphysboro (look for an exit just on the Illinois side of the Poplar Street bridge.) Highlights include the picturesque Mississippi river town of Chester, Illinois, and the many bluffs which offer fantastic views of the river.

By plane
Lambert Field in St. Louis is the closest major airport, with flights to and from most destinations in the U.S. and a few international destinations. From there BART Airport Shuttle, +1-800-284-2278, provides door-to-door service to Carbondale, and other destinations in Southern and Central Illinois for around $50. Call for a quote.

Flights from St. Louis arrive at Williamson County Airport (four flights daily, each way), which is also served by BART.

On foot
Most of what's interesting in Carbondale is within walking distance of the center of town (Main and Illinois), at least for most fit travelers. Generally however, sidewalks are most reliably available and intact within the center city between Oakland Avenue on the west and Wall Street on the east, including the SIU campus of course, which with its many well-tended and winding paths, grassy knolls, several woods, and a lake is an urban hiker's bonanza.

By bus

 * Saluki Express. +1 618-536-3351. The SIU Student Center operates a bus system with 9 regular routes operating whenever classes are in session.  There is also late night service and a special intersession service.  Tickets cost $1 for the general public, and passes are available starting at $13 per month.  SIU students ride free.

By taxi

 * Quality Cab +1 618-713-0013

By car
Driving in Carbondale is pretty straightforward, with only a couple of instances of one-way streets (Main St. West-bound, Walnut St. East-bound, Illinois Ave. North-bound, and University Ave. South-bound).

The biggest hassle for drivers is the difficulty of parking anywhere near the SIU campus when classes are in session. Most spaces on campus require a special sticker which are available to older students or to staff or faculty. A few spaces are reserved strictly for visitors, however the best advice is probably not to bother, since there are ample parking spaces a few blocks away in town, and the walk is generally quite pleasant.

By bike
There are bicycle lanes on many of the bigger streets throughout town, and the smaller streets are generally quiet enough that even the least experienced urban cyclist should feel completely safe. The latter is especially true in the western (mostly faculty inhabited) parts of town. The City of Carbondale prohibits cyclists on city sidewalks.

If you feel like taking a longer ride there are ample opportunities around Carbondale, especially to the east and west. Try riding Grand Avenue toward Crab-Orchard lake (take a little jog to the right at Giant City Road). Illinois Highway 13 leading west from Carbondale to the neighboring city of Murphysboro is surprisingly bicycle friendly: the shoulder is paved and the width of a full traffic lane. The whole trip center-to-center is about 7 miles, but with the growth of the incorporated parts of the two towns it's only about 1½ miles between the two city limits.

Learn
There is only one institution of higher learning in the city.

Eat

 * New Kahala Chinese food at 600 S. Illinois Ave. It's right in the middle of town. Easy access, great food, great prices. For the quality and price, no other Chinese place in town comes close.
 * Hunan, 710 E Main St. Excellent Chinese food. They do not deliver.
 * Italian Village, 405 S Washington St. Known for their meatball sandwich.
 * Hunan, 710 E Main St. Excellent Chinese food. They do not deliver.
 * Italian Village, 405 S Washington St. Known for their meatball sandwich.
 * Hunan, 710 E Main St. Excellent Chinese food. They do not deliver.
 * Italian Village, 405 S Washington St. Known for their meatball sandwich.
 * Hunan, 710 E Main St. Excellent Chinese food. They do not deliver.
 * Italian Village, 405 S Washington St. Known for their meatball sandwich.

Sleep
Most Carbondale hotels are on Main Street (Illinois Highway 13) at either the extreme east or west edges of town. This doesn't make for the easiest stumble home from say, South Illinois Avenue, but there's always the cab company, or Lyft or Uber.
 * Hampton Inn, 2175 Reed Station Pkwy. Waffles for breakfast and indoor pool and hot tub are part of the package. +1 618-549-6900
 * Hampton Inn, 2175 Reed Station Pkwy. Waffles for breakfast and indoor pool and hot tub are part of the package. +1 618-549-6900

Go next

 * Shawnee National Forest
 * Makanda
 * Cobden
 * Giant City State Park
 * Crab Orchard Lake
 * Cedar Lake
 * Little Grand Canyon

title: Carbondale (Illinois)