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Sanur

Sanur is a town on the east coast of South Bali. Sanur is Bali's oldest upscale resort area and is a mature beach-side town. Despite the abundance of restaurants and accommodation, it has a quiet and relaxed feel to it. Sanur tends to appeal most to middle-aged and older families, especially Europeans. Most hotels in Sanur are big, with spacious gardens.

Understand
The Sanur area is sandwiched between the main Jalan Ngurah Rai bypass and the beach. One main route called Jalan Danau Tamblingan runs north to south through the town and it is easy to orient yourself with reference to this road.

By car
Sanur is a 20-30 minute taxi ride from the Ngurah Rai International Airport, and a pre-paid coupon costs Rp150,000. There are plenty of metered taxis all over the island who will be keen to take you to Sanur.

If you are driving yourself, this is one of the more straightforward areas of Bali to find as the main Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai is the western boundary of Sanur. There are many well signposted exit points from this main road into the heart of Sanur. Allow about 20 minutes driving time from Kuta or Legian, about 30 minutes from Seminyak or Ubud and 10 to 15 minutes from Denpasar.

By bus
Sanur is well serviced by shuttle buses and bemos from the north and south and also from Denpasar's Tegal terminal.

From Denpasar, Teman bus (Trans Metro Dewata) K3B ends in Matahari Terbit Sanur, Rp 4,400.

From Kuta or Jimbaran, Teman bus K5B, Rp 4,400.

The bus company Perama has its Sanur office in Jalan Hangtuah, and offers direct transfer here from Candidasa, Kuta, Lovina, Padang Bai and Ubud.

There's also a bus service called Trans Sarbagita that runs the following route Terminal Batu Bulan (Gianyar) - Tohpati (DPS) - Sanur (DPS) - Kuta Central Park (Badung) - Jimbaran (Badung) - Nusa Dua (Badung).

Kura-Kura Bus is another bus company that passes through Sanur and other popular areas in Bali.

By boat
Boats from Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Gili Islands arrive at the Sanur Harbour at the end of Jalan Matahari Terbit, and detailed schedules are given in the Nusa Lembongan article.

Get around
Jalan Danau Tamblingan, the main street in Sanur, has a number of outlets for car, motorbike and bicycle rental. A large number of metered taxis patrol the streets looking for passengers. Local bemos run with some regularity up and down both Jalan Danau Tamblingan and Jalan Danau Poso.

Sanur is also a great place to walk. Distances are not large, the streets are relatively quiet, and there is a splendid, paved beach front path which runs the whole length of the district.

On foot
Walking in Sanur is pleasant. The pavement is about 2.5 m wide along Sanur Beach, suitable for the senior citizens who frequent this town to avoid the loud nightlife in nearby Kuta. Rental bikes sometimes use the pavement, too, but no motorcycles do.

By bicycle
Sanur is possibly the most cycle friendly part of mainland Bali. It has some cycle lanes such as along Jalan Danau Tamblingan going south only (returning via the beach pathway north makes a nice loop ride). The long paved beach pathway allows bicycles as well as pedestrians but you need to cycle slowly giving way to pedestrians. There are plenty of places to rent a bicycle for the day. Along the beach it costs typically Rp50,000 per day. If you hire away from the beach area such as on or near Jalan Danau Tamblingan the price is cheaper, typically about Rp30,000 per day.

See
This is a town with a wealth of cultural, natural and historical attractions, as well as the shopping and beach-related sights.

As well as shopping and eating, there are plenty of photo opportunities while walking along the splendid 5-km beachside paved path. The local night markets are a sensory delight, with plenty of food options.

Do

Sanur's splendid paved beachfront cycle-path stretches some 5 km from the Jalan Mertasari area in south Sanur, north to the main beach at Jalan Hangtuah. This makes for a lovely scenic bike ride, especially in the early morning. Some bikes are better maintained than others so you might want to test your hire-bike close to home for a while in case the pedals have a tendency to fall off. Bicycles typically cost per day about Rp 30,000 if rented from town, or Rp 50,000 if rented from along the beach.

Diving
Although the diving available around Sanur is not the best Bali has to offer, nearly all of Bali's most established dive operators are located here. All offer trips further afield.

Surfing
Bali is one of the most famous surfing locations in the world and Sanur is one of the most famous surfing locations for intermediate surfers coming to Bali. With already well established surf schools located here, beginner, intermediate and even families can join these establishments for some surfing fun.

Laundry
There are many places to do your laundry in Sanur. Most hotels provides they own laundry service, mostly with more expensive rates than local laundry rooms. Almost every street corner has a laundry service.

Spas
A day at any of the spas in Sanur is exactly what you would expect during your stay in Bali: full service treatment steeped in Balinese tradition. Take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy a spa during your stay, the cost here is at least half what you would pay in North America or Europe. All major hotels have in-house spa facilities and there are also several well established independents in Sanur.

Watersports
The more active could try one or more of the many watersports on offer at Sanur Beach. Try kitesurfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing or paragliding. For those less active, hire a banana boat and hit the calm waters.

The surfing here is not great by Bali standards but there are reasonable breaks about 1 km offshore during the northwest wind season (about October to March). In that period you will have no problem locating the breaks — just follow the locals. Boards can be rented on the beach for Rp 100,000.

Buy
There are countless shops along Jalan Danau Tamblingan and the side streets leading from it. You will find everything from local t-shirts to Balinese handicrafts.

Markets
At the northern end of Jalan Pungutan, just before it hits Jalan Danau Tamblingan, there is an art market, sometimes referred to as Sindhu Market. This is a one stop shop for all manner of Balinese handicrafts, sarongs, T-shirts and knock-offs such as sunglasses. A similar set up can be found at beachfront Art Market at the end of Jalan Hangtuah. Take the foot path leading north which weaves through a maze of stalls and the odd cafe.

Eat

For very cheap local food try the Night Market at the northern end of Jalan Danau Tamblingan where it meets Jalan Pungutan.

Drink
There are lots of bars along Jalan Danau Tamblingan.

Sleep
Most of Sanur's accommodation is in the medium and high sector of the market and is aimed at families. Hotels in Sanur are usually a distance apart, not as close together as Kuta hotels. Hotel price competition in Sanur is tame compared to Kuta, which has a severe oversupply.

Connect
There are numerous internet cafes on Jalan Danau Tamblingan as well as cafes offering free wireless internet for customers.

Cope
Several nations have consulates in Sanur, including some with titles that confusingly include the words "in Denpasar".

 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Go next

 * Sanur is a good jumping off point for the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan.
 * If you are heading back to the southern tourist hotspots of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, this will take about 20 minutes by car. Ubud is about 25 minutes in the opposite direction.

title: Sanur


text:
San Vito lo Capo

San Vito lo Capo is a town in Trapani province.

By car
Take the motorway Palermo-Trapani, exit Castellammare del Golfo, continue along the SS187 road in to direction San Vito Lo Capo.

By bus
San Vito lo Capo is connected by bus to Palermo and Trapani (see AST website.

By Train
The nearest railway station is located in Trapani, continue in to direction San Vito lo Capo approximately 40 km.

By Ferry
Ferries from Genoa, Rome, Civitavecchia, Naples to Palermo, then on the motorway Palermo-Trapani, exit Castellammare del Golfo, continue along the SS187 road towards San Vito Lo Capo.

During the summer San Vito lo Capo is connected daily with Favignana.

Eat
Lo Stagnone. Good seafood, popular with locals.

Go next

 * Segesta — the site of an ancient Graeco-Roman city famous for its temple and theater;
 * Selinunte — another Graeco-Roman city famous for its archaeological park;
 * Erice —old medieval hilltop city, with an amazing view.

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

title: San Vito lo Capo


text:
Sanya

Sanya (三亚 Sānyà in Mandarin; Ta-ah in Hainanese) is on the southernmost point of China, at the tip of Hainan island. Billed as "China's Hawaii", Sanya has 20-km stretches of beach. As the only tropical city across the coastline, it is definitely booming and packed with a lot of water sports such as snorkeling and jet-skiing, rainforest hiking, and innumerable hotels ranging from zero to five stars.

With sunshine all year around, temperatures hover around 25 °C even in January and 30 °C in the summer time. Its islands and beaches are beautiful and the water in Yalong Bay and Dadonghai are clean enough to have a good swim, but you may also want to head to Wuzhizhou Island or further north to visit unspoiled and natural scenery.

Districts

 * Sanya Bay Beach – stretches for around 25 km, but is rather polluted and devoid of swimmers. It is lined with seafood restaurants and hotels costing ¥50-5,000.

 * Sanya city – filled with souvenir shops and street grills at night. You will see locals dancing along the beach in the evenings, and a range of people selling souvenirs, street food and fairground games. Try the outdoor public karaoke if you dare! Cross the Sanya River (三亚河 Sānyà hé) to reach a less touristy, cheaper, and more fun part of town.

 * Dadong Hai (大东海 Dàdōng hǎi)—has Sanya's best balance between development and natural beauty. It is the tourist and foreigner hangout of the city. The area is more touristy and expensive than Sanya, and has many seafood restaurants and a gorgeous beach (however, as of 2023, access is restricted much of the time, and there is no swimming near and after dark, and often during the day as well). The shopping is not as good as Sanya city's, but has many touristy things such as the ubiquitous 大哥 Chinese-Hawaiian style shirt and shorts combo. The dominant languages in this area, both spoken and written, are Chinese and Russian -- although most of the Russian tourists have not returned since COVID. As of 2023, a private company bought the DaDongHai beachfront and is trying to restrict access to this beach and others nearby. When using the beach, expect to be hassled by local authorities wearing orange shirts telling you to get out of the water or off the beach entirely.
 * Xiaodonghai (小东海 Xiaodōng hǎi)— used to be the best area in Sanya City to get away from hordes of tourists, as the area it is a part of (Banshan Bandao 半山半岛) is mostly high-priced apartments and hotels. However, since COVID, this sandy and coral area has been swarmed by tourists looking to get away from mainland cold and have a "tropical vacation". The government and a private compan are, as of 2023, trying to close the area as a nature preserve, claiming it's to protect the environment (which stands to reason), but likely this is simply a clever plan to continue the gentrification of the area. There is a nice beach with views of the sunset on the opposite side of the peninsula, but you have to find a way through the half-abandoned village area of ' LuHuiTou Community ', as this beach is also being blocked by government and business. Swimming is mostly prohibited anywhere in Sanya city, as of now 2023.
 * Yalong Bay (亚龙湾 Yàlóng wān) – is farther from Sanya city than Dadong Hai and is 45 minutes away from Phoenix Airport. The destination has been developed into an international holiday center with several 5-star resorts, golf, etc. The long beach is well taken care of by the various hotels. You will find many restaurants in the new shopping area. Definitely worth a visit, but be prepared for higher prices with respect to Sanya.
 * Haitang Bay – Not as crowded as Yalong Bay. 35 minutes away from Phoenix International airport by G98 Highway. Future home of the largest Duty Free Shopping Mall in China. Several luxurious resorts of note already operating as well as a multiplex and show center.
 * Yacheng Town (崖城镇) – Formerly known as Yazhou (崖州), this is the oldest town in the Sanya region with a history dating back to the Song Dynasty. It's about 46 km west of Sanya City and accessible by bus (Bus Route 58) and high speed rail (alight at Yazhou Station). While in no way comparable to any of the more famous ancient towns on the Mainland, it may be worth a visit if you happen to be in Sanya and have a day to spare. The main points of interest are the restored Wenming Gate (文明门) and the Yacheng Confucian Temple (崖城学宫). There are also a number of interesting villages in the area, most notably Baoping Village (保平村), which contains many examples of Ming and Qing-style residential buildings.

Understand
While tourists come in every season, the peak season starts from 1 October to the end of winter. During the winter, Sanya is a popular escape for Russians who primarily stay at Dadong Hai (大东海 Dàdōng hǎi) and Northern Chinese to escape freezing weather. In the Chinese New Year, the city will be flooded with tourists and expect everything to be extremely expensive.

As the southernmost city in China, Sanya along with Yangshuo often serves as the last stop for backpackers who wish to spend the remaining days of their visa in China.

Talk
Hainanese is the main local language spoken in Sanya. The dialect of Hainanese differs somewhat from the standard Hainanese spoken in Wenchang, making it a little tricky to understand even if you are fluent in standard Hainanese. That said, most locals are able to understand standard Hainanese too.

As with elsewhere in China, Mandarin is the main language taught in school, and spoken by virtually all non-elderly locals. Sanya is also home to many migrants from other parts of China who speak Mandarin but not Hainanese. This is particularly true in the winter, when many wealthy Chinese from the northern provinces move here to escape the bitter cold in their respective hometowns.

As with most other parts of China, English is not widely spoken, though staff at the more expensive hotels and resorts can usually speak some basic English. As Sanya is a popular destination for Russian tourists, staff at some tourist attractions may be able to speak some basic Russian.

By plane

You may be able to save money by first taking a bullet train to Haikou and flying out of the provincial capital's larger airport. The Meilan high-speed rail station is in the same building complex with Haikou's international airport. For intercity bus, ticket and overnight lodging can exceed the difference and you should account for travelling 3–4 hours each direction. In addition to the bus, you will easily be able to find "heiche" (黑车 hēichē) taxis that will take you between the two cities, for ¥350-500 per car. Although it's illegal, you can find drivers that are courteous, safe and reliable, although this is much more difficult without being able to speak at least basic Chinese.

By bus

The 3½-hour bus ride from the East Bus Station in Haikou will cost about ¥50. Buses between Haikou and Sanya generally depart about once every hour, though there is a two-hour gap between the 2nd last bus and the last bus; the last bus from Sanya to Haikou departs around 18:00.

By train
Sanya can be reached directly by train from Beijing (35 hours), Shanghai (36 hours) and Guangzhou (15 hours). The whole train is loaded on to a ferry for the journey from mainland China to the Island, then continues its journey around the west coast as far as Sanya. As trains leaving the island originate in Sanya, tickets from this smaller town are easier to obtain than if leaving from Haikou.

High-speed trains connect all major cities and towns on the eastern and western coasts. It takes 1½-2 hours from Haikou, travels up to 250 km/h.

Maps of Sanya also show a station near Nanshan Temple called Nanshan North Railway Station (南山北站). This station, however, is no longer in use.

By foot
Many people stay in beach areas with more-or-less everything within walking distance.

By bus
Darting in, around, and between Sanya city and Dadong Hai is best done by the city bus lines 2 (fastest) or 4 (adds some stops around Sanya River) for ¥2. The buses run along Sanya city's Jiefang Road (解放路), which is the street McDonald's is on, and hit Dadong Bay at Luling Road (鹿岭路), just one stop past the Deer Turns Head Square (鹿回头广场)

For trips farther out of town, you can buy bus tickets at Sanya city's bus station or just hail buses on the road that runs along Sanya's beach. Tickets to most destinations will be ¥1-30. You could also hire a van with (or without) an English speaking guide from hotels or people with white and blue displays on the streets of Sanya City or Dadong Bay. If you go with a Chinese tour group, there may likely be several hours of scheduled stops at "infomercial" centers, complete with microphone delivered advertisements.

By light rail
A light rail network is under construction. The first line officially began operations in October 2020. It runs from Sanya Railway Station to the city center. Stops include Sanya Railway Station (三亚火车站), Yuxiu Road (育秀路), Fenghuang Road (凤凰路), Shuicheng Road (水城路), Sanya River East Road (三亚河东路), Jiefang Road (解放路), Jinjiling Street (金鸡岭街), Youyi Street (友谊街), Yingbin Road (迎宾路), Jixiang Street (吉祥街), Tuanjie Street (团结街), Xinfeng Street (新风街), Guangming Street (光明街), Yuejin Street (跃进街) and Jiangang Road (建港路). The fare is ¥3 and it takes 35 minutes to reach the end of the line.

By taxi
Taxi fare starts from ¥8 for the first 2 km, and ¥2 for each additional kilometer. Due to the cheap fare, taxi drivers like to hover around anywhere outside the downtown to avoid short-ride passengers. This makes getting a taxi in the downtown a bit difficult. Taxis are quite well regulated and they are mostly okay with using a meter, but drivers are mainly immigrant workers who may not be familiar with every place. Some of them also try to fool tourists that the place they want to go is closed, and try to take you farther. Another problem is that since Sanya is only crowded during winter, there are enough taxis to go around. And the government doesn't hire more taxis because during the summer, there would be too many taxis and the drivers would not make any money. To help with this problem, the government has commissioned another class of yellow taxis that can hailed by phone. Dial 96789 tell them your location and they will pick you up if there is a car nearby you and the rates are the same as regular taxis.

There are also numerous motorcycle and sidecar taxis. You must negotiate the price before leaving. Prices are slightly lower than regulated taxis but it depends on your negotiating skills and knowing what the locals pay for the same trip distance.

By car or motorcycle
You can also rent a motorbike or a car of your own. There are several places to do this, with prices per hour (¥60), 4 hours (¥150), 8 hours (¥350) or by week (¥1,500). Discounts are available outside peak times. However, any driver who is not familiar with the traffic norms in Sanya should think twice about renting a motorbike. Traffic rules are practiced half-heartedly and road condition can be dangerous even if you are a good disciplined driver. When you crash into a pedestrian, you as a driver are likely the one to pay the compensation.

When renting a car or motorcycle, you need a valid Chinese driving license (International Licenses are not valid). There is no exemption to this rule and you can be jailed for up to 15 days by driving without a license. In most cases, you will be fine without it, but in the event of an accident, this will be a major issue.

English Corners
An English Corner is an informal regular gathering where locals meet to practice their English. If you show up and are visibly foreign, people will be eager to talk to you. This gives you a chance to meet some locals and socialize even if you don't speak much Chinese.

 * English Corner, at YoungBar (DaDongHai—beside Dolphin Bar). Every Sunday at 15:00.
 * English Corner, at YoungBar (DaDongHai—beside Dolphin Bar). Every Sunday at 15:00.

Biking
Sanya is a popular destination for pro-amateur bikers who are eager to hover around the whole island. However, almost all bikers take their own bike. Bike rental service is not as omnipresent as other touristy places such as Yangshuo or Lijiang. Most bike shops are located at Sanya Hexi Lu (Sanya River East Road), you need to pay ¥1000 for deposit and prices start from ¥40 for 1 day hiring. Several hostels also have a bike rental service. A route from Dadonghai to Yalong bay, then to Haitong Bay has a well-constructed, -lit and smooth road which stretches over 30 km and make it ideal to ride. However, the urban area of Sanya has some of the worst traffic in China and the local police are notorious for being impotent on cracking down traffic violations.

Golfing
Sanya is home to numerous practice range, suitable for beginner and several demanding golf courses for more challenges. Some international tournament take regularly place in different Sanya golfing venues. Hotels offer weekly package where you can golf every day on a different course.

Hiking
In Sanya, you may more likely do more walking than hiking. With its pretty flat landscape and well-developed roads, hiking is not particular popular among tourists. Hikers often take a bus in the Sanya Bus Station at Jiefang Road and head to Wuzhishan (五指山) to start their hiking tour. The 90-minute bus is available every hour from 07:00 to 16:00 and fare is around ¥16.

Surfing
Hainan has pretty consistent surf most of the year. In the summer, the south winds bring waves to Sanya's south-facing beaches. In the fall through winter, the peak surf season, Hainan's east coast is the place to go. Hainan does not offer world-class waves, but it offers fairly consistent tropical surf, which is almost completely empty. If you a breaking in to surfing, there are a number of companies to contact.

Water sports
Yalong Bay, Dadong Bay, Haitang Bay and Sanya Bay all have a collection of jet skiing, parasailing, paragliding, snorkeling, scuba diving, glass-bottomed boat, and beach ATV enterprises. Prices aren't generally very negotiable (save for scuba and snorkeling), but duration of the ride, however, can. Do not go too cheap on scuba, for obvious safety reasons.

Study Mandarin
With such a beautiful environment, relaxing on the beach and studying Mandarin Chinese is a fun and productive activity for those with more time. It's also easier to focus on the studying without the distractions of the big cities.

Buy
The area produces pearls in abundance and they are sold everywhere. Prices are highly negotiable; overcharging tourists is common. Tour guides get a fat (often 50%!) commission for bringing tourists to pearl shops; try to go without one and beat the price down.

Coconut powders and teas are also popular Chinese buys, but for Westerners looking for something less commercially produced... the cone-shaped hats that women wear here with pictures inscribed are only ¥5 at The First Market (第一市场 dìyī shìchǎng) in Sanya city. Lines 2 and 4 have a stop there. Don't head into the department store; instead, stick to the side of it and walk down the road filled with small shops and street vendors.

Restaurants
There are plenty of good Chinese regional-food restaurants, including many Sichuan, Cantonese, and DongBei places. There are also a few foreign / Western food restaurants, especially Dolphin and Young Bar, and of course the ubiquitous McDonald's (DaDongHai [3] and Jiefang Lu), Starbucks (in Summer Mall) and KFC (105 Jiefang Lu; Duojialian; 63 Guoxing Dadao; Renmin Lu). Seafood is of course also a mainstay in the cuisine of Sanya, and DaDongHai is filled with overpriced seafood restaurants. Inspect the tanks for freshness before eating and beware of the different charges that are often handled by different people at the restaurant (fishery, cooking fee, and sitting fee can be separate). Shellfish go for ¥10-25 per jin (half kilo).

Specialities
Hainan grows a great variety of tropical fruits. Mango, apple, pineapples, durian, jackfruit, mangosteen, lycee are very popular and their breeds are colorfully diverse. Hainan is famous throughout China for its coconuts and they are worth trying, especially the red coconuts (红椰 hóng yē). Away from the beach, expect to pay about ¥8-10 for a coconut. Prices increase as you get closer and you may end up paying about ¥15 for a coconut on the beach. Note that fruit price is fluctuating and cheating on its weight is common. Visit any big and well-established chained supermarkets in the downtown of Sanya along Jiefang Road to check the current market price.

Street food
A bit after sunset and well in to the midnight, Sanya city's streets are filled with small barbecue stands, noodle stands, and other snack vendors. There is a well-known seafood supermarket called The No. 1 Agricultural Products Market (第一市场) (See address below). You buy live seafood and then take it around the corner to a crowded street where all the restaurants will cook (Jia Gong,加工) the seafood for you for a small fee per dish. It's the most crowded night market in Sanya. You will find a constant assortment of musicians and kids that sell flowers to proposition you while you are eating. It's a great way to save money on eating seafood because there is no markup for the seafood because you purchased the seafood yourself. It's quite a lively environment with guitarists playing, saxophonists playing, customers singing, beer flowing all night long, garbage trucks to come by to pick up the garbage, and the occasional fight. This street starts dying down around the midnight and the crowds head to bar street.

After Bar Street closes, the crowds head to the night food market located at the 1st Lane of Shangping Road (商品街一巷) which is close to Jiefang Road (解放路). Most foods are at the fixed price but try to negotiate a bit for the seafood barbecue. The food and beer flows until the sun comes up.

Another popular after-hours barbecue place is at Wan Jun Long. Not as popular as Shangping Road, but if you are sick of seeing the same people all the time, this is another alternative (address below).

Drink
Coffee

The vast majority of coffee shops here open around 10:00 or 11:00. There is a Starbucks in the Summer Mall (in DaDongHai). The Jiefang Lu (解放路) McDonald's has thus become a morning pilgrimage for some Westerners.

Alcohol

Times Coast (Shi Dai Hai An) Bar Street

This is where all the hottest clubs in Sanya are; it's one big circle with about 10-11 clubs. The big three first tier clubs with all the tourists are Soho, MJ, and 88. The rest of the clubs are second tier clubs that have mostly locals and are less expensive. To get here, hop in a cab and say "Jiu Ba Jie". The most popular local brew is Anchor (actually Singaporean but produced in Hainan). Ask for the 'red label' or 'old' brew, which is the original. It is very hoppy and can be a great escape from Yanjing (燕京) or Qingdao (青岛) beer. Those are available, of course, as well. There are also local pineapple-based beers. Odd, but worth a try.

Most of these bars will ask you to buy many bottles at a time (standard practice in China). They are loud, flashy, often bland EDM-anthem places filled with Russians. Mostly tables with people just sitting and drinking, the dance floors are often small and shaped like a model-runway, and often have shows that take place and so everyone just goes and sits at their tables. Foreigners will not get free drinks at these Chinese clubs; you have to go to smaller cities for that (too many Russian tourists in Sanya for that white privilege).

KTV

Sleep
As a general rule, accommodation prices in Sanya are very expensive, particularly during the winter months due to the huge influx of wealthy tourists from northern China.

Budget
In Sanya city and Dadonghai there are many small, clean moderately priced inns and hotels (¥50-100, even in high season, for 1-3 beds). Some may be located in alley ways just off Sanya's beach street, sometimes several floors up without an elevator (but the view is worth it!).

Stay safe
Sanya exists solely for tourism which is accompanied by annoyances including pickpocketeting and overcharging.

Before arrival, travelers should be wary of getting the right address and most up to date telephone number for their hostels/hotels. Some hostels are located in a new district whose roads have just been laid out. Not many people, including the police, know where specific locations are in new districts. When you get lost, always ask drivers to call the staff.

Para-sailing, diving, snorkeling and boating are popular but operators may not be trained or certified. If you go for diving, always check air tank pressures before. Some Wikitravelers have reported that they received half-empty scuba tanks and found it difficult to inhale smoothly.

Sanya has a lot of local tour packages. Some tours to outlying islands may look cheap, but once you arrive on the spot, operators may charge you extra money for using their equipment. Masks, snorkels and fishing rods can be shabby and expensive to rent. Other tours are shopping traps, complete with ridiculous commissions for the tour guide. Before you join any tour, ask specifically what is included in the fee (beach chair, drinks, boat, fishing rod, snorkel, mask, transportation, admission fees, return transportation, etc.), and what is not (shopping).

Thanks to a heavy crackdown on gangsters, Sanya has become much safer than in the early 2000s. While violent crimes against tourists are rare in Sanya, be wary of pickpocketing, bicycle theft and bag snatching. There are occasional reports of professional drivers zooming alongside a tourist and grabbing their bag. Pickpocketing is common on buses. You should avoid bringing any valuables to the beach as theft is occasionally reported. Lockers on the beach, along their showers and beach chairs, are not free. They will charge ¥20-50, or more, per use.

Sanya is also notorious for overcharging. Scams in seafood restaurants were heavily reported in the Chinese media in 2011. To avoid very unpleasant sticker shock, make sure you know the price of what you are ordering.

As a tourist area, everything sold close to the beach will be 30-100% more expensive than in downtown Sanya due to high rents and the law of supply and demand (lots of tourists, limited prime real estate for restaurants). Furthermore, market prices anywhere in Sanya are slightly higher than Haikou due to the cost of transportation. For seafood lovers who just traveled from inexpensive Haikou, do not expect to pay ¥10 for 4 scallops or 6 oysters.

Traffic rules apparently do not exist. Cars and motorcycles drive on both sides of the road and careen down sidewalks as if they had right of way. Irritating honking is ever-present, even when driving on sidewalks. Tourists should not trust the green traffic light and zebra crossings, because changing lights sometimes encourage drivers to speed up. As elsewhere, do not trust drivers to avoid you; you should always avoid them.

Cars will only stop at red lights. Bikes will only stop at red traffic lights if they are managed by police, otherwise you will watch them zip and weave though all directions of oncoming traffic.

The road dividers on main arterial roads are not there to stop people from running across; they are in place to stop cars from going down the wrong side of the road. Watch a road without these installed and you will see this in practice.

The tap water, even in nice hotels, should not be considered safe to drink as the tap water in Sanya is generally not potable. Bring or buy bottled water if you plan to be outside of your accommodation for long periods of time. If you have access to a kettle in your hotel room or rented apartment, boiled water is fine to drink.

Hainan is considered an active malaria and dengue fever region. Note that while there are pills to prevent malaria, there is no way to grow antibodies against dengue fever. If you plan to visit tropical forest zones, bring your own strong mosquito repellent and coil incense.

Go next
While most tourists visit Hainan for the increasingly vibrant city of Sanya, the island is large and has many other more remote locations to see.

Baoting (保亭), a county just north of Sanya, is a popular destination for its scenic and cultural attractions, including the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone (呀诺达雨林文化旅游区), the Betel Nut Valley Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park (槟榔谷黎苗文化旅游区), and the Mount Qixian Hot Springs National Forest Park (七仙岭温泉国家森林公园).

A little further on from Baoting, about 70 km northeast of Sanya, is the county of Lingshui. About 15 km south of Lingshui's main town is Nanwan Monkey Island (南湾猴岛), actually a peninsula, which is home to about 2500 endangered Macaque monkeys whose habitat you get to roam freely through. Lingshui is also the location of Perfume Bay (Xiangshui Bay, 香水湾), a relatively quiet and peaceful coastal area, and the scenic island of Boundary Island (Fenjiezhou Island, 分界洲岛).

The eastern city of Wanning (万宁), between Sanya and Haikou is home to Shimei Bay (石梅湾 shí méi wān) and Riyue Bay (日月湾 rìyuè wān), the former which hosts the large and very secluded-feeling Le Meridien, and the latter which has become a popular spot for surfers on a budget. The cheaper hotel is ¥480 a night, so not super budget. Take the slow (non-express) bus to Haikou from the bus station and ask to be dropped off at the respective highway turnoff (¥30, 90 min, pay on the bus). Make sure you show them your ticket first or they will take you to another town where a taxi ride back 5 km they charge ¥100. To get back, walk up to the highway and flag down a bus. Express buses won't stop to pick you up. A taxi to either location will cost around ¥300.

The Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xisha Archipelago (西沙群岛) are gorgeous, remote, and brimming with tropical life. One of this chain of islands reportedly used to be an exotic vacation spot but is now off-limits to foreign travelers due to territorial disputes. If you happen to be a Chinese national, however, you can take a cruise boat there from the Phoenix Island International Cruise Terminal (凤凰岛国际邮轮港). A round-trip takes around 64 hours and costs about ¥4000.

title: Sanya


text:
Sanyo-Onoda

Sanyo-Onoda (山陽小野田市 Sanyō-Onoda-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Go next

 * Ube
 * Shimonoseki
 * Yamaguchi
 * Mine
 * Nagato
 * Hagi
 * Ato
 * Hofu
 * Kitakyushu

title: Sanyo-Onoda


text:
São Gabriel da Cachoeira

São Gabriel da Cachoeira is a city on the shores of the Negro River, in the state of Amazonas. Most of its inhabitants are Indigenous people.

Understand
São Gabriel da Cachoeira is on the left margin of the Negro River, 850 km from Manaus. It has a strategic position bordering the countries of Colombia and Venezuela. The city is surrounded by the Amazon Forest and 90% of the population is composed of Brazilian Indigenous people. The region combines, along the medium and high Negro River, 430 settlements that house 35,000 indigenous people of 23 different groups. The city is also a base for mountaineers seeking to climb Pico da Neblina, the highest peak in Brazil.

It's OK to go there by yourself, especially if you can speak some Portuguese. If this is not the case, it's recommended (although not indispensable) that you go through one of the many travel agencies in Manaus.

By plane
The most practical access is by air; the trip takes about two hours, leaving from Manaus to São Gabriel da Cachoeira. The town´s airport is tiny and only serves flights between these two cities. Nevertheless, it´s the only quick way to get in.

By boat
The most poetic access is via the Negro River. A slow cargo boat takes about three to four days travel to reach the city, leaving from the Porto de São Raimundo in Manaus. The return trip takes 2 days. Tickets cost about 250-300 R$ for deck space (where you can hang a hammock), and 800-1100 R$ for a 3-person cabin. Many boats stop in Barcelos and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro. There are at least two speed boats from Manaus. The trip takes about 24 hours.
 * Almirante Azevedo II: Departs every other Wednesday at 17:00. Tel: (92) 9125-8944, (92) 3625-6984, (92) 9143-1223, (92) 8183-2147.
 * Barco Genêsis. Departs Fridays at 17:00. Tel: (92) 9202-1028.
 * Comandante Natal VI. Departs every second Friday at 18:00. Tel: (92) 9122-8553, (92) 9381-2926.
 * Gênesis III. Departs every second Friday at 15:30. Tel.: (Manaus) (92) 8119-8591, (92) 8171-4442, (92) 99314-9707. (São Gabriel) (97) 99199-0042, (97) 99171-1727.
 * Gênesis IV. Departs every second Monday at 15:30. Tel: (92) 8119-8591, (92) 8171-4442.
 * Tanaka Neto V & IV. Departs Fridays 18:00. Tel: (92) 3471-1730, (92) 9981-9195.
 * Expresso Diamantina. Departs Fridays at 15:00. Tel: (92) 3471-1730, (92) 9981-9195. 300-400 R$
 * Tanaka Expresso. Departs Tuesdays and Fridays at 08:00. Tel: (92) 3471-1730, (92) 9981-9195.

Get around
The city is small enough to walk everywhere. A limited number of taxis may be found around the city. There are a few boat services to get to nearby King's Island, in the middle of the river.

See
The larger portion of the town is comprised of Indigenous land accessed only with the authorization of FOIRN (see below how to get an authorization). Traditional customs are blended with modern habits; however, the further you go from the center, the more authentic it gets. The town itself has, however, many interesting places to see.

 * Morro da Fortaleza. Visit the trenches of this fort built in 1763. One of its main attractions is the Anta stone and its strange high relief drawings; a leg, animal vessels, and a human foot print. Legends say that it is the petrified remains of a tapir which fed a hungry tribe that roamed through the region.
 * Praia Grande. On the Negro River, this and other small beaches appear temporarily, and emerge between September and January, during the river’s dry period. Praia Grande (Long Beach) has a 500-m strip of white sands and icy waters because of the springs that pour down from the Neblina Peak. Do not be deceived by the calm appearance of the river as the current is strong and treacherous.
 * Morro da Boa Esperança. On the way uphill, ceramic panels on the rock tell of the via-crucis. At the top, are found the chapels of Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora, and the Crucified Christ. On the side, two gigantic stones balanced on top of smaller ones.
 * Serra da Bela Adormecida. The mountains draw the profile of the princess of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, with a high bosom and long hair, who falls asleep 30 km from the city, and awaits a handsome prince to kiss her. She can best be appreciated from the Fortaleza hill.
 * Indigenous Villages. Tukanos, Ianomâmis and Baniwas live in the Upper Negro River. The villages maintain primitive customs. Access is by boat in trips that last from 6 to 12 hours. Visits are only possible with FOIRN authorization (see below). For further information: Phone +55 92 3471-1187.

Do

 * Visit the headquarters of the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Alto do Rio Negro – FOIRN, where it is possible to buy indigenous handicraft, consult publications of Indigenous peoples and check some historical pictures. You will also need to get an authorization here if you plan to visit some Indigenous land. Avenida Álvaro Maia, Phone +55 92 3471-1349.
 * If you plan to climb the Pico da Neblina you'd better think twice. It's not for the faint-hearted and demands excellent physical conditions. Therefore no guide will take anyone uphill without prior mountaineering and climbing experience. Certified guides can be found all over the city and in Manaus.

Buy

 * Indigenous handicrafts can be bought in many stalls around the city or at the headquarter of the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Alto do Rio Negro – FOIRN

Drink
Beer and other alcoholic drinks are readily available in all the restaurants and bars in the city. More than 50% of the inhabitants are under 20 years old, making the night life really lively in bars, but remember that the huge majority of people are indigenous, so don't expect fancy clubs and disco music.

A word of caution is important: deep in the night things can get dangerous. A few cases of violence by gangs of youths have been reported. Avoid starting any arguments or walking alone after dark.

Sleep
There are no luxurious hotels in the city. However, it offers a limited number of clean and cheap accommodations.

Respect
Indigenous people have traditional customs that are completely different from urban behavior. Ask permission before taking a picture, keep distance in more isolated areas, don't stare at Indigenous women and of course, don't pollute.

Go next
The best way to go anywhere from here is heading back to Manaus and then choose another destination. Barcelos is located halfway along the route to Manaus.

title: São Gabriel da Cachoeira


text:
Sa Pa

Sa Pa (formerly Chapa) is a town in a beautiful, mountainous region of northern Vietnam on the border with China. The town has a population of 9,400 (2019), while Sapa district, covering 677 km², has 82,000 people 2018).

At 1,650 m above sea level in Vietnam's remote northwest mountains, Sa Pa is known for its fine, rugged scenery and for its cultural diversity.

Although the cable car and the host of large hotels built without regard for the mountain environment have reduced the charm of Sapa, a short walk or drive will still reward the visitor with unspoiled views.

Understand
Sa Pa is a picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as "the Tonkinese Alps". Sa Pa and its surrounding region is host to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Phan Si Păng (Fansipan), the highest peak in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). Other great mountains like Aurora & J, where Sa Pa sees the first rays of sun, make up a very steep valley.

Sa Pa has become a tourist hotspot where money is the new drug of choice. Throngs of vendors can be found in the streets, selling their wares. Don't be put off by the rush, your explorations of the surrounding countryside will be worth the trouble.

Ethnic minorities
Many ethnic minorities live in and around Sa Pa. Excluding the ethnic Vietnamese Kinh people, eight ethnic minority groups are found in Sa Pa: H'mong (pronounced mong), Dao (pronounced yao), Tay, Giay (pronounced zai), Muong, Thai, Hoa (ethnic Chinese), and Xa Pho (a sub-set of the Phu La minority group). However, the last four groups comprise fewer than 500 people in total. The population of the district was estimated at 31,652 (1993) of which 52% were H'mong, 25% were Dao, 15% were Kinh, 5% were Tay, and 2% were Giay. Around 3,300 people live in Sa Pa town, while the remainder are peasant farmers distributed unevenly throughout the district.

Many older women in particular make items such as ethnic clothing and blankets to sell to tourists. Striking up a conversation with them can be very rewarding and their spoken English is impressive. Doing this in Sa Pa town will sometimes lead to a scrum if other vendors smell a potential sale.

Children from these ethnic minorities often help support their families financially through selling trinkets to tourists. They peddle small metal or silver trinkets, embroidered pillow cases and friendship bands in the main town, and often walk for several hours from their villages to reach town, perhaps skipping school. At the end of the day, some take a motorbike ride back to their village, some walk home and some sleep in the market. Do not encourage this by buying from children. Buy from adults.

Girls and boys marry young (around 15–18) and often have two children by the time they are 20 years old. Poverty has led to a lot of girls leaving their villages each day to go selling in Sa Pa town, and depending on their luck, may only have one meal per day.

Weather
In winter (the four months from November to February), the weather in Sa Pa is invariably cold, wet and foggy (temperatures can drop to freezing and there was snow in 2011). Travellers have rolled into town on a gloriously clear day and then spent a week trapped in impenetrable fog. When it is like this there really isn't very much to do. Also the rice paddies are brown and empty (they are planted in spring), the paths very muddy and slippery and the glorious vistas of summer are completely hidden in the mist. If you choose to visit in winter, take along warm clothes or prepare to be cold and miserable as many hotels do not have efficient heating in their rooms. During that time, the more upmarket hotels that do have heating fill up quickly, so make advance reservations if you can afford not to freeze.

It rains often in August, especially in the mornings.

However, if you visit in summer, say in May, then be prepared to sweat. Hostels may not have air-conditioning so check them out first before making your booking. If you have come to see the rice terraces, you will be disappointed as you would not be seeing beautiful, green rice terraces as the local farmers would have just started to work on the field.

By plane
An airport finally started construction in 2022 but is still many years from completion. For time being, the closest airport is Hanoi.

Dien Bien Phu has a small airport that may appear closer on a map, but due to terrible roads is nearly 9 hours away, almost twice the time from Hanoi.

By train
Sa Pa is reached by a nine-hour train journey from Hanoi to Lào Cai (pronounced lao kai), followed by a separate transfer to Sa Pa.

Vietnam Rail operates some of the carriages in the train, but others are operated by private companies (Fanxipan Express, Friendly, Ratraco, Tulico, Victoria Hotels, and many others). Whilst in the past some of these cars were significantly nicer than the standard carriages, they are now almost exclusively Vietnam Railways carriages, just more expensive and easier to reserve in advance. You're not even guaranteed to share your carriage with other tourists if that's a concern, as any spare tickets are sold as Vietnam Railways tickets. You may need to arrange with a travel agency to get tickets on these tourist carriages, but anybody can purchase tickets for the Vietnam Rail carriages at the Hanoi train station.

You can buy rail tickets online (or here). Print out your tickets or show your phone at the station.

Prices vary according to the type of seat purchased, and the season during which you are traveling. Dates around Vietnamese holidays are particularly expensive and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible. Travelers are strongly recommended to purchase a berth in a soft or hard sleeper carriages, though the trip in soft-seat class is not intolerable.
 * Cheaper travel. Cheaper tickets, especially in hard sleeper class, can be difficult to come by at times, as tour companies and travel agents will snap up these to foist on their own customers (too frequently a promised soft sleeper berth will turn into a hard sleeper when it comes time to board). To avoid ripoffs, it is better to go to the train station yourself and get the ticket from the ticket office. This is the only way to make sure that you will get what you have paid for. Although one cannot be assured of finding a place, it is often possible to arrive at the station a short while before boarding time, as there are usually young men hanging around trying to hawk unfilled berths at the last minute. The price of these tickets will fall dramatically as departure time draws near.
 * More expensive travel. For a bed in a hard or soft sleeper carriage, expect to pay in the area of 430,000–525,000 dong one way. For a soft seat, expect to pay 220,000 dong one way (May 2012). Tickets can be booked online from a travel agent such as Vietnam Impressive. You will be emailed a voucher which must be printed out and presented to a train company representative at the station about 30–60 minutes before the departure time to obtain the actual tickets.
 * The Victoria Hotel train has a dining carriage serving good, surprisingly affordable noodles (10,000 dong) and rice porridge (10,000 dong), but other trains such as Fanxipan do not. On the latter train a packet of biscuits, a banana and a bottle of water are provided as part of the cost of the ticket (October 2013), and it is possible to purchase pot noodles and snacks on board. However, you may prefer to purchase your own hot food, snacks and drinks from vendors in the grounds of the railway station. There are toilets on the train but no showers.

You should book a return ticket when you buy your outward journey, as picking up tickets in Lào Cai is harder than in Hanoi. The staff do not speak as much English, and they possibly only sell tickets for travel on the same day, so sleepers may already be sold out unless you go first thing in the morning. Pay attention to the time of your return train. Trains leaving Lào Cai around 20:00 will arrive in Hanoi at around 05:00. If you are planning to stay in a hotel or hostel that does not have a 24-hour reception and do not make prior arrangements when you return to Hanoi at an early hour, you may find yourself sitting outside your hotel waiting a few hours for the reception desk to open.

Transfer between Lào Cai and Sa Pa
The train terminates at Lào Cai. The hotel where you are planning to stay will often be able to arrange minibus transportation between Lào Cai and Sa Pa for you for about 50,000 dong (February 2012). If you're looking to pay less, you'll have to walk to the central park area in Lào Cai in front of the railway station where minibuses and vans cruise for passengers and are willing to bargain to as low as 35,000 dong (off-season, May 2017). Getting on an empty or half-empty bus will mean waiting for more passengers, regardless of whatever departure time is promised by the driver and his ever-present crew of buddies who are hanging around.

The cheapest option is to use the public bus to Sapa, which runs regularly starting from 07:00 and costs no more than 30,000 dong. Cross the parking lot to the street and you will see the bus stop there. The ride is OK, but beware of motion sickness due to the curvy roads.

The ride is about an hour of beautiful views if the weather is good, otherwise it may be an hour of fog, more than 1,000 m up into the mountains.

If you are planning to visit the Bắc Hà Sunday market, it is worth planning your travel so that you arrive in or leave from Lào Cai on a Sunday, as Bắc Hà is nearer to Lào Cai than Sa Pa. The Bắc Hà Sunday market (much larger than the market in Sa Pa) is a big, colorful bazaar overflowing with everything under the sun, including handicrafts by minority tribes, apparel and accessories, meat and vegetables, and household goods. Your hotel in Sa Pa may be able to arrange for someone to meet you at the Lào Cai train station and put you on a tour (USD15 in October 2013) that will take you to the Bắc Hà Sunday market; a village inhabited by the Flower H'mong; and the border between Lào Cai and Hekou, a small town in Yunnan, China; and then bring you to Sa Pa (or the reverse if you are leaving Sa Pa and catching the train from Lào Cai).

By bus
A toll expressway between Hanoi and Lao Cai reduces the time for the trip from over 10 hours to about 5 hours by car (even 3.5 hours with private car); buses using that expressway are the fastest way to get from Hanoi to Sapa.

Daytime buses: the Sapa Express (with 2+1 seating) and Good Morning Sapa buses fairly reliably take around 6 hours including one or two 30-minute stops. There are 2 departure times from Hanoi: 07:00 and 15:00. From Sapa, the bus leaves around 13:30-15:30. Both charge USD13-17 one way (Dec 2019).

Sleeper buses run direct from Hanoi to Sapa both day and night for around USD13–20. Ask at the local tourist office, a reputable tour agency, or your hotel or hostel regarding tickets. These buses are reasonably modern, the beds are very small and recline back, typically in three single or two double rows. The bus will make stops for bathroom breaks and snacks, and once in Lào Cai city. If you are a light sleeper the journey could be uncomfortable with many sharp twists and turns, and some claim that the mountain roads are dangerous, although there is no evidence of accidents on the route. The bus stop is near the lake area.

Travelers have reported that when journeying back to Hanoi from Sa Pa, bus drivers sometimes drop passengers in the western outskirts of Hanoi, despite assurances that they will be transported to the airport or the Hanoi train station. Should you find yourself in this situation, there is a bus station around the block called Xe Ben Khach My Dien, where you can get on Bus 34 towards the Hanoi city centre for 3,000 dong. Taxis will quote you 200,000 dong to take you to the Old Town.

Tickets can also be purchased at Hanoi Sapa tickets online and paid for using Paypal or card.

By motorcycle
Sa Pa can also be reached by motorcycle from Hanoi by a variety of routes. The most direct route takes at least 10 hours for first-time riders, though local expats often brag about making it in less. Bikes can be rented in Hanoi for unguided passage, or local guides can lead the way. Along the way be sure to top up with fuel regularly, as petrol stations sometimes prove few and far between. Fuel vendors in small towns often mix their petrol with other liquids such as alcohol or bio-fuels, and such fuel should be bought and used only when there are no alternatives.

Get around
Anywhere in the main village of Sa Pa can be reached on foot, although the hilly terrain will be tiring for older tourists, and the town is small enough that you're not likely to get lost. A basic map will be good enough for most visitors.

Mopeds can be rented in the touristy parts of town, as well as near the gas station on the road leading to Lào Cai, for USD3–6 depending on the amount of time you wish to rent for and your bargaining skills (i.e., determination). Day trips into the surrounding countryside can be very rewarding, although a good up-to-date map and a healthy dose of caution are required as roads are winding and populated with all manner of conveyance, and road signs can be misleading as the north undergoes some odd town-relocation schemes. See also Vietnam by motorcycle.

Tourists intending to trek to the various villages through the paddy fields should be prepared with good trekking shoes or rubber boots, a walking stick and extra clothing kept in a waterproof bag. Hotels often have gumboots and ponchos to lend to their guests, and such equipment can also be rented or purchased from shops in the town. Depending on the season, the rice fields, which are built in terraces, can be slightly steep, and very muddy and slippery. Not wearing shoes with good grips risks slipping, and even sliding down the slopes. As the paths are also taken by water buffalo, excrement can be found everywhere. Walking sticks can be bought from children from the ethnic minority groups for about 5,000 dong. These enterprising children cut sturdy bamboo and sharpen one end to turn them into sturdy sticks.

For the less adventurous, some of the villages such as Lao Chai and Ta Van are accessible via 4WD, motorcycle or van.

The easiest way to travel in Sa Pa without your own vehicle is by taxi or motor taxi. The local government publicized the price for every company's service, though it is subject to change over time. Taxi in Fanxipan-Sapa:. Taxi Xanh-Sapa:.

Do
If you do not intend to hike in the countryside around Sa Pa on your own, you can join a tour or arrange a private guide who will take you to visit the sights. Your hotel should be able to assist. If you do not feel up to hiking all the way, arrange to hike out of Sa Pa and return by Jeep, minibus or motorcycle, or pick a tour that provides transportation all the way.

Admission fees are required to visit most of the villages. As of 2017 there appears to be a single entrance fee of 75,000 dong covering all villages. However, some may still charge an extra or separate fee. By far the most popular and touristy tour visits two villages near Sa Pa, Lao Chải and Tả Van, including a lunch stop (admission fee: 40,000 dong in August 2012). It is possible to get a taxi from Sapa to Lao Chai, trek the 3.5 km to the bridge in Ta Van and have the taxi pick you up there. Some very unpleasant Hmong women may try to attach themselves to you in quite large numbers in Lao Chai and (speaking excellent English) try to aggressively persuade you to let them be your guide. They may even tell you to 'go back to your country' if you refuse their services. There is absolutely no need for guides and the wonderful trek through the countryside is best accomplished in peace and quiet. It can be very difficult to shake these women off, but buying something from someone not in their group should give them the message that you are not against the Hmong people, just against their pushy-ness.

Tả Giàng Phình and Bản Khoang are less touristy but much further away from Sa Pa. Other villages worth visiting include Sín Chải (20,000 dong in August 2012), and Má Tra and Ta Phìn (30,000 dong in August 2012 for both). On these treks, you can get a taste of the locals' way of life. You can spot their farms for rice, corn, beans, cabbage, spinach and sweet potato, and farm animals including buffaloes, ducks and pigs. There are also breathtaking views of the farm terraces along these treks.

As Sapa grows, overnight tours staying outside the town are becoming increasingly popular. The popular trek to Ta Van forms the first day of many of these tours, with an overnight at a homestay in the village. Indeed, the business is such that it now supports three bars in the village of Ta Van. Tours can be booked through travel agents in Hanoi, directly through operators such as Sapa Sisters and no doubt through many hotels in Sapa.

 * Walking down you will see a few cottage industries like weaving, carving, and art shops. You will walk by some mud-walled houses and the local shaman's house. In the middle of the trek, you come to a rest stop, with a so-so waterfall, and a supposedly minority village which is a block of dwellings with no sign of any activity. You will also spot water-mills and bridges made out of bamboo, as well as some swings. At the end, you will cross the Cát Cát bridge.
 * Overall, it makes for a nice stroll if you have a morning or afternoon free. Persons of limited mobility should skip this hike due to the large step-climbing involved.
 * There is a path that continues on in the valley, towards Lao Chải and Tả Van. Much fewer tourists, and great views on the rice terraces.
 * There is a path that continues on in the valley, towards Lao Chải and Tả Van. Much fewer tourists, and great views on the rice terraces.

Buy

 * Handicrafts and other tourist trinkets. The usual endless supply of nearly identical tourist trinkets is available at every turn. Sa Pa is famous for its embroidery. Clothes, blankets, wall hangings and other fabric handicrafts with colourful embroidered designs traditional to the various ethnic minorities in Sa Pa can be purchased from markets and from ethnic-minority hawkers at villages visited by tourists. The indigo dye used to give a deep blue color stains the fingers, which is why many of the women who make them have darkened fingertips. When you wash these clothes the colour will run. To avoid this, soak them in cold salty water, and pack them carefully in your bag to take home.
 * Handicrafts and other tourist trinkets. The usual endless supply of nearly identical tourist trinkets is available at every turn. Sa Pa is famous for its embroidery. Clothes, blankets, wall hangings and other fabric handicrafts with colourful embroidered designs traditional to the various ethnic minorities in Sa Pa can be purchased from markets and from ethnic-minority hawkers at villages visited by tourists. The indigo dye used to give a deep blue color stains the fingers, which is why many of the women who make them have darkened fingertips. When you wash these clothes the colour will run. To avoid this, soak them in cold salty water, and pack them carefully in your bag to take home.

There are two types of handicrafts: handmade and machine-made. It is easy to tell the difference. If you wish to buy handmade items, it is preferable to buy directly from their makers in the villages. Prices are highly elastic. When bargaining, try to find out how long it took to make the piece. If you do not mind machine-made products, you are better off buying them in the shops in town. It pays to shop around for the right pair of reproduction Montagnard earrings or machine-made fabric items.

Do buy some items, whether handmade or not, direct from ethnic minority sellers, especially if you have enjoyed a good conversation or received help from them. Though they do charge slightly more than shops, bear in mind that the majority of them are very poor and depend on tourist money to survive. However, it is suggested that you avoid buying items from children (see "Ethnic minorities" above).

 * Sports and winter wear. A number of shops in town sell sports and winter wear such as waterproof jackets and hiking boots. Although they bear the logos of well-known international brands, given their low cost it is unlikely that they are original products.
 * Batteries. Be careful when buying batteries as some people will sell dead ones. If you're really worried about this, just drop them on a hard surface. If they bounce they are empty or partially empty.

What to buy
Souvenir shops sell brocade, golden handicrafts, silver handicrafts, wooden handicrafts.

All products are made by local residents. That would be more exciting as walking into villages outside town and buying souvenir by local ethnics. The local government recommends tourists do not buy products from children as it discourages them from attending school.

Souvenir shops

 * Lan Rừng: Souvenir. Cầu Mây Street
 * Lương Thủy: Souvenir. no 25 Cầu Mây Street
 * Phố Núi shop: Souvenir. no 13, Cầu Mây Street
 * Khánh Huyền: Souvenir. no 17, Xuân Viên Street
 * Sa Pa Shop: Souvenir. no 48, Cầu Mây Street
 * Hue Silk: Souvenir. no 24 Cầu Mây
 * Sapa minorities’ handicraft: Handicrafts. Cầu Mây Street
 * Mường Hoa shop: Handicrafts. no 25, Mường Hoa Street
 * Thiện Việt shop: Handicrafts. no 22b, Fansipan Street
 * Nguyễn Tiến Sỹ shop: Handicrafts. Cầu Mây Street
 * Wild Orchid: Handicraft. no 29 Cầu Mây Street
 * SaPa silver: Silver handicrafts. no 19, Mường Hoa Street
 * Vũ Đức: Traditional silver handicrafts. no 26, Mường Hoa Street
 * Viet Silver: Golden and silver handicrafts. no 34, Fansipan Street
 * Cửa hàng đá mỹ nghệ: Stone sculpting. no 17 Mường Hoa Street
 * Cửa hàng cô Nguyễn Lăng Vân: Tailor and Brocade. Cầu Mây Street
 * Woodcarving shop: Wooden handicrafts. no 14, Mường Hoa Street

Grocery store

 * Xuân Trường Super Market: No 46 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street (nearby Mường Thanh hotel. Open: 08:00, Close: 21:00)

Eat

 * Namaste Omar's Indian Restaurant One of a chain of Indian restaurants throughout the country. Namaste Omar's serves up good quality authentic Indian food, including a number of less well known dishes, in a pleasant restaurant a few minutes stroll from the central square. Prices are very reasonable and a Beer Hanoi costs 25,000 dong.
 * Good Morning Vietnam two branches in town. This entry is for the one on Fansipan street. Excellent, English speaking staff, very good quality local food (try the chicken curry in a coconut or the sizzling duck in honey and garlic), great views across the valley and a fun range of drinks including hot apple 'white wine', a hot 'red wine' vaguely similar to German Gluwein and even 'opium wine'. Not to be missed!
 * Namaste Omar's Indian Restaurant One of a chain of Indian restaurants throughout the country. Namaste Omar's serves up good quality authentic Indian food, including a number of less well known dishes, in a pleasant restaurant a few minutes stroll from the central square. Prices are very reasonable and a Beer Hanoi costs 25,000 dong.
 * Good Morning Vietnam two branches in town. This entry is for the one on Fansipan street. Excellent, English speaking staff, very good quality local food (try the chicken curry in a coconut or the sizzling duck in honey and garlic), great views across the valley and a fun range of drinks including hot apple 'white wine', a hot 'red wine' vaguely similar to German Gluwein and even 'opium wine'. Not to be missed!
 * Namaste Omar's Indian Restaurant One of a chain of Indian restaurants throughout the country. Namaste Omar's serves up good quality authentic Indian food, including a number of less well known dishes, in a pleasant restaurant a few minutes stroll from the central square. Prices are very reasonable and a Beer Hanoi costs 25,000 dong.
 * Good Morning Vietnam two branches in town. This entry is for the one on Fansipan street. Excellent, English speaking staff, very good quality local food (try the chicken curry in a coconut or the sizzling duck in honey and garlic), great views across the valley and a fun range of drinks including hot apple 'white wine', a hot 'red wine' vaguely similar to German Gluwein and even 'opium wine'. Not to be missed!
 * Good Morning Vietnam two branches in town. This entry is for the one on Fansipan street. Excellent, English speaking staff, very good quality local food (try the chicken curry in a coconut or the sizzling duck in honey and garlic), great views across the valley and a fun range of drinks including hot apple 'white wine', a hot 'red wine' vaguely similar to German Gluwein and even 'opium wine'. Not to be missed!

Drink

 * The Hill Station Signature Restaurant 37, Fansipan street (just down the hill going south from the central square.). Sells two craft beers: an IPA and a stout - both from the Pasteur Street Brewing company and both excellent. At 95,000 dong for a half pint they are pricey but go during happy hour from 14:00-18:00 and take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free offer. They also serve excellent local bar snacks such as dried smoked buffalo, Hmong Black Pudding and salted sweet potatoes. A roaring fire adds to the ambience. Service can be rather slow.
 * The Hill Station Signature Restaurant 37, Fansipan street (just down the hill going south from the central square.). Sells two craft beers: an IPA and a stout - both from the Pasteur Street Brewing company and both excellent. At 95,000 dong for a half pint they are pricey but go during happy hour from 14:00-18:00 and take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free offer. They also serve excellent local bar snacks such as dried smoked buffalo, Hmong Black Pudding and salted sweet potatoes. A roaring fire adds to the ambience. Service can be rather slow.
 * The Hill Station Signature Restaurant 37, Fansipan street (just down the hill going south from the central square.). Sells two craft beers: an IPA and a stout - both from the Pasteur Street Brewing company and both excellent. At 95,000 dong for a half pint they are pricey but go during happy hour from 14:00-18:00 and take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free offer. They also serve excellent local bar snacks such as dried smoked buffalo, Hmong Black Pudding and salted sweet potatoes. A roaring fire adds to the ambience. Service can be rather slow.
 * The Hill Station Signature Restaurant 37, Fansipan street (just down the hill going south from the central square.). Sells two craft beers: an IPA and a stout - both from the Pasteur Street Brewing company and both excellent. At 95,000 dong for a half pint they are pricey but go during happy hour from 14:00-18:00 and take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free offer. They also serve excellent local bar snacks such as dried smoked buffalo, Hmong Black Pudding and salted sweet potatoes. A roaring fire adds to the ambience. Service can be rather slow.

Sleep
There is a near oversupply of cheap rooms in the touristy area down the hill from the town centre, and generally a flock of young men and women will leap on you the moment you arrive with offers from USD3 and up for a double room.

In addition to the places listed below, homestays in some of the villages surrounding Sa Pa are available.

In Sa Pa, as in many other provinces of Vietnam, it is the law that you must supply your passport to your hostel, hotel or guesthouse to register your personal information. However, a photocopy of the main page and visa should suffice, and if they refuse, tell them your passport is in Hanoi because you are applying for a visa extension.

As of March 2020, there is a lot of construction in Sa Pa, with attendant noise and dust. Most seem to be on southwest side of town (on the down-slope with view of Fansipan Mountain) but north edge of town can also be impacted. To avoid construction zones, if possible, check on location before choosing your lodgings, or try to find very recent photo of hotel environments.

 * Sapa Eden Hotel https://sapaedenhotel.com/ 64 Fansipan str, . A well-run, clean, family-owned hotel with super comfy beds and a view to die for. Basic but decent breakfast is included. If you don't happen to like Bob Marley you may want to ask for a room facing away from the restaurant across the road which plays his songs from 07:30 onward.
 * Sapa Eden Hotel https://sapaedenhotel.com/ 64 Fansipan str, . A well-run, clean, family-owned hotel with super comfy beds and a view to die for. Basic but decent breakfast is included. If you don't happen to like Bob Marley you may want to ask for a room facing away from the restaurant across the road which plays his songs from 07:30 onward.
 * Sapa Eden Hotel https://sapaedenhotel.com/ 64 Fansipan str, . A well-run, clean, family-owned hotel with super comfy beds and a view to die for. Basic but decent breakfast is included. If you don't happen to like Bob Marley you may want to ask for a room facing away from the restaurant across the road which plays his songs from 07:30 onward.

Cope

 * Attire. Bring a poncho and/or an umbrella. You can also buy cheap ones in the many shops around. Rubber boots and trekking shoes can be rented from some shops or perhaps borrowed from your hotel. Sizes may be limited.
 * Cash. It is possible to change money and travellers' cheques, and get cash advances on credit cards, at the bigger hotels in Sa Pa. There are ATMs on the main street. There have been reports of shops taking customers' crisp notes, switching them with cut and taped-up ones, and insisting that were the ones the customers gave them.
 * Photography. Some of the minorities do not wish to be photographed. Ask permission beforehand. Most will overcome their reluctance to be photographed once money is produced.

Pharmacy

 * Civil Group 7B
 * No 18 Cầu Mây
 * No 22A Cầu Mây
 * No 22B Cầu Mây
 * No 27 Tuệ Tĩnh
 * No 074A Thạch Sơn
 * No 236 Thạch Sơn
 * No 258 Thạch Sơn
 * No 395 Điện Biên Phủ
 * No 326 Điện Biên Phủ
 * No 004 Xuân Viên
 * No 06A Thác Bạc

Clinic

 * No 186 Thạch Sơn, TT  or
 * No 25 Tuệ Tĩnh

Health center

 * Civil Group 7

Hospital

 * Sa Pa hospital - Civil Group 1, Điện Biên Phủ street

Bank

 * Sapa Saigonbank (Saigon Bank For Industry and Trade - Lao Cai Branch - Sapa Transaction): No 18 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street. Accept: Visa, Master, JCB, Cup, ATM/POS.
 * Sapa Agribank (Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development - Sa Pa Transaction): No 01 Cầu Mây Street
 * Sapa BIDV (Bank For Investment And Development JSC - Lao Cai Branch - Sapa Transaction): No 20 Ngũ Chỉ Sơn Street

Connect
Sa Pa's official Tourist Information Centre can help you organize your stay. The Sapa post office is opposite of garden and fountain in center Sapa (Address: No 06, Thạch Sơn Street, Sapa)

Go next

 * Most people will head back to Hanoi and then on to other routes
 * For those looking to go farther afield, the road to Dien Bien Phu is simply stunning and makes for a fantastic four-to-five-day trip. Always give yourself plenty of daylight hours to return home, however, as highly changeable weather could strand you in dense fog without notice, especially during the winter months. There are buses to Dien Bien Phu which run from the tourist office each day (day bus: 07:30, night bus: 18:30), the trip is 300 km, about 10 hours, and costs USD11 (Dec 2019). It is also the last big city before the Laos border (for those heading to Luang Prabang for example).
 * Bắc Hà

title: Sa Pa


text:
Sape

Sape is a town and district in Sumbawa in Nusa Tenggara, eastern Indonesia.

Understand
Administratively, Sape is a district in Bima regency. It is a small harbour town on the Sape Strait (separating the island of Sumbawa from the island of Flores) with friendly people. There is not much to see and there are not much tourists. Most tourists pass by to catch the ferry to Labuan Bajo on Flores.

Get in
From Bima you can take a bemo (around Rp 15,000, last one 17:00). This will take you to Sape. Iif you need to go to the ferry, ask for Labuhan Sape (that's the pier). You can also charter a bemo for Rp 200,000. Just make sure that they won't put you onto another cramped bemo after 10 minutes.

Do

 * Pantai Lariti beach

Eat

 * Rumah Makan Taliwang
 * Kaloka Kafe

Drink
There are no cafés or pubs around. The only Bintang you can get in the shops is Bintang Zero.

Sleep

 * Kos East Madhani, newly renovated local hotel, Fan Rp150,000, AC Rp250,000.

Go next
From Sape you can get the ferry to Labuanbajo on Flores (once a day, 10:00). The price is Rp 91,000 (July 2023) and you will need ADSP card (around 30,000, multi-use) to buy ticket or just borrow this card from locals for symbolic amount of money

The ferry does not run if there are high waves or storms, so make sure you are informed before you come to Sape.

Public ferry to Labuan Bajo costs Rp 91,000 (July 2023) you will need ADSP card(around 30,000, multiuse) to buy ticket or just borrow this card from locals for symbolic amount of money

title: Sape


text:
Sapo National Park

Sapo National Park is in Liberia.

Understand
Sapo is Liberia's only national park and covers an area over 1,800 km². It is home to one of West Africa's sole primary rain forests and provides sanctuary for pygmy hippos and elephants. Years of civil war have taken their toll on the park, but slowly it is being teased back to life.

Flora and fauna

 * Primary rain forest
 * Pygmy hippos, elephants

Get in
The park is near the town of Greenville.

title: Sapo National Park


text:
Sapporo

Sapporo (札幌) is the capital and largest city of the northern island of Hokkaido. One of Japan's newest and most orderly cities, it has little in the way of traditional architecture. But what it lacks in "Japanese-ness" it makes up for with its lovely open, tree-filled boulevards to enjoy in summer and excellent snow (and facilities to cope with said snow) in the long winter. Its name means “The great dry field” in Ainu language.

Understand
Sapporo's population has grown from seven in 1857 to nearly 2 million in 2021.

Welcome to SAPPORO is the city's official multilingual guide site.

Climate
Sapporo has four distinct seasons. Temperatures are generally cool and pleasant in a summer, making it a popular place to escape the heat that grips much of the rest of Japan. Summer days here start longer and earlier than the rest of Japan, with sunrise as early as 03:45, and sunset around 19:00. Winters are harsh by Japanese standards, though not as harsh as the likes of Harbin or Chicago. Sapporo is one of the snowiest cities in the world (about 6 meters snowfall each year, three times as much as in Montreal), and the city makes full use of this by hosting the world-renowned Sapporo Snow Festival in February every year. Sunrise in winter is at 07:00 and sunsets are as early as 16:00 in winter.

Get in
Sapporo is Hokkaido's main transport hub.

By plane
Sapporo ( for all airports) is served by two airports. Most international and inter-island flights to go the larger but further away New Chitose Airport, while most intra-island flights go to the smaller but closer Okadama Airport.

Japan Railways (JR) operates train services every 15 minutes or so from New Chitose to Sapporo Station (about 40 min by rapid train, ¥1150). JR operates an information desk at the airport from 08:30-19:00 daily where Japan Rail Pass vouchers can be exchanged.

Limousine Buses run frequently to several destinations in downtown Sapporo, with one-way fares starting at ¥1000.

Door-to-door shuttle van companies include Sky Express.

If traveling by plane, you may wish to consider one of the air passes for foreigners sold by Japan Airlines and ANA, including the Japan Explorer Pass and Experience Japan Fare, respectively.

By train

Getting to Sapporo by train from most other cities in Japan is time-consuming and expensive. Bullet trains began running through the underwater Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate in 2016, but construction of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo won't be completed until 2030 at the earliest. Until then, passengers coming in through the tunnel must change between the shinkansen and a Sapporo-bound Hokuto limited express at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station.

The entire trip from Tokyo takes 8 hours, but at a steep one-way cost of ¥27,760. Those not using a national rail pass may wish to consider the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass for ¥35,000 which covers unlimited travel on the shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate, express trains from Hakodate to Sapporo, as well as other JR East lines in the Tohoku region and around Tokyo. This pass can be used for 6 consecutive days.

If eight hours is too much to spend on trains, you may wish to split up your journey; stop to visit another city along the way, or simply find a station where you can find cheap accommodation. The latter is beneficial to Rail Pass holders. Potential options for layovers include Hakodate and Aomori.

Sapporo Station serves as the hub for long distance services to/from other parts of Hokkaido, with reserved seating available. These include:

North of Sapporo

 * Asahikawa on the Kamui, Lilac, Okhotsk or Soya (every 30 minutes morning and evening, every hour other times)
 * Abashiri on the Okhotsk (2 direct trips per day) or Taisetsu (2 daily trips; change in Asahikawa)
 * Wakkanai on the Soya (1 direct trip per day) or Sarobetsu (2 daily trips; change in Asahikawa)

East of Sapporo

 * Obihiro on the Super Tokachi or Super Ōzora (11 return trips per day)
 * Kushiro on the Super Ōzora (6 return trips per day)

South of Sapporo

 * Hakodate on the Hokuto or Super Hokuto (12 return trips per day)
 * Noboribetsu on the Hokuto, Super Hokuto or Suzuran (17 return trips per day)
 * Muroran on the Suzuran (5 return trips per day)

West of Sapporo
Rapid trains run to Otaru several times per hour with connecting trains operating to the ski resort town of Niseko. During peak periods, a daily round-trip service from Sapporo to Niseko operates.

By bus
Express buses connect to most points in Hokkaido. The main terminal is next to the Bus Center-Mae station of the subway Tōzai line.

By ferry
Although Sapporo is inland, there are two major ferry ports nearby: Otaru and Tomakomai. Both have scheduled car and passenger ferry service to points outside Hokkaido.

Get around
Most unusually for a Japanese city, Sapporo is logically organized thanks to its strict grid system. The main thoroughfare, the leafy Ō-Dōri (大通り, literally "Big Street"), runs east-west across the city and divides the city into North and South, while Sōsei-Gawa (創成川, literally "Creation River") divides the city into West and East, running under the main street Eki-Mae-Dōri (駅前通, literally "In Front of the Train Station Road"). The address of every block in the center is thus of the type "North X West Y" (prominently signposted at all intersections), making navigation a snap. However, most businesses provide maps to their location, building names or landmarks, because the address "North X West Y" or the like simply means that the place you are trying to find will be somewhere in the block, and blocks in the center of the city can be quite large!

Two public transportation smart cards are sold in the Sapporo area; JR Hokkaido's Kitaca and the Sapporo City Transportation Bureau's SAPICA. While the Kitaca can be used on the buses, subway and streetcars, the SAPICA cannot be used on JR trains, making the Kitaca the better choice for most visitors. If you are coming from elsewhere in Japan, the major smart cards from other regions such as Kanto's Suica and PASMO, and Kansai's ICOCA are fully interchangeable with Kitaca, meaning that you do not need to purchase an extra smart card.

By train
The JR above-ground trains are reasonably priced and a good option for traveling in Sapporo and surroundings. The trains arrive and depart at specific times. You'll most likely want to take a train to and from the airport.

By subway
Sapporo has three subway lines, all converging at Ōdōri Station at the center of the grid. The Namboku Line ("North-South") runs north-south, the Tōzai Line ("East-West") runs along Odori east-west. Only the Tōhō Line breaks the mold by running in a C-shaped curve from northeast to southeast. Single fares cost ¥200 and up, with a choice between subway-only tickets or transfer (subway, bus and streetcar) tickets. The simplest option is the With You stored value card (lowest denomination ¥1000). On weekends and public holidays, the Donichika-Kippu (ドニチカキップ) allows unlimited 1-day subway travel for ¥500. On weekdays, the One-Day Card allows the same, but costs ¥800. There is also a Bus and Subway Transfer One-Day Card, which allows unlimited 1-day travel on buses, subways, and streetcars (¥1000). Fares for children are about half those for adults.

By streetcar
A streetcar of relatively little utility to most visitors trundles around the southwestern side of Sapporo, connecting to the subway at Susukino. Its most important stops are probably the Chuo Library (Main Public Library in Sapporo) and the Mt. Moiwa Ropeway. It's most useful in winter, when walking the icy footpaths to get to the library or otherwise less-accessible south-western areas of the city becomes quite treacherous. Single-trip tickets are ¥170. They also sell a "Do-san-ko Pass" on weekends and holidays which allows you to ride all you want for a day for ¥300. Since this is less than the cost of 2 normal trips, it is usually advisable to buy this if you are going to make a round trip on an eligible day.

By car
You could try to drive in the city, but parking is problematic. Generally speaking, using the subways and buses is recommended. There are countless pay parking lots in Sapporo. One of the largest ones is about 100 m south of the Susukino South Toyoko Inn, and it's a short walk from the subway.

See

 * [[Image:Jozakei1.jpg|thumb|125px|Autumn at Houkaikyou Dam, Jozankei]]
 * [[Image:Jozakei1.jpg|thumb|125px|Autumn at Houkaikyou Dam, Jozankei]]

Do

Buy
For those living in Japan who have an omiyage (souvenir) obligation to fill in your Japanese office when you return from your Hokkaido holiday, the best omiyage to buy in Sapporo is the ubiquitous Shiroi Koibito (白い恋人, "White Lovers"). It is a chocolate slice sandwiched in two wafers of sweet biscuit, individually wrapped and available boxed in a range of different quantities — tasty enough, but rather bland, and few Westerners would associate the taste with Japan. The original flavour is white chocolate sandwiched in plain sweet biscuit, but there is also a dark chocolate version. It's available in every souvenir store in the city (try the Sapporo JR area or Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade when shopping for souvenirs), and also most souvenir stores around the island.

Being a wintery kind of place for a good part of each year, Sapporo also has many stores selling all manner of snow goods. At the beginning and end of each season, many good deals on the previous year's gear can be found, often at discounts of up to 60% off, sometimes more! Also, there are several sports recycle stores in the city and suburbs where good deals on barely-used gear can be found, thanks to the Japanese fondness for having new gear every season. Ask Tourist Information to help you locate second-hand sports and snow-gear stores. One such second-hand chain is Hard Off, which can be found all across Japan. Generally, the more remote the Hard Off is, the more likely you are to find a treasure!

Eat
Sapporo is famous for hairy crab (毛蟹 kegani), an expensive treat available at any seafood restaurant, and miso ramen (味噌ラーメン), a more affordable local variation of the ubiquitous noodle dish with miso paste added to the stock. The ramen in particular will warm you up nicely on a chilly winter day. Sapporo soup curry (just what it sounds like) is also increasingly famous.

As elsewhere in Hokkaido, you can also enjoy dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, chocolate and ice cream), seafood (especially as sushi), fruits (honeydew melon, strawberries) and meat (sausages, ham, bacon and beef).

Kuwanomi (桑の実) is a popular mulberry. It is red or black in color and sweet. Preserved kuwanomi can be made into jam, which is a traditional food. In elementary schools, students make kuwanomi jam every year.

 * Ramen Alley Sapporo Japan.jpg

Drink
The drink of choice when in Sapporo is obviously Sapporo Beer, and a good option for this is the Beer Museum (see See). Susukino (すすきの), to the south of the center, is one of Japan's largest nightlife (and red-light) districts, which was created to keep labourers in Hokkaido. It has a somewhat unsavory reputation due to heavy yakuza involvement in the business, but is safe for travelers not looking for trouble. Get there on the subway Namboku line, Susukino station.

Connect
There are quite a few internet cafes in the city, ask at the International Plaza (in Sapporo JR or near the Clock Tower) for current information and directions.

Traveler SIM cards can be bought in BIC Camera stores, e.g. in the ground floor of Esta Mall in the east wing of Sapporo JR Station. The cheapest choice is a 30-day/1GB data-only SIM card for ¥2460. Bring your passport when purchasing the card!

Consulates

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Otaru, approximately 60 minutes by car (shorter by expressway). A very pleasant small town located on the coast, and famous (within Japan) for its attractive canal which is very European in design. Also famous for its seafood, music box museum (with associated tourist shop) and glass works. Also famous for being the setting of the movie Love Letter.
 * Niseko, arguably Japan's top destination for powder skiing and snowboarding, is two hours away by bus.
 * The hot springs and mossy canyons of Shikotsu-Toya National Park are within easy striking distance of Sapporo.
 * Asahikawa's Asahiyama Zoo is the most famous and most visited zoo in Japan, despite it being 2 hours away by train. Its most famous exhibits are the penguins which walk around the park twice a day, and the seals that you can see swim vertically through a large transparent pipe. It also features polar bears, wolves, Japanese deer, big cats, different kinds of monkeys and more. It's most impressive in winter when it's covered in snow (have you ever seen a giraffe walking in snow?) but a few of the exhibits are also closed during this season.
 * Ebetsu
 * Yubari
 * Hidaka
 * Noboribetsu
 * Toyako
 * Kutchan

title: Sapporo


text:
Sapulpa

Sapulpa is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma, a conservative little town that sounds like Sebulba from Star Wars if you say it fast.

title: Sapulpa


text:
Saputara

Saputara is Gujarat's only hill station, in the Dang district of South Gujarat. It is located on a plateau in the Western Ghats, at an altitude of 1,000m above sea level. The Maharashtra state line is just 4km away from the town. The cities closest to Saputara are Surat, 156km away, and Nashik, 79km. It gets significant numbers of tourists from both states, so Saputara isn't exactly off the beaten track. At the same time, it hasn't been overwhelmed with visitors like many other hill stations of India. It has just about enough to spend a quiet weekend.

Understand
The plateau Saputara is on is the second highest of the Sahyadari range. With a cool bracing climate and a scenic view of the verdant valley, Saputara is  a nice little hill resort. The temperature does not exceed 28 degrees Celsius even during summer. The thick forest around Saputara is dotted with tribal villages and their unique dances are of great interest. "Saputara" means "Abode of Serpents" in Gujarati, apparently deriving its name from the Sarpanganga ("Serpent Ganga") river that is in the shape of a serpent. On the banks of this river, there is an image of a snake that is worshiped by the Adivasi tribal people on festivals like Holi.

Climate
The hill resort of Saputara is refreshing throughout the year with its cool weather. Saputara does not experience any extreme temperature variations and is an ideal getaway for the sun-scorched souls of the plains. The monsoon rains add to the magic of Saputara. While it is worth visiting any time of the year, the best time is from mid-March to mid-November.

By plane
Surat Airport is the nearest airport, 163 km away, followed by Vadodara, 309 km away. Mumbai is the nearest international airport.

By train
The nearest railway station is Waghai, 56km away, but because it is narrow gauge, it lacks direct connectivity with any major railway stations. You would have to get down at Bilimora, which is the nearest broad gauge railway station. From Bilimora, you can take the narrow gauge train to Waghai, or you could just take a bus.

By bus
Gujarat State transport (ST) buses end private luxury coaches connects various centres of Gujarat to Ahwa and Saputara. There four ST direct buses from Ahmedabad to Ahwa which takes about 9 hours. From cities in Maharashtra, the best bet is to connect via Nashik.

By car
National Highway 360 connects Saputara with Nashik. The road, as you may expect, is narrow and winding, but is in a good shape

Get around
The best way to see Saputara is on foot. You can easily hire local jeeps or cars for a tour around. But it is possible to travel in district by public transport and shared jeeps travelling on the same routes which costs around ₹5 to ₹15.

Do

 * Paragliding: From paragliding to parasailing, zip-lining, zorbing, water rolling, high roping and artificial wall climbing, there is a whole lot of fun and adventure.
 * Paragliding: From paragliding to parasailing, zip-lining, zorbing, water rolling, high roping and artificial wall climbing, there is a whole lot of fun and adventure.

Buy
You can buy handicraft items made by the local Adivasis.

Eat
You will get excellent North Indian and other foods with a Gujarati touch of sweetness. Food is delicious. Gujarati Thali is best. It is also available at Gujarat Tourism Corporation (₹45 for a limited dish and ₹60 for unlimited). There are several sellers of snacks near Saputara Museum.

Drink
As Saputara is in the state of Gujarat where alcoholic liquors have been prohibited by the state government, you cannot get alcoholic beverages here. But around 5 km away in Maharastra, you can get alcohol.

Connect
There are no internet cafes or phonebooths in town. The mobile phone connectivity depends on your service provider as it is remote area.

Medical
Minor problems can be handled local medical facilities but in case of major injury or problem, the nearest centre is Surat (160 km) and Nashik (85km).

Go next

 * Nasik
 * Valsad
 * Dharampur
 * Surat
 * Nasik
 * Valsad
 * Dharampur
 * Surat

title: Saputara


text:
Sapzurro

Sapzurro is in Colombia, about roughly a quarter of the way from Capurganá in Colombia to Puerto Obaldia in Panama, and across the international boundary from Panamanian town of La Miel.

Get in
You can walk from Capurgana to Sapzurro, it takes about one hour and a half over the mountain with plenty of views.

By boat
From Turbo you can take a launch from the Waffe (Wharf) that leaves at around 07:30 to Capurgana which costs COP$55,000. The trip takes about 2½ hours. The sea can be a bit rough between December and February so its more enjoyable to get seats at the back of the boat. Also have sun protection with you. Its also a good idea to take something to drink and a snack. To avoid getting your belongings wet you should put them inside a bin liner, which they conveniently sell at the dock for an outrageous price COP$1000. They charge an excess baggage fee of COP$1000 per kg exceeding 10 kg.

From Capurgana you can take a launch to Sapzurro for COP$10,000, most boats leave at 12:00 although you can get boats as late as 17:00 (but don't rely on it).

From Puerto Obaldia, Panama it's a 45-min US$15 launch ride.

A number of sailboats also run between Panama and Sapzurro, especially between November and April when the trade winds make the Panama - Cartagena trip untenable. The PC Sailing has some candidates. It includes a three day tour of the islands. See the boat section for more info.

You can arrange a launch in the morning to Puerto Obaldia (COP$30,000) and catch a flight to Panama City. Air Panama operates one flight on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays departing at 09:30 arriving 10:40. Bookings should be made by phone as they don't always check the email or website.

A number of sailboats have now made Sapzurro their home as well. They have chosen the Sapzurro - Porvenir, San Blas route over the Cartagena - Porvenir route for a gentler ride while seeing more of San Blas. These trips include three full days in islands meals included at US$300-350. Talk to the Chileno at Paraiso Sapzurro for scheduling launches and sailboats. +57 313-685-9862 Spanish speaking.

Get around
There are no roads in Sapzurro, so your options to get around are to walk or go by boat, but that's not really a problem as you can get from one end of the village to the other in 10 minutes.

See
You can walk to Playa Blanca the White Beach, La Miel, Panama, (make sure you have your passport or colombian cedula with you)

You can go on a jungle trek to Capurgana an hour and a half walk over the mountain.

The Diana Waterfall is nice especially if has rained recently.

There is a half an hour walk along the coast to Cabo Tiburon - Shark Cape, the coastal border between South and Central America.

There are many coral reefs in the Sapzurro Bay and along the coast to Cabo Tiburon ranging from 2 m deep to 40 m, you can snorkel or go freediving, mask and snorkels can be rented at Mystic Roots.

Do
Where the jungle meets the sea. Hiking, swimming, snorkeling, waterfall, exotic birds, and monkeys.

Buy
You should take into account that there are no ATMs in Sapzurro or the surrounding region, and no businesses in Sapzurro accept credit cards, so you should bring enough cash preferably in COP or USD with you.

At the Club de Yates (Yacht Club) you can buy Mola, a cloth sewn with intricate designs, a handicraft made by the Kuna Yala tribe in Panama and/or a T shirt to take back to the folks back home. They also sell beach articles.

You should check out the local ginger, borojo and hibiscus wines sold in the Club de Yates and some restaurants and bars in Sapzurro.

There is a local bakery run by Andres and Eloisa, ask for directions.

If you are in the mood for some delicious home made brownies or a refreshing lemon cake, contact Clemencia in the Zingara Hostal.

Shops start to close from 19:00 onwards so if you need to buy provisions take that into account.

Eat
The most common dish in the restaurants in Sapzurro is fried red snapper, rice made with coconut milk and fried plantain. If you are looking for something different there is a Peruvian Restaurant "Paraiso cangrejales" where you can eat Ceviche de Pescado (raw fish in lemon juice), Fish in Mango Sauce, Chorillana and Chicharron de Pescado (fish steaks). Also the Posada serves great seafood dishes with shrimps, squid and fish. For a lighter dish there is a Pizza "Hut" (it really is a hut! - not related to the pizza chain).

Drink
If you want to chill out go to the Mystic Roots Coffee Bar, run by an Englishman, it has a relaxed atmosphere. Drinks include cocktails, shots, capuccinos (hot or frappé) and expressos. They play a variety of music from around the world, also you can ask for the music you want. Several nights of the week there is live music. There is WiFi internet access with a good connection suitable for video calls back home. It is on the sea front next to one of the nicest beaches in Sapzurro, near to the Cultural Center (Centro Cultural).

Sleep
On various days (not always weekends) there is loud music on the waterfront. The farthest from the bay will provide you with a good evenings sleep.

Stay safe
While the area was subject to smuggling and banditry in the past, it has been fairly safe for a number of years now and guerrilla movement of FARC was driven out of area over ten years ago. It's quite safe to walk between surrounding towns and Sapzurro.

The tap water is not treated, so you should either drink bottled water or filtered water.

At some times of day there are mosquitoes so bring insect repellent and for jungle treks long sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect yourself.

Bring a torch with you as the electricity in Sapzurro and the surrounding region is not available 24 hours a day.

Connect
There is WiFi internet access at the Mystic Roots Coffee Bar and additionally you can purchase a SIM card (see below), suitable for video calls to your friends and family back home.

There is no postal service in the region, however you can send articles by air freight to and from Capurgana-Medellín.

You can make national phone calls from the super giro lottery and pay for the time used.

Phone/WiFi: Take into account that Comcel is the only mobile phone operator with coverage in Sapzurro. You can purchase a SIM card at the Kiosk by the water front. Cell Phone and Data service can be paid for there. There is 3G service in Sapzurro.

By boat
To travel by boat to Turbo you need to take one of the boats leaving Sapzurro at 06:30 which gets you to Capurgana in time to catch the boat to Turbo that leaves around 07:30.

title: Sapzurro