text:
Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz (sometimes abbreviated to Puerto Cruz on road signs or Puerto in everyday language) is a city of the island of Tenerife. It is more family-friendly than the other tourist areas of Tenerife. It is also the longest established most complete of all resorts on Tenerife. The old part of the town keeps beautiful spots, one of the few places where the locals still work, eat and drink. Much of the area around the old fishing port is full of narrow cobbled streets packed with colonial architecture.

Understand
Puerto de la Cruz was established as a fishing village and eventually became the port for the nearby inland city of La Orotava. During the 17th century it developed into the most important port of Tenerife's north coast, used for exporting sugar cane and wine from the Orotava Valley. Over time the city developed a separate identity from that of La Orotava, and finally gained full municipal autonomy in 1808.

In the late 19th century, British elites began to visit, staying in many of the older Spanish manors which had been converted into luxurious hotels. In 1955 mass tourism arrived in El Puerto, or Puerto Cruz, as it is sometimes called, and since then has been the largest basis of the city's economy. It has a wide span of magnificent hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. In addition to its old world charms it offers some of the best visitor attractions in the islands.

By plane
Many people will arrive on a package deal. Some by taxi from the southern airport South–Reina Sofia, around €100, and some by bus via Santa Cruz bus station (easy to do if you do not have too much luggage). Some airlines now fly in by the nearer northern airport Los Rodeos, but on the whole only from mainland Spain.

The Titsa express bus 343 is an efficient but unfortunately infrequent way to reach Puerto de la Cruz from either of the two airports. It only runs 4 times a day. From Aeropuerto Sur a one-way ticket costs €14.60 cash or €9.60 with a ten+ prepaid card; from Aeropuerto Norte €12.40 cash or €8.90 with a ten+ prepaid card. Tickets in cash can be purchased directly from the bus driver, exact change not required.

The last 343 bus from Aeropuerto Sur departs M-F 21:30 and Sa-So 19:20.

By bus

If you travel to/from Santa Cruz, the direct Línea 103 goes by motorway and takes about 45 minutes. Línea 102 has a few more stops and takes about 1 hour.

Going south, you can take Línea 325 to Los Gigantes, a direct bus to Costa Adeje (only a few times a day), or interchange at Santa Cruz bus station.

By car
Puerto de la Cruz is well-connected to the east and west through the TF-5 motorway. The Teide mountain area can easily be reached by just following the TF-21 uphill. Don't listen to your GPS when it proposes leaving that road while you are still within the settled areaː It may be a shorter way to climb up one of the narrow Caminos but it isn't necessarily faster, and depending on how good your navigation system is you might easily end up in a dead end. Driving over the mountain to Los Gigantes will take you over an hour the first time, even if you're brave. If you are nervous, just don't do it as the road winds scarily over high mountains. If you're driving to the Costa Adeje area, it's much quicker to go via Santa Cruz on the motorway, which takes about an hour.

On foot
Once you get away from the main shopping centre it's uphill all the way, and a fairly steep climb in places.

By bus
Inside the city there are no extra buses. Instead, you can use connections to nearby towns or villages to reach certain corners of the city. From the main bus station, see the current connections on the Titsa website.

By car
Navigating the old city centre can be tricky, as there are many narrow one-way roads. A GPS navigation system can help here, but don't trust it blindly as the map data may be outdated.

Finding a parking spot can be even more of a challenge if you don't know where to look for it. Your safest bet is the huge near the harbour (free of charge). To get there, enter the Paseo Luis Lavaggi at its far western end. This road already has some. To get closer to the harbour you can go all the way through, turn left at the traffic light and then follow the road up the hill and along the coast. Note that it is not possible to enter directly from the east through Calle San Felipe. Also note that in some printed maps this is marked as (futuro) Parque Maritimo. Don't get confused by that, as it has been the future maritime park for decades and will probably remain a parking lot for quite some time.

By trackless train
The Loro Parque Express is a free shuttle service that brings you from the city center to the entrance of Loro Parque and back. The little yellow "train" leaves at Plaza de Los Reyes Católicos every 20 minutes hour from 9:30 to 16:30. The first one back leaves the park at 10:15, and then every 20 minutes until 17:30. The trip takes about 15 minutes.

See
The old port area is bustling and has surprisingly good and interesting shops tucked away among many pleasant bars and bistros. While there are lots of tourists in this area, they are mostly Spanish, and the area is pleasantly free of German and British junk food outlets. Real fisherman still go out from here. As there is so little water space in the harbour, boats are lifted in and out of the water by electric cranes; it's very pleasant to sit with a coffee and watch them. You will still see fisherman gutting squid and scaling fish on the harbour steps. The end of the sea wall by the harbour is a good spot to sunbathe and plunge into the sea, if scarily close to the boats powering in and out of the harbour.

Between here and the Lago Martianez is a fairly tack strip of neon-lighted shops selling two-year-old technology at today's market rates, etc, but overall it's a pleasant walk with some nice churches, houses and gardens in amongst them all.

Beaches
About half a kilometre to the west of the harbour is the, the town's lovely natural beach. The sand is fairly coarse and black, and getting into the sea isn't always easy because of the coarser shingle at the water's edge. The surf is substantial, but not scary and there are lifeguards, along with good facilities in terms of sunbeds, changing, showers, toilets, cafes etc. To the east, there is another beach, the – just follow the main promenade east past the Lago Martiánez.

For those seeking a little more seclusion, the black-sand beach of is a short distance to the east of town, with a beach bar for refreshments. Nearby (paid) are available by the Restaurante Bollullo.

Buy
Steer clear of cameras, binoculars, etc from Asian dealers which are not a bargain like they may first seem. You can almost certainly buy them cheaper back home and take them back if they are faulty. Many shops shut for a few hours from midday.

Eat
There are lots of good, affordable restaurants offering typical Canarian and Spanish food in Puerto de la Cruz, especially in the old part of the town. Expect to pay between €15-20 for a meal consisting of grilled fish, Canarian potatoes, mineral water and maybe even a starter such as a bowl of gazpacho soup. Of course most international kitchens are represented too. Food hygiene standards are good, so it's generally safe to eat just about anything.

Grocery stores
For those who self-cater, there are several good-sized supermarkets in town.

Drink
Whatever you like is here though you'll normally have to go down south for 'happy hours' and the disco scene.

Sleep
Better to book before arrival as a tour or on the internet. Some agencies do long lets. Remember that it can be a long way up a steep hill back to your hotel/apartment if you are at La Paz, the back of town or 'German Town' as some call it because of the number of Germans who have bought apartments there. However taxi service in town is very cheap.

Stay safe
Puerto de la Cruz is often hazy, especially in the afternoon. The temperature drops with the haze, but the UV penetration doesn't; it's very easy to get badly sunburnt here on a hazy day if you don't realise this.

Some people who have hired cars here have been told to leave nothing in them overnight and to even leave them unlocked as that way they do not get their windows broken by people looking to steal from them.

Go next

 * — historic city founded after Spanish conquest of the island with well preserved architecture from that era
 * — known for its vineyards
 * — home to the legendary drago tree
 * — former Italian merchant town risen from the ashes of a volcanic eruption

title: Puerto de la Cruz


text:
Puerto del Carmen

Puerto del Carmen is a large tourist resort on the south coast of Lanzarote, a few km west of Arrecife the capital and airport. It has long sandy beaches (unusual on this island) which are more sheltered than the exposed north and west-facing coasts. It's part of the municipality of Tías but has far outgrown that small town, and in 2022 it had a population of 11,319.

Understand
This settlement first appears on maps as Tiñosa in the 16th century. It had the best natural harbour on this craggy coast, and became a port trading with mainland Spain and inter-island. When the Spanish ports were systematised in 1900 it was declared a "Puerto de Interés General", meaning it had international shipping and strategic value beyond the oversight of a single autonomous community. But modern shipping outgrew it and better docks were built at Arrecife, so from 1928 that became the island's chief port. In 1957 Tiñosa was re-named Puerto del Carmen in honour of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the Virgin Mary in her role as patron of the Carmelite monks. The place was clearly destined to remain a quiet fishing village where everyone went to church on Sunday and crossed themselves rather than yield to temptation.

Then from the 1970s mass tourism grew as Lanzarote came within easy flying range of north Europe. The town acquired a 6 km resort strip east from the harbour along sandy beaches to the airport perimeter fence, with Av de las Playas lined by hotels, bars and restaurants. It doesn't stretch inland very far as the land rises steeply - anyone with restricted mobility needs to check the gradient to their intended accommodation. Within 1 km the buildings give way to the arid black hills of the interior.

Get in
From Arrecife or the airport follow LZ-2 west and branch onto LZ-40. In 2023 a taxi from either is about €20.

Bus 161 runs from the airport T1 and T2 every 30 min along Puerto del Carmen hotel strip, and continues to Puerto Calero, Yaiza and Playa Blanca (for Fuerteventura ferry). Bus 6 runs from Arrecife every 20 min, along the hotel strip to the harbour then ascending C Reina Sofia to its turnaround.

Bus 3 runs from Costa Teguise every 20 min via Arrecife then the same route through town.

Bus 12 runs every 30 min Sunday morning from Puerto del Carmen to Teguise for the Sunday market and returns early afternoon.

Get around

 * Plenty of rental outlets for cars, electro-bikes and mopeds.
 * E-scooter: Puerto del Carmen, Playa Honda, Arrecife and Costa Teguise are covered by a single system. You can take a scooter anywhere and leave it in any designated area. The service is provided by Superpedestrian Link Scooters and can be used with their app. In 2023 it costs €1 to unlock then €0.30 per minute.
 * Buses 3 and 161 run the length of town.

See

 * is the historic core of town, with whitewashed low-rise and a large parking lot.
 * Playa Chica is a small sandy beach 500 m east of the harbour, sheltered by two arms of rock.
 * Playa Blanca / Playa Grande is the main beach, stretching east for 800 m from Hotel Fariones. Playa Vulcano is its east extension.
 * Playa de los Pocillos is broad and one km long at the east edge of town. Playa Matagordo is its east extension.

Do

 * Scuba diving is year-round, with water temperatures always close to 20°C and visibility 25+ m. Over a dozen dive shacks in town offer training, kit hire and guided dives.
 * Lanzarote Golf is 3 km inland off LZ-505. White tees 5762 m, par 72, visitor round €110.
 * Hike along the coast 4 km west to the next small town, Puerto Calero. Wear stout shoes and sun protection. You can come back on the bus.
 * Hike along the coast 4 km west to the next small town, Puerto Calero. Wear stout shoes and sun protection. You can come back on the bus.

Buy

 * Lidl is north edge of town on C Juan Carlos I, open daily 09:30-22:00.
 * Small electronic stores and camera shops have a bad reputation for dodgy merchandise and underhand dealings. Beach hawkers are likewise shady.
 * Puerto Calero market is held Tu and F 09:00-13:00.
 * Puerto Calero market is held Tu and F 09:00-13:00.

Eat

 * The entire front-water strip is lined with bars and restaurants.

Drink

 * Tap water is safe to drink but it's desalinated and brackish. Choose bottled water or beer.
 * Cerveceria San Miguel Varadero is a beer hall by the harbour.
 * The Dog and Duck is a trad place by the harbour.
 * Bar Craic n' Ceól next to Biosfera has live music.
 * Tavern on the Seafront is midway along Playa Blanca.
 * The Irish Viking is a block inland at C Doromas 8.
 * The Snug Bar is a sports bar at C Doromas 19.
 * O'Connell's Dug-out is east end of the beach on C Nicaragua.
 * The Galleon 2 is at C Palangre 2.
 * The Upper Deck at Av de las Playas 43 is conveniently sited within a pharmacy.
 * The White Lion is a sports bar at Av de las Playas 67.
 * The Limerick Phoenix is west end of Playa de los Pocillos.
 * Vineyards are nearby, clustered around La Geria.

Sleep

 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.
 * Plus Fariones Suite is an unrelated hotel almost next door at C Acatife 2. They also have apartments 100 m inland.

Connect
As of Oct 2023, Puerto del Carmen and its approach highways have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange.

Go next

 * Arrecife the capital has two islets just offshore, one a museum the other a modern art gallery.
 * Timanfaya National Park can be accessed from Yaiza on its south side or Mancha Blanca to the east.

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

title: Puerto del Carmen


text:
Puerto El Morro

Puerto El Morro is a fishing village of some 3.000 people, which gives access, by boat, to the Olmos Estuary in the Manglares El Morro refuge. Some truly amazing mangroves and the biggest delta on the Pacific coast of South America.

See

 * Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island) - After an hour sailing you will arrive at an island populated by the biggest frigate bird colony in the world with about 8000 birds. It will be possible to walk in the middle of the nesting areas without scaring these, just like on Galapagos.
 * Dolphins

title: Puerto El Morro


text:
Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido is a town in Oaxaca on the Oaxaca-Pacific coastline. It's known for its big waves and excellent surfing conditions. "Escondido" means "hidden", but in a well-connected world that's no longer true. Once considered a well-kept secret, "Puerto" has grown into a sometimes-awkward mix of small industrial city, beach destination, backpacker party mecca, and French expat community.

In early 2024, a new high-speed highway opened between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, cutting travel times between the two to just three hours, and causing an explosion of visitors to Puerto Escondido, with the Semana Santa holidays overwhelming the town's infrastructure and, sadly, its beach cleanup volunteers. Due to the rapidly changing situation, be aware that a lot of this article might be out-of-date!

Though less walkable than beach towns like Mazunte or Zipolite, Puerto Escondido retains some appeal for its newfound nearness to Oaxaca city by bus or car, its good surfing, its party scene, and its slightly more scenic beaches, which are surrounded by green vegetation year-round, compared to drier areas Mazunte and Huatulco where the forest loses most of its leaves in the dry season.

By plane

Another alternative is flying into Huatulco and taking a taxi to Puerto Escondido (~90-min drive, US$50-60 if you negotiate in advance).

Shared taxis (called colectivos) from the Puerto Escondido airport are cheap - about M$35 per person- and reasonably quick. The airport is close to town, but you may have to wait a few minutes as the colectivo driver waits to get a few more passengers, or drops one or two off ahead of you.

By bus
TuriStar and Estrella Blanca from Mexico City are the most comfortable and most expensive way to get here (M$500-900, 12 hours), traveling via Acapulco. These buses only leave from the South (Taxqueña) bus terminal. Other first class buses leave from both the North and South terminals, traveling via Puebla and/or Oaxaca City, and taking several hours longer than the buses via Acapulco.

More comfortable but longer are the buses leaving from the 2nd class bus station. Do not take a 1st class bus because the trip is over 15 hours – it takes the longest route. 2nd class buses take around 7-8 hours. There are also many buses from Acapulco. For example, the AltaMar bus line leaves from the Ejido terminal 7 times a day and takes 7-8 hours.

By shuttle van
A less expensive and faster alternative to the bus, two shuttle van companies do multiple daily runs between Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca (city). The very scenic route winds directly through the mountains with hairpin curves and takes about 6-7 hours depending on road conditions. Passengers who are inclined to get car sick should definitely take motion sickness tablets. There is a toilet and snack break about midway.

By car
Highway 200 between Puerto Escondido and Acapulco is in fair-to-good condition and can be confidently driven with reasonable care - but watch for speed bumps. Highway 131, the direct road to Oaxaca, is in mediocre-to-poor condition, especially west of the mountains where the rains often wash away the highway. Do not attempt this road after nightfall, as there are sudden craters where the surface has slid away down the hillside, and it will be a serious accident if you tumble down after. Reckon 6 or 7 hours, do not hurry even though local traffic often overtakes you - they know where the booby-traps are.

Bus
Frequent local buses (urbanos) ply the main roads. There is no route map, but all buses have their destination painted on the windscreen and pass through the (at the intersection of Carr. Costera and Av. Oaxaca). The fare is M$5 (Sep 2014) for a single ride, no transfers.

Taxi
The fixed price for a taxi in town is M$30-50 (Sep 2014) for the airport and Bacocho beach. Night rates are M$35 (Sep 2014). Some taxis will charge more than the going rate if you do not specify M$30 before the ride. A taxi from the airport to Punta Zicatela should cost you M$200 (Nov 2021), although this very much depends upon your Spanish negotiating skills and will often cost significantly more. You may be able to hire a cab driver for the day for about M$800 (Jan 2008).

Shared taxis (colectivos) travel along fixed routes that can be difficult to decipher, but all tend to travel through the crucero in El Centro and can be easily caught along the main road by giving a wave. The fixed price is M$10 (Nov 2021) within town.

Car
There are lots of great spots to visit if you have a vehicle, such as the nearby lagoon of Chacahua, the nudist beach of Zipolite, beach towns like Puerto Angel and Huatulco, all within two hours of Puerto Escondido.

 * Budget Rent-A-Car, charge hefty rental fees for their fleet of subcompact manual transmission cars. They may also have some minivans available.

See

 * Watch the sunset above La Punta - walk to the southern end of La Punta beach and walk around the cliff to a small rocky beach. From here you will see a lighthouse on the left and a small rocky hill on the right. Walk to the rocky hill and make the simple climb to the grassy top. From the top you will have a great view of the sunset and both beaches to your right and left. If the tide is high, you will not be able to walk around the cliff however there is a small path above it which you can follow. Be sure to bring some beers with you.

Surf
You can take lessons if you're a beginner – try one of the friendly surf instructors on any beach or at one of the surf shops. Female instructors are available for those who may find the roaming hands of some of the male instructors a bit more than just being friendly.

Scuba dive
You're in the Pacific for heaven's sake. If you don't try scuba-diving here then where? And Pacific Mexico is an example of a place where diving really scores over just snorkeling. That said, do check on day-to-day conditions - sometimes the Pacific really isn't terrific, as storms far out to sea can kick up the visibility. But when it's good, it's great.

Other activities

Sleep
As of April 2024, a basic hotel room in the city center (not at the beach) starts from about 400 without air conditioning, 600 with air conditioning, and 800 with air conditioning and a pool (not all hotels appear on online hotel aggregators, though hostels do, and all are generally a bit cheaper if booked in person). Nicer accommodations and beach hotels will obviously cost more, though there are also rustic, non-AC cabañas right on the beach starting from around 300 pesos, and similarly basic hostels near the beach for around 200 pesos per dorm bed. Farther from the beach, 200 pesos can get you can get a hostel bed with nighttime air conditioning and a pool (likely both needed during the hotter months). Most areas of town are no more than a short drive or taxi ride (40-100 pesos) from the beaches, but that can mean up to 30-60 minutes by foot.

Listings below are likely out-of-date unless otherwise specified.

 * Hotel Ines. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Ines. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Ines. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Ines. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.
 * Hotel Rockaway. Offers rooms ranging from about US$18-70/night off-peak. US$70 can get you an A/C double room with a balcony near the front of Ines, looking right over the beach, while US$18-35 can get you simple rooms with a fan and private shower, but not necessarily a full bathroom.

Stay safe
Due to assaults and knife-point robberies, the beaches should be avoided from dusk until dawn; this especially applies to Playa Principal and Playa Bachoco. If you do not have a companion with you, it is best to not carry valuables on some of the more isolated stretches of beach even during the daytime. As of 2024, police are also known to stop tourists on the beach late at night and "confiscate" valuables.

And of course, be aware of water safety if swimming at the beaches. The surf can be pretty rough (hence the good surfing), and currents have been reported from some areas.

Connect
Connectivity in Puerto Escondido is surprisingly poor for a city of its size and growing popularity. As general rule, internet service gets worse the farther you are from El Centro. For example, in Punta Zicatela connections can be quite spotty, particularly on weekends during the high season when demand often exceeds capacity. Locations nearer to the center are not exempt from poor service, however, and even the city’s mobile data network has been known to fail for hours at a time. Should you find yourself in dire internet straits, usually your best bet is to change locations within the city. There are several internet cafes and coworking spaces available, including:

Telcel has the best mobile coverage in the area, although it drops off quickly as you leave the central city. Expect one or two bars at best in Punta Zicatela. You can buy a SIM card at various locations around town. Typically the most convenient for tourists (as opposed to locals and businesses) is the Telcel store located on Av. Oaxaca across from the Chedraui supermarket.

As of April 2024, some hostels have Starlink internet, which is generally faster but still not perfectly reliable.

Go next

 * Mazunte - A nearby town with less tourism than Puerto Escondido and quiet beaches, on the Pacific Coast Backpacker Route. Famous for its National Sea Turtle Museum.
 * Zipolite Mexico's only "official" nude beach. Popular since the 1960s and still has its hippy vibe. A beach where you loose track of time.
 * Lagunas de Chacahua National Park - Good for surfing and for bird watching, as well as exploring the mangroves with a guide by canoe. It's best to spend the night there so that you can take the canoe trip at sunset.

title: Puerto Escondido


text:
Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera is a town of 42,000 people (2020) on the northeastern coast of Mindoro Island, Philippines. Puerto Galera is a fairly small town and not remarkably interesting, but almost all visitors pass through it because it has the ferry terminal, and some come into it for other facilities such as ATMs or supermarkets. However, the main tourist destinations are two beach areas nearby: Either of those is 20-minute (per trike) tricycle ride away. Either has a lot of tourist facilities — bars, restaurants, dive centers, and souvenir places — spread along a lovely beach. Sabang is more developed and somewhat livelier, and has more diving and more girlie bars. White Beach is quieter. See the linked articles for details.
 * Sabang, a barangay of Puerto Galera, east of the town
 * White Beach, in Barangay San Isidro, west

Travellers bound for either beach will usually just say they are going to Puerto Galera as it hosts the ferry terminal through which most people arrive. The boats come from Batangas City.

By plane
The closest major airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport near Manila on the neighbouring island of Luzon. From there, most people travel by road to get to the port at Batangas City, then ferry to Puerto Galera.

There are at least three airports on the island — Calapan, Naujan and Mamburao — but there are no scheduled flights and the fields are primarily used for flight training.

By car
Puerto Galera is 90 minutes away from Metro Manila. If you're already in Manila, getting there is pretty easy. Having a car is very convenient, all you need to do is drive through South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Star Tollway and then head to Batangas Pier. From there, you can either park your car and ride a ferry going to Puerto Galera or have your car ride a RoRo (roll on, roll off) ship bound to Calapan so you could take your car with you to Puerto Galera. Its distance from Puerto Galera is about 51 km and takes about 1½-hour land drive with concreted zigzag road.

By bus
Puerto Galera is easily accessible from areas around Manila. Most tourists prefer to take a JAM transit or DLTB bus - from its terminals along EDSA Cubao. These ply every hour between Cubao or Buendia in Manila and Puerto Galera pier. The Sikat tourist service operates one trip per day and is convenient for people staying in Manila close to Ermita.

By boat
Scheduled ferries arrive at Puerto Galera mostly from Batangas City but also from other islands. At the Batangas pier, ignore all the porters and touts and walk past them to the ticket area where there are several windows where you can buy ferry tickets. From there, most people immediately depart for Sabang (known for scuba diving) or White Beach, a stretch of white sand with many small restaurants and bars.

Crossing the waters between Batangas Port and White Beach can be a thrill by itself, especially during the meeting of the tides when the sea can be quite rough. The first half of the journey is smooth. However, the boatmen know these waters very well, so there is no need to be hysterical. Buy a round trip ferry ticket to avoid a fully booked ferry on your return. Returning on a Sunday without reserving a ticket can leave you stranded with no options from Muelle or Balatero. You will have to go to Calapan to return to Batangas.

From Boracay you can go with the 2GO ferry to Batangas City and then from Batangas City a ferry to Puerto Galera/Sabang Beach, or a ferry from Boracay to Roxas then minivan to Puerto Galera.

Puerto Galera port is in a sheltered bay which serves as a "hurricane hole" for yachts, and many cruisers come for the diving or other attractions as well. There are usually twenty or so yachts in the harbor, mostly sailboats.

Get around
Within the town or either beach area (White Beach or Sabang), walking is the usual means of transport; distances are short and the terrain reasonably level. Walking from town to either beach is possible, but rarely done; the roads are steep, winding and not entirely safe for pedestrians. It takes about an hour to cover the 5 km (3 miles).

At the harbor you will find lots of people trying to get you to ride with their tricycle; this is the usual way to get to either beach. The official rate from the mayor's office is per person; drivers may ask for anything up to about  per trike but can usually be bargained down to about  per person. You may have to share the ride with 3-4 people, or pay something like to get a trike to yourself.

At Muelle Port, there is a jeepney to Sabang town for at the main road. After dark, the rates are higher (for example, instead of you pay ). Some hotels can arrange a free fastcraft ferry shuttle to White Beach, like Minolo Shipping Lines.

In Sabang there are 3 motorcycle rental providers. For you can rent a scooter for the whole day. You have to mind the local traffic rules, of course.

See

 * Beaches: White Beach is a good alternative to Boracay if you do not have much money or time. Other beaches include Talipanan Beach, Bayanan Beach, Haligi Beach, Long Beach, Panlilio Beach, Coco Beach, La Laguna Beach, Encenada Beach, Bulabod Beach, Boquete Island and San Antonio Island. About 32 beaches are found around Puerto Galera meaning there's a lot to choose from. Avoid April and May when room rates rise triple or double of the ordinary price because many flock to the beaches during the long weekend in Holy Week. The waters of Puerto Galera are home to giant clams as well as dolphins and corals.
 * Lush Forests: The forests of Puerto Galera are home to many flora such as orchids, birds and fauna such as orchids and waterfalls.
 * Coral Reefs
 * Coral Reefs

Do
Accredited masseuses can give you massage right on the beach. To prevent hanky-panky, in-room massage, other than in an especially designated room at the hotel, is prohibited. Aside from Scuba Diving, golf is also another activity, a golf course is available.

Diving
Most visitors to Puerto Galera are attracted by the excellent scuba diving provided by the protected marine sanctuary. There are a number of dive shops in the area (estimated at around 35) that provide access to a macro (i.e. small life) heaven. The dive sites that feature a large variety of small sea life with the occasional shark or turtle. Several sites are drift dives and often turn into (strong) current dives with the best diving (for coral and small life) being at 20 m (60 feet). Almost all of the dive sites are within a 10 minute boat ride of Sabang which allows you to spend your surface interval on the shore and it also allows most shops to offer as many as four dive trips (single tank) each day. Prices for a single dive are US$26-32 for a single tank dive, including equipment rental, boat and dive guide, with discounts for more dives and if you have your own equipment.

Eat
There are many restaurants near Muelle Pier, Puerto Galera and Sabang Beach.

Drink
Sabang beach at night is famous for girly bars that tend to close just as quickly as they pop up. It also has billiard rooms and discos where you can party into the wee hours of the morning.

Floating Bar - enjoy a beer on a boat off the coast of Sabang.

Sleep
Puerto Galera has numerous hotels and resorts that tourists can choose from. Tourists will also find many cheap bungalows to stay on white beach. These cost a night; you can get better rates during week days.

Palangan
Palangan is a barangay between PG town and Sabang, at the base of the peninsula that has Sabang at the tip.

Stay healthy
PG has no hospital but there is an urgent care clinic toward the south end of town; there is a turn-off with a sign a bit south of the bus station.

Cope

There are at least three ATMs in town. Walking from the port, turn left onto the main road and PNB is a short distance on your right. Go past the top of the hill and take the first left, with a sign for Sabang, to reach the other two. Sabang also has some ATMs but White Beach does not.

Go next

 * Calapan
 * Roxas
 * Batangas
 * Jeepney to Calapan (1 hr 15 min) leaves from the end of the main road several times daily. Air conditioned mini vans now operate also for the same price and have fewer stops.  From Calapan you can take a minivan (3 hr) to Roxas. To get to Calapan from Balatero (west side of PG), take a tricycle ( per person) to Bayan Jeepney Terminal near the Puerto Galera wet market.  to the Calapan City Center and 100php to the Calapan Pier. AC minivans also travel this route and the price is the same as the jeepney. 60-90 minutes. If all the ferries are fully booked at Balatero port, this is the next option to get a ferry to Batangas. Updated June 2019.

 * Jeepney/tricycle to Balatero where a boat, M/S Caribbean, leaves daily at 10AM for Abras de Llog, one-way,  terminal fee. Easy entry into Mindoro Occidental. An easier and cheaper option compared to chartering your own pumpboat or going to Abras via Batangas.

title: Puerto Galera


text:
Puerto Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú is a tourist city in the northeast of Argentina at the Triborder with Paraguay and Brazil. It mainly serves the needs of the tourists visiting the Iguaçu Falls close-by.

By train
The train is not operating.

By plane

Go from the airport to town:
 * Bus. Turn left getting out of the terminal, look for a bus stop with a “transporte publico” sign. One way ticket to the city bus terminal is around 2 USD in November 2023 (2000 pesos). The ride takes approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the final stop of the city bus terminal.
 * Taxi. In the arrivals hall there is a desk for a transfer (remis) to any hotel in Puerto Iguazú.
 * Minibus. Inside the terminal you can buy a ticket and catch the bus in the front of the airport to the bus terminal. If you are staying near the city center, the bus will drop you off at your hotel.

Go from bus terminal to the airport:
 * taxi: You can ask the taxi desk at the terminal to call a taxi for you.
 * minibus: You can book via the WhatsApp number provided on the Minibus ticket on the way in. Alternatively your hostel can reserve it in advance.
 * bus: You can take the bus from the bus terminal. It leaves every hour (Dec 2022).

Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (Brazil) is another way in but from Brazil. Some people travel to Foz do Iguaçu International Airport but stay on Puerto Iguazu (Argentina). There is an immigration point between Argentina and Brazil, so keep all the documents they give you at the airport and at immigration. The cost of going by taxi from Foz do Iguaçu International Airport in Brazil to Puerto Iguazu is around US$40. You can ask for a taxi inside the airport and pay cash or on credit card. Taxi drivers know the immigration regulations so they will walk you by the customs to enter Argentina. By taxi the drive is no more than half an hour, but sometimes there will be lots of people on the immigration point and at peak hour you can expect 45 minutes or an hour waiting lines.

By bus
Direct buses to Buenos Aires, Retiro (many companies)(18 hours), Salta (Andesmar/Flecha Bus), Mendoza, Cordoba (Mercobus, Cruzero del Norte), Posadas, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Curitiba and other places.

Access Puerto Iguazu from Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil and other parts of Argentina by bus passes offered by the Green Toad Bus. They also offer bus tickets online from Buenos Aires, Salta, São Paulo, Florianopolis, and Rio de Janeiro to Puerto Iguazu. Long distance and local buses arrive to the Terminal de Autobuses on Av. Cordoba.

From Paraguay
There is a ferry (balsa) between Puerto Iguazú and Presidente Franco, Paraguay (just outside Ciudad del Este). You can get there from Ciudad del Este by bus for PYG2,500 (as of October 2016): take the red Matiauda which says "3 Fronteras" and ask the driver to let you know when get out. It's about half an hour in bus, and then you have a 500-m walk downhill. The ferry costs PYG10,000 per person if you're on foot.

Get around

 * A bus leaves every 20 minutes on the quarter hour from the bus terminal to the entrance on the Argentine side of the falls. Most hotels have the timetable. Tell the bus driver if you want to stop along the way.
 * Frequent buses cross the border to Foz do Iguaçu where you can change to a bus to the Brazilian side of the falls
 * There is an hourly bus to the Brazilian side of the falls operated by Rio Uruguay at the bus terminal.
 * Some buses cross to Ciudad del Este without stopping in Brazil (hence, no need for Brazilian border control)
 * There is a ferry crossing directly to Paraguay (look for the sign on the corner Av. Missiones and Brasil). About hourly during daylight. As of October 2023, the ferry is operating. On the Paraguayan side walk up to the main street and take any bus going to the right (don't believe "Taxi" drivers telling you there is no bus, they are just up to overcharging you). You can pay the ride in pesos. When you arrive at the roundabout about half an hour later you are in the centre of Ciudad del Este, for the bus terminal you have to get off earlier.
 * Taxis operate with fixed prices which makes the distance to both parks from your hotel irrelevant. Round trips are advertised as double but most taxi drivers will do the trip for a discount if asked. Do not be amazed if the very same driver waits for you for hours. Taxi drivers will store your luggage in their taxi while waiting.

Buy

 * Souvenirs are sold in the street and in many shops
 * There are two money changers on Av. V. Aguirre (downtown)

Drink

 * La Barranca Uniq, DSR, Hipólito Yrigoyen 490, nice place near both rivers and the Three Frontiers Landmark (Marco das três fronteira), nice people and live music at weekends.

At the feria up from Av. Brasil there are many stalls to have a cheap drink.

Budget
Beware that the hostels in Puerto Iguazú seem to be experiencing something of a bedbug epidemic. Check reviews on the web carefully before booking.

 * Hospedaje Jose Gorgues, Fray Luis Beltrán 169. They try hard and the hotel apartment-like rooms are big and clean. $20.
 * Hospedaje Jose Gorgues, Fray Luis Beltrán 169. They try hard and the hotel apartment-like rooms are big and clean. $20.
 * Hospedaje Jose Gorgues, Fray Luis Beltrán 169. They try hard and the hotel apartment-like rooms are big and clean. $20.
 * Hospedaje Jose Gorgues, Fray Luis Beltrán 169. They try hard and the hotel apartment-like rooms are big and clean. $20.
 * Hospedaje Jose Gorgues, Fray Luis Beltrán 169. They try hard and the hotel apartment-like rooms are big and clean. $20.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Tierra Colorada, El Urú 28. 03757-420649. Pleasant and friendly small hotel, comfortable rooms.
 * Hotel Tierra Colorada, El Urú 28. 03757-420649. Pleasant and friendly small hotel, comfortable rooms.
 * Hotel Tierra Colorada, El Urú 28. 03757-420649. Pleasant and friendly small hotel, comfortable rooms.

Consulate

 * 🇧🇷 Brazil

Go next

 * You can visit the Itaipu Dam - one of the largest dams and the biggest hydroelectric powerplant in the world on either the Paraguayan side (Ciudad del Este) or the Brazilian side (Foz do Iguaçu).
 * On the way to Posadas or Buenos Aires the red sandstone ruins of the Jesuit mission of San Ignacio Miní are well worth a visit.

title: Puerto Iguazú


text:
Puerto Jimenez

Puerto Jiménez is in the Osa Peninsula of South Pacific Costa Rica and is the primary jumping off point for Corcovado National Park. The city is not the most attractive locale.

Get in

 * Bus - Buses leave daily from San José and pass through San Isidro de El General where passengers can also get on. Bus 699 leaves from San Jose at 06:00 and 12:00, taking about 10 hours to reach Puerto Jiménez.  Bus 612 to Golfito can also be taken, which takes about 8 hours and leaves at 07:00 and 15:00.
 * Ferry - The ferry from Golfito to Puerto Jiménez takes about an hour and a half and runs twice daily. Schedule is random and subject to change.  Price US$2.
 * "Air - A small airport in Puerto Jiménez is served by SANSA, and TravelAir/NatureAir. These flights generally run once or twice daily coming from San José and cost around US$80.  See the respective air services for schedule detail.

Get around
A collectivo (shared jitney) runs twice daily, weather and road conditions permitting, between Puerto Jiménez and Carate.

Details on the jitney and much additional information (some of it dated, however) is available at Soldeosa.com.

See

 * Scarlet Mawcaws. This is a prime viewing spot.
 * Swimming. People swim in the calm waters off Puerto Jiménez and there are some pretty beaches nearby.
 * Sunset. You can't miss a sunset in Golfo Dulce. Try sea kayaking.
 * Dolphins and whales. Golfo Dulce's warm water are the home of dolphins and many humpback whales give birth in here.
 * Monkeys. Near Puerto Jiménez you have the opportunity to see the 4 kinds that live in Costa Rica.

Do
Puerto Jiménez is a small town but offers a lot of things to do:

 * Mangrove forest exploration
 * Bike trips
 * Bird watching
 * Jungle hikes
 * Paradise beaches
 * horse back riding
 * Fishing
 * Dolphin observation trips
 * Dolphin observation trips

Sleep

 * Osa Peninsula Lodging Black Turtle Lodge

Go next

 * Bus - Buses to San José, via San Isidro de El General run twice daily, once in the early morning and again in the afternoon from the bus station located on the northwest side of town.

title: Puerto Jimenez


text:
Puerto La Cruz

Puerto La Cruz is a city in Venezuela's Northeast, in the state of Anzoátegui. In some ways, it's kind of like the beachside resort area for Barcelona nearby, although it is tainted a bit by the fact that it's also the home of the Puerto La Cruz refinery, one of the largest in the country, along with a fossil fuel processing plant. Cough. But, all things considered, the local still has some very pleasing beaches surrounding it, and borders on the natural realm of Mochima National Park. It is the embarkation point for ferries to this park and even more significantly, to Margarita Island.

By plane
Flying in to Puerto La Cruz can be very expensive. Domestic flights from Caracas can go for US$150 one way per person for the 40-minute flight. Like all airlines, if you book early aad outside of peak holiday times, they can be much cheaper, e.g. US$55 one way If you take a cab from the airport make sure you take one of the airport "official cabs" as there are many "piratas" (unofficial) cabs which can be dangerous.

If you fly to Puerto La Cruz the nearest airport is in Barcelona which is the capital of the state Anzoategui. From here you have to take a 30-min cab ride to Puerto La Cruz. Make sure you have your hotel info before you get there, as cab drivers are not too good at suggesting what will be the best hotel for you.

By bus
While flying is the safest option, if you feel adventurous you can take a bus to Puerto La Cruz from Caracas.

The best option for routes to the east of the capital, including Puerto La Cruz, is the bus line called Rodovias de Venezuela for about US$20. Bus leaves every hour or so until 10:30PM. Any local will be able to direct you to the closest terminal. You can also take the Metro (subway) and get off at "Colegios de Ingenieros" station. Once you go upstairs you will see the bus terminal. Is very obvious.

The bus ride is 6 hours and the temperature in the bus is kept pretty chilly, so take a sweatshirt.

If you went for the bus you will arrive at the bus terminal right in downtown Puerto La Cruz. This is not the best part of town, so standard warnings apply.

By boat
Puerto La Cruz is the main seaport for Venezuela's Caribbean Islands, with 3-4 ferries per week. Conferry offers the most routes.

Get around
So you made it to Puerto La Cruz and now you are ready to do some tourism. The best, fastest and safest way to get around in Puerto La Cruz is by taxi. A fare can go for US$5-10, which is ten times more expensive than the local bus, but it will save you time and the hassle of trying to figure out which bus to take to go where. Many times even the locals have a hard time trying to figure it out. Plus most of the buses are really old and uncomfortable.

When taking a taxi, always make sure you use "legal" taxis. They are usually marked with the name of the cab company. Illegal taxis will look like any other car and they are usually really beat up. These cars are not only mechanically unsafe but there have been reports of kidnappings and robbery when riding these Piratas.

Bargaining is part of the Venezuelan culture, so make sure you ask your taxi driver for a discount.

If you are going out of town, then you will need to head back to the bus terminal where you can take a car or a bus to your destination. The bus terminal is not tourist friendly, so it is not easy to find out where to buy your ticket but all the counters have their destination literally "painted" in their windows, and most likely you will have more than one person around you trying to help you out.

Puerto La Cruz boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. You can get to many different beaches by land and by boat. Is all a matter of personal preference. The islands have white-sand-clear-water beaches, land-side beaches have brown-sand-clear-water beaches.

To go to the islands you need to go to Paseo Colon where you will see the boat stations, one on the west end and one on east end of Paseo Colon. Prices change every year and they supposedly leave every 30 min. Sometimes you have to be a little bit pushy because they will wait as long as possible trying to get more customers.

See
Also perhaps most significant of all, check out Mochima National Park for an array of ecotourism or just recreational options. The park consists of a mainland portion and 32 islands and features arid scrub-like topography, dolphins, monkeys, and secluded beaches. Much of it necessitates marine transportation, Puerto de la Cruz harbor being one origin for securing this through various tour operators.
 * Paseo Colon
 * Andres Eloy Bianco Park
 * Laguna Natural Maguey
 * La Toma

Do
Beach, party, girls, guys, ... what else do you need?

Spanish Language Schools. Playa Colorada, 30 minutes along the coast, is a famous Venzuelan beach (photo in many of the guide books) and a good location to learn Spanish. Jakera runs a highly recommended Spanish school at Playa Colorada.

Buy
Paseo Colon at night becomes a very busy spot for locals to walk and for craftmen to sell their stuff. This will be your best option to find cheap, locally hand-made souvenirs. Lately there have been a big influx of Made In China mass produced items, but you should still be able to find local souvenirs.

During the daytime there are a few souvenir shops along Paseo Colon but prices can be inflated for tourists. If you go to El Acuario and ask for Mario, he can get you a good deal depending on how much you spend.

If you like malls then you need to check out the Caribbean Mall and Plaza Mayor, which are the biggest mall/shopping center in Puerto La Cruz and you can pretty much find anything you may need. You will find many brand name stores and good restaurants.

For the risky ones, you can go during business hours to downtown Puerto La Cruz and you will find a lot of street vendors and shopping.

Eat
Venezuelan food is really good and flavorful, nothing spicy. Make sure you try everything. You can also find really good authentic Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish, Chinese restaurants. Mexican food is not very popular so eat your burrito when you go back home. Among the most popular Venezuela meal or dishes you should try:

Empanadas: These are made of corn flour based dough and are deep fried. The stuffing varies according to the region; most common are the cheese and ground beef empanadas. Other types use fish, "caraotas" or black beans, oyster, clams and other types of seafood popular in the coastal areas.

Arepas: The arepa is a corn-based dish from the northern Andes in South America, now spread to other areas in modern Latin American countries. It is basically a flat (the flatness varies) cake of cornmeal which is then grilled, baked or fried. It is often split in half and filled with cheese, deli meats, and a great variety of fillings, in which case it is known as arepa rellena. This more elaborate version may be eaten closed like a sandwich, or dressed with toppings and eaten open-faced. This is the most frequent form it adopts in Venezuela.

Pabellon Criollo: Pabellón criollo is a traditional Venezuelan dish. It is a plate of rice, shredded beef and stewed black beans. Optionally, one may request Tajadas (fried plantain slices) or a fried egg as additions. Because of the frequency of these requests, they have both gained name in Venezuelan slang. A Pabellón con barandas (Baranda is Spanish for guard rail) is served with tajadas because the long plantain slices placed on the sides are humorously considered as keeping the food from falling out of the plate. A Pabellón a caballo (a caballo is Spanish for horseback riding) means with a fried egg on top, as if "riding" the dish. So most waiters understand immediately what a Pabellón con barandas y a caballo means.

The shredded beef can be replaced by Chigüire (capybara) Caimán (Alligator) shredded meat or even freshwater fish, depending on particular tastes, region or time of the year (beef consumption is prohibited by the Catholic church during Easter time, however Chigüire or fish is approved).

It is widely considered by many as the Venezuelan national dish.

Cachapa: Cachapas are a part of traditional Venezuelan cuisine. They are made of maize in the form of masa. They are made as fresh corn is ground and then mixed into a batter of the consistency of pancakes, yet slightly thicker and lumpier. It is then cooked like a pancake. It is served with many toppings, but traditionally with butter or margarine and white cheese (queso blanco) on top. Cachapas are generally eaten instead of bread, but they can be also prepared as an appetizer or a full breakfast, depending on the size. Cachapas could be very elaborate, some including different kinds of cheese, milky cream, and jam.

Tequeno: A tequeño is prepared with a bread dough with white cheese (queso blanco) in the middle. It is formed into a bread stick and then fried. It is one of the most popular Venezuelan snack foods in parties, especially weddings. It is said that a party is not a true Venezuelan party without tequeños.

Toston: Tostones are a dish made from sliced green plantain(s) which are cut either length-wise or width-wise and are twice fried. The first step is to heat the oil on medium for a few minutes. Once it's hot enough, one cooks both sides for 1-2 minutes each side until they are golden brown in color. One then removes them, pat dry excess oil, pounds them flat with one's fist or any kitchen utensil that has a flat surface, and fry them once again until they are lightly crisp and somewhat brown in color. They are salted and eaten much like potato chips. You can have them with a side of Cubed Steak in Onions, and also a Side Salad

Drink
Don't miss the opportunity of drinking real fruit juice. Whether you go to a restaurant or in the streets is always safe and healthier to drink juice. There are many options. Just ask for your favorite tropical fruit.

There is also malta. Malta is a type of soft drink. It is a carbonated malt beverage, meaning it is brewed from barley and hops much like beer. However, malta is non-alcoholic. It is similar in color to stout (dark brown) but is very sweet, generally described as tasting like molasses. Unlike beer, ice is often added to malta when consumed. Malta is high in B vitamins.

Venezuela is also recognized for its high quality rum. The best brands are Santa Teresa and Pampero Aniversario.

A great barto stop by in Puerto La Cruz or its neighboring mini city Lecherias is Bambuda bar its a great Sushi bar with a huge variety of drinks to try.Bambuda is great to visit anytime of day and is a main attraction for clubbers as it has its lounge area and a dance area.

Manssion is a great nightclub located in, El Morro area of lecheria.

title: Puerto La Cruz


text:
Puerto López

Puerto López lies at the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. A fishing village, it is now also becoming a tourism hotspot and is most famous for being the departure point for visits to Isla de la Plata.

Understand
Once a haven for budget travellers going to Isla de la Plata, the town has become much more developed with a beach promenade, a pier for tours to the nearby islands, and lots of restaurants and hotels.

Get in
Puerto López has a new bus terminal about a mile north of town on the coastal highway. Tuc-tucs (mototaxis) charge $1 to take you to town. Information on bus schedules can be found at AndesTransit.

 * From Santa Elena buses leave many times a day, passing by Montañita.
 * From Montañita there are frequent buses ($2.50, 1 hr). Some of the buses don't have storage underneath, be prepared to put your pack in the front of the bus or on your lap.
 * To Guayaquil buses go via Jipijapa at 07:00, 09:00, 13:00, 16:00 ($4, 4 hr).
 * From Portoviejo two companies goes to Puerto Lopez, with a stop at Jipijapa and continue to Montanita ($3, 2 hr).
 * From Quito Reina del Camino and Carlos Aray provide direct service from the Quitumbe Terminal ($13).

Get around
Everything but the bus terminal is in a walking distance. Taximotos should not cost more than $1 to get around town.

See

 * Each morning (the time depends of the time of the year) the day's fishing catch is brought in the beach near the pier. A mad rush ensues with best catches being bought and carted away quite quickly. You can see sharks, swordfish, wahoo (from the tuna family), and more. Apart from fish, you will see at least frigate birds and pelicans trying to get their share of the catch.

Do

Eat
Cheap cuisine can be purchased from food carts a few blocks east of the shore -- 50¢ empanadas, for example. The shoreline is lined with restaurants which mostly serve seafood and range in price from $3.50-10. There are also three Italian restaurants in town. Finally, you can buy ceviche and sometimes sandwiches from the cabañas on the shore.

Drink
You can sit outside at one of the restaurants and drink, or you can go to one of the cabañas, which blast salsa music and reggae throughout the evenings. Fruity drinks cost between $3 and $5, while the local beer of choice, Pilsener, goes for $1.50 for 600 ml.

Go next

 * Puerto López is the closest village to Parque Nacional Machalilla. The park headquarters is one block behind the plaza in Puerto López and also features a small museum. The entrance is free of charge.
 * The serene Playa Los Frailes is 10 km north of Puerto Lopez inside Machalilla National Park. You can take the northbound bus (50 cents one way) and drop off in the entrance and walk 3 km to the park (there is a few viewpoints in the path, and you'll see two solitary beaches of the park) o you can take a mototaxi from the entrance to Los Frailes for $1 per person. Another options is taking a mototaxi from Puerto Lopez for around $6 round-trip. The entrance is free.
 * Agua Blanca is a small village and archaeological site of the Manteño people. It's named after a pre-incan sulphur-water pool in the village.
 * Salango Museum Pre-Columbian Archaeological Museum Salango Commune has an extraordinary collection of original and authentic pottery, shell spondyllus, reflecting the worldview, social structure, and the pottery of the prehistoric people of Ecuador.

title: Puerto López


text:
Puerto Limón

Puerto Limón, commonly known as Limón, is a major city for cruise ships traveling through the Panama Canal. It is also a major transit point for travellers wishing to travel to Tortuguero by boat from the port of Moin, which is 15 minutes by bus from Puerto Limón.

By bus

 * From San José, bus, 3 hours, ₡2500 (colones)
 * From Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, bus, 1 hour 15 min, ₡1400

By boat
Puerto Limon is a busy commercial port that serves freighters and cruise lines.

See
Puerto Limon hosts a wide range of awesome Caribbean buildings and several national heritage monuments like the first Baptist church from 1880s and the Black Star Line Building.

Do
White-water rafting on the Reventizon River. 90 minute trip, traversing class 2 rapids (beginning level). Along the way, you may see sloths in the trees as well as the lush forest and cool water.

Buy
If you arrive by cruiseship, you can buy souvenirs in this city rather than from the tour company.

Sleep

 * Hotel International - Cheap option 300 meters east of the Black Star Line. Close to center. Double room ₡6500

Go next

 * To Moin (for Tortuguero), bus, 15 minutes.

title: Puerto Limón


text:
Puerto Madryn

The city of Puerto Madryn is in the north east of Chubut Province in the Patagonia region of Argentina.

Understand
Puerto Madryn is on the shores of Gulfo Nuevo, a large deep water bay of the Atlantic Ocean. The city is a popular summer destination for its beach. The beaches are beautiful though the water can be very cold and the wind impressive.

Its is estimated between 60,000 to 70,000. The city has been growing rapidly in the last few years due mainly to the expanding tourism industry, fishing and Aluar-the aluminum refinery.

Puerto Madryn is the gateway to nearby Peninsula Valdes.

History
The area was first populated by the indigenous Tehuelche people. The first Europeans to settle in the area were Welsh arriving in 1865. They named the city for Baron Madryn of Wales.

Local information

 * City of Puerto Madryn website

By car
Reached by Ruta 3.

By bus
There are long distance bus connections to Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Rio Gallegos and other destinations.

By plane
Puerto Madryns airport is closed, as of April 2024, so you can use Aerolineas Argentinas or Flybondi which are flying to Trelew, which is an hour from Puerto Madryn. Shuttle buses operate from the airport in Trelew to Puerto Madryn. If you want to save money you can also walk a few meters to the main road and wait there for the collectivos which are running between Trelew and Puerto Madryn frequently. Sube Card is needed for them.

Get around
Puerto Madryn has a city bus system. Taxis are numerous. Rental cars are available.

Puerto Pirámides
If you take a bus from the Puerto Madryn terminal to Puerto Pirámides, there are no peninsula tours that leave or pickup from within the park, so it is better to book a tour from Puerto Madryn or go by car.

 * Puerto Madryn to Puerto Pirámides: Daily @ 09:20, 17:00. And M, W, F @ 06:30.
 * Puerto Pirámides to Puerto Madryn: Daily @ 11:00, 19:00. And M, W, F @ 08:15.
 * Tel.: 0280 4450600
 * Price: AR$2,000 (Feb' 2024)

See
For regular prices of tours, see below.
 * Often combined with a visit to Punta Tombo is a boat trip to spot the small black-and-white Commerson's dolphins. During the months of June through March.
 * Many tour agents run trips to visit . Here one can see penguins and a great number of sea lions and elephant seals, depending on the season. In January, all three can be seen (though no whales), including sea lions giving birth. Puerto Piramides is the only major town of Peninsula Valdes. Many tours will have a stopover here -- there is a nice beach and some bars and restaurants. There are boat tours and kitesurfers, among other things.
 * The EcoCentro is a great and modern marine interpretation centre offering interactive information on marine life in the region. Located overlooking the gulf to the south of the city on Julio Verne 784.
 * Often combined with a visit to Punta Tombo is a boat trip to spot the small black-and-white Commerson's dolphins. During the months of June through March.
 * Many tour agents run trips to visit . Here one can see penguins and a great number of sea lions and elephant seals, depending on the season. In January, all three can be seen (though no whales), including sea lions giving birth. Puerto Piramides is the only major town of Peninsula Valdes. Many tours will have a stopover here -- there is a nice beach and some bars and restaurants. There are boat tours and kitesurfers, among other things.
 * The EcoCentro is a great and modern marine interpretation centre offering interactive information on marine life in the region. Located overlooking the gulf to the south of the city on Julio Verne 784.

Do

 * Whalewatching, the Southern Right Whale uses the waters of Gulfo Nuevo for breeding and giving birth. They are easily seen from the shore and pier. Whale watching boats depart from Puerto Pyramides located on Peninsula Valdes.
 * Kite boarding and wind surfing.
 * Diving in Gulfo Nuevo. The water has very good clarity and no current. It gets cold.
 * Horse riding
 * Ocean fishing
 * Orca watching, the excursion to Punto Norte is really expensive and just drives you from point to point, you spend all day in the car and will only see animals from a great distance. If you want to see killer whales, try to find another way of getting to Punto Norte really early in the morning and stay there until one shows up or you have to get back. You might miss one too but at least you will have had more chances of spotting one.
 * Snorkeling with sealions(lobos marinos), it is possible to snorkel with sealions really close to the port. They take you on a small boat to an island. There, sealions will be playing. They do not feed the sealions and you are not allowed too close to the colony. However, sealions are curious so they show up to play. It is really fun but try to stretch your tour a bit because it is a bit short. Wetsuits are included and will keep you warm enough. (AR$1400 for 2 hour tour).

Here are some tour prices. Remember to haggle—depending on the season and number of people, discounts are easily possible: If you have just one destination, taxis can be cheaper, especially when you are more people. For example Punto Tombo from Trelew is 70 $ with some waiting time there.
 * Peninsula Valdes: US$80 (plus entrance fee)
 * Whale Watching: US$83
 * Punta Ninfas: US$84
 * Snorkelling with sea lions: US$137
 * Punta Tombo: US$100 (plus entrance fee)

Buy
The three-story downtown shopping center has some nice upscale shops. There are many specialty stores located in the city center.

Eat
There are many good seafood restaurants along the seafront where you might have lunch or dinner with a wonderful sea view. Almost all of them include a variety of menus. These include:

Drink
There are a good number of bars and clubs in Puerto Madryn. As in the rest of Argentina the weekend partying goes throughout the night.

If you want to try local beer, Fika Cerveceria offers many different kind of beers.

Go next
Trelew is very close by. When visiting Punto Tombo you pass Trelew so you can ask them to drop you off in the center of Trelew. This British town is more to the south on the Peninsula. You can travel down north further through Rio Gallegos (pass through is enough) going to Ushuaia or El Calafate (Glaciar Perito Moreno). Another option is to go west and go to the Andes Mountains and Chile (or Bariloche).

title: Puerto Madryn


text:
Puerto Maldonado

Puerto Maldonado is the main city of the Department of Madre de Dios, Peru. The city itself doesn't have many tourist attractions, but it's the starting point for jungle trips.

By car
The road to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco is improving since it is part of the Interoceanic highway. The bus trip still takes 12 hours, there are overnight trips. There is also overnight bus to Juliaca.

Some lodges, including Wasai, even offer mountain biking tours from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. This trip, however, is not for the casual beginner; it's a serious trek for serious athletes.

By boat
You can reach Puerto Maldonado from either the Tambopata or Madre de Dios rivers, but this is not likely for tourists.

Get around
If you've booked a stay at one of the jungle lodges (Wasai, Sandoval, Posadas) your guide will most likely meet you at the airport holding a sign with the lodge's name on it. They will transport you in van to the river (Puerto Tambopata) to wherever you are going (by boat)

If you are staying in town, taxis almost outnumber everyone else in Puerto Maldonado, so getting around the town is fairly simple. Motorcycle-driving taxis will take you anywhere you want to go, and the most likely destinations (airport - plaza de armas, airport - Puerto Tambopata, or airport - hotel) will cost you S/2-5.

If you chose to rent a moped and ride around yourself, feel free. Motorcycle rentals are everywhere in town and normally cost about S/5 an hour.

See
Most of Puerto Maldonado's visitors use the town as a launching point, but if you are staying for a day or two, make sure to see the following:

 * Plaza de Armas. The main square in Puerto Maldonado is much like the main squares all throughout South America. Great for picture taking, eating ice cream, or just sitting around.
 * Confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. This is in the eastern-most part of town, next to the government buildings, and has a lovely courtyard great for picture taking.
 * Monkey Island A medium sized island situated in the middle of the river, the home of hundreds of monkeys and several different species. The monkeys will try to steal whatever they can, so secure your belongings.
 * Lumber yard. Although this sounds silly, those interested in tropical conservation won't want to miss this first hand look at the economic drivers behind deforestation.
 * Market. Here you can buy everything from a side of beef to CD's. Goods here are slightly more expensive than in other parts of Peru, since Puerto Maldonado imports many goods from other parts of Peru and doesn't produce them themselves.
 * El Jaguar Zoo & Disco. Yes, you read that correctly. Puerto Maldonado has a modest zoo complete with local fauna, and at night the place is billed as a night club.
 * The Obelisk. An eight-storey lookout tower that lets you go up for just a few soles. The outside of the obelisk has beautiful sculptures made by a local artist, telling a typical story about the jungle. Once up there you get a good view from the city and the surrounding Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers.
 * Rescue Snake House. A little further down the main road from the airport, rescued snake species as well as other reptiles and a rescued blind Margay (little big cat), and small museum. Worth a visit to see these creatures up close and learn a bit about them from the volunteers there.

Do
The relatively close Tambopata reserve park is famous for its great biodiversity but not even cheap to visit since you need a permit to enter. If you just want to see how jungle looks, you can do that outside the park much cheaper in the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone.
 * Tambopata reserve
 * Iquitos rainforest

If you're feeling adventurous and want to explore the surrounding countryside, there are several places in town that rent out motorbikes.

There are also several "retreat centers" just outside Puerto Maldonado on Carretera Tambopata, including a yoga center Kapievi at km 1.5 and an animal shelter, Amazon Shelter, at km 11, with many other places to stay in between. This is a great alternative to staying in town, if you have a couple of days to spare, after a lodge stay.

Jungle lodges
Many jungle lodges in the surrounding area offer complete tour programs. Some of the available lodges are as follows:

 * Rainforest Expeditions Many package deals are done in association with this company, but you can just walk over to their counter on the right hand side of the airport and arrange your own tour there too. You can stay at any of their 3 lodges, Posada Amazonas is the closest to town (about 45 minutes by boat from Infierno), for those who want to experience the jungle without getting in too deep! Associated with the local community, this company does a lot to keep ecotourism 'green' and sustainable. And for those who really want to experience the richness of the forest, you can go right out to the famous TRC research center (about 7 hours by boat from Infierno), home to the largest claylick in the world where you will see amazing displays of parrots and macaws feeding in the mornings and always plenty of animal life around! Hand-raised macaws will even join you for breakfast! Highly recommended for birdwatchers. There is also Refugio Amazonas halfway between the two, which is the newest lodge. The guides will amaze you with their experience of the forest, and you will leave having had an unforgettable experience.
 * Taricaya Research Center This lodge is located about 1½ hours down the Madre de Dios river, and actually has the highest canopy walkway in South America (42 meters high).  Run exclusively by Projects Abroad, you can arrange a day trip to this place.  Besides the canopy, they have an animal release program and many other active conservation projects that make this a must see.
 * Bello Horizonte Lodge Lodge with a spring fed swimming pool, situated 1 hour from Puerto Maldonado.  This lodge has a great view of the jungle below.  100% of its profits go to the children’s homes “San Vincente” and “Principito”.
 * Wasai Tambopata Lodge This lodge is located about 4 hours up the Tambopata River. Nice options for those interested to visit the largest macaws' clay lick of the upper Tambopata River. There are no more dwellings upstream from the lodge. The lack of people and the closeness to the Andes produces an abundance of flora and fauna not seen in other areas of the Amazon.
 * Wasai Puerto Maldonado Eco Lodge The hotel is in the most convenient location on the river bank, offering spectacular views of the Madre de Dios River and the amazon rain forest.
 * Anaconda Lodge One of the few pretty lodges that on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by beautiful vegetation. Boasts a swimming pool and a Thai restaurant, and also offers camping.
 * Sandoval Lake Lodge On the beautiful oxbow Lake Sandoval, it's very comfortably accommodated with hot water, electricity, fabulous meals, and guides.  Plus, it is only approximately 30 minutes by boat to the 5-km trail which leads to the lake, unlike most of the other lodges which need to be hours away from town in order to see wildlife.  Its location on the lake (as opposed to the river) insures excellent wildlife views including the Giant Otter, Black Caiman, about a dozen species of primates, and tremendous avian variety, including the Hoatzin.
 * Mejia Family Lodge If a backpacker's stay is more your style and/or budget, try this place.  They are located about 1 km from Sandoval Lake Lodge and rent their bungalow style rooms (meals included) considerably cheaper than Sandoval.
 * Cusco Amazonico Lodge This one is downriver from Madre de Dios at about 20 km (12 miles) (about 45 minutes).
 * Explorers' Inn This lodge is 58 km up the Tambopata river from Puerto Maldonado, about 1½ hours by boat from the community of Infierno, on the borders of the Tambopata National Reserve. Bird, butterfly and dragonfly biodiversity are notable in the rainforest immediately around the lodge.
 * Heath River Wildlife center This wonderful lodge is in the Heath River in the Bolivian side. Nice options for those interested in macaw clay lick and visit other ecosystem like the savannah.

Buy

 * Laundry. There are many laundry services in town (there's one on Leon Velarde). They charge by the kilo, but prices are very reasonable.
 * Miscellaneous. There are dozens of shops up and down Leon Velarde, especially at the river bank (Puerto Tambopata) where you can pick up pretty much anything you would ever need.

Eat

 * El Hornito, in the main Plaza next to the Banco de Credito. It doesn't open until 18:30, but this pizzeria is worth the wait.
 * Anaconda Lodge Thai Restaurant, within the lodge, 15 minutes outside of the city, a few minutes from the airport. Offers wonderful and authentic Thai food as the chef is actually from Thailand! Friendly owners and a swimming pool too.
 * Tu Dulce Espera, on Leon Velarde between Dos de Mayo and the Plaza de Armas. Open most of the day (except in the hot part of the afternoon, when everything closes), this restaurant is excellent and very cheap.
 * Burger Plaza, on the southwest corner of the main square. Good quality with very cheap prices.
 * El Tigre, southeast of the market, this place has the best ceviche in Puerto Maldonado, and is very cheap. If you aren't a ceviche fan, order the chicharron de pescado, served with fried yucca.
 * La Vaca Loca, right across the street from the main square. Fantastic steak, great wine and a great atmosphere. Big "cow oven" inside.
 * Copasú, with several outlets including one on the Plaza de Armas. Ice cream with Amazonian flavors (brazil nut, guava, etc).

Drink

 * Club El Witite. There is something about a Peruvian disco that makes South American travel worthwhile. Don't stay out too late, though. Taxis get hard to find after midnight, and trying to explain to them where you are staying is pretty tricky after about ten beers, especially if you can't remember the name of your hotel. If this happens, just go back in the club. They stay open until about 05:00 in the morning, anyway.
 * Carambola. Another decent club on the street leading up the Capitania port.
 * Ruztika’s. The place to try an impressive amount of cocktails with local flavours, and has a beautiful night view of the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers.

Budget

 * Tambopata Hostel. Really clean hostel, really friendly owners, including an ex-guide very knowledgeable about the biodiversity of the area. Facilities include kitchen that you are free to use, and a lounge area with cable tv, and small library with books on the region including local wildlife and plenty of DVDs to watch. You can stay in either a group dorm (S/30 a night) or your own room with double bed (S/80 a night). Beautiful garden, hammock area, clean and simple with a wonderful relaxed atmosphere. Hop into a moto-taxi and if they don't know 'Tambopata Hostel', or 'avenida 26 de deciembre', just ask for the Plaza de Armas (main town square); carry on past the main square on the right hand side, and on reaching the top corner ask the driver to turn right (derecha) and continue up to the last road (avenida 26 de deciembre), turn right and about 10 feet on the right is the hostel. (look for the building with all the little international flags). Having read that, beware and always pay your reservation in advance or get kicked out of the house after having made a tour with them.
 * Brombu's, Located just outside the airport, this place has a small pool and clean rooms. The people here are absolutely wonderful, and the price is very reasonable.
 * Hotel Bahia, US$4-6 with or without private bath, some rooms are rather noisy.
 * Hotel Wilson, US$4-6 with or without private bath, safe and clean.
 * Tambo de Oro, US$2-4 without private bath. Safe and clean as you can expect, but this "house of gold" won't offer you much else.  Great place if you aren't too picky and are on a budget.

Mid-range

 * Anaconda Lodge, US$13-32, bungalows with private bathrooms and others with shared bathrooms. Located outside the towncentre so much quieter than other places, and surrounded by a botanical garden. This place has a great swimmingpool and Thai restaurant, and has a very nice vibe. You can also camp in the garden for only S/20 a night.
 * Hotel Wasai, US$30, with private bath, nice place on the Madre de Dios river on the northeast side of town.
 * Amazon Shelter, US$25 per double room, shared bathroom but including food. This is a very quiet and pleasant place, next to jungle, just outside town, close to Tambopata River.  Very hospitable owner who runs this animal shelter, where animals roam free at least once every other day.  You get to pet some, enjoy their company and learn about their history. It is on Carretera Tambopata, but most taxi drivers will not have a clue where to go.  You need to tell them that the road there is "a continuacion de La Av. Ernesto Rivero, Carretera Isuyama, Circuito Tambopata".
 * Hospedaje Chonta, near the "Obelisco" on Plaza Francisco Bolognesi (a run-down park). S/70 for a double room with private bath/shower, (a/c is extra but not really needed as the windows open to get a breeze at night).  Clean, secure (desk seems to be staffed 24 hours) and quiet with a swimming pool.  Couple of blocks walking distance to supermarket and restaurants.  S/2 mototaxi to/from downtown, S/4 mototaxi to/from bus station.
 * Hospedaje Chonta, near the "Obelisco" on Plaza Francisco Bolognesi (a run-down park). S/70 for a double room with private bath/shower, (a/c is extra but not really needed as the windows open to get a breeze at night).  Clean, secure (desk seems to be staffed 24 hours) and quiet with a swimming pool.  Couple of blocks walking distance to supermarket and restaurants.  S/2 mototaxi to/from downtown, S/4 mototaxi to/from bus station.

Connect

 * Internet Access. There are several places in town that offer internet access by the hour (S/2 per hour). There are two on the north side of the Plaza de Armas.  Although Puerto Maldonado now has high speed cable internet, the speeds aren't quite as high as you may be used to.  However, a reasonable person can check and send about a half dozen emails in about 15-20 minutes.  This is much faster than it used to be.

title: Puerto Maldonado


text:
Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt is a city in the south of Chile, just north of Chiloé Island. Puerto Montt, with great views of the ocean and towering peaks of the Andes, is a center in Northern Patagonia for heading south along the Carretera Austral to Chiloé island, Chaitén, Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, or east to Bariloche, Argentina.

Understand
It was founded as late as 1853 during the German colonization of southern Chile. The city's cultural endowment mixes elements of Chiloé culture with a German heritage, although the city has attracted a significant number of newcomers from all over Chile since the 1990s in search of employment opportunities.

Puerto Montt, with a population of almost 250,000 in 2017, is the capital of the Los Lagos Region, and the main sea port at the lower end of Chile's western continental land. The city is the principal commercial, services, and financial hub of the Chilean Northern Patagonia—Zona Austral.

Puerto Montt is also the gateway to the Chiloé Archipelago and Chiloé Island across the Chacao Channel, and the many other smaller islands in Chile's inland Sea of Chiloé.

The city's economy is based upon agriculture, cattle, and forestry on the surrounding islands, and fishing and salmon aquaculture in the fjords and nearby Pacific Ocean.

By ferry

Kémelbus takes passengers to Chaitén by bus and ship in a daily, 10-hour scenic trip through the fjords south, "ruta bimodal" leaving at 07:00 from bus station. Buy tickets in advance.

Ferries all the way to Chaitén have many departures in summer, but often only one per week in winter.

Naviera Austral connects Puerto Montt with Chaitén. Ferry leaves at midnight and journey takes 10-12 hours. Simple seat costs 19,000 pesos, berths are twice as expensive. Check their website for current schedule and pricing, as both vary with tides and seasons. If you just arrived by bus, walk west along the waterfront for a few hundred meters to reach their office.

The ferry to Chiloé Island leaves about southwest of town, takes 30 min and costs 1,000 pesos pp and 8,300 pesos for a car. See entry for Cruz del Sur above.

Get around
Your feet will take you most places, but plentiful taxis and colectivos.

See
The area along the beach near the bus station is pleasant for a walk with things along the way to entertain you. Walking east you will get great views, especially at sunset, from the hills there.

Buy
In Angelmo you can find different types of crafts, such as clothing, hair accessories, earrings, key rings, rugs, figures, and ornaments among others. Most are made from wood, leather, wool, copper, and lapis lazuli. You can also enjoy varied gastronomic offers.

Also in the Mall Paseo Costanera there is the so-called "entre piso" where you will find different products at a reasonable price, such as clothing, accessories, and musical instruments.

Eat
Being a port, Puerto Montt has a rich variety of seafood and fish. You can go to Angelmó, where you can find fresh products, both for consumption and for purchase.

Micro-entrepreneurs have stalls in Angelmó and on the waterfront, where you will find various artisan products, such as chocolates, fruit jams, liqueurs and cookies.

There are many cafés, restaurants and bars in the centre, but a good place to have some seafood is a 15- to 20-m walk, 1 km or so southwest of bus station at the fishing community of Angelmó. Along with the seafood market there are some restaurants, and options for shopping Mapuche craftworks.

Sleep
There is a multitude of cheap hospedaje in Puerto Montt, so don't despair if your travel guide only shows a few expensive ones.

title: Puerto Montt


text:
Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos is a town in Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula, about 20 km south of Cancún. It is a fishing village, and a resort and diving destination. It is roughly halfway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The pier in the center of town hosts snorkel and sport fishing boats while yachts dock in a man-made harbor just south of town. The village used to be the embarkation point for the car ferry to Cozumel, but that now leaves from Calica, a major port south of Playa del Carmen.

Understand

It's the ideal location for those who want a quiet beach vacation away from the glitz, but with ample tourist amenities. The town has just two principal streets and you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes.

You can get by with English, but Spanish is not superfluous. Most places accept US dollars but not credit cards. Almost all prices are quoted in Mexican pesos (M$) and it is generally cheaper to pay in pesos than in US dollars. There is no bank in town, but several bank cash machines for withdrawals. There are a couple of bank branches at the commercial area by La Colonia where Calle Jose Maria Morelos meets Highway 307.

The reef just off shore is part of the Great Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest reef system in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. In 1998 the reef in front of Puerto Morelos became a protected National Marine Park, preserving its rich biodiversity and making this area one of the best preserved of the Great Mesoamerican Reef. Buildings in Puerto Morelos are limited to three stories by local bylaws, to preserve its village character.

Puerto Morelos' reputation as a laid-back Caribbean destination is supported by its scattering of boutique hotels, condominiums, villas, plus various small restaurants and tourist shops. Its appeal is especially strong to travelers who eschew all-inclusives and built up "touristy" attractions. For the most part, the town is a residential community with a mix of Mexicans, Canadians, Americans, and Europeans who live there full or part-time.

Just across the Highway 307, the main north-south route on the peninsula, is Colonia Zetina Gazca, commonly known as "La Colonia." This inland community is mainly single level dwellings for local Mexicans and a few ex-pats, and contains amenities such as small food stores, pharmacies, and several casual restaurants serving simple fare. In general, tourists tend to gravitate to the beaches of Puerto Morelos. The locals tend to live in the less expensive La Colonia.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Cancún International Airport. It is 20km away from Puerto Morelos and is Mexico's second busiest airport.

By car
Puerto Morelos is situated at the junction of Route 307 and a paved road to the town of Leona Vicario in the interior of the Yucatán Peninsula. This paved road is the eastern terminus of La Ruta de los Cenotes, a network of minor roads that allows access to many cenotes in the interior. At Puerto Morelos, the beginning of this road network is marked by an archway. The waterfront is about 2 km east from Highway 307 on Calle Jose Maria Morelos. Puerto Morelos is about 30 km south of Cancun, 30 km north of Playa del Carmen, and one hour north of Tulum.

By bus
Buses from Cancun and Playa del Carmen traverse Highway 307, the coastal highway and the main highway into town:

 * From Cancún International Airport take a private shuttle service to Puerto Morelos. Alternatively, you could take the ADO Aeropuerto bus to the Cancun bus station, and then take a second-class bus toward Playa del Carmen.
 * From downtown Cancun (el centro) take a second-class bus for Playa del Carmen. Buy your ticket at the station. Tell the ticket agent and driver you want to get off at Puerto Morelos. (First-class buses will generally not stop on demand). (Colectivos are a better travel choice).
 * From Playa del Carmen, take a second-class bus for Cancun from the Alterna bus station in Playa. Buy your ticket to Puerto Morelos at the station. Be aware that first-class buses will generally not stop to let you off. (Colectivos are a better travel choice).

Cancún and Playa del Carmen buses arrive and depart from the highway, about 2km from town. Each side of the highway has its own small station.

Frequent local buses travel between the highway (la colonia) and the beach (el puerto) for M$4 per person. Or take a taxi into town M$22 - 25. If you decide to walk instead, ensure adequate insect repellent, as the road leads through a mosquito-infested mangrove swamp - and watch out for inquisitive crocodiles about half way, particularly on the northern side.

By colectivo
This is the best (most reliable) public transit method to Puerto Morelos. Vans called colectivos (or combis) follow routes between towns on the Riviera Maya. The van labeled "Cancun-Playa" is the one that will stop along the highway in Puerto Morelos (they drop off and pick up on highway 307, other local colectivos or taxis go into the town itself). It is about 2 km from highway 307 to the center of Puerto Morelos. Colectivos from Cancun to Puerto Morelos cost M$30. Southbound, the colectivos stop in front of the Chedrau supermarket. Northbound, they stop near the overpass bridge (ask locals if you can't find the right spot).

By private transfers
Private transfers by taxi from Cancún International Airport (CUN) to Puerto Morelos are the most comfortable and reliable way to get to town. Transfers start at M$1000 (US$55) each way for 2 people or $90 round trip. There many vendors taxi outside International Terminal 3 but if you can pre-arrange transport through a car service or your local hotel, it may be less expensive.

Get around
There are many local taxis around, they gather at a taxi stand on the west side of the main square in Puerto Morelos. Bicycling is an excellent way to get around town, and bikes can be rented at a number of places in town. There is also a local car rental agency in the main town on the highway. Always make sure you find out the price of a taxi ride before you get in to avoid disagreements. At the car rental place you can bargain for a cheaper rate.

See

Do

 * Scuba diving. Puerto Morelos offers a large variety of marine life on one of the most beautiful reefs in the world. The dives inside the reef can be from shallow up to dives where you can see large coral formations at greater depths. For more advanced divers there a few wrecks and the cenotes to explore. Also has easy access to various dive sites ranging from very easy to very challenging ones. For those who are looking for some relaxed diving there are some beautiful shallow reef formations in water of 40 feet/12 meters depth where you can dive among turtles, schools of colorful fish, eagle rays, and many species of crabs and lobsters only to name a few. For wreck lovers, there are two accessible wrecks near Puerto Moleros. The nearest is the C-56, a navy boat that has beautiful coral and which is home to very large pelagics at 60-90 feet/18-27 meters). For more experienced divers there's the Tulum which is at a depth of about 120 feet/36 meters. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef lies about 500 meters offshore. It is closer to the shore near Puerto Morelos than it is at most other points along the coast of Quintana Roo. Several dive shops and nearby resorts offer diving on the reef. See Diving in Mexico.

 * Swimming. Near the shore, water temperatures average about 27°C (80°F) year round. Freshwater swimming is available inland, at several cenotes. At cenotes that are not exposed to sunlight, temperatures are colder, and a partial wetsuit may be necessary for anything more than a brief dip. For stronger swimmers, take an official park snorkeling tour out to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef further out from the beach.

 * Reef diving. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef lies about 500 meters offshore. It is closer to the shore near Puerto Morelos than at most other points along the coast of Quintana Roo. Several dive shops and nearby resorts offer diving on the reef.

 * Snorkeling. You can snorkel close to the beach (yellow floaters mark the end of the zone), and there is a small underwater cenote called Ojo de Agua just off the beach that's popular and has some fish. The best snorkeling is at the park reef, which is only accessible using guided trips by boat (about M$600/US$30 per person; many operators). Snorkeling out to the reef from shore on your own is not permitted. If you do swim out alone to the reef from the beach, you risk being picked out of the water by park wardens who may just tell you off and take you back to the shore, but are within their rights to fine you. These rules are not clearly signposted anywhere. Unless you are just snorkeling along the beach or going out to the Ojo de Agua, it is best to take an official park tour. To protect the reef against intentional and unintentional damage, you are only allowed onto the reef in the company of an accredited guide, with a park wristband, and wearing a non-inflatable life jacket (PFD). All snorkeling equipment can be provided by your guide but having your own mask and snorkel is recommended for best fit. A light wetsuit is welcome certain times of year. A snorkeling tour starts from the Puerto Morelos public dock with a short trip out to the reef in a panga motor boat. There are typically two guides on the boat who alternate as boat driver and in-the-water guide. The water guide will indicate points of interest on the reef and have a life buoy to hang onto should anyone get tired while in the water. There are usually two 45-minute snorkeling sessions in different areas of the reef. Typically, you will see grouper, barracuda, dorado, wahoo, rays, sea turtles and all the vegetation of a healthy reef. While there is a breakwater about a mile off the beach that protects the reef, there are currents to navigate. Being a good swimmer will add to the enjoyment of this tour. Most will find this snorkeling tour to be a rewarding experience. After the tour, the guide will take you back to the public dock or drop you off on the Puerto Morelos Public Beach near your lodging.

 * Cenotes. Cenotes are sinkholes in the native limestone that are filled with crystal-clear groundwater; some are large and deep, while others are small passages through a cave. Inland from Puerto Morelos, many cenotes are accessible along the road from Puerto Morelos to Central Vallarta, some with really good swimming in clear blue water; To take local transport to the cenotes take colectivo bus "Jacinto Kanek" from Puerto Morelos to the other side of the highway, get off at the Pemex station (Colonia Zetina Gasca), once there go to the main zocalo two blocks west of 7-Eleven and take the bus heading to Leona Vicario, they leave Morelos at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and return from Leona at 12:00, 13:00, 16:00,and 17:00 you can get off at Boca del Puma, just past Central Vallarta at Km 16, which has nice trails through the forest and a cool snorkel through a cave passage, the owner Jesus will rent you a bicycle if you want to explore the nearby cenotes on your own. Snorkel in a cenote a few meters out in front of the Ojo de Agua hotel or the Puerto Morelos Reef, about 500-1000 meters from shore. You can rent equipment at the dive shops around town and swim there yourself, or book a boat trip outside the Casita del Mar (north end of town, on the beach) for M$440. Downtown operations offer trips for M$500.
 * Sunbathing on the soft white sandy beaches is a perfect way to spend a relaxing vacation. Vendors will rent you a beach lounge chair with or without a shady umbrella. Palapas along the beach are served by waiters who will serve you cold drinks and snacks.
 * Birdwatching is popular among naturalists. Walk on the boardwalk through the mangroves behind Desire Riviera Maya Pearl Resort (north end of town), and look at birds and tropical plants. A variety of aquatic shorebirds can be spotted on the beaches and sand dunes. Jungle areas along the Ruta de los Cenotes have a large number of tropical avians.
 * Visit apiaries - Beekeeping is an ancient tradition in Maya communities, including the village of Leona Victoria (which is part of the greater Puerto Morelos municipality). The Maya kept bees in hollow logs, which are still the preferred hive host, particularly for stingless bees such as the Melipona beecheii. Honey from Mayan bees has a unique citric flavor. It is used in traditional Mayan cooking and is the sugar source for traditional fermented beverages similar to meads made in England. The Mayan honey bees are critically endangered, mostly due to modern insecticides and reduced habitat.

Buy

Eat
Most places don't take reservations, and there can be a wait for dinner, especially around 19:00 or 20:00 in the evening. Sundays are the most crowded. There are a number of very cheap restaurants not listed here, especially if you cross the highway to la colonia. If you eat at these places, stick to food that is cooked to order, as some dishes may not be fresh.

If you have a kitchen, you can buy groceries at Casa Martin on the town square, a mini-supermarket. You may also be able to buy fresh fish from fishermen at the docks.

Budget

Splurge

Sleep

All types of lodging are available, including modest hotels right on the beach. If you are booking within a few weeks of your travel date, you may have to contact several places to find a vacancy.

Mid-range

Go next

 * Get on the only direct bus to Chetumal at 06:35 in Puerto Morelos, at the ADO selling point/ farmacia Paris (5 hr). Mayab bus runs rest of the day, bit cheaper, 6 hr.

 * Visit the many impressive Maya archaeological sites: Mayan Riviera including Tulum, Cobá and Muyil; Great Costa Maya (Kohunlich, Kinichná, Dzibanché, Oxtankah and Chacchoben) south of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and sites in the nearby Yucatán State including Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Dzibichaltun and Ek Balam.

 * Swim in the cenotes (underground lagoons). The famous Ruta de Cenotes begins in Puerto Morelos and goes west toward Merida.

 * Take the ferry to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen

 * Visit Cancún via highway 307 for shopping and dining. A 30-minute drive.

 * South of Playa del Carmen visit X'caret or Xel-ha, large theme-park style nature parks.

 * Visit A´aktun Jaaleb at Nuevo Durango, a small Mayan community 2 hours inland from Puerto Morelos that participates in fair tourism as an alternative economic model of development. The community is between Puerto Morelos and Valladolid (and Chichen Itza) and sits north of Coba.

title: Puerto Morelos