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Canoa

Canoa is a pleasant, laid-back fishing village on the Pacific coast of Ecuador in the Manabi Province. Popular with travellers and yet not overrun by them, it's an excellent place to chill-out for a few days on the beach or practice your surfing skills.

Understand
Canoa suffered serious physical and financial damage in the April 2016 earthquake and the subsequent period of reconstruction and reduced tourism. The hospitality industry is still recovering with some businesses having closed and new ones opening.

The area of interest to voyagers is eight blocks long and two or three blocks wide west of the main road. Buses from the south travel along Román Centenio for most of the town, turn east on Xavier Santos for two blocks to Parque Central then continue to the north. Xavier Santos runs westward to the beach ending at the Malecón and a large 3D CANOA sign. Street names are hardly used and street signs are rare.

Get in
Every 30 minutes there is a bus connection with San Vicente or Bahía de Caráquez. From Bahia 4 buses daily leave to Quito (two in the morning (06:30, 09:00) and two in the evening). There are now direct buses to Quito and Guayaquil to and from Canoa.

There is also a bus route up the coast to Pedernales. The Sundown Inn has excellent maps of Canoa and the region.

There are direct buses between Canoa and Montañita and Manta. For Puerto López take a bus to Jipijapa and change busses.

Bus companies have offices along Xavier Santos in the three blocks before Parque Central. For buses to San Vicente, Bahía de Caráquez and other areas to the nearby south, buses can be hailed along the main road.

Do

 * Surfing: Canoa has some nice surf to learn or perfect your skills. 16 km (10 mi) of beach break with no rocks, no reef and no riptide means nice conditions for beginners and moderate waves in peak surf season which is from January through April.
 * Beachcombing The mostly pristine, mostly deserted beach runs for ten miles. At low tide it is very flat and wide. Walking along the beautiful beach at Canoa can be quite rewarding as some beautiful tropical sea shells wash up. Canoa is known for its ecological pride, but rubbish does wash up from other coastal areas. Even if you are not staying at Hotel Bambu, they will give you one free cocktail if you fill a bag up with rubbish - you can fill a bag quite quickly and it's a free drink and a great way to keep the beach clean, so everybody wins.
 * Take a trip to Rio Muchacho Organic Farm. They offer 1-3 day tours with activities including horse trek to howler monkey forest and waterfall, making chocolate and coffee from the bean, making necklaces, bowls, and rings from natural materials, and lots more. They also offer volunteer programs for the farm and eco-schools. You can get more information on Rio Muchacho or other tours in Ecuador at their office in Canoa which also sells fair trade items.

Learn

 * Canoa Spanish School''' is a great place to learn Spanish while enjoying the beach. It is located at the Sundown Inn on the beach just south of town. You can get a 4-week program with private beachfront room, all meals and 80 hours of private tutoring for around $800.

Buy

 * There are several tourist shops in Canoa.
 * There is no bank or ATM in Canoa. There is an ATM and bank in San Vicente.

Eat

 * Restaurante Genesis, Javier Santos #306 (main road), has cheap and decent fish dishes. They may try to get more money out of you by bringing more (or more expensive) dishes than what you ordered.
 * Restaurante Genesis, Javier Santos #306 (main road), has cheap and decent fish dishes. They may try to get more money out of you by bringing more (or more expensive) dishes than what you ordered.

Stay safe
Thefts are very common on the beach, especially at night. Do not leave valuables on the shore when you are in the water and be very careful if camping on the beach at night.

Apply insect repellent to feet, ankles and lower legs when going to the beach around dawn and dusk as a precaution against sand flies ( Lutzomyia spp. ).

title: Canoa


text:
Canoa (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Canoa:

Brazil

 * Canoa Quebrada - A town in Ceará.
 * Canoas - A town in Rio Grande do Sul

Ecuador

 * Canoa - A town in Manabí Province of Ecuador.
 * Quebrada Canoas (suba sa Ecuador), Provincia de El Oro

Costa Rica

 * Paso Canoas

Panama

 * Canoa Abajo just over the border from Paso Canoas, Costa Rica
 * Quebrada Canoa (lungsod), Ngöbe-Buglé
 * Quebrada Canoa, Ngöbe-Buglé
 * Quebrada Canoa, Provincia de Veraguas
 * Quebrada Canoa, Provincia de Herrera
 * Quebrada Canoa, Provincia de Colón

Venezuela

 * Quebrada Canoa, Estado Vargas
 * Quebrada Canoa, Miranda

Dominican Republic
Canoa, Barahona Province

Mexico

 * San Miguel Canoa
 * Canoa Veracruz
 * Canoa Querétaro Arteaga
 * Canoa Oaxaca

Angola

 * Canoa Uíge

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

title: Canoa (disambiguation)


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Canoa Quebrada

Canoa Quebrada is a beach village in Ceará.

160 km southeast of Fortaleza, in the municipality of Aracati, Canoa, as it is mostly referred to, is a village installed on red sandstone cliffs.

Understand
Canoa is still holding on to its fame as a hippie paradise, although it is slowly growing into another resort destination. Despite all, many locals still work as traditional jangada fishermen. The climate is dry and sunny most of the year, with average daytime temperatures around 30 C. Some daytime rain between March and May, although substantially less than in Fortaleza.

By bus

 * Buses to(6, 9:30, 11AM, 12:30, 2:30, 5:30PM)and from (6, 8:30 11AM, 1:30 4:30 5:30PM) Fortaleza 6 times daily by São Benedito tel +55 85 3444 9999, about 3,5 hours, R$18,50. An alternative is to jump off any bus that passes Aracati, and switch to frequent minibuses for the last bit to Canoa.
 * Take one of the minibuses with daytrippers from Fortaleza, but they will charge you return price, R$40. Departure Fortaleza 7:30AM, Canoa (bus station) 4PM. 2,5 hours.

By car

 * From Fortaleza, take the road CE-040.

Get around
Canoa Quebrada is all walkable. Go barefoot if you like.

See

 * The sunset from the dunes backing the town. The time to go is when the beach gets shady.

Do

 * Walk along the beach in either direction. Note that certain stretches become partly flooded on high tide. Your knees will get wet.
 * Dune-buggy along the coast. Standard 2,5 hour trip for up to 4 people with a driver/guide is R$200.
 * Jangada (traditional fishing rafts with sail). R$10 per person for about 30 minutes.
 * Kitesurfing: Canoa kite school
 * Tandem paragliding on the cliff top. R$50 for 15–20 minutes.
 * A cruise on the river Jaguaribe with a buggy tour before and after and lunch (not included) in Fortim sets you back R$80. Departure 10AM, return 4PM.

Buy
Due to its small size, many goods are scarce and/or overpriced. Aracati has what you need!
 * Get any souvenir with Canoa's trademark: The star embraced by the crescent moon.

Eat
Food from the beach shacks is mostly inferior to that from the village restaurants. Many Broadway restaurants have special offers for lunch.

Most people working in restaurants and bars in Canoa works for minimum wages and often without a proper contracts. In a lot of cases the menu states that the restaurant adds 10% tip. This is a tip for the owner, the workers never see this money. You can give tips directly to the waiter in her/his hand. Even a few R$ will be welcomed.

Drink
Weekdays are rather dead, apart from January. Fridays and Saturdays have people pouring in from the whole eastern part of the state, and also some crowds from Rio Grande do Norte. Broadway turns into one big party. If there is something big on in Aracati the crowds might never arrive. Daytime drinking is on the beach:

Sleep
Dozens and dozens of small inns, the cheapest of which often have no telephone for reservations. Also many private rooms for rent, from 20 reais and up.

Connect

 * Area code 88
 * Cyber cafés are now plentiful, although still somewhat slower than the cities. R$3 / hours is fair.
 * The cell phone networks could jam at peak hours of high season.

Stay safe
Canoa used to be famous for its lack of crime and dangers. While still not comparable to any large Brazilian city, muggings are ever more frequent, particularly targeting lone party-goers on their way home from the beach in the wee hours.

Go next
The trips to Fortaleza and Natal can be done by beach buggy. Ask at travel agencies.

title: Canoa Quebrada


text:
Canoeing the San Marcos River

The San Marcos River is a spring-fed river in the Texas Hill Country. It is fed from the Edwards Aquifer near San Marcos, and flows through Luling and merges with the Guadalupe river near Gonzalez. While many people take day trips down legs of the river, this itinerary will cover the entire length of the river. It will take a very slow pace, and allow the traveller to take long breaks for meals and have several stops for swimming, rope swinging, and whatever else the wild heart desires.

Understand
You won't meet all that many people, short of a few drunk tubers and racers training on the river. You will see a whole lot of nature, mostly unmolested. Please help keep it that way. Environmentalism is important to many people in San Marcos and along the river, and it's just plain good manners to leave the place looking cleaner than how you found it.

Prepare
You should consider this a three-day trip through the middle of nowhere. It's not, of course - emergency services are at most a few minutes away, there are plenty of stores a short hike from the river, and even most of the river basin has cell phone coverage (if you get in a pinch and need a phone now and you can't get reception, try climbing the bank or a tree on the bank). Though unlikely, you should still prepare for natural emergencies. That means, bring the following equipment:
 * Lifejackets, at least one per person, required by law.
 * Snakebite kit, one per boat.
 * Marine flares, one set per boat - only used to summon attention emergency services in a life-threatening emergency.
 * First aid kit
 * Sunscreen, while many people don't think of this as an emergency supply, sun stroke can be deadly - take it and wear it.

You'll also need basic boating and camping supplies! There are many local outfitters who can help you with these. See the outfitters list under the "Do" section in the San Marcos article.
 * Canoe, a basic aluminum or ABS C2 will do for two people and gear. You might be able to fit three, but things get friendly.
 * Lifejackets, at least one per person, required by law, yes it's important enough to list again.
 * Paddles, carry a spare per boat - it's not unheard of to lose a paddle, but you can often recover them.
 * Changes of clothes, sleeping in swimming trunks is not recommended, chafe is bad!
 * Food enough for three days. Be sure to seal it in watertight storage.  Coolers are usually good.  Ammo boxes work too.  It would not be unwise to place individual items in zip-top bags inside watertight containers.
 * Water enough for three days of heavy activity. Yes, you're in a whole bunch of water, but it has all sorts of nasty things in it that you don't want to drink.  You could boil it, but that will use a lot of fuel.  It's often easier to just pack bottled (or re-bottled) water.  Three gallons per person per day should be plenty.
 * Toilet paper - because leaves itch and your poison-ivy-spotting skills might not be up to par.
 * Soap, preferably Lava brand. It scrubs well and kills poison ivy oils.
 * Tent - it often rains without warning, and Texas mosquitoes are often compared to small birds.
 * Propane stove - open fires are often banned during the summer if there is little rainfall, but responsible use of a propane stove or burner is always fine.
 * Cookware - you'll need something to cook your food in. A 10" (25 cm) cast iron skillet and 5 quart (~5 L) cast iron pot will probably be plenty.  Don't forget bowls, forks, spoons, a stirring spoon, and the like.
 * Trash bags to pack your trash out. It would probably be a good idea to secure these in a cooler too.  Don't forget to pick up some litter along the river.  Leave it a little better than you found it.

It might not be a bad idea to set food and water drops ahead of time. Plan what you'll need ahead of time, and leave it with someone at a campground. Hiding things in the bushes by the river would probably be a bad idea - people and animals get curious, and it would look a lot like litter. Campground staff will usually be happy to hold a package for you with your reservation. Contact the listed stops a few days ahead of time to arrange your reservation and storage.

Get reservations early! A week is usually enough time unless it's a holiday weekend. A month might be better then. It's advisable to camp in campgrounds. They usually offer shower facilities (though there's little reason to not bathe in the river if you're so inclined). Most of the riverfront property is private and owners do not like trespassing. While the river, bank, and easement are supposedly public property, few landowners care. The easiest way to deal with it is to pay a few dollars a head to camp at a site on the river. The staff may also watch for you and contact authorities if you fail to claim your reservation, if you request.

The "recommended" procedure for this trip is to bring two vehicles, pack your final day's supplies in one, and leave it locked at Palmetto State Park (speak with the park host or attendant to arrange to have your vehicle left there for three days, and to purchase necessary permits). It is unlikely to be disturbed in your absence. Take the other vehicle and drive up your drop in Luling and leave supplies, drive to Shady Grove and leave your deposit and supplies, then drive to San Marcos City Park and put in. It might be wise to leave your tent and cooking supplies packed at Shady Grove to decrease weight (there are several dams that require portage).

Get in
The trip starts in San Marcos city park, but you may wish to make supply drops along the way. This trip is timed to stop at Shady Grove Campground in Martindale, Luling City Park, and pull out at Palmetto State Park off US-183 near Ottine, but plenty of other sites are available.

Exit US-183 off IH-10 and go south toward Gonzalez. Turn right on Park Road 11 (clearly marked) and you will come to the park headquarters just after the town of Ottine, on the right side. Speak with the person at the desk to determine how to best meet your needs at the time.

After you leave one vehicle at the park, head back out PR-11 and take a left on US-183. Go north, through Luling, and to the river. You should be able to get river access by turning off to the right and following the dirt road under the bridge. There is a parking lot and picnic table here. You may or may not be able to stash supplies and have them unmolested.

Head back up US-183 until you get to TX-80. Take a left and cross the railroad tracks. To stay on TX-80, you'll have to make a left turn at the light just after the railroad tracks. Continue on TX-80 until you come to Martindale (be sure to observe the speed limits in Martindale!). Turn left on FM-1979 and follow it to Shady Grove, just across the river. Arrange for your stay and to leave supplies, if you desire.

Go back out on FM-1979 and take a left to continue on TX-80 to cross IH-35 in San Marcos. The road becomes TX-12. After the second set of railroad tracks, take a right on Bobcat Drive. Immediately after the next set of railroad tracks, take a left on Jowers/City Park drive. Follow the signs to the end of the road and park near the Lions Tube Rental building. You start here by putting your boat in at the steps.

Canoe
Before you shove off, double-check your equipment. Make sure your spare paddle is securely lashed to the boat, along with your chests and other gear. It's a very good idea to use vehicle tiedowns to secure the lids of coolers. Apply your sunscreen now too! The expected time to head out is about 9AM to 10AM. Approximate times for arrival at points of interest are listed to help you budget times. These are all, of course, suggestions. You'll be able to slide the scale by up to several hours in the summer and still make your stops before it gets dark. It's probably a bad idea to try to navigate an unfamiliar river at night - don't try it without experience or a guide.

Day 1: Lions Park to Shady Grove
The first day's pace is slow. If you follow this guide you won't get very far down river, only 11 miles, but you'll find a lot of fun stops and swimming. You can head out several hours late if plans go awry - just adjust the listed times accordingly. Enjoy the pace today, tomorrow's is a lot faster!

Rio Vista Park - 10AM
Head out of the park and take a leisurely pace. The river will do most of your work in this stretch. You'll quickly pass Rio Vista park. There used to be a dam with a chute at this spot, but it has been demolished and replaced with rapids. They can be so much fun to run that you'll be tempted to pull out and walk the boat back up to the head. You'll have plenty of time to dally here, so go ahead. Next you'll come to a small dam right after IH-35. The perspective will deceive you - the drop is almost six feet and you will swamp your boat and might lose gear if you try to run it. Portage around the left side, and continue down the river.

The river will soon fork to run around Thompson's island. The right fork is usually easier to navigate, but it won't make a huge difference. You'll probably notice the water starting to get cloudy with sediment by this point too. There are plenty of places to stop and swim on this stretch of the river. If you're lucky, you'll even find a rope swing. Be sure to respect private property and not venture beyond the banks of the river unless invited.

Blanco River - 11AM
After a mile or two, the river begins to get wider and slower. You'll soon come to what looks like a fork - it's not. The Blanco River merges with the San Marcos, but they're so slow at this point that it's hard to tell which way it goes. Take the fork to the right. Hint: most fallen trees lean downstream, pushed over by floodwaters. You'll work up an appetite paddling through this slower section of the river, but don't lose heart! Your effort will be rewarded!

Cummings Dam - 12:30PM
Soon you'll come to the Cummings dam. You'll probably notice the gearhouse on the left of the river. It's very pretty, very historic, and very dangerous. Do not climb it, swim near it, or play on it - people die when they do stupid things here - never try to run this dam. Your safety is pretty much guaranteed if you go to the right of the dam and lower your boat to the ground below, or carry it on the trail around the dam. Once you get your boat down, you might want to have lunch on the gravel bar. There's plenty of sun, shade, and spray to meet your tastes. Just be sure not to swim near the dam, even on the downriver side - eddies and churn can make this your last swim. Continue on down the river when you're ready.

Cotton Gin Island - 2:30PM
You'll pass the low water bridge at CR-266 and then see Pecan Park. There's a great gravel bar and a couple of rope swings to be found. It's always fun to explore the island too. Private property boundaries are clearly marked, so there's little need to worry about accidental trespass. At the end of the island is an old cotton gin. The structure and dam were blasted with dynamite and now provide some run rapids. Scout them then take a run. It will be difficult to get the boat back up the river, so plan on only one run here.

Cottonseed Rapid - 4PM
You'll soon come to a long light rapid through a field. Scout it, run it, and portage back and run it again if you like. If you get here later in the evening, it wouldn't be a bad spot to stop for an early dinner or just a snack. After your break, continue on down the river. Shady grove is three more miles, about a mile past the low Martindale bridge. Once you arrive, pull out, check in, and set up camp. You should get here relatively early and be able to set up camp and a fire (if allowed at the time) and enjoy the evening.

Day 2: Shady Grove to Luling
Get up, stretch, shower, and pack. You'll probably want an early start for day 2 - the stretch is 27 miles and it will probably take just over twelve hours. You should probably head out about 07:00.

Shady Grove - 7AM
Get an early start - you'll have a five mile stretch of fairly fast water before you get to the first point of interest. There's no reason not to find a gravel bar to stop and swim on though. Just don't dally too long.

Staples Dam - 9:30AM
You'll probably be ready for lunch by the time you get here. You'll see the FM-1977 bridge over the river, and the dam right after it. You can portage around either side, but the left is probably easier. Do not attempt to run this dam unless you want to drown. The gravel bars just below the dam make a great spot to stop for a snack, though.

Fentress Bridge - 2PM
Nothing too exciting, just the TX-20 bridge over the river. You probably should have stopped to have lunch by now. Any gravel bar will do.

Stairtown - 5:30PM
Another bridge! This is CR-119. This wouldn't be a bad spot to stop and have dinner.

Luling 90 - 7:30PM
You're finally to the end! You'll probably recognize it by the railroad tracks just before the bridge. You're probably pretty tired by now. Make camp, cook dinner, and get some well-deserved sleep. The longest day is over.

Day 3: Luling to Palmetto State Park
The river is wider and slower here. You won't find as many gravel bars, and the water isn't as pretty. It's still some great canoeing though! You have another twenty miles to go. This should take you about ten hours.

Luling - 8AM
Break camp and head out. This leg of the trip is a third shorter than yesterday's so you can go a little easier.

Zedler Mill - 11AM
The City of Luling has a great park on the river, above and below the dam, with an old mill and a nifty rope swing. Take some time to eat here, swim, and cavort. This dam is much safer than other large ones on the river - many people walk along it and swim right by it - just remember to treat it with respect. The right side is the easier portage for the boat.

I-10 - 1PM
On down the river you'll paddle under I-10. Lots of bats live under this bridge.

Ottine Dam - 5PM
This is another dangerous dam. Do not under any circumstances attempt to run this dam. Don't swim near it either. You'll see a warning sign about 300 feet before you get to it, and it's just after a right turn. Otherwise, it's hard to notice. This dam has failed since 2008, becoming a 'strainer' and providing a very dangerous situation for paddlers of all skill. Prepare to port far ahead of time if you must venture to this area.

Palmetto State Park - 6PM
And in the evening you'll come to the Palmetto State Park low water bridge. This is where you pull out. The refrectory and showers are to the left, the campsites are to the right. You made it down the river, now get some more camping!

Stay safe
Most safety concerns are obvious. Use the buddy system when swimming, stay away from large dams, and don't molest the wildlife or drunks and you should be fine.

Go next
If you did not get a shuttle to San Marcos, you'll have to pick up your other vehicle. Head out PR-11 and take a left on US-183. Go north to Luling, take a right on TX-80 and follow it to San Marcos (remember to take a left immediately after the railroad tracks). Then continue on TX-80 to cross IH-35 in San Marcos. The road becomes TX-12. After the second set of railroad tracks, take a right on Bobcat Drive. Immediately after the next set of railroad tracks, take a left on Jowers/City Park drive. Follow the signs to the end of the road and park near the Lions Tube Rental building and locate your vehicle.

title: Canoeing the San Marcos River


text:
Cañón del Sumidero

Cañón del Sumidero is in Chiapas, just north of Tuxtla Gutierrez (though boat tours start from east of the city). The area is one of the most scenic of Mexico national parks, but is generally not crowded because it is off the usual tourist path.

Understand
This is a long canyon, with sheer, steep sides up to 1 km high. There is a river running the length of the canyon, upon which boat tours are run. The boat tour is the best way to experience the canyon because you can see the entire length from the perspective of the base of the cliffs. There are also a number of scenic overlooks throughout the park, and you can easily drive to these (or take a taxi) if you just want a short, quick visit to see a bit of the canyon and to grab a few snapshots.

History
The Grijalva River was dammed in the early 1980s when the Chicoasan Dam was built to support a hydroelectric plant to supply Mexico's growing energy needs. The dam elevated the river substantially, creating 20 miles of navigable, calm waters from what was once a rushing, rocky mountain river. Today, the river and its man-made reservoir is generally called El Sumidero.

Landscape
The landscape is rugged mountain tropical forests.

Flora and fauna
The national park is home to a wide range of wildlife. Mammals include monkeys, coatis, jaguars and more. More than 100 species of birds are known to inhabit the tropical forests in and around the canyon, including some colorful tropical members of the parrot family. Snakes, lizards and other reptiles make their home in the park, including several venomous species, so be careful about where you step and what you touch as you explore the forest trails. In the river itself, you will probably see American crocodiles sunning themselves on any piece of surface rock they can find, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may see some Central American River Turtles lurking below the surface.

Climate
The climate is generally tropical, with warm, humid conditions.

Get in
The canyon is on the north side of Tuxtla Gutierrez, which has an airport and bus terminal with frequent service to other cities in Mexico, but tourist boats enter from east of the city.

From Tuxtla Gutierrez, take a taxi to the Embarcadero in Chiapa de Corzo (about a 30 minute taxi ride). Or take a colectivo from the terminal located at Calle Tercera Ote. Sur, between Av. 2a Sur Ote and Av. 3a Sur Ote (across the restaurant El Pozol). The cost is M$18 (Feb 2023). From the centre of Chiapa de Corzo it is a 1 km walk to the port (embarcadero). You can buy boat ticket on site for M$320 (Apr 2024). There's also another embarcadero outside of town closer to the highway, which might be easier if you're coming from San Cristóbal and don't care about seeing Chiapa de Corzo town.

As of April 2024, an all inclusive tour from San Cristobal de las Casas costs M$450 (pesos). You can also take a colectivo towards Tuxtla Gutiérrez (M$60-70) and ask the driver to drop you near Chiapa de Corzo. Cross the road and take another colectivo (M$10) to the 'embarcadero' where you buy a boat ticket for M$320. The boat ride takes about two hours, so bring drinking water, a hat and sunscreen. There may be a stop mid-tour where souvenirs and refreshments can be bought.

By car, you can drive to the six scenic overlooks (miradores), closed on Tuesdays, which are accessed from the northern outskirts of Tuxtla itself. This is often included in tours from San Cristóbal, and if you're traveling independently, your park entry fee (included in the boat fare) includes access to the overlook road. The nearest overlook is called La Ceiba, but the most popular overlook is Mirador Cañón del Sumidero deeper inside the national park, surrounded by rugged mountains and dense forest. (Though the boat tour is, by far, the better way to get memorable pictures). Pedestrians are not allowed on the overlook road except for during "athlete" hours from 6-8am, the most of the viewpoints are too far away to easily walk to anyway.

Fees and permits
As of April 2024, there's a M$60 fee to enter the national park, which is included in the M$320 boat tours. The boatmen have formed a co-operative which sets the passenger fees. The areas from where the boats depart and return are nice, shaded spots with toilets and kiosks. Life jackets are supplied and compulsory. The boat operators infamously pressure you to tip them, with some refusing to return to shore until each passenger has contribute (M$50 per person should be plenty).

Miradores are included in the same park fee (proven with the bracelets you get at the boat docks), which also can be paid separately if you didn't take the boat tour that day. They are only open 8am-5pm, and closed Tuesday for maintenance, and you can't enter on foot except during "athlete" hours from 6-8am (most of them are too far out to easily walk to anyway).

Get around
Boat into the canyon itself, or drive into the park then walk or mountain bike.

See
The canyon is quite spectacular, with huge cliffs on each side at some parts. Waterfalls can be seen along the sides during the rainy season, and boat tours can generally find you crocodiles and spider monkeys to look at.

Do
The boat trip through the canyon is the park's main draw, but there is quite a lot of mountainous forest surrounding the river, and there are tour guides in Tuxtla Gutierrez who will guide you on a hiking or mountain biking trip into the park. The miradores frequently have marked trails that are good for short hikes.

Rock climbing and rappelling are allowed in the park, but use a specialized tour guide with local knowledge and the equipment and skills needed to stay safe. Vertigo Rock Climbing in San Cristobal de las Casas leads climbing groups into the park.

Buy
Souvenirs, water, snacks and other items can be purchased in Tuxtla Gutierrez or Chiapa de Corzo. There are no shops or vendors in the park itself, though boat tours often dock with another boat selling drinks and or snacks near the dam at the far end of the canyon. You may find guidebooks that mention the Eco Park area, which once did have shops and activities for travelers, but the Eco Park closed during the COVID crisis and has not reopened (as of October 2022).

Eat
Food is available in Tuxtla Gutierrez or Chiapa de Orzo.

Drink
Drink is available in Tuxtla Gutierrez or Chiapa de Corzo, and sometimes 2/3 of the way through the tour, when tours stop at a vendor boat at the far end of the canyon. The boat tour lasts 2-3 hours, so bring some water.

Sleep
There is accommodation available in nearby Chiapa de Corzo or Tuxtla Gutierrez, but tourists coming from San Cristobal will return there with their tour group.

Stay safe
The boats are professionally and safely run. Life vests are included and mandatory.

Go next
Nearby, visit:
 * Tuxtla Gutierrez
 * San Cristobal de las Casas

The canyon is near the provincial capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

title: Cañón del Sumidero


text:
Canosa di Puglia

Canosa di Puglia is in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani in the Apulia region of Italy.

Understand
The history of Canosa di Puglia is far more than five years. Its ancient name was Canusium in Latin, or in Greek, Canusion. With the barbarian invasions the name became Canuso and then Canosa, which is Latin for old man. There are many legends that speak of the origin of this name. At the time Canosa was an important city like Firenze, an important center of commerce. During the Second Punic War, on 2 August 216 BC, in Canne della Battaglia (then only cane for the presence of bamboo), then known as Cannae, there happened the largest battle of the war. It was here that the great strategic mind of Hannibal wrote itself on history, with the help of animals unknown to the Romans (the elephants), succeeding for the first time in defeating the Romans. However, the defeated army took refuge in Canosa, where its soldiers were cared for in an old hospital (now middle school Bovio). The Romans were very grateful and made a splendid city of Canosa. Today, it's full of archaeological relics, and even today are discovered new tombs, archaeological sites and elements that bring us back to the past. Mainly the Etruscans "provided" the most valuable finds discovered in the graves. They believed that the dead were to continue their lives in another world, and to help address this new life, left in their graves at that time objects of great value (pots, food, etc.). One of the most significant symbols of Canosa is the area of the castle. There's a legend that says the Prince of Canosa and his family fled when he was in trouble. Some older people still hate the royal family, and it is said that, during that time, the citizens of the land covered the castle with waste. However, it was actually the acropolis of ancient Canosa (Castrum canus).

By plane

 * International Airport Bari Karol Wojtyla known as Bari-Palese
 * Foggia Gino Lisa Airport

By train
Canosa di Puglia is connected by regional trains to Barletta, where connections with national and interregional trains can be made.

By car
A16 Highway (Two Seas' Highway) Naples-Canosa, about 172 km from Naples Highway A14 (Autostrada Adriatica) Bologna-Taranto, 611 km from Bologna and 133 km from Taranto.

By bus

 * National and international bus service:
 * Marino s.r.l
 * Marozzi
 * Urban bus
 * STP S.p.A.
 * Ferrovie del Gargano
 * SITA S.p.A.
 * City buses
 * Caputo

By boat
The nearest harbours are in Trani, Braletta and Bari.

title: Canosa di Puglia


text:
Canowindra

Canowindra is a village in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is known as the Balloon Capital of Australia.

Get in
From Canberra, use the following routes in chronological order: A25, M31, then quickly turn onto B81 until you hit Canowindra. From Sydney, use the M4, A32, and B81 until you hit Canowindra. There's no buses or trains to Canowindra.

Get around
The town is small enough to be walked. However, if you want to get out of town, you'll need a car, although that shouldn't be a worry since the only way you could have got in was by your own car.

Connect

 * The local code for Canowindra is (02) 6344.
 * Telstra has a good 4G network in Canowindra
 * Optus and Vodafone do not.

Go next

 * Yass
 * Dubbo
 * Wellington

title: Canowindra


text:
Cantabria

Cantabria is a region on the northern coast of Spain. Cantabria unites the best of the interior landscape with the proximity of the coast. The region has a varied landscape where mountains, valleys and coast combine to offer a wide range of possibilities for travellers with a multitude of green tourist routes, adventure tourism and wonderful beaches.

Cities

 * — a seaside resort, university town, and main infrastructure hub and capital of the region
 * — a popular tourist destination that offers a sports harbour, a fishing harbour and two beaches
 * — a picturesque town of with medieval architecture that has become a bit of a tourist trap
 * — a town on the Besaya route of the Camino de Santiago del Norte

Other destinations

 * — a popular destination for hikers and trekkers
 * The Soba Valley, where you can see the wonderful waterfalls of the Gándara River and the Asón River
 * Cabárceno Nature Park is 15 km from Santander in an old iron extraction mine, in the town of Cabárceno

Understand
Cantabria belongs to Green Spain, the name given to the strip of land between the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Mountains, so called because of its particularly lush vegetation, due to the wet and moderate oceanic climate.

Climate
The climate is strongly influenced by Atlantic Ocean winds trapped by the mountains; the average annual precipitation is about 1,200 mm (47 inches). Due to the gulf stream, Cantabria and the rest of "Green Spain" have a much more temperate climate than might be expected for its latitude, which is comparable to that of Oregon. The region has a humid oceanic climate, with warm summers and mild winters. Snow is frequent in the higher zones of Cantabria between the months of October and March. Some zones of Picos de Europa, over 2,500 metres high, have an alpine climate with snow persisting year round. The driest months are July and August.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Santander. There are domestic flights, primarily from Madrid and Barcelona, and international flights with Ryanair from London, Dublin, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam. Other international flights to Bilbao.

By train
Several daily communications with Madrid and Valladolid on RENFE.

Several daily communications with Bilbao and Asturias on FEVE.

By boat
Arrival by ferry from UK is also possible in Santander. There is a ferry terminal.

By car
Arrival by car from Bilbao is via the A8 freeway.

Get around
Since many interesting places are outside Santander in small villages in the countryside a car is useful. Alternatively public buses are available to larger towns. Frequent public buses are available between Santander and Bilbao. The Alsa company has bus lines between Santander and the main cities of Cantabria.

The FEVE-RENFE lines cross the Cantabrian territory in the shape of a "T". The southern branch goes to Palencia passing through Torrelavega and Reinosa. The east branch goes to Bilbao, passing through Lierganes and Limpias. The west branch is perhaps the most attractive as it follows the course of the river Saja to Cabezon de la Sal and then passes through Unquera until it reaches Asturias.

See
Cantabria has sea and mountains, it is the ideal place for all kinds of trips. From the tourist who wants to spend his time on the beach where he has to choose from, with fine sand and surrounded by greenery. From Castro Urdiales (next to Vizcaya), to Unquera (next to Asturias) you can visit countless beaches.

If you want to see art, here you can find "the Sistine Chapel" of rock art, the Altamira Caves and Museum in Santillana del Mar. From Mozárabe (Lebeña), the Romanesque (Reinosa), through the Gothic (Castro Urdiales) to monumental buildings of Catalan modernism (Comillas).

If you like the mountains, you are also in the right place, you can visit the Picos de Europa on the border with Asturias.

 * Monte el Castillo Caves
 * Covalanas Caves
 * El Pendo Caves
 * Hornos de la Peña Caves
 * El Soplao Caves
 * Roman spa in Camesa Rebolledo
 * Cabárceno Nature Park and Zoo

Do
You can surf at the beaches of Somo, Los Locos in Suances near Torrelavega and Meron in San Vicente de la Barquera.

Buy
Cantabria's canned fish is very famous. If you visit Santoña, be sure to buy its appreciated Cantabrian anchovies, you can find them canned or semi-preserved in glass jars. You will also find bonito del norte and even salads with seafood.

In the inland valleys, craftsmanship is of excellent quality, both in ceramics, fired clay and wood.

In pastries you can find exquisite sweets, such as Corbatas from Unquera, Quesada pasiega, Sobaos pasiegos (in the Pas valley) and Pantortillas de Reinosa among others.

Milk: in its time it was highly appreciated and of excellent quality, but nowadays it is difficult to find fresh milk. In Santillana del Mar in the arcades next to the collegiate church you can taste boiled milk (to avoid health problems) with homemade sponge cake.

Typical Cantabrian cheese
Of the 11 denominations of origin that exist on cheese in Spain, Cantabria has three that are:

Cantabrian cheese
 * Picón Bejes-Tresviso Cheese
 * Liébana cheese
 * Other Cantabrian cheeses to highlight are:

Campoo de los Valles cheese
 * Cóbreces cheese
 * Lebeña cheese
 * Pasiego cheese
 * Valderredible valluco cheese

Cake

 * Unquera Corbatas
 * Frisuelos
 * Custard
 * Calves
 * Polkas
 * Quesada Pasiega
 * Sacristans
 * Sobaos pasiegos

Other typical dishes

 * Snails to the mountain
 * Lebaniego stew
 * Mountain stew
 * Baked Nansa Salmon
 * Mountain tripe
 * Anchovies from Santoña

Drink
Taste the Orujo of the region.

Go next
If you are coming from the Basque Country the logical continuation is to go to Asturias. Just follow the coastline westwards.

title: Cantabria


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Cantallops

Cantallops is a small town in Catalonia, Spain.

Understand
This small town in Northeastern Catalonia is a bucolic mountain town that offers a large change of scenery of the coastal towns nearby. While having a massively declining population for the last several decades, more people have been moving to and visiting Cantallops due to its quiet way of life, abundant winemaking, several high quality restaurants, and country homes that are available to rent for a quiet stay away from the hustle and bustle of towns such as Barcelona.

The name of the town, which sounds a good deal like, "cantaloupes" in English literally means "singing at wolves". But when analyzed in a historical sense is believed to mean, "wolves' rock" due to the large rock outcropping the town is built upon and the abundance of wolves in the area through the 19th century.

Get in
Cantallops is situated just a few kilometers East of the main roads to France from Spain, just before the border. One will need a car to get there.

By Plane
The nearest airports are Girona-Costa Brava (, in Spain) and Perpignan–Rivesaltes (, In France)

By railway
Figueres has high speed trains station, connected to Madrid and Barcelona and also to France High speed trains

By car

 * From France: The   from Montpellier and Perpignan to the Spanish border. Then the  until  La Jonquera
 * From Barcelona and Girona: The ,until  La Jonquera.
 * From la Jonquera take to Cantallops

Get around
The town is very walkable and compact with several twisting streets that allow you to meander about in different directions. You can also drive through the streets, although some are quite narrow and might be difficult to navigate at points.

See
There are two wineries in town, Masia Serra and Vinyes dels Aspres. Both offer outstanding wines, but Masia Serra is difficult to visit. The owner of Vinyes dels Aspres is quite happy to entertain guests and show off his high quality wines.

Local Hikes

 * I1 - From Cantallops to Requesens, 6km, 2h, medium difficulty.
 * I2 - Around Requesens Castle, 5.5 km, 2h, medium difficulty.
 * I3 - Faig de la Pedra 9km, 3h, Difficult
 * I4 - Requesens forests, 11.5km, 5h, Difficult
 * I5 - Estanys de la Jonquera, 3,5 km, 1h, Easy

Connect
As of Jan 2024, Cantallops and its approach roads have only a basic mobile signal.

title: Cantallops


text:
Cantel

Cantel is a village in Guatemala, 10 km from the major city of Quetzaltenango. It is inhabited by K'iche' Maya.

Just like going to its neighboring village Zunil, take a bus from either Minerva bus terminal or Rotonda bus stop in Quetzaltenango, or from the corner of 7 calle and 15 avenida in Zona 3. Some buses to Zunil pass on the highway through Cantel but do not stop in the centre - but buses to Zunil via Almolonga do not go through Cantel. There are also buses directly to Cantel centre, stopping by the Catholic church. Buses to Zunil will generally display "Fabrica" if they stop at Cantel (because of the now defunct textile factory), buses to the centre will display "Cantel Pueblo".

Get around
Much of the commercial life of Cantel is along the CA2 highway in the valley below the centre of the village.

The centre of the village is on a hilltop west of the highway, with fantastic views across the valley. The centre is fairly sleepy, has an early Colonial Catholic church, the temporary municipal offices and the burnt-out ruin of the Municipal Palace (destroyed in a fire in 2002) and not much else.

Guides to various attractions in and around Cantel can be organised by the "Muni" (Municipal offices). These are (as of October 2010) in a dead-end side street to the right of the Catholic church. Upon entering the community hall, turn right and up the stairs and along the walkway to the last office, ask for Emanuel, a young man responsible for economic development and tourism.

Buses to Quetzaltenango leave from the central park by the Catholic church and also pass frequently on the highway below the centre, where buses to Zunil and Pacific coastal cities also pass.

In October 2010, buses cost Q2.50 to and from Quetzaltenango.

See

 * Chicovix - Thermal baths outside the village on a trail to Zunil. Interesting volocanic rock formations are visible by the river (polygonal lava columns). In 2015 a new nature trail was opened, climbing the mountainside to a viewpoint some 650m above the baths, with a great view across the river valley. Below the half-way point, a zip-wire was opened in December 2015.
 * Chojolom - Small K'iche' archaeological site uncovered by the elderly K'iche' farmer who owns the land (don Sebastián), on a hillside just outside Cantel. There are three rather crude stone heads to be seen, one is a largish face carved onto a fixed boulder and is in its original location. A smaller head has been moved to don Sebastián's home and a small armadillo head has been fixed into the wall of a water cistern. All have been tentatively dated to the Postclassic period immediately prior to the Spanish Conquest. There is also a small artificial cave. Most of the finds were made after the especially bad 2010 rain season, while clearing away a mudslide. None have been excavated. Visits need to be arranged with the Municipal offices, since the stones are on private land.
 * Copavic - glass blowing factory, beside the highway past the factory.
 * K'iaqbal - Small archaeological site that has been converted into a modern Maya ritual site by the landowner. A pre-Columbian platform has been remodelled into a terrace, with modern additions. Of particular interest are the two remaining pre-Columbian sculptures (two additional sculptures were stolen). As of December 2015, the landowner charged a nominal Q2 fee to enter. To get there climb the hill referred to in Spanish as La Pulguita ("the flea") and in K'iche' as K'iaq (likewise), passing the new general cemetery with fine views across the valley to the Cerro Quemado and Santa María volcanoes. From there a track leads up the hill, taking you to the site, situated on the crown of the hill among pine forest.

Go next
The best transport links are from the highway running through the valley. From there it is possible to flag down buses heading to Quetzaltenango in one direction, and Zunil, Mazatenango, and Retalhuleu in the other, passing through San Martín Zapotitlán, and going past the entrances to the Xetulul and Xocomil theme parks.
 * Quetzaltenango - Guatemala's second largest city a short bus ride away, and is known as the "cultural capital of Guatemala".
 * San Andrés Xecul a Maya village close by with a colourful church
 * Totonicapán - A town known for its Maya dance festival, and production of wooden dance masks.
 * San Francicso El Alto - Known for holding the largest weekly market in Central America.
 * Zunil - A nearby village known for the image of the black Christ in the colonial church, and its women's handicraft cooperative.

title: Cantel


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Canterbury

There is more than one place called Canterbury:

Australia

 * Canterbury (Queensland) - A small town in Queensland.
 * Sydney/Canterbury – a town centre of Sydney.

New Zealand

 * Canterbury (New Zealand) - A province and region of the South Island of New Zealand that was named after the city in England.

United Kingdom

 * Canterbury (England) - A cathedral city in the county of Kent in England.

United States of America

 * Canterbury (New Hampshire) - A town in New Hampshire.
 * Canterbury (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut.

カンタベリー

title: Canterbury


text:
Canterbury (England)

Canterbury is a cathedral and university city in Kent, in the South East of England. Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and hence the Primus inter pares of the primates of each national church in the Anglican Communion and spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England.

Understand
"And specially, from every shires ende Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke."

- Geoffrey Chaucer: "General Prologue", The Canterbury Tales

Canterbury is a major tourist centre in the county of Kent. Even though it was bombed relentlessly during the Second World War (The Blitz), it still contains many ancient buildings, and modern building development within the medieval town centre is strictly regulated by officials at Canterbury.

As a result of the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170, Canterbury became a major centre of pilgrimage, the backdrop of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in 1387 about pilgrims passing the time by sharing stories. There is a museum in Canterbury about the Tales.

Canterbury was founded as the Romano-Celtic town of Durovernum Cantiacorum. In the early Middle Ages, the city became known by the Anglo-Saxon name of Cantwarebyrig, meaning "fortress of the men of Kent".

 * Visit Canterbury website

By car
Canterbury is easily accessible from London by following the M2 south and east until it merges with the A2, linking Canterbury with Chatham, Gillingham and Sittingbourne to the north, and the port of Dover to the south. Another regional arterial road, the A28, travels eastwards to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and westwards to Ashford, the site of the Eurostar station for rail links to France, Belgium and the continent.

Excellent park and ride facilities allow you to park inexpensively outside the city and take a bus into town. The parking fee is £3.50 per vehicle per day, or £1 if you arrive after 4PM, and entitles the driver and up to six car passengers to a round trip on the bus to and from the city centre.

There are three park and ride sites: (to the west of the city centre),  (to the south) and  (to the east). The buses stop at a number of intermediate stops between the park and ride car parks and the city centre. Park and ride buses run into the city centre every eight minutes between 7AM and 7:30PM Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, buses run every 15 minutes from New Dover Road and Sturry Road between 10AM and 6PM, but don't serve Wincheap at all.

By train

Canterbury is served by two railway stations. Fare and timetable information are available from Southeastern, +44 8457 484950:

By bus
National Express operate coaches to Canterbury from London Victoria Coach Station and also from Dover.

By plane
Canterbury does not have its own airport. The nearest major international airports to Canterbury are London Gatwick about  away and London Heathrow, about  away.

On foot
It is recommended to walk as the town centre is quite compact; it takes only 10 min to walk down the semi-pedestrianised high street.

By bicycle
Cyclists are welcome in Canterbury; the first stage of the 2007 Tour de France finished in the city. However, dedicated cycle paths are relatively few. Local bike shop Downland Cycles (www.downlandcycles.co.uk) is located on the London-bound platform of Canterbury West train station. It offers bike rentals and sales. It also gives advice on how best to see the city by bike, having put together several good guides to local rides, including on road, off road, and dedicated path routes.

By bus
Canterbury is well-served by buses which terminate at the main bus station at the end of the high street. Buses serve most destinations in East Kent. Stagecoach Coaches can be picked up from the bus station to London, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Greenhill, Swalecliffe and Chestfield, Margate and Sturry (these are all small towns close to Canterbury). Buses run regularly during the day however services are less frequent in the evenings. Bus timetables can be found on the Stagecoach Buses website.

By taxi
Taxis in Canterbury are regulated by the city council. Charges are imposed uniformly by this regulation. Thus, £2.50 is the minimum charge for all taxis operating under the City Council of Canterbury.

For hiring between midnight and 7AM, an additional 50% is levied.

Taxis can be picked up at the train stations, outside the bus station, at the southern end of the high street and by the Westgate Towers in the evenings.

See
Canterbury has an interesting mix of architectural styles, from genuine Tudor buildings to 1960s style office buildings. However there are architectural gems around every corner. There is no coherent style to the buildings as much of the city was demolished during bombing raids in World War II, but much has survived. The Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Dane John Gardens (by the city walls and around the corner from the Whitefriars development) are full of surprises, hosting events almost every weekend during the summer months. Examples include French and farmers markets with all types of cuisine.

The subways on the east end of the main street have many paintings related to the Canterbury Tales.

Museums and tourist attractions

People who have proof that they live nearby can get into some museums/cathedrals for free (check with the venue first).

Do

 * Take a historic river boat tour along the Stour, leaving from the Weavers Restaurant on the High Street. Or take a calmer boat trip, without the history, leaving from Westgate Gardens.
 * Watch cricket at
 * Crab & Winkle Way is a 7.6-mile walking and cycle route between Canterbury and Whitstable along the track bed of the C&W Railway.
 * Crab & Winkle Way is a 7.6-mile walking and cycle route between Canterbury and Whitstable along the track bed of the C&W Railway.

Buy
Canterbury has many shops and stores, many of which are found in towns and cities across the UK.

Shops in the city include Gap, Tesco, Top Man, Next and an independent department store:

There is also a plethora of smaller shops offering a unique experience. Particularly in the city's Cathedral Quarter:

Canterbury is a popular destination at Christmas where the festive lights and medieval streets provide a great backdrop for retail therapy. Given Canterbury's proximity to Dover and the ferries to France, expect to hear many French voices in the streets (and hordes of — sometimes unsupervised — French schoolchildren!)

Eat
Canterbury city centre is a veritable trove of low to mid-range restaurants and cafés – many different styles of cuisine are available at prices to suit most pockets. Also, Deliveroo and Just Eat are available if you are staying a few miles outside of Canterbury:

Drink
There are a large selection of pubs inside the city walls. Canterbury offers many chain pubs (such as JD Wetherspoons) but also many smaller venues. Due to the layout of the city, it is possible to walk down its numerous small streets and find a great place for a drink. Canterbury is also very close to Faversham, a town closely associated with Shepherd Neame brewery (Britain's oldest brewers) and has many pubs which offer many locally brewed real-ales.

Late bars

Connect
Canterbury has 4G from all UK carriers. As of April 2022, only EE has 5G. Some parts of the city centre have poor mobile signal on all networks due to planning regulations preventing phone masts in the ancient areas.

Go next

 * Whitstable is a pleasant seaside town. You can walk or cycle along the "Crab & Winkle" trackbed.
 * Sandwich is a well-preserved old port on the Channel coast.

title: Canterbury (England)


text:
Canterbury (New Zealand)

Canterbury is a region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Canterbury Plains stretch from the Conway River in the north, just south of Kaikoura, to the great Waitaki River in the south, just north of Oamaru. The flat plains stretch from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Southern Alps in the west, broken only by the volcanic Banks Peninsula.

Cities

 * – the largest city in the South Island
 * – swimming with dolphins in this town with a French heritage on Banks Peninsula

 * – hot springs, forest trails for hiking and biking, and other outdoor activities
 * – small town just north of Christchurch
 * – whale watching and other marine activities
 * – a lakeside resort village in a dark sky reserve (for its astronomical observatories), famous for lupins.
 * – seaport town just over the Port Hills south of Christchurch
 * – a world famous gliding centre, and home to a sheep shearing show
 * – small town just north of Kaiapoi
 * – small inland town on the way to the Craigieburn ski fields and Arthur's Pass
 * – small town just north of Kaiapoi
 * – small inland town on the way to the Craigieburn ski fields and Arthur's Pass

 * – the Canterbury's second-largest city
 * – roadside town along SH 8, budget accommodation alternative to Mt Cook Village.

 * – wine tours and historic trains

Other destinations

 * – South Island's first national park.
 * – contains NZ's highest peak.

Understand
Canterbury was settled in the 1850s by colonists from England. The settlement was planned and developed by the Canterbury Company.

Parts of upper Canterbiry, known as the Mackenzie Country, is named after 1850s sheep rustler James Mackenzie. Hydro power stations were built at Waitaki in the 1930s and Lake Tekapo in the late 1940s. In the early 1960s, the advent of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology made it possible to export large amounts of electricity out of the South Island to the power-hungry North Island. Subsequently, the Mackenzie Country and thus Canterbury became a hive of hydroelectric scheme construction. The towns of Otematata and Twizel were established to house workers building the four dams, 50 km (30 mi) of canals, and six power stations which today produce one-sixth of New Zealand's electricity needs. When the scheme was finished in 1985, most of the workers' houses in these towns were sold off as holiday homes.

Mid Canterbury is where the Canterbury Plains rise up into the highest parts of the Southern Alps. It is bounded by the Ashley River in the north, the Waitaki River in the south, the Mackenzie Country to the west and the Southern Alps in the northwest.

Greater Christchurch is what makes Chch and the many satellite towns surrounding Christchurch that are undergoing rapid expansion, especially since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Rolleston was only a small village on the side of State Highway 1 back in the early 1990s; today, the town has a population of over 13,000.

Banks Peninsula is named after Joseph Banks, a naturalist who visited New Zealand with Captain James Cook.

Visitor information

 * official tourism website

By plane

 * Christchurch International Airport is the main airport serving Christchurch, Canterbury and the wider South Island. Regular flights link the airport with multiple cities across New Zealand, as well as Australia, the Pacific Islands and Asia.
 * Timaru Richard Pearse Airport is located north of Timaru. It is served daily by Air New Zealand Link flights from Wellington.

By car
State Highway 1 traverses the length of the Canterbury plains.

By public transport
Public transport, such as buses between towns is limited to the main routes between major centres. While it's helpful as a traveller to get around in the Christchurch area (including nearby towns such as Lyttelton), it is not a practical method of getting between places.

By car
To explore out-of-the-way places you really need a car unless you are going on a tour group. The roads in Canterbury aren't too winding for NZ standards, generally well-maintained and have few potholes. Unlike Canterbury's Tasmanian counterparts, the roads are reasonably wide with wide shoulders and much of it is also utilised by freight.

There are three main highways used for getting between the Canterbury:
 * State Highway 1 – highway traversing the eastern length of the Canterbury Plains, following the coast. Primarily useful for travelling between Kaikoura, Christchurch and Timaru (plus onward destinations outside the Canterbury region).
 * State Highway 8 (plus SH 79) – highway linking SH 1 near Timaru to the Otago border just south of Twizel. It links up major points of interests such as Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.
 * State Highway 73 – although this road is far less utilised than the former two in question, this road links Christchurch with Arthur's Pass National Park.

By bike
Bicycling is a practical proposition because the roads are relatively flat. Christchurch particularly has very bike-friendly streets, especially in Central City, but bicycle lanes in other cities is a bit of a far cry. Many intercity cycle routes utilise highways.

See
Canterbury was named one of the hottest destinations to see in 2021 by online travel platform, Vacaay.

 * Richard Pearse Memorial at Pleasant Point.

Mackenzie Country
The Southern Alps provide a magnificent backdrop to the Mackenzie Country. There are many beautiful lakes in the region and NZ State Highway 8 runs along the shoreline of two of the largest, Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. The jagged snow-capped peak of Aoraki / Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, can be seen in the far distance across Lake Pukaki, from SH 8. For a closer look, NZ State Highway 80 runs along the west shore of Lake Pukaki to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Village.

Do
Some of the bays near Lyttelton can be popular watering holes for Cantabrians. Corsair Bay has one of the nicest beaches in the area, and is a great place to relax on a sunny day.

Alpine Pacific Triangle
There is an area between Hanmer Springs, Amberley and Kaikoura (all about 150 km apart) that around the year 2000 was designated by local councils as the Alpine Pacific Triangle. It has a variety of activities.

 * Whale watching
 * Horse riding
 * Skiing
 * Hot pools
 * Jet boating
 * Bungee jumping
 * Walking
 * Diving

Alps
There are many outdoor activities in the Alps, including:

 * Hiking in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.
 * Ski/snowboard at some of the small fields like Ohau.
 * Ski at Mount Hutt.

Eat
With much of the plains dedicated to farming, roadside stalls selling local produce can be seen in some places. However, similar quality produce is often available at similar prices in city supermarkets, so don't go out of your way and expect to get a bargain at the farm gate. More likely, you will find the unusual and rare produce at the farm gate, where it is grown in quantities too small to sell to a mass market.

Drink
A few wine-making specialists exploit the unique climates and produce of their particular properties.

Go next

 * North to Marlborough
 * South to Otago and Southland, where the popular tourist destinations are:
 * Queenstown
 * Wanaka
 * Te Anau, Fiordland and Milford Sound.
 * West over the Southern Alps to the West Coast, moving on to Nelson in the north or south to the glaciers then back over the Haast Pass to Wanaka, Queenstown and on to Te Anau and Milford Sound, which is where pretty much every tourist to New Zealand eventually goes.

title: Canterbury (New Zealand)


text:
Can Tho

Can Tho (or Cantho; Vietnamese: Cần Thơ) is the biggest city of the Mekong Delta, in Vietnam with an estimated population of 1.6 million in 2019. The name comes from "cầm thi giang", river of poems. It is also referred to as "Tay Do" meaning "western capital". The city is famous for its floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food, fresh fruit, its large student population, and welcoming atmosphere.

Understand
Can Tho is on the south bank of the Hậu River, the bigger branch of the Mekong River. It is in the vicinity of Sóc Trăng, 1½ hours from Long Xuyen, 3 hours from Châu Đốc, and Rạch Giá, about 6 hours from Cà Mau, and 169 km (3 hours) from Ho Chi Minh City.

Can Tho is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta. Although it has been developing fast, it retains its charm as the center of a rural area, as urban development is taking place in a rather orderly manner. Can Tho has a reputation for being a welcoming place, where everybody is smiling and welcoming. Indeed the Vietnamese in the Mekong Delta have a saying that goes:

"Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong Ai đi tới đó lòng không muốn về" "Cần Thơ, white rice, clear waters, All who come wish never to leave."

The climate is tropical and monsoonal with two seasons: rainy, from May thru Nov; and dry, from Dec-Apr. Average annual humidity is 83%, rainfall 1,635 mm, and temperature 27°C.

Get in
As a regional hub, it is easy to get to Can Tho from cities in the Mekong Delta. There are buses from all the big cities and minibuses from the smaller ones. If you arrive from Cambodia, you will probably stop in Chau Duc and catch a bus to Can Tho there. There is also one bus line directly from Phnom Penh once a day. It is difficult, not to say impossible, to get in by car from Cambodia as a tourist. That likely also applies to bicycles and motorbikes.

Can Tho is 34 km from Vinh Long, 62 km from Long Xuyen, 63 km from Soc Trang, 104 km from Mytho, 116 km from Rach Gia, 117 km from Chau Doc, 169 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 179 km from Camau.

By bus
Many operators serve Can Tho from cities in the Mekong Delta up to the center and north of Vietnam. You may have a short stop in Ho Chi Minh City. Most travelers arrive in Can Tho from Ho Chi Minh City.

From Ho Chi Minh City, buses serving Can Tho leave every 1–2 hours around the clock from the Western Bus Station (Bến Xe Miền Tây). Prices are USD4-7. From downtown, travel operators will quote you about double this price, but they will include a transfer to the bus station. Smaller, more local, buses from Saigon to Can Tho leave in the morning.

There are three operators serving routes from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and other destinations: Thanh Buoi, Phuong Trang, and Mai Linh. The big operators also have a departure point in the centre of the city on Le Hong Phong St, from where shuttle buses will take you to Bến Xe Miền Tây. You can take a taxi to Le Hong Phong St in District 10. Look for the office of Thanh Buoi (white background logo with a flower), Phuong Trang (red signs) or Mai Linh (all green) or go straight to Mien Tay bus station in District 6. The taxi from District 1 costs around USD12 (May 2012).

With most operators you will get a small bottle of water included in your ticket price. Bigger buses offer air-con, and also Vietnamese films and music shows, usually perceived as too loud for Western ears.

By motorbike, car, or taxi
By chauffeured car, allow about 1½ hours from Sóc Trăng, about 3 hours from Châu Đốc, about 3½ hours from Rạch Giá (85,000 dong, Apr 2012), less than 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City (169 km, 100,000 dong), about 6 hours from Cà Mau and about 1½ hours from Long Xuyen. It is possible to rent a car for USD70-150 for a one-way trip (or return trip on the same day) for 2-3 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. A driver is included in the price. If you want to drive yourself, you should check terms well in advance.

You might be slightly faster by motorbike than by car depending on your driving. It is quite easy to rent a motorbike in the tourist areas of Ho Chi Minh City, District 1. Most rental shops will rent a motorbike to you if you can show a driving license from any country. They may not ask for a license at all. You are only covered by accident insurance if your driving license is valid in Vietnam. Most European licenses are not automatically accepted. You might need to take an additional test with Vietnamese authorities in order to comply with the local rules.

It's also possible to rent a taxi for about almost the same price as a car for a 1-way trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. Try hiring a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi.

By boat
Apart from overnight boat cruises for tourists, there are no scheduled boat services to Can Tho. This is because driving time to Can Tho has been reduced to less than 4 hours with the opening of the Can Tho Bridge in 2011 and the completion of the motorway around HCMC.

Get around
It is easy to get around in Can Tho by motorbike or bicycle. Mai Linh and Happy Taxi are the two main taxi operators of the city. If you want to travel on the river, you can easily rent a boat service at Ninh Kieu Pier. There are also ferries to surrounding areas here. Can Tho is a big city, but the centre can be easily explored on foot (đi bộ). Most hotels will offer you a map.

See

 * Mau Than St is the central street of Xuan Khan and famous as the longest street in the Mekong Delta stretching for over 30 km. The street is named after the Tet Offensive, launched on Vietnamese New Year, 30 Jan 1968. In Vietnamese, the offensive is called Tết Mậu Thân (hence the name "Mau Than", meaning "year of the monkey"). Xuan Khanh Market at the start of the street is a daily stop for many citizens. Mau Than is also centre for the local community as there are two churches and the Quang Duc Pagoda just a few hundred metres distance. Depending on the day of your visit you may see traditionally dressed monks or a celebration service at one of the churches that often reach into the street in the evening.
 * Xuan Khanh Student Quarter: Many students from nearby Can Tho University live in Xuan Khanh or do their daily shopping here. There are small eateries in the street and alleys as well as cafes catering to the student population. As this quarter is less frequented by tourists, visiting Xuan Khanh you will find more local colour than in the upmarket Ninh Kieu Pier. The best time to visit is in the afternoon and early evening.}}
 * Mau Than St is the central street of Xuan Khan and famous as the longest street in the Mekong Delta stretching for over 30 km. The street is named after the Tet Offensive, launched on Vietnamese New Year, 30 Jan 1968. In Vietnamese, the offensive is called Tết Mậu Thân (hence the name "Mau Than", meaning "year of the monkey"). Xuan Khanh Market at the start of the street is a daily stop for many citizens. Mau Than is also centre for the local community as there are two churches and the Quang Duc Pagoda just a few hundred metres distance. Depending on the day of your visit you may see traditionally dressed monks or a celebration service at one of the churches that often reach into the street in the evening.
 * Xuan Khanh Student Quarter: Many students from nearby Can Tho University live in Xuan Khanh or do their daily shopping here. There are small eateries in the street and alleys as well as cafes catering to the student population. As this quarter is less frequented by tourists, visiting Xuan Khanh you will find more local colour than in the upmarket Ninh Kieu Pier. The best time to visit is in the afternoon and early evening.}}

Do

 * Cai Rang (Cái Răng) floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Can Tho. Go there early in the morning (as early as 05:30), and come back through the small tributaries to Can Tho River, 3-4 hours. The Mystic Sampans offer higher-end breakfast cruises to the Cai Rang floating market. Late risers will still see plenty going on by arriving by around 8am. An alternative to the boat trip from Ninh Kieu wharf is to take a taxi to Cai Rang. (Giving the taxi driver the location of a cafe such as Cafe Chợ Nổi will prevent him from taking you to one of the expensive boat tour companies.)
 * Phong Dien (Phong Điền) is further up the Can Tho River, and worth seeing as it is a retail market. It is very active at dawn, but slows down early too, so you may want to go there by land. The canals back to Can Tho are also very much worth the ride in a small boat.
 * Phung Hiep (Phụng Hiệp) is much farther away, in the neighbouring Hậu Giang Province, but deserves a trip if you are going to stay more than a few days, as it is always bustling with activity.
 * Tra On (Trà Ôn), in Vinh Long Province, is just over an hour downstream the Bassac (the lower Mekong branch, also called Hậu Giang or Sông Hậu). It is a small floating village's market anchored near Clouds Island (Cù Lao Mây).
 * Phung Hiep (Phụng Hiệp) is much farther away, in the neighbouring Hậu Giang Province, but deserves a trip if you are going to stay more than a few days, as it is always bustling with activity.
 * Tra On (Trà Ôn), in Vinh Long Province, is just over an hour downstream the Bassac (the lower Mekong branch, also called Hậu Giang or Sông Hậu). It is a small floating village's market anchored near Clouds Island (Cù Lao Mây).

Eat "Banh Xeo" with a local family, take a boat go to some small canals and see how the local people living and trading fruits in the local market on a motorbike.
 * Play a game of pool or billiards with the locals during the day, when it is too hot to walk around. Billiards is extremely popular in Vietnam and billiard halls are frequented throughout the day. There is billiard place on Mau Than St next to the petrol station.
 * Enjoy a head massage at a hairdresser and get a haircut if you dare. There are some salons close to Xuan Khan Market and the Quang Duc Pagoda. Depending on the hairdresser, from very stylish and air conditioned to very rustic you may pay between USD5-10 or 100,000-200,000 dong (May 2012). Ask how much it will cost and how long the massage will take. A good head massage should be around 30 minutes. If they do not understand English, agree at least on the price.
 * Start the evening with a manicure in one of the manicure shops. Several shops are in Nguyen Viet Hong St (nice tree-lined street connecting Mau Than St and Ly Tu Trong St at Luu Huu Phuoc Park)
 * Visit the Luu Huu Phuoc entertainment park in the evening. Vietnamese enjoy extremely loud music and do not mind distorting speakers. It might be very loud, but it is definitely a cultural experience.
 * If you are with kids, be creative and paint small ceramic figures in one of the bigger bookstores, usually on the upper floor. The fee is very small. You can take them home afterwards as a souvenir.

Work
If English is your mother tongue and you have a teaching background, then teaching English is a possibility. German, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese are also possibilities. If you have IT skills, there is always a chance you might get hired by an international company, though the challenge is to find out about vacancies. In Can Tho, MBM Vietnam provides information on opportunities and job offers for expats with technical backgrounds, freelancers, translators and hospitality industry professionals. There are also meet ups from time to time in the city, where you might meet others who can give you tips about hiring companies.

Eat
The night food market across from the main covered market on Phan Boi Chau offers a selection of mostly local hot food including bánh xèo.

Budget

 * Get a "banh mi" sandwich in the morning at Saigon Bakery on Mau Than St.
 * Buy and eat local fruit at Xuan Khanh Market. Depending on the season there are different fruits. Mangos from sour to very sweet grow in the Mekong Delta and pineapples are available most of the year. A nice speciality are the bon bon fruits.
 * Phương Nam Restaurant, 48 Hai Ba Trung St. Caters to tourists. Specials includ snake, crocodile and lamb with satay, good food and service.

Mid-range

 * The dishes you will find in most places are:
 * Vit Nau Chao (duck hot pot)
 * Lau Hai San (seafood hot pot)
 * Lau Ca Keo (fish hot pot, small fish that looks similar to eel)
 * Lau Chua (sweet- sour hot pot with river fish)
 * As the menu is Vietnamese-only, look around at other tables when you enter the restaurant and point to indicate what you want.
 * Some places are thronged with diners. These are the best. Do not be afraid to enter a place that looks like there are no more tables available, just take your time, look for the server and indicate the number in your party (e.g., show two fingers and say "hai nguoi" meaning "two people"). They will find a table for you or clean up some space.
 * As the menu is Vietnamese-only, look around at other tables when you enter the restaurant and point to indicate what you want.
 * Some places are thronged with diners. These are the best. Do not be afraid to enter a place that looks like there are no more tables available, just take your time, look for the server and indicate the number in your party (e.g., show two fingers and say "hai nguoi" meaning "two people"). They will find a table for you or clean up some space.

Drink
Vietnamese typically enjoy a coffee (strong, with lots of condensed milk, and ice), fresh coconut juice, and fruit drinks (lemonade, orange juice, etc.) in one of the many small stalls along the streets or in the markets. Sugarcane with ice is also very popular. There are sugarcane presses along the roads everywhere in the city. If you want to spend a couple of hours like a Vietnamese, some nice cafes are located on Mau Than St or at Ninh Kieu Pier.

The nightlife in Can Tho is not as vibrant as Ho Chi Minh City, but it is not as "bottle service"-centric as HCMC either. Can Tho clubs often hire famous Vietnamese singers to perform live in their venues and feature go dancers on regular nights. Prices of drinks are around 80,000 dong for a bottle of beer (May 2012), around 1,500,000 dong for a bottle of locally-produced vodka and more for cognac and imported whisky.

Sleep
There is a wide range of hotels available in Can Tho, from the very local Kach San Tây Hồ, to the state-owned (and state-like) hotels like the International Hotel and Kim Tho Hotel or to the more elaborate Hotel Xoai geared towards international business travellers.

The standard design of many buildings in Vietnam is about 4 m wide and 25 m deep. Buildings are very "thin". This means buildings next to each other often have rooms without windows. When you book a hotel, check that there is a window in your room as some cheaper hotels, ones that often cater to 2-hour "transit guests", offer rooms without windows.

Beware the giant, neon, Chinese-style riverside hotels. They come with pounding karaoke and dodgy staff. In particular, avoid the Golf Hotel. The spa staff demand inflated tips then block your exit as you try to leave.

Go next
From Can Tho you can easily reach other cities of the Mekong Delta such as:
 * Sóc Trăng
 * Châu Đốc
 * Rạch Giá
 * Vinh Long
 * Cà Mau

If you are heading to the north from the main bus station be careful about what ticket you buy. If you are going by minibus and your destination is not directly on the route to Ho Chi Minh City they might just drop you off somewhere you have no intention of going. You will have to buy another ticket and end up paying way too much.

Cambodia

 * Phnom Penh - There is a direct bus operator leaving at the petrol station close to the bus station (Can Tho Ben Xe) early in the morning. Alternatively, take a local bus to Chau Doc. From here you can take a bus or one of the Express Boats.
 * Ha Tien (Cambodia Border) from Can Tho take a bus via Rach Gia to Hu Tien.

title: Can Tho


text:
Canton (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Canton:

China

 * Guangzhou - An important city in southern China that was known as Canton in the era of tea clippers.
 * Guangdong - The province which has Guangzhou as its capital can also be called Canton.

The language and the cuisine of the region are called Cantonese.

United States of America

 * Canton (Arkansas) - A town in Arkansas.
 * Canton (Colorado) - A town in Colorado.
 * Canton (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut.
 * Canton (Georgia) - A town in Georgia (state).
 * Canton (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Canton (Indiana) - A town in Indiana.
 * Canton (Iowa) - A town in Iowa.
 * Canton (Kansas) - A town in Kansas.
 * Canton (Kentucky) - A town in Kentucky.
 * Canton (Louisiana) - A town in Louisiana.
 * Canton (Maine) - A town in Maine.
 * Canton (Maryland) - A town in Maryland.
 * Canton (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Canton (Michigan) - A town in Michigan.
 * Canton (Minnesota) - A town in Minnesota.
 * Canton (Mississippi) - A town in Mississippi.
 * Canton (Montana) - A town in Montana.
 * Canton (New Jersey) - A town in New Jersey.
 * Canton (New York) - A town in New York (state).
 * Canton (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.
 * Canton (South Dakota) - A town in South Dakota.

title: Canton (disambiguation)


text:
Canton (Massachusetts)

Canton is a southwestern suburb of Boston, Massachusetts with a population of 24,000 (2020).

Get in

 * Interstates 93 and 95 which separate in Canton with I-93 going east and then north to Boston and I-95 from Providence heading off around the west edge of Greater Boston.
 * MBTA commuter rail Attleboro/Stoughton Line passes through Canton.
 * Route 128 Station in bordering Westwood also has commuter rail into Boston. Amtrak trains also stop at Route 128.
 * Route 716 bus service is available to Mattapan Station in the MBTA system. Monday through Saturday during daytime hours. Often operates very infrequently.

Get around
Given the infrequent bus service, getting around by car can be helpful.

title: Canton (Massachusetts)


text:
Canton (Michigan)

Canton is a township of almost 100,000 people (2020) in Wayne County in the state of Michigan.

Get in
Interstate 275 travels through Canton.

title: Canton (Michigan)


text:
Canton (Ohio)

Canton is a mid-sized city in Stark County, Northeast Ohio. It is best known as the birthplace of professional American football, since the Canton Bulldogs were the first professional football team.

Understand
It is also the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, and National First Ladies' Library. Canton still lives and breathes football.

About 20% of Canton residents report German ancestry, and about 10% report Irish ancestry. The influence of these two ancestries can been seen throughout Canton.

By car

 * Interstate 77. Canton can be accessed primarily by I-77 which provides connection to Akron and Cleveland to the north, runs through New Philadelphia and Marietta, Ohio to the south, ultimately running its course through West Virginia and the Carolinas.
 * U.S. Route 30. Route 30 also runs through Canton.  It heads to Wooster in the west and East Liverpool in the east.

By taxi
If you want a cab in Canton, or anywhere else in Stark County, you have to call for one. At the minimum you should call 30 minutes before you need a ride.

See

Annual events

Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
The Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival is the biggest event in Canton each year. These events occur for about 10 days each summer last July to early August.

Itineraries

 * Lincoln Highway — Travel a section of the historic Lincoln Highway through Canton on Tuscarawas Street.

Drink
Drinking beer outside on public sidewalks is allowed in Canton, but only from plastic cups not cans or bottles. Most bars in downtown will sell beers to-go, though there is no discount.

Stay safe
Dial 911 from any telephone for emergency police, medical, and fire services.

Areas that are not recommended for travelers:
 * Highland Park - Now known as Skyline Terrace - Cherry Ave. south of 14th Street
 * Newton Zone - Newton Ave. between Tuscarawas and 5th Street
 * Deuce Block - 2nd St. NE by Harrisburg

Go next

 * Amish Country centered in Holmes County to the southwest of Stark County.
 * Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This park is primarily north of Canton, and follows the course of the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal between Cleveland, Akron and Canton. A number of older buildings are preserved here. The Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad, with train cars from the 1940s and 1950s also runs through the park from Cleveland and Akron. The Canal Byway extends from Lake Erie in Downtown Cleveland through the southern suburbs past Akron, Canton, New Philadelphia and into rural Bolivar and Historic Zoar.
 * Hall of Fame Cycle. Tourists can plan visits to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Inventure Place (the National Inventors Hall of Fame) in Akron, and The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
 * Hartville. About 15 minutes to the north, Hartville offers two flea markets, antique stores and a handful of restaurants.
 * Zoar Village State Memorial, 2½ miles east of I-77 (exit 93) on State Route 212. It is between New Philadelphia and Canton in Tuscarawas County. Referred to as: The quaintest, most interesting and unique village, in this country. Zoar Village was founded by German religious dissenters called the "Society of Separatists of Zoar", in 1817 as a communal society.
 * Zoar School Inn Bed and Breakfast take one or two nights for a stay in the historic first school of Zoar. Step back in time circa 1836. Enjoy fireplace and Jacuzzi suites, full gourmet breakfast and explore Zoar Village. +1 216-927-3700

title: Canton (Ohio)