text:
Puno

Puno is a port city at an altitude of over 3,800 meters, on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano of Peru. In 2018, it had about 129,000 residents. Despite its picturesque hillside setting, the city is a ramshackle collection of mostly unfinished modern buildings – its biggest attraction is as a departure point for the famous floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. This, and its proximity to the Bolivian border, means that it’s a regular stop on the South American tourist trail.

Understand
Puno is also the name of the region.

The city of Puno is a melting pot of the Aymara and Quechua cultures. Most of its inhabitants are of Andean origin and it has a unique mixture of modernity and Andean traditions. Women in traditional clothing live and work next to their modern versions.

Puno is not exactly the jewel of Peru, but it has its charms. The central square is reasonably pleasant. Calle Lima is a pedestrian walking street with most of the restaurants, bars and clubs. The main reason to visit Puno is to get out onto Lake Titicaca. Almost every hotel will offer some kind of packaged boating deal for the lake, and most of them are good. There is a lot of competition (and good business deals) between the hotels and the tour boats, so most of the prices stay fairly even. If you feel your hotel is making a reasonable offer, take it – a van will be able to pick you up right at the hotel door.

Climate
Puno's elevation is about 3,822 m, which means it is cold at night, and it is very high, so there is significant risk of altitude sickness (80% if you go directly from sea level). If you arrive from a lower elevation, it is safer to spend a few days acclimatizing at a lower altitude before Puno, and then a day or two taking it easy in order to acclimatize. A gradual ascent might start in the Sacred Valley, then Cusco, then Puno.

The sun is blisteringly hot during the day and there is less atmosphere to protect you at this altitude; you should wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. During high season (July, August) almost every day one tourist is hospitalized with sunburn, especially after falling asleep on top of one of the sometimes agonizingly slow boats to the islands of Taquile or Amantani. See also Sunburn and sun protection.

By train
Trains to and from Cusco travel three times per week. The “Andean Explorer”, run jointly by Peru Rail and Orient Express, is spectacular — one of the world’s great train journeys. It leaves Cusco W F Sa at 07:10 and arrives at Puno at 17:30 (US$313-334 one way as of Dec 2017). The other way (leaving Puno M Th Sa at 07:30, arriving at Cusco at 17:50) is significantly cheaper: US$186-196 (Dec 2017). Don’t look for the backpacker class for less money, it is not running anymore.

The trip takes in Andean mountains and valleys of the Huatanay River, before reaching the Andean Plains, La Raya (the highest point of the route) and finally Cusco. The train stops at La Raya for about 10 min to allow passengers to get off. There are stalls selling local handicrafts, e.g. alpaca sweaters, rugs, chess sets. Ensure that you bargain hard. Without a doubt, it is the best way of travelling to or from Cusco and Macchu Picchu.

The train to Arequipa is only used for goods and no longer for passengers.

By bus
The is about a 20-minute walk (or a much faster taxi ride) from the Plaza de Armas. Daily buses depart to and from Cusco, Arequipa, Copacabana, Lima, and La Paz. Buses depart to Copacabana twice daily. There are 4 buses that depart at 07:30 (S/15 (soles)) but only Titicaca has an afternoon service that leaves at 14:00 (S/20).

There is a departure fee (tasa de embarque) for passengers on buses leaving from the terminal (S/1.50 as of 2017). Pay it at a little office in the middle of the terminal, where the clerk will put a sticker on your ticket to show that you've paid.

Ormeños has buses leaving Puno between 08:00 and 09:00 every day. The departure time depends on how long the bus takes to arrive from Lima, so it is necessary to call Ormeños in Puno or Arequipa at about 07;00 to find out what time the bus will be passing through. The price is S/100 per person and the journey should take about 6 hours.

From Cusco
There are three types of buses from Cusco:

 * 1) Less expensive local buses that are bumpy and make lots of stops. They pick up passengers and salesmen, which delay the trip and often turn the bus into a driving, smelly restaurant.
 * 2) More expensive and more comfortable direct buses (around S/35 as of December 2017, or more for more comfortable seating). Almost all companies leave around 08:00 and 22:00. The ride from Cusco to Puno takes between 6 and 8 hours, depending on the bus company. These buses mostly follow the train tracks, which means you'll have most of the same views as if you took the (much more expensive) train.
 * 3) Expensive tourist buses that make stops for sightseeing, for well over S/100. Inka Express/Turismo Mer has a special tourist bus starts at 07:30 in Puno with several stops to take photos on the interesting points. It takes 8 hours to Cusco. Peru Hop buses offer comfortable and safe trip to Puno from Cusco (as well as from Lima, Arequipa or Bolivia), with free pickups and drop-offs. These bus passes are hop on hop off, and include stops along the way.

Avoid San Luis which has very bad buses!

When the overnight bus to Cusco stops at the state line for the police to inspect cargo underneath the bus, get out and watch your luggage to avoid theft.

From La Paz
Daily buses depart to and from La Paz, Bolivia on two slightly different routes.
 * 1) Direct route via Desaguadero (the fastest route, about 5 hr taking shared taxis). To do this, take a bus from the terminal that's heading for Puno. If it's taking the Desaguadero route, it'll drop you off near Bolivian passport control. After getting your passport stamped on both sides of the bridge, you'll get back on the same bus. You can change money here at one of the stalls outside Peruvian immigration – it's best if you know the exchange rate in advance.
 * 2) Via ferry boat across Lake Titicaca and Copacabana. You should change some money at the border in order to be able to pay the ferry in Bolivianos. Be prepared to change buses in Copacabana.  This will mean you will lose your good seats.

By car
From Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco or Bolivia.

By plane
From Juliaca Airport, 45 min north of Puno by road

Get around
Many of the hostels are set on a hill above the Plaza del Armas which feels even steeper because of the altitude.
 * Taxis or motor-rickshaws will not charge you more than S/3 (taxi) or S/2 (moto) for a ride within the city.
 * Urban colectivos charge S/0.50.

See
Most Puno sights are outside of the city. Check the “Go next”-section below.

 * Floating Islands Tour boats leave every 40 min from the dock (S/5 by taxi). These cost S/10 for the return boat trip plus a S/10 entry fee to the islands.  The last boat leaves around 16:30.  The boat takes you to a couple of different islands (there are more than 50) where the island’s “president” explains how the islands are built.  Everything is made of reeds, including the islands themselves, the people's houses and their boats.
 * The Islands of Taquile and Amantani where you can sleep over with a local family.
 * The peninsulas of Chucuito and Capachica that form the right and left arm of the Puno Bay. In Chucuito you can stay in Luquina Chico or Karina, in Capachica the community of Llachón is becoming famous, but you can also stay on the other side of the peninsula in Ccotos or the small island of Tikonata.

In Puno you can visit the panoramic viewpoints of the Puma and the Condor statues, but especially the last one has had security issues the last few years. Visit in group or accompanied by locals. Especially the Condor has a great view on the bay. Take a taxi (S/8) to the top and go down the more than hundred stairs, in 10 min you are on the main square.

Also worth visiting: the Dreyer Museum (S/15) close to the main square, and the Yavari boat museum. S/7 by taxi (Hotel Posada del Inca).

In the last few years a few smaller museums have opened, like the Galindo Gallery with paintings in the Cusco School style, the Paleontological Museum, the Totora Museum, and the Museo de la Coca y Costumbres/Coca and Costumes Museum, devoted to the coca leaf.

Do

 * Many agencies offer a 2 days/1 night trip to the islands of Lake Titicaca. Visit the Uros floating islands on the water, just outside of Puno, where a small community dwells in reed huts. From there, you can continue to Amantani, where you sleep over in a family house. Lastly there’s Taquile island, famous for its textiles made only by men. Ask your hostel for a quote -- it should be around S/100.
 * Kayaking with Augusto. Augusto is really into kayaking and an experienced guide. He cares very much for the well-being of the participants and does everything to make everyone feel safe and comfortable. He offers a tour to the Reserva Titicaca Lake (3 hours/US$35 per person) and to the floating islands Uros (5 hours). He was born in Peru and lived many years in the United States, so he speaks Spanish and English very well.
 * There are several llama farms in Puno available for tourists to go to. You can learn about the history and agricultural llama use. Fun Fun!, check all the places in Inca lake

Buy
You can buy souvenirs here for less than in Cusco or Lima. There is a fairly large market down by the water.

Budget
If you get away from the heavily touristed walking streets near the Plaza de Armas, there are plenty of places with inexpensive lunch and dinner combos for S/3.50 as of December 2017.

In and around the mercado central are several budget places to lunch for less than S/3.

Down Jr Tacna from the mercado, many restaurants have dinner menus for S/3 or so.

Mid-range
Most tourist spots are in and around Calle Lima, with main courses around S/20. Make sure you taste a pollo a la brasa, it’s sold everywhere and costs 20 Soles for 1/2 chicken (as of Sep 2018). A little bit of bargaining will get you a discount, but don’t push it too far if you want your food prepared without any bodily fluids.
 * Cafe restaurant Monterrey, Pasaje Grau 158, has reasonably cheap and good breakfasts.
 * Restaurant pizzeria Ollantay, Pasaje Grau 160, has pizzas, trout and alpaca. Ask for el menú.
 * Restaurant Colors, Calle Lima, has creative nouveau andean and international dishes and free Wi-Fi. Really good food and the desserts are fab!
 * Cafe restaurant Sal y Azucar, Pasaje Grau, relatively cheap but delicious desserts and some savory meals.
 * Restaurant Vida Natural, Jr. Lambayeque 141. Perfect if you like natural, fresh and tasty vegetarian food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cheap complete menus. Custom dishes on request. Friendly owners. (Closed on Saturdays)

Splurge

 * Restaurant Don Giorgio, Calle Lima, serves Italian food at very high prices, and offers Wi-Fi.

Drink

 * Fruit juices at one of the many juguerias on the second floor of the market.
 * Many gringo spots at or near the pedestrian mall.

Budget

 * Hostal Los Uros, Theodóro Valcárcel N8 135, +51-352141. Clean and decent hotel close to the center. Popular with foreigners. A single with shared bathroom cost S/20. Ask for a discount in low-season.
 * Sleeping at one of the Uros Islands: a hospedaje made of reed on the Uros Islands. The prices are well worth the atmosphere and getting away from most of the tourists on the daytrips (about S/15 a night, S/30 including dinner and breakfast).
 * Quechuas Backpackers (a.k.a. Miski Wasi Inn), Calle Santiago Giraldo No 177. A new place with super comfortable beds and good and friendly service (they will greet you by name, etc.) Free Wi-Fi. US$20 for a double or twin incl breakfast (May 2012).
 * Quechuas Backpackers (a.k.a. Miski Wasi Inn), Calle Santiago Giraldo No 177. A new place with super comfortable beds and good and friendly service (they will greet you by name, etc.) Free Wi-Fi. US$20 for a double or twin incl breakfast (May 2012).
 * Quechuas Backpackers (a.k.a. Miski Wasi Inn), Calle Santiago Giraldo No 177. A new place with super comfortable beds and good and friendly service (they will greet you by name, etc.) Free Wi-Fi. US$20 for a double or twin incl breakfast (May 2012).

Stay safe
The area is secure but it is advisable to hire the transfer from Juliaca to Puno through a tour operator of reputation.

Walking up in the hills gives nice views over the city and the lakes, but it is dangerous! Tourists are often the victims of armed robberies in the hills.

Go next
There are loads of agencies offering trips from here, and most hotels and inns will be more than happy to reserve for you. Note that the latter often charge an extra S/5 for this service.
 * Chucuito (19 km, S/1 by colectivo) can be done as a daytrip from Puno, or en route to Bolivia.
 * Cutimbo is a nice daytrip, for pre-Inca ruins and views.
 * Sillustani has the best examples of pre-Inca tombs in the area, and also has some nice lakeside views.
 * Isla Taquile, famed for its traditional Titicacan way of living, can be done either as a daytrip, or staying a night or two.
 * Uros Islands, the floating reed islands, are mostly visited on daytrips. There is a hospedaje on one of the islands.
 * Cuzco - if you can afford it and are a railway lover, the train to Cuzco is unforgettable. You won't find any locals on this train, but you'll find luxury and beautiful scenery. Bookings on Peru rail.

Bolivia

 * Copacabana

title: Puno


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Punta Allen

Punta Allen is a small fishing village in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo in the Si'an Ka'an biosphere, with a friendly atmosphere and a good number of places to stay.

Get in
After arriving in the Tulum International Airport, take a taxi or ground transportation into the town of Tulum and then rent a car, motorcycle or take a local taxi to Punta Allen. (It's also possible to ride a bike, but it would be a full-day ride.)

After arriving in the Cancún International Airport, you can either rent a car or take the buses to Tulum. In town you can arrange a rental car, motorcycle or take a taxi to Punta Allen.

By car
By car, head south on Mex 307. The four lane divided highway takes you through Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In Tulum, you take a left at the first traffic light in Tulum and head south on the only road, which ends in Punta Allen. After leaving Tulum, you will come the Sian Ka'an Park entrance - an arch made of native stone - where you need to stop and pay the entrance fee of thirty seven pesos per person per day. There is a wonderful nature trail located at the park entrance. The short trail ends at a large cenote (natural swimming pool) where you can take a refreshing dip in the water. The dirt road begins here and runs to Punta Allen, the only way back is the same road. Don't be in a hurry to get to Punta Allen, for both the beautiful scenery and the dangerous road conditions. Along the road are numerous pull-offs where you can stroll long stretches of virgin beach or watch waves crash against beautiful razor rock formations. If you rent a car to drive be sure to check your fuel levels. There are no gas stations in Punta Allen, and a round trip with the road conditions in 2018 used about 15-20L of gas (1/3 tank) in a Jeep Sahara.

Road conditions
The road is not paved south of the park entrance. The 40 km drive can take as little as 60 minutes for the locals in big beat-up pickups, and as many as 4 hours in a rented sedan. In June 2018 it took about 2 hours in a rented Jeep. Prepare for a slow, extremely bumpy ride. It is extremely inadvisable to attempt this with anything smaller than an SUV, and a Jeep is preferable if you are concerned about damage to a rental car. There are no lanes, and vehicles criss-cross the road to avoid potholes, so be aware of oncoming traffic around corners. Other traffic will often be traveling either much faster (local residents and resort staff) or much slower (motorbikes, sedans, and large trucks), so leave ample room for passing. If you find others traveling in similar vehicles, traveling convoy-style can help you identify the worst of the road conditions.

Pay attention to the weather forecast and do not attempt this ride during/after a heavy rain unless you have good 4x4 with a snorkel, off-road skills, and local knowledge of the road. The thousands of potholes fill with water extremely fast, and the dirt road turns to mud, so it is impossible to tell the relatively small potholes from the suspension-shaking ones. Expect frequent washouts/flooded sections during heavy rain.

Beware also of wildlife, especially iguanas and large crabs, that wander on the road and take their time moving out of the way.

By bus
One option for bus travelers is The first class buses running from the airport direct to Tulum and provides the best way to quickly head toward Punta Allen. Once you get to Tulum you can transfer to the one combi leaving for Punta Allen daily at 2PM. The buses from Cancun to Tulum make a stop at the Maya ruins of Tulum and then end at the bus depot in central Tulum.

The other option is to take the buses from Tulum to Felipe Carrillo Puerto (a very nice, non-tourist pueblo). If you do this, it would be better to hop a bus to Carrillo Puerto from Tulum. This is not a through road for private cars and takes almost three and one-half hours. The combis (small state run vans) leave from the corner of the Mercado for Vigia Chico at 10AM and 3PM. to Vigia Chico takes you to a pier across the bay from Punta Allen. There the water taxi will take you on a 10 minute small boat trip across the bay to Punta Allen. You might spend one night in Carrillo, depending on your travel plans and the ride to PA the next day puts you right on the beach.

Get around
Everywhere you need to go is within walking distance.

See
The beach lining the road and town is stunning, and is alone worth the drive.

There is a vast array of different colored plastic washed up among the tons of seaweed on these beaches!

Do
There is a lot to do in Punta Allen. Although relaxing in the last great unspoiled and undeveloped spot in the Yucatan is a given, Ascension Bay is considered by many to be the finest flats fishing in the world for a grand slam. There is the walk to the lighthouse or the Laguna Negro with three observation towers for bird watching and vistas. You can rent a launch and tour the flats/mangroves, snorkel the reef or visit the Maya ruins of Muyil by boat. If you arrived in a rental car, you have almost 25 miles of incredible virgin beaches to visit. There is no development between Tulum and Punta Allen and the beaches are awe inspiring, clean stretches of white sand with a good wave break on points. Excellent birding is a given year round with winter months hosting the southern migrations of many Northern species, while the Summer and Fall months host the migration of the endangered toucan and numerous parrot species.

The central park of any Mexican village or city is where people gather in the evenings to visit with family and friends. The park in Punta Allen has a playground, a half football field, and a volleyball court. This is a great place to stroll in the evenings for a meet and greet with the locals.

Buy
There are several grocery stores and the Fishermen's Cooperative has seafood, including lobster, for purchase. If you stay at either Serenidad Shardon or Sirena's, you will have kitchen access.

Eat
There are some nice restaurants in Punta Allen. The most popular ones are Muelle Viejo and Taco Loco. Punta Allen also has many small home based luncherias open in the evening serving great and inexpensive, regional fare. The locations seem to change frequently, so ask when you get to town.

Drink
Only one store sells beer, wine and liquor, but it has a fairly good supply and prices are not bad. If you bicycle in, stop at Cruzan for lunch and mention that you came by bike. You are likely to have your first drink for free.

If you stay around long enough, say a month or more, to be considered a "local", beers in restaurants are the equivalent of $1. Otherwise, the rate is twice that.

Go next

 * Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
 * Bacalar
 * Chetumal
 * Tulum

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

title: Punta Allen


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Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is the regional capital of the Magallanes y Antártica Region, in Chilean Patagonia, one of the southernmost cities in the world. It's the largest city in Chilean Patagonia, and has developed into a tourist center in far southern America rivaling Ushuaia in Argentina. It's an important starting point for trips to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands.

Understand
Punta Arenas (formerly Punta Arenosa, "Sandy Point") is located on the Brunswick Peninsula and was founded in 1848 by José de los Santos Mardones. With a population of around 125,000 (2015), it is the largest settlement on the Strait of Magellan and is 1418 km from the coast of Antarctica. The history and economic growth of the city is based on maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep breeding.

The city has all kinds of facilities, in particular an abundance of banks, shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, hiking gear shops and a duty free zone called "Zona Franca".

Don't trust the weather forecast, usually you can get rain, wind, and sun all in the same day. Snow is always expected to fall in the winter.

Punta Arenas is on the Brunswick Peninsula on the shore of the Magellan Strait connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and separating the South American mainland from Tierra del Fuego. A city of 140,000 inhabitants, it was founded by immigrants both from Europe and Chileans from further north. It boasts many grand buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the golden age of the city.

Geography and climate
Punta Arenas is in the Magellanic pampa (pampa magallánica), that is, steppe with low hills. As such sheep grazing is the main agricultural business. West and south of the city the terrain gets more forested and mountains higher, this is the southern end of the Andes and where it "sinks" into the ocean with summits forming islands. South of the city is also Cape Froward, the southernmost point in mainland South America.

The climate is Subantarctic: cold and rainy. The cold Humboldt current, as well as chilly, strong winds influence the local climate, so while Punta Arenas is at a comparable latitude to Manchester, it's much colder. The summer from December to March is the best time to visit, it's windy but the average temperature is around. During winter it's less windy but average temperatures are below freezing, and nighttime lows of are common. Rain is spread evenly throughout the year with 425 mm of yearly precipitation. Snow and frost may occur during most of the year.

History

Despite the harsh climate, many Native American peoples including the Selk'nam, Yámana, Aonikenk, and Kawésqar inhabited the region before the arrival of the Europeans. The first Europeans showing up were Ferdinand Magellan's expedition sailing through the strait in 1520. Over the years the strait became an active shipping route, but European settlement in the region didn't take off, aside of an 1584 attempt which later became known as "Puerto del Hambre" (Port of Hunger).

It would remain so until the mid-19th century when Argentina and Chile had border disputes in the region, and the Chilean garrison of Fuerte Bulnes was set up in 1843. In 1848 a civilian town was established a few kilometers north in an area then known as Punta Arenosa.

The city grew quickly with sheep farming, mining and other commercial activities, and in 1879 a gold rush attracted immigrants from Europe, particularly Croatia. But at the same time the region's native Selk'nam people, whose presence farmers and companies regarded as a "problem impairing the region's development", were at best mistreated and in the worst cases deported or killed; hunters were even paid for Selk'nam bodies. Due to this genocide, the number of native people in the region was down from 4,000 to 100 by 1930, and the last Selk'nam died in 1974.

When the Panama canal opened in 1914, the importance of the strait for international shipping declined, but it still remained a notable shipping route, and Punta Arenas one of the most developed cities in Chile. It was also an important base for Antarctic explorers during the early 20th century: Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton all passed through here. Today, tourism is an important part of the economy as the city is at the centre of Patagonia's natural attractions.

Tourist information

 * Chile Travel website on Punta Arenas

Get in
Punta Arenas can be reached by air, land, or sea.

By car
Punta Arenas doesn't have a road connection to Chile north of Patagonia (road construction is impossible due to the icefields), so you need to cross through Argentina. From northern and central Chile, the most common route goes via Osorno, turning east into Argentina, to San Carlos de Bariloche from where you continue by Ruta 40 southwards.

Alternatively you can continue along Carretera Austral on the Chilean side and cross the border as far south as near Coyhaique. In Argentina, Ruta 40 follows the Chilean border, and near Puerto Natales you can cross back into Chile. Alternatively you can continue all the way to Río Gallegos on the Atlantic coast.

From Puerto Natales

Crossing at Río Turbo near Puerto Natales, you will travel past some of the most impressive parts of Patagonia on both sides of the border; the Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres del Paine National Park. From Puerto Natales, the drive along Ruta 9 takes about three hours; the road is in a good shape and the landscape is pretty flat. A little before Punta Arenas, the road merges with the road from Río Gallegos.

From Río Gallegos
If you've started your roadtrip in eastern Argentina (e.g. Buenos Aires), followed Ruta 40 to the end, or crossed Argentina to the Atlantic coast and driven south along Ruta 3, you will pass Río Gallegos. From there it's a one-hour drive along the same highway to the Chilean border at Monte Aymond. From the border, Ruta 255 leads to Punta Arenas – this leg will take about two and a half hours.

From Tierra del Fuego
Starting your drive from Ushuaia and other places on Tierra del Fuego, there's one major road northwest, known as Ruta 3 on the Argentinian side. It's paved to San Sebastian just before the Chilean border, then gravel. The road, now Chilean Ruta 257 goes through steppe landscape to the Bahia Azul/Ponta Delgada ferry crossing. The crossing takes 20 minutes and no reservations are required, but bad weather can cancel the ferry traffic. On the northern side of the strait, the road joins the one from Río Gallegos.

It's also possible to drive along minor roads to Porvenir and cross directly to Punta Arenas (see below).

By bus
Despite its designation as a regional capital, there is no centralized bus station in Punta Arenas. Bookings should be made at the offices of the bus companies.

There are buses from Patagonia's major cities, and some services from further away. There are frequent buses from Puerto Natales, from other places much less frequent. There are also buses from Ushuaia, with a trip time of 15 hours and including a ferry crossing. Important bus companies are Bus Sur, Buses Pacheco, Buses Fernández and Turibus.

 * Turibus and Quielen Bus have departures to Punta Arenas from Osorno crossing through Argentina. The trip takes about 36 hours, but it largely depends on how quickly you get through the two border crossings.

By boat
There's a ferry a few times a week from Porvenir in Tierra del Fuego across the strait (sailing time 2 hr 20 min), operated by Transbordadora Austral Broom. The ferry takes both cars and foot passengers. The same company also sails from Puerto Williams (once or twice a week, sailing time 32 hr) and Magdalena Island.

Cruise ships visit it often, especially in the austral summer from December to March. Mostly they start out of Ushuaia, but there are some cruises from as far away as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Valparaíso.

Get around
The city is built around its main square "Plaza de Armas" where the imposing monument of Hernando de Magallanes is located. There is also a monument of a Magellan native, or Ona, that according to local legend if a tourist touches his foot it will return once again to the city. Another local legend to come back to the city is to eat Magellan Barberries (calafate), similar to blueberries. Many of the main public buildings such as the town hall or the Union Club (Club de la Union) are found around Plaza de Armas. In general, Punta Arenas is compact and walkable, but it can get really windy. You will only need transportation for lengthier trips outside of it. For these trips, you can ask for a cab (taxi), a minivan (minibus), or a collective taxi (colectivo).

By bus
There's a public bus system, Movigas with 4 lines. Lines star out from downtown to the suburbs, and therefore not so good for getting around the central parts of the city, where most points of interest are.

By taxi
Taxis are readily available and fares are affordable. There are also colectivos (route taxis).

By car
To get to attractions outside the city, consider renting a car. Popular tourist attractions outside the city can also be accessed by tour.

See

 * Visit the numerous lighthouses in and outside of the city, such as Faro San Isidro and Faro Punta Dungeness.
 * Visit the numerous lighthouses in and outside of the city, such as Faro San Isidro and Faro Punta Dungeness.
 * Visit the numerous lighthouses in and outside of the city, such as Faro San Isidro and Faro Punta Dungeness.
 * Visit the numerous lighthouses in and outside of the city, such as Faro San Isidro and Faro Punta Dungeness.
 * Visit the numerous lighthouses in and outside of the city, such as Faro San Isidro and Faro Punta Dungeness.

Do

Buy
There’s a small open market ("feria") for touristy merchandise downtown. You can find department stores, supermarkets, and a lot of outdoors shops (like Timberland and The North Face) on Calle Bories nearby.

Downtown you can find some exchange bureaux, mainly exchanging US dollars, euros, and Argentinian pesos for Chilean peso. Some places catering to tourists accept these currencies too, but at a bad rate.

The shopping district are centered on Plaza de Armas and the Bories and Magallanes streets. There are many souvenir shops here, and widespread souvenirs are small penguin plush toys and jarabe de calafate (syrup of calafate berries) to make calafate sour cocktails (a variant of pisco sour).

Eat
Sheep are the only farm animals that can be raised in the region and as such lamb has a central part in the local cuisine. It can be prepared in many ways, but the classical dish is asado patagónico, lamb barbecue. Seafood is also popular, common ingredients including salmon, trout, crab and other shellfish.

Drink
Punta Arenas has an interesting nightlife. You can go out to dance, have a drink, or gamble in the casino

Sleep
Punta Arenas has all types of lodging, from inexpensive backpackers hostels with shared everything, international chain hotels and unique boutique and design hotels. Beds fill up in the high season during austral summer (around Christmas, New Year's and early January), so book early.

Mid-range

Splurge

Connect
Chilean operators Claro, Entel, Movistar and WOM have 3G and 4G (LTE) coverage in the city. Away from the built-up area, especially away from the main highway, don't expect any coverage at all.

Go next
Punta Arenas is the launching point for various expeditions to (relatively) nearby Antarctica.

Brunswick Peninsula

 * Lesser known places to see penguins are the rookeries on the west coast of the peninsula, around 60 km from Punta Arenas. Drive a few kms north of the city, take road Y-550 west across the peninsula to Y-530 (or drive to the airport and take Y-530 from there) and follow the coastline. In addition to penguins, you may also see guanacos and ñandúes as well as shepherds with sheep. On the west coast, further north, there's also an open pit coal mine, the Mina Pecket.

Cabo Froward, the southernmost point of the continent is 40 km of hiking from the endpoint of the road.

 * Rey Jorge Island Natural Sea Park (whale observation).
 * Fuerte Bulnes, a historical reconstruction of the site were Chile took possession of the Strait of Magellan.
 * Seno Skyring
 * Cabo Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America. Can be reached overland or by kayak. There are numerous companies in town that lead guided expeditions.
 * Puerto del Hambre, an early Spanish colony which failed and under the name of Port Famine became a Royal Navy base. It was here that Captain Pringle Stokes, the captain of HMS Beagle, shot himself in his cabin due to severe depression and temporary command was given to Lieutenant W.G. Skyring. Stokes' fatal depression was attributed to the boring nature of the local geography.

Further away

 * Puerto Natales
 * Torres del Paine National Park, near Puerto Natales.
 * Ushuaia
 * Puerto Williams
 * National Park Alberto de Agostini - The Arka Patagonia tour company runs tours to this remote national park. It is accessible only by sea, and comprises hundreds of islands south of Cape Froward.
 * Australis runs tours to Cape Horn.
 * Fly with Latam to the Falkland Islands.

title: Punta Arenas


text:
Punta Cana

Punta Cana is a town and tourist region at the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic. The region, covering about, is home to a coastline of sandy white beaches.

Understand
In the province of La Altagracia with a population estimated at 100,000, the region borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east. To the north, it borders Bávaro and El Cortecito. It also borders Cabeza de Toro, Cabo Engaño and further west, Juanillo.

Peak season in Punta Cana tends to run from December-April. Prices in both airfare and hotel increase dramatically during these times, while dropping in the summer and early fall months.

Punta Cana has a tropical climate. Although it is mildly windy, the ocean in the area is mainly shallow, with several natural marine pools in which visitors can bathe. The weather is fairly constant, with an average temperature of 26°C. The hottest season lasts from April to November, and during the day temperatures might reach 32°C. From December to March, temperatures during the evening are around 20°C. Very little rain falls around the area, mostly because of the flat landscape. The summer months tend to be very warm and very humid. It is suggested you wear loose fitting, cotton clothing, so pack light.

Punta Cana was founded as a tourist resort and tourism still is 100% of the local economy. Prices are much higher than in the rest of the Dominican Republic and within the area prices in the resorts are higher than outside (up to 300% for postcards, cigars and souvenirs). Therefore lots of resorts employ the tactic of scaring their visitors from venturing outside by propagating stories of robberies, murders and rape. These have to be taken with a grain (or a pound) of salt; people tend to be very friendly and helpful. Still, flashing jewellery, expensive gadgets or lots of money is not recommended.

By plane

Most people going to Punta Cana are staying at a resort. With a resort package most hotels will have airport pick up arranged for you at the Punta Cana Airport. You will find this area to the right as you depart the final customs check area. Just look for your hotel name on a sign that many guides will have, and they will direct you to your bus. Private taxis are also available at fixed prices.

In fact, Punta Cana has one of the busiest and best connected airports in the region being at times reported as one of the busiest airports in the entire Caribbean, and usually receiving more flights than the Aeropuerto Internacional de Las Américas, in Santo Domingo (about a three-hour drive).

The Punta Cana Airport has a beautiful thatched roof and is an open-air design, also meaning that few areas of the airport have air conditioning. Upon arriving at the Punta Cana airport, each passenger is required to purchase a USD10 tourist card before entering immigration, often included in your documentation upon departure or issued on the flight (unless you have a Dominican passport, a cedula residence card or your foreign passport shows that you were born in the Dominican Republic). After retrieving luggage and clearing customs, arriving passengers will be greeted by their tour company representative to the right and directed to board the correct bus for transfer to their resort. Do not venture out looking for your bus without first checking in at the counters. The buses are numbered, thus you will not know which one to get on to.

Taxis are waiting just outside and drivers know all big resorts (though not necessarily the few small guesthouses or hostels).

By bus
Expreso Bavaro (by APTPRA) go from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana (from their respective terminals in Santo Domingo). Buses are modern (toilet, movies, some with WiFi) and drivers drive safely.

Get around
Tour Operators: Most passengers arriving in Punta Cana International Airport have prearranged local transportation through a tour operator. These companies have representatives at the airport to guide guests to vehicles waiting to take them to the reserved resort. If you are travelling with a tour operator it is highly recommended that you attend any welcome meetings and orientations offered by your tour operator. In these meetings you'll receive important information regarding your hotel and immediate area information, activity and excursion options, and departure information.

Taxis: If you are not travelling with a tour operator, a number of taxi drivers are available just outside the Customs area to provide you transportation to the place of your choice. All taxis operate with standard rates; most drivers carry a copy of these. The best thing to do when hiring a taxi is to clarify your destination and the price in advance. You pay upon arrival at your destination. Most hotels have taxi stations on or near their property; in most cases a bellman or front desk clerk can order a taxi for you. Taxi drivers accept dollars, pesos, and euros.

Local Buses: For the more adventurous, the local bus lines operate on most of the roads of the area, for a minimal cost. The downside to public transport in the Dominican Republic is irregular bus schedules, crowded vehicles, and potentially unsafe vehicles (689 casualties in 2007), drivers, or passengers. Although for the most part it is a safe and effective means of transportation, it is generally recommended to use one of the more frequented means of getting around.

Rent-a-Car: A number of car rental agencies like Europcar, Budget, and Avis offer service in the area of Punta Cana and Bavaro. Many hotels have car rental concessionaires on their properties. Driving laws, habits, and conditions may be different from the ones you are used to. When renting a vehicle always take the maximum available insurance, keep a map of the area you intend to drive in, and make sure you are comfortable with the drive.

Motoconchos: Motorbike taxis are by far the cheapest and fastest private mode of transportation (DOP100 for a ride from Friusa to Bavaro beach). Depending on the area, one will be either offered rides permanently (e.g. in Friusa) or will have to look for them. At the beaches, staff at the shops usually can point one to the place where they are waiting or even call one. Helmets are not provided though and one should not use a motoconcho while inebriated.

Buy
Make sure you spend the remainder of your Dominican pesos. It is next to impossible elsewhere to convert your pesos back to US dollars or euros.

There are a variety of shops along the beachfront of each resort. These shops are owned and operated by the locals. Shopping outside of the resort complex in Punta Cana/Bavaro can be kind of an adventure. In most shopping plazas, you can expect to be approached by one or more friendly, but insistent salespersons. The people of the Dominican Republic love to bargain. You can expect that once in one of their stores you will be taken for a ride. You will initially be quoted ridiculously outrageous prices. It is imperative that you get the item as cheaply as you can. This can become quite an ordeal as the shopkeeper fights with you, insults you for your frugality, etc.

When walking along the beach vendors will solicit your business. It can be annoying as they will keep pestering you until you come and look at what they have to offer. Tell them that you are not interested and keep walking. The best way of letting the locals know that you are not interested is to tell them that you have no money. The people of the Dominican Republic are very friendly and are offended when you walk past them with no acknowledgement of their presence. A simple "no, thank you" may sometimes work, but in most cases, they will not take no for an answer and will continue to chase and harass you.

Do not buy dried animals (turtle shells, sea shells, etc.) because a) It is illegal, so you will not be allowed to bring them through customs, and may get arrested trying; and b) it encourages the locals to kill these creatures. Reef life should stay in the sea, so help to preserve these endangered animals by buying other types of souvenirs.

Drink

 * Drinking from the tap is not recommended. You should be okay using it to brush your teeth, but don't swallow it. Most hotels provide bottled water in the rooms; restaurants and bars use purified water and ice for your food and beverages.
 * All-inclusive resorts have an endless supply of liquor. You may also drink at neighboring resorts within your own property, but you may have to pay or let them know your room number and resort name at the very least.
 * With the sun constantly beating down on you (much stronger since it is right next to the Tropic of Cancer) and the endless supply of alcohol, dehydration is a constant danger. Make sure you drink lots of water or you may end up in a doctor's office suffering from dehydration and a fever.
 * Mamajuana is a local concoction of rum, wine, root or tree bark, and honey. However, there may be different recipes for the same beverage that locals say functions like liquid Viagra.

Beer
Presidente is the most popular national brand of beer, and it is readily available anywhere. It is available in both regular and lite versions. For a beer with a bit more taste, you should try Bohemia, made by the same company, but with a fuller flavour. Also available in a lite version.

Rum
You will encounter many different types of rum:
 * White rums are generally light-bodied. They are clear and have a subtle flavour. These are primarily used as mixers and blend particularly well with fruit flavours.
 * Golden rums also known as Amber rums are generally medium-bodied. Most have spent several years ageing in casks, giving them a smooth palate.
 * Dark rums are traditionally full-bodied, rich, caramel-dominated rums. The richest of these rums are consumed straight up.
 * Anejo and age-dated rums are aged rums from different vintages or batches that are mixed together. The youngest rum in the blend contains a blend of rums that are at least 10 years old.

Most often, you will be offered Brugal or Barcelo rum. Highly recommended rums are Burmudez Don Armando and Anniversario 1852, as well as Macorix Eight Year.

Coffee
Though in most Latin and Central American countries coffee is produced primarily for export, most of the coffee grown in the Dominican Republic is savored within its borders. And Dominicans, like Europeans, enjoy their coffee strong and black. One useful phrase for tourists to learn when ordering coffee is "sin azucar" (no sugar) for the simple reason that the locals measure by tablespoon rather than teaspoon.

Connect
Many hotels offer Wi-Fi areas in the lobby. If you walk outside your resort, Internet cafés will be half the price (yet still pricey by Dominican standards). For example, USD8 per hour in the resort, USD4 per hour in town in Punta Cana or Bavaro. In other parts of the DR, Internet cafés are USD2 per hour or often less.

Stay safe
Be careful when trying to get an Uber from one of the resorts in Punta Cana. Taxi mafias will follow you and harass you, and they will also call the Tourist Police to make a trouble with your Uber driver should he be brave enough to come and pick you up.

Go next
The north is hard to reach, unless going by private car, so Santo Domingo or, on the way, La Romana and Juan Dolio are the only logical next hops.

title: Punta Cana


text:
Punta de Choros

Punta de Choros is a sleepy little fishing village in Coquimbo about 100 km north of La Serena. During the summer it receives a lot of Chilean and foreign tourists looking to enjoy the beach and nearby nature reserve, but during the winter it is relatively empty.

Understand
The major draw is the National Humboldt Penguin Reserve, where it is possible to see Humboldt penguins, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, sea otters, and many types of seabirds. Sea lions are visible all year round. Dolphin sightings are frequent but not guaranteed. During the summer, the penguins are quite active hunting and swimming. During the winter, the penguins nest in the rocks high above so it is more difficult to see them from the boats.

Get in
The most convenient way to get to Punta de Choros is by car. It is about two hours from La Serena. A 4WD is recommended as the road after turning off Ruta 5 winds through some mountains and is somewhat bumpy.

If you don't want to rent a car, there is a micro bus that goes between La Serena and Punta de Choros twice a day. The bus leaves from the Panaderia El Griegos in La Serena around 09:00, and another one later in the afternoon. Similarly, there is a bus leaving Punta de Choros around 09:00, and another one around 15:00. In both directions they will drop you off at several points in town, just tell the driver where you want to go. The cost is 4,500 pesos per person one way, These buses are basically run by two guys Eduardo (9377 0514) and Hector (8970 3499), so it is strongly advisable to call ahead to confirm the schedule. Once you are in Punta de Choros, you can ask your hostel to call for you.

It is also possible to visit Punta de Choros as part of a tour from La Serena.

Get around
Punta de Choros is very small, and it is easy to get anywhere you want in the town on foot. However, the streets are unpaved and dusty, and you will occasionally see cars driving around.

Do

Punta de Choros is a good place to participate in many water sports. Kayaking, surfing, fishing, swimming, and scuba diving are popular here, particularly in the summer. There are dive operators on the island who can also help to arrange other activities.

Buy
There is not much to buy in Punta de Choros. There are a couple of small stores for simple groceries and other essentials, but this is not a place to buy souvenirs.

Eat
Restaurants can often be identified by their Coca-Cola flags. Most are small, family-run establishments, and the best way to find one is just to walk around.

Sleep

Additionally, the two dive shops have cabins to rent out, and there is a camping area near the dock.

Stay safe
There are dogs all over Punta de Choros, and some can be quite territorial. In some cases they are strays, though many are owned by locals. Try not to aggravate any of them. Yelling "¡Baja!" or "¡Salga!" in a firm voice will sometimes get them to leave you alone.

title: Punta de Choros


text:
Punta del Diablo

Punta del Diablo is a small seaside village in the Department of Rocha on the Atlantic Coast of Uruguay. Amid the notable development which houses summer crowds, the town maintains its rustic charm, with only a handful of colorful shops, a seasonal outcropping of bohemian cafes, a school and a beach full of fishing boats.

Understand
Every summer the town grows from a few hundred residents to upwards of twenty thousand vacationers, consisting of mainly Argentinians, Brazilians and Uruguayans. Although the peak season is defined by a primarily regional crowd, Punta del Diablo has established the Uruguayan coast as a destination for a growing number of foreign travelers throughout the year.

The essence of the charming balneario, known for its eclectic architecture and traditional artisan fishing industry, differs greatly from summer to winter. While the two seasons are very distinct they both have a lot of appeal. The summer consists of sunbathing on one of the several gorgeous beaches and partying the night away at the town’s popular night clubs among throngs of eager vacationers trying to make the most of their summer holidays. Winter, on the other hand, is much quieter. Travelers enjoy deliciously deserted beaches, unbeatable surfing conditions and fireside chats. Without the crowds, slow season in Punta del Diablo is all about getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city and finding your own idyllic coastal escape.

Get in
Punta del Diablo is served by regular bus service to Chuy (the border with brazil), Rocha (departmental capital), and Montevideo. During the summer there is also seasonal service along the coast to La Paloma, La Pedrera and Punta del Este.

There are some buses which don't actually stop in Punta del Diablo, but just at the turn off at the highway. It's a 5-km walk or an easy hitch hike into town.

Another suggestion is to rent a car from Montevideo and drive through the wonderful coastal towns and rural landscape. If you are 4 travelers or more consider this as it will give you flexibility and not confine you to a rather sparse bus schedule. Car rental cost versus buses tickets are actually not that far off if you plan ahead. Should you rent a car in Montevideo do not rent from agencies directly in the port terminal arrival area but call other locations: you will be surprised that the price will be at least half that of the terminal agencies even if they are the same company.

Get around
It is possible walk from one end of town to the other in about an hour. For people staying at "el camping" on the main road in to town there is a regular bus service which brings people from there to the playa de pescadores (fisherhman's beach). Many locals have motos, 4 wheelers, or horses to get around. You do not need a vehicle to get around. There is a taxi which often is parked near the bus stop to carry your luggage to the house you've rented.

Do
Good surfing, long beaches. Relaxed. Season starts in mid December and runs through mid February. Tourism week, as Uruguay calls Easter week, is also part of the high season. In the summer it's possible to take jeep tours to various local sights like the Ombu forest, rent horses to ride along the beach, and generally enjoy the sun.

Buy
There is one ATM, which only operates during the summer, and it may not work for foreign cards and only dispenses pesos - many accommodation owners want to be paid in US dollars. There is a bank on the Uruguayan side of Chuy (about one hour's bus journey away) that will give US dollar cash advances.

Eat
There is a 'food plaza' (plaza de comidas) to the south of the center and restaurants along the main strip. During the off season most, but not all restaurants are closed. The cost of food is about twice as much as the rest of Uruguay (excluding coastal holiday towns).

In addition to the restaurants it's possible to buy fish and sea food directly from the fishermen at stands along the beach.

There are four or five small supermarkets in town, some of which have butcher's counters.

Drink
There are about a dozen small bars and clubs in Punta del Diablo, most of which are located in the center of town. During the high season, you can always find a place to have some drinks while enjoying some live music.

Sleep
There are a few small hotels and hostels in town. Most people rent cabins or a house during their stay. The cost range from US$10 in the off season to US$300 per night in the high season (Dec 15-Feb 15th). Almost every house in town gets rented out during the high season. In the low season the restaurants, most hotels, and cabin rentals shut down. Those that are open are much cheaper than the high season. It's possible to rent a house for a month in the low season for what it would cost for a day in January. Do note that no basic items are included in rentals: towels, bedding and toilet paper are for you to bring. Some rentals will "rent" you towels and bedding: US$10 for each bedding, towels are US$5 each.

During the first two weeks of January everything is full and reservations are required even for a bed in a shared room in one of the hostels. Prices escalate!

Go next
There is regular bus service from the central plaza to Chuy (Brazilian border), Rocha (the city), Punta del Este, and Montevideo.

Bus travel time:

 * Chuy 1 hour
 * Rocha 1.5 hours
 * Punta del Este 3 hours
 * Montevideo 4 hours

title: Punta del Diablo


text:
Punta del Este

Punta del Este is a beach resort town in Uruguay complete with casinos, beaches, yachts and lots of tourists from all over the world. Many of these tourists come from the other side of the Rio de la Plata from Argentina to get some nice fun in the sun on a beach away from the brown waters of the Rio de la Plata. Punta del Este is located in Maldonado Department, adjacent to the departmental capital of Maldonado, on the Atlantic Coast in the south of the country. The city had a population of 9,300 people in 2011.

Popular tourist spots include La Barra, Punta Ballena, Casa Pueblo, Pan de Azúcar or the island where you can swim with sea lions.

Understand
The unspoilt Uruguayan peninsula of Punta del Este is all heavenly beaches, exotic sophistication, beautiful people and an ardent night scene. Punta del Este is sometimes called the Monaco of South America. There are many travel sights, including the amazing restaurants. Urbanization and the construction of high-rise buildings are obscuring the sun, however. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very, very crowded in the summer, unusual for a city this size.

By plane

Another option is flying to Montevideo airport where the fares are usually lower and there are far more connections available. From MVD Airport, Punta del Este is only an hour and a half away by bus.

By bus
Regular buses come back and forth from Montevideo (US$ 40 roundtrip), making Punta del Este a convenient day trip (two hours by bus, see timetables). If you accidentally get off the bus at Maldonado Terminal which is a few kilometers north of Punta del Este you can easily catch a local bus (marked "Punta del Este" in top front) at the stop just behind the bus terminal for about US$ 1 cash.

Punta del Este can also be reached by bus from the Canelones and Rocha seaside resorts, as well as from Colonia del Sacramento, Minas, Durazno and Salto.

International buses are also available from Porto Alegre and Florianópolis (US$ 180-200 roundtrip).

By cruise ship
Punta del Este is served by some cruise lines in the summer. Mostly on itineraries departing from Buenos Aires or Santos.

By car
Punta del Este is a two-hour drive from Montevideo and a slightly longer drive from the Brazilian border. Coming from Argentina, if arriving by ferry in Colonia, it's a 4 hour drive; otherwise, if driving all the way from Buenos Aires, plan for at least an eight-hour drive plus some delays (huge in the summer) at the border because of customs controls.

Get around
The bulk of Punta del Este is on a peninsula jutting into the ocean. The perimeter of this peninsula can easily be traversed by foot.

To get to La Barra o José Ignacio you had better have a means of transport like a car (renting a car is always going to be the best way to visit all the places). Buses are not very frequent and public transport like taxis usually has to be called over the phone (very expensive compared to standards of the rest of Uruguay). Hitchhiking is common for young people since night clubs are far from each other and people may be staying in places far from the clubs. If you have a car, be kind; pick up someone (especially in the morning, after the clubs have closed). Remember that Punta del Este is very safe, but normal precautions should always be taken.

You can rent a moped (scooter) for US$10/hour or US$45/day at several places.

See
The beautiful sunsets in the port of Punta del Este, La Barra or Jose Ignacio are other spots not too far away (by car), from Punta del Este itself. Go to the beaches, being a peninsula you have two coastlines, one of them is pretty quiet and calm (called "mansa"), and the other one is windy, with some surf spots (called "brava"). Famous beaches includes: "La playa de los Dedos" (the finger beach"), which is near the main street in Punta del Este, close to a surf spot, and it has a giant hand emerging from the sand. In La Barra the Bikini Beach is famous because of the models and famous people that go there. The endless beaches, beautiful seaside mansions, tree-lined streets, chic boutiques, stylish people.

 * Port - with the fish market and a lighthouse. You can also see sea lions swimming around and begging for food.
 * Arboretum Lussich - a botanic garden displaying mainly exotic species. It is one of the most important botanic gardens worldwide.
 * Museo del Indio y Megafauna
 * Reserva de Fauna Autoctona - Pan de Azucar - a zoo of indigenous animals on Uruguay's highest hill.
 * Castillo Pittamiglio
 * Cuartel de Dragones - Historical site
 * Arboretum Lussich - a botanic garden displaying mainly exotic species. It is one of the most important botanic gardens worldwide.
 * Museo del Indio y Megafauna
 * Reserva de Fauna Autoctona - Pan de Azucar - a zoo of indigenous animals on Uruguay's highest hill.
 * Castillo Pittamiglio
 * Cuartel de Dragones - Historical site

Do

 * Punta del Este is a very important tourist port. The upper crust has its yachts there and if you want to rent a boat, this is the place to ask.
 * Tanning is a popular activity on Punta del Este's famous beaches. You can choose from beaches on the calm side of the peninsula where you can rent jet skis or banana boat trips, or on the other, windier side. Punta del Este has some good surfing spots, not as good as La Paloma (150km up to the north of Punta del Este), but it gets pretty decent in good days.
 * You can also rent sea bikes, windsurf and kite-surfing equipment, and surf boards.
 * Punta del Este has an island nearby called Isla Gorriti. It is protected because of its nature so there are no great buildings or anything like that. You can take a 20-minute ferry (US$20 round trip) at the port that will drop you off at the island where you can enjoy the fun atmosphere, beach, and good food at the restaurant. It is also possible to take private yachts, speedboats, or sailboats to the island and anchor by the shore. Renting a boat is nice in good weather.
 * Come to the port in the morning (9-10AM) when the fishermen prepare their caught fish and throw the leftovers into the water for the waiting sea lions and seals.

Buy

 * Avenida Gorlero is the town's main street, with all sorts of shops and an artisan market. The parallel 20th Street El Remanso has several high end boutiques.
 * Punta Shopping is the largest shopping mall. It suffered a massive fire in August 2022, so temporary stores were opened in the parking lot.

Eat
As a popular resort, Punta del Este's food can be expensive—if taking a day trip from Montevideo, consider bringing your own lunch.

Punta del Este has a seafood-based cuisine. It has a huge variety of food with dishes like tortugón, paella, chivito, hot dog, sushi, and fish among others.

Seafood is delicious. Chivitos (steak sandwiches) and asado (steak) are the locals' favourite dishes. Aside from that, pretty much any type of food can be found: sushi, Indian, Italian, French cuisine, etc.

Drink
Local and imported wines (especially Argentinian and European vineyards). There's a famous drink in all Uruguay called "medio y medio" (half and half) which is a mix of sweet sparkling wine, and dry white wine.

Punta del Este is famous for its clubbing scene. Most parties start very late, between midnight and 3AM and end around dawn. You cannot name a specific club because it's probably going to change its name or its location the next year. Don't worry, they do good marketing, so you will find out very easily.

Every year the night life changes, so you never know which is going to be place that will hit the summer in Punta del Este. Most of the clubs are away from the peninsula of Punta del Este, mainly in La Barra. But the fashion places changes, it depends on the year.

You can expect high prices for club entries in late December and early January, and specially in the weekends. After 15 January the prices go down (this includes most of the things), and although there may be still a lot of people in Punta del Este, it is not going to be as crowded. Anyway, expect a lot of movement in the clubs at weekends.

Sleep
Book ahead between Christmas and carnival, when most every bed is taken. Staying in the peninsula of Punta del Este is probably the best option if you don't have a car, as buses are few, and cabs are expensive. Keep in mind that beds here are among the most costly on the continent.

Splurge

 * The Chic Collection Hoteles & Resorts. The most exclusive 4 and 5 stars hotel collection at Punta del Este. Each hotel maintains its own and strong personality, providing a wide variety of possibilities to tourists. The Chic Collection consists of Barradas Parque Hotel, Hotel del Lago Golf & Art Resorts and Golden Beach Resort & Spa.

Go next

 * Nearby beach towns make for convenient day trips or nice overnight escapes from the crowds of Punta del Este.
 * Piriapolis – Another beach resort that is more laid-back and less fancy.
 * Maldonado – The department capital, is adjacent to Punta del Este.
 * La Paloma, Cabo Polonio, Punta del Diablo, etc. – These destinations are more laid-back and with their own tranquil atmosphere. They are the places you want to head for if you do not get what all the fuss is about Punta del Este. There are no regular buses from Punta del Este, so either hitch-hike (if you get out of the city) or transfer via the Maldonado terminal or San Carlos which has regular and frequent buses to those destinations.

title: Punta del Este


text:
Punta Gorda

There is more than one place called Punta Gorda:

Belize

 * Punta Gorda (Belize) - The capital city of the Toledo district.

United States of America

 * Punta Gorda (Florida) - A city in Charlotte County in Florida.

title: Punta Gorda


text:
Punta Gorda (Belize)

Punta Gorda is the southernmost town in Belize, and the capital of the Toledo District. It was founded as Peini by the Garifuna and is today home to over 5,000 people from the many different ethnic groups found in Toledo. While it remains a fairly sleepy little town except for market days, it gives travellers a genuine taste of the 'real' Belize.

Once viewed by all but the most adventurous travellers only as a gateway to Guatemala, Punta Gorda is now increasingly used as a base for the inland and marine activities in Toledo.

Get in
Punta Gorda is on the Southern Highway. Four hours by car from Belize City (via Western and Hummingbird Highways); 3.5 hours from San Ignacio (via Western and Hummingbird Highways); 2.5 hours from Hopkins; and 2 hours from Placencia.

There are several daily buses between Belize City and P.G, with James Bus Line offering the most frequent service. The express bus takes 5 1/4 hours, and the regular around 6 or 6 1/2 hours. This is certainly the cheapest option at US$12 each way.

Maya and Tropic have flights to P.G. Tropic flight is US$120.75 each way from the international airport (as of 26 Feb 2009), or US$102 from the Belize Municipal Airstrip (cab fares from the international airport to the Municipal airstrip are set at US$25).

PG is also served by 3 daily water taxis from Puerto Barrios in Guatemala (around 1 1/4 hours, US$20 - US$25), or direct from Livingston, Guatemala, on Tuesdays or Fridays in 45 minutes. The boats will not run if the weather is too bad. These routes represent a southerly route from Guatemala until about 2015 when southern land route should be finished (only for the adventurous). You can use this route from Tikal by taking the bus to Rio Dulce, town, and then boat along the awe inspiring Rio Dulce, river which ends in Livingston.

Get around
P.G. is small and walkable. The town has 5 main streets running north to south (Front, Main, Jose Maria Nunez, West, and Far West), and several cross streets. Day-time activity tends to centre around Central Park and its clocktower on Main Street, and the market area on Front Street. Some hotels offer free bikes for guests to use, and bike hire may be available through 'Mr Pops' near the University of Belize.

PG has introduced a new one-way system (head south on Front Street, and head north on Main Street) - watch out for the signs!

Do

 * Hire a kayak from TIDE Tours (on Front Street) and paddle the Joe Taylor Creek for some good birdwatching, or kayak the coastline around town and north to the Rio Grande or south to Orange Point. Kayaks US$2.50, US$7.50, and US$12.50 for 1 hour, half-day and full-day rental respectively
 * Snorkel at the Snake Cayes or fish in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, just north of Punta Gorda Town
 * Dive at the Sapodilla Cayes at the southern hook of the Belize barrier reef
 * visit PG's market on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. Many vendors travel into PG from the outlying Toledo villages, selling mainly locally grown fruits and vegetables. Keep an eye out for homemade chocolate, and copal incense.
 * Cycle south-west to Boom Creek Village and cool off in the Moho River
 * Take a cookery class at Mr Gomier's and learn how to make soy milk and tofu! (US$25/US$50 for half/full day lessons).
 * Walk the tiny beach near the cemetery and look for sea glass
 * Take a day-trip to Livingston in Guatemala (direct boat departs PG 10AM on Tuesdays and Fridays, returns daily at 3PM)
 * Book an inland tour to visit Maya sites, the Maya villages, Barranco village and the Sarstoon-Temash National Park, Blue Creek for cave swimming, Rio Blanco National Park, and San Antonio Falls
 * Head to Reef Bar for live music and Garifuna drumming on Friday and Saturday evenings
 * Go to Garifuna Mass, held every other Sunday morning at St Peter Claver Parish Church, with Garifuna hymns

Buy
There is a Belize Bank with an ATM that accepts most foreign cards, and also a branch of Scotia Bank. The bank will only let you buy US$50 and charge a US$2.50 service fee. You can change your Belize dollars for Guatemala quetzales with money changers in front of the immigration office and at some hotels at a rate of Q3.5 for BZ$1(a 10% loss).

 * The Fajina Craft Centre, just north of the market on Front Street, is open in the morning on market days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Visit them for Maya crafts, and the traditional embroidered Maya blouses
 * Mr Sanchez the Jeweller on Main Street just south of the Peter Claver School makes traditional Maya earrings - you'll see them worn by many ladies in the District, but they are uncommon elsewhere
 * Maya Bags is a local co-operative who make embroidered bags, for sale in Belize and also exported to the US. Their workshop is just south of the Tropic Air office at the airstrip

Eat

 * Gomier's on the north side of town has excellent vegetarian food at very reasonable prices, featuring homemade soy milk and tofu. (He may also serve fish, but nobody ever seemed to order anything other than the vegetarian special du jour.)
 * Emery Restaurant serves simple Belizean food. The shrimpburger is an experience.
 * Mariann's Bayview Restaurant on the seafront serves East Indian and Belizean cuisine on the breezy thatch-covered roof terrace. Cohune cabbage, made with hearts of palm flavoured with 'yellow ginger' (turmeric) is one not to be missed!
 * Mangrove Inn overlooking the sea at Cattle Landing has some of the best food in town and offers an ever-changing menu. Run by husband and wife team Iconie and John
 * Reef Bar, above Punta Gorda Market, has a range of international and Belizean food, and has live music and Garifuna drumming most Fridays and Saturdays
 * Garay's Kitchen at the end of the 'boulevard' on the western side of town near the BTL telephone mast has some of the best value lunch options (US$3) and great barbecue chicken on Saturdays
 * Marenco's Ice Cream Parlour on Main Street just south of the Clocktower serves good food, icy cold fruit juices, and - of course - great ice cream
 * Driftwood on Front Street just past the gas station is a nice cafe style restaurant with burgers, falafel and other veggie options and good cappuccinos, smoothies, and juices. Emmet, the owner, offers creole drumming classes.
 * Driftwood on Front Street just past the gas station is a nice cafe style restaurant with burgers, falafel and other veggie options and good cappuccinos, smoothies, and juices. Emmet, the owner, offers creole drumming classes.

Go next

 * Livingston (Guatemala)
 * Lubaantun

title: Punta Gorda (Belize)


text:
Punta Gorda (Florida)

Punta Gorda is a city in Southwest Florida. After being devastated by a hurricane in 2004, the city has rebounded by building a new marina the Harborwalk, Linear Park and various trails throughout the city for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

By plane

Sarasota-Bradenton Airport is served by six airlines with service to 11 destinations. Air Canada serves Toronto from Sarasota.

Southwest Florida International Airport, in Fort Myers, is the nearest full-service airport.

By car
Punta Gorda is located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and US Route 17, about 58 miles south of Sarasota, 33 miles north of Fort Myers, and 92 miles south of Winter Haven.

See
There are lots of historic sites.

Go next

 * Across the bay to Port Charlotte
 * South to Cape Coral

title: Punta Gorda (Florida)


text:
Punta Mita

Punta Mita is a beachfront village on the north end of Banderas Bay in the state of Nayarit, about 40 km northwest of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The beach around the Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts is private. Around the village Corral del Risco the beaches are public. Punta Mita is famous for its spectacular sunsets, its variety of surfing conditions, and big resorts with golf, tennis and water activities.

Understand
Punta Mita is surrounded on three sides by of Pacific Ocean beaches and coves including Litibu Bay.

The village is kept comfortable year round by gentle sea breezes, with average summer temperatures around 85 °F (29 °C), and 75 °F (24 °C) during winter months.

It has two marked seasons: a dry season from November through May, and a wet season from June through October, during this season hurricanes may threaten the village. UV radiation levels are high all year round, ranging from 7 in January and December, to 11+ between April and September. From mid-May to mid-November the heat and humidity can be uncomfortable in Punta Mita. The most comfortable weather in Punta Mita generally occurs from late December to the end of March.

Time zone
Perhaps uniquely in the world, Punta Mita has various businesses operating on two different time zones, due to its proximity to the state line (where you cross the river before Nuevo Vallarta) between two of Mexico's time zones: Zona Centro towards East, and Zona Pacífico towards West:
 * Jalisco Time = Puerto Vallarta time = Central Time
 * Nayarit time = Mountain Time

Most touristy places between Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita operate on Central Time. In Punta Mita, the restaurants on El Anclote beach are on Central time. However, non-touristy businesses (small stores) are on Mountain time. If in doubt, ask if it's "Tiempo de Jalisco" or "Tiempo de Nayarit?".

Get in
A fairly simple way of getting to Punta Mita is to fly in to nearby Puerto Vallarta and rent a car. The drive to Punta Mita takes about an hour. If staying at one of the condos, food can be purchased at some of the large supermarkets along the highway.

There are frequent direct buses from the airport to Punta Mita for M$36 (Nov 2021). Just go to the highway and cross the pedestrian bridge. From Puerto Vallarta, buses to Punta Mita leave from the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Do
The Islas Marietas National Park is a 15-minute boat ride from Punta Mita. It is one of the most scenic offshore parks in Mexico. Tours depart from other towns along the coast as well, but Punta Mita is the most convenient choice with the shortest boat ride.

Surfing
Punta Mita is well known among surfers for its reliable and varied conditions with seven point breaks around the peninsula. Some of the best surfing spots in Punta Mita are:

 * The Cove offers prime surfing in Punta Mita with some surfers saying it is the best place in Bahia Banderas. Surfing is best at high tide. It can take 30-40 minutes to walk to the Cove, or you can hire a panga to take you.

 * El Anclote is the best place for beginners to learn longboard surfing because the surf break is long and slow with a smooth pitch.

 * La Lancha is recommended for longboard surfing, particularly when the tide is coming in or going out. Also about a 30-40 minute walk from town, or take a lancha.

 * Punta Burros is south of Punta Mita at the Palladium resort and is an extremely popular surfing spot due to its easy access. It's a good place for either short boards or longboards. The right side of the point offers a longer, softer pitch. Surfing is best at high tide, but it's not shallow so you can surf it any time.

 * Los Veneros is further south of town and is a classic reef break. This is the best place in Punta Mita for short boards.

 * Swimming Pools is a surf break just north of Los Veneros and is reached by paddling out. Recommended for longboards.

 * Beach Break is also close to Los Veneros and offers fantastic barrel surfing plus exceptional beach breaks. The sandy bottom and the wide left makes this an ideal spot for surfing the tube!

Golf
Nayarit's perpetually warm weather coupled with a dry season that begins in January makes it an ideal destination for avid golfers from northern climates who crave a day on the links even though their own local weather is cold, icy and dreary. Located just minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport, and with luxurious international resort hotels like the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, Punta Mita can be an ideal winter golf vacation. There are several golf courses in the area, including:

 * Punta Mita Golf Club - private club designed by Jack Nicklaus with two par 72 18-hole courses, the Pacifico and the Bahia. Stunningly dramatic setting with some holes on rocky points jutting out into the ocean. The course is private, but is open to guests of the Four Seasons and the St. Regis resorts.

 * Higuera Golf Club - this is an 18-hole course designed by Greg Norman with long fairways parallel to the beach and others nestled into dense juingle foliage. A beautiful course with dramatic natural scenery. Close to Iberostar resort and the Secrets Bahia.

Eat
At the main bus stop in the village Corral del Risco at the Oxxo is tasty Offered are food variations with corn. It's open daily from 17-21:00. There is another food stall serving tacos, quesadillas and more.

Go next

 * Bucerias – 25 km in the east. A small coastal village with a long uninterrupted white sand beach
 * Sayulita – 17 km in the north-east. You can do hiking into the jungle. The water at the beach is shallow.
 * San Francisco (Mexico) – 25 km in the north-east. At a beach, surrounded by a jungle and notable for its floral diversity.
 * San Sebastián del Oeste - colonial town where time stands still
 * Tepic – 150 km in the north-east. It's the capital of Nayarit
 * Guadalajara – 310 km in the east. You can take an intercity bus, go by carpooling or take a non-stop flight. From there further to San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende or Querétaro
 * Mazatlán – It is recommended to take a flight into and out of the city.

title: Punta Mita


text:
Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a port city on Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast.

Understand
Puntarenas (from "punta arenas" or "sand point") is largest city in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. The city sits on a long, narrow peninsula that juts out into the Nicoya Gulf, only about four blocks at its widest. Most travelers use Puntarenas as a stepping stone, riding the ferries from Puntarenas to the Nicoya Peninsula and back. However, the city is a popular destination for Costa Ricans during holidays and the dry season. Cruise ships also frequently dock here, sending their passengers on day-long inland excursions while other passengers spend the day in Puntarenas.

Get in
Cruise ships call; ferries from Playa Naranjo and Paquera in the Nicoya Peninsula; buses from San José, Quepos (via Jacó), Monteverde.

From the airport in San José, you can take a taxi (available in front of the airport, once you leave baggage claim) to the bus depot in San José. From there, you can take a bus to Puntarenas. The trip will take a couple of hours depending on traffic and weather conditions, but its inexpensive.

Get around
Local buses leave from downtown and are relatively inexpensive. For travel to places outside of Puntarenas (e.g., Jacó, Manuel Antonio) there's a main bus station. Buses are usually on time and sometimes even leave early, so plan accordingly. Don't be surprised to see vendors on buses selling snacks and drinks.

Taxis are easily accessible and can be flagged down in the street, or you can call ahead to schedule a pick up.

Most locals ride bikes or walk. You can rent bikes from any of the bike shops at really good rates. Just make sure you keep your bike locked. Helmets may be hard to find though, so you might want to consider bringing your own. Pedestrians do not have right of way. You must ride your bike in the street (not the sidewalk), so be careful!

See

 * Mangrove Forest in the estuary above the north side of the peninsula. Crocodiles, herons, and red snappers can be found in and around the mangrove forest that grows here.  The forest can be seen from any pier on the north side of the city, and some fishermen with small boats on these piers may be able to take you for a small tour if asked and offered compensation.

Do

 * Stroll along the Paseo de los Turistas and see the many colorful shops, street vendors, and bars.
 * Walk out onto the cruise ship pier when there is no cruise ship docked. Many locals come here to drink, fish, and hang out.  A wonderful place to view stars and the small lights of distant cities.  (The cruise ship pier is temporarily closed to visitors.)
 * Visit the new public park on the end of the peninsula. Walk along the south beach until you see the large rocks that make up the sea wall, there are walkways with lights and benches on top of them.  A public basketball court, playground, and many benches are a wonderful and quiet place to watch the sunset from.
 * Take a ride on one of the inflatable banana rafts being towed by boats on the south beach. On busier beach days (holidays, cruise days, and weekends), men will offer rides on these tubes for about ₡1,000 (~US$2).  Life jackets provided.

Eat

 * Apretados- A delicious ice cream-like snack that comes in a variety of different flavors. You won't find these sold in any store, but out of the front of residents' houses, and will run you about ₡250 (US$0.50).  Holding the plastic bag in your hand, tear off a small corner with your teeth and suck out the melting apretado.
 * Granizados dos Leches- This sweet, cold snack is similar to a snow-cone, but with a little something extra. Wait on the beach for a cart pushing vendor, and order a Granizado dos Leches in Kola (fruit punch), Chicle (bubblegum), or Naranja (orange) flavor.  Shaved ice with powdered and condensed milk, served with a spoon and straw.  Costs about ₡800-1000 (~US$2).
 * Granizados dos Leches- This sweet, cold snack is similar to a snow-cone, but with a little something extra. Wait on the beach for a cart pushing vendor, and order a Granizado dos Leches in Kola (fruit punch), Chicle (bubblegum), or Naranja (orange) flavor.  Shaved ice with powdered and condensed milk, served with a spoon and straw.  Costs about ₡800-1000 (~US$2).

title: Puntarenas


text:
Punta Uva

Punta Uva is a small town south of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Understand
Punta Uva is a small town on the coast of Costa Rica. It is home to a small number of residents along with being a tourist attraction. It has the most beautiful beaches which Punta Uva is famously known for. Punta Uva has a rule where they can be no development within 50 meters of the high tide line. This rule has kept the beach clean and beautiful. Punta Uva means "Grape Point." It gets this name from a sea grape tree that is located at the point of Punta Uva.

Get around
Tourists can get to the beaches by biking on the trails. Bikes can be rented from the many bike shops in Punta Uva. Another option is to rent a scooter or electric cart. This is convenient for site seeing especially in the mountains. The rental shop can deliver the scooter/cart to hotels and the prices are by the hour.

See
Punta Uva has a beautiful butterfly garden with different species of exotic butterflies. The butterfly garden is located near tropical jungles as well where tourists can take hikes and enjoy the scenery. There is also a Indigenous community reserves where you can observe three tribes: Bri-Bri, Cabecar, KeköLdi, and the Yorkin. You are able to learn their culture and try their naive foods and drinks. Close to Punta Uva is Cahuita National Park. This park is miles of white sand with coral reefs and jungle trails. http://pachamamacaribe.com/activities.php

Do
There are many activities to do in Punta Uva. Here are a few examples: Bird watching, beach walking, surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, horseback riding, biking, jungle hikes, dolphin view boat trip, canopy tour, croquet, and frisbee.

Some hotels like the Cariblue Hotel offer ATV jungle tours and visits to the wildlife refugee, Gandoca Manzanillo.

There are several tour groups and activity centers near Punta Uva such as Aquamor Talamanca Adventures. Aquamor focuses on guiding people to go on adventures with dolphins, diving, and kayaking. The do things such as go out to sea and dive deep into the waters, observing dolphins and other aquatic wildlife along with coral reefs. They also take people on tours through tropical rainforests, lagoons, caves, etc. Tourists do not have to be experienced in any of these activities. The guides and instructors are bilingual and informative and the equipment is safe. Prices are very low: Masks/Fins/Snorkel US$3 per hour. Kayaks $5 per hour. Scuba Beach Dives $25 guide and all equipment on Jimmy, Bloody and Sugar Reefs. Scuba Kayak Dives $35 One Tank Boat Dive $45 Two Tank Boat Dive $59. For Real. Dolphin Trip $40 Gandoca Lagoon Kayak with mother ship $65 Wild Combo Trip $80 Guided Snorkel $20 Guided Kayak Snorkel $30 Kayak Surf School $20 Kayak Fishing $30 Kayak to Punta Mona and Monkey Island return with boat $60 Kayak to Wild Bay $45

http://www.greencoast.com/aquamor.htm#menu

Punta Uva Dive center: diving and snorkeling center for experienced or non experienced people. Has the best dive sites within minutes of the shop, which is located at the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Tel: +506 2759-9191 http://www.puntauvadivecenter.com/location.html

Eat

 * Selvin's Restaurant: Selvin offers traditional Costa Rican seafood. On the right hand side of Punta Uva is Arrecife Restaurant which also serves traditional foods.
 * Selvin's Restaurant: Selvin offers traditional Costa Rican seafood. On the right hand side of Punta Uva is Arrecife Restaurant which also serves traditional foods.

El Refugio Grill serves locals and travelers a variety of foods like guacamole, octopus, mussels, and all the wine you can drink.

Sleep
The area of Punta Uva offers many beach house rental such as Casa Viva Beach House Rentals. The houses are surrounded by gardens of beautiful vegetation. +506 2750-0089

 * Hotel Cariblue offers bungalows that are located in tropical gardens with access to the beach. Hotel Cariblue has a restaurant and bar called Sole Luna which serves Italian food and fresh lobster.
 * The Tree House Lodge is an environmentally friendly range of small "tree houses" located within a tropical garden and very close to the beach. Guests are able to relax in a beautiful and natural environment filled with exotic plants and animals. Reservations +506 2750-0706

 * Cabinas de Carmen in Gandoca +506 2754 1051.
 * Pachamama Caribe house and bungalows-located near Punta Uva beach and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Also located near a river where you can observe exotic spiders and howler monkeys.  A complimentary breakfast is served every morning.  There are ocean/river kayaks, bicycles, snorkeling, spearfishing, and fishing equipment, and shopping, transportation, and laundry services on site for all guests.  +506 2759-9196.

Go next

 * Tortuguero
 * Puerto Limón

title: Punta Uva


text:
Puntland

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, which declared itself an autonomous state in the late 1990s. It borders SSC-Khatumo to the west, Ethiopia to the southwest and the rest of Somalia to the south. Puntland is credited with being the inventors of the monarchical form of government with with monarchs such as King Perahu and others dating to 25th century BC.

Cities

 * – Puntland's capital city.
 * – economic capital of Puntland
 * – historical capital of education of Puntland.
 * – or Galkayo, the capital and commercial hub of the Mudug region
 * – capital of Sanaag
 * – historic town
 * – also known as Caluula, former capital of the Majeerteen Sultanate
 * – easternmost point of Africa

Understand
Puntland (Somali: Buntlaand, Arabic: أرض البنط ), officially the Puntland State of Somalia (Somali: Maamul Goboleedka Buntlaand ee Soomaaliya), is a region in northeastern Somalia, centred on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998.

Puntland is bordered by the SSC-Khatumo state to its west, the Gulf of Aden in the north, the Indian Ocean in the southeast, the central Galmudug region in the south, and Ethiopia in the southwest.

A third of Somalia's population lives in the territory, which contains about a third of the nation's geographical area. Unlike Somaliland, Puntland, as with all other regions in the country, does not seek outright independence from Somalia.

The name "Puntland" is derived from the Land of Punt mentioned by ancient Egyptian sources. The exact location of the fabled territory is still a mystery. Many studies suggest that the Land of Punt was located in present-day Somalia, while others propose that it was situated elsewhere.

Puntland is relatively peaceful compared to other regions of Somalia, with its own government and public services; however, it's best to hire a local police unit for the day.

Read
The Pirates of Somalia: Inside their Hidden World, by Jay Bahadur. A detailed and engaging look at life in Puntland and the modern-day pirates who call it home.

Get in
The flight from Dubai on Jubba Airways takes 2-3 hours. You could continue from Bosaaso to various other cities including Garowe, Galkacyo and Laascaanood.

See
Somalia has the longest coast in Africa and Puntland possesses over a 1/3 of that, 1,000 km. Its beaches are largely untouched.

title: Puntland


text:
Punxsutawney

Punxsutawney is a borough in southern Jefferson County in the Pennsylvania Wilds, famous nationwide for Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog of Groundhog Day fame, who is traditionally said to determine for the nation whether summer will come sooner or later. Upon popping out of bed on the second of February, if he sees his shadow and returns to the security of his hole in fright, then — so the story goes — the U.S. can be assured that it will be in for a cold, long, rainy spring! See North American wildlife for more on the species.

Get in
Punxsutawney is really in the middle of nowhere—about two hours west of State College, a little less than two hours northeast of Pittsburgh, and an hour and a half northwest of Altoona. It's right off I-80—take exit 101 to PA-255 S, then turn left on Brady St/US-119, which will take you right to the center of town.

From Pittsburgh you'll have a scenic drive up PA-28 to Kittanning, where you'll need to connect to PA-85 east, then eventually turn left on PA-210, which will finally take you to a left on US-119.

From Altoona/I-99, just follow PA-36 straight to the center of town.

Talk
Time to brush up on your Pittsburghese! Rest assured, the Groundhog Day Ceremonies will be conducted in English, though likely in an accented, regional dialect. Punxsutawney, known as 'Punxy' to the locals, is in Western Pennsylvania, where the majority of residents speak American English with a Pittsburgh regional accent.

See

Visitors expecting to see sights from the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day will be disappointed; that movie was actually shot in Woodstock, Illinois.

There are over 30 fiberglass statues of groundhogs throughout the town.

 * The town also has a lot of quaint old buildings, many of them from the 19th century.
 * The town also has a lot of quaint old buildings, many of them from the 19th century.
 * The town also has a lot of quaint old buildings, many of them from the 19th century.
 * The town also has a lot of quaint old buildings, many of them from the 19th century.

title: Punxsutawney


text:
Purchase

Purchase is a hamlet in Westchester County, New York, home to State University of New York at Purchase and Manhattanville College, and the headquarters of PepsiCo.

By car
From points south: Take the Hutchinson River Parkway and exit onto Lincoln Av.

From points west: Take the Cross-Westchester Expressway (I-287) and exit onto Anderson Hill Road.

From Connecticut: Take the Merritt Parkway, which becomes the Hutchinson River Parkway, and exit onto Lincoln Av., or take the Connecticut Turnpike.

From points due north (and inland from the Hudson River and the Long Island Sound), I-684 is a good road that seldom backs up.

By bus
Take the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus route 12 from the White Plains TransCenter, Lane B (across from the Metro North train station). Service ends early, with the last bus scheduled to leave the TransCenter at 6:10 PM on weekdays, 5:40 on Saturdays and 5:00 on Sundays.

By plane
Westchester County Airport is right beyond the SUNY at Purchase campus, on the border with Connecticut.

Get around
To get around Purchase, unless you are just going from one building to another on an academic mall, will require at a minimum a bicycle and, more likely, a motorized vehicle. It is not very feasible to walk the long distances within Purchase or between Purchase and neighboring towns.

By bus
The Westchester County 12 bus stops at both SUNY at Purchase and Manhattanville College, connecting them with the Metro-North Train Station in White Plains, but it is not useful to travel to diners on Anderson Hill Road, etc.

By taxi
If you need a taxi, you have to call one. You will not be able to flag cabs down on the street. Ask the people wherever you are who you should call; everyone who's ever needed a cab is likely to know.

Eat
Purchase does not have a wide variety of food options. However, there are a few (2 to 4) restaurants down Anderson Hill Road past Purchase Street. In addition, there are two colleges in Purchase (SUNY at Purchase and Manhattanville) which possess college food for students to eat.

Sleep
If you need to sleep over at SUNY at Purchase or Manhattanville College and don't have a friend you can stay with, you may be able to pay for a room on campus overnight, or if you are a visiting lecturer, the university may put you up in one as part of your compensation. Otherwise, you might want to check accommodation options in nearby towns like those mentioned in "Go next."

Go next
Purchase is not far from the Long Island Sound, where there are several nearby well-to-do towns with charming houses, Sound views, and hills, including Greenwich, Connecticut; Rye; and Mamaroneck.

White Plains is much less picturesque, but it's where the nearest easily accessible Metro-North station lies, and from there, a train ride to Manhattan takes about 30-40 minutes.

Port Chester, the nearest town on the Long Island Sound, though not quite as charming as other towns on the Sound mentioned above, has another train station, on the New Haven Line, which connects New York City with New Haven, Connecticut.

title: Purchase


text:
Purdy

There is more than one place called Purdy:

United States of America

 * Purdy (Kentucky) — A town in Kentucky.
 * Purdy (Missouri) — A town in Missouri.
 * Purdy (Tennessee) — A town in Tennessee.
 * Purdy (Washington) — A town in Washington (state).
 * Purdy (Wisconsin) — A town in Wisconsin.

title: Purdy


text:
Purdy (Washington)

Purdy is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Purdy is a small unincorporated community north of the city of Gig Harbor, on the northern boundary of Pierce County, Washington. It is located on the shores of Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay of the Carr Inlet. The two bodies of water are separated by a sandspit and the Purdy Bridge. Purdy is the gateway to the beautiful Key Peninsula and is known for its warm, friendly people.

Understand
The area was settled in the 1880s. Isaac Hawk purchased the land from the Washington Territorial Government. Horace Knapp purchased 19 acres (77,000 m2) of this land from Hawk in 1884 for the price of $23.75. These acres were made into the town of Purdy (with lots and blocks). In 1885, Josephine Fuller, the first white woman in the area, married Horace Knapp. In 1886, the mill in Purdy secured the first contract to provide lumber for nearby Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. This put Purdy on the map. The mill's success also brought conveniences to the area like a grocery store, and a post office. There was a long chute along present-day 144th Street that brought the logs down the hill to the water.

By car
Purdy is located north of Gig Harbor and has two exits off of highway 16. Both exits loop back onto highway 16 making Purdy a convenient place to stop on your way through the area.

By boat
The Purdy Sand Spit is an unimproved waterfront public area that runs right along SR 302. It's 7.5 acre area includes a boat launch.

See

Do
Enjoy the fabulous Purdy Spit where beach access is easy. Beachcomb or sunbathe on this mile long stretch of beach that includes a public boat launch. The Purdy Spit and Henderson Bay are popular with jet skiers and wind surfers as well.

Beach combing
Purdy does offer a long sand and gravel beach along the spit. Oysters, clams and moon snails are common sites and seals, otters and eagles are not uncommon.

Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. The nearby Penrose Point State Park south west of Purdy is one of only a handful of locations in the area along the trail and an excellent area for birdwatching. The calm protected waters around Purdy are also popular with birders and many water foul migrate through the area.

Sea kayaking
The Purdy boat launch is located on a protected bay with a wide variety of birds near Gig Harbor and one of the main launching points for the Key Peninsula Kayak Trail making it an excellent place to start a Sea kayaking adventure and a rewarding way to explore the Kitsap Peninsulas nearly 400 miles of coastline allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.

Buy
A fresh food market offering local produce and seafood is located at the north end of the spit that is a great place to stock up on fresh local produce, oysters, and clams are on your way to exploring the area.

By car
Purdy is located at the northern end of the Key Peninsula near Gig Harbor and several quaint towns are to the south including Lakebay and Penrose Point and Joemma State Parks.

By boat
The boat launch at the south west end of the spit is small but adequate place to launch an exploration of the area. Fox Island is nearby as well as Eagle Island State Park and Anderson Island. Lakebay and Gig Harbor have the closest marinas offering fuel or just take some time to admire the Tacoma Narrows Bridge from below.

title: Purdy (Washington)