text:
Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is in the Southern region of Vietnam. It lies between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat just north of Highway 20.

Understand
Cat Tien National Park has two parts:
 * Cat Loc to the north and
 * Nam Cat Tien - the eastern half of which is most often visited and contains the park headquarters.

The park has an area of about 720 km2 in three provinces: Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc: approximately 150 km north-east of Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of Vietnam's most important and largest National Parks with now rare lowland woodland, containing areas of old-growth (primary) forest. To add to its conservation value, in the south-west it is contiguous with the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve to the south-west.

History
There is an archaeological site on the northern bank of the Dong Nai River (just outside Nam Cat Tien, facing in). The site consists of a group of temples, belonging to a previously unknown Hindu civilization which probably inhabited it between the 4th century and 9th century CE (and possibly later). Excavations carried out between 1994 and 2003 have yielded a large number of a number of gold, bronze, ceramic, coloured stone, and glass artefacts, many of which are now in the Da Lat museum.

Cat Tien national park was protected in 1978, then the Cat Loc sector was incorporated in 1992 upon the discovery of a small rhinoceros population (an endemic sub-species of the Javan rhino); it was hunted and was declared extinct in 2011. Although poaching other species remains a serious problem, better protection can be achieved in Nam Cat Tien, which is half surrounded by the Dong Nai River.

Landscape
The park woodland can be classified as seasonal tropical forest (semi-deciduous mixed jungle characterised by many climbing lianas), with large areas of grassland, bamboo and wetland.

Flora and fauna
Among the many attractions are: primates such as the golden-cheeked gibbon (see things to do), a wide range of birds, butterflies and, of course the forest itself. Spectacular trees include: 'Tung' Tetrameles nudiflora, afzel 'red wood' Afzelia xylocarpa and various Dipterocarps. More information, including species lists, can be found in a website about the Park.

It is possible, but unlikely, to see deer and wild boar during the daytime, when the forest is very quiet. Deer, civet cats and other animals including gaur (wild cows) are more active after dark and can best be seen on night safaris. Rare Siamese crocodiles can be seen at Crocodile Lake: again, best in the late afternoon onward.

Of the larger fauna, only a few wild elephants still survive in remote areas to the south-west of the park.

Climate
The area is highly seasonal:
 * Mid-December - February is the peak season: deciduous trees lose their leaves and it is becomes increasingly easy to observe birds and other animals; it is also relatively cool.
 * March - May can feel the hottest time of year (but remember the forest is much cooler than the city). Many birds are nesting at this time and mammals can be seen leaving cover in search of water.
 * Mid-May - June see the start of the rains: this is usually the best time of year to come and see clouds of butterflies and watch the forest green-up after the dry season. Many of the trees flower and start to fruit: food for animals and birds.
 * July - September: is the peak rainy season - the river is at its highest, sometimes reaching and flooding the roads. Visitors should be aware that certain paths cannot be negotiated at this time of the year.  On the positive side, many trees, shrubs, gingers and orchids are in flower and this is the time to absorb the atmosphere of the 'steaming jungle' (biologists of course will always feel in their element).
 * October - early December: with decreasing rains and temperatures, some visitors argue that this is an excellent time to visit Vietnam in general. In the park, the forest is still verdant and the rapids are vigorous.

Get in
With road improvements the 150-km journey from Ho Chi Minh City, avoiding the traffic jams in Bien Hoa, has become more reliable: in as little as 3 hours. Plan for at least 4 hours from Dalat. The nearest town on the main highway (route 20) is Tan Phu. The 25-km journey between Tan Phu and the ferry crossing into the park, 1 km beyond Nam Cat Tien village, can be problematical for the unprepared (see bus travel).

The first ferry crossing is usually at approximately 06:30 and the last return trip is at 19:00. Park rules say that night crossings are prohibited, but 'exceptions' may be made. If you want see wildlife: primates and birds (early morning) or go on the night tour, you should stay across the river in the park.

Bus travel
Buses between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat will drop you off on the highway at the Ta Lai/Nam Cat Tien turn-off or the post office (it is important to specify which one). By far the safest and most comfortable are the orange Futa buses (+84 8 38 309 309) which ply between HCMC - leaving from 272 De Tham St. - and Dalat every hour during the day. The 2-level reclining couchettes are relatively comfortable, even if you are over tall! The price from HCMC to Tan Phu is 220,000 dong (Feb 2016): you may have to wait 1-2 hours for a ticket at peak times.

There are (less comfortable) local direct buses from the bus station Bến Xe Miền Đông, ticket counter 5, or the tourist office at the park entrance ferry jetty to Ho Chi Minh for around 80,000 dong (Nov 2018) which takes about 4-5 hours. The first bus leaves about 07:00, then hourly, be at the stop about 15 minutes before the bus leaves. It's best to verify with the officers at the tourist office/park entrance. They are very helpful.

Making prior arrangements with your accommodation for a pick-up from the highway at Tan Phu is highly recommended in case you get off there. There are often motorcycle xe om waiting to take tourists to the river that is on the edge of the park, but there have been accidents. Experienced travelers negotiate the price up front, but not booking transport and accommodation can prove to be a false economy (you could be charged 1 million dong and truly taken for a ride!); the Vietnamese apparently expect to pay 150,000 dong; however, you may have to pay more and are certainly taking a risk with motorcycles. If you take the local direct bus, the driver will drop you off next to the park entrance, so no pick-up is needed usually.

Taxi and train travel
Even if travelling on a budget, arranging transport as a group of 2-4 in a hired car can be a safe and fairly cost-effective option, unless you are lucky (or well informed) enough to find a mini-bus into Nam Cat Tien village (see onwards); it can be tricky to find the bus station (it's not marked). Typical prices are (Feb 2016):
 * 500,000 dong from Tan Phu
 * 2,000,000 dong from Ho Chi Minh city
 * 3,000,000 dong from Dalat, Phan Thiet, etc. (4-hour journeys)

The nearest railway station is Long Khanh, which is more of a halt, on the main Hanoi - Hue - Ho Chi Minh City line. From Long Khanh to the park is a 2-hour taxi or car journey which is best to book in advance: prices in the region of 1,500,000 dong (Feb 2016).

Fees and permits
The fee scheme is a bit complicated and each trip will involve several layers of fees including separate items for (additional) entrance fees, tour guide and transport.

There is a 60,000-dong entrance fee (Nov 2018) which only seems to get you as far at the Park Headquarters. Expect to pay 'extra for everything', unless you have booked a 'package deal' with a hotel or tour company: which is easier and can often work out cheaper in the long run.

The fee for the guides is of questionable value. Most of the guides either don't speak much English, or don't have a lot of local expertise to offer. Make sure you talk to your guide before engaging them and don't feel guilty about doing a self-guided tour along the safer trails (marked green on the park map).

Get around
Around the accommodation areas, there a number of local walks possible, but only the Lagerstroemia trail, botanic gardens and heaven rapids should be attempted without a guide (see staying safe). A guide is not really necessary for the Crocodile Lake walk (below), although they can be helpful for spotting animals and birds. The park provides a trail map, but this can be misleading: at least two of the trails described as "medium difficulty" definitely require a guide and should never be attempted alone. Longer walks (in the dry season only) include:
 * the Ecological Trail (5-8 km through the forest, depending on the route taken)
 * through the forest to Crocodile Lake
 * through the forest to Ta Lai
 * through the forest to Nui Tuong (elephant) hills
 * from the road at Nui Tuong through the forest to Crocodile Lake
 * from Crocodile lake through the forest to Ta Lai.

A problem with many of these can be finding an English-speaking guide who is prepared to accompany you: especially on the longer walks through the forest. Staff at Forest Floor Lodge (see below) are also knowledgeable about the more adventurous trails through the park.

Bicycles can be rented (30,000 dong/hour; 150,000 dong/day). If you bring your own bicycle to the park, there is another 50,000-dong charge for bringing it into the park.

Cycling is not that easy on all the paths but this depends on the season too. Be prepared to have trips cycling and walking alternately.

Do
If not going to Crocodile Lake, a 45-minute night safari can be done. This involves trundling around on the top of a jeep, looking hopefully for wildlife that probably heard the ancient engine coming 10 minutes ago and has long since run away. On the upside, it's relatively cheap.

Go East - a British ape charity - have a gibbon sanctuary just outside the park, and have helped the park organise a Wild Gibbon Trek. The guides seem to take pride in their work, even if they aren't always able to speak English, and following (truly wild) gibbons around the jungle is cool. The tour includes a trip to the Go East sanctuary with an English-speaking guide.

There's also a National Park-run gibbon and bear sanctuary near the park headquarters. It's overcrowded because of limited funds (and lots of rescued bears), although there will be a new, larger Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary constructed soon; it is interesting to compare the approaches taken by Go East and the National Park.

Eat
There are two restaurants at the park headquarters. The more pleasant one ('Yellow bamboo') is behind the main office of the park headquarters. It is cafe-style with good, reasonably priced food, and a view to the river. The second restaurant ('Dipterocarpus') is around 100 m south.

The Forest Floor lodge offers pricier but better food to non-residents. It's about a mile away from the park headquarters, so bring a torch if you're staying in the park and walking up there.

At Crocodile Lake, expect to eat freshly caught fish from the lake at a reasonable price.

Drink
Drinks are available at the restaurants at the Park Headquarters and at the 'Hornbill bar' in Forest Floor Lodge (so called because it is one of the best places to observe Oriental-pied and greater hornbills as they cross the Ben Cu rapids, in the morning and just before sunset).

Beer and water can be bought when staying out at Crocodile Lake at a slight premium. Expect the beer to be warm, so you might want to consider carrying your own in. Filtered water from the lake is free.

Lodging in the park
There are various levels of accommodation around the park headquarters, although most is rather dated and expensive for the standard.

At Crocodile Lake simple accommodation is available. You'll pay extra for a bathroom.

There an eco-tourism lodge, Forest Floor Lodge which provides high-end accommodation and contributes financially to Park activities.

Tai Lai longhouse is a community-owned but professionally-managed lodge outside the park but on the same side of the river.

Lodging at the Nam Cat Tien side of the River
Various decent and cheaper options are on the other side of the river from the park, but staying here means you won't be able to get to the park in time to do the Gibbon Trek or bird-watching early in the morning, or the night safari. These include:
 * Forest Call Lodge
 * Green Bamboo Lodge
 * Green Hope Lodge
 * Jungle Lodge

Camping
If you bring your own tent, you can camp on a field adjacent to the headquarters for a fee; camping at Crocodile Lake is no longer permitted.

Stay safe
Make sure you bring mosquito repellent and cover up at night.

Leeches are common on the trail to Crocodile Lake and will happily bite through socks and light shoes. Leech socks can be rented for 20,000 dong a day (Feb 2016) at Park HQ, or provided free when staying in up-market accommodation.

Possibly the greatest danger when walking in the forest is getting lost. Apart from the clearly marked paths near the headquarters, Forest Floor Lodge and the botanical gardens area, you should either use a guide, or take a GPS.

Go next
There are two local mini-buses a day at 06:30 and 11:30 that will take you from the ferry crossing to Dalat for 120,000 dong (Feb 2016). After 07:00, hourly buses go to HCMC for 80,000 dong until 17:00 (Feb 2016). Expect them to cruise around the village for more than an hour to fill up the bus; after that, it is around 4 hours to reach the Ho Chi Minh Bus Terminal.

title: Cat Tien National Park


text:
Cauca

Cauca is a department of Colombia.

Cities

 * – capital of the department, famous for its beautiful white colonial buildings
 * – small mountain village with hot springs
 * – former prison island in the Pacific Ocean, now a nature reserve with abundant wildlife like monkeys, snakes, whales and seaturtles, and excellent diving conditions
 * – small town
 * – famous for its underground burial chambers that are an UNESCO World Heritage site

Get in

There are airports in Popayán, Guapi and Timbiquí. Also the airport in Cali is close to the northern part of the department (Santander de Quilichao, Caloto, Puerto Tejada, etc).

Route 25 which runs north-south and is part of the PanAmerican Highway crosses Cauca and has major exits in Popayán.

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

title: Cauca


text:
Caucaia

Caucaia is a major suburb of Fortaleza in Ceará. It is the administrative and commercial center of a region comprising the beaches of Cumbuco and Icaraí.

Understand
The city in itself has little to attract tourists, but you might find it convenient as a bus hub and shopping district of easier access than Fortaleza.

Get in
Frequent buses to Fortaleza and Cumbuco (via Icaraí). Also a number of buses to western parts of the states, such as Taíba and Paracuru.

Buy

 * The biggest supermarket around is Super Bahamas. They will deliver at your door, even as far as Cumbuco if you shop for more than R$ 50.

title: Caucaia


text:
Caucasus Nature Reserve

The Caucasus Nature Reserve is in Krasnodar Krai, Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia of Russia.

Understand
The Caucasus Nature Reserve is a biodiversity treasure and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the second-largest protected area of Europe and the largest in Caucasus mountains of Russia. It includes the mountain ridges of Krasnodar Krai, Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia, as well as part of the Greater Sochi metropolitan area (Khosta district and Krasnaya Polyana), bordering Sochi National Park.

Get in
Two exclave parts of the reserve – those are located inside Greater Sochi – are easy to visit: Yew and Boxtree Wood at Khosta, and the wild animal nursery at Krasnaya Polyana. Other parts are not so easy; see below.

Fees and permits
To visit other parts of the reserve, you need to get special permit, requiring the following:

 * list of participants,
 * passport details and passport copies of each participant,
 * name of the group's leader,
 * planned route/itinerary,
 * period of stay (number of days),
 * entrance fee.

In Sochi you can get the permit at the reserve's headquarter: Karl Marx street, 8, room 10, Adler district, Sochi.

title: Caucasus Nature Reserve


text:
Caucasus

The Caucasus (Caucasia) is a region between the Black and Caspian Seas. It consists of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Known for its alpine terrain, the Caucasus is home to Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain peak in Europe, on the Russo-Georgian border. The region is considered part of the natural boundary between Europe and Asia.

Caucasus is a compact and diverse region. Its residents come from disparate ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds. In part due to this great diversity, historically the region has been embroiled in numerous ethnic and political conflicts, some of which remain unresolved to this day. Despite this difficult history, the Caucasus is for the most part safe for travel and increasingly ranks among popular emerging tourist destinations.

Countries and regions
Parts of Turkey and Iran are also included in the Caucasus, but we don't cover them in this article as they are covered under the Middle East.

Cities

 * — the region's largest city, international oil hub, and ancient capital of Azerbaijan
 * — Georgia's largest seaport is also the regional partying capital, and has been serving as a summer resort since the bygone days of the czars
 * — the home of the Armenian Apostolic Church contains a cathedral, churches, and museums
 * — a beautiful Azerbaijani city in a forest mountain setting
 * — Karabakh's main town makes a base to explore this undeveloped upland area
 * — Abkhazia's sub-tropical beach resort capital makes a change from the mountains
 * — Georgia's vibrant capital, surrounded by mountains, and filled with good food and wine
 * — The capital of South Ossetia is the most accessible part of the remote and isolated region
 * — Armenia's capital is the region's most laid-back, with great places to eat, and within easy striking distance of the country's principal attractions

Other destinations

 * — a spectacular canyon in northern Armenia studded with world heritage monasteries.
 * — the most photographed place in Armenia, a simple monastery atop a hill, right at the border, at the foot of Mount Ararat
 * — a cave monastery in the Georgia desert, full of beautiful old cave frescoes, and overlooking the vast empty expanse to the south in Azerbaijan
 * — big, beautiful mountain lake in Armenia
 * — ancient petroglyphs, south of Baku
 * — home to Georgia's breathtaking Tsminda Sameba Monastery
 * — one of Georgia impressive cave cities, hewn from the rock of a river gorge

Geography
The Caucasus contains two eponymous mountain ranges: the Greater Caucasus, which runs between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, largely following Russia's border with Georgia; and the Lesser Caucasus range, which runs in the south around the borders of Georgia, Turkey and Armenia. Geographically, the Caucasus and its mountain ranges are considered part of the natural boundary between Europe and Asia. The exact definitions of this boundary vary; however, due to cultural and socio-political factors, the region as a whole is generally viewed as part of modern Europe. Generally speaking, Georgians and Armenians identify as Europeans rather than Asians, while Azerbaijanis tend to have a more mixed identity.

History
This region has seen the ebb and flow of empires throughout the ages. The three traditional states south of the Caucasus — Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia — have been united and independent twice in their history. Tigranes the Great held a large kingdom here in the 1st century BC; and for a few months in 1918, the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic briefly saw the three countries united. Between these two periods, Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Persians, Ottomans, Imperial Russians and Soviets have all held sway in different parts and at different times.

Early modern history
Nineteenth century imperial Russian expansion laid the foundations for the region's current look. While for centuries the Ottoman Empire held parts of Armenia and Georgia and the Persians nominally controlled Azerbaijan, neither fully subjugated or integrated the native peoples.

Soviet times
The Soviet successors to the Russian Empire briefly lost control of the region in 1918, but by the 1920s the three states had been folded into the USSR. Soviet rule attempted to galvanize a united Soviet identity but the different groups held on to their customs, religions and loyalties.

As the Soviet Union disintegrated in the early 1990s, fierce nationalism took the region. The cosmopolitan mixes of peoples that the Soviets cultivated proved immiscible as people migrated, often forced, to their ethnic homelands. The arbitrary boundaries of the Soviet republics, and hence those of the new independent states, ensured lasting hostility within and between the three states.

Post-Soviet confusion

In 1994, the ethnically Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan waged war against the Azeris. With Armenian backing, a new republic was created. However, no established nation - not even Armenia - officially recognizes it. Diplomatic arguments over the region continue to mar relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and both countries bar the other's citizens from entering their country, with Azerbaijan also banning anyone of Armenian ethnicity regardless of country of birth or citizenship. In 2020, as a result of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azerbaijan regained much of Nagorno-Karabakh and all of the surrounding Azerbaijani territories. The war ended with a ceasefire brokered by Russia, in which Azerbaijan got to keep the territories it reclaimed, and Russian troops were deployed to the remaining Armenian-controlled areas of Nagorno-Karabakh for peacekeeping duties.

In 2008, Georgian efforts to bring to heel the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia backfired when the Georgian troops sent to reclaim South Ossetia were quickly overwhelmed by Russian troops sent to back the separatists, with the Russian military overrunning much of Georgia proper. A ceasefire was agreed and Russia withdrew its troops to the boundaries of the new republics, which it diplomatically recognizes, though they are still not recognized by the United States and its allies.

Hostilities have largely cooled, though Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia remain internally unstable, and the three states are left trying to find a place in the new world. Georgia has looked west and become a staunch ally of the United States and the European Union, though its hopes of joining NATO and the EU were not realized soon enough to prevent the Russian invasion. Armenia remained loyal to Russia up till the Armenian Revolution in 2018, but since then has pivoted its foreign policy alignment away from Russia towards the United States. Azerbaijan, because of its cultural and linguistic ties to Turkey and other Turkic-speaking Central Asian countries, has more political links in those directions, though it continues to have cordial relations with Russia.

Culture

The Caucasus is the region where the borders between the Ottoman, Persian and Russian empires, as well as local kingdoms, were drawn and re-drawn several times across the centuries; today, it remains the centre of a three-way geopolitical contest between Russia, Turkey, and the United States. It is home to many ethnic groups, who were heavily influenced by their various conquering kingdoms but at the same time, were able to develop unique identities, as well as preserve ancient customs and traditions. In terms of religion, Armenia, Georgia and the Russian region of North Ossetia are mostly Orthodox Christian. Russia's North Caucasus (with the exception of North Ossetia) is mostly Sunni Muslim. Azerbaijan is mostly Shia Muslim but has a strong culture of secularism inherited from Soviet times.

While travelling here expect to meet friendly locals, eat food like none other on earth and witness breathtaking mountain vistas. The arcane, expensive and bureaucratic visa procedures are becoming gradually less of a burden, as are crooked police. However, sufficient blights remain to make this far from the easiest region to navigate.

The old ways of the Soviet Union are never far away when dealing with any kind of official, including immigration officers and police. And be very, very careful before you enter an area which is controlled by the Russian-backed local militia or Russian border troops of the separatist regions in Georgia and by the Armenian-backed local militia of the separatist region in Azerbaijan.

Talk

The Caucasus region is one of the most complex linguistic regions in the world, containing more than 60 languages from five distinct language families. While this is great for cultural diversity, it can be confusing to travellers.

If you're only going to take one phrasebook for the whole region, make it Russian. The former Soviet states were united through its use as a common second language. English is becoming more prevalent in the main cities but its penetration is insufficient to be relied upon. However, many people in Georgia are unwilling to speak Russian due to military tensions with Russia, and English has largely supplanted Russian as the foreign language of choice among younger Georgians, so you should try English before trying Russian when in Georgia. While the Russian North Caucasus is one of the few parts of the country where native Russian speakers are a minority, Russian is the lingua franca of the region and is spoken by virtually everyone as a second language.

Independence has meant massive migration, often forced, and ethno-linguistic segregation has become much more pronounced. There is therefore much less inter-ethnic interaction and so much less incentive for young people to learn a second language. National languages are becoming ever more important to travellers, but Russian remains very useful.

The national languages are Abkhaz, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian and Ossetian.

Knowledge of Turkish is also useful in Azerbaijan because Azerbaijani and Turkish are closely enough related to be mutually intelligible to a fair extent. Turkic languages such as Karachay-Balkar and Kumyk are also widely spoken in Russia's North Caucasus, but they are considerably less similar.

By plane
The three capitals each have airports that are well connected to east and west Europe and the Middle East. There are even a few flights to Ürümqi in China. The disputed territories are not served by passenger flights.

 * Baku – Heydar Aliyev International Airport
 * Tbilisi – Tbilisi International Airport
 * Yerevan – Zvartnots International Airport

The countries' secondary airports tend to serve mainly Russia, with also a few connections to Turkey, Ukraine and Iran. Kutaisi Airport is perhaps an exception; Hungarian airline Wizz Air operates a fair few cheap passages to several European countries.

Armenia
 * Gyumri – Shirak International Airport

Azerbaijan
 * Ganja – Ganja International Airport
 * Lankaran – Lankaran International Airport

Georgia
 * Kutaisi – Kutaisi International Airport
 * Batumi – Batumi International Airport

By train

Politics have severed many of the rail routes into the region.

Taking the train between Russia and Abkhazia is generally unproblematic but onward travel into Georgia proper is not generally possible. Trains from Russia to Azerbaijan are frequent enough but the border is closed to westerners.

Crossing by rail between Azerbaijan and Iran is possible at Astara.

There are no passenger rail connections with Turkey still open.

By thumb
Hitchhiking is considerably easy in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

With old Ladas you won't probably have not that much luck. Even though they are more likely to stop, in 50% of the time they will consider themselves as car for everything and thus also a chargeable taxi. Also they won't probably cross very long distances, they are more like a local transport option.

See the individual countries for more information.

Border crossing
Border crossing is generally difficult throughout the Caucasus. The Russian-Georgian border (Verkhniy Lars) near Kazbegi can now (since 2011) be crossed by any nationality, given the visas are in order. The Russia-Azerbaijan border are only open for citizens of CIS countries. There is also a border crossing from Russia to Abkazia, however it is not allowed to transit through Abkhazia from Russia to Georgia or vice versa. For non-CIS citizens, the only way to enter or exit Russia through the Caucasus is on the Georgian Military Highway between Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi. Aside from flying, there are ferries between Sochi, Russia and Trabzon, Turkey (near Georgia) and Baku, Azerbaijan and Aktau, Kazakhstan (near Russia).

The Armenian-Azerbaijani border is closed because both countries remain at war. The Armenian-Turkish border is also closed due to tensions between those countries. To travel overland between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey, it is necessary to go through either Georgia or Iran.

Georgia's borders with Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are all open, making the country somewhat of a regional transit hub for the Caucasus. Since 2003's Rose Revolution in Georgia, bribes are absolutely not necessary for foreign travellers entering Georgia. However this cannot be guaranteed for Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Entering Azerbaijan with a used Armenian visa or vice versa could likely cause problems (suspicion) with border guards. While this shouldn't prohibit entry, it is recommended to visit Azerbaijan first and then Armenia, to avoid potential problems and a refusal of entry to Azerbaijan. However, you will not be allowed entry to Azerbaijan with a Nagorno-Karabakh visa (you can ask to get the NKR visa on a separate piece of paper, though), otherwise it would result in a permanent entry ban to Azerbaijan. If you have an Armenian name, surname or of Armenian ethnicity, you will be banned from entering Azerbaijan regardless of your country of birth or citizenship.

Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) can be entered from Turkey and Iran.

How
Overnight trains travel between Tbilisi-Yerevan and Tbilisi-Baku. When travelling by rail, you have the option of carriages with 4 beds (coupe, pronounced koo-peh') or 2 beds (SV, pronounced es veh). SV is a bit more expensive, but more comfortable and generally considered more safe from pickpockets.

There are direct bus services between Tbilisi-Yerevan and Tbilisi-Baku. If taking the air-conditioned bus between Tbilisi-Baku, bring a jacket. Buses also operate across the Russian-Georgian border, but are not an option for non-CIS country nationals.

If you would prefer a more social mode of transport, minivans (marshrutkas) operate across all open borders and throughout the Caucasus region.

There are direct flights between Tbilisi to Baku, Tbilisi to Yerevan. Expect no trouble at the airports: they are small and efficient.

You can cross the border between Georgia and Armenia in a rented car. Rental cars are insured in both countries and may be driven one-way and dropped off in the other country.

Do
Hike the Transcaucasian Trail, with sections open in Armenia and Georgia, as of 2021.

Ski in two very beautiful ski resorts of Georgia: Bakuriani (near Borjomi) and Gudauri.

Relaxing on the Georgian beaches on the black sea in Batumi, Kobuleti, Ureki, Gonia, etc.

Eat
The Georgian "Khinkali" and "Khachapuri"!

Drink
The drinks of note in the Caucasus are Georgian wines, Armenian cognac (brandy), and Russian vodkas.

Local beers throughout the Caucasus are excellent values.

Especially tasty Georgian wines:
 * Red: Saperavi, Mukuzani, Khvanchkara (semi-sweet), Kindzmarauli (semi-sweet)
 * White: Tsinandali, Kakheti, Tbilisuri

Respect
The people of the Caucasus are generally known as being very hospitable and friendly towards international visitors, as they are typically proud of their culture and their lands, and the region is mostly out of the radar of mass tourism.

Compared to many other post-Soviet states, the Caucasus is a region of diverse and outspoken people, who may sometimes come across as rude, prejudiced, and combative. This is likely due to a number of factors, including political conflicts, historical grievances, and a strong sense of cultural identity.

Years of conflict, warfare, and bad history have coloured many people's perceptions of certain ethnic groups. For example, some people in Georgia and parts of the North Caucasus may express negative feelings against or act coldly towards Russian people. In Azerbaijan, anti-Armenian sentiments are common and are even promoted by the government.

Russia's North Caucasus for the most part has a strictly conservative Islamic culture, and travellers should be mindful of that when dressing and dealing with local people, especially women. The rest of the Caucasus is considerably less religious, but Armenia and Azerbaijan are still more conservative than say the Americas or most of Europe, and LGBT people may face considerable discrimination.

Stay safe

The Caucasus is a tinderbox of age-old rivalries, some frozen, some very hot indeed. Despite that, most parts of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are far from conflicts and safe to visit, although regular crime can be a problem in certain areas, as well as harassment from security forces in border regions. Check individual district pages for more specific information.

For the rest of the region, the situation may change quickly and unpredictably, so if you are planning to visit, make sure to look for recent announcements. The following describes the situation by Dec 2020:

 * Russia's North Caucasus is relatively stable nowadays but security incidents such as attacks against police and military happen now and then, and several countries have travel advisories against visiting this area, making it harder to obtain travel insurance. Note that travellers from outside Russia and nearby countries are very rare and will likely attract considerable curiosity from locals, which may lead to interesting encounters but also require extra precaution.
 * Abkhazia is certainly the most stable and "tourism-open" of the "breakway republics", and the only one that can be visited without making you a criminal in any country in case you visit it from Georgia, even though it may be more convenient to do so via Russia.
 * South Ossetia, although nowadays not particularly dangerous, can only be visited from Russia, making you automatically a criminal in Georgia. As in Russia's North Caucasus, non-Russian travellers are very rare and will likely attract curiosity from the local people.
 * As result of the 2020 Sep-Nov war, the breakway republic of Nagorno-Karabakh suffered heavy territorial, infrastructure and humanitarian losses. Check whether it's open for independent travel before planning to visit.

title: Caucasus


text:
Cauvery Basin

Cauvery Basin is a region in the south of Karnataka State.

Cities

 * — the capital of the Hoysalla dynasty and Hale Belur the older capital

 * — a city in Karnataka, known for its coffee plantations and Bababudan Giri ranges

 * — largest Coffee Processing/Exporting City in India

 * — a small town with notable architecture, greenery and Gorur Dam

 * — a hill station and capital of Kodagu.

 * — an agricultural town and the headquarters of the Mandya district in Karnataka

 * — is officially known as Mysuru and is Karnataka's second biggest city in Southern India

 * — best quality Coffee Producing region in India

 * — a town in the Mandya district of great religious, cultural and historic importance

Other destinations

 * — famous for its tiger and elephant reserve and protected sandalwood trees

 * — known as Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary or Cauvery fishing camp located along the banks of Cauvery River
 * — a reservoir situated between the Bandipur and Nagarhole National Park

 * — the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet

 * — located in the middle of the Kodays coffee estate, near Kemmannagundi

 * — a Holy & Adventure spot

 * — a hill station

 * (Kokkrebellur)— a village famous for its rare birds

 * — undulating mountains and tropical wet evergreen forest

 * — near Srirangapatna it is the largest bird sanctuary in the state

 * — impressive Jain temple

Talk
Kannada is the most widely spoken language in the Cauvery Basin, and people in urban areas can also understand English and Hindi.

Go next

 * Krishnarajanagara paddy field paradise

title: Cauvery Basin


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Cava de' Tirreni

Cava de'Tirreni is a city in Campania, 8 km inland from the Amalfi Coast, with one of the best preserved Porticos in the region and a lively but relaxed atmosphere.

Cava sits between the Lattari Mountains (which separates Cava from the Amalfi Coast) on the West and the Picentini Mountains on the East, and the built-up valley floor area forms the major centre of population. Various 'Fractions' of the town creep up the slopes of the mountains to the east and the west, and the valley floor falls away on the south towards Vietri sul Mare and towards Nocera Superiore and Nocera Inferiore to the north. Vesuvius can also be seen to the north in the distance.

Cava is also within easy reach of Salerno

Get in
You can reach Cava de' Tirreni from Naples by train (Trenitalia metropolitan train going from Piazza Garibaldi station) or by bus with SITA SUD buses going from Naples port "Varco Immacolatella". You can also arrive from Salerno either via train or bus (number 4 or 9).

See
There is much to see in Cava de' Tirreni and the surrounding area. The Abbey of Santissima Trinità founded in 1011 by Alferio is surely worth a visit. It is the only monastery in the world that has been continuously inhabited by the Benedictine monks since its founding. You can visit the church and part of its original foundation but not the monastery.

Sleep

 * Holiday Inn Salerno - Cava de' Tirreni, an IHG Hotel, Viale Riccardo Romano, 17. Here is a nice corporate stay where you can have a big breakfast if you don't mind paying a little extra. +39 089 213 2401. EUR 72

title: Cava de' Tirreni


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Cavalcante

Cavalcante is a city in Goiás. It includes part of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park. It is an area with some tremendous hiking trails and waterfalls. Cavalcante also surrounds the Kalunga Historical Site, where descendents of African slaves, called Kalunga, live with little contact with the modern world.

Understand
With around 10,000 inhabitants (2007), Cavalcante lies 320 km north of Brasilia, on the north side of the national park Chapada dos Veadeiros.

Cavalcante has a much more "typical rural Goiás" climate than Alto Paraíso or São Jorge, but it does have a basic tourism structure. Its economy is diversifying; tourism, mining and power generation are prominent activities, but livestock has been supporting its residents for years. In culture, the main activities are pilgrimages and revelry, the queen's hunt, dances such as lundu and sussa, in August the Festival of Instrumental Music and in December the Ethnographic Film Festival.

History
Founded in 1737 by Diogo Teles Cavalcante, it is the oldest municipality in Chapada dos Veadeiros. Its altitude ranges from 360 m to more than 1,600 m, and it is surrounded by waterfalls, canyons, mountains and paths. It includes more than 60% of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park area. In the middle of the last century, it was the largest wheat exporter in the country.

The gold miner Julião Cavalcante and his companions in 1736 passed through the town in search of new gold mines. The news of the discovery of an immense gold mine of great depth, on the banks of the Lava Pés stream in the Serra da Cavalhada, attracted many adventurers from the most distant corners, starting the town. Cavalcante is honored as the founder and colonizer of the town.

By bus
In Brasilia, Empresa Santo Antonio (ESA) provides two daily buses to Cavalcante. They leave at 07:15 and 15:15 from Rodoferroviaria station. Tickets at R$ 45,15. or. It's a slow 6-hour ride.

By car
To get to Cavalcante you need to go first to Brasilia. From there, take road BR-020 and drive 34 km, turn left at DF-345 to ride 10.5 km more, continue on BR-010 for 225 km. Finally, turn left at GO-241 for the last 21 km.

Get around
Cavalcante is a small town and you can easily get around on foot or by bike. But the best way to the waterfalls is by car.

See
A guide is highly recommended to visit the attractions listed here because most of them are in remote locations and without mobile phone network coverage. Use your discretion! Guides are available at the Tourist Information Center. . The guides are also available to provide camping support like helping with tents and cooking.

Do
Most of the waterfalls will provide you a hiking experience with easy, moderate or difficult trails. Some of them can also be visited by mountain bike.

 * Visit the Kalunga communities - The Kalunga People are the descendents of escaped slaves from Africa who took refuge among the mountains during and after the colonial era in Brazil. They lived in isolated communities without contact with the outside world until the 1960s. They have interesting traditions that they have carried on for centuries. They are noted for their festivals and their hospitality.

Buy
There's a small selection of local handcrafted products. Nothing special. Ask the guides at the information center.

Go next

 * Chapada dos Veadeiros

title: Cavalcante


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Cavalier

Cavalier is a town in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, on the Tongue River. It has a population of approximately 1,537 people.

By car
From exit 203 on I-29, take US highway 81 west for 10 miles, then continue west on state highway 5 for 9 more miles. Cavalier is at the junction of state highways 5 and 18.

title: Cavalier


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Cave City

Cave City is a city in Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region. It is the main gateway city for Mammoth Cave National Park and its economy is largely based on tourism related to the national park.

By car
Cave City is off of Exit 53 (KY 70/90) on I-65, about halfway between Louisville and Nashville. Cave City can also be accessed from Exit 14 off of the Cumberland Pkwy and heading west on KY 90.

By air

 * Louisville International Airport
 * Nashville International Airport

Get around
Cave City is a small community, so getting around should not be much of a problem.

Caves
Cave City is aptly named — there are numerous caves within the area, including the world-famous Mammoth Cave.

Events

 * 31W Treasure Hunt Sale, in September, +1 270 670-3741

Eat
Cave City is served by several fast food chains near KY 70's junctions with KY 90 and I-65. They include Long John Silver's (co-branded with A&W), KFC, Wendy's, and McDonald's. Subway and Sonic are inside the Shell Travel Plaza.

Drink
In 2014 the city voted to go wet, and Barren County followed suit in 2016. Almost every restaurant now has alcohol sales and package liquor stores are available.

Sleep
Most of these lodgings are located near I-65 at Exit 53 (KY 70, 90)

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Cave City consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but the region is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 364 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated.

Go next
About 80 miles (130 km) north of Cave City is Louisville, the home of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Louisville also has the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum and 4th Street Live, a thriving entertainment complex downtown.

To the south of Cave City is Bowling Green, where Western Kentucky University hosts football and basketball games, along with performing arts. It also has Beech Bend Park, a small amusement park with a water park.

Further south is Nashville, America's Music City. Along with music related attractions, you'll find Opry Mills Mall, The Parthanon and Tennessee Titans football.

Several Kentucky state parks are within an hour's drive of Cave City. They include Nolin Lake SP (just north of Mammoth Cave), Rough River Dam SRP (northwest of Leitchfield), Barren River Lake SRP (southwest of Glasgow), Green River Lake SP (east of Cave City near Campbellsville), Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (south of Russell Springs) and Dale Hollow Lake SRP (along the Kentucky-Tennessee border).

title: Cave City


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Cave Creek

Cave Creek is a small town north of Phoenix and part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. It is a popular destination for equestrians, bikers, and those seeking high-end resort lifestyles.

Get in
Cave Creek is most easily accessed by heading north of Phoenix on I-17.

Get around
The entire town is connected through a network of horse, hiking and mountain bike trails.

Go next

 * The town of Carefree shares a main street with Cave Creek.
 * Cave Creek is often associated with North Scottsdale (Arizona)
 * The town of Carefree shares a main street with Cave Creek.
 * Cave Creek is often associated with North Scottsdale (Arizona)

title: Cave Creek


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Cave Junction

Cave Junction is a city in Southern Oregon, known as the gateway to the nearby Oregon Caves National Monument.

By car
Cave Junction is located on U.S. Route 199 (Redwood Highway) about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Grants Pass. To get to the Oregon Caves, turn onto Oregon 46 and follow it 20 miles (32 km) to the monument.

By bus
The on Redwood Highway at Caves Highway is the main stop for buses serving Cave Junction.

Go next

 * Oregon Caves National Monument - The famous caves lie 20 miles east of Cave Junction on Oregon Route 46.

title: Cave Junction


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Cavendish

There is more than one place called Cavendish:

Australia

 * Cavendish (Victoria) — a township in Victoria

Canada

 * Cavendish (Prince Edward Island) — a village in Prince Edward Island

title: Cavendish


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Caves and Lakes

Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region is centered around Bowling Green, Kentucky's third largest city, and home to the world's largest cave system—Mammoth Cave.

Other destinations

 * — the world's largest cave system and is one of the biggest Kentucky attractions

Understand
The Caves and Lakes regions lies on the central part of the Mississippian Plateau. Being a large limestone karst plain, many sinkholes and cave systems have developed in this area. The largest and most famous of these is Mammoth Cave. Along with the caves, several man made lakes are present in the region. These include Barren River Lake, Lake Malone, and Nolin River Lake.

The term "Caves and Lakes" is used for tourism promotion, but generally not by locals. The traditional local name for the region is Pennyrile, taken from the local pronunciation of "pennyroyal", a plant common in the area. While "Pennyrile" still sees use, the term South Central Kentucky (which also includes most or all of the Southern Lakes region, depending on the speaker) has gained favor in recent decades. For example, the public community college whose main campus is in Bowling Green is called "Southcentral Community and Technical College".

Get in
The major highways in the region include I-65, I-165 (formerly the William H. Natcher Parkway), and the Cumberland Parkway. Bowling Green's Warren County Regional Airport is the largest airport in the region. The closest international airports are located in Louisville and Nashville.

Kentucky

 * Kentucky Derby Region
 * Southern Lakes
 * Western Coal Fields
 * Western Waterlands

Tennessee

 * Middle Tennessee

title: Caves and Lakes


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Cavite

Cavite (Tagalog: Kabite) is a province in the Calabarzon region of the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

It is the most densely populated province in the Philippines, with a population of about 3.7 million people (2015). Being near to Metro Manila, its northern areas has become characterized by sprawling residential communities, which are continuing to grow until this day. Industrial developments are also leading its growing economy, with factories moving to industrial parks scattered in the province. The province is also rich with history as one of the provinces which led the Philippine Revolution against the Spaniards. Cavite is the location where the independence of the Philippines was born, so the province was named the historical capital.

Regions
Cavite is divided into 8 cities and 16 municipalities, but for convenience, we divide the province into three possible regions:

 * Northwestern Cavite (Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario) - Coastal communities with a colorful history.
 * Northern Cavite (Bacoor, Carmona, Dasmariñas, General Mariano Alvarez, General Trias, Imus, Tanza and Trece Martires) - A bustling suburban area, with its many problems like traffic jams and uncontrolled development.
 * Southern Cavite (Alfonso, Amadeo, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic, Silang, Tagaytay and Ternate) - The touristic part of Cavite, with many natural attractions, inland resorts and small towns.

Cities

 * - site of one of many major battles during the Philippine Revolution, it is now a sprawling suburb of Metro Manila.
 * - first city and first capital of Cavite.
 * The university city of Cavite, another sprawling suburb of Metro Manila.
 * The birth place of the Philippine Revolution, replacing the Katipunan; popularly known as the Tejeros Convention, Tejeros Assembly or Tejeros Convention.
 * - another sprawling suburb, where the Battle of Alapan, another major battle in the Philippine Revolution, took place.
 * - municipality in the interior of Cavite, home to various inland resorts and heritage churches.
 * - birthplace of Emilio Aguinaldo
 * - the second "Summer Capital" of the Philippines, with its cool highland climate and views of Taal Lake and Volcano.
 * - capital of Cavite
 * Tanza City - most progressive

Other destinations

 * - Mountain range, one of the last patches of lowland rainforest in Luzon.
 * - Mountain range, one of the last patches of lowland rainforest in Luzon.

Mount Palay-Palay-Mataas na Gulod Protected Landscape occupies over 4000 ha of western Cavite, and also straddles the boundary with Batangas; we do not have an article for it, but is covered at Ternate (Cavite).

Understand
Cavite is known for its rich history and a large number of national heroes, including the first president Emilio Aguinaldo (though some historians dispute this claim). The province is one of the eight provinces that led the Philippine Revolution, and is a site of many important events during the rebellion. It is sometimes called "Land of the Brave" or the History Capital of the Philippines. Those who live in Cavite are called Caviteños.

Cavite is bordered by Metro Manila in the north, Laguna in the east, Batangas in the south and by South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea, at the wake of the Spratly Islands dispute) on the west. Being just south of Metro Manila, Cavite is seeing a rise in suburban development since the 1970s and 1980s, especially residential subdivisions and industrial parks. Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas is the three principal cities not far from the boundary with Metro Manila, have became bustling extensions of the vast metropolis in the north, and are bedroom communities for daily commuters who leave to work or study in Metro Manila.

Talk
Tagalog is the native languages of most Caviteños, but in parts of Cavite (particularly Cavite City and Ternate), the Spanish-based creole Chavacano is spoken, though speakers of those will readily switch to Tagalog when dealing with outsiders.

Get in
Common means of transportation from Manila to Cavite by bus and jeepney. It takes an hour or less.

By car
One main entry point to Cavite is the Manila-Cavite Expressway. They also name this road as Coastal Road (name of the road from north end of the road to Bacoor exit) since it is near the coastline of Manila Bay. The Manila-Cavite Expressway has two exit points: the Longos Flyover in barangay Talaba in Bacoor and Cavite Exit located at Binakayan Diversion Road and Tirona Highway in barangay Binakayan, Kawit.

Another entry point to Cavite is the South Luzon Expressway. Common exit points are Carmona, which takes you to Governor's Drive, the main east–west corridor, and Santa Rosa, which leads you to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, which becomes snagged during weekends and holidays with many travelers heading to Tagaytay.

From Batangas, entry points by road are the gently sloping Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road, and the winding Diokno Highway from Lemery and Ligaya Drive from Talisay, the main gateway to Taal Volcano.

By boat
MRS Super Shuttle operates ferries to Cavite City from SM Mall of Asia. Since December 2019, there is also a "water jeepney" service between the pier near the CCP Complex in Pasay and the pier in Cavite City.

By train
Construction of the LRT Line 1 (LRT-1) extension to Cavite province is ongoing; it to expected to be operational by early 2023. The extension project, will give rise to eight new stations in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Bacoor. The line will initially not reach Bacoor itself, but two stations at Bacoor proper are planned.

Get around
Much of Cavite, especially the northern urbanized conurbation, is undergoing explosive growth marked by subdivisions, malls, and industrial parks. Most areas of the province are accessible by local public transport, but most new residents in the suburbanized cities prefer buying a car. The major cities in Cavite are plagued by daily traffic jams. Public transport cover well the cities but they are also affected by the congestion.

By bus or jeepney
Most locals commute using the ubiquitous jeepneys. You may hail a jeepney from anywhere, though some cities have jeepney only allowed to stop at designated areas per local ordinances. Most jeepney routes run within the province, but there are several routes running toward Metro Manila (Alabang and Baclaran) or Laguna (Santa Rosa or Calamba).

Buses are a more comfortable and spacious alternative for jeepneys, but they only travel on the most prominent destinations. Most bus routes in Cavite run between Manila (Parañaque Intermodal Transport Exchange/PITX, Pasay) and Batangas (Nasugbu, Balayan, Calatagan).

The common bus operators in Cavite are as follows, with their routes:
 * Cavite-Batangas Transport Cooperative
 * DLTB (PITX-Nasugbu via Tagaytay or Ternate)
 * Erjohn and Almark
 * Jasper Jean (Fairview-Palapala via EDSA, Navotas-Palapala via EDSA)
 * Kirsteen Transport
 * San Agustin
 * Saulog (PITX-Cavite City/Ternate)

By minibus
Travel to coastal Cavite may not be complete without taking the colorful custom-made minibuses (or "baby buses"), which travel between Bacoor and Naic (with some operating from Baclaran and vice versa via CAVITEX). Cavite minibuses can be basically seen as bus-like versions of the jeepney; fares are cheap and the buses have a separate entrance and exit door, but are cramped and uncomfortable to foreigners. Minibuses were planned to be phased out in the early 2010s (and replaced by the usual jeepneys), but the plan was scrapped after it met opposition from lifetime drivers.

By car
Cavite has an immense network of roads, with the Aguinaldo Highway (Route 62, 419, and 410), Antero Soriano Highway (Route 64 and 402) and Governor's Drive (Route 65, 651, 403 and 405) serving as the backbone of the system. Aguinaldo Highway is the most prominent, being a north–south national road serving the largest cities. Governor's Drive is another important highway, from Carmona to Ternate. Antero Soriano Highway is another highway that continues from Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) and serves the coastal communities of Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, and Naic.

Cavite has a negative reputation for traffic jams due to uncontrolled suburbanization that created car-dependent sprawl, and it can take 1-2 hours to travel from one side of the province into another. The major highways, notably Aguinaldo Highway between Bacoor and Dasmariñas, are always congested, even in weekends and holidays, and drivers can be aggressive. The city of Bacoor, from 2016, has implemented a number-coding system in order to reduce congestion, and created a "Friendship Route" modeled after Las Piñas', which is permissive unlike the latter (where a sticker is required). Public transportation is the better choice, but are affected by the congestion.

The province enforces a road space rationing ("number coding") scheme under Provincial Ordinance No. 164 s. 2018 since December 2018 to reduce traffic volumes on its major highways, including Aguinaldo Highway, Governor's Drive, Molino Boulevard, and Molino-Paliparan Road. The ordinance is implemented M-F 7-10AM and 3-7PM, except national holidays. If you get caught, you driver's license will be confiscated, and receive a ticket and a fine of.

Cavite's only expressways are the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Bacoor and Kawit, and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) through Carmona, but the national government is undertaking the construction of new expressways to decongest its major highways. One ongoing project, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which will connect CAVITEX in Kawit with SLEX in Biñan, Laguna, has been under construction since 2018; as of 2021, the expressway is open between Biñan and Silang, and the remainder under construction. Another expressway, the Cavite-Tagaytay-Nasugbu Expressway, is proposed to serve Tagaytay, Mendez and Alfonso.

By tricycle
Motorized tricycles, or simply tricycles are motorbikes with attached sidecar. Tricycles are a common means of public transportation in the Philippines. These public utility vehicles either have a set route or are for-hire, like taxis. The tricycle is the most popular means of transport for short distances of less than a kilometer in small towns and cities, especially in the rural areas.

See
While urban sprawl has took hold in most of Cavite and the primary reason to be in the province is Tagaytay and Taal Volcano (which is in Batangas though), there are many places in the provinces still waiting to be discovered.

Do
It's a must for every Cavite visitor to visit Tagaytay City. While on your way to the city, you might want to try the boiled sweet corn along Silang by-pass road. You won't miss the sweet corn being cooked on the large cookie bins which serves as hot pots.

Upon arrival to Tagaytay, enjoy the view of the lake and the volcano.

Would you want to do horseback riding? DRive along the Tagaytay Road and see Picnic Grove and enjoy the picnic park. Avoid visiting during holidays because the park might be really crowded.

Eat

 * Original Digman Halo-Halo - Digman, along the Streets of H. Rubio and C. Gawaran, is a small barangay in the city of Bacoor. It's known for its famous halo-halo which Caviteños have enjoyed through the years.
 * Pancit luga is a very saucy, breakfast version of the Pancit Palabok and Pancit Malabon. The primarily difference is in the noodles used in the recipe.  Luglog uses a thicker noodle than the traditional bihon of a pancit palabok. The noodle dish is served with an array of seafood garnish, spring onions, hard boiled eggs in thick rice noodles and eaten with local-made Bibingka rice cake.  Luglug eateries are located in Rosario and the local favorite is at Rizal and Gov Pugeda Street.

Drink
Cavite and neighbouring Batangas Province both have a local coffee variant called Kapeng barako.

Buy
There are many malls and chain supermarkets in most of suburbanized Cavite, but national mall chains have begun to spring out in the touristic center of Tagaytay. Almost all cities and municipalities will have traditional wet and dry market at the downtown. The municipality of Silang has a designer outlet mall, the European-themed Acienda, whose main catch is an all-year 70% discount for all stores.

Sleep
Most cities will have at least one or more hotels (especially motels), but the majority are in Tagaytay, the main tourist area. At the coast, there will be beach resorts, often the only option of staying there, but there will hardly be one on the bustling northwest region, where the towns grew into the coastline.

Stay safe
Weather, crime, and aggressive drivers are major safety concerns when travelling in the province. The weather can become unpredictable in the province during the monsoon season, and roads can become slippery or muddy during short rainstorms. If you drive, it is advisable to hire a driver, as driving habits tend to become aggressive. The area does show signs of poverty, and common crimes like pickpockets and hold-ups do occur, so be watchful of your valuables. Do not just flash a classy phone or camera anywhere, so you do not attract thieves. Keep them in your bag or hotel safe if possible.

In Tagaytay, beware of tourist scams, especially involving trips to Taal Volcano in nearby Batangas. Always agree on a price when taking tricycles, and avoid drivers posing that they know you: you might get overcharged if you give in.

Go next

 * Batangas - Just south, and home to beaches not far from Manila, as well as heritage churches.

title: Cavite


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Cavnic

Cavnic is a ski resort in Maramureș.

Understand
A former mining town located in the Gutâi mountains east of Baia Mare, Cavnic is now a developing ski resort.

Get in
Several buses link it with Baia Mare (a one hour trip).

Do
The ski runs are located at the eastern end of the resort.

Sleep
Accommodations are mostly available in guesthouses, with prices starting around €15/night.

title: Cavnic


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Cavtat

Cavtat is a Croatian city with a long history. Founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BCE under the name of Epidauros, after the city of the Peloponnese.

Understand
The town changed its name to Epidaurum when it came under Roman rule in 228 BCE. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey lined up in favor of the first and was besieged by Octavius, but was saved by the arrival of the consul. Later became a Roman colony and was occupied during the Gothic Wars from the fleet sent by Justinian.

When the city was sacked by the Slavs and Avars just before the 614, people took refuge on an island nearby which later united with the mainland, gave rise to the city of Dubrovnik. From that moment Cavtat was always under the control of powerful neighbour. The modern Croatian name for the city reveals the ancient origin and the link with Dubrovnik: Cavtat is a derived from Civitas Vetus, the name by which the Dubrovnikans called their old city.

Today Cavtat is a popular tourist destination, with many hotels and private homes that rent rooms and apartments. The seafront is filled with shops and restaurants.

Get in

 * Dubrovnik Airport is much closer to Cavtat than it is to Dubrovnik.
 * A ferry boat connects the town to neighbouring Mlini and Dubrovnik.

title: Cavtat


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Cavusin

Çavuşin is a village in Cappadocia.

Get in
There are minibuses from Nevşehir and Göreme every 30 minutes

See

 * Church of John the Baptist
 * Nicephoras Phocas
 * Rose Valley (hiking path)
 * Red Valley (sunset view point)
 * Fairy Chimneys Valley (Pasabag)

title: Cavusin


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Cawsand

Cawsand (Cornish: Porthbugh) is one of twin villages (Kingsand being the other) on the Rame Peninsula in south-east Cornwall. Cawsand overlooks Plymouth Sound Cawsand is within Mount Edgcumbe Country Park.

Understand
The Rame Peninsula is considered part of the Forgotten Corner of Cornwall. It is called be "forgotten" because the area is effectively by-passed by visitors to Cornwall, it is over 50 miles away from the administrative headquarters of Cornwall at Truro.

Get in
There are frequent bus services to the city of Plymouth which is three miles to the north across Plymouth Sound. There is also a ferry service in the summer (from Cawsand Bay to Plymouth Hoe).

By car via the Torpoint ferry, by passenger ferry from Stonehouse in Plymouth to Cremyll and then by bus, or usually, by boat from the Barbican area of Plymouth.

Get around
A very pleasant day can be had by doing a round trip: getting across by boat from the barbican and then taking a bus to Cremyll (infrequent) and catching the ferr across the Tamar.

See
The beaches are not large but are interesting for children with an old lime kiln and numerous rock pools.

Do
There are good walks into the Mount Edgecombe Estate towards Plymouth, and the other way to the wooded headland of Penlee Point and/or to Rame Head.

title: Cawsand


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Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a small island off the coast of Belize, 1.6 km (1 mi) west of the Barrier Reef. Caye Caulker is popular with backpackers and budget travellers for its (relatively) cheap prices, laid-back vibe, and abundance of restaurants and bars.

Understand
It's about 8.2 km (5 mi) in length with a population of 1,300. Temperature is usually below in the snowbird season.

There aren't really any proper beaches to speak of, but plenty of docks are spread around the island where you can pull up a plastic chair and get your sun on, or hang out at one of the ocean front restaurants or walk down to "The Split" which is a popular swimming area and if you're feeling a bit thirsty, The Lazy Lizard Bar is just a couple of steps away from the water.

There are only three main roads in town, all sandy. Front Street runs along the east coast, Back Street along the west coast, and Middle Street exactly where you'd expect it. The vast majority of places of interest to a visitor will be found along Front Street and the west coast.

The local cultural influences are Mestizo, Garifuna and Creole.

History
On early British maps the island's name is spelled "Cay Corker." Known historically for its plentiful supply of exposed fresh water at La Aguada, one theory holds that this island was a favourite stop for sailors to replenish and cork water bottles. The Spanish name of the island is Cayo Hicaco, which means "the island of the cocoplum." "Caye Caulker" could be an anglicised pronunciation of Cayo Hicaco. Another theory is that boats were caulked in the protected bay, La Ensenada, on the western side of the island leading to the "Caulker" name.

Its population started to rise when Mestizo refugees fleeing the Mexican Caste Wars (1847-1901) arrived. With few inhabitants, food could be grown with sustainable methods of agriculture. The coconut and the fishing industry became important economic staples of the island. Even today, a few of the older women continue to process coconut oil for their own use and to sell, although generally the coconuts are harvested and shipped to the mainland.

By plane

If you're coming in from Mexico you can fly from Corozal, 20 minutes from the Mexican border at Chetumal. The flights stop in Ambergris and Caye Caulker if there's demand, and will save you the more than 4-hour bus ride to Belize City.

By sea
Catch a water taxi in Belize City or Ambergris Caye to Caye Caulker and they have frequent runs to the island everyday rain or shine. The ride takes about 45 minutes, and then continues on to San Pedro. On windy days the trip can be a little rough, but most times it's smooth. Sit towards the back of the boat for a smoother ride.

 * Ocean Ferry - BZ$20 one-way, or BZ$35 round-trip. (Check their website for departures). Ocean Ferry is located at the foot of the Swing Bridge in Belize City.
 * San Pedro Belize Express - US$21 one-way and US$37 round-trip. (Check their website for departures). Boats leave Belize City from the Brown Sugar Marketplace at 9AM, 11AM, noon, 1PM, 3PM, 4PM and 5:30PM to Caye Caulker and from San Pedro on the beach by the park every hour and a half starting at 7AM.

If you are coming from Mexico you can get a boat directly from Chetumal to San Pedro and then to Caye Caulker, it runs every day, US$71 - book the tickets in advance online from the Belize Water Taxi website. Tickets can be bought at the Maritime Terminal or Muelle Fiscal if the boat isn't full. (Aug 2023)

Get around
There are only three main streets on Caye Caulker - Front Street, Middle Street and Back Street - none of which are paved. Front Street, the easternmost street, is the busiest and has almost everything for tourists on it. Everything is within walking distance, it takes approximately 20 minutes to slow-walk from the Front Pier to almost anywhere.

Everyone gets around on golf carts, bicycles or on foot. With a golf cart, you can go around the entire island in 30 minutes.

There are many places on the island that rent bicycles.

For golf carts check with C&N Golf Cart Rentals and Caye Caulker Golf Cart Rentals.

See

 * The Forest Reserve covers the northern 40 ha (100 acres) of the island. It's mostly dense mangrove forest.  The local Audubon group sometimes organizes morning birdwatching tours.
 * Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, also known as the local reef. The local reef is close enough that you can see the waves breaking on it from the island itself.
 * Shark and Ray Alley. Tour operators will toss food into the water in order to attract nurse sharks and southern sting rays.  You can swim with them, and even touch them if you're quick.  Nurse sharks can bite, contrary to myth, but they are also territorial so these sharks are very used to humans.
 * Shark and Ray Alley. Tour operators will toss food into the water in order to attract nurse sharks and southern sting rays.  You can swim with them, and even touch them if you're quick.  Nurse sharks can bite, contrary to myth, but they are also territorial so these sharks are very used to humans.

Every tour-operator has signed an agreement so they all have the same prices for the Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley-Tours - which is US$90 for the full day trip (Aug 2023).

Do
Caye Caulker is a small, very laid-back Caribbean island. In fact, its motto is "Go Slow" and that is exactly what you should do. It is an ideal place to spend a few days while taking a break from travelling around the rest of Central America. The Belizean dollar (BZ$) is officially pegged to the US dollar (US$) at a rate of BZ$2 to US$1.

Chill out at The Lazy Lizard at "The Split," a little bar on its own near what can only be described as the island's only beach, however, do not expect Rio or Hawaii - there is no sand here. The "beach" is a sunken area of a picnic area surrounded by concrete seawalls. On the walls you'll see the young and hip lazing about, catching a tan. When it gets too hot, you can jump into the water and climb back again, or make the short walk to the Lazy Lizard to refresh your drink.

Snorkelling and diving
Much of the activity on the island centers around snorkelling and diving (about a dozen operators offering trips) and scuba diving. The prices at all the shops are basically the same. The local diving is at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a 30-minute boat ride away. A little further out is Spanish Bay, Caye Chapel, and some other sites. Long distance trips to Turneffe Atoll and the famous Blue Hole are regularly available.

Snorkeling
Short "half-day" snorkeling tours are offered by numerous local businesses for approximately BZ$70 per person (April 2015). They usually leave at 10:30AM (back at 1PM) and 2:30PM. Stops include the local reef, the Coral Garden, and Shark and Ray Alley.

Longer "full-day" snorkelling tours are offered by numerous local businesses, for approximately BZ$180 (Aug 2023). They usually leave around 10AM and return around 4:30PM. Stops include the Coral Garden, Shark and Ray Alley, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Be sure to check whether your tour guide will include lunch, since some only include snacks. Some of them include lunch, snacks, and a rum punch "happy hour" on the way back. With all operators, check to make sure they have equipment that is in good shape.

Every tour-operator has signed an agreement so they all have the same prices for the Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley-Tours. (Aug 2023)

The creation of Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary - a manatee reserve near Belize City is due to the efforts of a Caye Caulker local named Chocolate. He offers guided tours to the Manatee reserve approximately every other day, as do a few other tour operators. Be warned that you don't get to swim with the manatees in the sanctuary and some days may be more difficult to see them. Most manatee tours include one or two snorkeling stops. Manatees can be seen all year long, and in the summer months can be seen near Hol Chan Marine Reserve as well as other local areas. The younger ones are curious and will swim close to you, unlike the more mature manatees, which generally avoid people (for good reason).

 *  do eco-tours. They explicitly don't feed the sharks, they use reusable boxes for lunch and let you refill your bottle with water.
 * Seagull Adventures, about a block from the Front Pier, offers snorkeling tours to more distant locations that most other tour guides will only go to for diving. Examples include Blue Hole (about BZ$230 per person), and Tourneffe Atoll (about BZ$120 per person). Ask the owner a few days in advance to find out what the schedule is. The best time to catch her is in the evening, around 6PM, during the day she's usually gone on the snorkelling trips.
 * Juni's, sailing/snorkelling trips to Hol Chan marine reserve. Authentic experience on a beautiful self built sailing boat. Small groups to maximum of 6 people. Only for those who respect the ocean, the fish and the locals. If you like drinking and smoking with more than 20 people on a sailing boat, then don't go to Juni. Go to Raggamuffin instead. Find Juni in his office behind the police station, best before 9:30AM and after 5:30PM, or at his boat Trinity at the dock.
 * Juni's, sailing/snorkelling trips to Hol Chan marine reserve. Authentic experience on a beautiful self built sailing boat. Small groups to maximum of 6 people. Only for those who respect the ocean, the fish and the locals. If you like drinking and smoking with more than 20 people on a sailing boat, then don't go to Juni. Go to Raggamuffin instead. Find Juni in his office behind the police station, best before 9:30AM and after 5:30PM, or at his boat Trinity at the dock.

Diving
Caye Caulker is popular with divers and there are several dive shops on the island. Contact them a few days in advance to find out what their schedule is. PADI certified dive shops are available offering recreational diving and open water courses. These courses normally take 3–4 days, providing the weather is fair. The certification includes 2 shallow-water dives, and 4 open-water dives. All dives are done in the ocean.

The local dive shops all offer dive trips to the Blue Hole, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Spanish Bay, Turneffe North, and Turneffe Elbow, prices vary depending on the dive site.

There are also operators on nearby Ambergris Caye that can pick you up if the local shops aren't going where you want.

The cost of various trips varies according to the distance from Caye Caulker. Typical costs are:

 * Local dives (Hol Chan, Spanish Bay): US$90 (2 tank dives)
 * Turneffe Atoll: US$150 (3 tank dives)
 * Blue Hole: US$150 (3 tank dives) plus US$40 park permit

Other activities
You can also book various activities at many places on the island, such as

 * Sailing tours. With Raggamuffin [sic] Tours you can do a sailing trip of 3 days (2 nights). Sleeping on little islands, snorkeling, fishing your own meal, a wonderful experience.
 * Tours to Maya ruins (on the mainland).
 * Cave tubing (on the mainland).
 * Manatee watching Tours normally include a snorkeling stop at Sergeant's Caye (on the barrier reef) and a short visit to St. George's Caye. There are many tour operators out of Caye Caulker, San Pedro and Belize City who do manatee watching trips. Visit Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary that was set up by Chocolate Heredia, Belizean native and award winning conservationist. 3,600 ha (9,000 acres) of sea and mangrove became a protected area in July 2002. For more information see the Friends of Swallow Caye.

Buy
Like most of Belize, most shops accept US dollars: US $1 equals $2 Belizean. Prices will be posted in Belizean dollars, but always confirm before making a purchase.

There are two ATMs on the island. One ATM is at Atlantic Bank (no fees) and the other at Credit Union. Often on holiday weekends, ATMs run out of money, so stock up on your money in Belize City.

Gift shops along the Front Street sell mainly t-shirts, hammocks and souvenirs. Vendors can be found along the main street selling a variety of crafts and jewellery.

 * Caribbean Colors Art Gallery, Front Street. Art gallery on Caye Caulker.

Budget

 * Auntie's Fast Food, Middle Street. Delicious Belizean and Chinese take-out with a relatively low price. Stewed chicken, baked chicken, rice and bean and cow foot soup.
 * The Bambooze Grill, (next to the Barrier Reef Sports Bar). Good fish and shrimp dishes, chicken is also available. Features swings instead of chairs at some tables and the bar. Friendly hostess.
 * Glenda's, Back Street, (near the microwave tower). Serves eggs, bacon, a cinnamon roll, and coffee for just US$3.50.
 * Fran's, (across the street from the Miramar Hotel). Roger's sister, her fare is similar to that of Jolly Roger's, for the same price.
 * Caye Caulker Bakery, Back Street, (just north of Chan's Grocery). Opens at 7:30AM.  Serving a mixture of sweet and savoury foods.  The ham and cheese turnover (if available) is exceedingly delicious and is a filling breakfast on its own.

Drink
There is not much to do in the night in regards to partying. While nearby Ambergris Caye is known for its nightlife, Caye Caulker is more relaxed and most bars shut down before midnight. The I&I Reggae Bar and Oceanside Night Club are the only bars with dancefloors. Holidays and long weekends are when events and dances are held on the island by individual committees of the island.

 * The Split is the place where hurricane Hattie split the island in two in 1961, a bit of dredging and currents subsequently formed the split. There is a bar just next to the split called the Lazy Lizard. Good place for a bench while watching large tarpons and rays just swimming by. Happy hour starts at 5PM and offers two rum drinks for BZ$5; try the "Panty Ripper" included in this deal.
 * The Split is the place where hurricane Hattie split the island in two in 1961, a bit of dredging and currents subsequently formed the split. There is a bar just next to the split called the Lazy Lizard. Good place for a bench while watching large tarpons and rays just swimming by. Happy hour starts at 5PM and offers two rum drinks for BZ$5; try the "Panty Ripper" included in this deal.

Sleep
Caye Caulker offers a good spread of high quality lodging facilities ranging from budget accommodation to higher end hotels and serviced apartments.

 * The Gumbo Limbo The Gumbo Limbo property is the home of four rentals. The Aria Kat Art Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Ocean View and Breeze Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Studio, and the latest addition the Gumbo Limbo’s Dreaded Grape. It's in a quiet neighbourhood close to the village center, but far enough to enjoy the peace and relax.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Gumbo Limbo The Gumbo Limbo property is the home of four rentals. The Aria Kat Art Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Ocean View and Breeze Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Studio, and the latest addition the Gumbo Limbo’s Dreaded Grape. It's in a quiet neighbourhood close to the village center, but far enough to enjoy the peace and relax.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Gumbo Limbo The Gumbo Limbo property is the home of four rentals. The Aria Kat Art Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Ocean View and Breeze Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Studio, and the latest addition the Gumbo Limbo’s Dreaded Grape. It's in a quiet neighbourhood close to the village center, but far enough to enjoy the peace and relax.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Gumbo Limbo The Gumbo Limbo property is the home of four rentals. The Aria Kat Art Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Ocean View and Breeze Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Studio, and the latest addition the Gumbo Limbo’s Dreaded Grape. It's in a quiet neighbourhood close to the village center, but far enough to enjoy the peace and relax.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Gumbo Limbo The Gumbo Limbo property is the home of four rentals. The Aria Kat Art Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Ocean View and Breeze Cabana, the Gumbo Limbo Studio, and the latest addition the Gumbo Limbo’s Dreaded Grape. It's in a quiet neighbourhood close to the village center, but far enough to enjoy the peace and relax.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.
 * The Tropics Hotel offers an alternative for those on a budget who don't mind getting cosy. A "Sunset" room costs BZ$55 and comes with a shower and two double beds to share.

Connect
Caye Caulker has internet access. With the introduction of fiber optics and wifi available at accommodations, bars, and restaurants you will be able to connect on most all of the island.

Go next
Water taxis leave the island for Belize City from early in the morning till the end of the day.

title: Caye Caulker


text:
Cayenne

Cayenne is the largest city in and capital of French Guiana. Cayenne lies on the Atlantic coast, on marshland surrounded by hills. It is an important seaport in South America.

Understand
The city was founded in 1643 by the French and was part of the Dutch, English and Portuguese colonial empire during the following century. Today a third of the department's inhabitants live in Cayenne. Downtown is small and the houses are typically Caribbean.

On Sundays, almost everything is closed. If you arrive on a Sunday, the only thing to do on your first vacation day is walking around in an almost deserted city.

In 2019, the city was home to 66,000 people.

Climate
The climate is what you would expect this close to the Equator. The temperature is constant around +25-30°C while it's raining heavily for most of the year.

By plane
French Guiana's main international airport is

There are no buses to the airport, so your alternatives are to rent a car or take a taxi (€35 to central Cayenne).

By road
From both neighboring countries, you have to cross a river by ferry into French Guiana. From Brazil, you will arrive in Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock from where you can travel by bus to Cayenne with a transfer in Régina. From Suriname you will step off the ferry in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni from where you can take a bus to Iracoubo and transfer to another going to Cayenne.

If you've brought a car, the road is paved from both borders towns to Cayenne.

Get around

 * Cayenne has a public bus network of five lines. The fare is €1,10.
 * Your other options are obviously car, taxi, foot or bike.

Do
There are sand beaches in the eastern part of Cayenne, and the sea is good for surfing.

Carnival
Guianese Carnival takes place between Epiphany in early January and Ash Wednesday in February or March. On the weekend people put on their carnival dresses and dance in the streets through the night. The most remarkable are the ladies' colorful touloulou dresses. The dancing groups show the ethnic diversity of French Guiana. In the main parade that is held on the last Sunday of the carnival dancing schools (similar to those in Rio de Janeiro) perform. The most famous of them are Chiré Band, Réno Band, Kassialata, Manaré and Piraye.

Buy

 * For souvenir shopping head for the Trois Fontaines shops and other shops in the downtown. Good souvenirs are objects carved out of wood and exotic objects of art.
 * For souvenir shopping head for the Trois Fontaines shops and other shops in the downtown. Good souvenirs are objects carved out of wood and exotic objects of art.
 * For souvenir shopping head for the Trois Fontaines shops and other shops in the downtown. Good souvenirs are objects carved out of wood and exotic objects of art.

Eat
The restaurants of Cayenne reflects the ethnic mosaic of the Guyanese society; you will find Creole, French, Chinese, Lebanese and Javanese restaurants here.

Budget
In general the Chinese restaurants are the most affordable places to have a meal with dishes for €15-20. On Place des Palmistes there are also carts selling hamburgers and Javanese dishes.

Drink
Except for the carnival weeks, the nightlife isn't as wild as in many other Latin American destinations. There are some nice bars in Cayenne downtown. Nightclubs are generally located in the periphery of the city.

Sleep
Good hotels exist, but they can be relatively expensive.

Go next
From Cayenne you can relatively easy get to other parts of the department or to the neighbouring countries overland. Kourou boasts a space centre and the Devil's Island archipelago. To get a taste of the rainforest of inner Guiana you can take a domestic flight for instance to Saül.

title: Cayenne


text:
Cayman Brac

Cayman Brac is a 14-square-mile (36.26 km²) island in the Cayman Islands. The island rises from the west side to tall bluffs ("brac" is Gaelic for "bluff") at the eastern tip of the island. One of the island's main appeals is diving to offshore reefs and shipwrecks. With a population less than 1,800, those that live on Cayman Brac are referred to as 'Brackers'.

By plane

Sit on the right side of the plane (either direction) if you want a view of Little Cayman and Brac.

By boat
No ferry service. Private charters from Grand Cayman are available.

By air

 * Cayman Airways, {{Phone|+1 345 949-2311}. Provides air service between the three islands' airports.

Do

 * Shore diving: Multiple entries around the island. Rent tanks and gear at Reef Divers. There are 11 dive sites reachable by shore.
 * Snorkel along the rocky coastlines - prepared entries with ladders.
 * Swim in the warm waters at Public beach (bathroom/showers facilities) or from one of the cuts or docks.
 * Explore the village of Spot Bay - the heart of Caymanian Culture.
 * Pick your own fresh papaya, mangoes, pomegranate, bananas, etc., at Murch's farm. (Mangoes May-August)
 * Deep sea fishing
 * Canoeing and kayaking
 * Explore dozens of caves such as Rebecca's Cave, Peter's Cave and Skull Cave and the amazing Nani's cave.
 * Hike: Multiple trails to hike including the easy Lighthouse trail 120 feel over the sea - see the indigenous Booby birds. Also hike the Parrot reserve.
 * Biking: being a small island with little traffic, exploring with bikes is enjoyable. Brac Reef and some car rental companies have bikes to use/rent.
 * Bird watching
 * Hike: Multiple trails to hike including the easy Lighthouse trail 120 feel over the sea - see the indigenous Booby birds. Also hike the Parrot reserve.
 * Biking: being a small island with little traffic, exploring with bikes is enjoyable. Brac Reef and some car rental companies have bikes to use/rent.
 * Bird watching
 * Hike: Multiple trails to hike including the easy Lighthouse trail 120 feel over the sea - see the indigenous Booby birds. Also hike the Parrot reserve.
 * Biking: being a small island with little traffic, exploring with bikes is enjoyable. Brac Reef and some car rental companies have bikes to use/rent.
 * Bird watching
 * Biking: being a small island with little traffic, exploring with bikes is enjoyable. Brac Reef and some car rental companies have bikes to use/rent.
 * Bird watching

Sleep
Lodging on Cayman Brac consists mostly of rental property, although a few hotels, resorts, condominiums and a bed-and-breakfast exist.

Stay healthy
There is one hospital on the island providing modern surgery facilities and 18 hospital beds. A dental clinic and community care center are located nearby.

Go next
Flights to Little Cayman and Grand Cayman are available every day.

title: Cayman Brac