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Santiago de Bolivar

Santiago de Bolivar, also just known as simply Santiago for the locals and residents of Ecuador, it is a very nice relaxed colonial town located in Bolivar in the Central Andes of Ecuador.

Get in
Located at 15 km from Guaranda the capital of the Province of Province of Bolivar and 5 kilometers from San Jose de Chimbo. You maye get here only by car. It usually takes about 4-5 hours from Quito, the capital of Ecuador and 10 minutes from San Jose de Chimbo on a nowadays pave road in very good conditions

Get around
Getting around Santiago is as easy as it gets: You may want walk to the nearby areas and visit some interesting sights, another possibility is to ask in town if someone can offer you a horse back riding, usually there is a chance, you may get around town by horse enjoying the views and landscaping. The most common way is to hire a pick up in the main square and ask for the driver to take you where ever you want for the time you need, usually they take you to one point and then you make arrangements for them to pick you up later.

Talk
Spanish mainly. You may get English assistance by contacting a local guide in the capital or travel assistance for the area.

See
See the main church, a nice building with nice religious art Visit the water mills out side town on the Santiago River banks Climb up to the "La Loma" for nice photos and observation of Andes and the fields Contact famous local painter Ivo Mora to see his art gallery

Do
Santiago offers multiple activities for nature lovers and people who is looking for a time out, outdoors are a must while you visit Santiago, but also you may just want to take a cup of coffee and enjoy the afternoons sunsets from the view points or your You can do: -Trekking and hiking -River Fishing -Bird watching -Mountain Biking and downhill -Camping

Cultural activities: Visit the "Route of the Saint" name after all the multiple towns located in the surroundings that were founded by the Spanish conquistadors over 500 years ago. These are San Lorenzo, San Simon, San Vicente, San Jose de Chimbo, among others. You would love the drive and scenery

-Mingle with the locals and share together their stories and legends while taking a walk across the town. -Make bread with a local family in the typical wood burning oven -Participate in the local harvest usually from June to September -Be part of the Carnival festivities in February, a very traditional parade that takes place not in only in Santiago but in the whole region -Atend to the festivities of the "Señor de la Salud" in July, party time and multiple festival in town organized by locals and residents of Santiago that come together from all over the country.

Cashca Totoras Protected Forest and Reserve Located not far from Santiago you will find yourself in one of the last endemic Andean forest of medium range altitude, this is last remnant of the subtropical forest of high altitude, place with an important and unique biodiversity. It is located 20 minutes from Santiago by car on dirt road, the landscaping and scenery are incredible. This forest it threatened to disappear as it is being cut, some efforts are being done to protect this area for future generations. Some projects have endeavor to work with the local community settled in this area to protect the area through communitarian tourist initiatives.

Eat
The local dishes consist of mainly in what is known as "comida typica" or local food. You may want to try and ask for: tortillas de maiz or trigo ( corn or wheat tortillas made on the wooden burning stove) very good and fantastic flavour with local coffee aside. Pork meat is another specialty.

Drink
Ask for "Puntas" fire water or liquorish, tasty flavour of the Andes "Pajaro Azul" or Blue Bird is a traditional drink typically distilled in the local stores

Local beer is always available at any of the small stores around the main squares.

Stay safe
Safety as always is a must; in Santiago you will feel safe at all times and by all means, no crime or delinquency is registered in this area, local residents and travellers are taken care in the best way, the police presence is here all the time.

Although we can always suggest you to take your precautions when travelling abroad. Hire a travel insurance just in case.

Go next
Getting out of this beautiful area is as easy as you got in. Buses are running in daily basis, please ask in the main square for schedules.

There is always pick ups available to take you out to Chimbo and from there to Guaranda where more frequent buses are running back to Quito or Guayaquil.

title: Santiago de Bolivar


text:
Santiago

Santiago is the capital and economic center of Chile. With its many museums, events, theaters, restaurants, bars and other entertainment and cultural opportunities, it is also the cultural center of the country. For visitors it's both the gateway to the country and a destination in its own right with an eclectic architecture, a vibrant culinary and cultural scene, surrounded by the mighty Andes welcoming skiers, trekkers and friends of wine. Its central location in the country makes it a great base for visiting other areas, and it is possible to ski in the nearby Andes and later be on the beach in the same day.

Districts

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Understand
Santiago is a fast-growing city in the Santiago Región Metropolitana, in the central valley of Chile between the Andes mountain range to the east and the Coastal Range to the west. The metropolitan area has about 7 million inhabitants.

Founded in 1541 as Santiago de Nueva Extremadura by the Spaniard Pedro de Valdivia, it has been the heart of the country since colonial times and has evolved to the cosmopolitan city it is today.

History
The Santiago valley has been inhabited for thousands of years by different tribes. The Inca empire, and with them the Inca road network, extended here in the late 15th century. Not long after emerged the Spanish conquistadors, and on February 12, 1541, Pedro de Valdivia founded "Santiago de Nueva Extremadura" as the capital of the Captaincy General of Chile. During the following centuries functioned as the headquarters of the Spanish for their wars against the native Mapuche people further south, during which time the city was ruined two times by earthquakes.

From the 19th century onwards, Santiago followed a similar path as many other South American cities. Independence was followed by rapid expansion and modernization and many of the city's major buildings, cultural institutions and parks were established at this time. Also the railway network to other parts of the country was greatly expanded. European immigration was from the 1930s onwards followed by immigrants from rural Chile and the city already had 3 million inhabitants by the middle of the 20th century.

The next major event in the city's history took place in 1973, when Marxist president Allende was ousted in a military coup. The military dictatorship that followed lasted until 1990. Today, Chile is a safe, democratic and stable country and one of the richest in Latin America.

Geography
Santiago sits in the middle of the Maipo river valley, at the place where it is joined by its tributary Mapocho, and the city is surrounded by mountains of various elevations, the highest of them Tupungato (6,570 m). Many of them are active volcanoes, and the soil has been covered in ash for millennia making it very fertile and high-quality grapes and other fruits are widely grown just outside the city.

The city sits between 400 and 540 meters above the sea level, but with many "hill islands" here and there including Santa Lucia, Cerro Calan and Cerro San Cristobal, the most emblematic top of the city. The Andes on the east side are noticeably higher than the Chilean Coastal Range on the west, wherefore east and west are often referred to as "up" or "down" by locals.

The administrative conurbation of Santiago is made up of 37 municipalities, of which the most important is Santiago Centro, where the main public institutions of the country and the old town are found. The east of the city is the financial center of the country.

Climate
Like most of the central part in the country, Santiago has a typical Mediterranean climate. The climate is chilly and rainy in the winter, and temperatures can fall to around 0°C at night. It very rarely snows in the city itself, and during the winter it will more likely be raining with snow falling to the east up in the Andes. It gets progressively hotter towards the summer. Summers are fairly dry although you may experience some humidity at times, and temperatures can surpass 35°C. Due to the relative lack of vegetation in the region, temperatures fluctuate wildly between day and night year-round. It is not uncommon to suffer from the heat in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt during the day but require a jacket at night.

Santiago is notorious for its poor air quality, which is due to the inversion effect in the basin and other factors. The air quality can be unhealthy in large part due to high concentrations of particulate matter (especially in the winter).

Visitor information

 * Information on Santiago from Chile Travel website
 * Information on Santiago from Chile Travel website

Get in
Upon entry, all tourists are issued a tourist card good for 90 days. Take care not to lose the stamped tourist card as it is required to exit the country. If you happen to lose it you must get it reissued by the PDI (Policía de Investigaciones) before attempting to leave the country.

By plane

Aeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez has flights from most continents, with major flight routes to North America, Europe, the Middle East and is the only South American airport to have flights to Oceania. The airport is also a major hub for Latin America.

Travelers from Albania and Mexico, must pay a reciprocity fee upon entry to the country by air. This is in response to these same countries' visa fees for Chilean citizens. The one-time charge must be paid in cash (US dollars) or credit card before passing through immigration and is valid for the life of the passport. The fee for Albanians is US$30, and US$23 for Mexicans. There is no fee to enter by land. If paying by cash be aware that the bills must be in near "perfect" condition, no ripped bills.

There are taxis waiting immeditiately outside the terminal.

There are two public bus companies that run into town: Centropuerto and Turbus. You can purchase a one-way ticket for 2,000 pesos. Follow the signs to the bus terminal. It is a 5-minute walk from arrivals.

There is also the public Red bus line 555 that runs between the metro station Pajaritos and the parking space for the employees of the airport. It works with the Metro card and a ride with the bus (or bus+metro) counts as a standard ride (<= 800 pesos). The card can be bought and charged at Metro stations, but not in the bus. From the parking space runs a free shuttle bus to the terminals.

If you are renting a car, the rental car company counters are all together to your left after clearing customs in the international terminal. There is a separate set of rental car counters before customs (so you can rent a car while waiting at the baggage claim), but they are not always staffed. After you get your contract, you have to walk outside, turn left, and walk east, then cross the street to the south to a small lot where the rental cars are kept and present your contract to the attendant on duty to obtain your rental car. When you return the vehicle, you must return to the same lot. Because the airport rental car lot is far too small, traffic jams and delays are frequent, so arrive early. At return, the attendant inspects the vehicle and fills out a return checklist form in carbon copy, then gives you one of the copies, which you bring back to the inside counter to close out your contract.

By train
Trenes Metropolitanos provides multiple commuter and interregional trains from the train station (Metro Estación Central, Line 1) to the vast wine and agriculture valley to the south. The central station, designed by Gustave Eiffel, used to be the center of an extensive passenger railway network, which has been closed down just like in the rest of South America.

 * Metrotren is a commuter rail that runs to San Fernando by way of Rancagua with five departures daily, prices up to 2,400 pesos.
 * TerraSur runs to Chillán with three departures daily. It is recommended to book ahead during the high season (Austral summer) as seats fill up quickly. Prices are up to 22,000 pesos for first class and 10,800 pesos for second class.
 * Expreso Maule runs an interregional express service to the sixth and seventh regions (O'Higgins and Maule) once daily, prices up to 3,850 pesos.

By car
Entering Santiago by car, you'll probably find yourself on the Autopista Central (Ruta 5), the Chilean leg of the Pan-American Highway. To use this freeway you need a "TAG" toll transponder, or a day pass which you can buy from service stations. One-day passes are 7,000 pesos. You can also buy it after accidentally passing through it without one.

If you rent a car at the airport or anywhere in Santiago, the rental car company is required to include a TAG toll transponder in the vehicle and charge you for it.

By bus
Buses are the main mode of transportation between cities, and most cities in Chile have a bus connection to the capital. For some close, large cities, like Valparaiso or Viña del Mar there may be a bus departing as frequently as every 15 minutes. Prices of bus tickets vary according to demand and type of seat (regular seat, semi-bed or bed). Buses are in general clean and comfortable, but this may not always be the case with the toilets on board. There are several bus terminals in the city, the biggest being Terminal Santiago.

The bus ride between Santiago and Mendoza in Argentina has beautiful views and takes about eight hours, depending on the time spent at the Cristo Redentor checkpoint. The border crossing is at about 2,800 m in the Andes. Fruit, vegetables or animal products are not allowed in either direction; all luggage will get checked at the border. One-way fares are listed at around 21,000 pesos (semicama) 25,000 pesos (cama) in high season, but are often cheaper if booked in advance and in the off season. There are also buses to and from San Juan (one way fares listed at around 19,500 pesos) and Neuquen, Argentina. One-way fares to Lima are listed at around 85,000 pesos.

Transantiago
Transantiago runs the metro and main bus lines in the city. Fares on public transport can be paid only with a bip! card. Bip! cards can be bought and recharged at any metro station ( for the card, minimum recharge ) or at a Centro bip!. They are good for both the metro and bus and allows you unlimited transfers between the two within a two hour period — you still have to swipe your card when boarding the next metro train or bus, but there is in general no deduction. In the peak period, when traveling with a ticket activated on a metro and you're transferring to a bus (or the other way around) there will be a small deduction.

You cannot return the card nor get a refund, think twice before adding too much money. However, you can use the card for several people, you just have to swipe for the second person as well. So, you might decide to only get one instead of two if you are traveling together. The free transfer between metro and bus for the other person does probably not work then.

The fare depends on when you've started your journey; tickets cost 800 pesos for trips commenced during the peak periods (07:00-09:00, 18:00-20:00), 720 pesos for shoulder periods (06:30-07:00, 09:00-18:00, 08:00-20:45) and 640 pesos for low periods (before 06:30 and after 20:45).

By metro
The Santiago Metro system is the second largest in Latin America and has seven lines and 136 stations, with many holding rotating art exhibitions. The lines 1, 2 and 5 pass through the historical center and 4 and 4A mostly serve the east of the city. As it is a very popular mode for getting around, the metro can be crowded during rush hours.

Trains run between roughly 06:00 and 23:00; each station posts the exact hours above the staircases leading down into the stations. Buses run parallel to subway lines after hours.

By bus
Transantiago buses are mostly modern and run around the clock on the main lines. If you know a little Spanish, you can find route information on the Transantiago website.

On Sundays 10:00–18:00, Transantiago operates a "cultural circuit", where a specially-marked bus runs between major tourist and cultural destinations for the normal fare.

By taxi
Taxis are a relatively inexpensive and safe way to get around the city. Flag drop costs 300 pesos plus 120 pesos for every 100 meters. Official taxis are black and yellow and easily identifiable. Radiotaxis are also common and a good idea late at night. Suburban areas are sometimes served by taxis operating fixed routes and fixed rates. There are many Uber taxis, but they are not officially licensed in Chile, and Uber drivers will not want to pick you up or drop you off where either police or licensed taxis can see them. Getting to/from the airport by Uber is particularly awkward. Official taxis are a similar rate anyway.

By bike
Santiago has a rapidly-growing network of bike lanes and paths. Bicineta has an up to date map of bike routes.

See

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The Historical Center is the place to go for historical sights. For over five centuries this has been a governmental seat, and you can find buildings of great historical significance here. One of them is the modernist colonial Palacio de la Moneda, built for minting of coins. From the mid-19th century it has also been the residence of the president until the coup of 1973 when it was bombed. The damage was repaired and it's still the residence of the president today.

South of the palace is Alameda, the main drag of the city with the central university building (Casa Central de la Universidad de Chile), the San Francisco church and the Santa Lucia hill with great views of the old town. Plaza de Armas opposite the university building is the most lively area of the downtown and in addition to vendors you can often find artists, comedians and singers performing here. Nearby you can find the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palace of the Royal Court (nowadays a museum) and the mayor's residence.

Going north from Plaza de Armas you'll come to the Mercado Central, with plenty of restaurants. East along the Mapocho river's southern bank you'll be at Parque Forestal and Museo de Bellas Artes as well as the vibrant neighborhood of Lastarria with plenty of cafés, restaurants and art galleries.

Bellavista north of the river is a nightlife hotspot and there you can also visit the mythical home of the poet Pablo Neruda. You can also take the funicular or walk up the Cerro San Cristóbal for some of the best views of Santiago and the Maipo Valley. Southeast there is Providencia where you can find trendy shops and further away Sanhattan's skyscrapers including Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest in Latin America and second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere. Westwards there's Quinta Normal, a huge park surrounded by museums.

Do

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 * Santiago is known as a cultural hotspot. Among other things, the city is home to an impressive jazz scene, with several intimate clubs scattered throughout the city, a famous one being Club Jazz in the Nuñoa district. In the Providencia district a jazz festival takes place each January with both local and foreign bands playing. For current theater, dance, and concert listings can be found in the El Mercurio newspaper. For a broad variety of art and culture, visit one of several cultural centers around the city, featuring exhibitions, performances and workshops. At some of these you can buy local art and handicraft too (refer to the Buy section for more shopping).
 * You can also take a pleasant walk in one of Santiago's many parks. Some of these, like Cerro Santa Lucia and Parque Metropolitano offer great views over the city. If you want something more than just hiking or taking the cable car up a little hill, take on the higher "hills" outside the city. Contact one of the local mountaineering clubs and go on a trek to some of the highest mountains in the world outside Asia, or if you like skiing, hit the slopes of El Colorado (Chile).

Work
In order to work legally in Chile, a working permit needs to be obtained, which can be accomplished with the sponsorship of an employer. Many people work illegally, but it is definitely best to have a permit.

Buy

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Santiago has a lot of shopping malls all around the city. In the malls you can find a variety of retail stores and Falabella, París and Ripley, the most famous department stores in Chile.

Downtown and Providencia
For shopping in central Santiago, head to Paseo Ahumada, a section full of different shops between the main street Alameda and Plaza de Armas.

If you prefer buying handcrafts, the ones in the Centro Artesanal Santa Lucia are good and relatively cheap compared with other handcrafts stores. Other handcrafts centres are in Bellavista (though a bit more expensive).

Providencia has a large selection of shops along Avenida Providencia.

East
The largest malls are Parque Arauco and Alto Las Condes, both have good restaurants and the former also has free music and shows. You can get to Parque Arauco from Metro Escuela Militar (Line 1) and to Alto Las Condes from Metro Los Domínicos (Line 1); ask locals for directions if you're unsure of how to take buses.

Alonso de Córdova Street and Nueva Costanera Avenue are very exclusive areas where you can find high fashion and luxury stores like Louis Vuitton, Hermés or local designers. In this area you find great restaurants and art galleries.

Steps from Metro Los Domínicos (Line 1) is Pueblito Los Domínicos. It is more expensive but has a wide variety of local handcrafts and antiques, as well as a small exhibition room and a bonsai exhibition behind it. It is very pretty with an artificial stream in a colonial-looking atmosphere. Half of the people there are usually tourists during the summer, so you won't be alone!

Plaza Nuñoa has some small shops in the plaza where you can buy books from Latin America (Neruda, Allende, Cortazar) and also handcrafts.

North
If you're already kind of familiar with Santiago, you can also go to Barrio Patronato which is near the downtown area and it's easy to reach by metro (Metro Patronato, Line 2). There you'll find cheap clothes, food and products of all kinds, as well as some foreign stores (mainly Chinese, Koreans, Peruvians and from the Middle East), thus allowing you to save quite a bit of money. It would be better to go alongside a local, though, since it's easy to get lost due to the very short and slim streets and the very high quotient of visitors. Beware of pickpocketers.

South
Similarly, those who want more surprises and know the basics about Santiago can go to the famous Persa Bio Bio in the Franklin area, also not too far from downtown and near to Metro Franklin (Line 2). It can be described as a giant flea market that opens every weekend and offers antiques, tools, handmade furniture, many food stores, etc. Again, it's not a place for novices: a local's presence would be desired.

Eat

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In downtown and the east of the city you can find both global and domestic fast food chains. Why not opt for the latter and have a completo, the Chilean version of the hot dog with tomato, mayonnaise, sauerkraut or a italiano hot dog with tomato, avocado and mayonnaise. In addition there are small sandwich places known as "picadas" serving different kinds of sandwiches (some of them with huge steaks) and pies. There are also street food carts where you can find local specialties like sopaipillas (buns) stuffed with fried pumpkin and mote con huesillo, a soft drink with peaches and wheat.

The traditional cuisine of central Chile is centered around barbecued meat (beef or pork) with tomatoes, potatoes or corn. Local specialties include cazuela (a soup), porotos con riendas (beans with pasta), porotos granados (a vegetarian bean stew), charquicán (stew of beef and potatoes, topped with an egg), pastel de choclo (corn pie) and as we're in southern South America — asado (barbecued meat). Seafood is not as common in Santiago as you might expect, though if you want some, the restaurants at the central market are the place to go.

You can get vegetarian and vegan food but it will likely be some version of pizza, pasta, and burgers.

Drink

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Nightlife choices vary widely across the city and their location usually reflects their price and style.

 * Barrio Bellavista and Barrio Brasil are popular spots close to downtown. The Bohemian Bellavista can be reached by Metro to Baquedano, or by bus to Plaza Italia. Cross the bridge will bring you to Pio Nono, which probably has highest density of bars, pubs, and clubs in Chile, including some LGBT places. By law, everything closes down at 05:00, though you may be able to join people for afterparties elsewhere.
 * Barrio Lastarria has more sophisticated and relaxed bars, pubs, cafés, many of which have an interesting history. It's also a district for fine dining.
 * The historic center likewise has many traditional places to have a drink, some of which have retained an ambience from the early 20th century. One of them is La Piojera, with its signature terremoto (earthquake) drink with wine, Fernet and pineapple ice cream.
 * Plaza San Enrique is a park in Lo Barnechea (at the far northeast of the city) which is surrounded by nightclubs. The most popular one is Sala Murano (it can get very crowded!) People who attend are mostly aged 18-25 and it is one of the safest places to party. Most people there are from upper-middle to high class, so it is more expensive than other neighbourhoods. Typically, women get in for free, while men pay around 3,000-5,000 pesos. You can get there by buses, but though buses do pass later on, you might have to wait up to an hour for it.
 * Plaza Ñuñoa is a district east of the central area and is another popular spot nightlife spot.
 * Vitacura is pretty far east (towards the Andes). It is composed of bars and some places where you can dance. The places are nice and it can be fun to go. It is more expensive that other areas of Santiago and frequented by people that live in the eastern (wealthier) side of the city. Although you can get there by bus, it will be hard to leave on anything but a taxi since buses don't run late.

Sleep

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All types of accommodation, from top class hotels to backpacker hostels are available. As a general rule, lodging gets more luxurious and expensive the further east you travel.

Classic, mid-range hotels can be found downtown, and in the nearby residential areas such as Barrio Brasil you'll find more affordable accommodation like youth hostels. Lastarria just east of downtown features small boutique hotels. In the eastern part of the city you can find hotels of international luxury chains and apartment hotels, catering to those who attend business meetings, conferences or trade shows. Still further east, outside the city and up the mountains there are the upscale ski resorts.

Stay safe
Santiago is infamous for its smog, which is worse during the winter (May–September). The locals welcome the rain which falls during winters as it cleans the air. Be sure to carry bottled water with you during the summer. Be prepared for sauna-heat on the metro during summer.

When getting around
By South American standards Santiago is a safe city, but visitors should be aware of pickpocketing and other petty crimes (Chileans derogatorily refer to the pickpockets as "lanzas", from the verb "lanzar", "to throw upon" in English). Avoid parks at night and don't wear expensive looking jewelry or watches even during the day, unless you are in Las Condes or Vitacura. If you're alone, avoid large crowds of people, especially downtown.

If you happen to have bad luck and get robbed, do as you're told by the criminal and if you don't understand Spanish, give away the wallet. Not doing so can provoke an attack until you give away your wallet. Don't try to stand up to them and once again: do as you're told.

Keep your camera concealed, use it to take a photo and then hide it while not using it. If you're getting robbed and the criminal has spotted the camera expect to give it away too if you want to stay out of trouble.

If someone approaches you on the streets and promises to get you better chances at changing your dollars or euros into Chilean pesos, never accept their deals. They're con-people who take advantage of foreigners not knowing the details about currency and confuse them with big words to take their cash away. Only change your money in legal currency exchange centers, which may take more time but are much more trustworthy. There's one in the airport, but they are also easy to find in the downtown and financial areas, or in the malls.

Overall, Santiago is very safe if you travel by car.

The metro is regarded as safer for travelling amongst the locals, even though security has increased in the buses after the introduction of TranSantiago. But some locals still prefer using the metro especially when it gets darker, since almost all the stations have guards. Don't expect the staff to speak much English. In peak hours the metro runs really full so try to keep your backpack on the front and belongings in front pockets.

Dangerous areas
There are some neighborhoods/barrios that should be avoided. The few carabineros and locals that speak English will know which areas are to be avoided since some of them can actually be accessed by metro. Some people at local Starbucks are more likely to speak English.

If you see fewer tall buildings and more houses with locked windows and entrances, then turn back. The changes happen very slowly, unlike some other Latin American cities, so you'd have to travel quite a lot from a wealthy safe neighbourhood to a dangerous ghetto. Avoid especially La Legua (not to be confused with La Ligua in the V Región) which is famed in Chile for its high crime rates. Single police cars won't even enter the area.

Try staying away from the following comunas: Lo Espejo, La Pintana, Puente Alto (especially the Plaza de Armas), La Cisterna, San Joaquín, El Bosque (not to be confused with the avenue and neighbourhood around Metro El Golf, which is in Las Condes), San Ramón, Pedro Aguirre Cerda and La Granja unless you know exactly where you're going. Though these places are not completely unsafe for the most part, they can have a few unsafe spots and don't have much touristic significance.

The safest comunas are Providencia, Vitacura and Las Condes. All of them have lots of local security guards, besides Carabineros, and locals are more likely to speak English, especially young people. They are not completely safe, though: petty theft still takes place, so keep your eyes open in the streets. Lo Barnechea can be tricky as it is the only comuna that has both extremely wealthy and extremely poor neighbourhoods ever since Pinochet's dictatorship; "La Dehesa" is wealthy and safe, "Cerro Dieciocho" is as dangerous as La Legua.

Football
If you are going to see a football match, be careful with the "barras bravas" who are the most fanatic but also dangerous fans. They are often involved in troubles with the police both inside the stadium and outside. Avoid buying tickets in the sections where the bravas dominate, which are often behind the goals. The middle section is the safest but if you have a friend who wants to support Colo-Colo and another Universidad de Chile for example, avoid showing it. Even if the middle section is safe, showing different shirts can cause you trouble. Either go with the same shirts or dress neutral. Other football matches not being the "Superclásico" between Universidad de Chile against Colo-Colo should be pretty safe.

Walking to the stadium you will find people begging for some pesos so they can see the match. Avoid giving them if you want to stay out of trouble.

The barrio around the Estadio Nacional is normally peaceful, but you have to walk purposefully and keep your eyes on other people when it's crowded. It's better to take a taxi to the arena, or a rental car if you can find a place to park it.

Other
Never join a protest, because it can end badly. If you are caught in one, don't hesitate to hide in a restaurant, shop or something similar.

Chilean police (carabineros) are in general trustworthy, at least in comparison to other Latin American countries. Although you can hardly find one who can speak English, they will try to answer your questions, solve your problems or give you directions. Never attempt to bribe a police officer; Chile has the least corrupt police force of Latin America.

However remember that the Chilean police is a militarized police. Therefore the police special forces can be violent or unreasonable if they think you have done or will do something illegal or inappropriate, so be careful.

Connect
If you wish to mail a letter or postcard, the largest post office is the Correo Central on the north side of Plaza de Armas, a Neoclassical building with French influences. There are several smaller post offices around the city, often close to the larger avenues.

However, Chilean mail has become infamous for not getting things delivered or mailmen opening the letters trying to find money or any valuable items (mostly on mail coming from abroad).

The largest and most trustworthy private mail company is Chilexpress, which has agencies in almost all mid-sized cities. Prices are a bit higher, though.

Embassies

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Mountains
The mountainous outdoors with nature reserves and ski resorts are just around the corner. The skiing season is from May to August.
 * Ski resorts northeast of Santiago reachable by car within an hour and a half include Farellones, Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado.
 * The ski resorts of Portillo and Valle Nevado are two to three hours away on the road to Mendoza.
 * Rancagua is 85 km to the south and has some thermal springs and hiking opportunities nearby.
 * Cajón del Maipo, beautiful in spring, some 75 km south east of Santiago, day trip. Some nice places for lunch and tea; many of them only open on weekends.
 * Sierras de Bellavista (150 km south of Santiago) is a wonderful little mountain village, especially after a rainy day. Alpine scenery.
 * Other nearby nature reserves include Monumento Natural El Morado, Reserva Nacional Río Clarillo and Santuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca
 * The villages and towns in the surrounding Maipo valley is also a great place for seeing the Chilean way of life, buying handicrafts, tasting wine and savoring local cuisine.

The coast
The Pacific Ocean is less than 100 km from Santiago, and easily accessible.
 * Vina del Mar, 90 minutes away is the beach capital of the country, and it also has nice parks, gardens, restaurants, cafes and casinos.
 * Valparaíso, next to Vina del Mar is one of the largest ports on the Pacific, but certainly not a dirty industrial behemoth. It's also a famous for its world heritage listed and very Bohemian old town on the mountain sides.
 * Isla Negra, a village on the coast, south of Valparaíso. The main and most beloved house of Pablo Neruda is there. This is probably the most interesting of his three houses to visit and the best conserved as it is the only one that the military didn't sack during the coup d'état in 1973. To get there, you can take the Pullman bus (3,700 pesos, 2 hr) from Terminal Alameda (Metro Universidad de Santiago). You can also take the Turbus bus to San Antonio (1,000-2,000 pesos, 1½ hr) from Alameda as well, and then take a local bus in front of "laPolar" (450 pesos, 30 min) that goes along the beautiful coast. Tours of the house cost 3,000 pesos and last a half an hour. Then you can go to the beach.

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

title: Santiago


text:
Santiago/West and South

Western and Southern Santiago comprises a variety of districts west and south of the downtown of Santiago. If you travel to the city by plane or train, here is where you will end up. One highlight of this part of Santiago is the Barrio Brasil neighborhood.

In addition to the westernmost third of Santiago downtown, the western part of the city is made up of the districts of Cerrillos, Maipú, Estación Central, Quinta Normal, Pudahuel, Lo Prado and Cerro Navia. The west of the city is mostly made up of rapidly growing residential areas. A few decades ago the old town of Maipu was separated from Santiago by agricultural land, now the stretch has been entirely urbanized. One of the main streets of western Santiago, Avenida Pajaritos, is a westward continuation of downtown's main avenue Alameda.

The southern sector of the city comprises the districts of San Joaquín, Pirque, La Pintana, La Granja, San Ramón, San Miguel, La Cisterna, Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Lo Espejo, El Bosque and San Bernardo. It is mostly residential with some industrial sectors. It includes some of the poorest areas of the city, though as of lately also some middle and upper class residential areas have emerged. This is one of the most heterogenous areas of Santiago. Here you can find some of the largest malls of the city, visit wineries and the outdoors of the Maipo river valley.

West
Relatively far out from downtown and with a growing population, transportation has been a problem to and from the western sector of Santiago. Though the extension of the subway in 2011 made it much quicker to get to and from downtown, there are still many residential areas that are only accessibly by bus. Expect congestion during rush hours.

There are also several highways raying out from downtown, catering to those who travel by car.

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, one of the main gateways to Chile, is in the western suburbs. It's connected to downtown by private airport buses. Closer to the city core is the main railway station.

South
To the southern part of the city, the most convenient ways to get in is either of the subway lines: line 2 to San Miguel and La Cisterna, line 3 to Macul, Florida and Puente Alto and line 5 to San Joaquin and La Florida. Line 4A connects these lines in San Ramón and La Granja. Going to San Bernardo, the local train is your best choice. Like with the rest of the city, there is a myriad of bus lines, and buses are your best bet to get around for shorter distances.

Interesting neighborhoods

 * Barrio Brasil - Residential district west of the old town, has been turned into a commercial zone.
 * Barrio Yungay - One of the most traditional barrios in the city with varied architecture, associated with artists and culture.
 * Barrios República and Barrio Dieciocho - Nowadays home to university campuses, it used to be the home of the city's wealthy, so there are many beautiful buildings to be seen here.

Buy
Barrio Franklin features workshops, small and large businesses, storehouses, a former slaughterhouse among others. The biggest magnet for travellers are likely the 4000 shops in this barrio; you can find everything from clothes and furniture to antiquities and car parts at low prices. Different types of products are concentrated in different areas. Expect to spend hours and hours here, even if you aren't a shopaholic. Los Persias (fairs) held on weekends are especially popular, but this is also when people selling stolen goods are there. You can get in by the line 2 of the metro, get off at the Franklin station.

Wineries of Maipo
There are many wineries in the southeast of the city, both inside and outside the city borders. Many offer tours to visitors, wine tasting and on-premise restaurants.

title: Santiago/West and South


text:
Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia, Spain. It is one of the most important places in Catholicism because it is reputed to be the place where St. James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, is buried. It is the final destination of the Way of St. James, one of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes.

Understand
With a population of about 98,000 inhabitants (2019), Santiago is one of the seven major cities of Galicia. It draws more visitors than any other, with many of them attracted to its ancient history and the religious tradition. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its glorious cathedral and old city center.

The University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is one of the oldest Spanish universities. It has more than 40,000 students, making Santiago one of the centres of the university education in Spain, with Salamanca and Granada.

History
Santiago de Compostela was founded by the Suebi in the early 400s, as part of the collapse of the Roman Empire. In 550 the whole settlement together with the rest of Galicia and northern Portugal was incorporated by Leovigild into the Visigothic kingdom of Spain. Raided from 711 to 739 by the Arabs, Santiago de Compostela was conquered by the Visigothic king of Asturias in 754. This was about 60 years before the identification of remains as those of Saint James the Great, and their acceptance as such by the Pope and Charlemagne, during the reign of Alfonso II of Asturias. The remains were found in the small and close town of Iria Flavia, but they were moved to Santiago according to political and religious reasons. From then on, this settlement was not just a city, but a holy city, and one of the main centres of Christian pilgrimage. Still, there are some who claim that the remains found here were not those of the apostle James. One of the most famous theories is that these are the remains of Priscillian. They are also thought by many to be someone else altogether.

Santiago de Compostela was captured by the French during the Napoleonic War. Its capture broke the spirits of the many Spanish guerrillas who were fighting the mighty invading armies of Marshals' Soult, Victor, Massena and Napoleon's brother, the new King of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte (called Pepe Botella by the Spanish resistance). During the war, many attempts were made to recapture it by Spanish partisans, who believed St James would come down on the field and destroy the French if they earned his favour by beating the French out of the holy city, which was St James's city. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Santiago was under the control of the fascists from the beginning. It suffered from very brutal repression during the dictatorship. After the Spanish Transition, when the democracy was restored, Santiago de Compostela was declared capital city of Galicia.

Climate
The climate of Santiago is typical of the Spanish Atlantic coast: wet winters with frequent rains which, in light or heavy bursts, lasts from September to June. The summers are slightly less rainy than the rest of the Cantabrian coast.

Temperatures remain mild throughout the whole year with a yearly average of 19ºC. They drop down to about 8ºC in January, the coldest month of the year.

By the Way of St. James
The traditional way of getting to Santiago de Compostela is by walking there from your home, on the Way of St. James. Nowadays the pilgrimage is mostly reduced to the last 780 km, from St. Jean Pied-de-Port in France, or some other place closer. It is just as traditional to arrive on horseback, though considerably more difficult in terms of facilities. You may be able to stable your horse with a local farmer, but virtually no hostels provide this service. Cycling is also popular.

By bus
Another way of getting to Santiago is by bus. The bus station is in the outskirts of the city, but there you can get a public bus or a taxi to get to the city centre. You can get to Santiago by bus from several places:

 * From cities and towns of Galicia, try Arriva or Monbus or Empresa Freire.
 * From other parts of Spain, try Alsa, one of the most important bus companies of Spain.

By train
If you want to arrive to Santiago by train, you should visit the RENFE webpage. The train station is relatively close to the city centre.

By plane
Buses from the airport run every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 00:30 and are operated by Empresa Freire (€3.00 one-way, €5.10 return).

Luggage lockers are available in the airport's parking garage (-4 level), €5.07 per day.

The following airlines operate here:

 * Aer Lingus: Dublin
 * Air Europa: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Caracas
 * EasyJet: Geneve and Basel
 * Iberia: Madrid and Bilbao
 * Ryanair: Frankfurt Hahn (about 2 hours away from Frankfurt), Milan, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Lanzarote, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Zaragoza and Tenerife
 * Volotea: Venice, Ibiza and Menorca
 * Vueling: Barcelona, Málaga, Paris and Zurich

Get around
Santiago is a relatively small city, and you can get anywhere by walking.

Even so, there are several bus lines that connect every part of the city. These services are offered by the company Tralusa. The ticket costs €1.00 for adults (for people under 18 it costs €0.55). If you are going to take several bus trips, you may buy a bono (Bus Pass) of 10, 20, or 30 tickets with a price of €0.55 for each one. You can buy these bonos from the bus drivers and you must pay a deposit of €3 that will be paid back to you if you return the card in good condition. The most interesting line for visitors is the number 5, that stops at the bus station and goes to the city center.

Taxis are not very expensive and the taxi drivers are usually kind and willing to help tourists.

Taxi from to and from the airport are available at a fixed rate of €23 (March 2023).

Talk
In the parts of the city most frequented by tourists, it's easy to find someone that speaks English or even French, Italian or German. Some restaurants have English menus. It's more difficult, but not impossible to find menus and signs in Japanese and Chinese. Due to the large number of students in Santiago, it's not difficult to find someone with a good level of English in the streets that will be willing to help.

The official languages of the city are Galician and Spanish. Galician has many similarities to Portuguese.

Sites

Museums
The city has several museums that are worth the visit. Some of them are:

Do

 * One of the best ways (and maybe one of the most comfortable) of seeing the city and learning things about its building and history is to get on a little train that will take you through different parts of the city showing it in a unique way. It has an English speaking guide. It departs from the Praza do Obradoiro it costs €5 for adults and €3 for children between 4 and 12. Here you can check the route
 * If you want a guided visit on foot through the Old District, just try one of the guided visits that the City Hall organized with an English speaking guide. These visits depend on the day and the season. For more information check this link
 * There are several guided visits, but they are only available in Spanish. For example there are a night tour or a tour visiting the different churches. Although this, if you're a big group (more than 15), you could ask for them in the Official Tourism Office at Rúa do Vilar, 63 or through this email: info@santiagoturismo.com.
 * If you feel like having a different view of the city you could book an aeroplane tour. It's expensive, though, and prices vary by tour. For more information see
 * There are several guided visits, but they are only available in Spanish. For example there are a night tour or a tour visiting the different churches. Although this, if you're a big group (more than 15), you could ask for them in the Official Tourism Office at Rúa do Vilar, 63 or through this email: info@santiagoturismo.com.
 * If you feel like having a different view of the city you could book an aeroplane tour. It's expensive, though, and prices vary by tour. For more information see

Buy
The town is now a very important center for pilgrims. You can find all sorts of souvenirs related to "the camino": walking sticks, the typical water-bottles, and the shells that are typical for the camino. Also you can buy typical sweets and drinks in many shops at the Zona Vella (Old District). If you want to buy an original gift, visit the Sargadelos shop at Rúa Nova and see the modernist ceramics of this old and legendary factory in the province of Lugo. Also in the Old District you can find many jewellery shops where to buy typical jewels made of silver and jet, many of them of celtic inspiration.

If you want to buy clothes, move to the Zona Nova (New District) and visit the stores that are all over these district. Here you can find Zara, Bershka, Pepe Jeans... and other famous brands. Maybe the most original brand you could find is Rei Zentolo at Rúa Santiago de Chile, a Galician brand with original and really funny T-shirts and other clothes.

There are two shopping centres in the city. The first one, Área Central, is located at the district of Fontiñas (you can get there by taking the bus number 11 in the City Centre) and it has fashion shops, fast food restaurants and one big supermarket. The other one, Hipercor, at Rúa do Restollal, is a typical department store.

Eat
Galicia is known for "Pulpo" or cooked octopus. In general there are a lot of restaurants selling fish and seafood suitable for all budgets. The local cheeses should also be sampled, as well as delicious cakes like the "Tarta de Santiago". Expect long queues at popular pilgrim eating places. Also try pimientos de padrón. The saying goes, "Os pementos de Padrón, uns pican e outros non" meaning that in a single serving, some are spicy while others are not.

Budget
All these are in the Old Town around the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela:

Drink
Try the Albariño wine, a white wine from the south of Galicia. Other popular drinks are:

For a quiet beer and a couple of tapas on the Old District there are several places where you can sit in terraces when the weather is nice or inside where it's rainy or cold. Some of these places are for example, Tokio or Alameda at Porta Faxeira or the terraces at the Quintana Square. It's specially well-known the Rúa do Franco, one of the main streets, full of places where you can drink and eat something. One really famous is Bar Orense (Rúa do Franco), where you can have cuncas (cups) of wine and licor café for a very low price. If you like coffees, ice-creams and pastries, try Pastelería Mercedes Mora (Rúa do Vilar). On the New District there are bars full of university students, such as Central Perk (Rúa Nova de Abaixo), Luis (Rúa Santiago del Estero) or the multiple terraces at Praza Roxa.
 * Licor café is a popular local liqueur, which tastes strongly of coffee.
 * Orujo, also known as Aguardiente or Caña, is also a popular local drink, made with the grapes after juicing them. It's often served in little glasses (chupitos) or just a trickle with the coffee. There are three kinds: Orujo Blanco, just eau-de-vie, Orujo de hierbas, often green, it has different tastes depending on the kind, it's usually served very cold, and Tostado, that it's the result of soaking the grapes with nuts and other fruits.
 * Queimada, very traditional drink, it's a mix of aguardiente, sugar and some fruits and coffee beans. It's set on fire before drinking it while someone recites the conxuro (a sort of spell)
 * Crema de Orujo Orujo's cream is very sweet and tasty, with 15-20% alcohol.

Later in the evening, there are several places to go because Santiago de Compostela is a city with a very interesting nightlife.

If you want beer or cocktails to begin the night, try Nido del Cuco or Momo, both at Virxe da Cerca. The last one, Momo, during the summer season has a big and nice garden and during the winter it has performances of singer-songwriters. Other interesting places are Casa das Crechas (Vía Sacra, very close to Praza da Quintana), where you can hear some folk music, A Calderería (Rúa da Calderería), spot where many foreigners get together and sometimes there are music performances or Modus Vivendi (Praza Feixoó).

To continue the night, Santiago has many pubs where drink and dance different kinds of music. The following ones are only examples of the great variety you can find in Santiago.

Old District

 * El Retablo: the music is mainly Spanish and international pop. It's usually full of people, mainly young people. Rúa Nova.
 * Avante: really famous little pub where you can dance and listen to ska and traditional nationalist music. Cantón de San Bieito.
 * A Reixa: well-known indie bar. Here you can listen mainly to 1960s music, with a great poster of Björk decorating the pub. Rúa Tras Salomé.
 * Fonte Sequelo: a small pub, with music of different styles. Rúa Xelmírez.
 * Forum: gay pub, very little and always full of people. Music of different styles. Rúa Travesa.
 * Meia: very popular specially between the Erasmus students (it even has discounts for them), the music is international pop. Rúa Algalia de Abaixo.

New District

 * Blaster: popular pub, with music of very different styles and a really original decoration. Expect lots of people. Rúa República Arxentina.
 * Krooner: one of the most original places, depending on the day and the hour, you can listen to indie rock, 1960s music or house. It's also an after party from 10:00 to 14:00. Rúa República Arxentina.
 * Guayaba: pub with Latin music (merengue, salsa). Rúa Nova de Abaixo.
 * La Ruta: popular disco and the oldest one, it has two floors. Up, indie and alternative rock, down, house and electronic music. Gay-friendly place. You must pay €5 to get in. Rúa Pérez Constanti.
 * Liberty: one of the most popular discos to finish the night. Mainstream pop. The admission is not free for men (€5) and depending on the day either for women. Rúa Alfredo Brañas.

Sleep
Just outside of Santiago is a small town called "Monte do Gozo". Some pilgrims stop there before entering the city. It's a huge center and has almost 2000 beds. There is a frequent bus line that will take you to walking distance of the town center.

People with a bigger budget can stay in the luxury Parador de Santiago, known as the "Hostal dos Reis Católicos", the former medieval pilgrim hostel, situated on the same square, O Obradoiro, as the cathedral. It is owned by the Paradores group, a large hotel-chain which operates hotels exclusively in historic buildings.

Go next

 * 70 km out of Santiago is the town called Fisterra. Before the Americas were discovered, people believed this was the end of the world (finis = end; terra = earth)
 * A Coruña

title: Santiago de Compostela


text:
Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is the capital of the Santiago de Cuba province in south-eastern Cuba.

Understand
Santiago is the second city of Cuba. Fidel Castro started the Cuban Revolution from here in the 1950s.

By bus
Viazul buses depart from the train station. Four daily Viazul buses run to/from Havana, three local and one express (stopping in Camagüey only). There is also a daily bus to Baracoa, another to Trinidad (which runs daytime to Santiago and overnight to Trinidad), and a daily overnight from Varadero. From Havana, the price is CUC51.

The local is (too) relatively remote from the city center, so you will need a taxi to get to/from there. A fairly nice plaza right next to it can be used, if you need to spend a half hour or so.

Getting to Santiago from Havana takes about 15 hours on the local bus, and 12 hours on the express overnight.

By train
Overnight train service along the main line from Havana via Matanzas, Santa Clara, and Camagüey runs 2 of every 3 days. The Tren Francés, running every 3 days with refurbished coaches from the old Paris-Amsterdam service, is Cuba's premier train, and the most reliable train in Cuba (which is not to say it is reliable). It theoretically departs Havana at 18:27 and arrives in Santiago the next day at 09:12, stopping overnight in Santa Clara and Camagüey. The other train is a simple express with a few more stops and also runs every three days. One-way from Havana on the Tren Francés costs CUC73 in first class (which is well worth it) and CUC50 in second class (called especial), while especial on the other train costs CUC30. Note that unlike Víazul, students studying in Cuba pay in pesos. There are other services, such as a daytime train to Camagüey and Santa Clara on Thursdays and Sundays, returning on Mondays and Fridays. Local train service to Holguin has been suspended due to poor track conditions. As elsewhere in Cuba, check in advance before planning train travel–the schedules are always in flux. And expect to arrive late, maybe by more than 10 hr, even on the Tren Francés.

Santiago's is on the relative outskirts of town, so you will want a taxi or bici-taxi to your accommodations.

By plane

A taxi from/to Holguin Airport is CUC30/person on a shared ride.

Get around
Most of the historical center is accessible by foot, in fact for tourists it's the only reasonable option.

To get farther away, taxis in the city will "happily" take you for a ride for the whole day, for a price. Plenty of them can be found standing between Plaza de Marte and Parque Cespédes.

Further afield

 * Baconao nature park
 * Baconao nature park

Learn
If you want to learn Spanish during your stay in Santiago de Cuba you can take an Intensive Spanish course from one week up to four weeks. The classes are held 4 hr/day and give you the opportunity to improve your Spanish quickly during a short time period.

Eat

 * Every Saturday and Sunday, a street fair full of vendors of cheap eats starts up on Avenida Victoria de Garzón. This is a good place to try local specialties, including lechón or whole roast pig, Cuban-style fried fish, Cuban-style fried chicken, and chichurrones or fried pork rinds. Prices are in pesos and amazingly low. Probably Santiago's cheapest eats overall.

Drink

 * For an authentic evening experience, try one of the cervecerias along Avenida Jesús Menéndez at the harbour. The less chique the better.

Sleep
As of Jun 2015, AirBnB.com offers now peer-to-peer lodging, typically around US$35 per night. There are also many other AirBnB-like reservation websites, search for "casa particulares in Santiago".

Casas Particulares
As is generally the case with booking casas in Cuba, do not assume the email works! It's often best to make a phone call once in Cuba.

Connect

 * The local newspaper is Sierra Maestra.

Cope
More so than most other places in Cuba, Santiago is full of touts. The touting starts right at the bus or train station—arrange a ride to your casa or hotel in advance, if possible. But no matter where you go you will constantly hear calls of ¿Quieres un taxí?.

Go next

 * El Cobre, home to the holiest virgin in Cuba, is a worthwhile day trip from Santiago.

 * The usual next stop on the Eastern Cuba tourist trail is Baracoa, though some travelers head west to Bayamo and the attractions of Granma Province instead.

title: Santiago de Cuba


text:
Santiago de los Caballeros

Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. The buildings are old and classic Caribbean Spanish style.

By bus
There are plentiful of buses from the capital Santo Domingo, journey time is about 3 hours.

Get around
There are many Bus Lines that can take you to different cities in Dominican Republic: AetraBus Transporte Espinal
 * To get from the Airport to the city cheaply, here is Suggestion #1.
 * Suggestion #2 for getting from the Airport to the City cheaply. Get to the road Las Palomas which runs through Licey, either by walking (a bit over 5km, or 1 hour at a moderate pace with baggage) or bargaining with some mototaxi or taxi at the airport (as per the first suggestion, go a little out of the airport to get cheaper taxis). From Licey there are regular gua-guas westbound to Santiago, which shouldn't cost you more than 25 pesos.
 * Transfers.do by TravelService ' . You can  book online on their automated site.
 * Metro Bus & Metro Pack which travels from Santiago To Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata also delivers packages.
 * Caribe Tours travels to Dajabon, Montecristi, Sosua, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo.
 * Expresso: those are the cheapest transportation to another city but this one stops everywhere during the trip to leave people so it will be slower and smaller than others..
 * Taxis/Cab: most of them are expensive depending where you want to get but actually they cost RD$ 150.00 approx. US$ 4.00
 * Coches: this one is pulled by horses it just take you around the city, it is fun and romantic, you can find them at the Monument.
 * Conchos: those are the cheapest public transportation for going around the city with many routes it cost actually RD$ 15.00 approx. US$ 0.40
 * MotoConchos: this motorbikes can take you anywhere around the city it's fast and dangerous for just RD$ 20.00 US$ 0.55

Do

Museums/Culture: Monumentos a los Heroes de la Restauracion, Centro León, La 37 por las tablas, Teatro Nacional del Cibao...

Buy
There are 3 big shopping Centres in Santiago. But if you like more cheap things you should go to the city centre specially to Calle del Sol and all streets around.
 * Plaza Internacional. Av Juan Pablo Duarte. Where you can find brand stores like Oscar D La Renta, Bossini, Addidas, Levi's, Benetton, Nautica and others.
 * Bella Terra Mall. Av Juan Pablo Duarte. This one is the newest and the biggest in Santiago with many stores like iFix from Apple Inc. And many clothing stores.
 * Colinas Mall. Las Colinas. This one is recognized by a huge supermarket called Jumbo and for having lots of accessories stores.

If you are willing to buy more sophisticated stuff you could visit: Charo, La Rosé, Kakey, Eternia....

Eat
Santiago has many places to eat and a variety of dishes. There are many cultural places in Santiago due to globalization, such as american food (TGI Fridays, Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, Taco Bell and others.
 * Asian (Chinese & Japanese): Super Rico Restaurant, Expresso Jade, Sushi Ya!, Belcaire Niguri...
 * International: Satay, Paparazzo, Vivres, Front Door, Kaafa, Tete Club...
 * Seafood: Marisco Centro, Pedro's, Puerto Madero...
 * Steak's & Grill: Camp David Ranch, Rancho Steack House, Cukara Makara, Boceto, La Parrillita, Montezuma, Nano's....
 * Italian: Piccola/La Locanda, Il Toscano, Il Pasticcio, Pizzarelli.
 * Mexican: Algo Mexicano, Zókalo....
 * Bakery/ Sweets/Ice Cream: La campaña, Benny Postres, Qcakes, Helados Bon/Yoguen Früz, Haagen Das....
 * Ambulant food or Street food: Strong Burger, Empanadas Lalín, Empanadas Monumental, Oche a tu gusto...

Drink
Santiago has many Bars where you can drink anything you want.

Sleep
If you are going to be around the city, one possibility is Hodelpa Gran Almirante, which has a convention centre, a casino, and TGI Fridays. In the city centre there is the Hodelpa Centro Plaza & Casino just in the right middle of the city, and if you want something near to the beautiful monument you can stay at Hotel Matum & Casino.
 * Lodging/Hotels If you are just stopping by or must wait for another flight you can stay at the Hodelpa Courtyard at less than 20 mins from the airport.

Stay safe
The Centro Historico clears out after dark and it is not smart to be there. The western half (La Joya, Gurabito, Cienfuegos, etc.) of the city is generally poorer and rougher than the eastern half, but it is unlikely that any travelers would end up there.

title: Santiago de los Caballeros


text:
Santiago do Cacém

Santiago do Cacém is a municipality in Baixo Alentejo in Portugal.

Understand

Santiago do Cacém (suhn-tee-AH-goo doo kuh-SUHNGEE, /sɐ̃.ti.ˈa.gu du kɐ.ˈsɐ̃j/) has a total area of and a total population of 30,000 inhabitants in 2011. The municipality is composed of 11 parishes. The municipal holiday is July 25.

Get in
The A26 motorway (Autoestrada do Baixo Alentejo, also signed IC33) serves Santiago. It runs between Beja and Sines and meets the A2 motorway (Autoestrada do Sul), which provides access from Lisbon and the Algarve.

See

 * Harmonia Society
 * Park Rio da Figueira
 * Igreja da Misericórdia (Church of Mercy)
 * Pelourinho (Pillory)
 * Depósito da Água no Serro da Inês (Miradouro) (Water Deposit at Serro da Inês)
 * Moinho de Vento (Windmill)
 * Casa das Heras (House of Heras)

title: Santiago do Cacém


text:
Santillana del Mar

Santillana del Mar is a picturesque town of 4200 people (2018) in Cantabria, Spain, renowned for its medieval architecture. The village is a bit of a tourist trap, and is so swamped with new developments around the outskirts, that on arrival you might be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

However, the original kernel of the medieval village survives in the centre, although the beauty of the winding streets and yellow sandstone buildings is rather marred by the abundance of shops selling tourist nick-nacks that have proliferated into almost every doorway.

For the more adventurous, there are some lovely walks in the small hills around the town that afford stunning views of the Picos de Europa, the mountain ranges, and the coast of the Bay of Biscay.

Understand
The area around Santillana del Mar has been populated for thousands of years and there are traces of some of the earliest inhabitants at the Altamira Caves about 2 km from the town.

There is a very modern and helpful tourist office in the town that provides lots of useful information.

Get in
Santillana is 24 km (15 miles) from Santander.

By plane
The next airport is

By train
The next FEVE railway station is Puente San Miguel, about from Santillana-del-Mar.

The next RENFE railway station is Torrelavega, about from Santillana-del-Mar. Autobuses Garcia operate bus services from Torrevelaga to Santillana del Mar and back.

By bus
There are buses to Santillana del Mar from Santander, with the journey taking about half an hour. There are up to seven buses a day in July and August, although fewer outside of these months.

 * La Cantabrica, Nav 5, El Campon, Penacastillo, tel 42342701, 942720822 fax 942346988 operates bus services from Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander)  to Santillana del Mar from Sep 1 until Jun 30 at 10:30 and 11:30, 13:05, 17:00, 18:15, 19:15 and 20:30. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: €2.25 single (December 2009).

The bus from Santander drops you just outside of the town. When leaving beware that, although there is a bus shelter just outside the town where you will be dropped off on your way in, the bus back departs from the steps in front of the town hall, about 50 m closer to town.

The bus station is at Av, Cantabric s/n,.

 * Autobuses Garcia operate services to and from Altamira and Torrevelaga.

By car

 * from Santander: take the highway to Torrelavega - exit “Requejada”, go ahead to Barreda, turn right on road CA-131 to Santillana del Mar, or exit “Puente San Miguel” and take the CA-133 road to Santillana del Mar.
 * from Asturias: take the “Autovía del Cantábrico” (Cantabrian Highway) or N-634 to Puente San Miguel, then the CA-133 road to Santillana del Mar.
 * from Madrid, Bilbao, Burgos, Palencia or Valladolid: take the highway to Torrelavega, then as above
 * from Comillas: take the CA-131 road.

Distances from Santillana del Mar:
 * Suances 6 km
 * Torrelavega 6 km
 * Comillas 16 km
 * Santander 30 km
 * San Vicente de la Barquera 30 km
 * Parque de Cabárceno 30 km
 * Picos de Europa 70 km

See
The whole town, old and well-preserved, is worth visiting.

Museums

 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!
 * El Museo de la Tortura or Torture Museum contains an impressive collection of instruments of torture from around Europe, including those used in the Spanish Inquisition. The museum is interesting and rich in history, but be warned that it is not for the faint of heart!

Local festivals

 * Epiphany: Santillana, 5 January.
 * Medieval Festival: June.
 * Folia: Variable, San Vicente de la Barquera, 30 km.
 * Procession for Santa Juliana: 28 June, Santillana del Mar. San Roque: 16 August.

Swimming
There are beaches at
 * Ubiarco (5 km),
 * Cobreces (10 km),
 * Comillas (17 km),
 * Oyambre (20 km) and
 * Suances (10 km)

Eat
Typical pastries include sobao pasiego and quesadas (a light sort of cheesecake).

Drink
A trip to northern Spain must include a sampling of sidra, or hard cider, which is typical of Cantabria as well as Asturias and Basque Country. It is traditional to pour the cider into the glass from a height of about 1 m (3 ft). Your bartender will know how if you are hesitant to try the feat yourself.

Connect

 * Tourist Information (Oficina de Turismo) Calle Jesus Otero 26,.

Go next
The bus to Santander departs from the steps in front of the town hall.

 * La Cantabrica operates bus services from Santillana del Mar to Santander Bus Station (estación de Autobuses de Santander) from Sep 1 until Jun 30 M-F at 07:15, daily at 10:15 and 15:45, M-F at 18:00, Sa Su at 1930. Journey time: 40 minutes, price: €2.25 single (December 2009).
 * Autobuses Garcia C/H.Alcalde del Rio, 2 Bajo, Torrelavega,, operate bus services from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega.

title: Santillana del Mar


text:
Santiniketan

Santiniketan (Bengali: শান্তিনিকেতন Śāntiniketan, SHAHN-tih-nih-keh-tawn), also spelt Shantiniketan, is a university town in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. It was established by Debendranath Tagore in the second half of the 19th century, and then developed by his son, Rabindranath Tagore, the leading figure of the Bengali Renaissance, whose vision became what is now a university town with the ancient gurukula method of learning. It has produced such diverse personalities as Indira Gandhi (once a Prime Minister of India), Satyajit Ray (an Oscar-winning filmmaker) and Amartya Sen (a Nobel laureate) and has been home to great artists and musicians. Santiniketan is also famous for the baul culture. Around 1.2 million visitors visit Santiniketan annually. It has been designated as a in September 2023.

Understand
In 1863, Debendranath Tagore took on permanent lease of land, along with two chātim (ছাতিম) trees from zamindar Bhuban Mohan Sinha. The leased area was a small village and the den of a gang of notorious dacoits. After the leader of the gang surrendered to Debendranath, they started helping him in developing the area. Debendranath built a guest house there and named it Santiniketan (literally the "abode of peace"). Gradually, the whole area came to be known as Santiniketan.

In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore established a school in Santiniketan, called Brahmacaryāśram (ব্রহ্মচর্যাশ্রম), which became the Visva-Bharati University in 1921. A brainchild of Rabindranath, the Visva-Bharati University is a unique learning centre in the sense that the education takes place under a tree, instead of in a classroom. It got the status of a central university by 1951.

Several artists are also closely associated with Santiniketan other than Rabindranath Tagore and his father, including Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij and Benode Behari Mukherjee. Their works can be found throughout the town.

Climate
The climate of Santiniketan is moderately warm, with summer temperatures at around 35–42 °C (maximum) and winter at 10–15 °C (minimum). Summer is felt for three months, March, April and May. December, January and February are the winter months. June, July, August and September see heavy rainfall. The annual average temperature is 26.2 °C. About 1480 mm of rain falls per year, with 76 days seeing the rain.

Read

 * Rabindranath, Santiniketan, Sriniketan by Tapan Kumar Basak. Available locally.

By plane
The nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Durgapur, but flights are infrequent. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata is the nearest major airport that is close to Santiniketan.

By train
Santiniketan is two to three hours by train from Kolkata. Vande Bharat Express and Shatabdi Express offer the fastest service. For schedules check with Indian Railways.

There are two railway stations in Santiniketan, namely (BHP) and. Most express trains stop at Bolpur Shantiniketan.

If you are travelling with a lot of baggage, you may struggle for space even in reserved cars, and hiring a car may be a better alternative to reach Santiniketan.

Express trains that stop at Bolpur Shantiniketan:
 * From Howrah, Kolkata (HWH): Ganadevta Express, Jamalpur Express, Kavi Guru Express, Malda Intercity Express, NJP Shatabdi Express, NJP Vande Bharat Express (fastest, non-stop), Saraighat Express and Shantiniketan Express (the only train that originates and/or terminates at HWH and BHP, so you a better chance of finding seats on this train if you buy unreserved tickets).
 * From Sealdah (SDAH), Kolkata: Darjeeling Mail and Kanchenjunga Express.
 * From New Jalpaiguri (NJP), Siliguri: Darjeeling Mail, Howhrah Shatabdi Express, Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Kanchenjunga Express.

By bus
From Kolkata, there are two options: The Asansol bus (alight near Panagarh) and the Suri bus (alight near Ilambazar). From both places, local buses are available for Santiniketan.

By car
Santiniketan is from Kolkata by road. Good drivers can cover the distance in about 3 hours.

Santiniketan is connected with Kolkata by an excellent 4-lane expressway. From Kolkata, travel to Dankuni and take the Durgapur Expressway (NH 19). It will bypass Saktigarh, Bardhaman and Panagarh. At Panagarh (Darjeeling More), turn right. After crossing the Ajay River, take the road to the right at Ilambazar and proceed towards Bolpur. At the Santiniketan–Sriniketan junction (also called Surul More) take the road to the left. Coming from the direction of Kolkata, one can also take the NH 114 route via Talit, Guskara, Bhedia and Surul More by taking a right turn from the Durgapur Expressway just after crossing Bardhaman on the right (where the Renaissance Township is on the left) and taking this route via Nababhat More. It saves time and the distance is less from the above route by about 50 km.

Get around
You can also look at the map of the Visva-Bharati campus in Santiniketan.

By rickshaw
Electric rickshaws (locally known as totos) are the most convenient and cheap means of transportation these days. The older cycle rickshaws are still available and can be availed, though it would cost more. If you are a tourist, don't get on the cycle rickshaws in front of the museum that are manned by persistent teenagers as they will take you on a farcical circulatory route to make you spend more. Choose the older guys. Or just walk round the town.

By car
Hired cars and taxis are not always readily available.

By bicycle
If you are planning an extended stay, it may be worth your while to purchase a bicycle from one of the many local cycle shops. A brand new bicycle costs ₹3,200-3,600.

See
Santiniketan has several buildings associated with the Tagore family—Santiniketan Griha, Nutan Bari, Dehali etc. School classes and major functions are held in the Amra Kunja (mango grove). Some distance away on the eastern side is a small hillock with a large banyan tree. It was a favourite of Maharishi Debendranath Tagore. Visitors are not allowed to loiter around educational centres during working hours as these disturb the classes being held.

Do
In Santiniketan, seasonal changes bring their own colours and beauties with various festivals. The festivals are organised on traditional Indian forms and rituals.

Buy
A favourable time for shopping is during the Poush Mela. The unique style of embroidery associated with Santiniketan is known as the 'Kantha stitch'. 'Sudha Karu Shilpa' in Andrews Palli, 'Amar Kutir' at the Kopai River, and 'Basundhara' in Sonajhuri offer quality Kantha stitchwork in the form of sarees, and dupattas throughout the year. Other handicrafts like dhokra (artistic brassware from nearby Ausgram), leather bags, bamboo toys and locally handwoven cotton are also worth a look.

Drink
Santiniketan and the surrounding areas offer a few bottle shops for wine and liquor purchases. A few restaurants have permits to serve beer (Kharimati restaurant, Park Hotel restaurant) and one local bar with a liquor licence is the Moon Bar at the new Kharimati Hotel. During tribal festivals, the Santals enjoy rice beer which is served warm, is quite tasty and has a low alcohol content.

Go next

 * Bakreshwar — 58 km, Shaktipitha, also famous for the Bakranath Shiva temple and hot springs.
 * Durgapur — 60 km, the steel city. You can travel on to Bishnupur another 70 km in the same direction or on to Asansol, another 30 km, along NH 19.
 * Kendubillo — 30 km, on the bank of the river Ajay, believed by many to be the birthplace of 12th century Sanskrit poet Jayadeva, author of the masterpiece Geeta Govinda. A fair is held here on Makar Sankranti (mid-January). Baul songs are the principal attraction of this meal. There is a temple with terracotta decorations.
 * Labhpur — 30 km, the birthplace of Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay and home to the Fullara Temple, a Shakti Pitha.
 * Massanjore — 75 km (in Jharkhand), a dam across the river Mayurakshi with a picturesque reservoir. You can travel on to Deoghar another 98 km in the same direction.
 * Nalhati — 100 km, another Shakti Pitha
 * Nanoor — 20 km, birthplace of Chandidas, 14th century Sanskrit poet, famous for his Vaishnava Padavalis. There is a temple dedicated to Devi Basuli.
 * Sainthia — 44 km, another Shakti Pitha
 * Tarapith — 88 km, another Shakti Pitha, famous temple of Tara Devi
 * Dubrajpur — 44 km, Rajbari (Palace), terracotta temples and natural rock formation

title: Santiniketan


text:
Santiponce

Santiponce is a town of 8,500 people (2015) in Andalucia, near Seville. Visitors are drawn by the ruins of Italica, one of the most important cities of Roman Iberia, and for its monastery, which has some important works of religious art.

Understand
The town's agriculture is focused on maize (corn), sunflowers, oranges and table olives.

History
Because it is on a little-travelled route, it has been a settlement place since prehistoric times. Remains of Iberian tribes and Turdetans, have been found. The Roman general Scipio the African, named after the victory against the Carthaginians, decided to found a city in the valley of the Betis river, so that his troops could settle and rest. The city was baptized as Italica, which was named after the peninsula where Rome is located. At an early date, Rome granted citizenship to the inhabitants of this city. In the times of Augustus, the city was renamed Colonia Aelia Augusta Itálica. From here the emperors Trajan, Hadrian and, probably, also Theodosius I originated. The city was prosperous until the 3rd century AD, but its decline began in the 4th century, when the Roman Empire fell due to Germanic invasions and political crises.

In Visigothic times, Archbishop San Leandro built his episcopal schools in its ruins. In the Reconquest, the Mozarabs built a hermitage on the site dedicated to the Archbishop San Isidoro. The saint remained buried there until his transfer to León.

In 1270, the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo was built, which exerted a dominion over the town. The town, sometimes called Seville "la Vieja", was then in an area known as Isla de Hierro, the site of the Seville Olympic Stadium in the north of Isla de la Cartuja. However, this area was flooded in 1603 and the survivors went to reside in the monastery, which was then inhabited by the Hieronymite monks. They gave an area with ruins of Italica near the monastery for the construction of the new town, which was at a higher altitude. However, a good part of the ancient ruins of Italica were preserved, including the theatre and the amphitheatre.

Get in
A brief bus ride 9 km from Seville (from Plaza de Armas Bus Station) on the Damas company buses M-170A and M-170B (Nov 2020).

You can also catch taxis from Seville, however the driver will probably charge you an exorbitant fee for crossing the Seville city limits.

See

 * The Municipal Museum of Santiponce Fernando Marmolejo is next to the Roman theatre. Archaeological and artistic pieces linked to the history of the municipality are exhibited.
 * The Municipal Museum of Santiponce Fernando Marmolejo is next to the Roman theatre. Archaeological and artistic pieces linked to the history of the municipality are exhibited.

Festivals

 * Aljarafe Way of the Cross: It is presided over by the Jesús Nazareno de la Hermandad del Rosario (17th century) of the municipality. It is celebrated on the first Saturday of Lent.
 * Holy Week: The brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Nuestra Señora del Rosario Crowned and Divina Pastora de las Almas has its roots in the 16th century. The Jesus Nazareno is possibly the work of José de Arce and is from the 17th century. The carving of the Virgen del Rosario is anonymous, although it has been attributed to Juan de Mesa y Velasco, and is made in the 17th century. This Virgin was canonically crowned in 2008. This Virgin has a glorious character, but to make her penitential, at the time of Lent the Child Jesus is temporarily removed from her arms.
 * Pilgrimage of San Isidoro del Campo: It has been celebrated since 2003. It starts with several carts from the parish church of San Isidoro del Campo and takes a tour that has its equator in a festive stop by the river.
 * Cruces de Mayo: An ancient festival, characterized by flowery crosses, which some municipalities in the country conserve.
 * Romería del Rocío: Some poncinos joined nearby brotherhoods to make pilgrimage to Rocío. The Santiponce brotherhood carries a simpecado embroidered by Heirs of Esperanza Elena Caro and has a miniature of the Virgen del Rocío by Fernando Marmolejo Camargo.
 * Fair: It was born in the Middle Ages with the help of the Hieronymite monks. In October.

Eat
A good deal is El Ventorrillo Canario, just in front of the gates of the Italica premises. Try roasted meat and stews.

title: Santiponce


text:
Sant Julia de Loria

Sant Julia de Loria (correctly Sant Julià de Lòria)  lies on border to Spain in the southern parish (administrative division) in Andorra between Andorra La Vella and Spain.

Get in
Sant Julia de Loria lies some 7.5 km to the south of Andorra La Vella on the main road CG1 which runs down the Gran Valira (Grand Valley) towards La Seu d'Urgell/Seo de Urgel in Spain.

Serving intercity buses are e.g. Flixbus, Andbus and DirectBus.

title: Sant Julia de Loria


text:
Santo Amaro do Maranhão

Santo Amaro do Maranhão, better known as Santo Amaro, is a small city in Northern Maranhão, near Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. It's a good alternative to Barreirinhas for visiting the national park.

Get in
Take a Cisne Branco bus from São Luis heading to Barreirinhas. Ask the driver to let you off at Sangue. The bus costs R$21 and takes about 3 hours. In Sangue, 4X4 (called "Toyotas") meet the buses to go to Santo Amaro. They charge R$15 and the trip takes about 2 hours.

Get around
Small enough to walk around.

See

 * Laguna da Gaviota is a nice lagoon within walking distance from the town. Ask the locals how to get there.

Do

 * Take a tour further into the dunes. This must be done with a guide. Everyone in town who isn't a guide knows one. You can walk all the way across the park to Atins, stopping on the way at some small communities within the park. This takes three days. If you have less time, you can just walk to the community of Queimada dos Britos about 8 hours away.

Sleep

 * Camp near the river for free.

Connect
There is internet at the high school at the main square. Slow as molasses.

title: Santo Amaro do Maranhão


text:
Santo André

Santo André is one of the municipalities that composes the metropolitan area of São Paulo. The municipality is divided into two districts roughly of the same size:
 * The main district in the Northwest, predominantly urban and more commonly referred simply as the "city of Santo André";
 * The Paranapiacaba district in the Southeast, predominantly covered by the Atlantic rainforest. The district contains the historical village of Paranapiacaba, covered in a separate article, and is a major destination for ecotourism.

By train
Line 10-Turquoise is the main rail connection between Santo André and the city center of São Paulo. The quality of the trains of this line is good, similar to the metro. The main station Prefeito Celso Daniel-Santo André is located in the city center of Santo André.

To go to the Paranapiacaba village, you need to get off at Rio Grande da Serra station, and take a bus to Paranapiacaba next to the drugstore.

It is possible to go to Paranapiacaba directly by train using a touristic train operated by CPTM, but only on Sundays (except the 2nd Sunday of each month). Check the CPTM website for exact dates and detailed information.

By bus
Intermunicipal buses operated by EMTU go from the Jabaquara metro station to the city center of Santo André. As with most intermunicipal buses, you cannot use a Bilhete Único and no discount is given if you have used other forms of public transportation.

Public passenger transport within the city is reasonable and you can get anywhere in the city, there are many bus lines and varying schedules, travelers can check the website for bus schedules.

By car
The city centers of São Paulo and Santo André are connected by Avenida do Estado. To get to the village of Paranapiacaba, it is possible to take local roads from Rodovia Anchieta.

Get around
The two districts of Santo André are separated by the Billings reservoir, and hence there is no direct connection between them. To get from the city center of Santo André to Paranapiacaba, it is necessary to pass through Mauá, Ribeirão Pires and Rio Grande da Serra.

Do

 * Hiking at Paranapiacaba district: the rainforest surrounding the Paranapiacaba village is a State Park and offers many excellent hiking opportunities, including a 15km hike right down to the coast, through the Vale do Quilombo. The hiring of guides is a good idea, since the rainforest is dense and people have been known to get lost; you can do this through the Paranapiacaba Environmental Monitors' Association, (11) 4439-0155, or ask around in the village.  Paranapiacaba is familiar enough with tourism and the locals are friendly and happy to help; though as with most of the area, English is not widely spoken.

Eat
In Paranapiacaba there is a nice & simple self-service restaurant in the village called Beija Flor where you can observe hummingbirds. Another options is Casa do Tio César (Rua Antônio Olintho, 489 - Parte Baixa - Vila de Paranapiacaba Telephone: (11)4439-0281 c/ Cesar).

Drink
Most nightlife is concentrated in Bairro Jardim, near the center of Santo André.

Sleep
There is no budget hotel in town. A possibility is to go to a motel and negotiate a daily rate.

Go next
From Santo André one can easily take Rodovia Anchieta and reach the coast of São Paulo.

title: Santo André


text:
Santo Antão

Santo Antão is the second biggest of the Cape Verde islands and very different from its barren neighbor, São Vicente, you'll be using as its gateway. Santo Antão is the most northern and the most western island of the archipelago, with the area of 779 km², maximum length of 43 km and maximum width of 24 km. The highest point is Topo de Coroa, 1979 m high.

Understand
Santo Antão is a surprising island. When you land at the ferry port it appears to be dusty and sandy like many of the other islands but in half an hour you can be driving up steep, windy roads and suddenly find yourself in pine forest and skimming the edge of a volcano. Much of the island is unexplored, but in the north you'll find some great accommodation mere meters away from great hiking trails. In Ponta do Sol you can scuba dive, hike or rock climb in a very picturesque setting. Accommodation is inexpensive and would suit all budgets.

But there is much more to do than hiking — if you are interested in swimming, this is the right place to come to. Tarrafal de Monte Trigo has the largest, most pristine, and only really swimmable beach on the island. Whereas in other parts of the island it may be possible to swim on a few days of the year, in Tarrafal it is only impossible to swim on a few days of the year. The reason for this is that Tarrafal is sheltered from the northeast trades winds that blow most of the time, making other parts on the island very windy and their beaches subject to rough waves which make swimming dangerous or impossible. Snorkeling, scuba diving, boat rides and fishing are also possible. Tarrafal has more sunny days than many parts of the island. It is therefore not quite as green as some parts where rain and clouds are more frequent, although being a true oasis and receiving water all year round from springs, it is still quite green in the valley. This “microclimate” sets it apart from the rest of the island — it means, for example, that it is also a great place to relax, just “hang out”, and you can dine outside comfortably virtually every evening with no need for windbreakers and jackets. Many travelers choose to visit both “sides” of the island.

By plane
You cannot get to Santo Antão by plane. There used to be an airport near Ponta do Sol, but now it's abandoned. You must fly to São Vicente (Cesaria Evora Airport at São Pedro, VXE), take a taxi (1000 CVE per vehicle) or hail down a passing by collective taxi (100 CVE per person) to the ferry harbor in Mindelo (about 15-30 minutes, depending on the mode of transportation chosen) and a ferry to Santo Antão (about 1 hour, 800 CVE). Depending on times of flights and ferries (see below) as well as what you want to see and how much traveling you want to do in one day, you might consider spending one or more nights in Mindelo, São Vicente.

By ferry
There is a punctual twice daily ferry connection from the island São Vicente. The trip from Mindelo to Porto Novo takes about 1 hour with the ferry. As of May 2021, the Interilhas goes 2 times a day, at 07:00 and 15:00 from São Vicente (Mindelo) to Santo Antão (Porto Novo); and at 08:00 and 16:00 from Santo Antão (Porto Novo) to São Vicente (Mindelo). Boarding in either direction starts half an hour prior to the listed departure time and lasts for about 10 minutes. The tickets (800 CVE per person per way) can be bought online (Visa card payments only, as of May 2021) as well as in the harbor. When not booking the tickets in advance, it's advisable to arrive at the harbor an hour prior to departure as there will be a queue at the ticket office. When booking the tickets online, make sure to print out your ticket as you'll have to hand it over when boarding.

The ferry terminal in Porto Novo, Santo Antão is relatively new and even hosts a few shops, the one in Mindelo, São Vicente is far more basic. Neither has WiFi available to travelers. When in need of an internet connection (for the price of a drink) while awaiting your ferry back to Mindelo, restaurant/cafe called Autentico that is 100 m from the Porto Novo terminal and has a reliable connection.

The ferry between Porto Novo and São Vicente is the most reliable ferry in the entire archipelago; nevertheless, there are sometimes changes. Ferry information that is almost always up to date can be found here. It is still a good idea to check when you are there in case of short term changes.

By "aluguer" or "collectivo" (collective taxi)
This traditional type of public transportation is alive and well all over Santo Antão. These mini-buses or 4x4 pickups can be found when you arrive with the ferry or in any of the towns and villages, going to any location on the island, sometimes with changes in another town. Sometimes the name of the destination is written on the car, sometimes you have to ask. Then get in and wait, because they only leave when they are full — by Cape Verdian standards, and that can mean very full! They carry goods as well as passengers and often do errands on the way, so you have to be patient. But it is an interesting, authentic experience, environmentally friendlier than a rental car, and by far the least expensive option.

From the ferry to either Paúl, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol or Coculi should be possible for about 400-500 CVE, to Tarrafal de Monte Trigo for about 700 CVE. Local trips between towns and cities that are up to 10km apart shouldn't cost you more than 100 CVE. All prices are per person and cash only.

As a rule of thumb, at least one collective taxi per half an hour plies the routes Paúl - Chã de Padre, Paúl - Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande - Ponta do Sol, or Ribeira Grande - Coculi. From Ribeira Grande to Xoxo, aluguers are less frequent (one per hour or so) and from Ribeira Grande to Cruzinha there are only two collective taxis daily, departing roughly at 11:00 and 12:00. Most aluguers to/from Porto Novo schedule their trip to drop off & pick up passengers from arriving from/departing ferries to Mindelo, São Vicente (see above).

By "taxi" or "frete" (privatized collective taxi)
If you want to be more flexible, comfortable, faster, make breaks along the way, etc., this is a good option. These are not the blue taxis you see waiting at the ferry landing, but other cars, usually sturdier and often 4x4 with an "aluguer" sign on the top. (aluguer actually means "to rent"). Often it is the same car as the collective taxi, but under other conditions — you "rent" the whole car and driver to any destination you choose, for as many people and baggage as you want and can fit in. It will end up being less expensive than a rental car if you want to get where you are going and then walk or hike and not drive around every day. You can ask the aluguer drivers when you arrive with the ferry, and if they can't do this, they may be able to direct you to someone who can — it is usually a profitable and welcome change for the drivers, instead of waiting for customers.

You can also use a "taxi/frete" as an excursion, to see more of the island on the way to your hotel, or just to spend a day seeing the island. You can fit quite a few people in the car for the same price, so it may be a nice idea to share with other travelers. Ask people you meet on the ferry, or while traveling, or at your hotel. The people from your accommodations can also help to find others to share, and can organize a "taxi" for you, either to arrive or to leave or as an excursion around the island.

Costs are approximately tenfold of the per person price of a collective taxi plying the same route. So Porto Novo to Paúl works out around 4000 CVE; Porto Novo to Tarrafal around 7000 CVE; a day of excursions: 8000 to 12000 CVE for the whole car, about 4-8 people, depending on model of car and the itinerary.

By car
You can rent a car in Porto Novo for €50-60 per day. Two car rental agencies even have a counter at the ferry terminal. As a tourist however, it doesn't make much sense to rent a car as you'll have to do all your hikes as a return trail (to get back to your parked vehicle) and public or privatized public transportation (see above) options will work out less pricey and more convenient.

See
Santo Antão is foremost a place to enjoy the island's majestic nature (see ), but there is also quite a few different places to behold as well.

Do
The north of Santo Antão is prime hiking territory. The most accessible hikes can be found in and around 3 adjacent (and equally stunning) valleys: Ribeira do Paúl, Ribeira de Torre and Ribeira de Figueiral, as well as on the northwestern coast between Ponta do Sol and Cruzinha.

Download a free (OpenStreetMap data based) app like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz for easy access to offline maps that allow you to walk the routes mentioned above. Google Maps coverage is extremely poor on the hiking trails of Santo Antão.

An alternative (or complement) to the north is Tarrafal de Monte Trigo in the southwestern part of the island. Although the number of hikes may not be as large as in the northeast, there is still great hiking, for example along the coast between Tarrafal and Monte Trigo (and back by fishing boat). Additionally, it's a good starting point to reach the highest mountain, the Tope de Coroa, taking the morning aluguer for a short stretch before starting the hike. You can also go out with the local fishermen in their boats just for an excursion, to fish or just watch and enjoy the nature. The beach is good for swimming almost year round. Snorkeling and Scuba diving are also possible.

Drink
If you're visiting between the months of March and May, you can see the grogue distilleries in operation. This local sugar cane-based rum is the bread and butter of Santo Antãoan agricultural export, besides bananas, papayas, beans and gourd vegetables. Any other time of year, you can buy grogue from nearly any store on the island, but during the aforementioned months you can buy it straight from the (often very picturesque) source.

Sleep

 * See also listings for accommodations in other towns and villages on Santo Antão such as Tarrafal de Monte Trigo.
 * See also listings for accommodations in other towns and villages on Santo Antão such as Tarrafal de Monte Trigo.
 * See also listings for accommodations in other towns and villages on Santo Antão such as Tarrafal de Monte Trigo.
 * See also listings for accommodations in other towns and villages on Santo Antão such as Tarrafal de Monte Trigo.

Go next
There's only one direct destination to go next from Santo Antão: Mindelo, São Vicente.Well, actually there are other destinations. Sailing yachts sometimes anchor in the bay of Tarrafal de Monte Trigo as their last stop before crossing the Atlantic Ocean---stocking up on the last fresh fruits and vegetables, or good drinking water if they don't have a "water maker" on board. Occasionally they are looking for crew and someone gets the chance to join them for the crossing. But even if you don't join them, it can be inspiring and fascinating to wave them good-bye as they set sail for the Caribbean Islands or South America....

title: Santo Antão