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San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a town of 3,899 (2012) in Northern Chile. San Pedro is a very popular destination among Chilean tourists and international visitors. Visitors come in large numbers, to use the town as a stepping stone to the amazing landscapes around it. Most attractions are part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, perhaps Chile's most varied and amazing national park.

Understand
Prices in any of the laid back bars and restaurants fare well against Santiago's. Still, it's a fairly expensive location, as it's one of Chile's three most popular destinations, along with Torres del Paine and Easter Island.

San Pedro vs. Uyuni
As many people head for San Pedro to continue their travel into Bolivia doing the popular Salar de Uyuni tour, it is important to note that many sights found around San Pedro have similar equivalents on the Bolivian site. Hence, instead of paying twice, it is worth thinking about skipping some tours offered in San Pedro and saving the money. This is also what many travellers that did both countries agree with and recommend to other. In fact, the sights along the Salar de Uyuni tour are equally or even more beautiful and impressive than what can be found around San Pedro, e.g. 1) Geysers del Tatio: 2 hr from the border you will visit a smaller but much more versatile site with mud pools, loud steams and geysers, and shortly after that a nice warm thermal pool with magnificent views which easily tops the semi-warm thermal pool at the Geysers del Tatio. And you do not have to get up at 5, freeze your bottom off, and get hassled along the way due to the limited time. 2) Lagunas Altiplanicas: Already the first stop after the border at the Laguna Verde (or the Lagunas on the second day) and the Laguna Colorado at the end of the first day top this tour, with much more flamingos and more versatile views, not to mention the value of Salar de Uyuni over Laguna Chaxa. 3) Astronomic tour: This can easily be realised in the middle of nowhere on the Salar de Uyuni tour with no lights whatsoever around. 4) Salar Tata: The diversity of the sights along the Salar de Uyuni tour is immense and also covers this tour.

Nevertheless, the Valle de la Luna is a must when in San Pedro and cannot be skipped for anything along the Salar de Uyuni tour. Likewise, the Laguna Cejar, and a bicycle, hiking or sandboarding tour around San Pedro are not substitutable. Furthermore note that the tours in San Pedro are a good way to acclimatise against altitude sickness. The Salar de Uyuni tour almost touches the 5,000-m mark. So, the Piedra Rojas tour for instant might actually be a good thing, because at the Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques you will cross the 4,200-m mark.

By bus

Several buses per day connect the town with Calama (see Calama for schedules), operated by TurBus, KTUR, Frontera del Norte, Atacama 2000, and Intertrans. The trip takes about 1½-2 hr, and costs 3,000-5,000 pesos. Other buses like TurBus travel also from Antofagasta (4 hr, 9,000 pesos), Iquique, Arica (12 hr, 22,000 pesos), and Santiago. It is best and cheaper to transfer in Calama, because it is easy to get there with regular national buses (because of the airport and the mine), and between Calama and San Pedro more frequent and cheaper regional buses operate.

Also, buses connect San Pedro with Salta and San Salvador de Jujuy in Argentina.

There are also regular buses from Uyuni, in Bolivia (30,000 pesos). But skipping the Salar de Uyuni Tour between the Chilean border and Uyuni for a simple bus is not recommended—it is one of the most impressive and most inexpensive tours you can do in South America. Nevertheless, cross border bus passes are available from Green Toad Bus which allow you to travel to San Pedro from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and the rest of Chile. Or just ask at the tourist information or one of the booking offices in town.

By plane
No airlines fly direct to San Pedro. The nearest commercial airport is Calama. Most flights are direct, and connect Calama with Santiago, but a few also fly to Antofagasta and Iquique. LATAM (has the most flights, and the best support, but isn't always the cheapest), Sky Airline (terrible website, better service than LATAM), PAL and JetSMART fly to Santiago from US$12 one way. To get from the airport to Calama, take a taxi. From Calama to San Pedro is about 90 min by bus (2,500 pesos). Transvip and Licancabur run minivan transfer to hotels in San Pedro de Atacama for 10,000-12,000 pesos. No need to reserve: you can buy tickets at their airport booth.

Be very careful when you are looking for WiFi at the airport. The restaurant Bakery & Co., located on the main departures level, would scam you by telling you that there is working WiFi in their premises; but once you have purchased your food and beverages, they would tell you that they have just discovered that their WiFi is not working. For reliable connection, go to Costa Tacora Restobar on the balcony (upper floor) of the departures level.

By car
At the Calama airport you may rent a car. Car rentals are fairly expensive, however, for Calama is Chile's largest mining hub, and therefore rentals offer mostly medium pick-up trucks. You will need an international driving permit if your license is not in Spanish. However, travellers have reported their German license to been accepted. Rentals are cheaper in Antofagasta, but most likely you will have to return the car there. Most popular destinations are fairly easy to reach with a good map, but driving high in the Andes should not be undertaken by beginners in the area! Roads off the popular trails are often in terrible condition, not signaled at all, there's no cell phone signal, and acute mountain sickness is a real threat. Getting stuck in the less-traveled roads of the "altiplano" can be a death sentence, since some aren't used at all, and see perhaps a car every two months. That said, travelling on the frequented roads used by the tour providers in San Pedro is straight forward and can even be done with a car without 4WD.

Always travel with a full tank, since the only gas station in the area is in San Pedro. You can find illegal fuel vendors in some of the smaller towns, like Toconao, but they charge outrageous prices. Also, remember that fuel consumption increases dramatically with rising altitude. Check the condition of all tires, even the spare; flat tires aren't at all unusual on the many dirt roads that lead to points of interest.

By thumb
Chile is well-known as a hitchhiker's paradise. Getting to Calama from any other point in the country is simple enough, but reaching San Pedro is a bit trickier. The best chances are to be had at the Topater monolith ("Monolito de Topater"). From there, walk south, beyond the underpass, and hitch a ride to town. You might have to wait for a while, but traffic to and from Calama is fairly consistent. Sometimes, even the vans of tourist agencies might pick you up; it all depends on your luck.

On foot and navigation
Once in the town, nearly all points of interest, restaurants, services, are within walking distance, with the exception of a few outlying hotels. Downtown comprises twelve small blocks, between the streets Domingo Atienza and Toconao from west to east, and Licancabur and Caracoles north to south. This last street is the main one, a pedestrian zone.

Outside of town you can even reach Valle de Marte on foot. Also, there are many hiking trails north and northwest of town. For reliable trails and GPS navigation in this desert region, consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

By bicycle
Bicycles can be rented in town: 3,000 pesos for 6 hr, 6,000 pesos full day. The rental usually includes warning vest, helmet, lamp, first aid kit, and pump. Bicycles can be a great and inexpensive way to explore the surroundings of San Pedro, like Valle de la Luna, Valle de Marte, Pukará de Quitor, Aldea de Tulor, and even Laguna Cejar (see below). Reliable tracks can be found with OpenStreetMap (see previous chapter).

It is now illegal to ride a bike in the centre of San Pedro. If you look gringo enough, chances are the cops will let you slide — but it's advised not to try. They're fond of ticketing cyclists in the evening.

By car
This is the most authentic, least stressful and, depending on the number of people, the cheapest way to do San Pedro and its sights. It is also far easier than you might believe. In 2 days you can cover most of the common and picturesque sights on your own time, even the Tito geysers. Most roads are good in good shape and suitable for regular cars. Also, when you travel along the common routes, there will always be traffic along the way in case you break down (nevertheless, always carry enough water and very warm cloths for the night. Also, be aware of the altitude issues. Do not think, just because you have a 4WD, you are less prone to the dangers of the road. This attitude can be fatal!). As you will require a reliable map, see the comments in the first chapter above.

Going on you own, visiting times will probably vary from the tour companies, i.e. there will be fewer people around when you are at the sight and take pictures. To get a good idea what is to see (even little sights) and which are possible schedules, go around in the centre of San Pedro and ask the booking offices what a trip to this and that sight will look like, what is included, and how much the entrance fee will be.

Rental prices per day in San Pedro for a 4WD truck with space for 5 people start at US$106 (70,000 pesos as of Apr 2018), if booked online or if you ask for a discount with on sight. But doing the maths against the tour prices, you will see that this is fair and easily cheaper, especially if you camp and go in a group. You might even consider renting a car in Antofagasta or Calama where rental prices are much cheaper (~40,000 pesos) and you will also get regular cars—the extra distance you will have to do with a bus anyhow and mostly the extra time is easily covered by the much lower rental prices. To find people to rent a car together with, ask around in your hostel or use the various travel groups for Chile and South America on Facebook.

By tour
All important sights around San Pedro can be visited with a tour offered by one of the 150 booking offices in town. However, please see to get an understanding of the ups and downs of this decision. While tours can be a convenient choice for some people, they can be the horror to others. Basically, if you never had issues with packaged tours, this is the way to go. Otherwise, if you already know what the last point was about, you will probably know that you are not the packaged tour guy/gal—if you always hated tours, you will certainly also let be down by the tours offered in San Pedro.

See
In the following the essential places to visit around San Pedro. The description takes emphasis on the tours offered from San Pedro, but the sights can also be visited without a tour. For the entrance fees of just the sites, see the table at the end of this chapter. To keep track of the changing prices, opening times and closures of certain sites, San Pedro tourism office keeps a list outside of its doors.

Geysers del Tatio
Directly after the geysers you will most likely visit the hot springs, which are not that hot and at 0 °C or most likely less, it requires some convincing to strip you cloths and to get into the water. On the way back, it's typical to find wild vicuñas, an endangered Andean camelid that's highly protected in Chile. They were rescued from the verge of extinction thirty years ago. Vicuñas in the area are accustomed to human presence, and will tolerate tourists coming to some twenty meters away-any more, and they're likely to flee. Be extremely respectful of the regulations, for many guides and drivers might even react in an aggressive manner if you bother the animals in any way.

A common stop is the fording of the Putana river, a spectacle that for some even surpasses the geysers themselves. Many different bird species inhabit it, and it's perfectly possible to get very close to them-giant coots (fulica gigantea) are especially indolent. Winter has the most birds, with over ten different species cohabiting the place at peak migration, but temperatures are harsh. There's also the possibility of seeing a vizcacha or two (lagidium viscacia), a funny mix between a bunny, a squirrel, and a kangaroo. They're very shy, though, and if you don't get there among the first visitors, they'll have usually disappeared. In the background, to the east, lies the Putana volcano, an active mountain that boasts seven small fumes.

Afterwards you will visit Machuca, an abandoned altiplanic village that lived from the mining of sulphur. Most regular tours stop here. Nowadays, you'll find a few locals there, roasting anticuchos made of llama meat. Teas, soft drinks and empanadas are also available. The meat is of questionable origins, with some wild theories as to its origin floating around. Ask your guide for a laugh. It's fairly safe to consume, though, as sanitation's decent. Just after exiting Machuca, it's common to see llamas grazing on a beautiful pasture. After that pasture lies a micro-sized salt pan, where vicuñas and James' flamingos can be seen (the latter only in summer, though).

If you plan on going, please consider the following things:
 * Temperatures can be terribly cold: -15°C is common through June to August, while in summer it rarely dips below -5°C. It's paramount to wear gloves, a cap, and preferably two layers of socks, along with a very warm jacket. After sunrise, the cold quickly subsides, and it gets bearable. Once you get to Machuca, the heat can be stifling. Prepare accordingly.
 * The altitude, coupled to a steep and winding road, can easily cause altitude sickness. Almost all agencies claim to carry an oxygen bottle on board; this is false. They do bring a can with air compressed to one atmosphere, but it does little other than acting as a placebo. See the section 'Cope' for advice on preventing and ameliorating the sickness.
 * You can also take your own car. Nowadays, the gravel roads to the geyser are of proper state, and it is hard to break down here. Follow the convoy of cars that go up north by Guatín village at around 05:30-05:40. Many people use regular cars without 4WD to visit the geysers, and even most tour companies just have regular vans. However, you need a good map (use OsmAnd or Mapy.cz) and driving skills on gravel. At one point you will pass 4,400 m, take your time if AMS shows up. The geyseys themselves are at 4,100 m. You'll have virtually no communication with the world at all unless you carry a satellite phone, and even then the signal's sketchy. Nevertheless, if you travel along the road that every one takes, even if you break down, it will be easy to find help. Every year there are lethal accidents on that road often with tourists, so beware and be cautious.

Valle de la Luna

It's perfectly possible to ride a bike there and see the many sights, but you should take your time. Although only away from San Pedro, the road's steep and sinuous. When biking, it's advised to travel early (7-8AM) in the morning, for afternoon temperatures can be suffocating year-round. Thus, you lessen the possibility of heatstroke and the sights won't be filled with tourists. Also, it's easier to find someone to rescue you if you get in trouble. If you rent your bicycle longer than 6 hr (6 hr is 6,000 pesos, whole day is 10,000 pesos), you can even enjoy the sunset in the evening from the top near the highway to Calama. You should get a flashlight especially if you want to watch sunset (the road can be dangerous when dark) but also because there's a cave you can visit and it's pitch black in there. Mostly bicycle rentals will include a light (or use your smartphone), which you can use for this purpose, but make sure the bike also has a tail reflector, a helmet, an emergency kit and you got a map of the valley.

If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * It can get cold immediately after sunset, especially in winter. Bring something warm to wear and even gloves to enjoy the show to its fullest.
 * Carry water! This is vital. You probably won't notice you're sweating; moisture evaporates at an alarming rate in the Atacama desert. This means you actually sweat more. Most agencies do not include water in the price and there are no shops along the way.
 * Tours usually include long treks. So, wear appropriate shoes. There'll be lots of sand, too, which can be excruciatingly hot, and many sharp rocks, so flip-flops are a no-go.
 * Since some people will head out by bicycle early and return in the early afternoon, you can ask for their ticket to head out with the bicycle late to see the sunset from the top viewpoint.

Lagunas Altiplanicas

If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * Be wary of the salt pan, as it reflects sunlight in the way that snow does. Wear pants and long sleeves, carry a hat, and wear sunglasses, unless you enjoy the prospect of developing blindness and skin cancer.
 * Miscanti and Miñiques are usually very windy. The wind can easily bring perceived temperature down to 0ºC; bring a good jacket at the very least. Also, follow the guidelines closely, for both park personnel and agency employees are strict about them.
 * Again, carry lots of water.
 * The meals in Socaire are deceiving, in that they'll usually leave you feeling quite full. The quality's good; most visitors find them remarkable. Don't forget to try the home-baked bread with pebre, a typical Chilean sauce made with tomatoes, onions, coriander, and a bit of chili (ají). It comes included in the meal. It's spicy, but nothing unmanageable.
 * Look for the Tropic of Capricorn marker. There's one on both of the roads usually taken by tours. On the main road lies a strange white cross that indicates not only the Tropic, but also the Inca road that used to traverse the area. Most guides ignore this fact (intentionally or not), so you'll have to keep your eyes open.

Laguna Cejar

You can get there by bike: 50 km for the round-trip, with the sun burning your scalp without any mercy. There are shorter paths, but the safest is the main road; to get there, just ask where the customs ('aduana') are, and then travel south until you see a sign that reads 'Laguna Cejar'. The road is paved, and drivers are accustomed to see bikers on it. Wear bright clothing (red, blue and yellow work best), just in case. You should not have any trouble locating it, for there are other signs along the way. If you'd like to visit the other lagoons, besides Piedra and Cejar, you can try asking the employee at Cejar's entry. Use OpenStreetMap (used by OsmAnd and Mapy.cz) to find the way south, and again, bring a flashlight.

If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * Sun protection is a must. Cejar's environs are of a pure, perfect white, which tends to obscenely reflect light.
 * The water is cold. From October to March, this will be quite welcome, but not so much in winter. There is an upside to traveling in the latter season-some birds, like flamingos, migrate there (June-August).
 * As with the Dead Sea, swimming in such salty waters is different. Always swim on you back! Swimming on your front can be surprising and people have died due to the unsuspecting behaviour of their body and suddenly panicking.
 * Always ask whether freshwater's included in the fee. Virtually all agencies carry some, but ask the guide and driver again, just in case. It's necessary to remove the coating of salt that will cover your body after taking a plunge. If not removed, it can cause an unpleasant itch. When desperate, you can always try swimming in the Ojos del Salar.
 * Be careful with the pisco sour! Normally, agencies send just enough for two glasses per visitor, but sometimes it can be more. As it's sweet and sour, it can be very misleading: the usual liquor used for this has between 35 and 40 proof alcohol. Unsurprisingly, tourists are quite chatty on the way back to San Pedro.
 * Due to the expensive entrance fee to Cejar, tour companies have started offering an alternative which is similar but just has a 10,000 pesos entrance fee, the Laguna Escondidas.

Salar de Tara

You'll be feeling shortness of breath almost at once. If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * Altitude! The highest point of the excursion is almost 4,900 m above sea level.
 * The same nasty winds of Miscanti can be present here, with a vengeance; take warm clothing along.
 * It's not uncommon to get stuck in the sand, particularly when the driver's not really acquainted with the path. It can be fun to push the van out of the mire, though.

Valle del Arcoiris

The "Hierbas Buenas" petroglyph site is the first, featuring over a thousand ancient stone carvings from the ancient "atacameño" people. They're from all time periods, from the first caravaners to the Incas. Most tours just visit sites 1 and 2, but that should be enough to afford a pretty nifty panorama of these ancient people's history. The other four sites are of difficult access.

Then you've got the village of Matancilla, which is only habited according to season. If you go there in winter, be assured you'll find it deserted. The inhabitants grow a variety of crops, which are easily distinguished all through autumn. Dead wild donkeys are all too common, on the side of the road, while goats and llamas are harder to spot.

Finally, you've got the namesake for the place: the ever-stunning Rainbow Valley, a series of hills that display countless colors, from white to black, from blue to red. Usually, all tours visit two of the four roads available, where the best views are to be had: The "cathedrals" and the great valley. Next to the former, to the left side, are some ever-mysterious buildings, made partially of serpentine, which gives them a light green color. They're well-camouflaged, so you'll have to climb to actually see them. On the way back from these "cathedrals", there's a beautiful hill that displays a wealth of colors; if the guide doesn't offer you to walk down the slope, ask for it! It's certainly worthwhile.

You can watch a similar spectacle in Argentina, on the "Cerro de Siete Colores", but you'll miss the petroglyphs. It might be worth it to rather book a tour in San Pedro, especially since most tourists are completely oblivious of the Rainbow Valley's existence, so you'll most likely be alone when you visit. Most of the advice given for other excursions applies here.

Sandboarding

Like before and especially due to its closeness to San Pedro, this can also be done by bicycle. You can rent a board for sand-boarding in town, you just need a proper backpack to carry the board on the bicycle. The entrance to the valley is just 1.5 km out of town, from where you need to go another 3-4 km. The way is very taxing, though, so keep that in mind.

If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * If the moon is full, or close to, and rising early, it might pay to ride there later-skipping the unforgiving sun can be of great advantage, especially during warmer months (from October through March).
 * If you're cycling there with a tour company, the traditional axiom is: one board per three people. Remember that there are no lifts in Valle de Marte, which means you've to climb the sands by foot. This will be tiring and frustrating! Three people can share one sandboard with ease; while one toils away, the other two can relax and rest. Of course, this assumes you've lots of time, which might not be the case.
 * Many agencies will take you there on a van, and include a board per person in their fare. This leaves you more time and energy to sand-board, plus they'll usually include watching the sunset, and maybe even a photo album of the experience. Depending on your schedule and interests, this could be far better.
 * Sandboarding is absolutely forbidden in Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)! Expect to be fined if you even try.

Puritama
The layout of the place is as follows: there are eight artificial pools, cleverly made with volcanic rocks, so that they mesh perfectly with the scenery. Guides and drivers typically recommend the fourth and fifth ones; unless you're there early, forget about them. Go for the seventh. The water's just a little bit colder, but the pool's very large, and has sizable waterfall that doubles as a hydro-massage. If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * If you're traveling there from El Tatio, you'll be arriving later than the dedicated tours, meaning the place's going to be crowded. In summer, it's not uncommon for the place to simply close down once there's too many people in. Therefore, be careful when visiting between December and February.
 * Also, visitors who take the Geyser route will be forced to follow a stringent schedule; if you want to spend a few hours there, better look for an alternative.
 * Guests at Hotel Explora don't need to pay to enter Puritama.
 * Useful tip: Get there after 14:00. They'll only charge half the entrance fee from that time onwards, and you still have three hours to soak in the crystal-clear water. No tours leave at that time, though, but a taxi can get you there, and even be less expensive that a typical excursion! Consider this alternative if you have time, and are traveling with at least another person. Consult with the hotel staff.

Archaeological Tour
In Spanish, it's called 'Tour Arqueologico'. It usually comprises three destinations:, , and the. Pukará de Quitor is an ancient fortress, most likely built in the tenth century. It's 4 km from San Pedro. The view from the summit is breathtaking. Aldea de Tulor is the oldest village in the Atacama basin, approx. 3,000 years old, and kept in pristine condition. It's part of the Los Flamencos national reservation, and has small exhibits on archeology (worthless) and local flora and fauna (worth a visit). Last, but not least, is the museum. It holds a decent collection of original atacameño pieces, along with some acquired by the ancient inhabitants of San Pedro through trade-these are most exotic. The main exhibit is only in Spanish, though, but you can hire a guided tour in Spanish, English and French. The schedule for these is published in the museum — take a look around. Special, private tours are also available in Italian, German, and Portuguese; you must reserve these at least two days before. The guides are very capable. The museum also sports a small, but well-stocked souvenir store. They carry some of the finest hand-crafted pieces to be had in San Pedro, plus an interesting assortment of specialized books in Spanish and English.

You can visit these places by cycling, or even on foot. The museum's right by the Plaza de Armas, the main square. Most bike rentals will give you a map of the area; it should clearly point out where the Pukará is. Getting to Tulor, however, is a tad tricky. You must look for signs in the most unlikely places: wall graffiti, stuff hung from trees, and street names.

If you plan on going, please consider the following:
 * The so-called 'mummies' were removed from the museum years ago, by request of the indigenous community. If you're obsessed with desiccated corpses (you sicko), there's a nice assortment of them in Salta, Argentina, and La Serena (500 km north of Santiago). The La Serena museum of natural history even has a collection of 'cabezas de jibaro' on display, which are miniaturized cranial skins (they're reduced to the size of an orange-go figure!).
 * The hike to the top of the Pukará de Quitor is strenuous, but well worth it.
 * A taxi is a viable alternative to visit these attractions, especially if you're short on time.

Star Tour / Tour Astronómico
Finally, Atacama desert is one of the best place on Earth to see the sky. Space Star Tours offers a unique experience in watching them. The tour starts with an explanation of the naked eye sky: what is a constellation, how to learn them, how to read a sky map and recognize the main stars. They explain you why are there different coloured skies etc. On the second part, there is the largest park of telescopes of any public observatory in south America. So it is possible to see Saturn, other galaxies and a lot of other phenomenons out there. The tours ends with a warm drink and an explanation about astronomy. The tours last two hours and a half. The schedule varies during the year (later during the summer, i.e. January and February). There is a Spanish and an English tour, the former starts at 21:00 and the latter at 23:30.
 * You are in the desert and the nights are very cold, so take warm clothes with you, especially warm socks or multiple layers of socks. If you are still cold, they can provide you with warm jackets.
 * Opinions on the tour vary. And many people would agree that you could just take a blanket, lie in the desert and find out the zodiac signs by yourself.

Mountain climbing
The environs of San Pedro de Atacama sport a large variety of mountains to climb, catering to many levels of difficulty. Many can be done self-catered, others require the experience of professional guides. Should you attempt any mountain climb, in any case, you ought to be well aware of the potential risks. There's a few specialized agencies that offer this kind of service; be sure that they provide all necessaries, not only asking the clerk, but also the driver and guide! An oxygen tank and climbing rods are the least you should expect.

The easiest mountains to climb are and. They're fairly popular, and take no longer than a day to complete. Higher in difficulty are, and. All these have proper trails, which can be followed, visible on OpenStreetMap—see above.

The beautiful, which towers over the town, is a real challenge; although only 5916 m high, it takes at least three days to complete, not counting an exacting preparation period. Another choice is the Kimal mountain (4276 m); even when its altitude is not that impressive, it's surrounded in myth and legend. According to local folklore, the "princess Kimal" is extremely jealous, and enjoys snatching adventurers away. There's even a supposed season for climbing her, when she's more pleasant; of course, no agency will tell ever you this beforehand. Take the chance at your own risk.

Other destinations
There's still much more to be found in the San Pedro area. From the secluded national reservation at Aguas de Quelana, to the ghastly surface of the Salar de Ascotán, to the most advanced radio-telescopes in the world at ALMA, there's enough sights for half a lifetime. If you are a returning visitor, or someone who loves to see what almost no one else has seen, and you get offered a visit to somesuch place, then take it! Albeit being a tourist attraction for thirty years, San Pedro de Atacama is still full of mystery and wonder.

Tours, prices, times and schedule
In the following a summary of what mostly all of the booking offices in San Pedro offer. The price range is the price that can easily be haggled and the price that is officially advertised. Most booking offices will give you a price somewhere at the upper end, but the lower end is actually the maximum you should intend to pay or even less.

Do

 * Exploring San Pedro by bicycle can be an authentic and less stressful way to travelling. Valle de la Luna (in off season you can visit the for free and there are, at only one the ticket needs to be shown, use OpenStreetMap), Valle de Marte (cycling right at the Cordillera de la Sal sign before entrance is free), Pukará de Quitor, Aldea de Tulor, and even Laguna Cejar can also explored on a bicycle instead with a tour. Other destinations, such as Piedra de la Coca, Catarpe, Garganta del Diablo, and Quebrada de Tambores can even be accessed only on a bicycle (or rented car), as they're not part of the regular tours. If you're planning to go there, then, by all means have a proper map—see . If you do a full day tour, pick up the bicycle the night before, leave early before it gets hot and return it in the afternoon. Bring lots of water. Biking on the dirt roads here is safe, cars drive slowly past you, and the scenery is stunning. Be prepared to bike hard and get out of the sun before late afternoon.
 * Hiking north of San Pedro and even into Valle the Marte (which is the closest sight from the town) or Pukará de Quitor can be a great alternative to discover the hills and views of the region. Just check out OpenStreetMap, which has many trails marked.
 * Canyon trekking near along the Cañón de Guatin is an impressive experience with great skies during the night for excellent star gazing. Heading north for about 5 km from Guatín, the canyon gets deeper and deeper. And just 45 min south along the canyon from the village, great places for camping can be found. If the trail is well, you can trek back to San Pedro along the river. Try hitch-hiking to Guatín, there is a lot of local transport going there.
 * There is a free walking tour in San Pedro itself on offer. It starts at 10:00 and 15:00 from the centre of town and takes 2 hr.
 * Horse riding in the area. There are plenty of agencies that offer this service; La Herradura is one of the best. While riding on horseback is not the fastest way to travel, it can be one of the most fun. One you shouldn't miss is the Moon Valley: The horse track around it will take you to places inaccessible to other kinds of tourism, and has enough thrill to send you home satisfied! If you've done the usual circuit, and are ready for some more, then take it in the morning. Watching the sunrise between salt-ridges is a unique experience.

Money
San Pedro is an expensive town. So, you will need cash. There are four places with ATMs in town: Banco Estado, in front of the museum, Banco BCI (Caracoles-Vilama streets intersection, close to the plaza), Atacama Connection (they have two offices; the one with the ATM is on the intersection of Caracoles and Calama streets), and a last one at the western end of Caracoles, which only accepts international Visas. As of Mar 2018, withdrawals of 280,000 pesos were possible at Banco Estado. However, on Sunday evenings money at BancoEstado and BCI can run out, even in off-season. So, make sure you head for the ATM early enough. If an ATM refuses to give you money due to supply shortage, you might try with a different amount. For instance, if you wanted 35,000 pesos, round it down to 30,000, or even 20,000 pesos, and withdraw money twice (or a higher amount, which actually makes more sense). However, considering the fee you pay with withdrawals such small amounts should generally be avoided.

Despite rumors to the contrary, exchange rates in town are decent. Try Toconao Road south of Caracoles Road. The dollar's very appreciated, and you can routinely get better rates there than in banks. Be mindful, though, that one-dollar and damaged bills won't be accepted. The euro rates are terrible, though, while other currencies' can be found somewhere in the middle. Again, they only accept larger euro bills, and only in mint condition. This is also the best place to get Bolivianos for your Uyuni tour. Ask several office, there rates sometimes vary.

Shopping

 * Due to the Major's policy in the village, you'll find virtually no indigenous arts and crafts. Whatever you see at the handicrafts markets, you'll find much cheaper in Peru or Bolivia, even Ecuador! The few really local pieces, namely those of cactus-wood, are actually a crime against nature. The wood comes from a severely endangered species of cactus, the Cardón (Echinopsis atacamensis), which has been subject to extreme predation by locals. While a novelty, and sure to bring curious glances from everyone, it's not worth it: In all likelihood, whatever piece you bring back home will be detained at your customs. Be a conscious tourist, and avoid that trap!
 * If you want something really local, visit the museum's store. Even if you don't actually want to visit the exhibit, or have already done so days ago, the people at the entrance will let you go in there freely. They carry plenty of books and woven pieces, plus a few curious souvenirs, that were actually made by the community. Some of the books they have are virtually impossible to acquire anywhere else!
 * Be careful with the peddlers of archaeological finds! There are a few of them. You can be assured that whatever they're selling is the real deal; you can also be assured that whatever you buy will get you in jail. Chilean law punishes the theft of archaeological pieces with hefty fines and a stay behind bars. Do yourself a favor, and avoid them. And, if you're still unconvinced, ask a few locals about the curses that befall those who desecrate burial sites.

Eat
Most restaurants have a set meal, called Menú. This is, almost always, the cheapest and best alternative, wherever you go. Only lower-end locales do not carry this.

Chain restaurants can be found on the main street, Caracoles, and are very popular.

Budget
The carritos, at the northernmost end of the handicraft market (away from the main square), are your cheapest option. These are decent, though a bit unsanitary.

Rules

 * Due to local regulations, no business selling alcohol may open beyond 23:30 on weekdays and Sundays or 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. This applies to both restaurants and liquor shops. So, if you're planning to drink the night away, be sure to stock up beforehand! There are a couple of illegal places to buy alcohol later at night, but the prices are outrageous.
 * While no discos or actual pubs can be found in San Pedro, the closest to the latter are Café Adobe, Café Export, and 6º Grado. Sometimes, illegal parties (called "clandestinos" or "fiestas clandestinas") are thrown in the houses of locals, empty lots, and even Valle de Marte. To find out if and where the action will take place, your best bet is to hang out at any of the aforementioned places. Usually, even the waiters can tell you whatever clandestinos will be open that night. They usually start at the time the restaurants close. Drinks in them are expensive, though! And of course, you're barred from bringing your own booze, as the parties are thrown for profit. If you decide to go, be prepared for hordes of drunk locals, frosty outside air, and unreliable conditions-power almost always comes from a gas-run generator, and drinks are brought beforehand by the organizing people; both are susceptible to running out, which normally kills the party. Also, the cops might rear their ugly heads, which can bring the event to a premature end.
 * There are also legal parties, thrown by the City Hall or other organizations, called informally "mambos". These are, however, mostly frequented by the indigenous people ("atacameños") and are to be avoided. The indigenous men are known for drinking in excess, and staging bar fights, which sometimes evolve into riots. Foreigners (and other Chileans) are much disliked by the atacameños; it's not uncommon for them to be assaulted by gangs of drunken Indians and given a sound beating. Of course, not all of them are this way, and it's perfectly possible to visit such parties without harm. If you're absolutely convinced that you must attend a mambo, then the following advice will save you lots of trouble: Get there early, don't bother with the drunken fistfights, stay away from the indigenous women, and leave early. If provoked into a fight, leave! There might be just a lousy drunkard in front of you, but as soon as a fight breaks out, all of his friends will come to the rescue.

Camping
There is a huge desert around, which is especially convenient if you go around by car or on foot. Just make sure you got really warm cloths and sleeping bag, temperatures can easily be around 0 °C.

Lodging
Be careful of giving your credit card details over the phone to "guarantee" a reservation.

The hostel situation in San Pedro is vibrant with new places popping up all the time. You are best off checking online reservation websites for best deal and price.

Connect

 * Internet access-at least 5 or 6 Internet cafés (called "cibercafé") can be found around downtown, and charge competitive rates for use. However, the town seems to be rather poorly linked to the national network, and past experience has shown that the connection speeds are often frustrating. One exception is Apacheta, located right by the Plaza de Armas. They have decent equipment, and offer a variety of services, such as transferring pictures to DVD, bike rental, and book exchange.
 * Telephone-there are a number of "locutorios", places sporting phone booths, that offer decent prices for calls home and abroad. Ask for the fare beforehand, in any case. Also, there are public pay-phones in the plaza and aduana (customs), but they're often out of order.
 * Mail-called "Correos de Chile", and not "Posta" (that's a medical facility), their office is located in Le Paige street, very close to the museum and the plaza. There's also a courier service, Chilexpress, that has an office in Caracoles street, to westernmost end of it. Don't expect any mail to be delivered swiftly, though, since San Pedro is quite isolated from the country's main communications line. Sending a letter or package to Santiago, for instance, takes at least three days.

Stay safe
You can rest assured that there's virtually no violent crime in San Pedro. However, the theft of bicycles and cars happens every once in a while, so take the normal precautions in that regard. Despite being poorly lit at night, the town is safe to walk around at all times-use your common sense if you see something suspicious. You might hear locals say that the only danger in town are stray dogs (leading even to the nickname "San Perro de Atacama"; perro means dog in Spanish), and this is true. San Pedro boasts a huge population of them; most are friendly and harmless, but a few will attempt to bite passing cyclists. Cases of rape aren't unheard of, but most of these happen at parties, with heavily intoxicated females as the victims. In any case, they're rare.

Altitude
First of all, always remember that the altitude of San Pedro de Atacama is above sea level. Some of the tourist attractions are well above. Therefore, if you have any kind of heart or lung problems, consult with your physician before booking a trip. If you get AMS (acute mountain sickness), expect no cure, except heading to lower ground. The symptoms are fairly easy to recognize: dizziness, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath. The best way to ameliorate the condition is to throw up first (seriously), then take an infusion of chachacoma, a local plant that also works quite well to ease headaches. The drink stinks, but actually has only a mild, bitter taste. A packet of chachacoma leaves costs one dollar, and can be found at the handicrafts market at the plaza. An alternative are coca leaves, but remember that you have to drink tea or chew on them at least four times a day, two days before going up! Also, the way to chew them is to put them inside your cheek, and letting them get wet with saliva, not actually biting them! This will release their juice all at once, which is terribly bitter.

Solar radiation
The sun in San Pedro can often emit dangerous levels of UV rays! Especially in summer, using sunblock, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and long sleeves is essential. In winter, the radiation levels are more tolerable, and you can actually sunbathe. In summer, however, don't attempt it at all! Especially if your skin's white. The bare minimum SPF for sunblock lotion is 45, 60 and upwards being much better. Always remember to reapply it after an hour or so.

Other health concerns
San Pedro only has a Posta, a small medical facility with an ER and some assorted doctors. There is a well equipped pharmacy in central San Pedro. If you become seriously ill, or suffer a major lesion, expect to be transferred to Calama, or even Antofagasta, at great expense! While there are no major hazards in the area (such as lethal diseases, poisonous animals, and so on), take twice the care you normally would when hiking, cycling, and doing any other activity outdoors. This applies even more to the geysers, where burn-related injuries aren't that uncommon; the place is virtually disconnected from the world, so be extremely cautious when visiting!

When to go
It seems that San Pedro is much less crowded during the weekdays. While the place is busy during the weekend, you will wonder what happened to all the people on Monday. However, this can give you great discounts on the tours.

Furthermore, to see flamingos there are good and bad seasons during the year, check the information on the Internet. In April for example you can barely see a dozen, while at other times, the lagunas are overloaded. On the Bolivian side this topic does not seem such a big issue.

Tours and companies
If you can identify with the statement under, please prefer the inexpensive alternatives mentioned in the and  sections of this article instead of the inauthentic and inflexible tours offered by the booking offices in town. Please read the following to understand the situation better:
 * Always, demand an English tour. Chilean guides can be quite cold and unbearable, especially if you want to take a picture that is not part of the schedule. So, it is best to have someone with at least a little understanding of your culture or a tourist's needs.
 * The booking offices in the centre constantly lie. The only truth they provide is the tour price and main destinations. The rest is gibberish and marketing techniques to get tours sold, as you can see by reading the following. It is also almost impossible to pick between a good and terrible tour, as you will also notice in the following.
 * Most booking offices claim they are a tour provider where actually they are just booking offices. It is easy to recognise that when you book a tour and then end up in a car that states a completely different company. This can be a way of finding an authentic tour company—ask whether the car and guides documents will state the same name as the one where you do the booking. Often at that point they will back down and tell you the truth, or they come up with something "we work together with this other company".
 * It is common practice that booking offices in the centre shuffle people among the numerous tour companies depending on their number of people and a company's capacities. Many will claim that they have their own tour company or even work together with geologists. But this can barely be verified and often if you dig deeper ("Will the tour van carry your logo?"), it will turn out that they lied to you. But this is just the way business works here.
 * Offered tours by tour companies are mostly the same; same tour times and same destinations. This is also why the just explained system works so well or basically the proof that the shuffling around of travellers is the truth.
 * Nevertheless, each tour company differs slightly in their schedule and order of sights. This is also why they will never give you an exact schedule, but say it depends on the weather conditions and guides decision—actually they just have not yet figured out the company you going to travel with. If you demand a fixed schedule with times—they cannot give it to you.
 * When you are on the tour, ask the other travellers. You will find out that people booked the tour with different booking offices—4 or so is common considering there are 150 booking offices in town.
 * Due to this system, most tours only differ by 10-20% in price and all have similar pick-up and drop-off times. Some booking offices want to make you believe that the extra 2,000 pesos compared to others booking office is due to better quality. But in light of the just mentioned system that can hardly be verified or true for that matter. It is very hard from the tour price to tell the quality. It might be a good tour, or the booking office just makes a bigger cut from you. Even with the cheapest booking office you can end up on a decent tour (speaking from experience). If you are really looking for a different tour, with more flexibility and authenticity, three things must fit: 1) prices will most likely be considerably higher, 2) itinerary will be different and more flexible, and 3) tour times are off the regular ones constantly advertised by booking offices. But it is unknown whether such tours exist.
 * The reason why times are so tight (half-day tours) is because this way you are able to book another tour the same day and thus spend more money, leaving a bigger cut for the booking offices. However, the results are obvious, (often) stress along the way by the tour guide and no time for extra picturesque stops or even the common sights.
 * Actually, the quality of these tours often depends on the guide. However, companies have several guides, and guides often work for different companies. Also, tours depend on the dynamic of the group, some people are very forgiving when the guide puts time pressure, and other people take their time and often overspend sights, leaving more time for everyone. Hence, another two reasons why it is nearly impossible to pick the right tour beforehand.
 * Online ratings, advise from other travellers or even the complaint book provided by the tourist information in town are pointless because they rate the unknown tour company and not the booking office people booked with. Also people do generally not distinguish between the booking office and the tour company, because they think it is the same. So, even if you find a great rating, you can never be sure whether your consequently chosen tour will be good. And as explained before, expectations of people vary widely and so does the final judgement of the tour.
 * The truth: Booking the right tour is a hit and miss game. Accept it or leave it.

Go next

 * Calama – As of April 2022, the timetable according to the sign at the bus terminal (incl. bus company) was the following:
 * {| class="wikitable"

!Monday to Friday !Saturday !Sunday
 * 07:10 (Araksaya)
 * 07:30 (Frontera)
 * 07:30 (Araksaya, Frontera)
 * 07:30 (Araksaya, Frontera)
 * 07:50 (Atacama)
 * 07:50 (Atacama)
 * 07:50 (Atacama)
 * 08:10 (Araksaya)
 * 08:30 (Araksaya)
 * 08:30 (Araksaya)
 * 08:30 (Amanecer)
 * 09:00 (Amanecer)
 * 09:30 (Atacama)
 * 09:30 (Atacama)
 * 10:00 (Frontera, Atacama)
 * 10:00 (Frontera)
 * 11:20 (Frontera)
 * 11:20 (Frontera)
 * 11:20 (Frontera)
 * 12:00 (Atacama)
 * 12:00 (Atacama)
 * 12:30 (Frontera)
 * 12:30 (Frontera)
 * 12:30 (Frontera)
 * 13:30 (?)
 * 13:30 (?)
 * 14:00 (Pullman [Antofa])
 * 14:00 (Pullman)
 * 14:00 (Pullman)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 16:30 (Frontera)
 * 16:30 (Frontera)
 * 16:00 (Frontera)
 * 16:30 (Araksaya)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 19:30 (Frontera)
 * }
 * 14:00 (Pullman [Antofa])
 * 14:00 (Pullman)
 * 14:00 (Pullman)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 14:30 (Amanecer)
 * 16:30 (Frontera)
 * 16:30 (Frontera)
 * 16:00 (Frontera)
 * 16:30 (Araksaya)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 19:30 (Frontera)
 * }
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 17:40 (Atacama)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 18:00 (Frontera)
 * 19:30 (Frontera)
 * }
 * 19:30 (Frontera)
 * }
 * 19:30 (Frontera)
 * }

 * Toconao – As of April 2022, the timetable was the following:
 * {| class="wikitable"

!Monday to Saturday !Sunday
 * 11:30 (Araksaya)
 * 12:40 (Amanecer)
 * 14:40 (Atacama)
 * 18:00 (Amanecer)
 * 18:00 (Amanecer)
 * 18:30 (Araksaya)
 * 19:00 (Araksaya)
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * }
 * 18:00 (Amanecer)
 * 18:00 (Amanecer)
 * 18:30 (Araksaya)
 * 19:00 (Araksaya)
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * }
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * }
 * 19:20 (Atacama)
 * }

 * Argentina – The most common way of traveling are three bus lines: Geminis, Andesmar, and Pullman Bus. The prices float around 30,000 pesos, and all of them leave from San Pedro three times per week. Other choices can be found in Calama, but it might defeat the point a little, since you'll go through San Pedro again, in any case.

 * Uyuni, Bolivia – Going this way can be done only from Calama; the fares are cheap, though, sometimes as low as 8,000 pesos.

Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)
Mostly all booking offices in San Pedro offer the 3 days, 2 nights tours to Uyuni. It does not really matter who you book with, as they mostly join forces (at least in low season) and fill up their Land Cruisers with people from other agencies—see to understand how the system works. You will mostly go with 6 people in the car, even if they say 4-6, because only one car will be with less than 6 people, the one company/car that is filled last with people. The prices (see above) are some 30-40% higher here than in Uyuni, even though the itinerary is identical, only reversed. The advantage though is there there are usually only a few Land Cruisers at each site since you see things at different times of the day to the tours originating in Uyuni, where there can easily be a hundred tourists at each stop. There's also the possibility to return to San Pedro a day later, included or for a surcharge of US$20—bargain hard!

There are two routes on offer, one includes Árbol de Piedra and one Villa Mar. Shop around in San Pedro and you will see the differences in the itinerary. Travellers prefer the western route. It is essential to get a written itinerary from the booking office (mostly they will have a printed leaflet anyhow), specifying all the sights in the order they are to be visited, and also accommodation (whether shared or not) and meals. Mostly, tour companies provide drinks during the meals and some even say, water is available all the time, but the situation is sketchy. Ignore them when they tell you it is easy to buy drinks on the journey, it is not, and you are better off bringing some water either way from San Pedro (at least 2 l per person per day). Also, bring some toilet paper, it is not worth the discussion. All tours will stay in the Ho(s)tel de Sal on the second night, which are actually several different ones that all share the same name. Your booking office might try to sell you a private room for the second night for US$100-150 extra, but actually often the second night will be in private rooms anyhow. So, do not fall for this trick. The first night is a shared accommodation either way.

Accommodations are quite basic, with frequent lack of (hot) water and electricity. Bolivia gets very cold at night, so bring warm cloths or even your own sleeping bag. Meals are filling but vegetarians may find themselves a little lacking in protein. Also, bring bottle(s) of wine, your luggage is carried anyhow and you will certainly have a nice group dynamic. Evenings are quite early, even though so are the mornings, but it is just nice to lay back and remember the day.

Some costs may not be included: Bolivian immigration, entry fees for national parks and museums. E.g. right after entering Bolivia there is a Bs. 150 fee for the national park, then the thermal pools are Bs. 6. WiFi and warm shower fees at the first night are Bs. 15 each. A hot shower on the second night is for free. Otherwise toilet fees generally range from Bs. 2-5. The booking office generally recommends to bring Bs. 250, which can be exchanged in one of the exchange offices in San Pedro. Mostly this will be far more than you need, but the intention is also to leave some tip for the driver, even though he is well paid. However, Bs. 200 seems a more reasonable estimate, if you do not need WiFi or the hot shower at the first night.

The first night is spent at Laguna Colorada, at 4370 m, so it is advisable to spend several nights in San Pedro, to acclimatize before taking the trip. Even then, AMS is a considerable risk-take the usual precautions, and if you have any reason to be particularly worried about altitude consider taking the tour from Bolivia instead, where you will have far more opportunities to acclimatize to high altitude beforehand.

As of April 2018, Luna Dorada (just south east of the plaza in San Pedro) and its Bolivian sister company, Jhoeva Tours (jhoevatours@hotmail.com), seem to be a reliable pick. But only go with them if they are inexpensive and you will actually end up in a Jhoeva vehicle.

title: San Pedro de Atacama


text:
San Pedro de Macoris

San Pedro de Macoris is a city in the province of the same name in the Dominican Republic. It is on the southern coast, 75km east of Santo Domingo and 45km east of the International Airport of "Las Americas" (SDQ), and has 140,000 inhabitants.

San Pedro is a sugarcane, baseball, university and tourist city.

Sugarcane is the main industry in San Pedro, which is surrounded by sugarcane fields.

The University UCE (University - Central of the East) has an international reputation for excellent medical knowledge and training. Many students from all over the world, mostly from the USA, are in San Pedro - to become a doctor.

Further, San Pedro seems to have very good presuppositions to create world class baseball players - for example Jorge Bell and Samy Sosa.

In San Pedro you will find a very alive and colorful small town, with colonial buildings and a very authentic Caribbean flair.

Drive along the "Malecon" - the Ocean Promenade and the Central Park, through some small streets where the market is located and get a complete impression of the Dominican way of live.

Get in

 * Santo Domingo International Airport + Taxi / Bus

If you stay in the hotels in Juan Dolio / Villas del Mar, you have to take a Taxi to get to San Pedro, which is in 15km distance. Enjoy a ride through the beautiful, real Dominican, city.

Get around
Once in town, you may take
 * Motoconcho (Motorcycle Taxi)
 * Guagua (Public Taxi)
 * Taxi
 * or just walk, it's a small town

See

 * Church of San Pedro
 * Market
 * Juan Dolio and Villas del Mar Beach Areas

Do
You have to go to the center of town, that's where the Central Park is located and get some "Pastelones (de Platano) en hojas" - they are supposed to be the best, banana snacks made in plantain leaves, in the entire world.

Just outside the town, on the road that goes to La Romana, you will find on your left side, about 1 km. from the road, Colegio Moriah. Situated in the barrio Las Colinas. This is a new built primary school, mainly for the poorest children that live in the bateys of the sugar cane workers. This project started around 2001 and has now around 400 children getting education. With help from American, Dutch and German friends, this is a still growing and expanding complex. There is a guest house and a possibility to stay and help. Ask for Tanis or Esther, who are the founders of the school and Baptist church on the terrain.

Buy
There are numerous small and large stores, US style Supermarkets. You may want to check on textiles.

Eat
Taquitos is a great place to go for street food.

Drink
To go out at night, you'll probably choose the Malecon area, which is the Ocean Boulevard - there are plenty of clubs and night-life.

Sleep
There are small motels in town

 * Howard Johnson´s San Pedro de Macoris Hotel

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

title: San Pedro de Macoris


text:
San Pedro de Quemes

San Pedro de Quemes is a village in Potosí Department, Bolivia.

Understand
San Pedro de Quemes is one of the points of refuelling & resupply around Salar de Uyuni.

You can get Internet access in the municipal centre that is on the east side of the main square. You can find limited groceries - no fresh fruit or vegetables to speak of, but plenty of cookies, pasta, tuna, sauces, long life juices and eggs.

There is a bakery that prepares bread every day but you need to order your bread in advance. This lies close to the southern edge of town, ask around or check out OpenStreetMap for its exact location.

Get in
The roads that lead to/from San Pedro de Quemes are mapped in OpenStreetMap. They include an approach from the south that links to the "International Road", a road leading to San Juan and a smaller road leading to Salar de Uyuni.

Get around
San Pedro de Quemes is small enough to walk around on foot.

See

 * Pueblo Quemado, the ruined village on the top of the hill.
 * The local museum

Eat
Meals can be prepared for you if you ask in advance. Do not expect a turn-up-and-eat restaurant, because you will find none.

Sleep
There are at least two hotels:
 * The expensive one (US$100 per night) on the top of the hill.
 * The inexpensive one (Bs. 50 per night) lies on the southern edge of the town, right next to the football field.

Go next
You will probably need to arrange your own transportation. Guided tours with 4x4 vehicles use San Pedro de Quemes as an overnight stop, so ask them if they have room for you.

title: San Pedro de Quemes


text:
Monterrey/Western suburbs

The Western suburbs of Monterrey consist of two municipalities - San Pedro Garza Garcia and Santa Catarina.

San Pedro Garza Garcia (often referred to locally as simply "San Pedro") is the wealthiest part of Monterrey, consisting of elegant neighborhoods, glitzy upscale shopping centers, towering high rise buildings and myriad restaurants and international hotels. This is a very modern area with most development occurring since 1997. Development continues to occur as new commercial centers and mixed use centers are in the western part of San Pedro (Valle Poniente).

Santa Catarina is a low-key, sprawling, working-class neighborhood that is a gateway to La Huasteca and the Cumbres National Park --- magnets for outdoor enthusiasts. Santa Catarina is home to many foreign-owned maquilladoras and industrial plants. Shopping centers and businesses line the main roadways, such as the Carreterra Monterrey-Saltillo. New mixed use development is happening in the eastern part of Santa Catarina, near the boundary with San Pedro.

Get in
See the main article for a more detailed discussion of urban transportation in the Monterrey area.

By plane
Monterrey International Airport is a 40- to 50-minute taxi ride in the northern municipality of Apodaca.

By bus
Monterrey's Central Bus Station (Central de Autobuses) is about a 30-minute ride, in downtown Monterrey.

Long distance buses to Saltillo and San Luis Potosi usually travel through Santa Catarina on MEX 40 (Carretera Monterrey-Saltillo). Several of the long-distance bus lines operate small stations along this highway where buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. If you plan to stay in Santa Catarina or San Pedro, you can use these stations to avoid having to go all the way into el Centro to the main bus station.

Get around
There is no metro in this area, but plenty of taxis and buses. Ride-hailing apps like Uber work well here. See the main article for details.

See
There are no tourist sites in San Pedro or Santa Catarina. Most tourist sites are in Centro.

Do
Monterrey is surrounded by mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental range. A huge swath of mountainous terrain constitutes the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, which extends many miles south. In the Western suburbs, the most popular areas of the park are Chipinque (accessed via San Pedro) and La Huasteca (accessed via Santa Catarina). This is rugged backcountry, rich in opportunies for rock climbing, canyoneering, backpacking, caving, mountain biking, and hiking. Exploring the parks can be an absolute adrenaline rush, but be careful because much of this terrain is not suitable for newbies. Best to go with an experienced guide who will provide suitable equipment and instruction. Gaia Extreme is an established company with an excellent local reputation: they can provide guides and equipment for most of the local area.

Buy
If you like conspicuous consumption, then you'll find more than your fill of name-brand shopping opportunities in San Pedro Garza Garcia. Myriad glitzy shops and large, modern department stores fill the malls. Designer brands can be found everywhere. What's lacking are any shops of genuine local color. Most of what you find are the same kind of "upscale" shopping that you'd find in any major city in the world: same stores, same brands. Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Palacio de Hierro, Versace, Fendi... yawn!

Every few weeks a new mall seems to pop up in San Pedro. Here are a few to start getting your credit cards overdrawn...

Drink
The Centrito area is centered around the intersection of Av. Rio Mississippi and Av. Rio Orinoco, it is a popular and safe option for partying and clubbing. A trendy hot spot for the younger crowd.

San Pedro Garza Garcia
Most hotels in San Pedro are new and upscale. Decent cheap lodging is rare and is better found in el Centro (with hostels in Barrio Antiguo). The Ibis is the most reliably inexpensive option in San Pedro.

Connect
The area is very well connected with broadband internet in all major hotels and restaurant (though some will charge for WiFi). Cell service is excellent with 5G service everywhere in this part of town. See the main article for Monterrey.

Go next
A few miles northwest of Santa Catarina, on Nuevo Leon highway 65, is the municipality of Garcia. There are several attractions in Garcia that make it a popular day trip or weekend destination, particularly for families.

 * , near the Garcia caves in the municipality of Garcia is a drive-through safari wildlife park. You can ride through in your own car, or a truck-like tram will take you through. Camel rides, zip lines, galapagos turtles, monkeys, giraffes, an aviary and lots more. Prices start at M$110 for a kids admission to M$180 for adults, plus safari rides.
 * ,, on the road to Garcia caves is this popular family recreation area. Quiet and peaceful. Cabins are available for overnight stays. Swimming pools with water slides, an ecological zoo with lions, tigers, monkeys, zebras, and even some lemurs (who like to move it, move it). Picnic areas with grills. Severe water shortages in Nuevo Leon during 2022 forced the pools to shut down. They will likely re-open when the water situation improves.
 * ,, on the road to Garcia caves is this popular family recreation area. Quiet and peaceful. Cabins are available for overnight stays. Swimming pools with water slides, an ecological zoo with lions, tigers, monkeys, zebras, and even some lemurs (who like to move it, move it). Picnic areas with grills. Severe water shortages in Nuevo Leon during 2022 forced the pools to shut down. They will likely re-open when the water situation improves.

title: Monterrey/Western suburbs


text:
San Pedro la Laguna

San Pedro La Laguna is in Guatemala. It is a fairly laid-back small town across Lake Atitlán from Panajachel. A major mochilero (backpacker) hub. Great food, small and walkable, and safe. Expect anything touristy to be priced touristically. San Pedro is best avoided the last week or so of June and the first week or so of July when simulated artillery shells are set off day and night, and amplified noise never stops.

Get in
If arriving by bus, you will be dropped off in the center of town, next to the market. Most hotels are near the lake so you'll need to make your way downhill to find the hotels. When arriving in San Pedro by boat, you'll be greeted by people offering you hotels, kayaks, horseback rides, taxis and drugs. This can be a bit intimidating and overwhelming. If you get them to lead you to a hotel, the hotel owner pays them a commission (normally Q5 per person) based on the number of people who arrive and stay. Some hotels don't pay them a commission so the they will try to get you to go to a hotel that does. The price of the hotel room sometimes becomes more expensive if you let the tout follow you, because the owner has to pay him for supposedly bringing you to the hotel. However, if you already know the location of your hotel it is best to tell the guide that you do not need his help, or inform the hotel owners that the guide merely followed you. The guides may also ask for a large tip.

If you want to avoid the touts by the Panajachel dock, you can also ask a fellow tourist or in one of the stores or restaurants nearby, most of them will be happy to tell you how to get to your hotel. The TukTuk (taxi) drivers will try to get you to go to the Hotel San Francisco, which is the furthest away from the main dock. There is no need to take a taxi to your hotel. All hotels take 1-10 minutes to walk to from the main dock. If you take the first left after getting off the dock, there are a lot of hotels along that road. After walking a couple of minutes, just past a tienda, there is a small alley on your right with a lot of signs for restaurants, bars and hotels (you'll notice signs for ZooLa and Al Suave). This is the way to the "main trail", where most tourists are; it widens after the first stretch, follow the paving. At Al Suave, make a left for Jarachik, Buddha and El Barrio bars, hot tubs, and other attractions.

The official San Pedro tourist guides' association (ASOANTUR) is next to the Panajachel dock and can provide you with anything, from basic directions to complete full coffee tour around the volcano.

By bus

 * From Antigua: There are two shuttle-bus companies that go directly to San Pedro from Antigua. One charges Q60 and the other Q70.  The shuttle bus company, La Ceiba, only charges Q50. They may be contacted via telephone at 5974-8753. They take about 3 hours, including a 15-minute rest break at either a petrol station for food, drink, and to use the restroom. This is the most convenient way to get to San Pedro, there is no need to take a boat from Panajachel.  There are excellent views of Lake Atitlan from the mountain road approaching San Pedro. Tickets are available at the travel agency across the street from the Black Cat Hostel in Antigua, and perhaps from other agencies -- ask.  To go by chicken bus, first go to Chimaltenango, then look for buses towards Xela/Quetzaltenango.  Get off at the turnoff to San Pedro, Kilometro 148, where there are minibuses and chicken buses that go the rest of the way. The three bus companies listed below also pass through Chimaltenango. Taking one of those and going directly to San Pedro is the way to go. Crossing the road at highway marker 148 is not recommended.
 * From Guatemala City: Direct buses from the center of Guatemala City are provided by three San Pedro companies: Transportes Mendez, Veloz San Pedrana and Transportes Wendy. Buses leave at 11:00 (Wendy), 11:30 (Mendez), 12:00 (Pedrana), 12:30 (Pedrana), 14:00 (Mendez) and 16:00 (Mendez) and pass along 20a Calle between 4a and 5a Avenida, Zona 1. The 4-hour journey to San Pedro costs Q25. Or in the bus terminal, Trebol, direct buses leave every hour from 06:00 or 07:00 to 17:00 or 19:00.
 * From Quetzaltenango: Direct buses from the terminal de Buses in zone 3, departure every hour or soo, provided by at least two companies: Veloz Pedrana and transportes Mendez, the 2½-hour journey to San Pedro costs Q30 for locals but for foreigners can be Q50 (Jan 2023).

By boat

 * By boat or "lancha" from Panajachel: Q10-20 for locals, Q25-30 for visitors. It is best to bring change with you.

See
To enjoy the great views around the lake, use the village guides as the foliage can be dense and the route can be tricky to find. Like anywhere you might travel, San Pedro has many roads that cut into hidden areas and so on, which could be dangerous so it is best to hire a guide as you hike. There are many of them in San Pedro, and they work for more than reasonable rates. They are friendly, and will gladly find you a horse to ride also. There is much to see from kayak also, and there are available rentals at Q20/hour (by 2023) if you choose to travel by water alongside the coastline.

Do

 * Hikes. There are a number of popular hikes departing from San Pedro, including the hike up the nearby Volcano San Pedro. Visitors will be informed at the base of the trail for the Volcano that they must pay the fee for a guide, regardless of whether they want one or not; this, however, is false. It is a very small town, so you will see people making money in this way, as there is limited opportunity here.

Another popular location for hiking is Indian Nose, or Mayan Face (Nariz de Indio o Cara Maya). For both locations a guide is recommended, if for nothing else, personal safety.

Trek for Kids is a local hiking company that pays their guides fair wages and uses their proceeds to help local children pay for their schooling.

San Pedro La Laguna become a language school center around the Atitlán Lake as the beautiful location drawing more and more students each year. Quality of instruction is varied so you might want to shop around. The people of this area speak Tz'utujil as their primary language. They learn Spanish in school which gives them the advantage of knowing the process of learning the language. They also have a noticeably technical way of speaking that is easy to learn as it is simple to understand. Some to check are Flor Del Maiz, Orbita, Cooperativa, Corazon Maya, Casa Rosario, and San Pedro Spanish School. Private lessons are also available. Jennifer, a qualified local teacher, has an office located just past Buddha Bar on the main trail, and comes highly recommended. "Clases Privadas 'Fe'" offers teachers with significant experience, materials, and activities all included in a very reasonable price. They can be very flexible with scheduling during the off-season, and will tailor lessons to your interests & needs.
 * Yoga. A locally run yoga space. Classes are run M-Sa. Usually at 09:00-10:30 and 16:00-17:30. Lovely setting to practice yoga under the skies and on the earth. Price Q40
 * Spanish-Language School

-The Alegre Pub (located at the main intersection by the Pana dock) shows movies nightly at 19:30 on the rooftop terrace
 * Kayak rentals available on the far east side of town, on the lakeshore. A pleasant way to explore the lake. Q15/hour. If you go down to the lake and try to rent one, they will usually try to charge you twice as much as it would cost if you bought from an agency.
 * Paragliding At least two instructors operate around the lake, one from Panajachel and one from San Marcos. Ask at the tourist office near the Pana dock or in any tourist agency. The price is around US$90 for 10-40 minutes of flight (depending on the weather : the warmer the better).
 * Climb the volcano San Pedro Guide is "required" but unnecessary. Price Q100
 * Free Movies (various locations)

Eat

 * Humums-ya : the best hummus and falafel in town, they also have other Mediterranean food. Cool staff and friendly vibe. Just a few meters away from the main crossroads near the Pana dock, across from the Gym.
 * Nick's Place: it's by the Panajachel dock. Probably the most popular place in town due to its great location. Meals are reasonably priced.
 * Jarachik: Jarachik is a hostel and a restaurant. Good food here. Every night (weather permitting) there is a bonfire in the garden and restaurant area. Great food. Jarachik is on the path between the Pana and the Santiago docks.
 * Loles San Pedro is open for breakfast and lunch only, They have great-tasting food for Q15 - 20 a plate. A few meters away from the main crossroads near the Pana dock, under the gym.
 * Loles San Pedro is open for breakfast and lunch only, They have great-tasting food for Q15 - 20 a plate. A few meters away from the main crossroads near the Pana dock, under the gym.
 * Loles San Pedro is open for breakfast and lunch only, They have great-tasting food for Q15 - 20 a plate. A few meters away from the main crossroads near the Pana dock, under the gym.
 * Loles San Pedro is open for breakfast and lunch only, They have great-tasting food for Q15 - 20 a plate. A few meters away from the main crossroads near the Pana dock, under the gym.

Sleep
Basic accommodation is easily found when you arrive as you will likely be approached at the dock. Average pricing is Q50. Some specific places include:

Free WiFi

 * Mikaso hotel is quite expensive, considering it's way off the beaten path closer to the Santiago dock than most of the other places listed, but the coffee is only Q5 a cup and you can use the wifi free on their terrazza overlooking the lake.
 * The restaurant Jarachik also has free WiFi for those who buy something to eat. They have a very friendly staff, and great food.
 * For coffee lovers try Cafe Cristalinas. They have free WiFi, and an internet cafe for those who do not have computers. The menu is limited, but the coffee is roasted on site. Ask the staff about when they roast their coffee and an explanation of the process.
 * Cafe Atitlan offers wi-fi internet to customers.
 * Pinocchio (hotel/hostel) offers wi-fi internet to guests.
 * Orbita Spanish School has free wifi.

Pricing
The prices in most of food stores, everyday consumables, have fixed prices. Fixed prices may also be found in the public buses (chicken buses). However, stores and street vendors selling art or craftwork expect people to engage in bargaining. Arriving at an agreeable price is simply part of the process, and you congratulate yourself on your bargaining abilities. The same holds true in the market place in San Pedro, and indeed throughout Guatemala.

However, not all prices are subject to bargaining. For example, hotel rooms, and shuttle buses. All hotels and tour companies must register their services and their prices with INGUATE, the national tourism board, and must pay taxes based on those prices. The business owners are no different from other business owners around the world. They have loans to pay off, investments to recuperate, etc. Remember, "Act locally, but think globally."

Go next
The best way to get to Antigua is to take a minibus. Minibuses are available at 08:30 in front of the travel agency, Maya Tztujil. It is best to book your space at least one day in advance. At Maya Tzutujil it only costs Q50. There is also another one that leaves from in front of Casa Verde every day at 09:30. It costs Q70 and takes about 3 hours, including a 15 minute restroom break. With a group you might negotiate the price till Q50. It is best to buy your ticket the day before you leave, at Casa Verde, the green building near the main dock. (Tel: 58379092) There is a travel agency inside. They use newer Toyota minibuses.

This is cheaper and faster than paying Q25 to take a boat to Panajachel, and then Q70 to get from Panajachel to Antigua.

The cheapest way to get in/out are the buses leaving to Xela Monday till Saturday mornings at 04:30, 05, 05:30, 06:00, 07:00, 08:00 and 11:00 across the street from the Catholic church downtown (top of the hill) Q20-30, or to Guate (Guatemala City) other hours starting from 03:00. if travelling to Antigua let the bus attendant know where you are going and he will let you know where to change buses in Chimaltenango.

title: San Pedro la Laguna


text:
San Pedro Sula

San Pedro Sula is in northern Honduras. It is the second largest city in Honduras after the capital Tegucigalpa. The focus of industry in Honduras, it is mostly a modern city (unlike more picturesque Comayagua, Tegucigalpa, etc.) It is a good base for entering the country and visiting other parts, and offers modern amenities.

By plane

 * Aerolíneas Sosa (La Ceiba, Roatán)
 * Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City)
 * Air Europa (Madrid)
 * Avianca El Salvador (Grupo TACA) (Guatemala City, San Salvador)
 * American Airlines (Miami)
 * CM Airlines (Guatemala City, Roatán, Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU), Útila)
 * Copa (Panama City)
 * Delta (Atlanta)
 * Lanhsa operates to Islas Guanaja, Puerto Lempira, Roatán, Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU), Islas Utila via La Ceiba. Check schedules.
 * Spirit Airlines (from Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Miami, Orlando, New Orleans)
 * Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) Guatemala City
 * Tropic Air (Belize City)
 * United (Houston)
 * Volaris El Salvador (Guatemala City, Miami, San Salvador). Volaris El Salvador is a subsidiary of Volaris (Mexico) to offer direct flights from El Salvador (as a hub), as a El Salvadoran flag carrier, to the U.S., Central America and Mexico.
 * Volaris El Salvador (Guatemala City, Miami, San Salvador). Volaris El Salvador is a subsidiary of Volaris (Mexico) to offer direct flights from El Salvador (as a hub), as a El Salvadoran flag carrier, to the U.S., Central America and Mexico.

By bus
Bus service links it to other cities and towns in the country on 178, Bulevar del Sur. The below are some of the bus companies serving San Pedro Sula:
 * El Rey Express, Telephone: +504 2550 8355. Direct Buses to and from Tegucigalpa, hourly.
 * Catisa-Tupsa, Telephone: +504 2552 1042. Direct Buses to and from El Progreso, Tela, and La Ceiba, hourly.
 * Toritos and Copanecos, Telephone: +504 2553 4930. Direct Buses to and from Nueva Ocotepeque via Santa Rosa de Copan, 7 to 8 buses daily.
 * Citul, Telephone: +504 2553 0070. Buses to and from Puerto Cortes, hourly.
 * Tica Bus, Telephone: +504 2556-5149. Direct buses to and from Managua and El Salvador.

Get around
The center is fairly compact and can be gotten around by foot; cars, taxis, and buses run around the city and the surrounding area. The airport is about 8-16 km (5-10 miles) from the city center, yet taxis are plentiful at the airport.

See

 * People-watch at, the main square.
 * People-watch at, the main square.

Do
Throughout San Pedro Sula and neighboring cities, you can find amazing markets. You can buy artisanal items like leather work, textiles, silver and jewelry. Bargaining and shopping are a cultural experience all their own.

There are many day trips available at San Pedro Sula. You can hike through Cusuco National Park. Visit Taulabe caves and Pulapanzak Waterfalls. Have a boat ride and bird watching at Lake Yohoa. Swim at Punta Sal National Park exotic beaches. Walk through Copan's archaeological site and horse back ride in a coffee tour.

The Mall Multi Plaza, Mega Plaza and Metro Plaza all have cinema complexes. Closer to downtown you will find 2 or 3 cinemas. Movie releases are a few months behind the USA or Western Countries. Most movies are shown in English with Spanish subtitles. Ticket prices range from US$1.20 to $2.50 depending on the cinema and to extent the quality of their facilities. So if you enjoy the movies and like nice chairs and good sound try one of the more up market places. Movies are usually shown at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00. Tuesday is a popular day, with 2 tickets for the price of one, but be prepared to go early to get a seat, as sometimes tickets do sell out. All local papers have a daily cinema schedule.

Buy
There is an artisan market very close to the park that contains a vast array of touristy Honduran products. For more quality pieces, try Casa del Sol across the street.

Eat
For meat try La Estancia and El Portal de La Carne. You can eat Mexican food in Cebollines and Fogoncito and for authentic Italian food try Tre Fratelli, Bel Paese and Dai Santi. All popular American fast food chains are available in the city, however, try Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan fried chicken chain and Pollos el Hondureño, autentic Honduran fast food chain. The Skandia cafe at the Grand Hotel Sula is open 24 hours with a good selection. Most selections are good but the rotissery chicken is great. Skip the scrambled eggs or omelets.

For a wide selection, go to City Mall food court with lots of choices, including US fast food and Honduran versions. Another great option only found in San Pedro Sula is Power Chicken, the most popular location right in front of the City Mall. Here you can try familiar food with a Honduran twist. Very good and very cheap

 * Don Udos, on Boulevard Morazon a few blocks up from the Circunvalacion. A favorite amongst foreigners, it has a good variety of international dishes and a good variety of wine. Meal prices: US$8 to US$15
 * Arnie's Diner and Grill, on 7 st, 19 Ave SO in Barrio Rio de Pierdas. It has an international menu, friendly staff and good service and is one of the best value for money restaurants in San Pedro Sula. US$6-12.
 * The Gallery Grill, in Zona Viva offers a range of Honduran dishes, particularly meat.
 * Las Carnitas, Las Carnitas is located in Zona Viva and is a local favorite, for its open-air atmosphere, occasional live music and Honduran style beef and chicken dishes. Meal prices: US$5 to US$10
 * Pamplona, Pamplona is in Central Park and is a local icon. The place gets very busy during lunch times and breakfasts. It offers a range of national and international dishes at very good prices, such as chicken soup for only $1.50. The restaurant is AC and offers a nice place to escape with a cool drink and coffee from the downtown heat. Meal prices: US$1.50 to US$6

The Antojitos Mexicanos, has 2 popular locations, one downtown in Central Park the other on the Circunvalacion near Zona Viva. Antojitos is one of the cheapest places to eat in the city, with Mexican style tacos, enchiladas, tortas and so on. The Circunvalacion branch has its own groups of Mariachis who strum and blow their stuff in the evenings for the patrons, nice place to eat cheap, drink a beer or two and to soak up some local atmosphere. Meal prices: US$2 to US$5

San Pedro Sula is home to a lot of additional eating options, which have a wide range of prices from budget to upper class. Try some of the local fast food places such as Pollo Campero, Bicos, Power Chicken (great name), or 2 x 1 Pizza.

Drink
San Pedro Sula is home to a lot of bars. A fun night can be had in Zona Viva going from bar to bar. A local favorite and fun place to hang out is La Cava in Barrio Los Andes 2 and 3 Calle, 16 Ave NO. Great Karaoke nights and occasional live music on the weekends packs the people in. Jerry the owner mixes a range or cocktails. Watch out for the Barcardi 121 or ask if he has some Guaro for a fire packed drink. There is a good selection of music and the patrons are always happy to have a chat.

Karaoke Club in Zona Viva is a popular place with the locals and even if you are not a Karaoke fan it can be a good place to catch some quality music. The quality of the singers is at times surprising and at other times not so surprising. Big Daddies, Caribbean and Gators Sports Bar are also all popular spots in Zona Viva. Bars do come and go regularly in San Pedro Sula, so just look for a place with some people and some music.

TGI Fridays, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays and Fogancito's are all popular places to eat and drink on the weekends. All places are well located near the Circunvalcion.

For a bit more local color and atmosphere, consider visiting a local disco. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular. But most discos are open every night except Monday. Check the local papers for promotion nights such as ladies night, live music, beer promotions or open bar (cover charge, then all you care to drink).

The pick of the discos is Kawamas Bay, which is located on the Circunvalcion. The disco plays a lot of Latin music and has a friendly staff. It can get very busy on the weekends usually around 23:00. The disco stays open to 05:00-06:00 and it is a place to dance. You will find more people on the dance floor than at the bar or tables and chairs for most of the night. So put on your dancing shoes and be ready for some Salsa, Merengue and Punta. No need to worry, since you will still get a bit of house, rock and techno music. Cover charges vary from US$2.50 to $6, depending on the night.

Millenium Disco is in the Social Club Arabe at the end of Barrio Rio Pierdas the disco is the classiest place in town. Friday and Saturday nights are busy and cover charges vary from US$3.50 to $6.

The Sampedrano Cultural Center holds regularly events such as concerts, performances and art shows. +1 504 553-3911 or 553-3768 for event schedules.

For safety reasons, be sure to take a taxi when traveling even just a few blocks after dark. Walking around Zona Viva is OK but only within a block or two radius of the area. Otherwise just get a taxi, most fares cost US$2 to $3, but prices do go up the later the night gets.

Sleep

 * Gran Sula Hotel, on the Parque at 3 Primera Calle, accessible to all parts of the city, and good prices. Also, try the Oro Verde bar near the entrance.
 * Hotel Copantl, 10 minutes from the San Pedro Sula airport and close to the Circunvalcion, Multi Plaza Mall and Zona Viva. The hotel has 190 rooms, business center, conference rooms, 2 restaurants, cafeteria, swimming pool, tennis court, gym, Jacuzzi, a lobby and piano bar and a casino.
 * Metrotel Inn and Suites, +1 504 25590300 The hotel has 60 rooms, and offers cable TV, free breakfast, business center, swimming pool and children's area. The hotel also organizes day trips to the surrounding attractions of Tela, Lake Yojoa and Copan.
 * Hotel Terraza. Close to Central Park and popular with national visitors and travelers. The hotel offers a range of room types with varies prices. The hotel also has a restaurant, which serves up good value meals.
 * Metrotel Inn and Suites, +1 504 25590300 The hotel has 60 rooms, and offers cable TV, free breakfast, business center, swimming pool and children's area. The hotel also organizes day trips to the surrounding attractions of Tela, Lake Yojoa and Copan.
 * Hotel Terraza. Close to Central Park and popular with national visitors and travelers. The hotel offers a range of room types with varies prices. The hotel also has a restaurant, which serves up good value meals.
 * Hotel Terraza. Close to Central Park and popular with national visitors and travelers. The hotel offers a range of room types with varies prices. The hotel also has a restaurant, which serves up good value meals.

Stay safe
The area around San Pedro Sula has had a reputation of being dangerous for locals and tourists, and gang violence earned the city the dubious distinction of "murder capital of the world" until 2016, when the title was taken by Caracas.

The Parque Central should be avoided at night.

There are certain areas of the city, including neighborhoods in the outer parts of the city, which should be avoided even during the day, but these areas are off the tourists' trail.

Go next
San Pedro Sula is a good base for getting out to the beaches at Tela, Puerto Cortes and Omoa, the Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea, the amazing Maya ruins of Copán, or south towards Lake Yojoa, Comayagua, and Tegucigalpa.

Tela is only about an hour drive from San Pedro, which has nice Caribbean beaches. TelaMar is the place to stay.

Leaving from San Pedro Sula you can visit Cusuco National Park. The diversity of activities at this park is huge. Hiking, mountain biking, rappelling, camping, Bbrd watching, waterfall swimming, caving, night tours.

title: San Pedro Sula


text:
San Quirico d'Orcia

San Quirico d’Orcia, named after Saint Quiricus, is based in the Val d'Orcia natural park at the northern edge of Val d'Orcia area in southern Tuscany. Its surrounding walls result from its use as a military outpost in the 1550s; however its centre houses a medieval plan and includes the Romanesque Churches of Collegiata ad Santa Maria dell’Assunta, Palazzo Chigi, Church of San Francesco, and the Ospedale della Scala. The latter of these is a monument to the pilgrimage along via Francigena, the road on which the town is located but also more importantly the road which linked Rome with Canterbury.

Get in
Although bus run from the town of Buonconvento and the railway station in Chiusi, car is most appropriate.

See

 * The Leonini Gardens (Horti Leonini) on the ancient ramparts. The gardens date from 1581 and include the 1688 sculpture of Cosimo De Medici 111.

Go next
Nearby is the hamlet of Bagno Vignoni.

title: San Quirico d'Orcia


text:
San Rafael

Historically home to one of California's original Spanish missions, San Rafael is now a mid-sized Bay Area commuter town with beautiful hills, peaceful nature, interesting architecture, and a bustling downtown area centered around 4th Street. San Rafael is the cultural and political center of Marin County, and offers its own set of attractions as well as easy access to other parts of the county.

By car
San Rafael is on the 101 Freeway, north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. 101 crosses Highway 580 in San Rafael, making the city a major influx point for drivers from the East Bay.

By ferry
Ferries run from the ferry terminal in Union Square-Financial District, downtown San Francisco. With hourly departures, every 30 minutes during rush hours, ferries are a convenient way of reaching San Rafael. is about two kilometers from downtown, but is served by buses and the SMART train.

By bus
The is a hub for local buses, with service to other parts of Marin provided by Marin Transit and service to Sonoma County, San Francisco, and Richmond provided by Golden Gate Transit. The Marin and Oakland airporters (with service to San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport) and Greyhound buses also stop at the transit center.

By train
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART, has two stations in San Rafael, connecting it with Novato, Larkspur (with connections to the Golden Gate Ferry to San Francisco), and places in Sonoma County: Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County Airport. One railroad station is located downtown at the Transit Center, and the other is between the Civic Center and Northgate Mall.

By plane
The nearest major airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). To get to San Rafael from SFO, you can take the Marin Airporter, which departs SFO every half hour, early morning to late evening, and drops passengers at Anderson Drive and at the Transit Center. Fare is $23 to be paid in cash when you get off.

Groome Transportation, formerly the Airport Express or Oakland Airporter, goes to San Rafael from Oakland Airport, departing every two hours.

Get around
Downtown San Rafael is based on a grid network, with numbered streets running east-west and lettered streets running north-south. The downtown area is walkable, but to visit other places like the Civic Center or China Camp, you're better off driving or biking. Marin Transit's bus service, mentioned above, is also a feasible option for getting to different areas.

Taxis are available in San Rafael, and they can also take you to other towns in Marin. You won't usually be able to hail one off the street, but you can call one, and they also line up at the transit center. You can call a taxi from North Bay Cooperative Taxi at +1-415-258-2800.

See
Fourth Street, the main street in central San Rafael, is full of shops and restaurants and has a vibrant downtown feel.

Buy
This region of California is full of fertile farmland, so fresh produce is plentiful. There are several weekly farmers' markets which feature music, crafts, and activities for kids as well as a variety of local food.

The main street downtown is 4th Street, full of shops, boutiques, and restaurants with a lively feel.

Eat
Like most Bay Area towns, San Rafael has a number of pubs and taco joints as well as cafes and bars. Many restaurants are located on Fourth Street

Stay safe
San Rafael's crime rate is higher than most of Marin County, but it is still much safer than larger nearby cities like San Francisco or Oakland.

If you decide to venture into the Canal District, stay alert, even in the daytime, as parts of it are quite dangerous. However, it is home to some of the best Latin food in the Bay Area. Try not to wear too much red- or blue-colored clothing—you may be confused as a rival to another gang and approached. It is best not to walk around the Canal District at night. West of Kerner is more dangerous than East of Kerner, which has nice town homes along the water.

Parts of Downtown, Terra Linda, and near Woodland Avenue have some crime as well so just be aware of your surroundings and don't dress all in red or blue.

Go next

 * Nearby Fairfax
 * Mill Valley, gateway to the beautiful Muir Woods and Mount Tamalpais
 * Continue north on 101 towards Napa Valley and the wine country.
 * Point Reyes is to the west on the Pacific coastline.
 * San Francisco is just a 20-30 minute drive south on 101.
 * Head over the hill to Stinson Beach on the Pacific Coast.

title: San Rafael


text:
San Ramon

San Ramon is in the southwest part of Contra Costa County in the Bay Area of California.

Climate
San Ramon is one of several cities in the East Bay—in particular, a region of the East Bay sometimes called the "Interior Valleys". These Interior Valleys have a fairly high population density, get limited rainfall, and have a Mediterranean climate. However, they do get quite a lot of fog and mist at certain times of the year.

By plane

 * Oakland International Airport is the closest large airport, located in Oakland. It is about 14 miles away from the center of San Ramon.
 * San Francisco International Airport is in San Francisco and is 18 miles away from San Ramon.
 * San Jose Muni—Midpoint is in San Jose, California and is 29 miles away from San Ramon.

By car
There are multiple highways in the San Ramon area, including interstates 80, 580, 680, 880, 980, and California State Route 4. Minor highways include Route 13, 84, 92, 238, 242, and Interstate 238.

By public transportation
San Ramon is served by County Connection bus service, with connections to Dublin/Pleasanton and Walnut Creek BART stations.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has stops all over the Bay Area, including San Francisco International Airport and a connector to Oakland International Airport. The closest stations to San Ramon are West Dublin/Pleasanton and Dublin/Pleasanton, but neither of them are are within easy walking distance.

Go next
San Ramon is part of a larger metropolitan area that stretches up a wide valley. There are several cities in this valley.

 * Danville is to the north; it has a downtown area.
 * Dublin is to the south; it's mostly a residential community, without a downtown area.
 * Pleasanton is south of Dublin; it, like Danville, has a downtown area.

title: San Ramon