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Imperial Beach

Imperial Beach is a city in San Diego County in Southern California.

Talk
English is the dominant language spoken in Imperial Beach and you should have no trouble making it around only speaking this language. Spanish is spoken mostly by the Hispanic residents of the city. You're likely to hear some Spanish in this city, due mostly to its proximity to the United States-Mexico border.

Get in
State Route 75 connects I-5 with Coronado, and passes through the city of Imperial Beach.

SDMTS runs a bus between San Diego and Iris every 20 minutes, stopping at several places in Imperial Beach.

Do

 * Bayshore Bikeway. A 25-mile bikeway along the shore of the San Diego Bay that is a very popular and scenic route. The level of difficulty is low as there are no major hills on this route, and it is also one of the safest bike routes. The 2.5-hour ride takes cyclists along the bay past golf courses, lagoons, piers and numerous places to stop for a rest and a drink of water. The route also features a nine-mile stretch that follows the former Coronado Branch of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad.

title: Imperial Beach


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Imperial County

Imperial County is in the California Desert at the extreme southeast corner of the state. Locally this area is known as the Imperial Valley.

Cities

 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.
 * - Salton City was established in 1958 with infrastructure to support 40,000 residents, but as the Salton Sea evaporated and became more polluted the planned resort community never developed. Today, despite being home to several thousand residents, it is a modern day ghost town, with vacant lots, empty roads, and a large marina that barely contains any water.

Other destinations

 * - California's largest lake formed when an irrigation canal burst in 1905 and flooded the Salton Basin for more than a year. This unusual area is home to geothermal features, a wildlife refuge, the partially built resort community of Salton City, and the "profoundly strange" artwork of Salvation Mountain in the squatter town of Slab City.
 * - Slab City is a remote corner of the desert built on the foundations (slabs) of the former World War II US Marine Camp Dunlap. It is home to permanent and itinerant residents consisting of snow birds, artists, military veterans, anarchists, neo-libertarians and others living in motorhomes and camping trailers who have formed an informal off-grid community. Salvation Mountain, a brightly colored religious artwork that covers an entire hillside, is the most prominent of many artistic works that visitors will encounter while driving through the area.

Understand
The Imperial Valley was settled as a farming community in the early 1900s, and has remained a primary producer of winter vegetables and an area filled with cattle feedlots. Flooding from the Colorado River has wiped out the valley a number of times in the early part of the 20th century; now a series of canals controls the water flow. The flooding produced the Salton Sea, a large alkaline lake that nearly bisects the entire county.

The soil is fertile but highly alkaline. The watershed drains to the Salton Sea; the entire area was once underwater as the Gulf of California.

The area newspaper is the Imperial Valley Press.

Talk
A large portion of the population is Mexican immigrants, so while English is more common, many transactions take place entirely in Spanish.

By plane

 * Imperial County Airport is served by one airline with one destination: Mokulele Airlines from Los Angeles.
 * Yuma International Airport YUMIATA in neighboring Yuma, Arizona is served by American Eagle from Phoenix and Dallas.
 * The closest full-service airports in the United States are San Diego International SANIATA and Palm Springs International PSPIATA.
 * The closest full-service airport in neighboring Mexico is Mexicali MXLIATA.

By car

 * I-8 comes into El Centro from San Diego, Yuma, or Phoenix (via AZ SR-85)
 * One can come from the Coachella Valley cities (Palm Springs, Indio) via CA-86 or CA-111.
 * Coming in from Mexicali, Mexico, one enters Calexico on CA-111 or CA-7 (Calexico East Port of Entry).
 * You would come in from Blythe or Quartzsite, AZ via CA-78 (Ben Hulse Highway).

By bus

 * Greyhound has stops in El Centro and Calexico for buses from San Diego, Phoenix, Yuma, or Los Angeles.
 * Yuma YCAT's Turquoise 10 Route comes from Yuma Downtown and stops at the Imperial Valley Mall, El Centro Regional Medical Center, and the bus terminal at State St./7th.
 * Please note that taking trips within El Centro on this route is not permitted. Consider taking IVT instead.

Get around
More often than not, you will need to get to places by car due to the lack of accessible or frequent public transportation.

However, Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) offers service between El Centro and Calexico, Imperial, Brawley, Calipatria, Niland (near Slab City), Seeley (for NAF-El Centro), or Holtville. Service on Saturday is more limited than weekdays, but very limited service does operate on Sundays between Calexico, El Centro, and Brawley. Furthermore, it is possible to get to Bombay Beach via bus, but this service is only available once per way on Thursdays from Brawley.

Stay safe
Imperial County is essentially a safe area. But, it is still known to have gangs so always take precautions, such as not walking alone at night.

Imperial County also has very harsh summers. It's known to have temperatures over in the summer (mostly from June to September) and have high humidity from June to October so always bring water with you everywhere. Becoming dehydrated is very easy to achieve, so always drink water, even if you are not thirsty.

Call 911 for police, fire dept, or ambulance.

Go next

 * - San Diego County borders Imperial County to the west. The city of San Diego sprawls across the county's southwestern portion, with attractions that include the museums and famed zoo of lush Balboa Park, the upscale seaside community of La Jolla with its scenic coves and marine life, and the historic district of Old Town which is home to California's oldest Spanish mission. In contrast to its populous western side, the county's eastern half is a mountainous desert that attracts campers, hikers and OHV aficionados.  The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park dominates this side of the county; after wet winters America's second-largest state park attracts hordes of visitors in the spring to admire the acres of desert wildflowers that carpet the normally barren ground.
 * - Bordering Imperial County to the north, Riverside County's western portions include the far outskirts of Los Angeles, as well as more rural areas like Temecula, known for its wineries and hot air balloons. The majority of the county lies in the desert, with the most-visited portion being Palm Springs and its neighboring resort towns.  Further east the county is essentially uninhabited, and includes the remote, rocky desert of Joshua Tree National Park, and the empty landscapes west of the Colorado River.

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

title: Imperial County


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Imphal

Imphal (Meitei language: ꯏꯝꯐꯥꯜ, /eem-phaal/) is the capital city of the northeast Indian state of Manipur. It has a small population but it is a developed city that many travellers visit in transit. Imphal hosts the world's oldest Polo Ground (Imphal Polo Ground), the world's tallest topiary plant (Samban Lei Sekpil), the world's only women-run market (Ima Keithel) and the world's tallest polo player statue (Marjing Polo Statue).

In the heart of Imphal, Kangla, the ancient fortified capital of the different ruling dynasties of Ancient Kangleipak (predecessor of Manipur), is located, at whose eastern side the Imphal River flows, dividing the city into two districts as Imphal East district and Imphal West district.

Imphal was the site of a large battle during the attempted Japanese invasion of India in 1944. Despite its small population, Imphal is considered by some to be the most important city in eastern India.

Understand
With an average elevation of nearly 800 m, Imphal has a cooler and more pleasant climate than most places of India. It can drop below freezing in the winter. The summers are much wetter and more humid with the monsoon rains at their peak in June and July. October is an ideal time to visit as the rains turn the whole town a lush green.

Some tourists pass straight through but it's worth staying a day, if only to see Kangla fort, buy supplies and recover from long bus rides.

World War II
In 2013, the British National Army Museum voted the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima together to be "Britain's Greatest Battle" or "UK's Greatest Battle".

Talk
Meitei (officially known as Manipuri) is the official language and the principal native language of the vast majority of the population in the city. However, an English speaking visitor will not encounter much language problems. English is the second most widely studied and understood language after Meitei. At least some basic knowledge of English can be expected from almost most of the people in the tourism and public transport sectors. At the same time, learning a few Meitei language terms, like "hi", "hello", "thank you", will be helpful and appreciated.

Get in
Imphal city is one of the most important cities in India, and is to be the most important city in eastern side of India, as the "Imphal-Mandalay-Bangkok" Route of 1,813 km is being constructed to enable Indian trade (focusing on Imphal) with Myanmar (focusing on Mandalay), Thailand (focusing on Bangkok) and other ASEAN nations.

By plane

Imphal is connected to Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Aizwal, Dimapur and Guwahati by Air India, Indigo and AirAsia. Imphal International Airport (also known as "Bir Tikendrajit International Airport") is the second largest and the third busiest international airport in Northeastern India. Flights to Bangkok seem to all go via Kolkata.

Several airlines transport passengers to and from Imphal and other places. AirAsia India serves transportation to Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata. Air India serves transportation to Aizawl, Delhi, Dimapur, Guwahati and Kolkata. Alliance Air serves transportation to Dimapur and Guwahati. IndiGo serves transportation to Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Shillong.

By train
Imphal is not connected to India's railway network, however a new line is under construction and is expected to be completed in late 2023. The closest railway station for now is Jirbam, 80 km to the east. It's also possible to disembark at Dimapur, in Nagaland, and then continue by a 7-hour bus ride. Dimapur is a major station and sees much more traffic compared to Jirbam.

By bus
Imphal is well connected with Manipur's neighbouring states by road, on which there are many bus routes. There are daily bus services coming from and going to Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland and Guwahati in Assam.

From specific destinations:

 * Kohima – One government bus leaves the main bus terminal in the morning, seats often sell out. If you miss the bus it's possible to take a shared or private jeep to "Mao gate" at the state boundary (maybe ₹80) and catch a second bus from Mao gate at around 11AM. If you fail to catch the second bus as well you can get from Mao gate to Senapati where more options are available.

 * Mao – It appears also shared tuk-tuks can be taken from Mao gate to Imphal directly, but this would be very uncomfortable.

 * Moreh – State buses to Imphal depart the bus yard/terminal in Moreh at 7AM, at 1PM and at 1:30PM. These times were obtained from a timetable at the Imphal bus terminal. The 6:30AM to Moreh bus usually departs at 7PM.

Get around
Minivans take common routes around the city and to neighbouring villages, tuk tuks are common and should cost ₹10-20 for short trips (though they frequently ask ₹100).

See

 * INA Memorial at Moirang
 * Matai Garden- The garden is in Matai, Imphal east district about 5 km north on NH-39. The garden is also called Ibudhou Asheiningthou Garden, taking the name from Ibudhou Asheiningthou (local God of Matai). The garden is known for its myriad Duranta plant, well shaped and decorating the entire garden.
 * Sambal- Lei-Sekpil garden. The garden is in Sagolband, Kwakeithel, Imphal, toward the Tidim road. The place is world-famous for Sambal- Lei-Sekpil. Literally sambal means fence, lei means flower, and sekpil means topiary. The flower was featured in the Guinness Book of Records in 1999 (at the height of 50 ft, 35 steps). The garden is open to visitors.
 * Shree Govindajee Temple- This place was considered to be the highest place for any cultural activity during the times of the maharajas. Located at a place near the royal palace of past maharajas, it has two domes and a raised congregation hall.
 * Sambal- Lei-Sekpil garden. The garden is in Sagolband, Kwakeithel, Imphal, toward the Tidim road. The place is world-famous for Sambal- Lei-Sekpil. Literally sambal means fence, lei means flower, and sekpil means topiary. The flower was featured in the Guinness Book of Records in 1999 (at the height of 50 ft, 35 steps). The garden is open to visitors.
 * Shree Govindajee Temple- This place was considered to be the highest place for any cultural activity during the times of the maharajas. Located at a place near the royal palace of past maharajas, it has two domes and a raised congregation hall.

Buy

 * Imphal women market 4.JPGPaona market has a wide selection of local and imported items, it has a distinct South East Asian vibe and you can find vegetables, garments, and a few food stalls. A good place to buy anything made of bamboo.

Eat
Preparations of bamboo shoots are delicacies here, along with other common dishes of northeastern India. Try out the local variety of hot chilly (locally known as "Umorok").

There are many budget restaurants in Imphal, most of which are near the bus stop.
 * The People's Cafe, near the market on the road leading to Kangla Fort, south side of the overpass. Nice semi - western cafe, has instant coffee, reasonable food, good food and people-watching.
 * The People's Cafe, near the market on the road leading to Kangla Fort, south side of the overpass. Nice semi - western cafe, has instant coffee, reasonable food, good food and people-watching.
 * The People's Cafe, near the market on the road leading to Kangla Fort, south side of the overpass. Nice semi - western cafe, has instant coffee, reasonable food, good food and people-watching.

Drink
Alcohol is banned but you can still buy some of you ask hotel staff or in some small restaurants behind the polo ground in an alley. Don't hang out there at night. You pay double the list price.

 * Sekmai. A very strong traditional rice wine similar to Chinese baiju, often homemade. It has savoury charicteristics and the yeast is sometimes taken from local tree roots.
 * Sekmai. A very strong traditional rice wine similar to Chinese baiju, often homemade. It has savoury charicteristics and the yeast is sometimes taken from local tree roots.
 * Sekmai. A very strong traditional rice wine similar to Chinese baiju, often homemade. It has savoury charicteristics and the yeast is sometimes taken from local tree roots.

Sleep

 * The government youth hostel, north of Kangla next to the sports complex. clean and strictly run with more than 50 beds and a nice garden, limit of three days stay. Wi-Fi and secure parking available near the office. double rooms for ₹300, dorms for ₹150. Further out of town than others but less seedy.
 * Hotel Gaylord - ₹150 for a single room (with shared bathroom). One of the cheapest options in the central city area.
 * Hotel Yaisana - Single rooms with shared bathrooms start from ₹300
 * Hotel Prince, a block south of the polo grounds, ₹500 for a double.

Also close by on MG Avenue, you can find single rooms from ₹300-400 at the following places:

 * Hotel Avenue
 *  Hotel City Heart
 * White Palace

Stay safe
For over 30 years Manipur has been and is being affected by internal and international armed conflict. Imphal city is safe for travellers but it becomes dangerous to venture out on the outskirts and in the rural and mountainous areas surrounding the city; especially at night. Police may forcibly send you back to the centre of the city if you venture or try to hitchhike in these areas.

The presence of "underground groups" (A mix of activists, rebels, Mafia, drug traffickers and terrorists) is large here and though tourists are generally safe you should avoid involvement and walk away if anything strange is happening.

The risk of violence is higher on Indian national days such as Republic Day on 26 January, Independence Day on 15 August and during elections.

Manipur's traditionally matrilineal and almost matriarchal culture (where property and surnames were passed down through female heirs) means unlike much of India women and girls will not be gawked at by strangers and will have a similar level of freedom to that of Western countries.

Cope
There are several English newspapers available in Imphal.

 * Imphal Free Press, circulated daily
 * Imphal Times, a daily evening paper
 * The Sangai Express, daily e-paper with the largest circulation in Manipur

Go next

 * Lamphelpat — A suburban town
 * Moreh – State buses from the Manipur State Transport Bus Terminal to Moreh depart from their terminal in Imphal at 6:30AM, at 7AM and at 1PM.
 * Silchar

title: Imphal


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Inari

Inari (North Sami: Anár, Inari Sami: Aanaar, Skolt Sami: Aanar, Swedish: Enare) is a village in the municipality of the same name in Finnish Lapland, on the shore of Lake Inari. The village is an administrative and cultural centre of the Sami people in Finland (but not of the municipality itself). The lake, its surroundings and some other destinations in the municipality are also covered in this article.

Understand

Because Inari is 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, there is Midnight sun from late May to late July and Polar Night from the beginning of December to middle January. The last ice within the lake disappear at the end of May. Even in July, the average day temperature is only about 17°C. Inari municipality is the largest municipality in Finland by area covering 5 % of the country, stretching from the Norwegian border in the west to the Norwegian and Russian borders in the east. There are less than 7,000 inhabitants though. The municipality got road connection when the road to Petsamo – connection to the Arctic Sea – was accomplished in 1931.

Four languages are spoken in Inari: Finnish, Northern Sámi, Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami. Inari Sami is the language traditionally used in the surroundings of the lake. Northern Sami is the biggest Sami language, spread with large scale reindeer husbandry and acts as the lingua franca among the Sami people around the whole Nordic. The Skolt Sami people were evacuated from Petsamo (Russian: Pechenga) when Finland lost that area in the World War II, and the people were resettled into the Inari municipality.

Ivalo (40 km south) is the administrative centre of the municipality and the biggest village with some 4,000 inhabitants. Inari is the second (1,000 inhabitants) and houses the Sami parliament, the Sami cultural centre, Finland's National Sami Museum, and the a vocational school and a training centre giving education both in Finnish and in the three local Sami languages. SOGSAKK is also one of those few places where anyone can study Sami languages and Sami culture.

Other villages include Angeli, Kaamanen, Lisma, Nellim, Näätämö, Saariselkä, and Sevettijärvi. There are parts of two national parks (Lemmenjoki and UKK) and six wilderness areas (Muotkatunturit, Paistunturi, Kaldoaivi, Vätsäri, Tsarmitunturi, and Hammastunturi) in the municipality. Lake Inari is the third largest lake in size in Finland but there are 8,000 other lakes here as well.

Get in
The nearest airport is in Ivalo. By car, the easiest way to get here from southern Finland is by car/sleeper train to Rovaniemi. Inari lies along road E75, but it's over 15 hours by bus from Helsinki.

There is one border crossing from Norway in the municipality, in Näätämö, and one from Russia: Raja-Jooseppi, with junction on E75 in Ivalo. Neighbouring Utsjoki has three more from Norway. From Norway, crossing the border anywhere is allowed, except at the border zone to Russia. There is a trail across the border from the backcountry of Kirkenes to Kessi, with road to Nellim.

By bus
Coaches from or via Rovaniemi pass Inari on their way to Utsjoki, Vadsø, Nordkapp or Kirkenes.

See

You can observe the northern lights dancing across the dark sky between September and March, during your night walk if the sky is clear.

Other sights:
 * Lake Inari (Finnish: Inarijärvi, Northern Sami: Anárjávri, Inari Sami: Aanaarjävri, Skolt Sami: Aanarjäuʹrr) is the largest lake in Lapland and the 12th in Europe; about 40 x 80 km. The deepest point is 92 m. More than half of its area is not open water but a labyrinth of more than 3300 islands. The lake is a popular fishing destination, trout, Arctic char and grayling being the main catch. Sightseeing cruises start from the village. The lake starts to freeze in late October, and there may be still some ice left in June. The surface water temperature remains virtually always under +20°C.
 * Lake Inari (Finnish: Inarijärvi, Northern Sami: Anárjávri, Inari Sami: Aanaarjävri, Skolt Sami: Aanarjäuʹrr) is the largest lake in Lapland and the 12th in Europe; about 40 x 80 km. The deepest point is 92 m. More than half of its area is not open water but a labyrinth of more than 3300 islands. The lake is a popular fishing destination, trout, Arctic char and grayling being the main catch. Sightseeing cruises start from the village. The lake starts to freeze in late October, and there may be still some ice left in June. The surface water temperature remains virtually always under +20°C.
 * Lake Inari (Finnish: Inarijärvi, Northern Sami: Anárjávri, Inari Sami: Aanaarjävri, Skolt Sami: Aanarjäuʹrr) is the largest lake in Lapland and the 12th in Europe; about 40 x 80 km. The deepest point is 92 m. More than half of its area is not open water but a labyrinth of more than 3300 islands. The lake is a popular fishing destination, trout, Arctic char and grayling being the main catch. Sightseeing cruises start from the village. The lake starts to freeze in late October, and there may be still some ice left in June. The surface water temperature remains virtually always under +20°C.

Do

Lake Inari is ideal for fishing, canoeing/kayaking and boating: you are mostly alone and maybe won't meet any person for weeks. The landscape is very nice because of the islands, but prepare for lots of mosquitoes. There are a number of open wilderness huts, lapp pole tents, and cabins for rent on the islands. For boating you need the Lake Inarijärvi yachting chart (Inarijärven veneilykartta; chart no 480).

Canoes and bikes can be rented from the shop next to Hotel Inari. There are "sea kayaking" routes on the lake, and the Juutuanjoki for those preferring whitewater (but the Jäniskoski rapids have to be portaged; a memorial by the shore for one who thought he'll manage but drowned as he thought he had made it a little too early). It is possible to come by canoe all the way from Kultasatama in Lemmenjoki National Park (about 70 km, most of it more easy/quiet canoeing).

There are also opportunities for horse riding and sleigh riding with huskies, depending on the season.

There are many nature and hiking trails in the area.
 * Nature trails:
 * Oi Juutua! telling about people, events and fishing. 7.5 km, starting point by the bridge in the village.
 * Snowshoe Trail, telling about snow, 1.3 km, starting at the mouth of the Juutuanvuono Fjord.
 * Five Senses Nature Trail, telling about the history and nature, tough, unmarked but with GPS coordinates.
 * Other trails:
 * Inari – Otsamo Trail, 9 km. The trail goes by the river through old pine forest, passes the fell birch zone to the treeless at 418 m. Great view from the top. Start from Siida or Jäniskoski (where you can get by car or by the Juutua trail). There is also a shorter trail (3 km) to the fell top from the Otsamo/Rovajärvi parking area.
 * Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church Trail, see above

There are also cross country skiing tracks, biking trails and snowmobile tracks in the area.

The is nearby (45 km), the largest National Park in Finland, and, according to Metsähallitus, "one of the whole Europe’s most extensive uninhabited and roadless backwoods". The park can partly be explored by riverboat, but there are also marked trails and wilderness huts as well as rental huts, and a vast backcountry. The park borders to Øvre Anárjohka National Park in Norway.

Also nearby is the, "literally a wilderness area" according to Metsähallitus. There are no marked trails, few wilderness huts or other facilities in the wilderness area itself – and phones are out of signal except on fell tops. Experience and adequate equipment are needed, but the terrain is quite easy. Suitable for hiking and cross-country skiing, for those who enjoy the silence. A few places are more frequented, such as the Stuorraäytsi canyon.

At the south-eastern shore of lake Inari, there is the Nellim village, with an orthodox church. Nearby (5–7 km) there is infrastructure from the war (Rautaportti, "iron gate"), and a restored log-floating flume. 30 km farther is the common border point between Finland, Norway and Russia (guided tours offered; mind the border zone if going by yourselves, the border point itself is reachable without permits by a long hike around the border zone and along the Norwegian side of the border).

At the eastern end of the lake, past Nellim in the south and Sevettijärvi in the north, is the roadless Vätsäri Wilderness Area, part of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park. Rugged landscape with a mosaic of pine forests, mires and a labyrinth of the lakes. The Piilola trail through the area leads to Øvre Pasvik National Park in Norway (a rather special shortcut to Kirkenes). The trail is marked and there are wilderness huts, but hiking experience is needed as you are on your own here.

Buy
There are several dedicated shops selling souvenirs and local handicrafts along the main road (Inarintie, E75). If buying Sami related products always check that they have Sámi duodji certificate of authenticity!

Mid-range

 * Hotel Inarin Kultahovi.jpg

Off roads
Going out boating or on the trails, right to access applies, except minor protected areas (and of course private yards etc.). There are campfire sites along the trails (not to be used during wildfire warnings). There are open wilderness huts on some islands in the lake, and in the wilderness areas. There are also wilderness huts for rent. Camping by open wilderness huts or campfire places is to be preferred over wild camping, where reasonable. Yards of rental huts are to be treated as yards of private homes.

Connect
Postal code 99870 Inari.

Mobile phones should work well in the village and along the main roads, but in the wilderness there are large areas with spotty coverage.

Go next

 * The gold village Tankavaara, 100 km to the south, on E75
 * The ski and spa resort of Saariselkä, 70 km to the south

title: Inari


text:
Inca Trail

The Inca trail to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas", is a world-famous trek in Peru. It's the best known part of the Inca road system, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. The hike takes you past staggering mountain scenery and many impressive Inca ruins, through ecosystems ranging from mossy forests to stark peaks. For much of the trail, you're walking on the very stone paths laid by the Incas hundreds of years ago.

Treks vary significantly in style, from budget backpacking to high-end glamping, but typically consist of 4 days and 3 nights on the trail itself. While the main route is fixed, timing and campsites vary. The trail requires reservations months in advance, and all trekkers must be part of a tour group, which includes porters and a guide. In addition to keeping you safe, organized, and on schedule, guides have extensive knowledge of the ruins, their history, and the variety of plants and animals that can be found along the trail.

Visits generally start from Cusco, the capital of the Incas. Due to the need to acclimatize to the altitude for a few days, the trek itself must be part of a longer trip, usually a few days in Cusco and the Sacred Valley; see Inca Highlands.

Understand
Many countries have mountain ranges with beautiful scenery and Peru itself is richly blessed in this respect with many other areas for hiking. However the scenery is only one of the elements responsible for the magic of the Inca Trail. Can there be any walk anywhere in the world with such a combination of natural beauty, history and sheer mystery and with such an awe-inspiring destination? The various Inca ruins along the way serve to heighten the hiker's sense of anticipation as he or she approaches what would surely find a place in any new list of archaeological wonders of the world - Machu Picchu. The ruins on the trail are all many times less crowded than Machu Picchu, and most are open for exploration without the ropes and blocked-off areas at your final destination. If you're lucky, you'll also see colorful flowers and birds, and possibly even other animals on the trail.

At the height of the Inca Empire, their road system was the most extensive transportation system in South America, stretching from what is now Colombia all the way to central Chile. The branching network of roads, many of them paved with stones, totaled close to 40,000 kilometers. Unfortunately, with the conquest of the Inca Empire by the Spanish in the 1500s, most of the roads have been destroyed or left to deteriorate. Many of the surviving portions are unmapped and little explored, but a few sections have been cleaned up and restored. The most famous of these is the Inca Trail, which allows you to walk in the footsteps of the Incas, on the same stone paths that they laid and used to get to Machu Picchu hundreds of years ago.

The trail is 45 km/26 miles from start to finish, but it feels like more: you gain and lose hundreds of meters of altitude multiple times, and much of the trek is above 3,000 meters where oxygen is noticeably thinner. Acclimation to the altitude is a must, and good physical condition advised. The journey winds through the valleys and hills of the surrounding area, taking you through the scenic landscape, from high alpine to cloud forests.

The trail is physically demanding, but doable by any fit person, barring specific health problems. If you have any concerns, check with a doctor. If you can walk and use stairs easily, you should be able to do it. No hiking experience is necessary, though the more used to hiking you are, the easier it will be. There are very few evacuations and deaths on the trail: the most likely risk is spraining your ankle and needing to be carried out. Many find the physical demands make the trip more rewarding, from the exertion and sense of accomplishment. If you are physically unable or concerned about your ability, you can also do a shorter 1-day or 2-day trek to Machu Picchu, take an easier trek like the valley trek to Machu Picchu, or go directly to Machu Picchu by rail.

The trail, particularly the descent, is ideally suited to trekking poles, which significantly reduce stress on your knees. Rubber tips are required, to protect the steps, and duct taping the tips on is highly recommended, otherwise they come off easily from impact or mud. You can buy new ones at home, rent good ones in town for cheap, or buy broomsticks, which are cheap and adequate, but not great. You cannot use local branches, as too many trees were being cut down, and these aren’t much good anyway. Consider shock-absorbing poles to further minimize stress.

Many agencies operating from Cusco offer organised hikes along the trail, providing most of the equipment (tents, etc.) and people to carry it. Also, don't forget that the trail ends at Machu Picchu. Most Inca Trail hikers descend from the Sun Gate (Intipunko) at dawn and see Machu Picchu before the busloads of tourists show up around 10AM.

Meals on the trail are often impressively delicious! If you're an experienced wilderness backpacker, you may be surprised by how luxurious the food is. Some tour companies can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions.

The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, a protected area of 32,592 hectares, managed by the National State Protected Natural Areas Service, SERNANP. Every visitor must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (Only authorized campsites can be used).

Porters
The trek is demanding enough without having to carry camping gear or clothes: use a porter (for camping gear) and a half (for change of clothes) and just carry your day pack. (This gives a job to a poor local farmer!)

The Inca Trail is one of the relatively few treks globally that features porters: pack animals are not allowed on the trail because their hooves damage it. Porters are local Quechua farmers, typically poor and uneducated, and this is a major source of income for them. Most will not speak English or even much Spanish; knowing a few phrases of Quechua is a nice touch; see Quechua phrasebook.

A guide is required, though porters are not, so you can backpack the trail, carrying all your own equipment. However, porters are widely used and recommended, since it's hard enough to hike with a day pack.

Porters need to arrive much earlier than trekkers, to set up camp, so please be aware of porters running past you and give way.

Beware of poor treatment of porters, notably inadequate equipment, food, or shelter, and excess loading: a heavily-loaded porter wearing plastic sandals is not tough, he is being exploited. Conditions have improved, but ill-treatment is still common, particularly on cut-rate treks. Please use an operator that treats its porters well, and consider learning more and getting involved in improving conditions. A documentary chronicling a year in the life of an Inca Trail porter, Mi Chacra, won the Grand Prize at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival.

When to go
May is best – start of dry season, so dry, sunny, and lush vegetation from the rains, and before high season and depths of winter.

Weather is best May to September: fairly dry and sunny. June through August is high season (summer vacation in Northern Hemisphere), and hence books up far in advance, but is winter here (because Southern Hemisphere), so a bit cold at night. Thus, May and September are ideal. Fringe months of April and October are also OK, but more risk of rain. If hoping to see the sunrise, June and July are driest and best, but May and August (into early September) are often OK.

November to March are the rainy season, so avoid if possible: cloudy skies (worse views), and rain, which soaks you, makes the rocks slick, and runs the risk of landslides, both on the trail and on roads. Less crowded though. The wettest months are January to April, when roads are often closed by landslides or flooding.

The trail is closed in February to clean up the garbage left behind.

Weather on the trail year-round features warm, comfortable days (around 20℃) and cold nights (often 5℃ or below), dropping to below freezing in the winter (June, July, August). Sun during the day and clouds at night increase the effective heat and cold. Accordingly, dress in layers. Pack warm clothes in your duffel (alpaca hat, gloves, and socks are cozy), and make sure you have a warm sleeping bag. Also, flip-flops to rest your feet at the end of the day will leave you with cold feet: bring light, loose, closed sandals instead.

The air is dry, and drying: the low pressure means water evaporates more quickly. Drink plenty of water, and use moisturizer if desired.

Book tickets
Tickets must be booked in advance, far in advance for the high season, through an authorized local tour operator, as it is not allowed to organize your own trip. For the high season, tickets must be booked immediately when they become available: it's wise to book six months in advance or more. Get these trail tickets before your plane tickets. If booked up, consider rescheduling your trip, or taking one of the alternative treks in the area, none of which require booking so far in advance. Don't expect to pick up last-minute cancellations, as tour organizers must register client passport numbers with the government, and they are strictly checked at control points on the trail.

A passport is required both for reserving tickets, and for admission to the trail (copy not accepted), so you need to bring it in your day pack! It is easiest if you have the same passport when reserving your ticket as when you show up, so avoid renewing your passport or changing your name in the meantime: renew if necessary before, change name before or after.

Tickets are by season: reservations are accepted from mid-January, for the season from March 1st to the following January 31st. Some agencies will accept pre-reservations and then book immediately when tickets become available.

There are 500 permits available per day for the 4-, 5- and 7-day treks and 250 for the 2-day trek. This includes both trekkers and tour employees (guides and porters). Since there are about 1.5 employees per trekker, that leaves 40% for trekkers, so about 200 trekkers per day.

You can check official availability of tickets at the Boletaje Virtual (Virtual Ticket) website. Beware that this is the total number left (trekkers and employees), so out of 500, and that days can book up in big chunks, due to booking a group (a group of 12 trekkers entail about 30 tickets total), so don't delay.

Tickets for Machu Picchu should be included in your tour. Tickets are also required for Huayna Picchu (a large mountain nearby which you can hike up for magnificent views of Machu Picchu). Huayna Picchu is optional, and thus might be forgotten: make sure to get tickets in advance if interested!

Which tour?
There are two tour lengths: 4 days and 5 days. They both sleep 3 nights on the trail, and follow the same path, but have different schedules, and stop at different camp sites. It is also possible to take a short 2-day trek on a slightly different route, or visit Machu Picchu without the Inca Trail.

The 4 day/3 night trek is the classic: on the last day you get into Machu Picchu early, see the sun rise, visit Machu Picchu, then go back to Cusco. The 5 day/4 night version is more leisurely, getting into Machu Picchu late on the fourth day for a brief look after most tourists have left; then you spend the night at Aguas Calientes and see Machu Picchu the next day.

If you're tight on time or money, or you're a fast hiker, do the 4-day, otherwise do the 5-day: it's less rushed and crowded.

The classic 4-day tour takes less time and is a bit faster and more demanding, particularly days 3 and 4: you have long days and relatively less sleep. It means you see the sun rise when you first get to Machu Picchu (assuming clear weather), but you'll likely be a bit tired, and may not be up to Huayna Picchu. You also may have a rushed day at Machu Picchu, and will need to plan your train back carefully if you want a full day at Machu Picchu, particularly to avoid the crowds. If you want, you can do the 4-day (arriving early) and then spend the night in Aguas Calientes, and see as much of Machu Picchu as you like, basically doing a fast-paced 5-day (with sunrise, and rest at the end).

The 5-day tour is more leisurely: it misses the sunrise, and takes an extra day, but is otherwise more pleasant: you see Machu Picchu after the crowds have left (on the first day) and before most crowds arrive (on the second day), with nice dusk/dawn light (golden hour, good for photos), you can be rested for Huayna Picchu, and the campsites are less crowded, because most people are on the 4-day schedule.

Choose tour operator
You must use a local authorized tour operator, of which there are many. You can book with a tour operator directly, or use a travel agent in your country. Some operators, notably high-end ones, only work through agencies. Beware that being authorized is no guarantee of quality, and many agencies are fly-by-night operations run out a storefront in Cusco. It is safest to use an established, reputable agency: research agencies and their reviews online. However, there are some newer companies that you might take a chance on if you find their story or reviews compelling.

When choosing an operator, consider what they offer—budget backpacking or high-end glamping? How big are the groups (or do you want a more expensive private tour)? Do you want to take a 4-day or 5-day (or 2-day) tour? Some operators only offer one. Will they arrange travel to/from Cusco? Which train service? And of course, operators and tours vary in price.

Many operators treat porters very poorly; check reviews and story (touting social responsibility is no guarantee, but it's a hint). Beware that cut-rate operators invariably cut corners at the expense of porters, but some good value operators treat porters well, and being expensive is no guarantee that porters are treated well. Also, due to intermediaries, paying a high price to a travel agency may not result in the tour operator getting much of it.

Operators
An operator is required. Out of the about 200 companies, many are bad. Check reviews, guidebooks, and the companies’ own websites to decide, or rely on a travel agent to choose for you. Here are 14 well-respected companies, though there are other good ones.

 * Peru Treks (2002, Inca Trail Peru Treks S.A.C.): 4-day only, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, socially responsible, small family company. Specialized: only does this trek, so very competent, but inflexible.
 * Llama Path (2004): various treks
 * Alpaca Expeditions (2011): Provides full tours of Peru and a leader on treks to Machu Picchu with a license for the Inca Trail.
 * United Mice (1987): adventure travel throughout area, socially conscious (helps street children)
 * SAS (1990): Largest trail operator, full selection, award-winning; also offers other adventure tours (white-water rafting etc.).
 * Wayki Trek
 * Andina Travel
 * Adventure in Peru  (2016)Provides full tours in Cusco day tours and multiple day tour to Machu Picchu

High-end
 * Enigma (2002): good porter treatment
 * Andean Treks (1970s, Inca Tours And Travel Adventure S.A.C): 5-day, South America-wide.
 * Explorandes (1975): 5-day, large Peru-wide company, environmentally conscious.
 * Grandes Aventuras del Peru (GAP): various offerings
 * Amazonas Explorer: 5-day, expensive, luxury
 * Apumayo Expediciones (1995): private/group tours only, very established and decorated, luxury options, wheelchair/accessible tours, various other offerings

Porters
There seem to be about 1½ porters per client on the trail, and you'll spend a fair amount of time getting out of their way as they hump all your gear to the next camp. Fortunately, the government has restricted the amount of gear tour operators can pile on each porter to 25 kg (including their personal stuff). You are allowed to pack only 6 kg for the porter to carry so choose carefully.

On many tours you can pay extra for a personal porter to carry most of your things, although you will always want a daypack for water, snacks, and clothing. Consider hiring the extra porter, which allows you to carry 7 kg extra (from 7 kg to 14 kg). To be clear, the extra porter you hire is not just for you - he will carry an equal share of the whole set of gear to be transported, including everyone else's food, kitchen tent, etc. The tips for 'your porter' are part of the shared pool as well - so it's not really the case that you are paying for a porter for yourself.

Get fit
You do not need to be particularly athletic to travel the Inca trail – so long as you are generally fit and can walk up and down stairs, you should be able to do it – but it helps make it safer and more enjoyable. Walking, hiking, using the stair machine, and doing weights for leg muscles all help you be specifically prepared for the trek, and make it easier. A half hour on a stair machine a few times before the trek is adequate, but further conditioning helps. Check with a doctor or trainer before engaging on a demanding exercise program.

Muscles take time to build, and help with stability and endurance. Get training if any exercises are new to you.
 * 3 to 6 months beforehand – build muscles

Squats are the best exercise for your legs and general stability; leg presses or quad extensions are acceptable alternatives.

Dips are ideal preparation for pole use, as the movement (particularly downhill) is virtually identical. Triceps extensions are an acceptable alternative.

Any regular cardiovascular exercise is acceptable, though walking or running are the easiest option for most people. Hiking, particularly rough terrain at altitude, is best, if possible.
 * 3+ months beforehand – cardiovascular fitness

Muscular endurance decays quickly, so do shortly before departure. An hour on a stair machine 3 times or more per week is ideal, though steppers, sloped treadmills, or climbing actual stairs is also ok.
 * 1 month beforehand – muscular endurance

Arrange gear
Packing is a complicated tradeoff: bring enough to be comfortable, but minimize weight, and split between day pack and duffel. It also depends on the type of trek (will water be provided?)

 * Passport
 * First aid kit
 * Headlamp/flashlight
 * Warm top/bottom for the evenings
 * Hiking boots; runners are possible if you don't mind them getting thrashed by the rocky trail and you have strong ankles
 * Wash kit, 2L water bottle and water purifying tablets
 * Sunblock (SPF 30+), UV-blocking sunglasses, and sun-blocking lip balm – you're outdoors, at altitude, by the equator: the sun is very strong, and clouds don't block it
 * Hat, preferably something covering your neck to protect from the high-altitude sun
 * Cash to tip porters and guides and buy snacks along the way, including a handful of one-sol coins for the bathrooms on the first day and at Machu Picchu
 * Long pants or slacks
 * Long-sleeved shirts
 * Several T-shirts
 * Rain wear (you never know when it will rain even if it's the dry season)
 * Camera.
 * Insect repellent
 * Personal toiletries
 * A light backpack
 * Gloves, scarf, warm socks
 * A towel and toilet paper
 * Maybe earplugs – your companions are likely to snore; this is partly periodic breathing, part of acclimatization to altitude (see altitude sickness)
 * Possibly an inflatable mattresses – at US$25 per person, renting one of these means you get two mattresses, a normal one and in addition an inflatable one on top, making it exceedingly and maybe excessively comfortable

Acclimatize
At its highest, the trail reaches 4200 m above sea level, so you should spend at least 2 days in Cusco acclimatizing before you start the trek. If you don't, altitude sickness could make your first few days pretty uncomfortable.

Be aware that at 3400 m altitude, there's a risk for altitude sickness in Cusco too, so ideally, start with a day or two in the Sacred Valley, to acclimatize gradually to altitude before your trek. See Inca Highlands for what to do before your trek.

Get in
See Inca Highlands. You first need to spend a few nights in Cusco (and before that, preferably a night or two in the Sacred Valley) to acclimatize to the altitude. From Cusco, you can take a train, bus, or private car to the trailhead. This will likely be arranged by your tour group, so you just need to get to Cusco.

Some tour companies may also be able to pick you up from Ollantaytambo or Urubamba instead of Cusco. Since these are closer to the trailhead, this option lets you get a couple extra hours of sleep before starting the trail.

Costs
Around US$400 at least. If you are paying less than US$350 for the 4 day trip, something is fishy, and porters are probably being treated very poorly. Make sure your tour includes the entrance ticket to the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (US$85) and the Vistadome train (US$71) back to Cusco.

Tipping is expected, and a significant portion of the income, especially for porters. Verify exact composition of crew, expected tip amount, and protocol before the trek, and prepare tips. Use clean bills, given on either on last morning on the trail (for 5-day trek), or last night (for 4-day, due to early start), since porters return home early the last day. Please tip in soles, not foreign currency, to avoid giving porters the inconvenience of finding a currency exchange place and paying their (probably significant) fees.

Go
The following roughly describes a typical 4-day trip along the Inca Trail. Everyone takes the same route, but your timing and campsites will depend on your tour operator, the speed of your group, and other considerations. Your ability to tour and explore the ruins will also depend on your particular tour: the 5-day tours include plenty of time for all the ruins, but many 4-day tours end up rushing past some of them without a chance to look around. In particular, Runkuracay and Wiñay Wayna are likely to be skipped on some versions of the trek that put them close to the end of a long day of hiking.

The trail has stairs, most of which were put in by the Incas. The rocks are rough and uneven, and very slippery when wet. It is very easy to sprain your ankle, particularly when descending. Use trekking poles for balance, tread carefully, and be very careful when wet.

Don’t rush, particularly on the 2nd day climbing up to Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman’s Pass) – you have to climb down afterwards, after all. Slow and steady is better than rushing ahead and getting sweaty and winded. More subtly, climb down slowly, using poles – your knees will thank you.

Toilets are found every couple of hours along the trail. On the first day they are sit-down toilets that cost S/1 to use; after that they are free squat toilets. They are filthy and lack toilet paper. Bring toilet paper and hand sanitizer or soap (benzalkonium chloride is best for the dry season, as it does not dry out your already-dry hands; soap is fine, though water may not always be available).

Day 1: Cusco to Wayllabamba
Your operator will probably pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in for a drive to the trailhead. On the way, you might stop in or  for supplies or breakfast.

When you reach the trailhead at, you can buy a few last-minute supplies like toilet paper, coca leaves, and mosquito repellent. Then you'll go through a control checkpoint and set off by crossing a bridge across the river. From a distance, you'll see the ruins of and then the former large Inca settlement of  (aka Patallacta), both in the valley below you. You should then get a chance to explore the Inca fort of, located on the trail overlooking Llactapata—this hill fort, which mostly consists of rows of small Inca buildings, is where many of the inhabitants of Llactapata worked.

If you're feeling like this day was easier than you expected, don't get cocky – day two is much harder. Settle in for the night at and rest up for the hardest day of the trek.

Wayllabamba, by the way, is actually a village rather than just a campground, and you can buy drinks and snacks here. The kids who live here have to commute all the way along the trail you've just taken and then take a bus to Ollantaytambo just to go to school.

Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass
Day 1 of the Inca Trail is said to be the easy day. Day 3 is the long day. Day 2? This is the hard day. You won't be spending your time touring ruins today—instead, your main goal is the difficult slog up and down the trail's highest mountain pass. Your guide may give you something to help with the altitude; even if not, some coca tea or leaves to chew can help.

After another early wake-up call, you'll pass the campsites of and  (your final opportunities to buy any last essentials, like water, snacks, toilet paper, or wine). Then comes the steep and difficult ascent to (Warmiwañusqa/Huarmihuañusca) at 4200m, the highest point of the trek. For most trekkers, the last chunk is especially tough because of the altitude, so take it slow. Take breaks as often as you need to, and don't try to compete with other hikers. When you do reach the pass, take in the breathtaking views while you celebrate your accomplishment—you've just completed the hardest section of the trail. Then descend to your campsite at for some well-deserved rest.

Make sure to have a jacket on hand for this day—temperatures can drop drastically with altitude. The campsite is quite high up too, at about 3600m, and it gets cold at night.

Day 3: Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna
Set off early (are you sensing a pattern?) for another full day of hiking. Day 3 will take you past several impressive Inca ruins. Start by seeing the ruins of, a semicircular Inca watchtower where sentries once looked out over the valley below, and crossing the 4000m. At this pass there are a couple of small side trails you can take for views of the valleys on either side. Then you'll pass the "inaccessible town" of, a large set of ruins which despite its nickname is open for exploring. Sayacmarka is the biggest archeological site so far and includes both a residential area and a sun temple. Down below Sayacmarka is the much smaller site of, which you'll see from afar and then walk past, but are not allowed to enter.

Now that you're past the second pass, you'll notice a striking difference in climate and wildlife – suddenly you're in a lush, moist forest with colorful plants. This area, known as a cloud forest, looks almost like a mountainside rainforest, and it's hard to believe it can exist so close to the austere peaks and grassy scrubland you've just passed.

Then come three more ruins that you can explore, assuming your group walks fast enough to give you time! First is —"Town in the Clouds", an appropriate name given how often it's shrouded in fog. Located at an altitude of 3600 m, this is an impressive and well-preserved set of ruins, including agricultural terraces and ceremonial baths. Look for the water channels that connect the baths, a surviving demonstration of high-quality Inca engineering. Next is, a truly huge set of agricultural terraces with amazing views of the mountains—if you're lucky you might have the time and energy to wear yourself out walking up and down the long flights of stairs between the terraces. Finally, make your way to, the largest set of ruins on the trail (aside from Machu Picchu, of course). Wiñay Wayna includes ruins of residential buildings, several storehouses, and terraces where food was grown to be sent to Machu Picchu. For most tours, this is also near the location of your last campsite.

Note: your campsite for this day may be somewhat unpredictable—while the Wiñay Wayna campsite is the most popular because of its proximity to Machu Picchu, space considerations sometimes mean that groups are allocated space at the farther away Phuyupatamarca campsite instead, especially in the high season. Space is allocated by the government, so this is outside the tour operators' control. If your operator plans to camp at Wiñay Wayna, you probably will, but they can't guarantee it 100%.

Day 4: Machu Picchu
This is one of the world's most rewarding day-hikes. Wake up very early for a hike in darkness of just a few kilometers to reach your destination before sunrise. You will find that the Trail is fairly easy until you have to go up the steep "gringo killer" stairs. The final climb brings you to, the Sun Gate, where you achieve your first and most picturesque view of. Now there's another hour or so of hiking, during which you'll pass a couple of smaller ruins and watch the main part of the ruins slowly get closer and closer.

Finally, you'll make it: one of the most famous sets of ruins in the world, and with good reason. It's spectacular, huge, and very well preserved and restored, full of Inca houses, temples, streets, terraces, and so on. The ruins you saw on the way were just a shadow of the impressive engineering on display here, in the form of systems of running water and temple walls composed of huge, perfectly cut boulders. It's true that Machu Picchu is crowded, especially compared to the sites you saw on the trail, but the crowds are worth it for an unparalleled look at what remains from the height of Inca civilization.

Depending on your exact itinerary, you'll be at Machu Picchu either in the morning (6AM–noon) or the afternoon (noon–5:30PM). If you have a morning ticket, you won't be kicked out at noon, but you won't be allowed to re-enter if you leave to use the toilets, which are outside the gate. Machu Picchu is most crowded at midday and clears out by 4PM, when the last train heads back to Cusco, so take your time finishing the hike. Late afternoon is the prettiest time to wander through the intricate stonework. The last bus down to, at the foot of Machu Picchu, departs shortly after the gates close in the afternoon.

After touring Machu Picchu, you can choose to take a hike to to see the beautiful views of the site. This may cost extra.

Which train to take
Beware: if you are not spending the night in Aguas Calientes (4-day/3-night trip), then you only have part of one day in Machu Picchu, and thus your return train ticket from Machu Picchu will have a large impact on how much time you can spend there and whether or not you have time to climb Huayna Picchu at all. If you are spending this night, this isn't an issue.

When you are booking an Inca Trail ticket from home, you may think the time of your train is a very low priority item. You are probably assuming that someone else made sure you have enough time to spend at Machu Picchu. But the reality is that trains get booked and your trail operator may buy you a train ticket out of Aguas Calientes at 1PM. To make it to this train, you will have to be at the train station at 12:30, which means you have to leave Machu Picchu by no later than noon, which means that you will be there only briefly, and have to leave it when it is the most crowded. Machu Picchu is the best in the first half hour after opening and during the last two hours before closing. Most people are gone after 3PM, and the light till 5PM is gorgeous, the heat a little gentler, and you can sit on a patch of grass and soak in the place. You do not want to miss this. It will make Machu Picchu yours. At 10AM Machu Picchu is crowded, loud, and bustling. You will be running around to not lose track of your tour group. At 4PM you can really see it at your own pace, and hang out with the resident chinchillas and llamas. But to do that, you have to take a later train.

Stay safe
Statistics on hazards on the Inca trail are not available, and probably do not exist: injuries and petty crimes are not reported, so all information is anecdotal. With proper precautions, and a bit of luck, you'll be fine, and major problems are rare, but more minor problems are common. At the end of the trail, beware of falls at Machu Picchu, especially at Huayna Picchu.

The most common issues on the Inca trail are: altitude sickness, lack of potable water, filthy bathrooms, sprains and broken bones, and petty theft. More serious issues are heart attacks, falling off the trail, landslides, lack of medical facilities, difficulty in rescue and evacuation, and lack of police. Deaths are quite rare (a handful or fewer per year, out of tens of thousands of trekkers), and typically make news. Similarly, serious crimes (murder, rape) are rare, though rape attempts of single women are reported at Wiñay Wayna, particularly when using toilet late at night: safest is to always be in a pair or group at night.

The tap water in Peru is not potable. Do not drink it. You must either boil water for five full minutes or drink bottled water. Your tour operator will have plans for what to do about water during the trek, so ask what you should bring. In any case, it's a good idea to have water purification tablets on hand in case of emergency.

Because you are visiting Andean areas, don't forget to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness if you are prone to it. Be sure to try a hot tea or an infusion of coca leaves on arrival at altitude. During your first day move slowly and eat lightly, resting the first couple of hours. At night you may be woken by the screams of a panicking trekker who is suffering an acute case of altitude sickness, and requires oxygen (particularly at Paqaymayu, the largest and usually highest campsite). Don't be scared, but acclimatize properly so this isn't you.

Sample altitudes above sea level:
 * Cusco: 3,360 m (11,000 ft)
 * Machu Picchu: 2,400 m (7,800 ft)
 * Urubamba Valley: 2,850m (9,300 ft)
 * highest point on the trail: 4,200 m (13,600 ft)

Theft
Theft is common, primarily of unattended items at camp, and occurs particularly at meal time, when washing or using the toilet, and when sleeping: even experienced tour operators suffer theft. This is especially a problem at crowded campsites, notably Paqaymayu and Wiñay Wayna, which are crawling with people and virtually impossible to secure. More aggressive theft (armed robbery, tent slashing) is now rare, however. Prime targets include sunglasses, cell phones, cameras, lenses (camera and sunglasses), money, trekking poles, head lamps, and beer. Thieves are primarily porters (from your own group or another) or locals, who are very poor: there is no need to be overtly suspicious, but never let your guard down. You cannot realistically protect everything perfectly, but you can minimize risk.

As a precaution, avoid bringing valuables. Leave jewelry at home, and consider bringing a smaller, cheaper camera. Unfortunately, you must bring your passport and tip money on the trail, and much gear is expensive. Whatever valuable items you do bring should be kept on your person at all times. Your passport is the most serious, since this is disastrous if stolen. Fortunately, this and money are easy to secure, if awkward: use a money belt, even at night. Do not use a neck pouch at night, due to strangulation risk. Safest is to give these to someone when washing.

Leave nothing unattended, especially at meal time. Safest is to have multi-person tents, with someone always there, and either eat in your tent or bring your bags to meal. This is a bit paranoid, and you can generally leave bulky items (clothes, trail shoes) in your tent.

Don't leave anything outside the tent, even shoes or clothes, especially at night (not just to because of theft but also in case of rain and dew). Leave nothing valuable inside tent entrance or in easy-access pockets.

Hide bulkier items mixed with other items in bags inside of bags inside of deep pockets Backpack pockets, pant pockets, shirt pockets, etc. are easily searched. The more layers (bags, zippers, etc.), the less likely a rushed thief is to risk opening all of them or risk taking a large item. This provides added protection for items such as sunglasses, cameras, and lenses.

Hide valuables when approaching campsite, if possible.

Injuries, evacuation, and death
Serious injuries and death are very rare, but possible.

Medical emergencies are very dangerous, due to the remoteness. Medical facilities on the trail are limited, and evacuation and rescue are slow and difficult. The closest major facilities are in Cusco, many hours away. If you are at risk of a medical emergency that would need a hospital, you risk death.

Prior to Warmiwañusqa, you can turn back. Once you pass Warmiwañusqa, there’s no turning back: the fastest and safest way out is onward to Machu Picchu. If you are injured, you will need to walk out or be carried out (if you cannot walk); horse are available for the first day, but not afterwards. Helicopter evacuation is possible from Machu Picchu, but not from the trail itself. Usual evacuation proceeds via Aguas Calientes (if past Warmiwañusqa), Ullantaytampu, then to Cusco.

If you fall off the trail, you will likely be seriously injured or die: off a sheer drop you will likely die, while if you fall into vegetation you will likely not be able to climb back up (mountainsides are scree covered with thick vegetation), and need to be rescued by a team with machetes and a basket stretcher, which can take hours.

It is safest to not be alone on the trail: if something happens, it can be some time before you are found, and if you fall off out of sight, it may be hours or days before you are found.

Be aware of the language problem: English is often limited, and porters may only speak Quechua. Please document and learn to state any medical conditions in Spanish.

Go next

 * Machu Picchu, of course.
 * Aguas Calientes, if spending the night.
 * Ollantaytambo, other major Inca ruin, and on the train back
 * Other sights in and around the Sacred Valley and Cusco.

Other treks
Many alternative treks in the area, some also ending at Machu Picchu, are run by some of the same companies.
 * Keep hiking, by long, demanding hike to Choquequirao (similar ruin to Machu Picchu, much less-known), then short (2-day) hike down to Cachora and bus back to Cusco.
 * Salkantay Trek, passing by the staggeringly tall Salkantay peak on the way to Machu Picchu
 * Two-day Inca Trail, where you only hike past a few ruins, for people who want a taste of the Inca Trail but aren't ready for a big four-day trek

title: Inca Trail


text:
Incheon

Incheon (Hangul: 인천, Hanja: 仁川, formerly romanized as Inchon) is a city in South Korea on the coast directly bordering the west of Seoul. It is a rapidly expanding centre for new urban development. Several beautiful islands, such as Yeongjong Island and Ganghwa Island, are also within city limits.

Most foreign travelers arrive in South Korea at Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal.

Understand
Incheon is a historically and economically significant place for Koreans. During the Korean War, the city was the site of the Incheon Landing by American forces. In 2016, Incheon became the third most populous city in the country after Seoul and Busan, with 3 million people, of whom about 60,000 are foreigners.

The city serves as a transportation hub by air and sea, with a massive harbor and a major international airport.

The status of the area is set to increase as various national projects are in development here. The New Songdo City plan, the most expensive real estate development in Korean history, is in progress. One of the world's tallest twin tower buildings, 151 Incheon Tower, is under early construction and one of Korea's tallest buildings, the Northeast Asia Trade Tower, is already finished. It is planned to launch further independent mini-cities for shopping, housing, and education. It received a lot of visitors for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Despite these developments, the Songdo district of Incheon is unfinished and not yet permitted for full habitation.

Famous places within Incheon Metropolitan City include Wolmido Island, the Chinatown, and the opening of the Woncheon Stream, Sorae Port and Incheon Grand Park in the southeastern region, Eulwangni Beach, Wangsan Beach, many islands, Songdo International City and Cheongna Lake Park.

However, Incheon Metropolitan City does not have a good place to look around various areas. Incheon is caused by a wide city area. However, there are no major difficulties because major tourist attractions are concentrated in Wondocheong Station and Ganghwa Island, while Incheon Grand Park, Sorae Port and the island are separate from those in Wondoche, Ganghwa Island and Yeongjong Island. And with the opening of city railroads and wide-area railroads in Incheon, travel between regions is also very convenient compared to other regions except Seoul.

And the easy thing to overlook is that the total area of Incheon metropolitan city is 1,062 km², much larger than the Seoul Metropolitan Government (605 km²), followed by Ulsan city (1,057 km²) among metropolitan cities. In addition, as it is long and divided into several islands, it takes a long time to travel around Incheon on public transportation.

Climate
Incheon is sometimes affected by yellow dust from the Mongolian desert region. Daylight hours range from 05:15 - 19:45 in the summer, and 07:45 - 17:15 in the winter.

By plane
Incheon International Airport is South Korea's main gateway. The AREX train connects the airport to Gyeyang (20 min) for Incheon Subway Line 1 or Geomam (16 min) for Incheon Subway Line 2. Alternatively, the limousine bus line (50 min) is always available to go to many places in Incheon, or you can take a taxi (25 min) to get into the city.

By boat
has connections to several cities in China, such as Weihai, Dandong, Qingdao and Tianjin.

The largest operator is now Weidong, but passengers can look at full listings on the port's website (only in Korean). These ferries are similar to miniature cruise lines and provide karaoke rooms, console games, and DVD rentals (private rooms only).

The trip can take as long as 24 hours, so if you have an economy ticket, request a sleeper bunk for a comfortable trip. If they are all taken, however, the only other option for an economy ticket is the sleeping deck where everyone will stay like sardines in a can. Arrive at the terminal 2–3 hours before departure to ensure there is availability for the bunks.

By subway
Kyeong-in line called Metropolitan Line 1 links Seoul to Incheon. The line often provides express trains that skip some minor stops between Dong-incheon station and Yongsan station. By using the express trains passengers can save up to 30 minutes depending on where they go and for the same fare.

By ship
The port of Incheon, the gateway to the Seoul metropolitan area in the waterway, was first opened in 1883. The port of Incheon is an export port, and there are passenger ships that ship old cars and various exports to and from Incheon to China. It consists of internal, northern and southern ports. The inland waterway was opened to traffic in 2012, a scenic route linking the Yellow Sea and the Han River. Meanwhile, international passenger ships are operating in each city of the People's Republic of China. The First International Passenger Terminal has routes to Yingkou, Qinhuangdao, Yantai, Dalian and Dandong. The second passenger terminal has ships operating in the areas of Weihai, Qingdao, Tianjin and Lianyungang. Incheon Hangshin International Passenger Terminal is under construction.

By bus
From various cities in South Korea, there are numerous Intercity Bus routes heading to Incheon.

Travelers can book some routes from the Kobus website such as Busan, Daegu and Gwangju.

From Seoul, there are some express bus routes which are mainly used by commuters.

Most of them connect Incheon from Seoul station, Shinchon and Gangnam station. For example, route 1400 links Seoul station, Shinchon, Hongdae and Bupyeong.

By subway
Subway line No.1 and Suin line connect to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The subway line passes through many famous places. If you get off the 'Gyeyang station', you can see the Gyeongin Ara Waterway.

By bus
For visitors who want to visit more places in Incheon, local bus lines could be another great option. There are about 2,000 operating buses; therefore, a visitor can go almost everywhere.

Land and water double use bus
In Ara waterway, there are several 'land and water double use buses'. You can stop by and experience them. It takes about 1 hour and you can look around in Ara Waterway. The hours of operation are 11:00-11:30 to 15:30-17:30 on weekdays. On weekends, the hours of operation are from 10:00 to 18:00. The times between departures are 30 minutes or 1 hour.

By taxi
There are a number of taxis on the street, and a taxi can be called under 1577-5588.

By airplane
Incheon International Airport, opened in 2001, is South Korea's largest airport and located on Yeongjong Island, Jung-gu. Most flights to and from Incheon International Airport are from South Korea's air carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

See
Incheon has a lot of attractions in each region. There are places where you can experience things and places where you can feel nature. Visitors can easily get interested because there are special features in each area.

Other

Do

 * Go to the hot place in . If you go, you can enjoy the nightlife. It has many delicious restaurants and pubs.

Movie theaters
There are several movie theaters in Incheon. Big multiplex movie theater chains, such as CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox, are represented in Incheon and show movies of various genres.

Sports
Watch baseball, the national sport, at Munhak Baseball Stadium (home to SK Wyverns) and football at Incheon Football Stadium (Incheon United FC).

Buy

 * Soraepogu Lobster, Incheon.jpg
 * Soraepogu Lobster, Incheon.jpg
 * Soraepogu Lobster, Incheon.jpg

Eat
In Incheon, there are a large number of quality restaurants but do not expect the staff to be able to speak English.

Bupyeong and Guwol-dong Rodeo Street are two main areas for food and drink. It has the advantage of being able to enjoy a meal with drinks as well as meals. A variety of genres is available. Korean food generally offers a delightful and exciting experience. If someone is not familiar with Korean food, there are also many American and Italian restaurants which could be a safe bet for foreign visitors.

Hotels
Hotels are gathered in Songdo International City. If you come to city, you don't have to difficult to reserve accommodations.

Resort
These resorts are not far from Incheon International Airport.

Pensions
In South Korea, the word for a boarding house where three meals a day are provided along with your room is "pension". There are 1,635 pensions around Incheon according to a 'Naver page', including the following:

Guest houses
There are 39 guest houses according to a 'Naver page', including the following:

Address System
Incheon has 8 city districts and 37 towns/villages. Postal Code Finder by Goverment The road name address system is used in the same way as Seoul. (This is the same as the United States)

Go next

 * Jump on the metro to Seoul
 * Take the ferry to China
 * Take the bus or subway to Gyeonggi
 * Take the subway to Ansan via Oido.
 * Take the subway to Gwangmyeong to enjoy various shopping facilities like Ikea and Costco.

title: Incheon


text:
Incisa Val d'Arno

Val d'Arno is a city in Tuscany.

By car
Take the A1 Milan-Rome motorway and get off at the Incisa Val d'Arno exit (coming from the North.

See

 * The vineyards of Chianti are a must.
 * San Lorenzo a Cappiano: the ancient church, the old parish church of Palazzolo and Burchio, has been restored and is now private property. Inside it still has a fresco with the Madonna with Child and Saints attributed to Sebastiano Mainardi.
 * San Niccolò ad Olmeto: also privately owned, it still has a pleasant eighteenth-century appearance and a fresco from the same period.
 * San Lorenzo a Cappiano: the ancient church, the old parish church of Palazzolo and Burchio, has been restored and is now private property. Inside it still has a fresco with the Madonna with Child and Saints attributed to Sebastiano Mainardi.
 * San Niccolò ad Olmeto: also privately owned, it still has a pleasant eighteenth-century appearance and a fresco from the same period.

title: Incisa Val d'Arno


text:
Incline Village

Incline Village is a town on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, with a population of approximately 6,000.

Get in
There are 3 ways to get to the beautiful incline village:

 * 1) NV HWY-431 from Reno, NV
 * 2) CA HWY-28 from Kings Beach, CA
 * 3) NV HWY-28 from Carson City, NV or Stateline, NV

Get around
You can use Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transportation, Uber, or Lyft.

See
Incline Beach located on Lakeshore Drive between Village Blvd and Country Club Drive offers one of the most beautiful views found anywhere at Lake Tahoe. Along with picnic tables, barbecues and chaise lounges (provided at no charge by the friendly staff) you'll find a kids playground, sand volleyball courts, concession stand and a roped off swimming area.

Since all the beaches in Incline Village are private and accessible only to residents and lodging guests, you'll need to finagle a guest pass to use the beach. If you don't have friends or relatives who own property in Incline Village that can give you a beach pass, stop by Lakeshore Realty and ask for Don Kanare. He usually keeps an extra beach pass handy that you can borrow to enjoy a day on the beach.

Buy
There are two supermarkets in Incline Village: Raley's (a West Sacramento-based chain) and Village Market.

In addition there are three convenience stores: Seven-Eleven, Circle K, and Chevron Auto Mart.

Drink

There is also a Starbucks.

Go next

 * Carson City

title: Incline Village


text:
Indaiatuba

Indaiatuba is a city in the state of São Paulo.

Understand
The name Indaiatuba is a mix of two terms originating from the tupi-guarani language: "Indaiá" stands for a kind of palm and "tuba" is the equivalmente for "a big amount of something". Therefore "Indaiatuba" means "many indaiás". The denomination attached itself on the environment's features as well as the place's vegetation, which today aren't the same as it used to be. Indaiatuba turned into a municipality in 1830, although it is told the city was born previously.

The remarkable existence of the "indaiá" type of palms, loaded with tiny coconuts, were the reason for Indaiatuba to receive, at the end XVIII Century and the beginning of the XIX Century, the name of "Cocais" (Portuguese for "Coconuts"). The people who lived at first in the municipality would have firstly received the name of "Votura", designation of the river whose mouth was close to the village.

Ever since the XIX Century, Indaiatuba received many immigrants from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain and, at the XX Century, immigrants from Japan. These men and women dedicated themselves to agriculture but also in the market, the factories and manufacturers. Along with its economy divided between germination of coffee and potato and also some small factories, the city expanded very little in the first half of the XX Century. In 1950 there were 11.253 inhabitants in the municipality. In 1964 they were 22.928. Since then the expansion has been faster, mainly because of the factories' and services' growth. Based on the 1991's census there were 92.700 inhabitants, a number of which in 2000 surprisingly grew to 146.829, and keeps increasing.

title: Indaiatuba


text:
Independence

There is more than one place named Independence:

United States of America

 * Independence (Alabama) - A city in Alabama.
 * Independence (California) - A city in California.
 * Independence (Colorado) - A city in Colorado.
 * Independence (Illinois) - A city in Illinois.
 * Independence (Indiana) - A city in Indiana.
 * Independence (Iowa) - A city in Iowa.
 * Independence (Kansas) - A city in Kansas.
 * Independence (Kentucky) - A city in Kentucky.
 * Independence (Louisiana) - A city in Louisiana.
 * Independence (Minnesota) - A city in Minnesota.
 * Independence (Mississippi) - A city in Mississippi.
 * Independence (Missouri) - A city in Missouri.
 * Independence (Montana) - A city in Montana.
 * Independence (New York) - A city in New York.
 * Independence (New Jersey) - A township in New Jersey.
 * Independence (North Dakota) - A city in North Dakota.
 * Independence (Ohio) - A city in Ohio.
 * Independence (Oklahoma) - A city in Oklahoma.
 * Independence (Oregon) - A city in Oregon.
 * Independence (Pennsylvania) - A city in Pennsylvania.
 * Independence (Tennessee) - A city in Tennessee.
 * Independence (Texas) - A city in Texas.
 * Independence (Utah) - A city in Utah.
 * Independence (Virginia) - A city in Virginia.
 * Independence (Washington) - A city in Washington.
 * Independence (West Virginia) - A city in West Virginia.
 * Independence (Wisconsin) - A city in Wisconsin.

title: Independence


text:
Independence (California)

Independence is in the Eastern Sierra region of California

Understand
The county seat since 1866, Independence is the center of regional history.

Get in
Independence is one of several small towns along US highway 395 through the Owens Valley in California. Pretty much the only reasonable way in by car is either from the north or south on US 395.

Get around
Independence is small enough that you can reach just about any part of town on foot within a few minutes.

Manzanar
On the west side of US 395 four miles south of Independence (ten miles north of Lone Pine).

Manzanar was the site of an Internment Camp for people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

In time of war, it is normal and accepted practice to imprison or confine citizens of an enemy country who reside in the opposing country. The Japanese Internment of World War II went far beyond these reasonable bounds. During World War II, all people of Japanese descent living on the west coast of the continental United States including American citizens were stripped of property and most belongings and sent into imprisonment at remote locations in the West.

To properly understand why this improper internment happened, one first needs to understand some background: California had a significant history of racism against Asian peoples including preventing Asians from participating in the gold rush, blaming Asians for economic bad times and getting Japan to voluntarily reduce emigration to California, and forbidding Asians from owning land.

The Manzanar Relocation Camp is the best preserved example from this deplorable episode in American History, and is slowly being turned into a National Historic Site.

In some Asian cultures, there is a severe injunction against being a troublemaker or being out of step with good behavior. For such Asians, to be interned or jailed is a mortifying embarrassment. If you should happen to meet someone who may have been interned, keep in mind that this embarrassment may (or may not!) apply.

Do
West of town on Onion Valley Road is access to the Sierra Nevada and the Pacific Crest Trail via Kearsarge Pass. Take Onion Valley Road to the trailhead; the pass is some hours' climb farther up. Above 11,000 ft, the air becomes thin. Fall colors along Onion Valley are very nice, for California. From the Pass, the views are empyrean- to the west, the Sierra, and to the east, the White Mountains, Last Chance Range, and others into the Great Basin.

title: Independence (California)


text:
Independence (Kansas)

Independence is a small city in Southeastern Kansas with rustic rural charm, a delightfully small downtown, a large WalMart Supercenter and pretty much nothing else.

Get in
Take either US75N from Tulsa or Bartlesville or US169N from Tulsa/Coffeyville and then US160W.

Get around
Walk or drive - there are a few public cab services. Distances are usually small.

Buy
Chains include Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Orschlins Farm & Home. There's a little strip mall by the Wal-Mart with a dollar store, shoe store, and Cato.

Downtown includes plenty of local shops, including Ace Hardware (with nick-nack section), Messengers Furniture, Twigs Floral & Gifts, and Radio Shack as well as many other shops.

Also downtown is an AT&T, US Cellular, and Verizon store - just in case you need to stop by to get your phone serviced while you're on the road traveling!

Eat
Chains restaurants include Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Arby's and Taco Bell.

Sleep
There are better lodging facilities in Bartlesville which is across the state line in Oklahoma and around 50 mins drive down US75.

Go next

 * Elk Lake has camping facilities and excellent trekking trails.

title: Independence (Kansas)


text:
Independence (Missouri)

Independence, known as the Queen City of the Trails, is a city in western Missouri just east of Kansas City with a population of approximately 110,000. Independence's founding predates that of Kansas City, and it was home to U.S. President Harry S. Truman and the legendary actress Ginger Rogers, as well as the starting point of three of America's great Westward Trails: the Santa Fe Trail, the California Trail, and the Oregon Trail. The city also hosts numerous historical sites related to the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), American Civil War and Western history.

While offering a full range of entertainment and lodging options for visitors, Independence generally tends to be more "quiet" than its larger neighbor to the west. One notable exception is Labor Day weekend, when it holds its annual Santa-Cali-Gon Days, one of the most important yearly festivals held in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Another exception is during the biennial April general conferences of the Community of Christ, the second-largest Latter-day Saint denomination, whose world headquarters is in the city.

By car
Interstate 70 is the main east-west highway, while Interstate 435 (running north-south) passes just to the city's west. U.S. highways 24 and 40 and Missouri state highway 291, which becomes Interstate 470, south of I-70, also provide access to the city. I-70 offers six exits to Independence (from west to east, in order: Blue Ridge Blvd., U.S. 40/Sterling Ave., Noland Rd., Lee's Summit Rd., MO-291/I-470, and Little Blue Parkway), while I-435 offers three (from north to south, in order: U.S. 24/Winner Road, Truman Rd., and 23rd St.). At each of these three I-435 exits, you must turn east to head into Independence! Turning west will take you into Kansas City. Also, if you are taking I-435 south on the east side of Kansas City (as opposed to the west side; I-435 circles the Kansas City metropolitan area) and planning to exit onto I-70 east, be aware that this exit is a left exit, and it can be very slow-moving during "rush hour" times!

By bus
Nearest Greyhound station is in Kansas City, MO.

By train
Amtrak,. The unattended is at 600 S Grand Ave, near the intersection with W Pacific Ave. This station, locally known as the Truman Depot, is on Amtrak's Kansas City to St. Louis route, the Missouri River Runner, and offers trains twice daily in both directions. Tickets cannot be purchased or baggage checked at this station, which houses the Jackson Co. Genealogical Society, so it is best to call Amtrak's toll-free reservation center or visit their website before departure. Tickets may also be purchased locally at Union Station in downtown Kansas City. A ticket is not required for boarding, though a reservation is. The route boasts a 90% on-time rating.

By plane
Access by air requires use of one of three airports:
 * is 40 mi (64 km) away. To reach Independence from the airport take I-29 south to I-435 east, then follow I-435 east and then south along KC's east side until you cross the Missouri River; after passing the Front St. exit south of the river, you'll see the Independence exits.
 * , located in downtown KCMO, serves private, corporate and charter aircraft. From this airport, take I-70 east.

By bus
The Metro, Kansas City's municipal bus service, has very limited service (time and route-wise) within Independence. The main Independence terminal is located next to the police station at the intersection of Truman and Noland roads. Fares cost $1.50 full price (including one transfer within two hours of the ticket's purchase), or $0.75 reduced fare (seniors, those under age 18, and disabled persons). A "Visitor's Pass" is available for out-of-towners; it allows unlimited riding of the entire Kansas City bus system for three days for $8. Information is available at.

On foot
Walking tours of the historic town square, Truman historical sites and Mormon historical sites are available. For most visitors, a car, bicycle or other means of wheeled transportation will prove necessary if one intends to venture very far beyond the central square area, which contains most of the attractions listed below.

By taxi
Local taxi service is available, but taxies are generally only obtainable by phone and sometimes require a lengthy waiting period between the time when you first call for the cab and the time that it arrives to pick you up. Calling well in advance of your appointment or desired arrival time is advised, as is checking with the taxi service as to the expected time of the cab's arrival.

Buy
A farmers' market is held on the northeast side of the Independence Sq., along Truman Rd., on Wednesdays and Saturdays, mid-May through mid-Sep. (Vendors are usually at the market around 5AM and most leave by 11AM.) The adjacent Independence Sq. holds numerous shops for antiques, curios, book, and more.

Eat

Several other restaurants, including the Longhorn Steakhouse, Logans Roadhouse, Hereford House and other national or local chain eateries are located at or adjacent to the 39th Street corridor, between Lee's Summit Road and the Little Blue Parkway. Smoking is prohibited in all restaurants, bars and other public establishments in Independence.

Drink
There are numerous drinking establishments around Independence, and most if not all restaurants serve alcohol.

(Smoking is prohibited in all nightclubs, bars and other public establishments in Independence.)

Sleep
Several major motel chains serve Independence, and there are also a number of bed-and-breakfasts available.

Stay safe
Although violent crime is very uncommon in Independence, it is not unknown. Carjackings, vandalism to cars and auto thefts do occur, and while the chances of being a victim are slim (though still higher than the MO and national averages), visitors should not allow the "small town" atmosphere of this city trick them into letting down their guard with regard to locking autos and hotel doors, leaving cars running unattended, paying attention to surroundings, etc. The Square area is relatively safe during daylight and evening hours.

The west side, particularly the portion west of Sterling Ave., is not known to be particularly safe at night, especially along Blue Ridge Blvd. between 23rd St. and U.S. 24. Avoid anything west of Sterling Ave. at night if possible. Since there are no hotels, restaurants or tourist attractions in this part of town, this should not be hard for visitors to do.

title: Independence (Missouri)