text:
Santa Ana (El Salvador)

Santa Ana is the second largest city of El Salvador and a very important one in terms of agriculture and coffee production (coffee plantations - called fincas - cover much of the land outside town and up the hills). Its historic center offers some of the best preserved architecture in El Salvador, including the Cathedral of Santa Ana, a marvel of neo-gothic architecture, the Teatro de Santa Ana, a beautifully decorated theatre of the early 1900s; and the Palacio Municipal in front of the main plaza with giant palm trees shooting out from its courtyard.

Get in
Santa Ana lies 64 km northwest of the capital San Salvador, just off the Panamerica (Highway 1), from where several exits lead into town. Being close to the border, it's also a convinient stop if coming from Guatemala.

By bus
Buses of the following companies pass by on their way from Guatemala City to San Salvador, but do not enter Santa Ana and might drop you at the intersection of Highway 1 (Panamericana) and Highway 12 a few kilometres south (locally known as La Ceiba). Catch a taxi for US$5 or one of the frequent urbanos (local bus) for $0.20-0.25 into town.
 * from Guatemala City's (aka Pezzarossi) at 3 Ave y 1 Calle in Zona 9 (one block south of the infamous Zona 4 terminal), buses leave at 05:30, 07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:30, and 15:30 towards San Salvador, passing through Santa Ana after 4-4½ hr, US$16/120 Quetzales (same fare as for San Salvador), Tel +502 2331 0874. Some buses go via the San Cristobal border where immigration procedures are straightforward and hassle-free, while others use the busy border at Valle Nuevo (aka Las Chinamas on the salvadorian side) where aggressive money changers await you. Be very careful here and don't hand out the immigration's paper slip to anyone. First stop is Guatemalan immigration where you get an exit stamp and a paper slip. After crossing the bridge over the Rio Paz you don't need to visit the Salvadorian immigration (the officer boards the bus to check your documents), and no entry stamp is provided as your still in the CA-4 area. When arriving Santa Ana, the only stop will be at the office's new location at . Take a taxi or local bus into downtown (Route R-A will drop you just behind the Teatro).

 * from San Salvador's Terminal de Occidente on Bulevar Venezuela Entre 49a y 59a Ave Sur, two bus companies operate the service to Santa Ana (departure times about every 15 min, see Destinos/Horarios at ):
 * from San Salvador's Terminal de Occidente on Bulevar Venezuela Entre 49a y 59a Ave Sur, two bus companies operate the service to Santa Ana (departure times about every 15 min, see Destinos/Horarios at ):

By plane
Transportation from the international airport at Comalapa   El_Salvador_International_Airport costs at least $65 for a minibus (no matter how many persons), 2 hr, organize the day before your flight (ask at your hotel). The small airstrip known as Pista Singuil about 18 km northwest of town (right off Panamericana Highway 1) is closed and now used for car racing.

By train
All train services were suspended in 1990, but parts of the station (a wooden shack) still exist 17a Ave Sur at the end of 7a Calle Oriente. Be careful here as locals consider this part of town as unsafe. Railway enthusiasts might check the web sites and

Get around
Most places within the historic center can be reached within a few minutes walk, there's no need to take a taxi or board local buses. The Tourist Office outside the (just across from the Theater) has city maps and other information.

Most touristic sights are located at the center of town around the. 4 blocks west of it is, and again roughly 6 blocks further south.

From central Parque Libertad Avenida Independencia runs north-south, while Calle Libertad runs east-west. Calles (streets) north of Libertad have even numbers (2-4-6), while Calles south of Libertad have odd numbers (1-3-5). So don't be confused! Avenidas west of Independencia have even numbers (2-4-6), the ones east of Independencia have odd numbers (1-3-5).

When asking for directions remember that house numbers are often out of sequence and might repeat in other blocks. Similar, street numbers are not well established (although well signed), and locals - including taxi and bus driver - usually navigate by these landmarks:

By bus
Local buses (called Urbanos) serve almost every part of Santa Ana and its colonias and operate roughly between 05:00 and 21:00. They can be very crowded especially during rush hour. Routes are complicated, difficulte to follow, and no route map is published. Flat fare is $0.20 for the bigger buses, $0.25 for micro buses, and $0.35 for a/c buses on selected routes; board in front and pay the driver. Some useful lines are:

By taxi
Unmetered yellow taxis charge $3 for short distances, but $4 (bargain hard) should bring you pretty much everywhere in town. Most drivers have difficultes to find specific streets, better use hotel names, landmarks (see above), or the name of the Colonia (town district) of your destination.

See
Most visitors of course come to see the Cathedral and the Theatre, but Santa Ana has more to offer. According to La Secretaria de Cultura, its historic center (roughly within the limits of 4a Calle, 7a Ave, 9a Calle, Ave Jose Matias Delgado) counts 210 buildings in neoclassical style, 5 Gothic, 64 neocolonial and 102 in traditional style. The most intact ensemble of colonial houses can be found east of Parque Libertad, although most houses are privately owned and therefore inaccessible. For a self guided tour follow Calle Libertad eastbound and discover the north & south leading Avenidas (1a, 3a, 5a, 7a, 9a).

Santa Ana has a classical colonial town layout with 4 churches forming the Christian cross:

A fairly new addition is...

Do
Santa Ana makes an excellent base for discovering western El Salvador's archaeological and natural spots. FUNDAR (Fundación Nacional de Arqueología de El Salvador) maintains the excellent and highly recommended website with tons of information, although its participation ended in 2009.

 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8
 * 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8

Events
Every year in July the 2-week Fiestas Julias (July festival) is celebrated. It's one of the biggest in El Salvador in honor of Señora Santa Ana, the city's patron. Activities end on the 26th with a large procession. Don't miss the amusement park 800 m (1/2 mile) south of Metrocentro (towards the Panamericana highway)!

At the end of the year, Christmas (Dec 24) and New Year's Eve (Dec 31) are celebrated with tons of firework and firecrackers, and Parque Colon turns into to a big firework selling spot. Be very careful as firecrackers are powerful and accidents happen frequently.

Buy
Smaller shops are usually closed between 12:00 and 14:00 (for lunch break) and after 18:00, and most shops are closed on Sundays (except Supermarkets and Metrocentro).

Commercial areas
Santa Ana has 3 main commercial areas:

Budget
Virtually hundreds of comedores (cantins) offer salvadorian standard meals (comida tipica) for as little as $2. Mostly self service (comida a la vista). Usually open for lunch between 11:00 and 14:00 (for dinner head out to pupuserias). Be early as food is often prepared in advance and may not stay fresh in the tropical heat. Also places sometimes run out of food after 13:00. Virtually all comedores are closed Sundays.

Drink
2a Calle Poniente is Santa Ana's small outgoing area. Turns into a pedestrian zone Friday and Saturday evenings, many bars and restaurants with street side tables, safe as guarded by police.

Warning: Under no circumstances visit the drinking holes along 11a Calle Poniente Entre 8a Ave Sur y Ave Fray Felipe Moraga Sur (Parque Colon area)!

Connect

Internet cafes a fairly common and charge roughly $0.50 per hour. If you have your own equipment, visiting one of the many cafes and restaurants offering free and unlimited WiFi might be the better option. The public WiFi network Alcaldia Municipal de Santa Ana is available around the town hall but usually overloaded, while the mesh network indiNET (password: stardust) is more reliable and found at many locations in town.

Stay safe
Most parts of the city are completely deserted after 7pm. The Metrocentro area, the Parque Libertad, and the pedestrian street Villa Morena (2a Calle Poniente) are considered safe at night as police and security guards are present. Avoid Parque Colon and surroundings after dark, as many homeless and drunken individuals hang around the area.

Be very careful when walking on sidewalks because many manhole covers are missing (stolen for their value as scrap metal) and openings can be several feet deep. Especially after dark it's recommended to walk on the street (if traffic permits).

Do not climb the hills surrounding the city without local security advice and/or police escort, as robberies have occurred.

Banks
Most banks have several branches in town, and ATMs are fairly common. Expect your bags checked by security staff when entering the bank. Try to avoid payment days (around 15th and 30th of each month) as long queues occur; the only ATM not affected by this phenomena is at Banco G&T Continental (opposite Banco Cuscatlan) which accepts Visa and Master/Maestro cards.

If you just arrived from Guatemala and want to get rid of your quetzales, ask around street vendors at 1a Calle Poniente y Ave Independenica Sur (1 block south from Parque Libertad). Current rate (Nov 2014) is $12 for 100 quetzales.

Photo
Entry level digital cameras and memory cards are sold in many shops, but for professional cameras check the following places. Prices for cameras are up to 50% higher than in the US and Europe. Both places also sell and develop photographic films.

Computer
Notebooks and tablets are sold in many electro domestic shops throughout town. For more specific needs check these shops.

Cell phones
Pushy street vendors at the intersection of Ave Independencia Sur y 1a Calle Poniente and along Ave. Jose Matias Delgado offer SIM cards for $3 including free talk time (sometimes as low as $1), and cell phones. If you don't trust them, better visit one of the many shops, or the carrier's customer center (bring identification document). All carriers have offices in Metrocentro, and at the following downtown locations:

If you buy a 2nd hand cell phone, ask for unlocked (liberado), and the battery's endurance. Replacement parts (keyboards, batteries, memory cards, etc) for cell phones are sold by numerous shops.

Go next

title: Santa Ana (El Salvador)


text:
Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a city and metropolitan area less than 100 miles (160 km) from Los Angeles but vastly different in pace from its huge neighbor to the south. With a temperate climate and lush natural environs, the "Riviera of the West" is a pleasant day or weekend trip from L.A. Its wide beaches, highly rated wineries, and a large variety of shopping and dining choices enable the town of just 90,000 residents to enjoy the sort of cultural and social amenities which are usually found only in much larger cities.

Understand
Although the common perception of Santa Barbara is as a playground for the rich and famous, the reality is that the average income within city limits is only slightly higher than California as a whole. Notable for its California Mission-style architecture (a long-standing local ordinance ensures that all commercial construction follows the Mission theme, which results in a plethora of red-tiled roofs and faux adobe supermarkets), local residents are intensely proud of their city's roots and traditions, and a number of hugely popular festivals throughout the year celebrate the many cultures found in the city.

In addition, the city's large Latino population, concentrated in the east side of the city around Milpas Street, means there are a great many tacquerias and Mexican restaurants to be found. Santa Barbara has also been influenced by Los Angeles' food-truck scene.

Orientation
The city of Santa Barbara is part of what's known as the South Coast, so named because the coastline between Point Conception and the city of Ventura faces more south than west. The road that serves as the city's nexus is State Street, which runs northwest-southeast in and near downtown and east-west in the uptown area. It continues west as Hollister Avenue through Goleta. The area immediately to the east of lower State Street, between the waterfront and Highway 101, is known as the Funk Zone and has become one of the premier tourist areas of Santa Barbara, and is home to wineries, breweries, art galleries and restaurants, as well as a more youthful and trendier atmosphere. Just a few blocks above the Funk Zone, State Street becomes pedestrian only for eight blocks before opening up to traffic again. The eight blocks closed to cars, called the State Street Promenade are the core of Santa Barbara's downtown. The Latino part of town is on the east side of the city and has its own main street, Milpas Street, which is almost away from, but parallel to, State Street in and near downtown. Upper State Street connects to Highway 154, a state highway that connects Santa Barbara with Los Olivos and wine country.

The orientation can be confusing to visitors, especially since locals often give directions as though the mountains were east, rather than north, and the ocean west, rather than south. "Go north on the 101" means literally "go west"; and if someone says "south of town" they don't mean in the ocean, but down the coast in the direction of Carpinteria and Ventura.

Santa Barbara's downtown neighborhoods are generally working, middle- and upper-middle-class areas, while Montecito to the east of the city and Hope Ranch to the west are two of the city's wealthy enclaves, known as part-time hideouts for Hollywood celebrities and rich retirees.

Climate
Santa Barbara has a slightly different climate from the rest of the area. It maintains idyllic temperatures for most of the year and it is rare to go a week during any season without at least one day reaching. There are occasional temperature extremes: heat waves are common in the late summer and early fall, and night time temperatures can reach down into the thirties during the winter. The best times to travel are not always what travelers expect. Spring and early summer are cool and cloudy through the mornings and often into the afternoons, with temperatures in the s and low s in what the locals call "May Gray" and "June Gloom". During August and early September temperatures get into the s and cloudy days are rare. In mid to late September and October daytime temperatures stay mostly in the s. The rainy season typically lasts from November through March, but even during the rainy season more days are sunny than not.

By plane

The airport can be pricey, and flight schedules limited; flying to Los Angeles (LAX) or Burbank (BUR) and driving or taking public transportation to Santa Barbara may come out ahead on price, time, or both. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner (see below) stops at Burbank airport 5 times a day on its way to Santa Barbara. From LAX, take the Santa Barbara Airbus for a direct ride or the FlyAway to Union Station and Amtrak to Santa Barbara. Los Angeles is known for its wildly unpredictable traffic, and even the train sometimes experiences delays, so allow yourself extra time if you go this route.

By train

 * Routes stopping in Santa Barbara:
 * Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.
 * Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.
 * Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.

[[Image:Santa_Barbara_station_2022.jpg|260px|right|thumb|Coast Starlight operates daily between [[Seattle]] and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.

Santa Barbara railway station.]]

The ride on these train routes is beautiful on portions near the coast, but delays do occur, especially on the Coast Starlight.

By bus
The station is downtown, at 224 Chapala, next to the Amtrak station.

The Santa Barbara Airbus operates eight times per day between Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and LAX.

Central Coast Shuttle also operates an airport shuttle between Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and LAX.

Flixbus serves Santa Barbara on its way to San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles.

VISTA Transit runs regional service from Ventura and Oxnard.

Santa Barbara MTD, the city bus, runs service from Goleta and Carpinteria if you're already in the metro area.

By car
There is only one major highway in and out of Santa Barbara: US 101, which is coterminous with Highway 1 for over 30 miles (48 km) both north and south (well, east, but down the coast) of the city. From the 101, coming from the south, downtown Santa Barbara can be accessed via the Garden St. exit, while the beaches can be found off the Cabrillo Blvd. off ramp. From the north, get off the 101 at either the Mission or Carrillo St. off ramps. Traffic patterns are the opposite from the famous Los Angeles grid lock, as the southbound 101 can come to a grinding halt on Sunday afternoons.

State Route 154 is a secondary road that leads over the mountains to the Santa Ynez Valley, and to towns like Los Olivos and Solvang; it is accurately designated a "Scenic Highway" by the California Department of Transportation. However, it's probably less of a way to get into town and more of a road to take on a day trip from Santa Barbara.

By bus
The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (SBMTD) runs buses all over Santa Barbara proper, and neighboring Goleta, Montecito and Carpinteria. Routes and fares are on their website. It's a cheap and fairly comprehensive way to get around town, but not particularly fast.

The SBMTD also runs shuttle bus services along State St between downtown Sola St and the waterfront, and along the waterfront between the Zoo and the Harbor, leaving every 15 or 30 minutes between 9AM and 6PM (till 10PM F-Sa in summer). Fare is 25 to 50 cents; get a free shuttle transfer to switch between the two shuttles.

Bill's Bus specializes in transporting the student party crowd safely Downtown from Isla Vista and back again on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. $10 round trip, $7 one way.

By car
Santa Barbara is fairly easy to drive around, and in most areas parking is rarely difficult to find, either in a municipal garage or on the street. One confusing wrinkle is the presence of 3 similarly named major streets, Carrillo St, Castillo St, and Cabrillo Blvd. Don't mix them up. As anywhere, you shouldn't drive under the influence of alcohol, but be aware that Santa Barbara police are particularly merciless about catching and prosecuting drunk drivers.

Budget and Hertz car rental outlets are present at the airport terminal, and several other rental agencies are located in Santa Barbara.

By foot
With a mild climate, walking is a great way to get around town, but might be inconvenient outside of downtown and the funk zone.

By taxi
Taxis are plentiful but expensive, but given the relatively compact size of downtown Santa Barbara, they're viable if you don't need to go out too far into the suburbs.

By bike or inline skate
Along the waterfront, many businesses offer bicycle or inline skate rentals for exploring the beach areas, and "rickshaw" taxis are also common.

Do
Although Santa Barbara is an atypical coastal town, it offers the typical Southern California variety of outdoor activities, from surfing to whale-watching.

 * are based at Lompoc City Airport.
 * are based at Lompoc City Airport.
 * are based at Lompoc City Airport.
 * are based at Lompoc City Airport.

Performance venues and organizations
The events calendar of the Santa Barbara Independent (a local weekly newspaper) is a good source for the latest events in town.

Parks
Santa Barbara has numerous attractive public parks. A few notable ones are listed below.

Buy
Santa Barbara is a shopping paradise. State Street alone offers more than a mile stretch of everything from trendy boutiques to popular chain stores like Restoration Hardware. (812 State St., downtown) is an upscale mall that bills itself as "California's First Shopping Center," while lushly themed and nearby (651 Paseo Nuevo) offers Nordstrom's and more than 50 specialty shops. Whatever you're looking for, you'll likely find it on State Street. There is plenty of parking downtown with the first 75 minutes free in most lots (except at the beach). A good bet is the parking structure on Ortega.

Eat
Santa Barbara does French-inspired California cuisine quite well. Locally sourced food is a point of pride for many chefs, who are able to draw from the bounty of fresh produce grown within a few hundred miles of the city, as well as the fresh seafood that's pulled in from the ocean daily. The town's elevated cultural status attracts high-powered chefs from all over the world, and the selection and sheer variety of local fare is quite astonishing for a community of 90,000.

In addition, Santa Barbara's Mexican food ranks with any other town in California and the food truck scene born in L.A. has emerged in the city as well. Here are just a few of Santa Barbara's culinary choices:

Splurge
For a city as wealthy as it is, Santa Barbara has fewer real fine dining options than you might expect. A few good options are below.

Bars
In addition to Santa Barbara wine tasting, the region is also full of bars. Many of them cater to crowds of students from the nearby university. Thursday nights are the official college night of downtown bars at which time the drinks are particularly cheap. Really any bar on lower State Street is Fun on Thursday nights to relive those college days.

Cafés
There are several good places to relax in Santa Barbara:

Other
The local ice creams or blenders are great for the go or to relax on one of the state street benches.

Sleep
Santa Barbara has a huge number of hotels and motels, ranging from Motel 6 to the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. One thing you won't find here is dives. Prices are before tax; allow another 8% for tax.

Go next
Although Santa Barbara is somewhat geographically isolated, with only one major route in or out of the city, the surrounding area is rife with fascinating side-trips.

 * Cachuma Lake Recreation Area - This rural county park in the hills, about up Route 154, makes for a pleasant day trip for kayaking or hiking, or you can arrange to camp there.
 * Channel Islands National Park - Channel Islands National Park is a series of islands that are home to incredible marine life, beautiful and remote scenery, and the wily Channel Islands fox. While most trips to the Channel Islands depart from Ventura, Truth Aquatics runs trips from Santa Barbara.
 * Goleta - Neighboring Santa Barbara to the west, Goleta offers similar beaches and resorts to its more famous neighbor. It is also home to a grove of trees that is an overwintering area for monarch butterflies, with the insects gathering in huge numbers each year from mid-November until mid-February.
 * Los Olivos - About north of Santa Barbara on Highway 154. This is a cute little one-horse town with about 20 local winery tasting rooms lined up on Grand St. A great place to go wine tasting without having to drive a zillion miles from winery to winery.
 * Montecito - This affluent town is located just east of Santa Barbara along the coast and is home to many rich and famous, including Oprah Winfrey. Montecito Village is home to some interesting shops and markets, while upscale resorts can be found on the coast.
 * Solvang - Located approximately north of Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang is a gingerbread town. What must have started several decade back as a small "Little Denmark" tourist trap has grown into an entire town and surrounding community obsessed with its own overwhelming Danishness. Every sign, roof, light post and pothole is Danish-themed here, and reports of wandering bands of drunken men in plastic Viking helmets are firmly founded in reality. Take Highway 101 north/west to Buellton (the home of the original Pea Soup Anderson's), exit at the Highway 246 offramp and follow the destination signs to Solvang. If you're up for a twisty drive, take Highway 154 (also known as the San Marcos Pass) back to Santa Barbara at sunset and enjoy an unforgettable view.
 * Santa Ynez - northwest of Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez sits at the heart of the rural Santa Ynez valley, an area that attracts travelers to its many wineries. The valley was the setting for the 2004 film Sideways, and fans of the film are known to make pilgrimages to the inns and restaurants from the movie.
 * Wine Country. North on US 101 or Highway 154; pretty much all of the county north of the mountains.
 * Los Angeles is about down the coast, but whether you take the 101 or the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1), be prepared for a major tie-up somewhere along the route in the best of times. With no traffic, the trip could take you 90 minutes, but actual driving time is often easily twice that and can be more. Both routes have their appeal, though, as after they diverge in Ventura, Route 1 goes past beautiful coastline and the Malibu Cliffs, whereas the 101 climbs over the Conejo Grade into Thousand Oaks and then the San Fernando Valley.  Also accessible by Amtrak, Flixbus, or Greyhound. Contrary to popular belief, Los Angeles does have decent public transportation and a car-free weekend can be had at places like Hollywood or Santa Monica.

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

title: Santa Barbara


text:
Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County is in California's Central Coast region. It is sometimes considered the northernmost part of Southern California. Although it shares excellent weather, Mission-style architecture, and beautiful beaches with the rest of Southern California, the Santa Barbara area is physically remote, and has more of the laid-back attitude of the Central Coast.

Cities

 * Los Olivos - This town has more than its share of wineries and tasting rooms, with around a dozen such businesses despite its tiny population of just over 1,000. The town also draws visitors wishing to pay their respects at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, which is located  north of town but not open to visitors.
 * Montecito - Bordering Santa Barbara and located along the ocean, Montecito is one of the wealthiest communities in America and is home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Rob Lowe. Visitors seeking luxury, and who can afford to pay for it, will appreciate the upscale resorts; those who would rather not pay a small fortune for lodging can still enjoy the beaches and excellent restaurants.

Other destinations

 * - This rural county park in the hills, about up Route 154 from downtown Santa Barbara, makes for a pleasant day trip for kayaking or hiking, or you can arrange to camp there.

Get in
The main artery of Santa Barbara county is US Highway 101, a limited-access freeway.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport : There are flights from Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, Portland (OR), Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with Alaska, American, Contour, Delta, Frontier, and United.

Santa Maria Public Airport : There are flights from Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with Allegiant Air and United Express.

Drink
The Santa Inez Valley, just north across the crest of the seaside mountain range, is a fairly well-known winery region. This was the locale for the popular movie "Sideways". Wineries can be found through the valley. Wine tasting is a popular activity that can be made easier (and safer) by using a shuttle for transportation. Most will pick you up right at your hotel lobby and take you out or a full day of tasting with a knowledgeable guide. The typical tour includes tasting at four wineries and a picnic lunch set up for you in wine country.

Sleep
Most of the lodgings in this region are in cities. You can find their listing in the various city articles above. Rural Santa Barbara County has a few resorts, ranches, and other lodgings scattered around. Some are listed here, others are listed in the article for a nearby city.

Go next

 * - San Luis Obispo County is located to the north of Santa Barbara County, and it marks a noticeable shift in landscape from areas to the south, with a dramatic and remote coastline that draws nature lovers. Hearst Castle is located here, the massive and historic former home of the newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. The town of San Luis Obispo is a college town that is the last large city for over  for those traveling north along the coast.
 * - Bordering Santa Barbara County to the northeast, Kern County extends across a number of geographic regions: the western portion is in the San Joaquin Valley, the northeastern portion is in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the southeastern part is in the Desert. Visitors to the county are most likely to be heading to Bakersfield, one of California's largest cities, or traveling along Interstate 5 past oil fields and agricultural areas.
 * - While to some extent it is an extension of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Santa Barbara County's neighbor to the south and east is home to rural getaways like the town of Ojai that share more with the remote Central Coast region than they do with the massive cities to the south. While the county is heavily populated (with services to match), the Los Padres National Forest dominates the northern part of this county and provides recreational opportunities for those who want to spend time outdoors.

title: Santa Barbara County


text:
Santa Barbara de Samana

Santa Bárbara De Samaná is a cute harbor town on the Samaná Peninsula, and capital of the Samaná province of Dominican Republic. It doesn't have the same hustle and bustle as nearby Las Terrenas, but then it doesn't have any beautiful golden-sand beaches right in town either. What it does have is whale-watching, access to island resorts, and a pretty harborfront opposite a cool-looking bridge to some small islands. Note that the town name is more often shortened to Samaná than to Santa Bárbara.

By bus
You can get to Samana directly by bus from Santo Domingo. The buses leave from the same station as the ones for Las Terrenas (see that article for details).

By car
Though it once took six hours to drive here along a small road from Santo Domingo, it's now a 2-3 hour drive along well-paved toll highway.

Get around
Rental car, Taxi, Bus, four wheelers and motorbikes. The town itself is walkable, but to get to beaches you might need other transportation.

See
Humpback whale watching from January until March. At peak season there are usually about a hundred whales in the bay at any given time.

Do
Activities include a large number of secluded beaches to explore, horseback riding, four wheeler and motorbiking, and whale watching.

About halfway between Samana and Playa Rincon on Highway 5 near Punta Chiva is Sparky's Spray. This rocky and orange beach where the waves crash creates a spout/spray of water that travels to the jungle across the road. The spray happens about every 15 seconds and is very unique.

Eat
Restaurants range from typical Dominican to Italian and French cuisines.

Drink
Roadside bars, restaurants and booming late night bars.

Sleep
Accommodation choices range from hostel to five star. There are a few new large hotel complexes, a number of medium sized hotels and villas and private home for rent. Unlike more beach-oriented towns in the region, there aren't many accommodations right in town, but wander the streets and you can find a couple local hotels and "guest houses" (small groups of rooms without a reception desk - call the phone number on the sign).

Go next

 * Las Terrenas - modest but full-service beach tourism town
 * Las Galeras - smaller and more remote beach town for low-key tourism

title: Santa Barbara de Samana


text:
Santa Carolina

Santa Carolina, otherwise known as Paradise Island, is an island off the coast of Central Mozambique. Santa Carolina is a true rock island with deep channels. It is 3.2 km (2 mi) long by 500 m (0.3 miles) wide. Santa Carolina has three beautiful beaches with coral reefs close to the shore. Santa Carolina forms part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The closest mainland town to Santa carolina is Inhassoro which a tourim town with much to offer.

Understand
The TV programme Survivor South Africa was filmed on Santa Carolina Island.

Sleep
There is no accommodation on Santa Carolina.

title: Santa Carolina


text:
Santa Catalina (Panama)

Santa Catalina is a small beach-side town on the Pacific coast of Veraguas, Panama. Santa Catalina is known for fishing, surfing, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving. It provides boat transportation to remote beaches, offshore islands, and protected natural areas. Most visitors will exploit its proximity to Coiba National Marine Park.

Understand
Santa Catalina has a population of around 300 people and an expat community of about another 50 people. Most of the townspeople speak only Spanish.

Credit card usage has become more common among the dive shops and hotels, but not among the restaurants/bars, so be sure to pack enough cash. As of April 2022, contrary to what you might read on the internet, there is an ATM in the town next to the Farmacia.

By car
Santa Catalina is accessible via a single road from Sona. A 4x4 vehicle used to be a requirement for this road, but it is now paved so an economy rental car should suffice. Although the town is only about 50 km from Sona, the drive takes an hour and 10 minutes due to all of the potholes.

By bus
A local bus runs 2-3 times a day between Santa Catalina and Sona for a cost of $4.65 and takes around 2 hours. From there you can connect to Santiago.

The San Isidro bus line connects Sona to Panama City, at a cost of $10 and another 5 hours of travel time.

By taxi
Taking a taxi from Sona is a little faster than the bus and costs $30.

Get around
On foot, one can walk the entire town including both beaches in about 2 hours. There are two major roads that intersect at the town center which allow access by car.

See
Both beaches, Playa Estero and the smaller one at the end of the major road through the town are idyllic.

Do
As one may gather from the hammocks strung up on nearly every piece of property, the primary pastime in Santa Catalina is chilling out.

Buy
Santa Catalina has one tiny store in the middle of town which sells toiletries, canned goods, alcohol and random produce. Now accepts credit cards.

Eat
Fresh produce is sold off of trucks which can be a welcome midday snack, and fishermen gather by the mango tree to sell their daily catch.

There are few independent restaurants; see the sleep or drink section for information on hotels or bars that serve food.

Drink
All of the bars in Santa Catalina close their doors at 10:00 and this is tightly enforced. Drinks start at $1

Transporting open containers is allowed, but consuming them in public is not. Be careful, the police are bored.

Stay healthy
The town has no hospital, doctor, but has a pharmacy.

Although you won't get malaria from the mosquitos in Santa Catalina, they are still relentless and walking around with hundreds of bites can be a major drag. Sand flies (chitras) are rarer but can inflict quite painful stings. If you invest in one piece of personal care product for your trip, make it good insect repellant.

If you plan to take a dip into the open waters of the Pacific a wetsuit is highly recommended. The water is warm enough (unless you're diving), but the larger concern is these string-like jellyfish which some people discover they're violently allergic to.

Pack appropriately, as the nearest hospital is at least an hour away in Sona. Visits to specialists will require a trip to Santiago, another hour further still.

Stay safe
Aside from the usual crimes of passion, the town is extremely close-knit and serious crime is unheard of.

There is the occasional petty theft, so the usual precautions apply.

Drug dealers will solicit you but are quite timid as the police take drug enforcement very seriously. Simply ignoring them works best.

The townspeople, including the police, do aggressively cat-call women which takes the usual Panamanian form of hissing. Women do best to just ignore these advances, as responding appears to simply encourage their behavior.

Connect
There is one internet cafe outside of town limits, about a 20-minute walk up the main road. Some of the hotels and hostels have wifi at varying speeds, though they generally prefer to keep their internet to their guests.

Claro and Movil+ provide 3G cell service.

Go next

 * Santiago de Veraguas
 * Coiba National Marine Park
 * Coiba National Marine Park

Your only way out of town via land is back to Sona from which you can take another bus, usually toward Santiago or Panama City.

title: Santa Catalina (Panama)


text:
Santa Catarina

Santa Catarina is a state in the southern region of Brazil. Santa Catarina offers rural tourism, thermal resorts, ecological tourism, and adventure sports, historic monuments and sights, religious tourism, Beto Carrero World and Unipraias parks in Balneário Camboriú, and beach resorts of Florianópolis, Laguna, Porto Belo and Itajaí. Beyond the beaches, the state also offers excellent rural tourism in the Serras Catarinenses region and a rich culture influenced by German and Italian immigrants, including Brazil's most famous Oktoberfest event.

Cities

 * — the state capital, also known as Ilha da Magia (Island of Magic), is one of the most popular beach destinations, as well as possibly the most liveable state capital, of the entire country
 * — a lively beach city famous for its jovial nightlife and one of Brazil's most impressive urban skylines
 * — host of Brazil's most important Oktoberfest event, it is a major center of German and Italian culture
 * — a small municipality containing some of the state's best beaches
 * — a good base for exploring the vast array of beaches south of the state capital
 * — possibly the major cultural centre of the state, with several museums and traditional events
 * — a popular base for ecotourism and rural tourism in the Serras Catarinenses region
 * — a charming and very authentic German-settled town
 * — containing Santa Catarina's best preserved Colonial historical centre

Other destinations

 * — a representative area of the Atlantic Forest biome; protected species in the park include cougar, margay, vinaceous-breasted amazon, white-necked hawk, white-bearded antshrike and Phylloscartes

Understand
It is situated between Parana and Rio Grande do Sul. It is one of the wealthiest and more developed states of the country, also containing the most popular beaches of Brazil's South region.

History
European settlement began with the Spanish settlement of Santa Catarina island in 1542. The Portuguese took control in 1675 and established the captaincy of Santa Catarina in 1738, bringing families from the Azores to populate the shore.

In 1839, during the Ragamuffin War, there was an unsuccessful attempt for Santa Catarina to secede from the Empire of Brazil to form the independent Juliana Republic (allied with the Riograndense Republic to the south) which was thwarted in four months. Between the early 19th century and mid-20th century, a great number of European immigrants arrived in Santa Catarina; these immigrants were taken to populate the south of the nation by Imperial initiative. About 50% of these immigrants were from Germany and Austria. The rest came mainly from Italy, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Lithuania, France, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, Estonia, Slovenia and Latvia; these immigrants created an abundance of small, family-held farms, many of which continue to exist in the interior of the state.

By plane
National and international flights arrive at Hercílio Luz Airport in Florianópolis and Victor Konder in Navegantes.

Domestic flights arrive at Serafim Bertaso Airport in Chapecó and Lauro Carneiro de Loyola in JoinvilleRegional flights arrive at Diomício Freitas Airport in Forquilhinha/Criciúma, Carlos Alberto da Costa Neves in Caçador and Municipal de Joaçaba.

By car
The BR-101 crosses the state in a north-south direction along the coast, is duplicated in the North section and in the final phase of duplication in the South section. It has toll collection stations in Garuva, Barra Velha, Porto Belo and Palhoça.

The BR-116 also crosses the state in a north-south direction, but through the interior, it has a single lane, heavy truck traffic and is privatized, with toll collection stations in Monte Castelo, Santa Cecília and Correia Pinto.

The main connection between the Coast and the Interior is the BR-282, which leaves from Florianópolis and ends at the border with Argentina, in Paraíso. It has a single track and dangerous stretches of mountains.

Another important connection is the BR-470, which leaves Navegantes westwards, passing through the Itajaí Valley, where there is intense vehicle traffic. It is in the process of duplicating the stretch between Navegantes and Indaial. It crosses the BR-101 at Campos Novo, heading south from there, ending at the border with Rio Grande do Sul.

The BR-280 connects São Francisco do Sul to Porto União. It has a single lane, but in the process of being duplicated in the section between São Francisco do Sul and Jaraguá do Sul.

Other highways are BR-163 (access via PR to the Far West), BR-158 (access via RS to the West) and BR-153 (connection between RS and PR via the West).

By bus
The main interstate and international bus companies serving the state are Catarinense, Reunidas, Unesul, Pluma, Itapemirim and Eucatur.

By boat
Several cruises dock during the summer season in São Francisco do Sul, Itajaí, Porto Belo and Florianópolis.

See

 * Babitonga Bay in Sao Francisco do Sul
 * Whales in Imbituba
 * Caves in Botuverá
 * Snow in the National Park of São Joaquim
 * Falls of the Chapecó River in Abelardo Luz
 * Waterfall Park in Corupá
 * Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve in Bombinhas
 * Serra do Rio do Rastro between Lauro Muller and Bom Jardim da Serra
 * Serra Dona Francisca and North Plateau between Joinville and São Bento do Sul

Do

 * Thermal waters in Western Santa Catarina: in Águas de Chapecó, Itá, Piratuba, São João do Oeste and São Carlos
 * Beto Carrero World, a theme park in Penha
 * The Oktoberfest of Blumenau is Brazil's largest and the world's second largest (after Germany's Munich)
 * Between July and November, southern right whales visit the state's coast.
 * The municipality of Timbó is a center for adventure sports like rafting and canyoning.
 * Joinville is the host city in July to the widely acclaimed "Joinville Dance Festival", the annual "Festival of Flowers" in November which showcases orchids produced in the region, and several business events in its Convention Center

Drink

 * Beer - high quality beer from local microbreweries Einsebahn and Bierland, in Blumenau, Schornstein in Pomerode, and Zehn Bier in Brusque
 * Wine - investments are being made to produce good wine in São Joaquim
 * Cachaça - high quality cachaças can be found in Luis Alves and many other small cities, and Florianópolis also has a few good brands, as Cachaça Intisica

title: Santa Catarina


text:
Santa Catarina Palopo

Santa Catarina Palopó is a village on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala.

Get in
Santa Catarina Palopó is easy to get to. From Panajachel public pickups known as fletes leave regularly. To find a pick up walk up the Calle Principal towards the market. At the road to Santa Catarina in front of Chalos grocery you will see fletes (pick ups with some iron bars in the back) going to San Antonio Palopó and Santa Catarina Palopó. Though the pickups going to San Antonio Palopó will pass through Santa Catarina, it's best to board one that is going directly to Santa Catarina. Ask the driver if he is going to Santa Catarina or look for the women wearing blue trajes in the back. The cost is Q5 each way (typically Q10 for tourists - you could complain about your 60 US cents but it has become standard practice across the lake, all businesses, so don´t bother fighting it).

Alternatively, if you don't want to take public transportation you can arrange private boat service with a variety of tour operators and lancheros in Panajachel. These options are more expensive and you might be quoted prices as high as Q250.

Get around
Santa Catarina is a small village. The only way to get around is to walk.

See
Travelers to this village rarely see more than the main street, the local Catholic church, and a conglomerate of local artisan shops, however a walk up one of the narrow footpaths to the residential area is highly recommended.

Do
The hot springs or aguas termales located on the North side of the lake are frequented by many visitors, however, with the current raise in bacteria along the shore it is not advisable to get in the water at this time.

Santa Catarina is a great place to walk. A trip up to the onion fields above the village is highly recommended. To get to the onion fields just head up one of the footpaths towards the residential area. Go up and keep going up. If you ask people along the way, they will be more than happy to direct you to the onion fields. When you get to the top you will see an array of onion fields, corn plantations, and fields of flowers. It's a truly beautiful place and the views of the lake are amazing!

Buy
This is a great place to come if you are interested in hand-woven tapestries, paintings, and ceramics. The main street is full of little shops and artisans all the way down to the lake shore.

Eat
For a fine dining experience, follow the main road down to the lake and look for the hotel Villa Santa Catarina. It will be on your left-hand side after the school, about half way down.

If you're looking for an affordable place to eat there are three small restaurants on the shore-front. Just continue down the main road to the lake, past the Hotel Villa Santa Catarina. When you get to the lake, follow the shoreline to your left. The three restaurants are all next to each other. You can't miss them.

Sleep

 * Hotel Villa Santa Catarina offers rooms for about 694 Quetzals a night. For budget travelers, there are a variety of Hospedajes. These are usually Q30-50 a night.

title: Santa Catarina Palopo


text:
Santa Caterina Villarmosa

Santa Caterina Villarmosa is a little town of 4,900 people (2021) near Caltanissetta in Sicily.

Understand
The town's economy is mainly agricultural (wheat, olives and almonds). Characteristic of this small town is the great tradition in the art of embroidery.

See

 * Mother Church (Chiesa Madre), built in the 17th century, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The interior, with three naves, is rich in frescoes. The church is in Piazza Garibaldi.
 * Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Sanctuary of the Holy Madonna delle Grazie), dating back to 1600, in via Roma.
 * Archaeological site of Cozzo Scavo, an ancient settlement of the Iron Age; the finds found are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Caltanissetta.
 * Church of Purgatory (Maria Santissima del Suffragio), from 1648, between via Ruggero Settimo and via Avvocato Gallina.

Eat
Pizzeria Charleston

Drink
Homemade wine and grappa

Sleep
Hotel 2000

Go next
Walk every evening up and down in the "Piazza" and "Via Roma". Especially in summer it's full of people. When you are tired you can sit in a bar and drink an espresso or eat ice cream and look at the people walking in the piazza.

title: Santa Caterina Villarmosa


text:
Santa Clara

There is more than one place called Santa Clara:

Cuba

 * Santa Clara (Cuba) - A city in Cuba.

United States of America

 * Santa Clara (California) - A city in California.
 * Santa Clara (Utah) - A city in Utah.
 * Santa Clara County - A county in California.

title: Santa Clara


text:
Santa Clara (California)

Santa Clara is a town in the South Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California.

Understand

Santa Clara is a small city of big contrasts. If any city can claim to be "the center of Silicon Valley," it is this town of just over 100,000. Intel, AMD, WebEx, NVIDIA, and National Semiconductor all have headquarters here. At the same time, Santa Clara is one of the oldest settlements (by Europeans) in Northern California. The Mission Santa Clara de Asís was established in 1777, and the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University, founded in 1851, is the oldest university in California. Dozens of 19th-century homes are well-maintained by their 21st-century owners in the "old quad," the earliest residential area, adjacent to the university.

Yet another contrast is the diversity of the local population, driven by the tech boom of the 1970s-1990s. Visitors from Asia and Europe frequently overhear strangers speaking their native languages. Specialty markets offer native ingredients from around the world, and the Indian and East Asian restaurants are some of the best in the Bay Area. But many of the best places in Santa Clara are not visible at first glance. You could drive right through this town and see nothing of any interest, or you could take the time to learn where to look, explore, and enjoy.

By plane

 * Just west of San Jose, Santa Clara is adjacent to San Jose Mineta Airport . To reach the airport take the free shuttle from the Santa Clara Caltrain station, route 10.
 * To the San Francisco International Airport, take Caltrain north (toward San Francisco) to Millbrae. From there, transfer to BART and take BART to San Bruno and then to SFO. Allow about an hour and a half.
 * The Oakland International airport is accessible by via the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART station and the AirBART shuttle. From Amtrak, transfer to BART at Jack London Square.

By train
Caltrain stops at Santa Clara Station, on the east side of Santa Clara University (1001 Railroad Avenue). Though Caltrain doesn't really stop at San Jose Mineta Airport, the free Airporter bus (VTA line 10) shuttles passengers between the airport and the Santa Clara Caltrain station.

The Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) is an express train running from the central valley towns of Stockton, Tracy, Livermore and Pleasanton to San Jose. The train shares the Santa Clara station with Caltrain and also stops at the Great America station at Lafayette and Tasman, near the Santa Clara Convention Center, Levi's Stadium, and California's Great America. Only a few trains run per day. The Great America stop doesn't include a station building, just a platform under an overpass, so plan connecting transportation before you arrive.
 * When you get off the southbound ACE train at Great America in the morning, there are free shuttle buses waiting to take you to destinations throughout Silicon Valley (as far away as the offices of Google in the west, Cisco in the east, and Nvidia in the south). Similar shuttles run in the reverse direction in the afternoon/evening.

Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor train runs between Sacramento and San Jose via East Bay cities such as Berkeley and Emeryville. The Capitol Corridor shares the same stations as the ACE above, stopping at the University and Great America. The nearby Diridon Station in San Jose includes a building with a ticket counter and may even be closer to parts of Santa Clara. Read schedules carefully, since some trains include a bus connection.

Get around
Light rail and bus. The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offers light rail in Santa Clara on the Mountain View-Alum Rock and Old Ironsides-Winchester lines. VTA also offers bus service within and around Santa Clara. Consult the VTA website for schedules, fares, and trip planning.

Rental car. Numerous national car rental chains serve Santa Clara and surrounding cities. Most people living in the area prefer automobiles as their primary means of transportation, and it is likely to be the fastest, although area freeways do get congested during commute hours. Rental cars are available both at the San Jose Airport and at various locations in the city. Throughout most of Santa Clara, public parking is ample and free.

Bicycle. Many city streets are wide and bicycle-friendly with painted bicycle lanes; expressways permit bicycles but have high-speed, heavy traffic that may be uncomfortable, especially for inexperienced riders. Stop by City Hall for a copy of the Santa Clara bicycle map showing recommended bicycle routes. Bicycles should ride on the right side of the road, going the same direction as traffic. Take care when crossing expressway exits and right turn lanes in traffic. Caltrain, Amtrak Capital Corridor, and VTA (both light rail and buses) are all equipped with bicycle racks. If you plan to take a bicycle on area public transit, consult the website of the system(s) you will use for information on locating and using the bicycle racks.

Learn

 * Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate curricula in the schools of Arts and Sciences, Education and Counseling Psychology, Business, Engineering, Theology, and Law. Summer school classes are open to visitors and students.
 * Mission College, phone +1 408 988-2200, 3000 Mission College Boulevard. This community college offers academic, vocational, and other classes, including associate degrees and certificates.
 * UCSC offers accredited curricula and courses through their Silicon Valley Extension, with a Santa Clara location.
 * Santa Clara Adult Education, a division of the Santa Clara Unified School District, offers selected technical, academic, and recreational classes. Students must be at least 18 years of age.
 * The Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes, largely recreational, listed in their Recreation Activities guide. Classes are open to non-residents, but city residents pay lower fees.
 * The Santa Clara City Library offers numerous programs, lectures, presentations, and classes. Visit their program schedule on their website for current details.

Eat
Area restaurants feature foods from cultures all over the world, reflecting the area's diversity. There is no need to eat in the same restaurant, or even the same kind of restaurant, twice.

Cope

 * The Santa Clara City Library, 2635 Homestead Road, was rebuilt completely in 2004. The library has a number of Internet terminals and a cafe. If you want to use one of the terminals, arrive when the library opens, or try a weekday when the kids are in school. The library has free Wi-Fi access if you have a library card. Out of town visitors may inquire at the information desk on the first floor near the main entrance for a temporary library card allowing Internet access without checkout privileges. While there, walk around the library to see the artwork in the building, and continue out into Central Park. The smaller Mission branch of the public library (not open weekends) is located at 1098 Lexington Street, near Santa Clara University. It also offers wifi and a limited number of Internet terminals.
 * Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy. Parking is free and usually ample, depending on the conventions in town.

title: Santa Clara (California)


text:
Santa Clara (Cuba)

Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara.

Understand
Santa Clara is most central with regards to the province as well as the country. Santa Clara is the 5th largest city with 229,000 inhabitants (2020).

By bus
Viazul provides several buses a day to/from Camagüey, Havana, Sancti Spiritus, and Santiago de Cuba. There is also daily service to Varadero, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad.

By train
There are several trains from Havana each day. Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba are served by a daily overnight train and a twice weekly daytime local train that runs west on Thursdays and Sundays and east on Mondays and Fridays. A local train may leave Cienfuegos for Santa Clara (very) early in the morning, returning in the evening. Another local train may travel from Sancti Spiritus to Cienfuegos via Santa Clara in the morning, returning in the afternoon. Check that the local trains are running in advance.

By taxi
As of 2016, the fare for a shared taxi to Havana was approximately US$50-80.

By plane
Santa Clara is served by Abel Santamaría Airport. This airport is used by tourists who are going to all inclusive resorts in Cayo Santa Maria, as well as many travelers from the US who are engaged in person-to-person cultural travel. Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, Westjet and Cubana serve many Canadian cities from this airport, while American Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest airlines serve US cities. Bahamasair provides direct service to Nassau, and Copa to Panama City. Many European carriers offer connections from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK.

The waiting areas are hot, crowded and have little seating so if you will be in this area for as significant period of time it is best to walk cross the street and enjoy some refreshments at the outdoor cantina (open to the air but covered with an awning.

The post-security waiting area is climate-controlled and very comfortable with lots of seating. There is a small cafe serving snacks and cafe Cubano. There is also good selection of gift shops in the waiting area for departing passengers after clearing security, which includes leather crafts, clothing, books (in English and Spanish), postcards, and rum. Most prices are fairly comparable to prices elsewhere in Cuba.

Getting there: Travelers connecting with all-inclusive resorts and tours will often board buses in the parking lot across the street from the airport. Independent travelers can sometimes find taxis but more likely will need to rent a car or arrange for the 16 km (30 min) car ride to town from the operators of the rental car company at the airport. One should expect to pay approximately US$20 for the ride.

Currency exchange: For currency exchange at the airport, there may be an office open inside the terminal but often it will be closed. If it is closed, walk around the building to the northeast corner of the building as there will sometimes be a window open for currency exchange. The currency exchange stations are painfully slow but are accurate and will give you the best exchange rate possible. You will be asked to show a passport for currency exchange.

Get around

Pedicabs and horse carriages operate in the centre of town and can take you to Che's mausoleum. The price will vary based on distance but will likely range from US$1-5.

Taxis are also plentiful and cheap, but it is advisable to agree on a price before departure. Taxis can be used for both local travel as well as travel to other cities.

See

 * Embalse Zaza. The largest man made reservoir in Cuba, 110 km SW of the city.
 * Embalse Zaza. The largest man made reservoir in Cuba, 110 km SW of the city.

Buy

 * Gift shops in the post-security area of Abel Santamaria Airport. Lots of handcrafts made of wood, leather and fabric. Books in English and Spanish. Cuban rum. Most vendors will accept pesos and major currencies.

Drink
Cafes and cantinas are located in one section of Main Street (listen for the live music) where the usual Cristal Cerveza, rum and cafe abound. In fact, a real treat is the ridiculously cheap and fantastically fresh and tasty espresso located on the strip aka main boulevard.

title: Santa Clara (Cuba)


text:
Santa Clara De Cobre

Santa Clara De Cobre is a town of 17,000 people (2020) near Lake Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacan. Its principal business is coppersmithing, and there is evidence all over the colonial center of the town. It has been named a Pueblo Mágico.

Understand
The town is often marked as "Villa Escalante" or "Salvador Escalante" on maps, but nobody calls it by that name.

The town is part of the Pátzcuaro region of Michoacán, and ethnically dominated by the indigenous Purépecha people. These people have been working with copper since the pre-Hispanic era, and led to this town's dominance in copper crafts over the colonial period (1519–1821) until well into the 19th century.

The town has mostly conserved its colonial look, with houses and other buildings mostly painted white and roofed in red tiles. Older buildings have thick adobe walls. Many of the houses here have decorations such as bells, flowerpots, doorknockers, etc. made of copper.

Most of the town's population, 82%, is employed in the making of copper items. There are 250 registered workshops in and around the town, which process about 450 tons of copper each year. Many of the copper items made are of a utilitarian nature – cooking utensils, various types of containers, pots, pans, plates, shot glasses, clocks, jewelry, vases, beds, tables, chairs, light switches, counters, sinks, even bathtubs, and much, much more, all in copper. However, since the 1970s copper jewelry, and many other non-essential items has also been made here. The workshops here are family-owned with children learning the trade from their parents. There is also a cooperative school-workshop to teach coppersmithing, named Vasco de Quiroga.

Get in
Bus from Pátzcuaro.

it is 18 km from Pátzcuaro, and 79 km from the state capital, Morelia.

By car
The roads are safe. In the rainy season pothole can pose a serious hazard to unaware drivers. Drive carefully as the roads have burros, dogs, cows, and horses.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance.

See
The center of town is made of two plazas. One contains a kiosk with a copper roof, as well as benches and garbage cans painted to look like copper. Facing this plaza are many shops selling copper wares. Next to it is a plain plaza onto which face the town's two main churches, the Parish of Santa Clara and the Chapel del Hospital. Just off the kiosk plaza is the Museo del Cobre (Copper Museum). The museum holds a collection of hand-hammered copper items from the pre-Hispanic period to the winners of the town's annual copper festival each year to the present, as well as national and international competitions. One section contains workshops in which classes are given and it is also home to the Unión de Artesanos (Artisans’ Union) which accredits smiths and products in order to conserve and further develop the craft.

Festivals

 * Feria Nacional del Cobre takes place in late August and/or early September. Workshops, displays of copper items, food, music and dance.

Buy
Copper plates, copper everything.

Go next

 * Patzcuaro
 * Janitzio

title: Santa Clara De Cobre


text:
Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita is the third largest city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, with a population of 229,000 in 2020. It is generally considered to be a suburb of Greater Los Angeles. It consists of the neighborhoods of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. It is part of the Santa Clarita Valley, which also includes the unincorporated "satellite communities" of Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Val Verde, and Agua Dulce.

Understand
Santa Clarita is a suburban city, 35 mi northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It contains the western-themed Old Town Newhall district and the Valencia Town Center mall, home to numerous upscale shops.

In terms of climate, Santa Clarita has hot, dry summers with cool nights; mild springs and autumns; and cool, rainy winters. In August, the average high is 94 F and the average low is 64 F; in January the average high is 65 F with a low of 45 F. Snow in the city is extremely rare, but happens occasionally in the outlying hills. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the city offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

By plane
The closest and most convenient airport is in Burbank. Other nearby airports include Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario, and Orange County.

Prime time offers shared ride vans to/from LAX. Stand under the orange "shared ride vans" sign in the center concrete island outside the LAX airport. Tell a customer service representative that you need a ride to Santa Clarita. They are easy to identify by their red jackets. If no representative is available, then flag down a red van with a "Santa Clarita" placard in the windshield. Approximate cost is $30 per person. Approximate time to Santa Clarita is 1 hour.

The cheapest way to get to Santa Clarita from LAX is to use Metrolink. Stand under the green "FlyAway, Buses and Long-Distance Vans" sign in the center concrete island outside the LAX airport. Board a blue FlyAway bus heading to Union Station (there are FlyAway buses going to Van Nuys and Westwood as well). It will cost you $4 one-way (a 30-minute trip). The blue FlyAway is a large charter-style bus, and is occasionally not labeled. FlyAway buses operate every half hour, 24 hours a day. If you are boarding at the airport, you will not be charged until you get to your destination. At Union Station follow the Metrolink signs. Walk to the Antelope Valley Line (typically platform 4B, but varies so check signage) in Union Station. Inside the terminal is an automated kiosk for purchasing tickets. One-way tickets for the AV Line are $7.50, or $10 for a day pass on the weekends. There is a discount for seniors, students, and people with documented disabilities, which generally includes any disability that would prevent them from walking or driving a car. The travel time is approximately 1 hour, which cuts off as much as 45 minutes with the traffic conditions at times.

By train
The closest full-service Amtrak station is Los Angeles Union Station. From there, you would take the Metrolink Antelope Valley line up to Santa Clarita. At Union Station follow the Metrolink signs. Walk to the Antelope Valley Line in Union Station (typically platform 4B, but varies so check signage). Inside the terminal is an automated kiosk for purchasing tickets. One way tickets are $7.50, or $10 for a day pass on the weekends. There are discounts for seniors and people with disabilities, which reduces the one-way ticket price to $3.75. The student discount reduces the one-way ticket price to $5.75. The travel time is approximately 1 hour, which cuts off as much as 45 minutes with the traffic conditions at times.

By car
From Downtown Los Angeles or other southern cities take Interstate 5 North, which is called "the 5 freeway" locally. Santa Clarita starts with Lyons Avenue/Pico Canyon Exit and ends around Hasley Canyon Exit. Slightly West of the 5 freeway in Los Angeles is the 101 North to the 170 North which ends at the 5 North freeway. In South West Los Angeles the 405 North also connects to the 5 freeway North. From the North East, the 14 (Antelope Valley) freeway South will take you to Santa Clarita, exiting at Soledad Canyon.

By taxi

 * United Taxi of Los Angeles +1 323-207-8294

By bus
Santa Clarita Transit operates bus routes throughout the city. Full fare for a single ride is $1, with children 5 and under free. Adults over 60 ride for a reduced fare of $.50/single ride. Transfers are free.

By bicycle
Santa Clarita has many bike paths and paseos. You can easily get around by bicycle as everything is connected by paseos where you can avoid waiting for traffic lights. A map of the bike paths is available online.

By horse
There is a large equestrian community in Santa Clarita and horse trails throughout the city. A map of the horse trails can be found online.

By train
On weekdays, four bus lines have service to/from the Metrolink station that connects Santa Clarita to Los Angeles. Routes 501-504. They are designed to run for commuters, but work great for those wanting easy/fast access to Los Angeles without the hassle of traffic. Details of times the run and stops are on the Santa Clarita Transit website.

There are two Metrolink Stations in Santa Clarita operating on the Antelope Valley Line which ends at downtown Los Angeles (Union Station). From there you can connect to other Metrolink train lines or LA's subway/bus system as well as Amtrak or the Flyaway buses to LAX airport:

 * Jan Heidt Newhall Metrolink Station, 24300 Railroad Ave. Directions: From the 5 Fwy., exit Lyons Ave. Go East on Lyons to San Fernando Rd. Go South on San Fernando Rd. to Market. Go East on Market to Railroad Ave. There are 150 parking spaces available, and there is no fee for parking.
 * Santa Clarita Metrolink Station, 22122 Soledad Canyon Rd. Directions: From the 5 Fwy., exit Valencia Ave. Go East on Valencia Ave. Valencia becomes Soledad Canyon Road. There are 350 parking spaces available, and there is no fee for parking. Bike lockers are available.

Drink
There is a great selection of wine lounges and a couple of wineries also dot the landscape

Sleep

Go next

 * Take the Antelope Valley Line to Los Angeles.
 * Once you get to Union Station via the Antelope Valley Line, transfer to the Orange County Line to Anaheim or Buena Park, homes of Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, respectively.
 * Palmdale - 37 miles north of Santa Clarita on Highway 14. In 1962, Palmdale became the first city in the Antelope Valley to incorporate, and today it is home to over 150,000 people. While it lacks exciting tourist destinations, the town does offer hotels and restaurants.

title: Santa Clarita


text:
Santa Clarita Valley

Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California is a region of Los Angeles County just to the north of Los Angeles proper.

Cities

 * Agua Dulce
 * — A suburban community at the northern end of the valley, home to recreational Castaic Lake.
 * — The primary city of the valley, home to most of its dining and lodging options as well as the shopping of the upscale Valencia Town Center mall.
 * Stevenson Ranch
 * — A district of Santa Clarita home to Six Flags Magic Mountain, orange groves, and the CalArts university.

Other destinations

 * — By far the most well-known attraction in the Santa Clarita Valley, famed for its numerous roller coasters which are among the tallest and fastest in the world.
 * Vasquez Rocks — A unique rock formation outside Agua Dulce where many movies and television shows have been filmed, including The Flintstones, 24, and several episodes of the original Star Trek television series.
 * Vasquez Rocks — A unique rock formation outside Agua Dulce where many movies and television shows have been filmed, including The Flintstones, 24, and several episodes of the original Star Trek television series.

Understand
The Santa Clarita Valley rests between the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5) and the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Hwy 14), with new growth swelling beyond these borders. The valley is home to a lot of modern suburban development amidst some fairly rural landscape, enough so that the valley's farmland and surrounding hills have frequently stood in for rural and Old West locations in Hollywood films. The hills above the valley are wild enough to be home to bears, mountain lions, coyotes and other wild animals. The Pacific Crest Trail runs right through the Santa Clarita Valley.

Get in
The closest major airport is located in Burbank, south of the Santa Clarita Valley in the San Fernando Valley, with the more distant LAX serving as a major international hub.

Interstate 5 is the primary route in and out, traversing the length of the valley from Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley to the south and continuing north through The Grapevine and on into the San Joaquin Valley. CA-14, the Antelope Valley Freeway, traverses the Soledad Pass between Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley to the east.

The Metrolink Antelope Valley Line passes through the Santa Clarita Valley on its way to the Antelope Valley, making three stops in Santa Clarita (Newhall, Santa Clarita, and Via Princessa) and offering a direct rail connection to Burbank, Glendale, and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The service is geared towards weekday commuters, although there is some evening and weekend service.

Get around
Driving is the primary means of getting around, seeing as this is a very suburban and rural region. Santa Clarita Transit offers a limited degree of public transit around the developed portion of the valley, with several routes spurring out of the McBean Regional Transit Center at Valencia Blvd and McBean Parkway, across from the Valencia Town Center. Routes 5/6 and 4/14 link the transit center to the Newhall Metrolink station, while Routes 3/7 link the transit center to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Go next

 * The San Fernando Valley lies to the south and is famed as the home of many of the largest Hollywood film studios, including Disney, Warner Brothers, and Universal with its associated Universal Studios theme park.
 * The arid landscape of the Antelope Valley lies to the northeast on the other side of the mountains, via CA-14.

title: Santa Clarita Valley


text:
Santa Coloma de Cervelló

Santa Coloma de Cervelló is a municipality and small town near Barcelona in Spain. It’s a nice village in the region of the Baix Llobregat, where there are many pine forests to walk around. It has the tranquillity of a small town and it is near the big city. There are many streets with home gardens.

Understand
The municipality of 8,200 people (2018) encompasses the small town of Colonia Güell, with its many architectural masterpieces.

In Santa Coloma de Cervelló municipality is located Colònia Güell — a famous and one of the most important modernist sites in the province of Barcelona.

By train
For Colonia Güell take FGC trains S4, S8 and S33 from Plaça d'Espanya, Barcelona, get off at Colonia Güell stop, then follow blue footprints painted on the pavement. Santa Coloma de Cervelló is the next stop.

If, by chance, you are heading to Colonia Güell right from the airport by R2 Nord train, then you don't need to go to Plaça d'Espanya to get a FGC train. Instead you can make a change at Bellvitge RENFE stop (the 2nd from the airport) to Gormal FGC station (just cross a square) and save half an hour.

Get around
By foot — it's a small place.

Colònia Güell

Without a doubt the most important object there is:

A virtual tour to the crypt is available on the Internet.

Among the other notable buildings are:

Do
Every May there’s a festival to honor the cherries, there is an exhibition of different kinds of cherries.

Buy
The people come to live here to be quiet. There aren’t many stores because it’s very small but it’s safe and friendly. There is a tiny supermarket and a Tobacco shop at the street behind the visitors' centre. It has a square where every Sunday, many people take their children out to play.

There is a farmer's market on Saturday mornings in Colonia Guell.

Eat
At the Colonia Guel there are a couple of restaurants and a cafe. Also in the lobby of the public toilet facility there are a couple of vending machines with drinks and snacks.

Drink
It looks like there is no nightlife in this place.

Sleep
There are no hotels here, but Barcelona is only 20 minutes away by train. Perhaps you'd be able find an apartment to rent here.

Connect
Free WiFi at the Visitors' Centre.

Cope
There a free public toilet just across the street of the Visitor's Centre.

Go next

 * Montserrat — Santa Coloma de Cervelló and Colonia Guell stations are on the railway line connecting Montserrat with Barcelona.

title: Santa Coloma de Cervelló


text:
Santa Cruz

There's more than one place called Santa Cruz:

Argentina

 * Santa Cruz (Argentina) - a province in the Patagonia (Argentina) region

Bolivia

 * Santa Cruz (department, Bolivia) - Bolivia's largest department
 * Santa Cruz (city, Bolivia) - capital city of Santa Cruz (department, Bolivia)

Brazil

 * Santa Cruz, Espírito Santo
 * Santa Cruz, Paraíba
 * Santa Cruz, Pernambuco
 * Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte
 * Santa Cruz do Arari, Pará
 * Santa Cruz da Baixa Verde, Pernambuco
 * Santa Cruz Cabrália, Bahia
 * Santa Cruz do Capibaribe, Pernambuco
 * Santa Cruz da Conceição, São Paulo
 * Santa Cruz do Escalvado, Minas Gerais
 * Santa Cruz da Esperança, São Paulo
 * Santa Cruz de Goiás, Goiás
 * Santa Cruz dos Milagres, Piauí
 * Santa Cruz de Minas, Minas Gerais
 * Santa Cruz de Monte Castelo, Paraná
 * Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, São Paulo
 * Santa Cruz do Piauí, Piauí
 * Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo
 * Santa Cruz de Salinas, Minas Gerais
 * Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul
 * Santa Cruz da Vitória, Bahia

Cape Verde

 * Santa Cruz (Cape Verde)

Costa Rica

 * Santa Cruz Canton, Guanacaste Province
 * Santa Cruz, Costa Rica

Chile

 * Santa Cruz (Chile)

Cuba

 * Santa Cruz del Norte
 * Santa Cruz del Sur

Dominican Republic

 * Santa Cruz de El Seibo

Ecuador

 * Santa Cruz (Galapagos) (Isla Santa Cruz, or Indefatigable Island) - one of the Galapagos Islands

Guatemala

 * Santa Cruz del Quiché

India

 * Santa Cruz (Mumbai) - a suburb of Mumbai
 * Santa Cruz (Goa) - a town in Goa (state)

Jamaica

 * Santa Cruz (Jamaica)

Mexico

 * Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas
 * Santa Cruz, Sonora

Peru

 * Santa Cruz de Flores, Lima Region
 * Santa Cruz Province, Peru

Philippines

 * Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur
 * Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur
 * Santa Cruz (Laguna)
 * Santa Cruz (Manila) - A district of Manila.
 * Santa Cruz (Marinduque)
 * Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro
 * Santa Cruz, Zambales

Portugal

 * Santa Cruz (Madeira) - a city on Madeira Island, in the Madeira archipelago

 * Santa Cruz, Almodôvar, Portugal
 * Santa Cruz (Armamar), a parish in the district of Armamar
 * Santa Cruz (Coimbra), a parish in the district of Coimbra
 * Santa Cruz, Portugal, a parish and a district
 * Santa Cruz (Santiago do Cacém), a parish in the district of Santiago do Cacém
 * Santa Cruz (Vinhais), a parish in the district of Vinhais
 * Santa Cruz das Flores, a borough on the island of Flores
 * Santa Cruz (Azores), a parish in the district of Lagoa

Solomon Islands

 * Santa Cruz Islands - an archipelago forming part of the Solomon Islands

Spain

 * Santa Cruz de Tenerife - capital city of the island of Tenerife, and joint capital (with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) of the Canary Islands
 * Santa Cruz de La Palma - largest city of the island of La Palma

 * Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos, Madrid
 * Santa Cruz de Boedo municipality Palencia
 * Santa Cruz de Bezana Cantabria
 * Santa Cruz del Grío municipality Zaragoza
 * Santa Cruz de la Salceda, municipality Burgos
 * Santa Cruz de la Serós, municipality Huesca
 * Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)
 * Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands

Trinidad and Tobago

 * Santa Cruz (Trinidad and Tobago)

United States of America

 * Santa Cruz (California) - a city in Santa Cruz County, in the Bay Area region of California
 * Santa Cruz (New Mexico) - a town in Santa Fe County, North Central New Mexico
 * Santa Cruz (Texas) - a town in the South Texas Plains, Texas
 * Santa Cruz County (Arizona) - in South Central Arizona
 * Santa Cruz County (California) - in the Bay Area region of California
 * Santa Cruz Island - the largest of the five islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park, in Southern California
 * Santa Cruz Mountains - a mountain range in central California

Venezuela

 * Santa Cruz del Zulia
 * Santa Cruz, Aragua

title: Santa Cruz


text:
Santa Cruz (California)

Santa Cruz is a coastal city (population about 65,000 in 2019) in Santa Cruz County, at the north end of Monterey Bay in California, about 40 miles (64 km) south of San Jose and 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco.

Understand
Santa Cruz is best known as a countercultural hub, with a bohemian feel and youthful vibe, and fun weekend tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the dubious Mystery Spot. The rather relaxed beach lifestyle is supplemented by some remaining high tech industry and a vibrant university culture. The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is regarded as one of the premier centers of higher learning in the region and was once well known for its strong emphasis on the arts and humanities.

The beaches north and south of Santa Cruz are considered some of the more pristine areas of natural beauty in central California. The beautiful beaches and the rather mild climate play a central role in local culture. Most visitors leave Santa Cruz amazed by the city's beauty and ambiance.

Climate
A variety of conditions prevail, depending on the beach, few are suited for swimming due to temperature and current, several are considered an expert surfer's cold cold paradise. Don't expect a beach culture like Southern California, with bikini babes and children swimming in the surf; for much of the year, it's considered perfectly normal to wear a sweater and long pants to the beach.

By plane
The nearest airport is in San Jose. To get to Santa Cruz, take either the Santa Cruz Airport Flyer, or the free airport shuttle to Santa Clara, the train or bus to Diridon Station and the Highway 17 Express bus. San Francisco International Airport and even Oakland  aren't much farther away, and sometimes have cheaper flights. The Airport Flyer goes to SFO and Caltrain provides a route from SFO to San Jose, though with a transfer with BART in Millbrae. For private aircraft, there'a runway about  northwest of downtown, near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

By car
from &  Highway 17  south from San Jose is the most direct route when driving from the more populated parts of the Bay Area. It is a winding and very dangerous road over the mountains, arguably the most hazardous in the state shared during the week with heavy gravel trucks, so heed the speed limits take it easy and arrive alive. Accidents are very common, but the road is a bit safer since the addition of concrete barriers some years ago. Beware of fog, as well as "hurried" drivers, and drive with caution, especially when roads are wet. Going into San Jose Hwy 17 becomes I-880 at its intersection with I-280.

to To merge from Highway 17 to Highway 1 in Santa Cruz to continue south, you must merge three times on the dreaded "fish hook". This causes the beginning of the dreaded commute from "over the hill" to the coast for many. Congestion usually lasts M-F 3PM until 6PM, from just south of 41st Ave. on Highway 1, spilling back onto Highway 17 going south.

is a slower, longer, and more scenic route over the mountains, but it can get congested, and is often subject to extended periods of closure due to landslide damage during the winter. It's also very popular with both bicyclists and motorcyclists, so if driving a car over it be sure to be vigilant.

A much more beautiful, but slower, approach to Santa Cruz is on Highway 1, either from the north, San Francisco and Pacifica (about ), or from the south, Monterey and Big Sur (about ). During stormy seasons, check for rare, but often long-term road closures, although Devil's Slide, the most notorious location for landslides, was bypassed by a tunnel several years ago.

By bus

 * 17- Amtrak Hwy 17 Express to San Jose Diridon Station where passengers transfer to Greyhound, Amtrak, Altmont Corridor Express (ACE), Caltrain, and VTA. This route serves as the Amtrak Thruway bus and a Greyhound Connect (partner) route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. Therefore, tickets for this route can be part of an onward Amtrak or Greyhound ticket to/from Santa Cruz booked through their respective sites or paid for separately.
 * 35 to San Lorenzo Park via Boulder Creek in Scotts Valley on CA-Hwy 9
 * 40 to Davenport on CA-Hwy 1
 * 71 & 91x to Watsonville where passengers transfer to the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus to Salinas (MST #28 or 29). Route 71 goes towards Watsonville on Soquel Dr & Freedom Blvd while 91x travels on CA-Hwy 1.
 * 71 & 91x to Watsonville where passengers transfer to the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus to Salinas (MST #28 or 29). Route 71 goes towards Watsonville on Soquel Dr & Freedom Blvd while 91x travels on CA-Hwy 1.

By train
There is no train service in Santa Cruz. The nearby San Jose Diridon Station is the central station for Amtrak, Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) and Caltrain. Metro's "17 Express" bus serves as the Amtrak Thruway bus (#35) between San Jose and Santa Cruz (see By bus in above).

By foot
The main downtown strip is pedestrian friendly, and it's a 20-minute stroll from there to the beach. Walking to the University of California Santa Cruz from downtown is a little more difficult with a steep climb.

By bus
Santa Cruz Metro provides bus service within the city.

By car
While driving is certainly an option, parking is tight, so be careful to not get ticketed.

By bike
Santa Cruz can be a wonderful town for cycling, but be careful because drivers are no better here than in many other places. Around town and along Highway 1 is easy, but roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains are steep, winding and challenging for many cyclists. Be careful. Collisions between bicycles and cars are often reported. A number of pedestrian and car collisions have also happened in the downtown area.

Do

 * Road Biking - Road cyclists in central Santa Cruz can escape the big city by going out Empire Grade, taking Branciforte to either Glen Canyon or Granite Creek, or even going out Hwy 1. A little to the east, two not so steep roads are Old San Jose Road (bit trafficky / better for descending, reachable from Branciforte via Laurel Glen) or Eureka Canyon (from Corralitos). Good connectors are Bear Creek, Smith Grade, Ice Cream Grade, Hwy 35, or even Mt. Hermon (from Granite Creek to Felton Empire). The worst traffic will be on Graham Hill or most of Hwy 9. To avoid Hwy 9 you'll need to do some climbing, but if that's your thing then try Empire Grade, Mountain Charlie, Zayante, Felton Empire, the wonderful Jamison Creek up from Big Basin Park, or the ridiculous Alba Road. Roads in Santa Cruz can be steep, and expect most to have some extended pitches of over 10%.

Events
Santa Cruz County is home to talented artists, musicians, and writers. Check out some of the locals' favorite art, music, and literary events:

Beaches
Santa Cruz is a beach town, with a beach to match almost any interest. and attract large crowds to the boardwalk area on sunny summer weekends. Flocks of novice surfers balance on their boards in the quiet waters just north of the municipal wharf, in front of the big hotel that locals still call the. Volleyball nets are strung just south of the wharf. The boardwalk amusement area is adjacent to main beach. Heading north, isn't a beach, but the famous surf break in front of the lighthouse. In the summer, its sometimes hard to see what the fuss is about, but the winter can bring big waves and spectators line the rail watching the surfers and the sea lions.

North of the lighthouse are a series of little pocket beaches, some that disappear entirely in the winter. The first one,, and across the street at Lighthouse Field (see www.folf.org) are two of the few places in town that dogs can be run off leash (before 10AM and after 4PM only) you will often dozens of dogs are chasing sticks, balls, and each other. , just north, also allows dogs. Natural Bridges State Beach, whose famous monarch butterflies are discussed above, is a popular windsurfing beach. Natural Bridges is also known for its tide pools - little pockets in the rocky formation just north of the main beach that are exposed at low tide and house all sorts of small marine creatures. Kids love them but keep a close eye on them as the rocks can be slippery and the ocean unpredictable. The name is misleading: one of the two stone bridges collapsed a few years ago. Just south of Natural Bridges is the tiny clothing-optional 2222 Beach.

Heading further north along the coast, you leave the city limits and pass through agricultural fields for before reaching the small town of Davenport, which has a couple of restaurants, a B&B, and a huge cement plant that dominates the skyline. Each turnout along the road marks a beach, many of which are prime surf spots. can be reached by a new bike path from just north of Natural Bridges. Its several nice beaches include and, named after their distances from town. (with parking on the east of highway 1), and  (connected by a passage that closes at high tide),  (another famous clothing optional spot), and. For those who want to tour the beaches, Highway 1 has wide shoulders that are generally safe for cycling.

The beaches north of the Boardwalk, especially those on the open ocean instead of the bay, can have huge waves and strong currents, so care should be taken in the water, even by strong swimmers.

There are lots of beaches south of Main Beach as well, but you'll need another guide for them.

Hiking
Santa Cruz is also surrounded by a great number of open space parks. There are two types of parks to choose from. There are inland wooded parks, (like Henry Cowell State Park) with redwood groves, and swimming in the river and open space preserves built on the coastal hills.

Wilder Ranch is a state park sitting in the hills adjacent to the coast (just west of town on Hwy 1). It has expansive views of the Monterey Bay as well as sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The ranch also includes many old historic building, staffed with docents to demonstrate the workings of the historic ranch.

The Pogonip is within the city boundaries adjacent to the university and accessible from Spring Street and from Highway 9 (via Golf Club). The Pogonip is an old country club which has reverted to a fairly natural state. It sits on the side of a hill and has great views as well as great natural items. Numerous springs fill the creeks, as well as a special fish pond along the Spring Box Trail.

Buy
Shopping on Pacific Avenue includes surf shops, plant shops, clothing and various boutiques.

Eat
The city imposes a 25¢ fee on all disposable cups – even for a cup of water, which would otherwise be free. You can bring your own water bottle, cup, or coffee mug to restaurants to avoid paying this fee. Some restaurants and cafes may also serve drinks in a non-disposable cup if the order is explicitly placed "for here."

Mid-range

Drink
For its size, Santa Cruz has a large number of drinking establishments from Irish pubs to nightclubs. Many of the bars are located along Pacific Avenue. A serious pub crawl can be done starting at either the Asti (listing below) and ending about 7 blocks away at the Rush Inn or the other way around.

Sleep
Santa Cruz offers everything from cheap drive-up motels along Ocean Street to cute B&Bs to one somewhat shabby high-rise hotel on the beach.

A medley of factors allows for de facto legal camping throughout town on city-owned property. There are encampments scattered throughout town. Downtown alone features an encampment of dozens of tents adjacent to San Lorenzo Park. Many people sleep and live in cars and RVs throughout the area, though some neighborhoods may tolerate it less or more than others.

Camp
For our bohemian friends passing through (keep Santa Cruz Weird!), sleeping on city beaches cannot be recommended. Try the more chill beaches along the cliffs northwest of town, or along the sandy banks of the San Lorenzo, upriver in the gorge, along Highway 9.

Stay safe
There is much crime in the downtown area, often drug-related. You will probably be safe during the day and early evening, but keep your wits about yourself. Mountain lions exist in the more rural areas, but are uncommon. Attacks by mountain lions on humans are much rarer still, but have happened. If you should see one, do not approach it, and if it approaches you in a seemingly aggressive manner, stand as tall as possible and wave your arms; this will usually intimidate it.

During most of the year, the ocean is cold enough to quickly give you hypothermia, and there are dangerous rip currents at many beaches. Unless you're a qualified diver and you've done your homework, you're best off leaving it to the local surfers, who typically wear full-body wetsuits and know what they're doing.

If you are a skilled surfer, be aware that Santa Cruz's surfing culture is unfortunately notorious for its "locals only" attitude, and while in reality most surfers there are perfectly reasonable and friendly, if you are surfing there and you do get into a confrontation, it's best to just walk away.

Go next
Nearby cities:
 * Capitola
 * Scotts Valley
 * Watsonville

Nearby towns:
 * Aptos
 * Bonny Doon
 * Boulder Creek
 * Davenport
 * Felton - you can take a scenic train trip from Santa Cruz to Felton, see the Felton article for details.
 * Soquel

Nearby attractions:
 * Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The oldest state park in California. If features stately redwood groves and the Skyline-to-Sea Trail. Hike from Big Basin Park headquarters to Waddell Creek State Beach. Completely closed in 2020 due to catastrophic wildfire damage, with parts still smoldering six months later.
 * Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo 2.jpg
 * Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo 2.jpg

For a longer trip:
 * Drive up to the mountains of Santa Cruz.
 * Drive 50 minutes south along the coast of Monterey Bay to the city of Monterey.
 * Head up the coast towards San Francisco via Half Moon Bay

title: Santa Cruz (California)