text:
San Blas Islands

The San Blas Islands is a group of islands just off the Caribbean coast of Eastern Panama. The indigenous Kuna Yala tribe have self-governing authority over the islands.

Understand
The local people, the Kuna, are a wonderful example of an how an indigenous people continue to flourish and practice their age-old customs surrounded by the modern world. They are friendly and mostly welcoming to tourists. The Kuna self-govern the comarca Kuna Yala which essentially comprises of the islands and the neighboring mainland and extends all the way down along the coast to the border with Colombia.

Most of the 365 islands and cays are uninhabited, some are densely populated and probably not too attractive for tourists, and the rest usually have only a few buildings for the family that lives on the island and some facilities for tourists. Not all the islands have power generators. In any case, electricity is usually shut down at night. Then, the moon and stars provide the only light.

Talk
Tulekaya is the first language of the indigenous people of San Blas. The language is only written phonetically, i.e., you will find the same word written in many ways like islands of "Gardi" and "Cartí" which refers to the same place.

The younger generation is for the most part being schooled in Spanish in Panamanian-run public schools and therefore is fluent in Spanish. Generally, anybody who is professionally interacting with tourists will be fluent in Spanish. Knowledge of English is, however, very limited. In the more remote villages of Kuna Yala you may find that even knowledge of Spanish is much more limited.

By sailboat
There are a number of different boating options if you want to get here to or from Colombia:

'Sailing boats' to/from Colombia/Cartagena (prices from $600 for usually 5 days all incl). There are over 30 vessels operating this route. They vary widely in safety, comfort, and price. A person would be ill advised to book an 180 nautical mile ocean passage on a vessel he hasn’t inspected with a captain he hasn’t met. The waters between San Blas and Colombia can be challenging at times. Don’t depend on second hand information.

Vessels depart regularly from Portobelo, Puerto Lindo, Carti islands and Porvenir. iTravel byBoat, based out of the San Blas islands knows most of the boats on the islands and arranges trips and transportation.

Ave Maria Sailing offers a 5-night island hopping sailing voyage from Panama to Colombia via the San Blas Islands.

Captain SailColombiaPanama.com offers automated online reservations 24/7, plus advice from Captain Jack, a professional sailor.

By motor boat
Coming from Panama City by land there are three ports: Barsukun (which only takes tourists to the islands,) Niga Kantule, and Dibin (which cater to tourists and locals alike.) All three are collectively referred to as Puerto Cartí or just Cartí (which actually is the group of islands across from the ports.) Niga Kantula charges a $2 port fee. If you go to Dibin and don't find a boat there you can walk a trail along the coast to Niga Kantula (200 m) and ask for transportation there without paying the fee. Boats from the islands arrive at about 15:30 at Cartí port. At that time there are plenty of boats available to go the islands. They charge per person and depending on the distance ($15 per person to go to Perro Chico, 45 min.) You can book your return trip at this time or do so from the islands which is advisable if you want to move between the islands and don't know from where you want to return yet.

Small (but very fast: up to 400 hp) motor boats service the entire stretch from Cartí to Colombia. Both, Niga Kantula and Dinib might have direct departures to Puerto Obaldía (about $100, 6 hr) There is no schedule and there are sometimes no boats going there all day (though Friday and Saturday should often have departures,) so it is best to show up at sunrise and ask around at the ports.

To go to Colombia you need to go to Puerto Obaldía where the immigration office is. The official rates ($90 to Puerto Obaldía as of October 2016) are posted at the Niga Kantule office (people at the office might tell you that that rate is a typo — which is nonsense — and that you should just go with El Negro. You might also be told that this does not apply to tourists which is also not true since the document states explicitly that it applies to any passenger.) El Negro (+507 6105-2530, lives on Cartí Sugdub) goes to Puerto Obaldía frequently and charges about $110 per person. However, he has a fame of letting people down in the last minute and tries to talk you into staying at his very unattractive hostel while you're waiting for a departure that is always scheduled for the next day. The inspector at the Dinib port is very friendly and knowledgeable about which boats might leave or pass by today. He also has the phone numbers of most of the captains that operate in the area. When choosing your boat, make sure that it has a roof, otherwise you might get the sunburn of your lifetime. Also, ask the captain whether he is going directly or whether he is doing a service called cedulación. In the latter case, the journey to Puerto Obaldía might take up to five days. To remain in a stronger negotiating position, it is advisable not to pay the full fare upfront.

If there are no boats all the way to Puerto Obaldía, you can also go to intermediate points and try again from there. Some of the destinations en route are (in that order): Cartí, Nargana/Corazón de Jesús, Maguebgandi, Playón Chico, Alligandi, Akwadup, Achatupup/Wakitupu, Isla Pino, Ustupo, Mulatupo, Caledonia (about $60, 5 hr), Carreto, Anachukuna (+507 6065-0001 goes infrequently), Armila, Puerto Obaldía (+507 6144-1221 goes infrequently), and La Miel (which is the actual border but has no immigration office.) From the last few ones, Puerto Obaldía is in a hiking distance on trails through the jungle.

By cargo boat
There are cargo boats that go infrequently between Porvenir, Cartí, and Puerto Obaldía (the frontier with Colombia.) They can take up to 8 days as they go along the cost mostly to buy coconuts from the various villages and islands. Most captains are very reluctant to take passengers; going into Puerto Obaldía, their paperwork is checked and they usually have no license to carry passengers. ($50 a day per person including food is a good price, but you might have to bargain).

By plane
Air Panama offers daily flights from Panama City-Albrook Airport (PAC) to the Kuna Yala region on the airfields/strips of Achutupo (ACU), Corazon de Jesus (CZJ), EL Porvenir (PVE), Malatupo (MPP), Playón Chico (PYC) and Puerto Obaldía (PEU). Most of the flights are flown with very small aircraft, which can only take up to 20 people. Booking a flight ticket in advance is strongly recommended as there are few seats available. Average flight prices are $50–150. Some places do not have daily flights and you might have to wait a day or two. (April 2019)

By helicopter
Charter operators fly from Marcos Gelabert (Albrook) Airport in Panama City. Travel times range from 1.5 to 2 hours depending on the destination. San Blas is a large area so when selecting an aircraft and location or landing zone to book a flight, be sure to have an idea about various locations in order to get a clear cost and landing zone. This is the most expensive but also safe and reliable way to access the corners of the archipelago.

By land
From Panama City there is a regular road all the way to the ports of Cartí. Though a 4x4 vehicle is not necessary at all anymore, only registered vehicles are allowed on the final stretch of road. Several tour operators (ask at your hostel, or go with ) take you in a 4x4 from your hotel in Panama City to the ports of Cartí ($25 each way, 2 hr) You can also take a bus from the Albrook mall to the Cruce de Cartí (any bus to Agua Fría, Darién, or Cañitas should work.) You pay the driver directly ($3) but need a special card ($2.50 + $0.10) to get to the platforms. You should be able to ask a local to borrow a card for a few cents. At the Cruce, cars pass by every couple of minutes to take tourists or goods to the ports. Many are willing to give you a ride for $10 (what locals pay) to $15 per person. On the road to the port everyone is charged a $20 ($7 for nationals) fee to enter the Kuna territory. From the ports you can go to the islands or towards Colombia by boat (see above.)

See
The San Blas offers a large array of sights. Starting with the fascinating people, incredible seascapes, colorful reefs and islands, to the abundant sea life in its waters and wildlife on the mainland. There are continuous festivals and gatherings occurring at villages that visitors can witness to get a glimpse of the culture. Numerous Kuna villages offer visitors multiple opportunities for various glimpses at the daily lives of the Kuna.

Assudub Bippi
Measuring about 150 by 60 meters (500 by 200 ft) Assudub Bippi, also known as Perro Chico, the island is small enough to swim around. Covered by palm trees, there are not many buildings on the island: a restaurant, basic cabañas, and plenty of space to pitch a tent ($8 per person.) There are clean restrooms and showers (free) and access to fresh water (free but you might want to use a filter if you plan on drinking the water.) The island is surrounded by a reef except for one side which has a great white sand beach for bathing. On that beach there is a sunken boat to explore with snorkeling gear (for rent, $5 per day.) Isla Diablo and another island are in swimming distance (but beware of the tidal currents that can be very strong between the islands.) As anywhere on the San Blas islands, nothing is for free. You get to pay a fee to use the hammocks ($7), the beach ($3), or seats ($5).

Assudub Dummad
Measuring about 120 by 60 meters (400 by 200 ft) Assudub Dummad, also known as Perro Grande, is actually smaller than Perro Chico. It features a spacious beach and there are hardly any building on the island: a house where the local family lives, a block with a shower and toilets (free,) and a well. There is plenty of space for camping and the vibe on the island is more relaxed than on Perro Chico maybe because the family does not charge for the picnic tables or seats.

Do
If you snorkel in the Dog Islands, you will find a great variety of tropical fish in the shallow warm waters. This is not the case for the main villages that have their latrines where land and water. such that boat transport often is required.

Many of the tiny islands with beautiful beaches have one member of the Kuna tribe on the island who collects $1 per person for use of the island for sunbathing or swimming. Be sure to bring small change with you and be prepared to be in the middle of nothing.

Buy
The native peoples wear very colorful traditional clothing and make and sell beaded jewelry and molas, which are creatively stitched squares and articles of multi-layered cloth that can be very elaborate and take weeks to make. They also incorporate the mola craft into clothing, shirts and other various articles which can be purchased.

Eat
The larger villages in San Blas have small restaurants with limited menus. Villages also have small grocery stores that sell basic food items and beverages. Ice is very hard to come by in San Blas.

Kuna hotels and lodges typically include meals as part of the stay. Meals usually include locally caught fish, crab and lobster. Available vegetables are typically the basics, tomatoes, carrots, yucca, onions and potatoes. Do not expect a wide variety of foods as the kuna diet is very basic and exposure to western-style foods is highly limited.

Drink
Some of the islands have one small bar that caters to the locals and tourists alike. Ice is in short supply. Drinks, including beer and sodas, can be purchased at small stores on some islands.

Water in most villiges is piped directly (unfiltered) from streams on the mainland, and is therefore unsafe as drinking water for tourists. As a non-native, beware of any locally-prepared beverages including: hot chocolate, chicha (fruit or vegetable-flavored drinks), chicha fuerte (alcoholic chicha), water, and ice. Follow sanitary practices with all eating utensils and plates/bowls, as they are likely washed using non-potable water.

Tourists are advised to bring their own drinking water and drinking receptacles.

Sleep
There are small and very rustic hotels on some of the islands, and due to the lack of restaurants, they offer all-inclusive meal packages. Also most hotels will include day trips to some of the smaller islands, where they will leave you alone for several hours to snorkel, sunbathe or swim. These Islands offer pristine white sand and crystal clear water, and coconut trees that offer natural shade from the hot sun.

Be aware that all the accommodations are very basic, often simple huts made of sticks as rooms - which is also what the locals live in. You hear your neighbours, you might see them as the walls are a little see-through at night if the lights are on inside, and you share a bathroom with toilet and shower look alike.

At the Cartí Ports
There is no dedicated lodging at the ports. You can pitch a tent for free in a shelter at Dinib (there is a guard all night). As of late 2016, there is still a construction site for a school (yellow building) about twenty minutes walking before you reach the ports. The workers there have often hosted travelers who got stranded at the port for some reason. They might have a spare room (very basic but probably not worse than lodging on Cartí Sugdub island). The guys are mostly drunk, friendly, and harmless.

On Cartí Sugdub
The island of Cartí Sugdub (also spelled Gardi Suddub) is very well connected to the port ($1, 10 min). There are a few very unattractive hostels ($2-5). Cartí Homestay used to be a pleasant hostel but they are only rarely receiving guests now because of issues with the community. (Try to locate Germain if you want to stay with them.)

Connect
Wi-Fi is hard to find on the islands. Most of the San Blas islands are covered by +movil and Digicell, whereas coverage by Claro and Movistar is very limited.

If you go further South towards Colombia, there is no cell phone coverage any more (and some islands like Caledonia don't even have land lines nor electricity) until eventually some Colombian cell operators start to service the area.

Stay safe
The Kuna are usually timid, though friendly and welcoming of tourists. There is drug trafficking in this region, but it occurs without incident in almost all cases, using small fast boats that deliver drugs to the mainland from Colombia mainly late at night. There are almost never any incidents involving these drug runners locally. There are rumors that they "camp out" on vacant islands. This is patently false. The drug runners are typically interested in getting in and out as quickly as possible to dodge surveillance.

The San Blas Islands is also a heaven for cruising yachts and sport fishing boats. Most of these yachts keep to themselves and rarely venture onto the village islands. For the most part, the San Blas Archipielago is extremely safe and tourist-friendly.

Go next

 * Puerto Obaldia
 * Capurganá
 * Turbo
 * Cartagena

title: San Blas Islands


text:
San Borja

San Borja is a city in Beni in Bolivia.

Understand
From a tourist point of view San Borja is nothing special apart from a necessary stopover on the way to San Ignacio de Moxos or Trinidad. However, the town has seen a large influx of people in the last 50 year, multiplying the local population by over 5 times.

Get in
From Rurrenabaque, take two shared taxis to San Borja, changing in Yucumo. Each leg is around 2 hr and cost around Bs. 70-80 each way. You can get a shared taxi directly from Rurrenabaque (via Yucumo) for Bs. 80; takes 2h 30 min. Rurrenabaque to Yucumo is asphalt (with holes), and Yucumo to San Borja is an impressive dirt road.

Otherwise, frequent buses travel between Rurrenabaque and La Paz. Get off in Yucumo and take another one from there.

An alternate way would be to fly into Trinidad and carry on by land.

The bus (and shared taxi) terminal is at the edge of the town. Take a mototaxi to travel between the two.

Get around
Moto taxis (motorcycles) or the occasional real taxi.

See
Central square has elements painted yellow with red, which makes for a warm and positive impression.

Do
Locals spend weekends out of town (possibly in the nature) - ask them where and how.

Buy
There are some stalls in bus terminal that sell basic food and drink.

Sleep

 * Hotel San Borja - on the main plaza. Rooms about 25b a night with shared bathroom. Kind of dirty, owners are kind of Slum-lordish. Loud when the ubiquitous celebrations in the Plaza occur at all times of day or night. The bathrooms upstairs don't work and you must go downstairs to use an ugly one. DO NOT give them laundry to do; they lose things.
 * Hotel Avenida - about 8 blocks from the main plaza heading towards the airport. About 20 beds a night with shared bathroom. Tranquile.

Stay safe
Some say straying more than a few blocks from the main plaza at night is dangerous.

Connect
Internet is generally slow and on slow machines that cost Bs. 10/hr. Telephone calls to the U.S. are a bit steep.

Go next

 * San Ignacio de Moxos – A town that has a nice church and well-known local traditions, which can be traced back to Jesuit missions.
 * Trinidad – A pleasant town, which has a couple of attractions itself, and can serve as a gateway to more places in Beni, e.g. Riberalta and smaller places in between. More - you can take a multi-day boat ride via Mamore river starting from near Trinidad and up to Guayaramerín at the border with Brazil.

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

title: San Borja


text:
San Bruno

San Bruno is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is south of South San Francisco and north of Millbrae. It is famous for being the main headquarters of YouTube.

Get in
San Bruno is located at the junctions of Highways 101, 280 and 380, and is the closest city to San Francisco International Airport (even though SFO is officially part of San Francisco). It has its own BART station and a CalTrain station.

Get around
San Bruno has an extensive bus service through the county SamTrans buses.

Eat
A number of reasonably priced restaurants of a variety of different cuisines (including Japanese, Korean, and Indian) can be found along San Mateo Avenue in central San Bruno.

title: San Bruno


text:
San Carlos (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called San Carlos:

 * San Carlos (California) — town in United States of America
 * San Carlos (Costa Rica); the commonly used local name for Ciudad Quesada — town in Costa Rica
 * San Carlos (Mexico) — town in Sonora
 * San Carlos (Baja California Sur) — town in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico
 * San Carlos (Negros Occidental) - town on Negros Island in the Philippines
 * San Carlos (Nicaragua) - town in the Rio San Juan Region of Nicaragua
 * San Carlos de Bariloche - a town in the Rio Negro province of Argentina
 * San Carlos (Uruguay) - a town in Maldonado Department, Uruguay
 * San Carlos (Pangasinan) - city in Pangasinan Province, Philippines

title: San Carlos (disambiguation)


text:
San Carlos (California)

San Carlos is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

By plane
San Carlos Municipal Airport is served by Santa Monica-based Surf Air.

By train
Caltrain runs frequent trains from San Jose and San Francisco.

title: San Carlos (California)


text:
San Carlos (Mexico)

San Carlos is a small coastal town on the Sea of Cortez in the Northern Mexico state of Sonora. Popular with retirees who migrate seasonally to escape cold Canadian and northern U.S. winters, the town is famous among scuba divers who come for the clear waters and the abundance of interesting dive sites. National Geographic magazine named San Carlos as one of the top 10 ocean views in the world. It is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.

By plane
The closest airport to San Carlos is in Guaymas, but as of 2024 it serves only private aircraft. The best airport for commercial flights is Hermosillo (officially, but never called "General Ignacio Pesqueira García International Airport"). Hermosillo is served by AeroMexico, Delta, and Volaris via Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. From the U.S., Hermosillo is served by American Airlines via connections through Phoenix.

By car
San Carlos is an 8-hour drive south of the U.S. border (Nogales crossing). From the border crossing, drive south on federal highway MEX-15. After about 5 hours, you'll pass through the city of Hermosillo. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and gas stations here if you're planning a highway break. From Hermosillo, continue south on highway MEX-15 another 3 hours and you'll reach San Carlos. There are tolls along the way and tolls must be paid in cash, which means pesos, not dollars or any other foreign currency.

By bus
Tufesa operates first-class buses every 2 hours from Hermosillo to Guaymas. The 2-hour trip costs about M$200. Taxis from Guaymas to San Carlos will cost about M$100 for the 10-minute ride. Local buses serve San Carlos (see Getting around).

Get around
The marina area of San Carlos is easily walkable but you'll probably want a car to get around the area. Local buses are available. Outdated travel guides may refer to ferry service across the Sea of Cortez. Unfortunately, Baja Ferries discontinued its service to San Carlos several years ago.

By car
Rental cars are available in the Hermosillo airport from several international companies. Taxis are commonly used and your hotel front desk can call a radio taxi on request. You will also find taxis at sitios near the Plaza Los Jitos and near the Marina Terra Hotel. Taxis are usually available at the sitios between 08:00 and 20:00.

By bus
Local buses serve San Carlos and Guaymas. Buses run every 20 minutes from 06:15 to 19:00, and then hourly until 23:00. The bus route through San Carlos runs down Blvr. Beltrones, past Marina Terra to Marina San Carlos. Fares range from M$50 to M$100 for a ride to Guaymas.

By boat
San Carlos has two marinas and a large number of boats that can be hired for fishing trips, scuba diving, or sightseeing.

See
San Carlos is known for its spectacular natural landscapes of beaches, canyons and rugged rock formations straddling land and sea.

 * Mount Tetakawi is the iconic peak, looming 200 meters above San Carlos. Many hiking trails criss-cross the park.
 * Playa los Algodones (Cotton Beach) gets its name from its delicate white sand dunes.
 * San Pedro Nolasco Island is a protected natural area known for its offshore dive sites and its colony of sea lions.
 * Cañon de Nacapule is a deep ravine with a hiking trail that passes through tunnels and open vistas.
 * Sahuaral is a forest of cacti up to 20 meters tall. Some of the cacti were young when the Jesuit missionaries passed through the area 500 years ago.

Do

 * Snorkeling
 * Golf
 * Fish
 * Kayak
 * Windsurf
 * Sail
 * Whale watching

Diving
Scuba diving is a major reason why visitors travel to San Carlos. Several protected islands in nothern Sea of Cortez have off shore reefs that are home to myriad species of fish, seabirds, and aquatic mammals. San Pedro Nolasco Island is particularly well-known with more than a dozen dive sites along its shores. Various bays, islands, points, and wrecks provide abundant chances to see a rich diversity of aquatic life and spectacular underwater scenery.

Golf
The only publicly accessible course is San Carlos Golf Club. There may be other golf courses in Hermosillo.

Pickleball
Pickleball is the world's fastest growing sport and it's very popular among the Canadian and American expat community in San Carlos.

Buy
Pearls are harvested in the waters near San Carlos. Local shops in San Carlos and in Guaymas offer locally harvested pearls.

Drink
Along the beach are dozens of seaside bars and grills serving cold drinks and antojitos (light snacks).

Connect
High-speed broadband internet is widely available in most hotels and restaurants. Cell coverage is good in town and on the roads to Guaymas. Expect 4G coverage throughout town, though as of 2024, the infrastructure is being upgraded to 5G, particularly in the downtown area near the marina.

Go next

 * Guaymas
 * Hermosillo
 * Ciudad Obregón

title: San Carlos (Mexico)


text:
San Carlos (Nicaragua)

San Carlos is a city in Rio San Juan department of Nicaragua.

Understand
San Carlos itself might not be the most interesting or beautiful city in Nicaragua, but it serves as an important local transportation hub and the last place to stock up when heading into the more rural parts of the Rio San Juan Region. However, in the 2000s and 2010s, the town was awakened from its decades long slumber when the Malecón (lakefront) was redesigned, turning it into a nice place to catch the sunset or a local fiesta or just spend a lazy afternoon. With the construction of the new carretera to Managua (reducing the travel time for the 300 km from just over 12 hours by bus to 6 hours) and the completion of a bridge across the Rio San Juan just out of town there is bound to be a lot of development in the next few years.

By boat

 * There are boats coming in from El Castillo and San Juan Del Norte.
 * There are boat connections to Solentiname Islands and to the villages on the southern shore of the Lago de Nicaragua.

In years past, there were boats to neighboring Los Chiles (Costa Rica) and all the way to Ometepe as of September 2018 neither of them has gone in over a year and there is no sign of them ever starting up again. However, the website of the national port administration unhelpfully still lists the Ometepe ferry.

By bus

 * There are buses to and from Managua. The trip takes 6 hours and costs C$200.
 * All buses to Managua stop in Juigalpa but some also do the San Carlos Juigalpa trip on its own.
 * Please note that the buses that say "Los Chiles" on the windshield do not go to Los Chiles Costa Rica but rather to a Nicaraguan town of the same name. If you want to go to the frontier, take one that says "Frontera" or "San Pancho".

By plane

 * There are twice weekly flights from Managua (~US$120 round trip).
 * The new airports in Sun Juan del Norte and on Ometepe have scheduled flights to and from San Carlos as well.
 * The new airports in Sun Juan del Norte and on Ometepe have scheduled flights to and from San Carlos as well.

Get around
It's a small city - everything is in walking distance. A taxi is C$10 all around town (double rates at night). A local bus exists but is not useful for tourists. If you arrive at the airport, taxis should be waiting for you to take you and your luggage into town.

See
There are really only two sights in San Carlos - the malecon, and the fort just above the central park. The malecon can be seen in about 10 minutes, but you can definitely enjoy a lazy afternoon in sunny weather there and the sundowns are a sight to behold. The fort is interesting for those who read Spanish. If you don't, it's really only notable for its views of the lake and river.

Do
Watch a baseball game. The stadium is close to the airport and although the local team has traditionally been abysmal and gets a pounding from pretty much the rest of the league, it's a cheap fun way to get in contact with the locals. Any taxi driver can get you there (it is quite some distance to walk).

You could theoretically swim in the lake at the malecon. The locals do. However, as a lot of San Carlos' untreated sewage used to be drained into the lake, use your own best judgment. If you do want to swim, there are several piscinas (i.e. a swimming pool and someone selling drinks and food) — nothing too fancy and not in walking distance, but any taxi can get you there. Admission should be around C$40 per person and food and drinks don't cost more than at a normal restaurant.

Around November the malecon comes alive with the Carnaval Acuatico, held mostly on boats on the lake and the Rio San Juan. Its eighth edition in 2016 was held on the weekend of October 15.

There is a national sport-fishing tournament, usually around September.

Buy
There are numerous ATMs and at least two banks around town.

San Carlos did not have a supermarket for a long time (a Palí store has opened) but you can fulfill most of your daily needs at small ventas (also known as pulperias) all around town. The mercado has a decent selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, clothes and toiletries. Prices are slightly higher than in Managua and some prices (e.g. those of plantains) undergo a weekly cycle with the transports from Ometepe. As the rest of the Rio San Juan departamento is even less accessible, many travelers stock up on essentials before moving on.

Currency
Some shops accept Costa Rican colones and there are numerous cambistas that will gladly exchange Dollars Colones and Cordobas. For colones this is your last chance if you aren't headed for Costa Rica, so exchange them. Banks also change them though at worse rates and only during their business hours (remember to bring you passport if you want to change money at the bank). Be careful when changing money on the street as it only takes bad luck and lack of caution to meet the one dishonest cambista playing a trick on you. All ATMs will dispense both dollars and cordobas, though the dollars may sometimes have marks on them which means some merchants might refuse them.

Eat
Around the Malecon there are several little restaurants where you can get good food from 7AM. La Fortaleza, the last of the restaurants on the raised platform right in front of the Malecon's central square, comes highly recommended with friendly staff and excellent prices. Quick service and super close to the pier if you have limited time. They are happy to accommodate vegetarians.

At 11 am the more fancy restaurants open but don't expect too much. Fish is the thing to eat in San Carlos (if you are not vegetarian).

Above La Fortaleza, with an entrance on the nearest side-street, is Restaurant Kaoma. Nicely decorated with a great view of the water, this is the place to sit and spend an evening with a few drinks. The menu is in English and Spanish, but expect to pay C$150-300 for an entree. Attached to Hotel Cabinas Leyko is Restaurant Don Leo. They also have a Spanish&English menu, but more reasonably priced than Kaoma (though without the atmosphere) and with excellent WiFi.

Drink
San Carlos has two places where the young locals go to party drink and dance. both close to the malecon El Kaoma has an air conditioned (read: freezing cold) disco downstairs that really gets going on Karaoke nights (usually Thursday). Lots of fun to be had, just don't expect to know the songs.

La Champa is a place where you can go to dance. It is usually packed on Saturday nights but half empty on Friday evenings. It closes at 2AM but you can take out a beer.

As San Carlos is a port town, some of the bars can have a bit of an unsavory feeling to them, but the two discos mentioned above are safe.

Sleep
There are several budget Hospedajes all around the Malecon and in the streets leading up the hill, but San Carlos is only a place to stay if you arrive late at night with no forward-transit options.

Stay safe
San Carlos might look like a sleepy town but crime does happen here as well. If you have to go longer distances at night, take a taxi. Besides that it should all be just common sense.

Connect
Cybers abound in San Carlos Internet is C$10 per half hour and usually charged after you leave. The quality is pretty much the same everywhere but MniCyber Ortega is right at the Malecon with beautiful lake-views and there are also headsets which might or might not be working and the owner has a side business repairing computers.

Locals generally say that Claro has better service in San Carlos but Movistar is better for the surrounding countryside.

There is free Wi-Fi in the Parque Central just below the Spanish fortress.

San Carlos is one of the only places in this part of the country that has a post office. However the opening hours are short and not posted officially anywhere, so come in the morning and bring some patience. It has moved twice and at its present location has no sign. You'll have to ask around.

Go next

 * There are two boats leaving for Los Chiles in Costa Rica. One leaves at 10:30 and gets to Los Chiles at around noon. The other boat leaves San Carlos at 4 pm (C$180 ~ US$9 ~ 5000 Colones payable in either currency). Remember that you have to pay a border tax upon leaving in either cordobas or US dollars and the border officials may or may not have small change. The trip itself is scenic and passes through the rain forest on both sides of the Rio Frio. You are allowed to take pictures of everything, just not of the armed Nicaraguan border post about halfway through the trip.
 * Boats to El Castillo leave San Carlos at 6:30AM, 8AM, 10:30AM (high season), 12:30PM, 2:30PM, 3:30PM and 4:30PM. These change from time to time, so ask at the ticket office.
 * Boats to the Solentiname Islands leave on Tuesday and Friday around 11PM. (C$70 ~ US$2.50) More expensive boats leave daily in both directions; ask for the schedule.
 * Boats to San Juan Del Norte leave Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6AM. (duration: 6 - 12 hr, depending on the boat and season)
 * There is a bridge across the Rio San Juan and onwards to Costa Rica just out of town. Public buses run this route, but the schedule is liable to change.

title: San Carlos (Nicaragua)


text:
San Carlos de Bariloche

Bariloche is in the Río Negro Province, near the Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina. One of the most visited cities in Argentinian Patagonia, it is famous for skiing and is great for sightseeing, water sports, trekking and climbing. Despite being an undeniable tourist magnet, Bariloche is set amidst incredible landscapes which should not be missed by nature-loving travelers. Another claim to fame is its Swiss-like atmosphere and its chocolate boutiques and breweries, and look for the St Bernard dogs on display for tourists.

Understand
San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes (Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Lake and Mascardi Lake) and mountains (Tronador, Cerro Catedral, Cerro López).

Weather
San Carlos de Bariloche weather is transitional between the wet climate of the Andes to the west and the dry climate of Patagonia to the east. Areas to the west such as the city centre receive more precipitation than areas to the east such as the airport. Summers are characterized by long stretches sunny, dry, and windy weather with pleasant afternoons and cold nights, occasionally dropping below freezing. The strong winds make the temperatures feel colder than it should be. Spring and fall are variable with some days being pleasant while other days being cold. Snowfall is common in these seasons. Winters are cool to cold with frequent precipitation, bringing stormy weather with mixed precipitation (snow, rain, sleet), occasional snowstorms. Temperatures during the day are usually above freezing and nights are cold. The city receives abundant snowfall during this season, averaging 23-42 cm (9.0-16.4 in), making it an excellent destination for skiing.

Tourist information

 * Bariloche Tourism website

By plane

 * Lade flies from Buenos Aires and El Calafate.
 * Aerolineas Argentinas flies from Buenos Aires. A ticket costs around US$550.
 * GOL and LATAM fly from Sao Paulo.
 * Flybondi and JetSmart are budget carriers that operate to San Carlos de Bariloche from Buenos Aires.
 * Flybondi and JetSmart are budget carriers that operate to San Carlos de Bariloche from Buenos Aires.

There is a local bus #72 that serves the airport. It will drop you at the central bus station and from there you can catch another bus or walk to El Centro. Minibus service is AR$250 and will drop you at your hotel. Remis from El Centro to the airport are AR$550. (Nov 2019).

By train
The once-weekly El Tren Patagónico slowly winds along the vast open plains on an 19-hour journey from Viedma on the Atlantic coast stopping by in San Antonio Oeste and several remote outposts along the route. The train offers Pullman seats and sleepers and it's also possible to bring along vehicles. Departures are Fridays at 18:00 from Viedma, arriving just after 12:00 the next day.

By car
To go by car to Bariloche from Buenos Aires takes about 22 hours. One of the best alternatives is to go to Neuquen on the first day (a distance of about 1200 km) and then to continue the second day driving about 450 km.

There is more than one route to get to Bariloche by car from Buenos Aires:

 * Short route: Take “Ruta Nacional Nº 5”, then take “Ruta Provincial Nº 1” nearby Lonquimay. Then, take “Ruta Provincial Nº 18” nearby “Macachin”. Take “Ruta Nacional Nº 35” south for 22 km, and then turn right and follow “Ruta Nacional Nº 152” through General Acha and until the “Casa de Piedra” where the route name changes to “ruta provincial Nº 6”. You must follow this until the intersection with “Ruta Nacional Nº 22”, where you must turn right again through Cipolletti – Neuquen. These big cities are connected by a bridge with a toll. Follow through the "million" traffic lights until you exit the city. Approximately 32 km later, stop in Arroyito and sleep deeply. Continue driving south using “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”, which will lead you to Bariloche.
 * Long route: take “Ruta Nacional Nº 3” south. Rest in Azul for 15 minutes, follow south until Bahia Blanca, rest for some time. Follow south; take “Ruta Nacional Nº 22”, set the air conditioner on and turn on your CD player; don’t travel too slowly, or you might fall asleep! Rest in Choele Choel. Drive through lots of tiny cities and through Cipolletti – Neuquen, big cities which are connected by a bridge with a toll. Follow through the million traffic lights until you exit the city. Approximately 32 km later, stop in Arroyito and sleep deeply. Continue driving South using “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”, which will lead you to Bariloche.

By bus
If you decide to travel by bus you can choose between different companies, such as "Via Bariloche", "El Crucero del Norte", "Andesmar", etc. The first 2 companies offer different services, where the main variable is comfort and price. You can take "supercama", which has wide and large seats. "Cama" has wide seats. "Semi-cama" has the normal distribution of 4 seats per row. From Buenos Aires, "supercama" and "cama" take as long as 19 hours (summer); "semi-cama" makes several stops and takes as long as 22 hours. There are also direct buses to and from Chile (6 to 8 hours ride), going to Osorno or Puerto Montt.

Different routes to get to Bariloche by bus from Buenos Aires are:

 * Non-stop: “Ruta Nacional Nº 5” – “Ruta Provincial Nº 1” (la Pampa) – “Ruta Provincial Nº 18” (la Pampa) – “Ruta Nacional Nº 35” – “Ruta Nacional Nº 152” – “Ruta Provincial Nº 6” (Río Negro) - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” – Neuquen – “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”
 * Stopping: “Ruta Nacional Nº 3” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” – Neuquen - “Ruta Nacional Nº 22” - “Ruta Nacional Nº 237”

By boat
You can arrive or depart Bariloche by taking a series of ferries that wind through several lakes and connect by short bus rides from the Pacific at Puerto Montt, Chile. It's a one day trip unless you opt to stay overnight at Hotel Peulla near the pass.

On foot
It is actually possible to hike from Cochamó, Chile, which is close to Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, to Bariloche, passing by the famous and picturesque. There is a small police checkpoint at where you will receive a small note with which you have to head to the police station once you arrive in the next big city to complete your registration and entrance into the country.

Get around
Excellent public bus service, served by just one company (since 2017): My Bus. The only exception is if you want to visit Dinahuapi, then you should catch a bus of "Las grutas". If you are planning on using the buses more than a few times, buy a magnetic card—otherwise tickets will suffice. The magnetic card is the same "Sube" system used in Buenos Aires so your can reuse the card if you already have one. As in Buenos Aires, the same card can be shared by more than one person. Alternatively, you can buy the one for the My Bus company on arrival in the bus terminal for AR$11 plus a minimum first credit of AR$29 (subsequent top-ups have a minimum of AR$10) to get into town (AR$35). If you don't have the card, you can ask a passenger to exchange a trip in return for money. Further top-ups are possible in kiosks; the tourism office in the Centro Cívico has a full list, and complete information on bus lines. The trip from downtown Bariloche to Llao Llao is AR$35 (Nov 2019).

Confusingly, there is also another IC card in use in Bariloche, e.g. to go by bus to Dina Huapi northeast of Bariloche. This one is called Solución. However, you might find someone helpful on these buses to share his card with you if you give the related money in exchange.

Do

If you're interested in going to the lakes and islands:

Other activities include:
 * Rafting – Several agents offers rafting on the grade I Rio Limay or the grade III/IV Rio Manso. There are several outfitters that organize full day tours with lunch included.
 * Kayak – Half-day tours in the Gutierrez Lake, with Pura Vida.
 * Horseriding – Horseriding tours to the Nahuel Huapi National Park from Bariloche in English and Spanish are provided by Carol Jones. Also try Tom Wesley Cabalgatas—their 3-hour lake ride is amazing.
 * Historical Steam Train – A full-day journey into the steppe, riding a 1912 railway, which has been rebuilt keeping its original features.
 * Historical Steam Train – A full-day journey into the steppe, riding a 1912 railway, which has been rebuilt keeping its original features.

Hiking
There are many trekking trails close to Bariloche. You can get more information on Trek Bariloche which provides a comprehensive guide to the trekking routes in the National Park.

Further afield:

Learn

 * Brittania School of English and Spanish. Housed in a Swiss/Bavarian style store front, the school is part of Argentina's COINED Spanish school system.
 * La Montaña Spanish School. Spanish courses and more in Bariloche.

Buy

 * Chocolate, the city hosts an amazing number of shops where they produce and sell all sorts of varieties of chocolate. Local fruits and licor make some of the fillings. The most renowned ones are Mamuschka,, Benroth, Fenoglio, Rapa Nui, Del Turista, Bonifacio & Tante Frida.

Eat
Bariloche offers an excellent array of restaurants, with cuisines from all around the world, serving quality food.

Dance clubs
Teens from all over Argentina arrive on a school trip to Bariloche to celebrate their last year of high school with their classmates. That is why Bariloche features a lot of sophisticated dance clubs.

Sleep
Prices vary with the season, being the highest during ski season (July-August) and very high during summer (December-February). The accommodation is varied, from renting bungalows and cottages to five-star hotels with the best views.

Budget
Bariloches budget accommodation quickly gets fully booked, so make your reservations in advance, particularly during high season.

Stay safe
Because of the high tourist presence, petty crime is a reality but there tend to be a large number of police in force and the smaller and relatively affluent nature of the city makes crime less likely than in Buenos Aires. Still, exercise caution and keep valuables within sight. Never hike alone on the trails which touch the city, particularly up to Piedras Blancas. There have been many reported robberies of tourists on these paths.

If you decide to change money with the street changers, be very careful of fake notes, check every bill and count them properly.

Go next

 * El Bolsón – A small hippie town (founded in the 1970s) in a mountainous valley about 120 km (75 mi) south of Bariloche. There's a twice weekly outdoor flea market (get there in the morning, it closes down around 15:00). Transportation on the El Valle bus line is AR$24 one way from Bariloche and is worth it for the scenery alone.
 * Villa la Angostura – A small town about an hours drive from Bariloche, very picturesque, you can also hike a 12-km trail to the famous Bosque Arrayanes. Buses regularly go there from the bus terminal (1½ hrs, AR$52), and the journey along the lake is fantastic.
 * Chile – It is actually possible to hike to Chile, namely Cochamó, which is close to Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, passing by the famous and picturesque La Junta. There is a small police checkpoint at Paso El León where you will receive a small note with which you have to head to the police station once you arrive in the next big city to complete your registration and entrance into the country.

title: San Carlos de Bariloche


text:
San Casciano dei Bagni

San Casciano is a city in Tuscany and is a municipality in the province of Siena, whose birth and development are undoubtedly linked to the presence of the hot springs (there are 42 springs). Both the Etruscans and the Romans have subsequently appreciated and frequented these places. According to tradition and as is recounted in the works of Horace and other classical writers, visitors to the area include the Emperor Octavian Augustus. The large turnout to these spas by the citizens of ancient Rome is testified by the many tombstones which emerged over the centuries in the countryside around San Casciano, one of which is dedicated to triaria, the wife of Emperor Vitellio. A lot of people from all over Italy and Europe relied on the thermal springs of San Casciano to treat the most disparate diseases. By the end of the Roman Empire the spas of Rapolano underwent a long period of crisis, only to be interrupted during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, marking a return to its former splendor. The end of the eighteenth century saw San Casciano fall into a progressive decline due to a failure to adopt the new standards that were applied to all spas. After an attempt at revival in the 1930s, the sancascianesi spas found their role with the creation of a spa complex and hotel of great value.

title: San Casciano dei Bagni


text:
San Casciano in Val di Pesa

San Casciano in Val di Pesa is city in Chianti zone of Tuscany.

Get in
The village is connected to Florence and Siena by SITA bus service. The bus starts its trip in Florence from the SITA bus station beside rail station Firenze Santa Maria Novella and arrives in San Casciano within 35 minutes.

Get around

 * Mercatale in Val di Pesa
 * Montefiridolfi
 * Montepaldi

title: San Casciano in Val di Pesa


text:
Sanchi

Sanchi is a village in Madhya Pradesh in India, about 9 km southwest of Vidisha and 46 km from Bhopal. It is the site of a great Buddhist stupas listed on UNESCO World Heritage List.

History
Vidisha was the capital city of the ancient Malwa kingdom. Over the years, many Buddhist monuments were constructed within a 20 kilometre radius of Vidisha.

The emperor Asoka married a woman from Vidisha. He built for her the Caityagiri Vihara at Sanchi. Their son the Arahant Mahinda set out from this place to convert Sri Lanka. Their daughter Sanghamitta set off from here with a sapling of the sacred Bo-tree from Bodhgaya, which was planted in Anuradhapura: the Sri Mahabodhi which is the oldest recorded tree in the world.

The Sanchi stupas date from the third century BC and are some of the best preserved historical monuments in India. There is no direct connection between Sanchi and the Buddha. The seventh century Chinese traveler Huen Tsang, who journeyed across India and wrote in detail about Buddhist monuments in India does not even mention Sanchi in his travelogues.

Yet, Sanchi is a must-see on every Buddhist's pilgrimage of Buddhist holy sites.

Get in
46 km from Bhopal, which is very well connected to the rest of India. Your own vehicle is not a must, as any buses going to Vidisha from Bhopal can drop you within half a kilometre of the village. And everything, including the site and the lodging facilities, is within 1 square kilometre. Also, the Sanchi railway station is very close to the village.

On the way to Sanchi from Bhopal, you cross the Tropic of Cancer. Highway signage indicate the distance as your approach. There are markers on both sides of the road where you can take a picture standing on Tropic of Cancer. Do take care to park you vehicle on the side of the highway in a safe area as there is no designated parking area.

You can also reach by Vidisha station, a less known but located very near to Sanchi.

See

 * Lion capital.jpg
 * Lion capital.jpg

Buy
Within the stupas boundary, you can buy literature and maps for various tourism sites in MP. At Gateway Retreat (M.P. Tourism Hotel) you can buy handcrafted statues of Lord Buddha, Sanchi Stupa, etc in marble, stone, wood and other materials at Alankar Handicrafts.

Eat
Good north Indian, south Indian, continental, and Chinese food is available.

Drink
One can try sugarcane juice from local vendors but keep an eye on hygiene aspect. Tourists should rely only on packaged drinking water. Before buying make sure your Mineral water bottle is properly sealed.

title: Sanchi


text:
San Cipriano

San Cipriano is tiny town of 500 inhabitants close to Buenaventura in western Colombia. The town is in a humid subtropical forest, and therefore the weather is characterized by frequent rain and humid, warm daytime temperatures. Ethnically, the town is almost 100% composed of Colombians of African descent. Regarding the flora and fauna, the area is characterized by species native the region: toucans and subtropical birds, snakes, monkeys, and several wild species of mammals.

Getting there is half the fun, but the beautiful surroundings and tranquil vibe of the area can keep you busy for a day or two.

Get in
The only connection to the town is by railway. Due to the lack of trains, locals have set up their own ingenious transportation system with motorbike-propelled or human-powered vehicles that use the train tracks. This form of transportation is known as a "brujita" which in English means, "little witch."

To get there take a bus from Cali to Buenaventura and get off at either the town of Zaragosa or Cordoba. In Cordoba locals will approach you and lead you down the road approximately 500 m to the railway track. Negotiate the price for your trip (locals pay COP$3,000, but as a tourist you will probably need to pay COP$5,000 or more). If you get off the bus in Zaragosa you first need to buy your ticket at the small wooden building by the bridge. It cost 18000 COP per person to go there and back (9000 COP one-way). Once you bought your ticket, cross the bridge and walk up a short flight of steps to the awaiting brujita.

See
There are some beautiful cascades with some crystal clear pools to take a dip at a place called refugio del amor. Follow the dirt track out of town till you see an ecological trail with a sign saying 'refugio del amor'. Follow the trail till you reach the cascades. It's about an hour walking.

Do
The most common tourist activity in the town is to swim or bathe in the river. The water is cold but not intolerably so, and on a hot, humid day there are often dozens of locals and tourists swimming in river or sitting on the rocky shore.

Several places rent out inner-tubes (10000 - 12000 COP per tube); after renting one, just walk up the dirt track and hop in the river and flow back to town with some rapids on the way. Be careful because immediately after rainfall the river can rise dramatically within seconds.

Buy
There is not much to buy in the town; there are a couple of stores selling items such as candies or potato chips, but there are no souvenirs for sale.

In the town of Cordoba, which is the city that all tourists pass through on their way to San Cipriano, locals sometimes sell exotic fruits from the region, such as guamas, sugar cane, cacao, and anonas (which they mistakenly refer to chirimoyas).

Eat
Due to the town´s proximity to Buenaventura on the Pacific coast, good-quality seafood and shrimp are available for purchase at affordable prices in the town.

Drink
Domestic beers are for sale in the town.

Sleep
There are numerous hotels in the town, although the accommodations are extremely basic and rustic.

Hotel David, about 500 m down the road, offers basic cheap accommodation.

title: San Cipriano


text:
San Clemente

San Clemente is a city by the beach in Orange County in Southern California. It is called the "little Spanish village by the sea" because many of the buildings have a rustic and antique Spanish look to them. People from San Clemente pride themselves on the laid-back and closely knit community traditions that are practiced in this small town. Not only does the culture have a great influence on all the people who live there, but anyone who visits is also sure to experience this feeling as well.

Get in
San Clemente is located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego of Interstate 5, which has 7 exits in the city. The nearest airport is John Wayne Airport, 25 miles north of San Clemente. Further airports include Los Angeles International Airport and San Diego International.

There are two train stations in San Clemente, one at the pier, and one at North Beach. Both and  is served by Metrolink via its Inland Empire - Orange County Line and Orange County Line services between Los Angeles, Oceanside and San Bernardino and cities in between, only on weekends. Additionally, San Clemente Pier is also served by Amtrak and its Pacific Surfliner service, with two trains south in the late morning and two trains north in the early evening daily. One of these trips each way extends to/from the Santa Barbara area. The Pacific Surfliner operates 12 trips daily through the area, but most trains don't stop here.

Get around
It is possible to walk around the center of the town although it is a little bit of a slope up from the beach and pier to Avenida Del Mar shopping and restaurant area. There is free 2 hour car parking around the area although close to the beach expect to pay and display.

San Clemente provides a daily trolley service from Memorial Day to September and weekend service year-round. The trolley runs between the pier and Outlets at San Clemente, with stops connecting to popular attractions along Avenida Del Mar and El Camino Real. Trolleys arrive at each stop every 15 minutes. The trolley rides are free.

Do
The beach is the largest attraction in San Clemente. Local teens tend to venture north to the Kaleidoscope or the Irvine Spectrum for entertainment, but the local movie theater, the Krikorian, is relatively cheap and well-run.

Eat
There are a variety of local restaurants that are fairly priced and simply delicious.

title: San Clemente


text:
San Cristóbal (Venezuela)

San Cristobal is a leafy, prosperous city of west Venezuela. The city is in a mountainous valley in the temperate green hills of the Andes bordering Colombia.

Understand
The city struck oil in the late 1800s at a site now known as "La Petrolera", and has attracted investors and business innovation.

San Cristobal is known for its industrious people, relaxed nature and relative safety when compared to the other cities of Venezuela. The city is an attractive haven for Venezuela's emerging middle class and successful business entrepreneurs, particularly those involved in financial services and commodities.

The city's neighborhoods include:
 * Barrio Obrero: is where there are the largest number of international gastronomy restaurants, discos, bars and night spots.
 * Pueblo Nuevo: it is the home of soccer from Tachi, the Polideportivo Stadium of Pueblo Nuevo, the famous San Sebastían International Fair and the Colombia and Venezuela Pavilions. It is also the sports center of the city.
 * CC Sambil: it is the most visited shopping center in the state of Táchira and San Cristóbal, where brand stores, department stores and shoe stores such as Zara, Armi, Totto, Coqui, etc. meet. There is a United Cinemas and American fast food.
 * 5 ta and 7 m Avenue: San Cristobal Mart is the largest meeting point of the state.

By plane
There are three airports that serve the city of San Cristobal. The airport Juan Vicente Gomez of San Antonio del Tachira is on the border with Colombia, on the Venezuelan side. It is about one hour drive to San Cristobal and this airport is the most important of the state. It is also used by many Colombians who want to fly within Venezuela. Close to this airport is the Airport Daza of Cucuta, which is also used by the people of San Cristobal when they want to fly within Colombia.

The Airport Mayor Buenaventura Vivas of Santo Domingo del Tachira also serves the city of San Cristbal. This airport is 45 minutes drive to the Capital of Tachira State. It is located in the Southern part of the state. Although it is an international airport, it only has domestic flights from Aeropostal, Aserca, Rutaca and Conviasa. It flights to Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo and sometimes it has charters to Porlamar in Margarita Island.

The smallest and furthest airport that serves San Cristonal and the northern part of Tachira State is El Aeropuerto de La Fria. It has only two flights from Conviasa Ailines to the City of Caracas, Venezuela. It is in the town of La Fria, which is about two hours drive from San Cristobal, Tachira State.

By train
Tachira State has no train service.

By car
San Cristobal is about 840 km (10 hours drive) from Caracas, 250 km (3½ hours) from Merida, and 445 km from Maracaibo (6 hours). San Cristobal is the capital of he bordering state of Tachira. It is about 50 km from Cucuta, Colombia (1 hour drive) and 600 km from Bogota, Colombia.

The Via al Llano to the south leads to Barinas and Caracas. The Panamerican freeway goes to Merida and Zulia and its directions is to the North of San Cristobal. The road that goes to the west leads to San Antonio del Tachira and Cucuta, Colombia.

The closest cities are: Cucuta, Merida and Barinas. Most of the roads are very curvy and narrow because the city is located in the Andes Mountains.

By bus
There is a large option of company buses that go from San Cristobal to many other cities of the country. The most common bus companies are: Expresos San Cristobal, Expresos Occidente, Expresos Flamingo, Expresos los Llanos, Expresos Merida, Expresos Alianza, Expresos Union, and Expresos La Grita.

The main bus terminal is in La Concordia, the southern part of San Cristobal. However, the new bus companies have created other private terminal buses. Such as The express los Llanos y Expresos Occidente.

Several people go through San Cristobal on their way to San Antonio to cross into Cucuta, Colombia. There are buses and collectivo taxis (look for sign on top that says San Cristobal - Cucuta) at the main bus terminal. Travel guides say it takes one hour to 90 minutes to get to San Antonio, but with the slightest amount of road work or problems, that time can jump to three hours or more.

See

Take a 30 minute drive uphill to "Chorro del Indio", a remote mountain waterfall rich in blue butterflies and people enjoying a bathe in the cool waters often enjoying a cold beer.

Events
Events hosted in the city are either related to sport, the arts or tie in with agriculture and cattle farming. The big annual events held in the city, reflect this. The city centre of San Cristobal is crowded and somewhat dangerous, therefore many events are held on the edge of the city, and particularly near the Stadium of Pueblo Nuevo, where Tachira state soccer team play.

Also in Pueblo Nuevo, La Corrida de Toros, which is a celebratory fortnight of bull-fighting held in mid January. The Bullfight season attracts the world's best bull-fighters, from the Americas and Spain. During this yearly event called La Feria Internacional de San Sebatian, temporary arcades and fairground rides are set up making Pueblo Nuevo very busy until the early hours. Both events in Pueblo Nuevo bring a lot of people to San Cristobal, to enjoy the animal sport, clubs and bars, but also to trade livestock.

Buy
The city's most popular and cheapest place to do shopping is downtown (5ta and 7ma Avenues).

There are some popular market places such as el Mercado de los Pequenhos Comerciantes in la Concordia thatoffer traditional handcraft and different types of food. It is inexpensive, but it is located in a part of the city that is not very nice. There are many small shopping centres. The most popular ones are: C.C. Plaza (in Barrio Obrero), C.C. del Este (East part of the City, Unicentro en Angel(Barrio Obrero), Boulevard Los Mangos (Barrio Obrero), Paseo La Villa (La Guayana), C.C. Guarauno (Downtown), C.C. El Tama (Quinimari), C.C. Santa Teresa (Santa Teresita), C.C. Pinar (Las Acacias) C.C. Sambil (Las Lomas), C.C. Baratta (Ave. Ferrero Tamayo), Bouleverd Pirineos (Barrio Obrero), Centro Civico (Downtown),

Barrio Obrero is in the upper part of the city and it is becoming the most commercial and trendy part of San Cristobal. There you can find shops, restaurants, night clubs, banks. hospitals, schools and other services.

Drink
The University of Los Andes is in San Cristobal, close to Pueblo Nuevo, and therefore the city homes a large number of students. The popular student and popular culture hangouts, include, the Sambil Mall (in Las Lomas)the various sport clubs (El Democrata, El Latino...) and primarily, La Plaza de los Mangos. The area around Plaza de los Mangos is popular because of its numerous eateries, bars, nightclubs and modern clothes shops. More exclusive night-spots are appearing around San-Cristobal, such as "Cinnamon" and "8 and a half", also hangouts and events are often held at social clubs like at El Latino and El Democrata sport clubs.

Mid-range
Hotel 5ta Avenida (Avenida 5, entre calles 10 y 11) has rooms with AC, TV and a private bathroom.

Stay safe
Safety in the city has traditionally been good, however frontier problems, "Vaccine" payments, kidnapping threats and exponential population growth have made the city a place of increasing unrest and insecurity.

title: San Cristóbal (Venezuela)


text:
San Cristóbal

There's more than one place called San Cristobal or San Cristóbal:

Argentina

 * Buenos Aires/San Cristobal - a district of Buenos Aires

Canary Islands

 * San Cristóbal de La Laguna - a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cuba

 * Catedral de San Cristobal - see Havana

Dominican Republic

 * San Cristobal - a province

Ecuador

 * San Cristobal (Galapagos) - an island in the Galapagos Islands

Guatemala

 * San Cristobal - a city in Guatemala (department)

Mexico

 * San Cristobal de las Casas - a town in the Chiapas region

Solomon Islands

 * San Cristobal (Solomon Islands)

Venezuela

 * San Cristóbal (Venezuela) - a city in the southwestern state of Táchira, close to the border with Colombia

title: San Cristóbal


text:
San Cristobal (Galapagos)

San Cristóbal is one of the Galápagos Islands, part of Ecuador.

Towns

 * - is the capital of the Galapagos Islands and the main town on the islands with tourist facilities.
 * El Progreso - Nothing more than a collection of farms. There are a few small shops and a restaurant, which probably only opens when you reserve ahead.
 * Cerro Verde - A tiny hamlet. A restaurant is present, but probably only opens when you reserve ahead.

By plane
Avianca flies to San Cristobal 5 days per week and LATAM 5 days. (see Galapagos Islands Get In for more info). Inter-island flights are available from EMETEBE Airlines, which operates nine seater aircraft to transport passengers and their luggage from San Cristobal Airport to Isabela, Santa Cruz and Baltra islands. Bookings can be done directly through EMETEBE's website or a travel agent.

The airport is within the urban area of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and taxis cost $2.50 into town. It's even possible to walk if you don't have much luggage.

The terminal has four souvenir shops open for outgoing flights. There is a cafe landside selling a small range of food. Airside there is just a small deli shop with snacks. There is an ATM landside. There is even a small MAGMA Lounge airside (accepts Priority Pass) serving snacks and drinks and offering free Wi-Fi (terribly slow, but you will be used to it by that time).

By boat
There are twice daily speedboats from Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz. The two hour boatride can be rough and noisy and costs $35 one-way. Boats to Santa Cruz leave in the morning (7am) and boats returning to San Cristobal leave in the afternoon (3pm).

Get around
The island is small enough that unless you want to go to Puerto Chino, El Junco or La Galapaguera for the day or don't feel like hiking to El Progreso, you can walk wherever you need to be. From one end to the other Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is about a 20-30 minute walk. If you don't feel like walking, hail a taxi (hold your hand out, palm sideways and point your arm towards the ground). It should be $1 anywhere in town (including the airport). El Progreso, Puerto Chino, La Galapaguera, and El Junco cost more and official prices have been established by the local government, check the board on the Tourist Pier for information on costs to these places. Since official prices have been established, no additional tax are allowed and Ecuadorians and foreigners are charged the same.

There is one road leading from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the west to the beach of Puerto Chino on the west coast. On the way you'll pass the villages El Progreso and Cerro Verde. There are collectivos going to the villages or you can take a taxi. Hitchhiking is also a good alternative.

See

Officially, you need a guide to visit anywhere within the Galapagos National Park with a group larger than eight. Some other areas are restricted to visiting with a guide online.

 * Playa Mann is a beautiful local beach, although it can be quite crowded on weekends with locals and occasional sea lions. A short walk from the town. It's right across from the campus of GAIAS, the Galapagos Institute for the Arts and Sciences of Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
 * Interpretation Center lies near the entrance to the National Park on the western edge of town. About ten minutes walk from the town centre.  Here you can learn more about the history of the Galápagos and the conservation of this unique piece of nature. Follow the waterfront west to Playa Mann, and follow the signs. Admission is free.

Starting at the Interpretation centre there is a loop walk that will take around an hour. It passes:

 * Las Tijeretas - (Frigatebird hill). If you follow the trails further up you come to a set of viewpoint overlooking the a bay. Nesting frigate birds can be seen here. It is possible to snorkel in the bay.
 * La Loberia - This is an uninviting rocky beach, but a good place to see marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, yellow canaries, and a large sea lion colony. Sometimes it is also possible to surf. It is about 1 km east of the airport along a dirt path.

From Las Tijeretas you can also hike to Baquerizo, a calm beach with not that many people there. The trail is about 1 km each way, you need proper footwear for it as it is very uneven and rocky.

It's common to take a taxi to see three sites along the road out of town. A taxi will generally take you to the three sites, allowing around an hour at each for $70.

 * El Junco - A freshwater volcanic lake at an altitude 600m. There is a set of steep steps up from the parking to the crate edge.  From there, you can have 360 degree views of the island. There is a circuit trail around the lake as well, it is quite narrow in some places and can also get a bit muddy, but it offers even more nice views of the island.
 * Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado - A part of land reserved for the repopulation of the giant tortoises. The tortoises were moved from the northern part of the island. There is also a breeding center and an interpretation center. There are pens for animals to the age of 5. It is on the road between El Junco and Puerto Chino. There are some short trails through the reserve.  Free admission.
 * Puerto Chino - A small quiet beach on the east side of the island. It's connected to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno by the only road crossing the island. Camping is possible with permission of the national park. The beach is around 600m from the end of the road (the walk takes you through dry forest, among opuntia cactus, thorn shrub and salt bush). You will find many sea lions at the beach itself, there is also a small rocky hill which you can climb where you can find blue-footed boobies nesting. Take insect repellent to deter the horseflies. There are no facilities here, no mechanism to call a taxi, no waiting taxis, and poor mobile reception.

The following visitor sites are only accessible by boat and with a guide:

 * Kicker rock (León Dormido) - a natural cathedral rising out the water. It's a good place for scuba diving or snorkeling. You will see turtles, white tip reef sharks, sea lions, galapagos sharks, and occasionally a hammerhead shark here.  It perhaps isn't the best place for inexperienced snorkelling, as the water is deep and there are some waves that crash against the rocks.
 * Isla Lobos - Nesting bird colonies and a sea lion colony can be seen on this island. The island is on the way to Kicker Rock, and can be visited on a daytrip.
 * Galapaguera - Giant turtles can be seen in the wild. It's located at the northern end of the island.
 * Cerro Brujo - (Wizard Hill) A collapsed volcano with a white-sand beach just north of Kicker Rock. Home to sea lions, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, brown pelicans, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea turtles, and rays.
 * Punta Pitt - Wet landing site on the northeast end of the island that features all 3 species of booby (Blue Footed, Red Footed, and Masked). The site also features lava formations, and at times, Frigate Birds.

From Puerto Baquerizo Moreno you can walk to Playa Mann. Just up the road is the Interpretation Center, with some great displays on the environment and history of the Galapagos. From there you can walk to Punta Carola, another popular beach, or hike the trail up to Las Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill), which has a gorgeous view of the island and overlooks the bay where Darwin first arrived in the Galapagos. The bay has excellent snorkeling, but be careful, it can be dangerous depending on the tide and waves.

Do

 * Mountainbiking from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Puerto Chino is ambitious even for die-hard mountain bikers, but if you hitchhike the uphill parts it'll make a nice daytrip and you can see some of the sites on the way.

There are several tour agents offering boat trips and snorkeling to Kicker rock, Isla Lobos or other visitor sites. You can rent equipment to hike, camp, bike, or snorkel at many of these places. It's also possible to do scuba diving. There are three scuba shops on the island; GalaKiwi, Chalo Tours, and Galapagos Expeditions. GalaKiwi is better for experienced divers, the guide tends to swim fast and not point out too many things. Chalo Tours speaks English, Spanish, Danish, and German. They have reasonable prices and all the guides are great. The main guide for Galapagos Expeditions is trained by Chalo Tour's main guide.

Renting a mountain bike is also possible and cost around $10 per day. Most bikes are not mountain but are sufficient for around town and on the roads up to El Progreso (the other town on the island).

A taxi (pick-up truck) can be rented to drive to Puerto Chino, one of the best beaches on the island. It will cost between $40-50, but you can always grab a crowd and split the price. This is a gorgeous beach with soft white sand and is the furthest point into the island that one can go without naturalist guide.

While you're in the highlands, you may want to stop by the Galapaguera to see the breeding center of the San Cristobal variety of tortoises, which is right near Puerto Chino. El Junco, the only large freshwater lake in the Galapagos, is also a popular site.

There are several excellent places to surf around the island as well. During off season there are frequently waves at Punta Carrola and Tonga Reef. As the season picks up, El Canyon and a few other places have "buenas olas". Check with the locals about where the waves are daily and to ask for directions. IF there are waves, someone is almost guaranteed to be going surfing and most will invite you to follow them!

Buy
As in most of Ecuador, you can pay by cash or by credit card in most major places, although cash is preferred at most small shops and transportation. There is a Banco de Pacifico with ATM. Depending on your banknet, it may or may not accept your bankcard. If not, walk in the bank and talk to David about a Visa advance. He's a nice guy and speaks English.

There are many souvenir shops on the Malecón (Av. Charles Darwin) and the surrounding side streets. Galapagos coffee is always a popular item with prices ranging from $6.50/lb for vacu-packed coffee to $15/lb if you want it in a cute tin or box. Several talented local artists have a gallery in the upstairs of Casa Blanca, also on the Malecón.

Remember, never buy handicrafts made with local natural resources, it is forbidden by the Galapagos law, it is a National Park!

Eat
There are a variety of restaurants along the main waterfront strip with English menus, and local and international cuisine.

There are several excellent restaurants in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and many smaller places that serve a good setmeal of soup, rice and chicken, typically around $3.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.
 * Several places offer a set meal with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish along with juice, menestra (beans), rice, and the daily soup for $3. It's quite a deal, especially at Albacora or Bambu.

Drink
There are three main bars on the island; Polo's Bar, Iguana Rock, and Voqui Bar. Generally people start at Polo's (directly up the street from Calypso) and then head to Iguana Rock to dance (up the street from Polo's, hang a left when you hit the market). When Iguana's closes, head to Voqui for some late night pool (located in the back room of Calypso) or the discoteca above Calypo's.

Instead of a discoteca above Calypso, there are now two discotecas in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno: La Isla (the island) and Neptune. Both are located on the main road and will sometimes charge a $1-3 entrance fee on the occasional Saturday.

Go next
Closest islands to San Cristobal are:
 * Santa Fe
 * Espanola

title: San Cristobal (Galapagos)


text:
San Cristóbal de las Casas

San Cristóbal de las Casas is in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. It is the cultural capital of the state, and was designated a 'Pueblo Mágico' by the Mexican government in 2003. It has retained much of its Spanish colonial character in its street plans and architecture. The Spanish pronunciation is "cris-TOH-bal", with emphasis on the middle syllable, though many English speakers emphasize the last syllable instead.

Understand
Founded by the Spanish in 1528, San Cristóbal de las Casas was the political capital of Chiapas until the end of the 19th century, when that role was transferred to Tuxtla Gutierrez. It has a large indigenous population made up primarily of Tzotzil- and Tzeltal-speaking Mayans.

For many visitors, San Cristóbal is associated with the Zapatista uprising and its charismatic leader Subcomandante Marcos, who suddenly seized control of the city center in January 1994 demanding justice and equal rights for the state's large and neglected indigenous population. Although the Zapatistas managed to achieve some of their aims, most of their goals have not yet been met, and the movement continues to simmer.

Climate
Because of its high altitude (2,200 m), San Cristóbal has a more temperate climate and it is easy to forget that one is actually in the tropics. In the summer high temperatures tend to be around 25°C with lows averaging about 10-11°C, while in winter temperatures can range from 4-20°, with lows occasionally dropping below 0°C. As in most of Mexico, most buildings do not have central heating, so visitors in winter will want to have warm clothing.

Read
Michael Spurgeon, Let the Water Hold Me Down. A fictionalized account of the Zapatista uprising, told from the standpoint of an American resident who found himself caught unawares in events leading up to the 1994 uprising.

By plane
The closest airport to San Cristóbal is Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport in Tuxtla Gutierrez, a drive of about 1 hour 15 minutes. The fare for a taxi is M$600 per taxi to San Cristóbal (and M$200 to Tuxtla). Collective shuttles direct to San Cristóbal (on Bl Juan Sabines Gutiérrez, just West of the ADO station) can usually be found right beyond the taxi stand, for M$240. (these coincide with the arrival or departure of flights).Most tour agencies in town also operate shuttle services to the airport for about M$200, generally one or two a day, and will pick you up at your place of stay.

By bus
The bus network for getting around Mexico is safe, clean, reliable and affordable. There are multiple companies with professional and helpful ticket clerks at most main stations. The roads to San Cristóbal are winding and can be dizzying so some choose the option to take a bus and let a professional driver do the work. You can see the beautiful greenery of Chiapas all around you on the trip through the big bus windows, or pull the curtain to nap. The bus and colectivo companies have their own stands and stations clustered around Av Insurgente and Carretera de las Americas (Hwy 190) in Barrio San Diego (SE part of town).

By colectivo and ómnibus
There are many other public transportation modes from Tuxtla to San Cristóbal: taxi, colectivo, and collective suburbans. The taxi drivers all know where these are located. Local travel agents in Antigua Guatemala and San Cristobal de las Casas sell tickets for direct colectivos between Antigua, Panajachel and San Cristobal las Casas.

(on the Pan-American Highway, 24 hr) from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Ocosingo, Comitán, and Palenque all operate from depots that are just south of the bus station.

From Tuxtla one can take an Ómnibus de Chiapas that leaves every 20 minutes to San Cristóbal for about M$40.

Get around
If you are reasonably mobile you should be able to walk anywhere within the city without strain. Bicycles are also a good way to get around if you have an adventurous side.

By taxi
Taxis are all over the place (a little too many of them, honestly) and easy to flag down. Rates are negotiable, and are generally M$30-40; after 22:00 fares go up by M$5. Ask the price before getting in to make sure that you get the going rate.

Because of a number of assaults by drivers, solo women are strongly advised to avoid hailing taxis on the street after dark. It is best to call for one or have one called for you.

By colectivo
The main form of public transportation for locals come in the form of a van or minibus. Colectivos run fixed routes, with destinations painted on the windshield. Passengers can be picked up or dropped of any point along the route for a fare of M$8(as of Feb. 2022), free for children under six. Be prepared for a cramped ride and frequent stops but hey, that's just part of the fun.

See

 * There is a drum and brass band and singers who perform patriotic melodies at 08:00 Mondays at the main square. Musicians may be found at the square evenings as well.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.
 * There is a drum and brass band and singers who perform patriotic melodies at 08:00 Mondays at the main square. Musicians may be found at the square evenings as well.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.
 * There is a drum and brass band and singers who perform patriotic melodies at 08:00 Mondays at the main square. Musicians may be found at the square evenings as well.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.
 * There is a drum and brass band and singers who perform patriotic melodies at 08:00 Mondays at the main square. Musicians may be found at the square evenings as well.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.
 * There is a drum and brass band and singers who perform patriotic melodies at 08:00 Mondays at the main square. Musicians may be found at the square evenings as well.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.
 * Constant cultural activities around the Centro.

Do
Stroll around town, enjoy the environment and lovely buildings, visit cafés, restaurants, churches and squares. San Cristóbal has an active nightlife when it comes to the artistic scene, including clubs, electronic events, live concerts, jams, cabarets and niche local cinema.

Work
After the Zapatista movement came out of the jungle in 1994 a great load of NGOs came to San Cristóbal. Nowadays you can find lots of interesting projects with many NGOs working in and around the city.

 * Natatéworks on sustainable projects in San Cristóbal and within the state of Chiapas. Nataté works in different fields: education, water and waste management (dry toilets, water filtering), reforestation, construction. Short and long term projects are available.
 * FrayBa sends Human Rights Observers to Zapatista communities.

People should be aware of cultural issues in this region. While San Cristóbal has done a great job of cleaning up, there is serious poverty if you scratch the surface. 75% of people in Chiapas live in poverty, by far the highest rate in Mexico. The native people suffer a lot so please treat them with respect and kindness. Also, the Zapatista communities are sick and tired of the "hand out" mentality of a lot of NGOs. If you want to interact with the Zapatistas, do it on their terms. Ask plenty of questions. They have a lot more to teach you than you do them.

Eat
On and around the main square there are many sit-down restaurants. You can find cheaper food at the local street vendors and at the markets.

Go to the main public market and eat tamales for breakfast. Another local specialty is sopa de pan which you will probably not find in any restaurant catering to tourists. You will find it in the comedors in the market. That is the best food in town.

On Saturdays many houses sell tamales out their front door. Look for the red lights. On any given evening there are places where people make antojitos on the street in front of their houses. This is real local food.

At certain times of the year different insects are consumed in different ways. Pay attention in the market and you might have the chance to try something really exotic.

A lunch time bargain is in the different cantinas. These are family places: order a beer and you will get a little plate of food to go with it - house choice. It's cheap and excellent, though you might get drunk in the process.

City center
In the streets around the intersection of Francisco León and Av Insurgentes are several inexpensive restaurants. (updated Sept 2022)

Drink
Most all restaurants serve filtered water. The local drink here is "posh" or pox. It is a hard liquor made from cane and has been used traditionally for healing and partying. It is frequently served in ponche – a pineapple or fruit hot punch with a special bread broken into it.

Bars
Nightly there are many bars with music on the same street, including:

 * (aka El Revo, . Most of the music is performed by local musicians in the clubs and restaurants.
 * (in the Santa Clara Hotel on the SE corner of the Zócalo, ), with nightly music.

Sleep
San Cristóbal is considered by some to be the backpackers hub in Chiapas. Some accommodation should be found for around M$50. There are signs on buildings advertising rooms for that amount, though they may have common bathrooms. Very nice hotels such as Hotel Real del Valle on Guadalupe just off the main square may be had for M$200.

Stay healthy
Most people that travel to San Cristóbal never have a need to seek medical attention. But accidents can happen and people do get sick. If you do fall ill or hurt, San Cristóbal has good doctors, dentists and hospitals who will be capable of treating you. Local English-speaking doctors can be recommended by a good hotel, and most of the higher-quality hotels that cater for foreign visitors have a doctor on call at all times. Ask at reception.

Should you simply have nausea, consider buying some Bonadoxina at the local pharmacy. As always, check with the pharmacist regarding your specific symptoms and potential allergic reactions.

Mayan villages in the surrounding mountains
There are a number of nearby Mayan villages easily accessible by public transportation or via a day tour. Some villages welcome visitors, while others do not. The closest and most accessible are San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, and others equally fascinating and worth visiting include Tenejapa, San Andres Larrainzar, and San Pedro Chenalho. The best day to visit a Maya community is during its festivals and weekly market.

A good guide, should you choose one, will help to give you a deeper understanding of modern Maya life and some of the unusual customs you may observe. Guides can be picked up daily at 09:30 in the main plaza by the cathedral. Tours generally return around 14:30 (lunch time in Mexico). Alex y Raul Tours costs M$300 as of Nov 2023. If you time your visit for Day of the Dead (1-2 November), you will witness a very different and moving Mayan celebration from some of the more 'commercial' celebrations in the cities

There are no colectivos connecting Chamula directly with Zinacantán; if you want to visit both on the same day you will need to return to San Cristóbal after visiting each village before proceeding onward or take a cab from one to the other (M$110). Also, visitors should not photograph any villagers without permission – failure to follow this rule can result in physical assault and/or loss of your camera.

 * The Tzotzil village of San Juan Chamula is primarily known for its distinctive church as well as its colorful Sunday market. From San Cristóbal, frequently departing cost M$20 and take about 20 minutes, dropping off passengers a block away from the Chamula's main plaza.
 * San Lorenzo Zinacantán, also a Tzotzil community, is most well-known for its and Sunday . Men wear distinctive embroidered pink or purple tunics, while women wear richly embroidered purple shawls and skirts. No photographs at all of the interior or exterior of church are permitted. You can also visit some artisan fabric maker where you can purchase some beautiful and handmade piece of clothes, bags, etc. Theoretically all visitors should pay an admission fee at a booth by the main church, but this is not always staffed.  (across the street from the main market) cost M$25 and take about 20 minutes.

El Arcotete
The Arcotete is one of San Cristóbal's best kept secrets. Similar to Rancho Nuevo but much nicer and closer to San Cristóbal, located about 5-10 km from the city in the direction of Tenejapa (signs are well placed to find El Arcotete). M$10 per person. It has been remodeled into a park offering nice walking grounds surrounded by Pine trees, picnic areas, and nice look out vantage points. A great day to spend a couple of hours or the whole day enjoying a picnic or a pickup soccer game. It costs M$15 to enter the part of (Las Grutas) The Caves. El Arcotete will provide a wonderful experience enjoying nature's work at best. Check it out for yourself.

Further afield

 * Cañón del Sumidero - This is a worthwhile half-day trip from San Cristóbal. Boat trips leave regularly and take approximately two hours to head 34 km up river to the Chicoasén Dam, and return. Along the way you pass by thousand-metre-high cliffs, wildlife including birds and crocodiles up to 4 m long, cacti growing on the canyon walls, a shrine in the Cave of the Colours, and the surreal El Árbol de Navidad or the Christmas Tree Waterfall. On the way back stop in Chiapa de Corzo to explore the lively square, colourful church, and intricate 16th-century fountain. Most tour agencies in San Cristóbal will charge M$430 (Nov 2023) for this trip.
 * El Chiflón and Lagunas de Montebello National Park - There are daily tours from San Cristóbal to these two natural wonders, though it is a long near twelve hour day of travel, with approximately 7 hours in a bus for 5 hours of sightseeing. El Chiflón is home to a spectacular series of cascades and waterfalls, the highest falling 120 m. On a sunny day the water is turquoise and it is possible to swim in the pools during the dry season. A path follows the river upstream, and is increasingly steep, but offers wonderful views. Parque Nacional Lagos de Montebello is home to a number of beautiful lakes in varying shades of green and blue. A typical tour will stop at Laguna Tziscao, Laguna Bosque Azul, Laguna La Cañada, and Lago Montebello, with photo opportunities, and at a couple of them the chance to hire a wooden raft for a circuit of the lake.
 * Laguna Miramar - Visit one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lacantun Jungle in the south of Chiapas. Visiting Laguna Miramar requires planning and organization. It is inside Zapatista territory. Do not attempt to go there without a guide. Do bring everything you will need, there is nothing to buy there.
 * Oventic -From San Cris market you can take a van that leads to Oventic. This is a caracol or independent zapatista community. Bring your passport or official documents. People at the entrance will ask you questions to evaluate if you would be allowed inside the place. Very nice murals. Close to the town of san Andres which is also worth a visit
 * El chorreadero- Nice waterfalls with small natural pools where people can take a swim. You can check out the cave where the waterfall is born and then follow your way down. In the very last pool people can practice naturism.
 * To get there take a van from San Cris to Tuxtla Gutierrez and ask to be left in Chiapa de Corzo. Under the bridge look for collectives or taxis direction Bochil and that will leave you close to the waterfall entrance.

 * Oaxaca - Many backpackers head to Oaxaca (city), and then hop on the increasingly popular Pacific Coast Backpacker Trail to Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, Zipolite, and Huatulco
 * Guatemala Many private shuttles to Guatemala leave early in the morning by the Zocalo. Some will go door-to-door. From there it is about 6 hours to cross the border.

title: San Cristóbal de las Casas


text:
Sancti Spíritus

Sancti Spiritus is a city in Central Cuba.

Understand
Escambray, is the local periodical.

Get in
Viazul provides several buses a day from Camagüey, Havana, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. There is also service to Trinidad and Varadero.

There is an overnight train to/from Havana on alternate days, and there may be a (very) early morning train to Santa Clara and Cienfuegos that returns in the afternoon. Sancti Spiritus is not on the main line. Check that the trains are running in advance.

Get around
There are very few taxis in Sancti Spiritus, but horse carts and bicycle-taxis are all over. Horse carts wait outside the bus terminal and leave when full to the Parque Serafin Sanchez in the historical centre of the city.

See

Sights in Sancti Spiritus include:

 * The bridge over the Rio Yayabo, built by the Spanish in 1815
 * Street market along Calle Llano, which is paved with cobblestones (just east of the museo de Arte Colonial)
 * Fundacion de la Naturaleza y El Hombre, located off the Parque Maceo in the northern part of the city centre, which documents the 17,422-km canoe trip from Equador to Barbados led by Cuban writer Antonio Nunez Jimenez in 1987.
 * Street market along Calle Llano, which is paved with cobblestones (just east of the museo de Arte Colonial)
 * Fundacion de la Naturaleza y El Hombre, located off the Parque Maceo in the northern part of the city centre, which documents the 17,422-km canoe trip from Equador to Barbados led by Cuban writer Antonio Nunez Jimenez in 1987.

Do
Take a walk through the historical centre of the city, starting from the train station in the south and ending at the Parque Maceo in the north.

Sleep
There are two hotels in Sancti Spiritus -- the Hostal del Rijo off the Plaza Honorato and the Hotel Plaza off the Parque Serafin Sanchez. Both are in historical colonial buildings.

There are about two dozen casa particulares to choose from. Touts will meet all incoming buses and happily escort you to a casa.

title: Sancti Spíritus