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Saint Simons Island

Saint Simons Island is in southern Coastal Georgia on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Get in

 * Malcolm McKinnon Airport on the south end of Saint Simons is a small airfield serving small private planes.
 * Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK, also known as "Glynco Jetport") is the nearest airport with commercial service. Delta Air Lines has daily flights from Atlanta.
 * The nearest major airports are Savannah/Hilton Head International (SAV) to the north, and Jacksonville International (JAX) to south, in Florida. Each is about 1½ hours away by car.

Although Saint Simons is somewhat interlocked with the other islands and mainland of the Intracoastal Waterway, the only access by road is The F.J. Torras Causeway and a bridge arching high over the channel to allow large ships to pass. Bicyclists and pedestrians with a fear of heights will wish they'd gotten a ride.

Get around
Many of the condos in the area are close to restaurants and bars, so walking is an excellent way to get around.

Bike paths line almost every street on St. Simons Island, and bike rentals are available at various outlets on the island.

See
St. Simons Island is well known for its distinctive wildlife, landscape, and architecture. The gold color of its marshes and the area that surrounds them inspired Sidney Lanier to write "The Marshes of Glynn," a notable poem.
 * Near Fort Frederica is Christ Church, a beautiful Episcopal church at which Methodism founder John Wesley preached to the Frederica congregation.
 * Near Fort Frederica is Christ Church, a beautiful Episcopal church at which Methodism founder John Wesley preached to the Frederica congregation.

Do
A popular activity on St. Simons Island is bicycling, and tourists can use the generous bike paths that line every major street to explore the island. St. Simons is also a pleasant place to run for sport. At the fishing pier on the south end of the island, near the lighthouse, people can be found fishing and crabbing at almost any time of day or night.

Other popular activities include:

 * sea kayaking (tours led by Southeast Adventure Outfitters)
 * canoeing (tours led by Southeast Adventure Outfitters)
 * boating
 * deep sea fishing
 * angling
 * swimming
 * windsurfing
 * birdwatching
 * beachcombing
 * parasailing

St. Simons Island is home to seven fine golf courses, and is a popular destination for golfers from around the world, and home to professional golfer Davis Love III.

There are frequently arts, crafts, and antiques festivals on weekends in the Village area of the south end. The annual Sunshine Festival is held at the Village, as well, over the Fourth of July weekend, and the evening fireworks are a popular attraction for locals and visitors alike.

In the spring and summer months, the Jazz in the Park series is held Sundays on the lawn of the St. Simons lighthouse.

In temperate weather, music jam sessions, including bluegrass music (Tuesdays), are held in Neptune Park in the Village.

Easter Sunrise Service, held on the fishing pier on Saint Simons Island, is a popular non-denominational Easter Sunday church service.

Buy

 * J.F. Thompson fine footwear +1 912-634-4554 Men's and Women's dress and comfort shoes

Eat
St. Simons has many unique, fun, and delicious places to eat. All restaurants in Georgia are non-smoking, except those which do not allow patrons under the age of 18 or have a separate room or floor with completely different ventilation.

 * Beachcomber BBQ Grill, relaxed environment, Great BBQ and burgers, open Sunday.
 * Beachcomber BBQ Grill, relaxed environment, Great BBQ and burgers, open Sunday.

Drink
On Saint Simons Island, over-the-counter alcohol sales stop M-Sa at 11:45PM. No alcohol is sold on Sunday, except in restaurants and bars. Liquor must be purchased at a liquor store/package store. Beer and wine are sold in grocery and convenience stores. On Sundays restaurants may not sell alcohol until 12:30PM.

Bars
All bars on St. Simons Island close at 2AM. On Sundays, the bars that are open are only open until midnight.

 * Bubba Garcia's, Dos Equis Amber and Sierra Nevada on tap, open Sunday, costume party every Wednesday in summer
 * Gnat's Landing, laid back, open until 10, dollar PBRs, open Sunday
 * J Mac's Island Restaurant and Martini Bar live jazz music weekends
 * Locos of St. Simons, trivia on Tuesdays, Guinness on tap, open Sunday
 * Marsh Point Bar and Grill NTN trivia network, smoking permitted
 * Murphy's Tavern, local late-night favorite, Guinness on tap, pool tables, darts, good fun, a piece of Ireland on St Simon. Friendly staff and locals, always a good spot for a few late drinks to finish the night.
 * Teazer's Raw Bar and Grill Dance Music, pool tables
 * Village Inn and Pub, trivia on Wednesdays, live bluegrass music weeknights, open Sunday
 * Ziggy Mahoney's shag dancing weekends, live music
 * Village Inn and Pub, trivia on Wednesdays, live bluegrass music weeknights, open Sunday
 * Ziggy Mahoney's shag dancing weekends, live music
 * Ziggy Mahoney's shag dancing weekends, live music

Go next

 * Jekyll Island is just to the south.
 * The nearest mainland city is Brunswick.
 * Cumberland Island National Seashore can be reached by driving 53 miles south on Interstate 95 to St. Marys, Georgia. You must take a ferry to Cumberland Island from St. Marys. There is a fee, and reservations are required to board. No motor vehicles are allowed on the ferry.
 * Sapelo Island Estuarine Reserve is home to the R.J. Reynolds Mansion, and Hog Hammock, one of the last remaining gullah communities in the U.S. To get there, drive approximately 30 miles south on U.S. Highway 17 to Meridian, and take the ferry. There is a fee to board, at $2 per person, and you must have reservations. No vehicles are allowed on the ferry.
 * Okefenokee Swamp is located nearby.
 * Sea Island is privately-owned and adjacent to Saint Simons Island. Follow directional signs once on Saint Simons Island. There is a bridge to Sea Island.
 * Little St. Simons Island is a privately-owned resort near Saint Simons Island. Arrive via Saint Simons Island.

title: Saint Simons Island


text:
Saint Thomas

St. Thomas is in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cities
Even though it's only 32 square miles, St. Thomas does have a couple of official cities.

 * Charlotte Amalie (pronounced SHAR-lut uh-MAHL-yuh or AH-muh-lee) - The capital city, referred to as "downtown", is the destination for many cruise ships due to its deep water harbor. Nearly every day, tourists visit some of the 300 or so jewelry and other stores in the city (see "Buy" below). But it's a great place to "people watch" as well. If you happen to be downtown at night, Frenchtown is where the classier places are, for food and drinks. Downtown there are a couple of bars that sport the younger crowd and have loud music etc.
 * Red Hook - Also referred to as the East End. There is a little more nightlife and activities, restaurants in Red Hook, you can catch the dollar taxi ($2/person each way to Red Hook from downtown), it takes about 30 minutes to get there. Don't get stuck there though, unless you have a lot of people in your group, a taxi will not likely take you downtown after about 9PM. Red Hook has ferry service to the island of Saint John.

Other destinations

 * Magen's Bay - The most famous feature, besides the shopping, on the island. Directly across on the northern side from Charlotte Amalie, a crescent shaped bay with a mile of white sand and several bars and small stores. Taxis from downtown cost about 15 dollars, and if there are any cruise ships on the day you go, you can bet it will have at least a few beached white tourist fish. The trip to Magen's Bay (and back) can pass Mountain Top, with a mass of souvenir offerings and a great view of Magen's Bay and beyond; enjoy a banana daiquiri (invented there), but don't let it ruin your day! Continuing return to Charlotte Amalie offers excellent mountainside views of the harbor.
 * Hull Bay - The next bay to the west of Magen's, on the Atlantic Ocean, and in the winter there is the island's only surfing. There is a shop where you can rent boards, but in typical island style, you would be lucky to catch the owner there to rent you one. Better to call ahead a few days and leave a message.
 * Brewer's Bay - Beautiful small beach near the University, especially nice at sunset. The landing strip for the airport is right on the other side, and the sun sets somewhere out in the middle.
 * Sapphire Beach - Beach resort, open to the public but you can stay there too if that is where you want to be. Nice beach, rent a snorkel and check out the nice clear water and coral. There are a couple of bars and a swimming pool, sometimes a live band at night, if you haven't had a BBC (Bailey's, banana, coconut) they are pretty tasty.
 * Coki Beach - The best snorkeling beach on St. Thomas. Normal underwater visibility of over 100 feet!  Great beach for kids to learn to snorkel.  It's very calm and you can feed the fish in about 3-4 feet of water if you want to.  They sell dog treats to feed to the fish and it's really cool to see them swarm you for one.  Beware of the locals though, you will be asked if you want to buy something 20 times before you make it to the beach,  once there you are pretty much left alone though. If you take a tourist taxi to Coki Beach (they have awnings) you must be sure to take the same driver on return trip.  If you try to take a different driver, nasty arguments can happen.  Get the name of the driver who took you and make a time for pickup and return. There are no food facilities at Coki Beach, so be sure to plan for this.  There is food available on the beach. People walk around with small menus asking if you want anything to eat. There is also a smoothie stand that only makes all natural smoothies for $7.
 * Secret Harbour - This is a private resort, but they allow visitors to use the beach. Not so for the chairs, which must be rented from a very diligent attendant. There are a number of rather large iguanas that wander around the property. They are not pet material, and usually run off if approached. However, some people have received bad bites from them. There is a very nice restaurant on the beach called the Blue Moon; not only was the food reasonably-priced and delicious, it's one of the few places that will give you free soda refills, and you can't beat the view. Their Bloody Mary is a must try as it's rimmed with a spicy Caribbean seasoning.  The snorkeling was decent close to the beach and is great for beginner snorkelers (you'll even catch a glimpse of a pair of small squid!). There's a dive shop on site where you can rent chairs and snorkel gear, buy underwater cameras and chum. Taxis know this resort well, and unlike many islands where you have to prearrange a pickup when dropped off, when you are ready to leave Secret Harbour several taxis are lined up and waiting in front of the resort.
 * Water Island. Across the bay from Charlotte Amalie, this small island has trails and an old sugar mill back from the slave days. The island has some cottages, but no real commercial establishments.

Understand
This is the islands, so naturally the locals are very laid back. You can count on speedy service especially in the areas where they are used to dealing with a lot of tourists though. Some decorum is still important; keep swimwear on the beach, and dress comfortably for other activities.

Say "good morning" "good afternoon" or "good night" when you enter a room, when you get in a taxi, or before you start talking to someone and they will be more friendly, this is the polite thing to do and shows that you aren't a complete tourist.

Talk
English is spoken throughout the island.

Get in
If you are on a cruise ship, it will not matter much what day of the week you visit. However, if you have more control over your schedule, try to arrange to be there on a "no ship day", when the island is less than crowded with tourists and the locals tend to come out of the woodwork. Check near term schedules at.

By cruise ship
Saint Thomas is a very popular stop for cruise ships on both Eastern Caribbean and Southern Caribbean itineraries. When they're in port (often in-season, usually during daylight hours), you may see many large ships...1-2 per week off-season, frequently four or more (occasionally eight or so) on certain days in high-season. Each can put 2-3,000 passengers on the island... mega-ships 5-6,000 each. You can also find fairly dependable data on scheduled ship arrivals and maximum passenger loads at by using the "ports" feature.
 * Most dock at the West Indian Company Dock, next to Havensight shopping mall, and a near two mile walk to downtown Charlotte Amalie. Comfort & safety for the walk is improving as construction of the shoreline road and sidewalk finishes.  Passengers can also easily get a $4 per person open air "Safari" cab ride each way to/from downtown.
 * Some ships dock at Crown Bay, a slightly longer walk to downtown than Havensight. It too is served by taxis and $4 Safari Cabs, and several small stores open when ships are docked there.
 * When many ships stop here on any day, some may have to anchor off-shore and tender passengers ashore...sometimes to the waterfront at downtown Charlotte Amalie.

During "high season", Monday through Wednesday tend to have the most cruise ships in port.

By ferry
Ferries run regularly between St. Thomas and the other major US Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands.

 * Island Lynx Ferry, next to Seaplane Terminal, (340) 713-5969, . Service to Red Hook, Christiansted, Saint Croix, Cruz Bay, Saint John, with connections to the British Virgin Islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

Get around
Once you've reached any area (e.g., "downtown", Havensight, Red Hook), walking becomes the preferred way to get around. However, the island in general is too expansive and hilly to explore totally on foot, especially if you are on a limited schedule, e.g., on a cruise ship.

By Bus Tour Several tour operators offer professional tours to popular locations by air-conditioned bus. You can make arrangements privately, or through your hotel concierge or cruise ship.

By Private Tour If you want to tour the island thoroughly, without the restrictions of a large bus tour by your hotel or cruise ship, consider hiring a cab/driver for a few hours. Many are amiable and well-qualified to show you places the buses can't or don't go, and where buses go, your driver can time your arrival to avoid the bus crowds. For 3-5 hours, a common rate is around $50 per hour, so four or more people can have a "private" tour for much less than all on a "bus" tour. Cab drivers are happy to oblige, so you should have no trouble hiring one at any resort, the cruise ship docks, downtown or in shopping areas.

By car
There are plenty of rental car offices in the airport and around Charlotte Amalie. Traffic drives on the left side of the road, and all cars are US Specification left-hand drive cars. Outside of Charlotte Amalie, the roads are mostly narrow and quite dangerous if you go too fast. Obey the speed limits and take the curves with caution. Local drivers are rather aggressive, and they speed around the turns and honk liberally, although the horn is used more often to say "hello" or "thank you" than express displeasure.

Major routes are marked with two-digit route numbers (beginning with 3 and 4 on this island), and minor connectors get three-digit numbers. The sign of choice is black numbers on a white circle, the same as several states on the mainland. You generally should not stray off the numbered routes (except in Charlotte Amalie) unless you need to do so to go to your hotel or resort. Unlike St. John or St. Croix, all of St. Thomas' numbered routes are paved. However, the routes are not well signed on most of the southern half of the island, especially around Charlotte Amalie, and they are prone to suddenly turning off onto another road or changing numbers without notice.

If you are planning to go on a driving tour, bring a good map, then, if you want any hope of following the numbered routes. Most rental car offices hand out a map with a rental; if you didn't get one, the same map can be picked up at most stores. The one in the back of your guidebook is likely not detailed enough. However, even if you do have a map, you may still have to ask a local for directions. If you are in this situation, be aware that any question such as "How do I get to Route 30?" will be almost universally met with a blank stare. The route numbers are mostly for tourist convenience; locals do not know the numbers, or even the road names in most cases. Often you will get directions such as "Turn left at the fork in the road, then right at the gas station."

By ferries
Ferries leave from Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook to other islands pretty much all day every couple of hours. There are information booths along the waterfront where you can get a schedule for the local ferries and a ferry terminal near French Town for the longer distances (BVI etc). For on-line schedules to plan your outing, try for getting around the USVI, and  for reaching the British Virgin Islands. If you are going to St. John it is much cheaper and faster to go from Red Hook.

By taxi

 * Tourist taxis will take you anywhere at a premium, from one end of the island to the other. Airport to Red Hook is probably $30, from Charlotte Amalie to the Airport is about $15, and from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook about $20. Agree to a price before you get in the car. Taxi prices are per person so a trip for 4 to Meagans bay for your group could easily run you $50 each way! The big truck taxis will charge by the person, the legitimate taxis will have a meter, and the gypsy taxis will bid for your service and all of them will be waiting in crowds outside restaurants and bars after dark. There are approximately 3,000 taxis on the island, half gypsy (unlicensed).
 * Dollar taxis run from sunrise to sunset, whenever they feel like it. They have one route with set stops. If you want to ride one, ask someone where to wait for one. They look just like the tourist taxis, but they will be filled with locals instead of tourists. They go from the end of airport road to Sapphire Bay and back, one way. Yes, one way, it goes in a figure 8 from the Airport, through Charlotte Amalie to the mall in the middle, out to the east end, back to the mall and downtown again. If you go farther than the mall then it will cost you $2, for shorter trips only $1. The taxis run at random but frequently enough. The dollar taxis do not run all the way to the airport, so don't try it. Their last stop is near Brewers Bay, a good mile from the terminal.
 * Safari Cabs - Endless "safari cabs" (pickup trucks converted to offer 3-5 covered bench seats) go back and forth from downtown and ships' docks...per "Get In" above. If you look like a tourist dockside or on the street downtown, you will be asked quite often but amiably if you need a ride.  The standard fee is $4 per person each way.

General note: Everyone in the city uses their horns liberally...short toots for "hello". They drive on the left side of the street and don't really follow the rules. They don't follow the rules about a lot of things, in fact they are very disorganized, but it can be charming.

Charlotte Amalie

 * Paradise Point offers an excellent view of the harbor and Charlotte Amalie. The Skyride takes about 5 minutes each way, and costs 21USD.  Up top is a short walking trail where many local flowers and birds can be found.
 * St. Thomas Synagogue the second oldest synagogue under the flag of the United States of America.
 * Charlotte Amalie Harbor is one of the most beautiful harbors to be found anywhere. There are almost always lots of sailboats and yachts moored in the harbor, many with windmills spinning away. It's ringed by hills, and when there are several cruise ships docked, it can be quite a sight.
 * 99 steps Built by the Danes in the mid 18th century, to climb up and down the steep hills of Charlotte Amalie. The bricks used to build the steps were brought from Denmark as ballast in the hulls of sailing ships.

Do

 * Coral World (see Do above) for watersports or parasailing.
 * Scuba diving, a number of operators offer guided scuba diving tours. St Thomas has a number of particularly enjoyable wreck dives including the Miss Opportunity, the WIT Shoal and the WIT Concrete. Most operators will pick up visitors from either nearby hotels or the cruise ship dock.
 * Scuba diving, a number of operators offer guided scuba diving tours. St Thomas has a number of particularly enjoyable wreck dives including the Miss Opportunity, the WIT Shoal and the WIT Concrete. Most operators will pick up visitors from either nearby hotels or the cruise ship dock.
 * Scuba diving, a number of operators offer guided scuba diving tours. St Thomas has a number of particularly enjoyable wreck dives including the Miss Opportunity, the WIT Shoal and the WIT Concrete. Most operators will pick up visitors from either nearby hotels or the cruise ship dock.
 * Scuba diving, a number of operators offer guided scuba diving tours. St Thomas has a number of particularly enjoyable wreck dives including the Miss Opportunity, the WIT Shoal and the WIT Concrete. Most operators will pick up visitors from either nearby hotels or the cruise ship dock.

Buy
The island is arguably the biggest shopping mecca in the Caribbean. Goods are imported to the island duty and excise free, and visitors do not directly pay any duty or tax on purchases (merchants do pay a Gross Receipts Tax of 5%.) Buyers may face Customs duty as they return home if they exceed their Customs exemption (see discussion below).

U.S. currency is used/accepted universally. ATMs can be found in numerous locations. As anywhere, major purchases should be made by credit card. (Credit cards issued by U.S. banks do not induce foreign-exchange fees, others may.) Most store-front establishments, resorts and restaurants accept credit cards and traveler checks. Few places accept personal checks. Sellers in open-air bazaars may not accept credit or debit cards.

You can shop many dozens of stores downtown (in Charlotte Amalie), and others in a few malls dotting the island, and near cruise ship docks, e.g.,:
 * Yacht Haven Grande next to Havensight offers restaurants and premium branded stores.
 * Crown Bay has a modest number of stores similar to Havensight (most closed when no ship is docked there).
 * You'll see Pueblo Supermarkets (modest by mainland standards) near Havensight and Crown Bay.
 * You'll see Pueblo Supermarkets (modest by mainland standards) near Havensight and Crown Bay.

You'll find numerous tent kiosks at Vendor's Plaza at the near southeast side of downtown...across the highway from the waterfront. There you'll see many colorful offerings in shirts, caftans, rainwear, etc., often marked with USVI scenes or logos, most manufactured elsewhere. Other stores in resorts, strip malls, etc., tend to serve locals and land vacationers; many of them open on Sundays whether cruise ships are visiting or not, e.g., K-Mart (one walkable from Havensight, & a larger store in Tutu Park.

Merchandise/Pricing
In many stores, gems, jewelry, watches, liquor, cosmetics, perfumes, linens and (sometimes) cameras, optics, electronics and fine crystal and china can be good buys, but know the costs for the same/similar items back home. (Some cameras, optics and electronics may be obtained at home from aggressive discounters (e.g., on Internet) for equivalent or lower prices. But savings here can disappear if those sellers charge sales tax, shipping costs, or extra for US-importer warranties.)  Price advantages for U.S. citizens may be helped by generous duty exemptions. These advantages can make the economics of buying in the USVI slightly better for U.S. citizens than elsewhere (e.g., St Martin) where prices may be similar, sometimes slightly better. However, unique, appealing or well-priced items seen elsewhere should not be avoided because of feared duty costs...often modest even if you exceed your exemption. (see "Customs and Duty", this section below)

Bargaining is appropriate in open-air bazaars, and should be tried in stores but may be rebuffed in a few for some kinds of items. Here, ensure that items of interest that need any kind of (service) warranty have one in writing that is usable at home, e.g., for electronics, watches, cameras. You need to ask if any warranty is "grey-market", international or backed by the US-importer, and understand the consequences of what's offered. For valuable gems or jewelry, ensure the seller provides a written description and certified appraisal of each item's worth.

In exchange for very large fees paid by some merchants, "port shopping advisers" on cruise ships tout those merchants as more reliable than others, with passenger satisfaction "guaranteed, except for negligence or buyer's regret". Ultimately, you pay those fees. But most stores are quite reputable, ready to rectify any problem that's truly their responsibility. Touted or not, smaller retailers such as Artistic Jewelry and Mr. Tablecloth offer quality fully-equivalent to such large and famous stores as Cardow or A.H. Riise. And they may offer items seen nowhere else. The best approach...always thoroughly inspect any high-cost item and obtain a written/signed description or appraisal before accepting it.

Per "Get in" discussion above, when many cruise ships are in port, the open-air bazaar and stores can be crowded...sometimes very crowded. That can compromise bargaining success and how well you are helped even in the best stores with fine staffs. Shopping early or late can help avoid some of the crowds. Stores downtown (Charlotte Amalie) usually open at 9:30-10AM and close around 5PM. Half-day, morning ship's tours (the most popular) end about noon back at the ship, and ship itineraries often call for departures at 4-6 PM (with all-aboard as much as an hour earlier). You might time your shopping accordingly.

On Sunday, early can be essential. A few stores (mostly in downtown Charlotte Amalie) don't open, more open only if at least one cruise ship is in port, and many of those stores close by early-mid afternoon. Occasionally, local holidays/festivals make shopping downtown problematic due to street and store closures, e.g., for parades. Most carnivals/celebrations are in late April & early May.

Logistics
Especially if you must fly to get home, you may wish to have stores ship out-sized or heavy items home for you (liquor, perfumes and tobacco excluded). Costs for surface shipping can be modest, air a bit more but faster. (Your local Post Office, UPS or FEDEX store should be able to give you example costs. "Know Before You Go" noted below indicates the US Postal Service is more convenient for sending dutiable items.)  Any method helps avoid the dangers of damage (or theft) by baggage handlers, greatly simplifies your return home, and allows you to refuse to accept (at/hear home) any shipment that appears damaged. There are requirements for documentation and customs labeling when shipping dutiable items. Retailers should help, and may even arrange everything. If significant customs duty will be involved, you may have to pay it at/near home as you receive the item(s). But ask the merchant if you can simply declare the item on your Customs form as you return home.

Wine and liquor
Several stores offer large and varied selections of quality and premium liquors (and other merchandise) at low prices rarely if ever seen in the U.S. For liquor, they include: A.H. Riise/Penha, Dynasty, Caribana and others downtown; many of the same names in Havensight, plus K-Mart, Pueblo Supermarket and Al Cohen's Warehouse near Havensight; A.H. Riise/Penha and Supreme Liquors at Crown Bay, with another Pueblo Supermarket nearby. As of Summer 2014, prices in most stores for popular brands were quite close except for scattered "specials". Prices for highly-premium brands may vary more. The airport has a store that may be used by those arriving or departing. (See discussion under "Returning home" below). Most liquor comes in one liter bottles (some larger), some US-produced and many European liquors come in .75 liter ("fifths"), and liqueurs may be in still other sizes. So take care when calculating or comparing cost per ounce or liter.

Some of those stores will box your purchases and deliver them to your ship, hotel or airport the same day at no charge if you ask and purchase early enough. That way, you don't have to carry them with you the rest of the day. Others (e.g., K-Mart, Cohen's) usually have boxes available, and may box bottles for you to carry. (Boxes/boxing and delivery may be the major difference among sellers.) If you have a choice, smaller boxes (e.g., 2-4 bottles each) are easier to pack and pad in luggage. As discussed in "Returning Home" below, large purchases of liquor induce considerable logistics challenges, so plan ahead on what to buy and how to carry it back, especially if you must fly home. If you are on a cruise,:
 * Any liquor you carry on-board will be collected, and returned to you on the last day of your cruise, in whatever containers you used to carry it. Use something for adequate padding, e.g., newspaper.
 * Other bottles may be delivered to your ship, boxed for you by the merchant (sometimes with many other boxes wrapped on a pallet) and similarly and automatically collected by the ship's staff. They'll be brought to your cabin the last day of the cruise.

Customs and duties
The following discussion focuses on U.S. customs laws/procedures. Many of these basic processes are similar for travelers returning to other home countries.

You should always consult authoritative sources to obtain and understand consequences of customs limits and duty costs before making major purchases, e.g., for U.S. Customs, understand "Know Before You Visit", as introduced at. Otherwise,:
 * You may face unexpected costs (duty levies) if you make purchases that exceed your duty allowances.
 * Unscrupulous sellers may try to convince you that you enjoy far higher exemptions (and freedom from duty, inspection and seizure of illegal items) that are untrue...just to make a sale.

Don't pay duty on valuables you already own and take on your trip. See brief article at Proof_of_What_You_Already_Own.

Best-effort recap of U.S. duty exemptions: The following summarizes your duty exemptions/allowances as you return home having visited the U.S. Virgin Islands (actually any part of any U.S. protectorate) on any part of your trip:
 * Total purchases: Each U.S. citizen is allowed to return to the U.S. (mainland or Puerto Rico) with $1600 in total purchases (up from $800 for the Caribbean generally).  At least half the value of purchases must have been made in the USVI.  Members of immediate families can "pool" exemptions.  Even if you exceed your total/aggregate exemption, you may have to pay only 1.5-3% of the next $1000 per person.  Example: two parents and two children have a total/aggregate $6400 duty-free exemption, and the next $4,000 would cost $120 at most.
 * Liquor: Under a separate duty exemption, but within the above $1600, each adult U.S. citizen is allowed to return to the U.S. with four liters or five fifths of liquor duty-free (up from one liter), provided at least half of the value was purchased in the USVI.  If you purchase at least one liter of product made or bottled in the USVI (e.g., Cruzan rum), you can return with five liters/six fifths duty-free.  (Otherwise, if you buy only outside the USVI, your exemption is one liter.) With different bottle sizes noted above, take care about numbers of bottles versus total liters purchased for your Customs declaration.  Exemptions for wine and beer are different; again, consult "Know Before You Go".  Adult members of immediate families can "pool" liquor exemptions.  If you moderately exceed your exemption, duty will be moderate.
 * Take care with large quantities, e.g., Florida treats more than 20 fifths or liters as a commercial importation, requiring in-advance an importer's license (not easily or quickly obtained, and involving an annual fee) and payment of state sales tax in addition to Federal duty and taxes. Without it, U.S. Customs is required to report such amounts, and to collect all duties/taxes from "licensed importers"...or to confiscate the items.
 * Gems/Jewelry: U.S. Customs treats loose gemstones (even fully faceted) as "rocks" having no dutiable value.  However, if mounted in jewelry, the full cost as finished jewelry must be declared.  No reputable jeweler will separately sell you an unmounted stone and its mount to avoid duty; it would place them and you in violation of the law; if discovered by Customs, items may well be confiscated, with other actions possible.
 * Tobacco: A separate quantity restriction applies to tobacco products.  Overages may be confiscated.
 * Blacklisted sources/items: Any goods made in Cuba (or other "blacklisted" countries), and items deemed contraband (e.g., certain animal or plant products) will be confiscated by Customs if found.  Major amounts may generate a fine or result in arrest.
 * Unique items: Original art works created here/abroad and certain other custom-made items may also be treated as non-dutiable; you'll need a certificate of origin from the seller.

USGR/AGR You may find goods that were made in the U.S., e.g., some T-shirts, a few brands of jewelry. So ask the sellers. Such items are called "U.S./American Goods Returning" (USGR or AGR) and do not count against your duty exemptions. If so, ensure the seller provides proper/formal indication on or with a receipt so that the cost(s) will not count against your duty allowance. Similar policy may apply for products made in and returning to other countries.

All purchases (including USGR/AGR) and gifts you've received (except what you've consumed or given away before returning) must be itemized on your customs declaration; USGR/AGR and other exempted item costs should not be included in the dutiable sum of your purchases. Have receipts, certificates and merchandise for all listed purchases readily at hand as you pass through Customs. Be sure to list any food products by type.

As you return home (U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico)...
 * While on your ship, airplane, or as you reach the airline counter at the Saint Thomas airport, you'll be instructed to fill out a Customs form. Use the above notes (or better, what's in "Know Before You Go") to accurately indicate how much you've purchased, in what categories, so Customs can quickly look at it as you are processed.
 * And go through Customs, have purchases, receipts, Forms 4457 and the Customs declaration form handy to show officials. They may opt not to charge duty for purchases in slight excess of any limit.  They will often charge for each limit exceeded if you are paying duty for other purchases anyway.

Other customs enforcement (e.g., for Canada or EC countries) depends on country limits and customs diligence.

Returning home
(Emphasis U.S.; please expand):

If cruising, you'll probably go through customs processing at the port where your cruise ends. (See to better understand the disembarkation process)  If you then return home by land (e.g., drive), you'll be weight/size limited only by your vehicle and your ability to carry everything off the ship...at least just before you claim luggage in the terminal that has been carried ashore for you.

Flying. With airlines now charging for checked bags (plus heavy fees for overweight and too many bags), the economics and practicalities of flying with heavy or large purchases gets complicated. Bulky items may have to be checked, and bottles of liquids in luggage can greatly affect weight, e.g., six boxed, well-padded one liter glass bottles can weigh 30 pounds.

Purchases may be too numerous or heavy to be hand-carried on flights even if permitted. Compare luggage fees you'll encounter with the cost-savings you may see at purchase. Fees may considerably outstrip savings. (Yes, these realities have greatly affected merchants' business worldwide.) If you have weight or size challenges, consider shipping what you are allowed to. If you need to pack a fragile item in luggage, avoid placing it in the same bag with a heavy item.

Whether in checked or carry-on luggage, high-alcohol-content liquids (e.g., liquor over 140 proof, major quantities of perfume/cologne) are deemed a fire hazard and will be confiscated if found.

If you fly home from Saint Thomas:
 * U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now provides special services for U.S. citizens. They perform Customs and Immigration (C&I) processing after you check-in at your airline ticket counter, but before you surrender luggage to be checked and then go to your gate.  You can then fly to your final U.S. destination without further C&I processing.
 * Carry-on: TSA and airlines both have limits...numbers, size and weight.  For current U.S. carry-on restrictions when flying, see, e.g., to understand the "3-1-1 rule"...adopted in metric equivalents by nearly all other countries and airlines.

Some returning travelers try to avoid TSA restrictions by purchasing items (e.g., perfumes, liquor) in shops inside airport secure areas immediately before boarding flights. That option is available at the Saint Thomas airport, but may only be usable if you are flying non-stop to your destination airport. Some shops may put the items in specially-sealed bags, and may deliver items to your flight gate for you to claim and carry on. Those bags have no "standing" if you leave the secure area of an enroute terminal, e.g., to change planes.

Wine and liquor packing tips:

Boxes: Those offered by stores are usually strong enough to be used as "checked bags" if well-strapped with strong tape, e.g., nylon reinforced. (Note: Some airlines may not accept them as checkable, so know in-advance from the carrier before you count on it.) Two boxes of up to three bottles each can be strapped together, but be careful...dual box handles are clumsy and can only support so much weight and casual handling, your airline may have limits on numbers and weights of such boxes, internal padding alone may not be enough to avoid damage from mishandling (accidental or otherwise), and excess "checked luggage" costs can escalate rapidly

Securing box contents: Regardless of how to be transported, before you tape any box of bottles shut, check the arrangement of bottles (all-upright preferable). Then add internal padding all around each bottle to avoid breakage, e.g., crumpled newspaper on bottom and around necks, sides wrapped in newspaper...to eliminate any movement in box and complement internal box dividers. Then strap each box outside with strong tape, place a name tag on a handle and write similar information on the box. (Bring the materials with you or purchase them at a store such as K-Mart.)

Boxes/bottles in luggage: If your boxes must or should go in your checked luggage, pack them thoroughly while in your room/cabin.
 * Put each internally-padded/strapped box in a strong, leak-resistant plastic bag (e.g., kitchen or lawn trash bag), and tape or tie it closed so that a leak is less likely to harm other contents. Then pad each box well all-around (e.g., with clothing) so it can't move.
 * If you lack a box for your bottles, tape two bottles together with liberal padding in-between and around them, put them in a plastic bag, tape/tie it shut, and use other baggage contents to thoroughly pad them to eliminate any movement of the bottles in the suitcase.
 * Your hotel or cruise ship may have scales to weigh to-be-checked bags.

Eat
In addition to offerings in resort complexes, a few independent restaurants include:

If you'd like to eat a fresh coconut, there is an old man who comes to the tent market in Charlotte Amalie most every day with a pickup truck full of coconuts and a machete and sells them for 2 or 3 dollars. You drink the milk and give it back and he gives it another crack or more so you can eat the "meat".

Drink
With bottled liquor so inexpensive, most "watering holes" are for visitors, yet offer attractive prices.

Most resorts and many restaurants have bars if not nightclubs. You'll also find a few nightclubs in or near shopping areas, as well as Frenchtown and Redhook.

Stay safe
As a pedestrian, take care with the often heavy traffic by looking both ways before crossing. Remember that they drive on the left side. Most streets and roads have no sidewalks. Take great care as a pedestrian alongside them.

At night, officials recommend taxis to/from any location, and to avoid walking alone. Virtually all stores downtown (and after 8-9PM, most other stores) will be closed and shuttered, with no display windows or other sights to enjoy.

Generally, tap water is potable everywhere, although most is reclaimed by desalination plants, so the water temperature may be warmer than expected.

Go next
If you are staying for a few days, consider ferry rides or inter-island flights to Saint Croix, the British Virgin Islands (passport required), or the islands just east of Puerto Rico (Culebra and Vieques, passport may be required). Even just as a day-trip, try Saint John, to enjoy the quieter life, less-crowded and beautiful beaches and limited but wide-range shopping selection at prices similar to Charlotte Amalie. Ferries regularly depart from Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook at the east end of St. Thomas.

The airport has private aviation operators (on north side of the runway) with amiable, highly-qualified pilots and well-maintained equipment, e.g. Ace Flight Center. With prior arrangements, they can provide, at modest cost, flights in small aircraft, to provide perspectives of the area's islands that can be seen no other way. If landing elsewhere is planned, passports may be required, especially for other than U.S. citizens.

Connect
There are several small internet cafes located around the island as well as connections offered by the larger resort hotels. Havensight has two and Crown Bay one that cater to ships' crews, but are open to the public.

Cell phones can be used in most places, with some spotty coverage in the shadows of mountains and hills. All cells support technology used in the U.S. Calls to the U.S. are treated as long-distance, not international, for most carriers. Generally, calls are standard rate for those on nationwide plans with AT&T, Sprint, MVNO's on their networks, and T-Mobile. Also, data coverage with AT&T, Sprint, and MVNO's on their networks are similar to mainland coverage, with no roaming charges. Verizon data service is non-existent, and voice service is considered international, charged at a rate of $1.99 per minute. Check with your wireless provider before making calls.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇰 Denmark

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

title: Saint Thomas


text:
Saint Thomas (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint Thomas or St Thomas:

U.S. Virgin Islands

 * Saint Thomas - An island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Canada

 * St. Thomas (Ontario) - A city in Southwestern Ontario.

Jamaica

 * Saint Thomas (Jamaica) - A parish in Jamaica.

title: Saint Thomas (disambiguation)


text:
Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez is a town in the French Riviera.

Understand
In the 1920s the town attracted some famous French characters, including haute couture superstar Coco Chanel. Later in 1950 it gained an international popularity: director Roger Vadim shot And God Created Woman featuring one of the sex symbols of that time — Brigitte Bardot. Since then it has been a hot destination for the rich and famous. But, these days, the town has plenty for everyone.

Get in
The nearest airports are in Nice, Marseille and Toulon.

From Nice you can take a train to Saint-Raphaël and then go to Saint-Tropez with bus 876 (runs every hour).

From Marseille take a train or intercity bus to Toulon. From Toulon take a regional bus to Saint-Tropez.

Expect a lot of traffic between June and September to get to the city. If you are coming from St Maxime, you might stay stuck in traffic for an hour! Luckily, the coastal road offers a view on the sea. Entering Saint-Tropez by car is not the smartest thing to do, since the town has very narrow streets and lots of tourists walking in it. There is a large parking at the border of the town, from which it is a ten-minute walk to the center of the town. You can walk on the borders of the sea, where you have a great view at the luxury cruise ships.

A ferry service from Sainte-Maxime is operating in season.

Flixbus does not stop in the town. The nearest stops are in Fréjus and Toulon. From Fréjus regional buses and a ferry depart to Saint-Tropez.

Cruise ships that visit must anchor or loiter offshore and bring passengers to town by tender.

Get around
Saint-Tropez is a fairly small town, so it could be easily explored on foot.

See

Do
The "village" is easily walked and enjoyed. The waterfront is crowded with cafes and shops with "elite" offerings. A block or two inland, through narrow streets and alleys, you'll find fewer stores and cafes, quaint and interesting studios, homes and a few historical structures.

You can follow a path towards Baie de Canebiers which goes along the coast - it's an easy walk with many quiet beaches along the way.

Sports
In the first week of July there is an international Polo tournament, which attracts the best polo players from around the world to the Saint-Tropez Polo Club.

Buy
The waterfront is packed with stores offering "elite" goods, and cafes for the "in-crowd" (or naive tourists), all at heady prices. A block or two inland, offerings are often equally good, with slightly more modest prices.

Eat
Saint-Tropez is famous for its traditional tarte tropézienne (tropezian pie), which is worth of tasting. It was invented by Alexandre Micka in 1955.

Drink
Chateau Minuty Rose Cuvee De L'Oratoire — rose wines are popular in Provence, and this is one of the best.

Icetropez is a lightly sparkling wine cocktail with peach aroma.

The Senequier - a café on the harbour. The place has existed since 1887 and its red terrace has a view of the harbour.

Sleep
Better priced accommodations you find:
 * in Sainte-Maxime — 15 min by ferry or 45 min by bus.
 * at the coast of Cogoglin and Gassin – 10 min by bus:

title: Saint-Tropez


text:
Saint Vincent

Saint Vincent is the largest by far of the islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Cities

 * - the capital

By plane

For international flights, Argyle is a primary hub for the national airlines of SVG Air and Mustique Airways. Other commercial and charter providers with destinations in parenthesis include:

 * Air Canada Rouge (Toronto-Pearson)
 * American Airlines (Miami)
 * Caribbean Airlines (Barbados, Grenada, New York (JFK), Port of Spain)
 * InterCaribbean Airways (Barbados and Saint Lucia-Charles)
 * Mustique Airways (Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Union Island)
 * One Caribbean (Barbados, Grenada, Tortola)
 * SVG Air (Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, St. Lucia-Hewanorra, Union Island)

Air charter companies such as Air Charter Advisors offer access to aircraft rentals around the world, with planes for on-demand charter ranging from economical single & twin engines aircraft to small jets and luxury planes. Sunwing Airlines also specializes in charter flights from Canada using a fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

By cruise ship
Even large ships can dock at a modern pier close to downtown Kingstown. The pier is served by a nice semi-covered mall and open-air kiosks most offering local goods and souvenirs, and a vehicle area supporting buses and taxis.

Get around
Although not a very large island, St. Vincent has mountainous and rugged terrain, making it difficult to get around. Private vans or taxis are your best options. Car rental is also available.

In terms of public transportation the island is served by a large number of privately owned vans that act as a bus service. These vans have an "H" at the beginning of their license plates, meaning they are "for hire". Cost to ride starts at EC$1. A van trip from Argyle airport to Kingstown is EC$3 (July 2019) as opposed to the EC$70 taxi ride. Walk up 300 m the slip road towards Windward Highway junction and hail a van. They ride fast and recklessly, hence you get a free rollercoaster ride for the fare. Many of the vans have graphics on the front and play loud music.

title: Saint Vincent


text:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Caribbean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

Understand
Bananas and other agricultural products remain the staple of this lower-middle income country's economy. Although tourism and other services have been growing moderately, the government has been ineffective at introducing new industries. Unemployment remains high, and economic growth hinges upon seasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors.

History
While the English were the first to lay claim to St. Vincent in 1627, the French would be the first European settlers on the island when they established their first colony at Barrouallie on the Leeward side of St. Vincent shortly before 1700. Carib Indians aggressively prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 18th century. African slaves, whether shipwrecked or escaped from St. Lucia or Grenada and seeking refuge in St. Vincent, intermarried with the Caribs. St. Vincent was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763), restored to French rule in 1779 and regained by the British under the Treaty of Versailles in 1783.

Slavery was abolished in 1834; the resulting labour shortages on the plantations attracted Portuguese immigrants in the 1840s and east Indians in the 1860s. From 1763 until independence, St. Vincent passed through various stages of colonial status under the British and it was granted associate statehood status on October 27, 1969, giving it complete control over its internal affairs. Following a referendum in 1979, St. Vincent and the Grenadines became the last of the Windward Islands to gain full independence.

Natural disasters have plagued the country throughout the 20th century. In 1902, Soufrière volcano erupted, killing 2,000 people. Much farmland was damaged, and the economy deteriorated. In April 1979, La Soufriere erupted again. Although no one was killed, thousands had to be evacuated, and there was extensive agricultural damage. In 1980 and 1987, hurricanes devastated banana and coconut plantations; 1998 and 1999 also saw very active Hurricane seasons, with hurricane Lenny in 1999 causing extensive damage to the west coast of the island.

Climate
Tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November). Hurricanes threaten the islands from July to October.

Landscape
Volcanic, mountainous. Highest point: Soufriere volcano (St Vincent) 1,234 m.

Tourist information

 * Discover St. Vincent website

Cities

 * - the capital

By plane
The main airport is Argyle International Airport, officially opened on February 14, 2017. Most flights in and out are relatively local, mostly flying to nearby islands such as Canouan, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Saint Kitts.

By boat
The islands have many docks and bays, including two large enough to accommodate a cruise ship. Despite this, very few cruises stop in the country and the vast majority of travellers come to the country either by aeroplane or by yacht.

Jeans for Freedom (in French) has the infrequent "discovery day" to Saint Vincent from Martinique.

Get around
The island is relatively small, but the mountainous landscape makes it difficult to get around. The main highways run along the coasts and as such it is necessary to drive around the whole of the island to get from one side to the other. In terms of public transportation the island is served by a large number of privately owned vans that act as a bus service. These vans have an "H" at the beginning of their license plates, meaning they are "for hire." Cost to ride starts at EC$1. A van trip from Argyle airport to Kingstown is EC$3 (July 2019) as opposed to the EC$70 taxi ride. Walk up 300 m the slip road towards Windward Highway junction and hail a van. They ride fast and recklessly, hence you get a free rollercoaster ride for the fare. Many of the vans have graphics on the front and play loud music. Driving is on the left.

By boat
Windward Islands - Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all crewed charter (no bareboat available) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Operating from 8 international offices (USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Monaco).

Talk
The main language on the islands is English. As a former British colony, British spellings are more common than American spellings.

See

 * Tobago Cays Marine Park in the Grenadines.
 * Sites where the movies The Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed.

Do

 * Carnival in early July a.k.a. Vincy Mas (much music and drinking)
 * Eat pork or chicken at a roadside barbecue on Friday or Saturday night
 * Enjoy the view from Fort Charlotte
 * Visit Montreal Gardens
 * Hike the Vermont Nature Trail
 * Visit the Botanical Gardens
 * Climb La Soufriere Volcano (not an easy climb!)
 * Swim in the Tobago Cays   [[Image:La_Soufriere_Volcano_Summit.jpg|thumb|La Soufriere Volcano Summit]]
 * Visit the Arawak Rock Carvings
 * Black Point Tunnel
 * Hike up to and enjoy the view from Fort Duvernette
 * Walk through the forests and plantations of the Mesopotamia Valley

Money
The currency of the country is the East Caribbean dollar, denoted by the symbol: "$" or "EC$" (ISO currency code: XCD), which is also used by seven other island nations in the Caribbean. The EC dollar is subdivided into 100 cents. It is pegged to the United States dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70.

Coins circulate in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

A helpful hint: When using US dollars, multiply the price you see by 0.4 and you will get change back. Most merchants accept both paper U.S. and all forms of EC currency. U.S. coins are not accepted, as the central bank does not accept them as currency.

Eat
The national dish of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is roasted breadfruit and fried jackfish.

Drink
Bitter Lemon and Fruit Cocktail are popular sodas. Hairoun is a popular locally produced beer. Adventurous drinkers will want to try Black Wine.

Sleep
Many tourists arrive in the Grenadines, stay at a resort, and never get the opportunity to interact with the citizens. If you want to get a taste of the true culture, consider a guest house or apartment in Kingstown. Fort View Guest House in Edinboro is a good choice. It is within walking distance of downtown Kingstown.

Stay safe
Hurricanes are an annual risk. The La Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is occasionally active, but a sophisticated advance warning system is in place and resulted in zero casualties during its latest eruptions in 1979 and 2021.

Stay healthy
The US government suggests that hepatitis A and B shots be given to anyone travelling in the Caribbean, but there are no major health risks in the country.

In Kingstown, the water is safe to drink, but be a bit careful at some other locations. The water quality can vary depending upon the season of the year and how the water (often rain water) is collected.

Connect
St. Vincent uses the North American style of calling codes, where all local numbers are seven digits. The area code for the islands is 784, which makes all international numbers for Saint Vincent in the form of +1-784-XXX-XXXX

title: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines


text:
Saipan

Saipan is the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Understand
Saipan is 23 km (14 mi) long and 8 km (5 mi) wide. The best beaches and most populated areas are on the western and southern coasts, with the north and east being rugged and mountainous.

Because only one branch of the US Military - the Coast Guard - has even a small permanent presence on Saipan, many Chamorros on Saipan consider their culture more intact than on Guam. Therefore, comparisons between the two islands should take this into account. Furthermore, Chamorros on Saipan and throughout the CNMI still primarily speak Chamorro at home, while the same isn't true of Guam. While the differences between a commonwealth (as in the CNMI) and a territory (as in Guam) may not appear to be great (especially to a mainland US citizen), Saipan should not be referred to as a territory when speaking to a local. Finally, while the population of the CNMI, as on Guam, are US citizens and proud to be recognized as such, their independent identity is equally important.

Orientation

 * , the capital, is the main hotel area on Saipan, and includes a number of hotels, bars and restaurants. The City of Garapan is the most urban area in the CNMI but is considered more of a "mini town". Restaurants, shopping centers and smaller stores and shops are all walking distance from each other. Although many unfamiliar tourists are able to take a "Taxi Cab" to and from the insular areas of the city along with the other villages outside of Garapan.

 * is the site of the US invasion of Saipan. It has the main branch of the US Postal Service. It also has several restaurants and grocery stores.

Talk
While English is certainly the lingua franca on Saipan, few people on the island (adults in particular) speak English as their first language. Nevertheless, nearly everybody does speak English to varying degrees. Many local residents, who often use English at school or at work, speak Chamorro or Carolinian (both official in addition to English) or another of the Micronesian languages at home. The majority of people living on Saipan are overseas contract laborers, however. These people come mostly from the Philippines, China, Bangladesh and Thailand. Furthermore, Korean, Japanese and (more recently) Russian and Chinese tourists make their languages fairly prevalent in the tourist areas as well.

Most hotels are geared toward a particular language/nationality such as Japanese or Korean, which represent most of the tourism. A notable exception is Pacific Islands Club, which is geared toward a multilingual/multinationial clientele. Likewise, most of the scuba shops are geared toward Japanese or Korean tourism, though the heavy reliance on Philippine dive staff ensures that many will also be able to handle English-speaking customers.

Get in
For entry requirements, see the main article on the Northern Mariana Islands.

Get around
There is no public transport as such, excluding shuttle buses running between hotels and the Duty Free shopping center in Garapan.

By bus
There is no public bus service on Saipan, but on Saipan PDI and other companies run a shopping shuttle bus to and from the Duty Free mall (DFS Galleria) in Garapan. DFS also has their own free shuttle from most of the major hotels.

By taxi

Taxis on Saipan are expensive but plentiful, however the only place they are allowed to pick up or drop off passengers is at the airport or a hotel, and sometimes at DFS. There is also a large network of illegal taxis run by Chinese immigrants, that will take you anywhere for $15.00. For some Saipan residents this is their only means of transportation.

Because Saipan is so small, taxis from the airport to the main hotel area of Garapan can run upwards of $25-30, so plan ahead by arranging transportation through your hotel, which often charge $10 per person flat rate.

By car
Car rental is a good option for getting off the beaten track, as roads are generally quite good. Most car rental offices are either at the airport or at major tourist hotels; some offer a free pick up and drop off service.

By moped
Mopeds can be rented for about $20, though roads are very dark at night and bugs predominate after dusk. Therefore, consider mopeds for day-tripping only, as drivers tend not to give heed to mopeds or bicyclists throughout the CNMI or Guam.

See
Saipan, Guam, and many other islands of the Marianas were all important battle sites during WWII, and many Japanese bunkers and armaments still exist on these islands. These sites are managed by the National Park Service under the "War in the Pacific" Parks designation. Saipan is fairly small and by renting a car or moped, it is easy to drive around the island and take in the natural splendor, as well as visit a number of parks. Scuba diving is also popular, and the underwater world should definitely be seen.

 * and, on the northern tip of the island, were sites where thousands of Japanese civilians, trying to escape the fighting and convinced by the Japanese military that they would be killed by the American military, jumped to their deaths in the Battle of Saipan in 1944. The former is by the sea while the latter is on the rock outcropping overlooking it. Numerous Japanese memorials mark the sites.

Do

Scuba diving and snorkeling on Saipan are deservedly the most popular activities here among western tourists, though gambling and karaoke/hostess bars are most popular among Korean businessmen, as well as some Japanese travelers. Garapan is coastally located, so other watersports abound as well. For scuba divers, the term "Fun Dive" is used for those who have already been certified and just want to recreational dive, while "Taiken dive" is used to designate first-time divers that take classes on Saipan. The same is true for the rest of the CNMI and somewhat so for Guam. While boat dives are available, you can still drive to some awesome dive sights, like Grotto. A cavern dive to open ocean is great. If you go outside, you will need a guide as it is very easy to get turned around outside and lose track of the tunnel back in.

For more detailed descriptions of individual dive sites in Saipan, see the Dive sites of Saipan article.

You may also want to check out one or more of the 5 golf courses. Two were designed by Greg Norman, one by Larry Nelson and another by Graham Marsh. The other course is considered a "local" course. There is also a 9-hole course that is great for beginners.

Recently, Segway of Marianas has started renting out Segway Personal Transporters for use in exploring downtown Garapan at reasonable rates.

The Saipan Hash House Harriers meet every Saturday at 3:30PM at the Bank of Guam parking lot in Garapan to run, hike, jog, climb, and otherwise trek through jungle, swamps, mountains, and other terrain. It's usually a great way to meet people and see a side of island life you might not catch otherwise.

Trekking and other land-based activities are available on the island. , originally occupied by evil spirits and now a bird sanctuary, can be reached by an hour's hike from the edge of the town of Kagman on the east coast. Take a snorkel kit to enjoy the diving area between the island and shore.

Most trekking activities will require a guide.

Saipan finally has a multiplex theatre run by Wallace Theaters. Now with first run movies with Dolby Digital sound.

Buy

There are many opportunities for shopping in Garapan. The is a large shopping center that offers duty free shopping with low tax. is the largest souvenir and island lifestyle store on island where U.S retail brand outlet Everblue store can be found. ABC STORES has two Saipan branches with an initial inventory that includes stocked grocery, souvenirs, drugs and cosmetics, ABC has grown to carry anything a tourist would need. There is also a popular local department star called in Garapan that offers unique goods and items. The city of Garapan offers a variety of shops like The Athlete's Foot and more.

Duty Free Galleria, in the center of Garapan, has the top name brands and fashions available for high prices (but supposedly lower rates than in Tokyo). Locally made crafts are available in some stores on the islands, but check first to make sure the items were not manufactured in the Philippines, Thailand, or Indonesia.

There is a tiny branch of, packed full of the latest titles as well as magazines and travel guides, in the Joeten Susupe shopping center. Music And, further south on Beach Road, carries discs by local musicians.

One of the classic adventures on island is a bike tour done by Marianas Trekking up on the North Coast. The guides take you up by van to the top of Suicide Cliff and then you can ride down, with stops at all of the historical sites, and a snorkeling stop at the Blue Grotto. The tour breaks for lunch at Mariana Beach and ends at the Mandi Asian Spa. It is a treat.

Eat
Many nice bakeries exist in and around Garapan and local breakfast places are within walking distance of the main hotel area. Seafood from the local street markets is understandably very fresh.

Commercial chains on Saipan include Hard Rock Cafe, Tony Roma's, McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Subway. Vegetarian options are possible to find as well. For self-catering options, try one of the Joeten supermarkets for fruits and vegetables, some locally grown.

Drink

 * Karaoke/Hostess Bars abound in Garapan all of which allow ample drinking opportunities if one is so inclined.

If you like to run, drink beer or both, there is an active chapter of the

For those with a different idea of 'fun', there are plenty of night clubs, strip joints, karaoke bars and massage parlors.

Sleep
Most of Saipan's accommodation caters to package tourists. Rates are steep during Japanese holiday seasons but equally steeply discounted outside them. Internet bookings can regularly find rates below $60 per night, depending on the season.

Connect

Many hotels and restaurants on Saipan now offer free wireless internet access to customers that bring their own laptops, including Coffee Care, McDonalds, Wild Bill's in Garapan, Java Joe's in Dandan, and Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan in Garapan. La Moda Isla in Garapan offers free wifi in its snack bar area.

 * Information Technology Center, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Susupe. The best place to get online on Saipan.

Consulates

 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇵🇼 Palau
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines

Go next

 * Managaha Island. A small island sheltered in a lagoon, this is Saipan's best spot to snorkel.  There are even some introductory scuba trails laid out in rope on the sea bed, which also make for great snorkeling sightseeing tours.  You have to pay for the boat ride out, but it usually includes lunch.  There are amenities out on the island.  It takes about 15 minutes to walk completely around the island.  It really is a great place to snorkel.  Some snorkel and dive operators will offer rice or fish food to feed the fish, but this is unhealthy for both the reef and the fish and good tour operators will not do this.  In addition, feeding the fish means that you will see a lot of the same kind of fish (often convict tangs), and miss out on many other colorful and interesting fish.
 * Tinian Island is just three miles away across the Saipan Channel.

title: Saipan


text:
Saitama

Saitama (さいたま) is the capital of Saitama prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan. It came into existence after the merging of 4 former cities, including Urawa, the former capital, in 2001. Upon its creation, it became the tenth most populous city in the nation and the only capital city with its name written in hiragana instead of Chinese characters.

Understand
If Tokyo is New York, then Saitama is New Jersey, a bland commuter town that's half industrial, half suburban. Being composed of a bunch of towns agglomerated by bureaucratic fiat doesn't help: in Gertrude Stein's words, "there's no there there", and Tokyo wags joke about Dasai-tama ("Uncool-Tama"). But while you'd hardly plan a vacation touring Saitama, there are a number of sights of interest well worth a day trip, most notably the spectacular Railway Museum near Omiya.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By plane
The closest major international airport is Narita.

A tiny number of JR Narita Express trains serve at Omiya Station—as of this writing, the 17:16 and 18:48 NEX departures from NRT T1 terminate at Omiya, and Omiya has two originating NEX services at 6:21 and 9:09. When it is available the NEX is fairly fast, taking around 110 minutes. At other hours, you can make it to Ōmiya station by taking the Narita Express to Tokyo and changing to the Tohoku/Joetsu Shinkansen; either route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass.

JR Kanto Bus runs limousine bus service, the O N Liner, every hour from Narita Airport to and from the Saitama Shintoshin and Ōmiya train stations. The trip takes about two hours and costs ¥2750 each way.

The cheapest way to travel from Narita Airport to Omiya is to take a Narita Sky Access commuter train to Shin-Kamagaya station and change to the Tobu Urban Park Line. This takes about the same amount of time as the bus but only costs ¥1580.

From Haneda Airport you can take the Keikyu line to Shinagawa station and change to the JR Keihin-Tohoku line for the run to the Saitama area (80–90 minutes to Omiya, ¥1020). Hourly limousine buses also run to Ōmiya station (90 minutes, ¥1500).

By train
Saitama's (大宮駅) is a major train hub, connecting together the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen lines, as well as the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Tohoku (Utsunomiya) Line, JR Takasaki Line, JR Saikyo Line, JR Kawagoe Line, JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Tobu Urban Park Line.

 * Just about all northbound Shinkansen trains from Tokyo and Ueno stop at Ōmiya station, with the ride from Tokyo taking 25 minutes. A reserved seat costs ¥2800, and a non-reserved seat, ¥1580, making the ride quite uneconomical compared to a local train. However, if you have a Japan Rail Pass or JR East Rail Pass, your trip is covered. Departures every 5–15 minutes. (Note: If you do decide to make this peculiar journey, note that seating is all-reserved on the Hayate and Komachi bullet trains.)
 * Regular trains on the Tohoku and Takasaki lines run from Ueno to Ōmiya in 25 minutes at a cost of ¥450. These trains make added stops at Saitama Shintoshin Station (さいたま新都心駅), near the Saitama Super Arena. Service every 10 minutes or less.
 * The Keihin Tohoku Line is a local service connecting Ōmiya and Saitama Shintoshin to eastern Tokyo, including from Tokyo station (50 minutes, ¥540), Shinagawa (one hour, ¥620) and Kawasaki (75 minutes, ¥780). Service every 10 minutes or less.
 * There is also service from western Tokyo to Ōmiya via the Saikyo Line and the Shonan-Shinjuku Line. Trains leave from Ikebukuro (25–35 minutes, ¥380), Shinjuku (30–40 minutes, ¥450) and Shibuya (30–40 minutes, ¥540). Service every 10 minutes or less.
 * The Shonan-Shinjuku Line is also the best way of reaching Ōmiya from Yokohama (one hour, ¥890). Service runs every 10–20 minutes. Keihin-Tohoku Line local trains make the same run in 80–90 minutes, departing every 10 minutes or less.
 * The Tobu Urban Park Line links Ōmiya station with Kasukabe (connection to the Tobu Skytree Line), Kashiwa (connection to the JR Joban Line), Shin-Kamagaya (connection to the Narita Sky Access Line and Shin-Keisei Railway) and Funabashi (connection to the Keisei Line and JR Sobu Line).

Get around
Most of the attractions are within walking distance of one of the city's train stations, but there are Community Buses with routes throughout the city.

Omiya Bonsai Village
The Omiya Bonsai Village (大宮盆栽村) is home to a handful of bonsai nurseries which moved here from central Tokyo following the great Kantō earthquake in 1923, they moved to this leafy suburb due to the easy access to fresh water. It's considered to be the 'Bonsai Capital' of the world. Visitors can roam around and visit each of the nurseries. Some bonsai can also be purchased. Pictures are not permitted.

Do

 * Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.
 * Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.
 * Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.
 * Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.
 * Watch football at Saitama Stadium 2002, home to the Urawa Red Diamonds, with one of the best atmospheres in Asia. Or at NACK5 Stadium if you somehow have sympathy to the weaker - it's home to Omiya Ardija, another pro team based in the city.

Eat
Jūmangoku Manjū (十万石まんじゅう) is a famous brand of cake from Gyōda, Saitama. Manjyū is a Japanese-style bun stuffed with red bean paste. Some department stores and souvenir stores such as Sogo department in Omiya station always sell it. One manjyū is ¥105.

Go next

 * Koshigaya
 * Kawagoe
 * Kasukabe
 * Ageo
 * Hasuda
 * Gyoda
 * Chichibu
 * Kumagaya
 * Tokyo

title: Saitama


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Saitama (prefecture)

Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県 Saitama-ken) is in the eastern Kanto region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Saitama has lots of great travel opportunities. It's the bonsai capital of the world, has one of the few remaining "Little Edo" historical towns, and has an entire ancient 34-temple pilgrimage route all within its borders.

Understand
Saitama forms a sort of buffer zone between the grey sprawl of Tokyo and the mountains of Gunma prefecture. Some stuck-up Tokyoites like to refer to it as dasaitama ("uncool-Saitama"), but do not let the naysayers prevent you from visiting.

Tourist information
Chocotabi Saitama is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site. (Chocotabi means "small trip", mainly from Tokyo - not cacao-related.)

Cities

 * — The eponymous prefectural capital
 * — A worthwhile day trip from Tokyo for its preserved architecture and old shops
 * — The last major city in Saitama as you head north
 * — Quiet suburban city
 * — The last major city in Saitama as you head north
 * — Quiet suburban city
 * — The last major city in Saitama as you head north
 * — Quiet suburban city
 * — Quiet suburban city

By plane
The nearest major airports are Narita and Tokyo's Haneda. Buses from Narita to JR Omiya leave hourly and take about two hours, while buses from Haneda take about 90 minutes. Travel from either by train will cost more, save little if any time and involve at least one transfer, unless you manage to board one of the two daily early morning direct Narita Express (N'EX) services to Omiya.

By train
Coming from Tokyo there are various train lines that run into and through Saitama prefecture:
 * Keihin-Tohoku line - north south running commuter line that runs from Omiya (in Saitama) through central Tokyo ('east' side including Tokyo Station) and down into Yokohama and Kanagawa prefecture.
 * Saikyo line - another north-south running commuter line that starts in Saitama but runs down the 'west' side of Tokyo, including Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Ebisu. Turns into the Rinkai line and heads east towards Odaiba and Tokyo Disneyland.
 * Utsunomiya Line - From Ueno heading north towards the city of Utsunomiya, heads north-east after Omiya. Still primarily a commuter line but fewer stops than the Keihin-Tohoku or Saikyo lines.
 * Takasaki line - almost the same as the Utsunomiya line but heads northwest after Omiya.
 * Shonan-Shinjuku line - similar to the Takasaki and Utsunomiya lines except when coming into Tokyo instead of finishing at Ueno it ducks to the west, travels down through Ikebukuro and Shinjuku and then on to Kanagawa prefecture.
 * Musashino line - heads across Saitama (east-west) from Nishi Funabashi in Chiba prefecture, through Minami Urawa and then back down into the west of Tokyo 'prefecture' (not into central Tokyo city).
 * Shinkansen - the famous Japanese bullet trains start in Tokyo (Tokyo and Ueno) and pass through Saitama (stopping at Omiya and Kumagaya) before heading to the mountains of Nagano and Niigata.
 * Namboku/Saitama line - an extension of the Namboku subway line the Saitama line is a dedicated line for the Saitama Stadium (built for the 2002 World Cup and where Urawa Reds football team play their home games). Busy commuter line in the morning and evening.

By bus
You can get buses from Kyoto and Osaka long-distance bus station to Ōmiya, Kawagoe and Tokorozawa, and from Niigata and Kanazawa to Ōmiya and Kawagoe.

Get around
All the train lines listed above have extensive stops across Saitama Prefecture. Also there are many bus lines crisscrossing the prefecture as well as plenty of taxis.

See

Do

 * Tobu Dobutsu Kouen This place is popular for families or couples. There is a zoo, an amusement park and a pool. In the zoo, a lot of animals welcome guest. At the amusement park, there are many attractions, including the Regina roller coaster. Each summer, there are many beautiful firework displays. It is expensive, with tickets that cost around ¥4000.
 * Nagatoro You can sail down the river on a traditional Japanese wooden boat, taking in the beautiful nature of Nagatoro.
 * Night festival of Chichibu This is one of the best festivals in Japan. It is held yearly on December 2 & 3. This festival is famous for its beautiful fireworks.
 * Shiba-zakura Shiba-zakura is a cherry blossom tree that blooms every year at Hitsujiyama-Koen in Chichibu. The best season for Cherry blossom viewing is from the middle of April to the beginning of May. The walk to Hitsujiwama from the nearest station, Yokoze station, is pleasant on a sunny day. It takes twenty or thirty minutes to get to Hitsujiyama-Koen on foot. You can enjoy the beautiful nature of Shiba-zakura as you walk.
 * Washinomiya Shrine Along the Tobu Iesaki line and just minutes out of Washinomiya station is the Washinomiya Shrine, which is one of the oldest extant Shinto shrines in Kanto. Since 2003, it has gained additional fame for being featured as a location in the popular anime series Lucky Star, and remains a popular destination for many Japanese Otaku.

Go next

 * Ibaraki Prefecture
 * Chiba Prefecture
 * Tokyo Prefecture
 * Yamanashi Prefecture

title: Saitama (prefecture)


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Saito

Saito (西都) is a city in Miyazaki prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

See
Saito is home to many places to see including shrines, temples, museums and buildings of architectural and historical interest.

Go next

 * Kunitomi
 * Nishimera
 * Shiiba
 * Misato
 * Kijo
 * Shintomi
 * Takanabe
 * Aya
 * Miyazaki

title: Saito


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Sajama National Park

Sajama National Park is in Oruro departement of Bolivia.

Understand
Sajama is a picturesque national park that offers impressive landscapes like around San Pedro de Atacama, the Altiplano Potosí region and the other natural sights around Uyuni. In addition, Sajama puts a focus on hiking and mountain climbing, whereas the other sites emphasis more on mass tourism using 4WDs.

If you ever just wanted to hike straight into the plains along the Salar de Uyuni tour, this is the place to do so. The Sajama National Park can be described as the perfect combination of hiking and meditation. Hiking through the plains of the Sajama National Park one is often surprised how quiet nature can be with often barely a sound for kilometres, except for maybe you footsteps. But it also offers properly guided climbs of the impressive surrounding volcanoes and mountains.

Sajama does not experience masses of tourists like in other areas of Bolivia and is still hidden with exceptional flora and fauna, vast hiking opportunities, high altitude trekking, and of course mountain climbing. meditation,

History
The park was already founded in 1939.

Landscape
The landscape is similar to the Lagunas and Altiplanos at the Chilean and Bolivian border near San Pedro de Atacama. Also, the highest peak of Bolivia can be found here, Nevado Sajama throning over the park. Generally, the altitude in the park ranges from 4,200-6,500 m, with the Sajama village at 4,240 m and regular non-guided trails up to 5,000 and 5,600 m.

Flora and fauna
The most popular animals of the park include viscachas, lamas, vicuñas, alpacas, horned coots. But you can also find armadillos, bears, Andean cats, pumas, condors, pink flamingos, hummingbirds, rheas, and others here.

Climate
Except for November to March, temperatures during the night are generally below 0°C. During the day with the sun temperatures reach between 15°C-30°C, latter especially in summer. Nevertheless, many people choose to come here in July and August, which is high season in the park.

Get in
Nowadays most tourists take the notorious minibus from Patacamaya into Sajama, because all guide books have the same information. But there are many more ways to get to Sajama, mostly using regional vans (called servis) listed in the following. Mostly you might want to get dropped at the from where you can take one of the many vehicles that go into the village (Bs. 5 or hitch-hike), or just hike the 10 km.

From Tambo Quemado
Tambo Quemado is the Bolivian border town to Chile. Many vans from either Oruro or Patacamaya will call at the. Or you might arrive from Chile here.

Transport to/from Sajama village can be arranged for Bs. 10. Or you just hike the 15 km straight through the plain, which is what you came here for anyhow.

From Oruro
Even though less emphasis is put onto coming in from Oruro here, it might actually be the more convenient place to head from towards Sajama, since it is a large and central city. And visiting Sajama using both transfer locations, Oruro and Patacamaya, on your way north or south, this wonderful national park does not lie so much off the touristy grid anymore as one might believe.

There are four vans per day between Oruro and Tambo Quemado. All go at the same time in either direction: 06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00. They take 3 hr for the 270 km, and cost Bs. 45. You might bargain them down by Bs. 5 for getting dropped at the Sajama Junction, which is a little before Tambo Quemado. In Oruro the vans leave in the far southwest of the city at the ring road right next to the roundabout leading south out of the city.

From Patacamaya
Like Oruro, also Patacamaya is on the main route between La Paz and all other southern and south-eastern cities. It is just not a great place to stay for a night or arrive in the middle of a (mostly very) cold night.

 * There is one daily direct minibus from Patacamaya around noon, but it is already there at 11:00 and will leave when full. It returns at 05:30 from Sajama. The price is Bs. 35 (April 2023), one way. On the way back to Patacamaya, if there are enough tourists in the bus, the driver will often offer to go even to La Paz for a little extra money. However, note that the regular price for minibuses from Patacamaya to La Paz is Bs. 10.
 * Also, there are frequent vans (every 30-60 min between 05:00-20:00) that travel between Patacamaya and Tambo Quemado. They can drop you off at the Sajama Junction. The vans are Bs. 30 to Tambo Quemado, but you might be able to settle at Bs. 25 for just the Sajama Junction. (Just tell them Bs. 25 and if they do not agree, just do not enter the car. They will beg down as soon as they have enough people and want to leave. But just ask once more to be sure.)
 * Otherwise, the La Paz-Arica buses, which also go by Patacamaya and the Sajama Junctiom, should be passing by the same point as the vans in Patacamaya between 06:30-08:00 in the morning. They leave between 05:30 and 06:30 from La Paz. They should not be more than Bs. 20. If they will not settle for this price just tell them there are other Arica buses coming and the servis is just Bs. 25.

Patacamaya <=> Sajama: 190 km, 2 hr.

From La Paz

 * Just take any transport from La Paz going south, either to Patacamaya or any other southern city. There should also be direct (mini)bus that solely go to Patacamaya, probably from El Alto Bus Station. Get off in Patacamaya (minibus Bs. 10, van/servic Bs. 15). This might be along the highway, which goes around Patacamaya. So, check the map how to get from there to the junction in Patacamaya towards Sajama/Chile (GPS see above, where the vans start) or the Capitol Restaurant. From there you take the vans or the minibus, respectively—see above.
 * Taking the morning buses for Arica (05:30-06:30) is probably the most convenient way. They should not be more than Bs. 40—bargain hard. Or just arrive 30 min before they leave and board the one that gives you the best price—ask around!

From the south
Likewise, if you do not choose the Oruro option, any bus from the south(east) going towards La Paz can drop you at Patacamaya. Often, this will be a night bus, so make sure, you do not get dropped in the middle of the night and have to wait for hours before the first vans go at 05:00.

From Arica
Sajama is conveniently located at the gateway from Arica into Bolivia. Buses from Arica leave at around 15:00, and you can get off either in Tambo Quemado or just a few kilometers further at the Sajama Junction after you have crossed the border into Bolivia. Unlike Lauca National Park in Chile, which does not really offer a convenient way to explore its sights due to missing accommodation options and visiting time restrictions, Sajama is also the name of the village where you can stay and explore the surrounding national park conveniently.

Fees and permits
The is about 1 km from the Sajama Junction. It opens at 08:00. Bs. 100.

On foot and navigation
I came here for the hiking and mountain climbing, so walking will probably be your preferred choice. Don't bother so much about trails, instead the most direkt route is probably the best, especially when going or coming back hiking. The lamas and alpacas walk everywhere, so why shouldn't you. Just make sure, you know where to cross the main river floating through the valley.

Outside of town, there are many hiking trails and tracks used by the locals, which you can use to do the surrounding sights and proposed treks—consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz — they include GPS navigation. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

By taxi
Hiring a taxi (even though no official ones exist, just locals with car) is convenient if you are short on time or fitness, or the place is really far away, like Tambo Quemado.

Hiking, trekking and mountain climbing
The following mountains and treks can be done without a guide and if you are reasonably fit.

For the following treks you will need a guide and proper equipment. Sometimes, transport via 4WD is necessary.

Buy

 * There are a few little stores in town where you can basic supplies and food for cooking. But do not expect a large supply of fruits and vegetables like in the cities. You are often better off relying on the cooking skills of the local "restaurants".
 * In addition, you can find local handicraft and artesanal clothes.

Eat
Most accommodations in town also provide proper lunch and dinner, even though usually the regular Bolivian dishes. Walk around to find the ones open or still with your place.

Camping
Camping is possible pretty much everywhere and due to the rolling hills many flat areas to put up a tent can be found. But note that it gets very (freezing) cold at night, below 0°C from March. So, be prepared.

Lodging
Sajama village offers numerous budget accommodation of varying comfort, but the amount of options should guarantee a good price—easily from Bs. 40.

Cope
Always take your rubbish and even that of other people along the trail—just the trail, roads are useless because they are frequented by non-caring Bolivians. Hiking in the park is free and possible without a guide (unlike Torotoro National Park). But if the park is going to be messed up, it will probably soon be converted to a guide-only version. So, let's keep that gem clean.

title: Sajama National Park