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Bonn

The federal city of Bonn is one of the largest cities in the Cologne Lowland, second only to Cologne in population, with 330,000 residents in 2020. Despite the size, it maintains a cosy, relaxed atmosphere of a small town, featuring mostly low-rise buildings, a charming old town and a lot of greenery. Located only 28 km south of Cologne up the Rhine river, it has a wealth of museums and points of interest.

Bonn was the capital of the pre-reunification Federal Republic of Germany ("West Germany") from 1949 through 1990. The city is still seat of many federal institutions, and remains a popular choice for large-scale exhibitions and conferences. Bonn is also the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, who is celebrated throughout the city with several memorials and events.

You should consider a trip to Bonn if you like atmospheric smaller cities with many students and a rich culture. Admirers call it Italy's most northern city because of its street culture with many cafes and beer gardens in the summer. It is also a good base for day trips to Cologne, Düsseldorf, the romantic Rhine and the Eifel region.

Understand
Bonn's beginning dates between 13-9 BC when Romans began building roads, bridges, and fortresses at a location known as "Bonna." One well-documented event was the martyrdom of two Thebaean legionaries. The Thebaean Legion was an all Christian legion, which refused to worship the emperor as a god. As punishment, the Thebaean Legion's commander, Mauritius was executed in St. Moritz as were many other Thebaean legionaries including Cassius and Florentius, Bonn's patron saints, who were martyred at the location of the present-day Münster basilica.

After the Romans left, the town had a very tumultuous history. Bonn has been destroyed and pummelled on so many occasions that it nearly became a pastime. Norman invaders were the first to burn the town to the ground in 881 and again in 892. In 1198, King Philip of Swabia and Duke Heinrich von Brabant laid siege to Bonn. In 1244 Konrad von Hochstaden, archbishop of Cologne ordered Bonn to be fortified. The reasons for fortification may have been for the Archbishop's protection as he had apparently begun fighting with Cologne's leaders and often resided in Bonn after the dispute. In 1288 under Sigfried II von Westerburg the archbishopric was transferred from Cologne to Bonn, which has since been transferred back to Cologne.

In 1582 Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg converted to Calvinism and refused to give up his position as elector. In February of 1583 Waldburg married and was in April of the same year excommunicated by Pope Gregory XIII. After the Truschessian War Gebhard fled to Strasbourg, but not before Bonn felt the rapture of Bavarian troops, who blew up the Godesberg (the archbishop's residence) with 1,500 pounds of gunpowder. While the town survived the Thirty Years' War Bonn was completely destroyed in 1689 as a result of the War of the Grand Alliance.

In December 1770 Bonn's most famous son, Ludwig van Beethoven, was born on Bonngasse. Bonn is probably best known as Beethoven's birthplace and this fact is well advertised by the city despite Beethoven's vehement disgust towards his hometown. Beethoven spent some time in Vienna hoping to study with Mozart, but after his mother's death he was forced to return to Bonn for five years to raise his two younger brothers since his alcoholic father was unable to. In 1792 Beethoven returned to Vienna and never came back to Bonn.

While Bonn is by no means a "village" its selection as seat of the government of the new west German state in 1949 was precisely because the partition of Germany should appear to be temporary and thus more important or symbolic cities such as Cologne, Munich or Hamburg were soon out of consideration. However in the final decision the fact that Konrad Adenauer had a house nearby may well have played some if not the decisive role: Bonn beat out Frankfurt by a single vote. See also Cold War Europe.

After reunification it was seriously considered to keep the government in town, especially as the previously "provisional" facilities had just been upgraded bit by bit in the late 1980s. However in another close vote, the Bundestag decided to move most agencies to Berlin, while some would stay in Bonn much to the chagrin of people who see the double facilities as needless pork in favour of Bonn.

Südstadt, the southern part of the city owns impressively beautiful buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century in ancient alleys. You can get an English walking tour brochure from the Tourist Information.

By plane
Bonn is served by

That said, the airport sees very little intercontinental passenger traffic, save for a few flights to countries like Turkey, Morocco or Iran operated by the respective countries' airlines and serving mainly local ethnic minorities.

From the airport, take the SB60 airport bus (€8.70) to Bonn's central bus station near the Hauptbahnhof. It leaves every 30 minutes from outside Terminal 1 arrivals, and takes a little over half an hour to reach the city centre. You can also take a train from the airport to Bonn-Beuel, which is on the other side of the river from Bonn city (Zentrum). A taxi to central Bonn will cost around €50.

If you are flying transatlantically, chances are Frankfurt is a better option time-wise - as you are likely to get a direct flight - though not necessarily in terms of budget. If you are cost-conscious, comparing airfares to CGN, FRA and several other airports in the general area is certainly a good idea, as due to the quirky nature of airline pricing differences in price of one or two hundred euros are not at all uncommon.

Timewise, however, CGN is just as far from Bonn as Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's busiest intercontinental hubs. The airport has a long-distance train station directly connected to Bonn's Siegburg railway station, which high-speed trains (departing every hour) reach in less than 40 minutes. When flying Lufthansa, you can even book the train connection as a part of your long-distance flight ticket. The station's IATA code is ZPY and the Lufthansa tickets to this destination are often priced the same or slightly lower as those terminating at FRA. For more details see rail air alliances

By train
The train route from Frankfurt via Koblenz to Bonn Hauptbahnhof is especially beautiful as it runs along the Rhine and you will see many old towns and castles on the way. It takes about 2 hours. Travelling from Frankfurt try to sit on the right-hand side of the train for the better view.

If you are in a hurry, however, better take the fast train (ICE) to Siegburg from Amsterdam, Basel, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich or Stuttgart, among others.

Nightjet, the Austrian Railways' sleeper train, runs daily from Brussels via Cologne and Bonn to Vienna, Munich and Innsbruck. It calls at Koblenz, Frankfurt airport, Würzburg and Nuremberg where it divides: one portion runs via Linz to Vienna, the other via Munich to Innsbruck.

By bus
Traveling by long distance bus, you would typically take the bus lines to Cologne and then continue your travel to Bonn by regional train.

On foot
The city centre is not very big and you are able to reach the different attractions there by foot.

By public transport
Bonn has an excellent bus, night bus, tram and subway system operated by the local Stadtwerke Bonn. There are ticket offices and vending machines at major stations, offering single tickets (€3), multiple tickets, and 24-hour and weekly passes. The tickets are valid in local trains, Stadtbahn (subway), tram, buses and night buses. City tour offers open-top double decker bus tours of the city allowing you to hop on and off at each station ( ( if you have a Welcome card), valid for 24 hours).

By bike
It is also a good city to explore by bike. Rental bikes are available at the train station from Deutsche Bahn at platform 1 or from the Radstation behind the train station. Nextbike is offering app-based short-term bike rentals (€3 annual fee, €1/30 min, max. €8/24 hours). Several companies offer app-based rental of e-scooters, including Lime, Tier and Voi.

By e-hailing
Uber, Bolt and Free Now cover the city.

See

The former capital

Museums and galleries
The Bonn Regio WelcomeCard offers free or reduced admission to most public museums in Bonn (including those listed below), free rides on buses and trams on the local public transport system (VRS), and discounts to other tourist attractions. The validity of both individual or family WelcomeCards is in increments of 24 hours and they can be purchased online, at the Tourism offices or participating hotels. The 24-hour individual ticket costs €10.

Cinema
Most cinemas only show dubbed German versions of international films. Amongst the few cinemas which show English films on a regular basis are

Buy
Bonn's city centre hosts the usual chain stores like Kaufhof, C&A, H&M, Esprit, Zero, NewYorker, Promod, Butler's, Tchibo and Runner's Point.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Cafes

Bars
Bonner Altstadt ('old downtown') in general is a good place to go out. Find a lot of small pubs and student bars in this district

Mid-range

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Cologne — 20-25 min by train. Get out at Köln Süd for partying at Zülpicher Straße or at Köln Hauptbahnhof for sightseeing and the city centre.
 * Königswinter — home to Drachenfels (1010 ft), crowned by the ruins of a castle built early in the 12th century by the archbishop of Cologne, rises behind the town. From the summit, which can be accessed by the Drachenfels Railway, there is a magnificent view, celebrated by Lord Byron in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. A cave in the hill is said to have sheltered the dragon which was slain by the hero Siegfried. Take tram line 66 until Königswinter.
 * Rheinsteig
 * Zülpich — an old Roman settlement with a newly opened museum centered on Roman baths and bathing culture. It is also a gateway to the Eifel region.
 * Burg Satzvey

title: Bonn


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Bonndorf

Bonndorf im Schwarzwald (short form: Bonndorf), a 7,000 inhabitant town in the Black Forest in the very southwest of Germany, is in the district of Waldshut in the land of Baden-Württemberg.

Mentioned for the first time in the early 13th century, the town is known for its château (Schloss) which was built in the late 16th century.

Interesting fact: One of the biggest producers of Black Forest ham is in Bonndorf.

By train
There is no train station in Bonndorf anymore so your best choice is to arrive at the Seebrugg oder Neustadt stations via train and to go from there by bus.

By car

 * You can reach Bonndorf from Freiburg (56 km, 35 miles away) via Titisee-Neustadt.
 * The Swiss border is 18 km (11 miles) away.
 * Schaffhausen and the Rheinfall are approximately 50 km (31 miles) away.

On foot
As there are many Wanderwege that are maintained by the Schwarzwaldverein. Many strangers come here especially for that purpose. A quite famous Wanderweg is that through the Wutach gorge, one entry for example is in Bonndorf's suburb of Boll.

By bicycle
The Wanderwege mentioned above are mostly rideable by bicyclists as well.

By bus
The bus system of Südbaden-Bus-Gesellschaft connects many small towns with the major ones although most buses cease operating well before the late evening. The intervals of connection are rarely shorter than one hour.

By car
The car remains your best choice while travelling through the surroundings of Bonndorf as there are many parking lots near interesting sites.

Buy
Black Forest ham is always a good souvenir (if you're allowed to bring it into your country of origin!). The Adler company located in Bonndorf is quite well-known for their meat products throughout Germany.

Eat
There are some Gasthäuser in the centre of Bonndorf, most of them are family-run. These Gasthäuser serve good value for money, mainly meat products like Schnitzel, and more traditional products like Wurstsalat (literally sausage salad). Many serve the famous Black Forest cake for dessert as well. Many Turkish kebap shops are available as well as pizzerias. If you are interested in paying a bit more and getting well-above-average quality of food

Drink
The Rothaus brewery is only some fifteen kilometres away from Bonndorf, so virtually everywhere you go in Bonndorf you will either get the Pils (0.5 litres) and Tannenzäpfle (0.33 litres) bottles or draught Rothaus beer. Especially Tannenzäpfle is becoming known as a cult beer throughout Germany as the label contains a highly cliché depiction of a Black Forest girl.

There are plenty of pubs in Bonndorf that sometimes serve quite acceptable food as well:

Sleep
Accommodation begins in the youth hostel for the budget traveller. There are bed-and-breakfasts in Bonndorf while many Gasthäuser and restaurants also offer accommodation, most notably Kranz, Germania and the four-star Möhringer's Schwarzwaldhotel.

Go next
In the area, you can find:
 * St. Blasien with its monastery
 * The Schluchsee
 * The Feldberg, one of the highest mountains in Germany
 * The towns of Basel and Zurich (Switzerland)
 * Even France is in reach within an hour and a half.

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

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Bontang

Bontang is a city in East Kalimantan, in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo.

Get in
You can get a bus from Samarinda or rent a car. Cost for a bus ticket is US$2, and US$35 for car rental.

You can also get a flight from Temindung Airport in Samarinda to Badak NGL Airport in Bontang.

See

 * Fishing village in Tanjung Limau.

Buy
You can buy fresh fish from the fish market. Bontang is known for its fishing product. Tanjung Limau is one of fish market center.

Go next

 * Samarinda – the province's capital, to the south
 * Derawan – an offshore island to the north, with diving and marine attractions

title: Bontang


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Bontebok National Park

The Bontebok National Park is about two hours from Cape Town, at South Africa's East Coast.

By car
The park is 6 km from Swellendam, 240 km from Cape Town and 540 km from Port Elizabeth. Follow the N2 highway, until you reach a (brown) sign saying 'Bontebok National Park'. The last 5 km from the N2 access road are gravel, as are all other roads within the park.

By air
Swellengrebel Airport is close to the park, but can handle light aircraft only.

Fees
Valid to 31 October 2017
 * South African citizens and residents (with ID): R37 per adult, R18 per child, per day
 * SADC nationals (with passport): R50 per adult, R25 per child, per day
 * Foreign visitors: R100 per adult, R50 per child, per day

Get around
Either with your car or by foot on one of the hiking trails. Note that all roads within the park are gravel roads.

See
There are around 160 Bontebok in the park as of 2021. Before the park was founded, only 17 of this species remained alive, due to excessive hunting. Today around 3000 individuals form the world population. There are also a number of Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, and smaller antelopes. The park also has a variety of birdlife, with more than 200 recorded species.

The Bontebok NP is in the Cape Floral Kingdom (fynbos), the smallest of the six worldwide kingdoms, but the one with the highest number of different species.

Do

 * Go on a game drive or enjoy the beauty of this land during a relaxed braai (South African for barbeque).
 * Two short hiking trails start and end at the rest camp.
 * Bath in the Breede River (only near the camp).
 * Angle in the Breede River (get hold of an Angling permit at a local post office first).

Buy
You can buy refreshments, gifts and some basic products at the parks shop, at the entrance. Please note that you have to go to Swellendam to buy fresh produce. Petrol and diesel are available inside the parks borders.

Eat & drink
Get your food in Swellendam! The shop at the park entrance only offers a limited number of meat, bread and drinks.

Sleep

 * 6-berth caravans/chalets with basic kitchen facilities and bath room are available
 * The campsite is located close to the Breede River. Please reserve in advance, as there is only very limited camping accommodation possible.

Go next

 * Go to Cape Town in the west
 * Drive along the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth in the east
 * Visit the nearby De Hoop Nature Reserve
 * The Overberg region offers quite holiday spots

title: Bontebok National Park


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Bonthe

Bonthe is a charming and friendly town on the south end of Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone.

Understand
Bonthe is a fishing town and the only substantial settlement on Sherbro Island. Bonthe was settled in the 17th century by the Royal African Company who used it as a based to fight slave traders. The town was a busy port until the 1960s when trading operations were consolidated in Freetown, and from then the town fell into decline. The town has beautiful, though crumbling, colonial villas and is lovely to explore, but it is tiny – it won't take you long.

Once you've toured Bonthe, the rest of Sherbro Island awaits. Tracks crisscross the island. You can take a tour by boat and visit remote fishing villages. Rice paddies and birdlife abound. It is incredibly peaceful.

Get in
Getting to Bonthe by public transport is relatively straight forward. From Bo, you first take the daily share-taxi/mini-bus to Mattru Jong, and then the next day take the regular transport boat out to the island. You can also get to the island via boat from Yagoi. Onward travel to the Turtle Islands is sporadic, but possible.

Get around
There are no vehicles to speak of in Bonthe. You can get around on foot, or you can hire a bicycle.

You can explore Sherbro Island by boat or on foot. The best sights are seen via the waterways. There are not road outside of Bonthe. It's usually best to have a guide – ask around in town.

See

 * Colonial villas. Crumbling remnants of Bonthe's glory days
 * Graveyard. Holds the remains of graves of British soldiers who died fighting slave traders
 * Fishing villages. Dotted around the island

Do

 * Birdwatching. Storks, pelicans and all sorts of tropical birds

Go next

 * Turtle Islands. Off the tip of Sherbro Island, if that wasn't remote enough for you. There is basic accommodation.

title: Bonthe


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Bontoc

Bontoc is a city in Mountain Province of the Luzon Cordilleras.

Understand
Bontoc is a gateway to up north and to other prime locations such as Banaue and Sagada. It is a small town which is easy to figure out and walk around. Locals are very accommodating and can converse in English very well so there's no worry when asking for directions.

Bus

 * Baguio to Bontoc: GL Lizardo Buses, departs 3-4 AM and 8AM, 10AM &2:30PM Governor pck Rd. Baguio City, . D'Rising Sun buses depart 5AM-1PM from Slaughter House Compound Baguio City,.
 * Metro Manila to Bontoc. Cabletours departs 8:30PM. The bus terminal is inside the Trinity University of Asia Campus at E. Rodriguez Ave. Cubao, Quezon City,.
 * Sagada to Bontoc. Jeepneys leave hourly until 5:30PM and take one hour..
 * Banaue to Bontoc. Buses D'rising Sun, jeepneys and minivans. take two hours. /.

Get around
Its very easy to walk around the main street and find everything you need. Tricycles here are cheap and you should not have a hassle paying the local rate.

Buy

 * Sagada weaving products and other cordillera souvenirs at the mountain outlet store. Above the market square, behind the Land Bank in the multipurpose building.
 * PNB Bank. Mountain Province Road Bontoc. Has a 24-hour ATM which only takes Visa Card.

Eat

 * Arik restaurant & snackhaus': Pancakes  with butter and sweetened condensed milk, brewed coffee . Green building on the second floor at the very end of town, on the left hand side, past the market, past the Mountain Provenience College, next to where the jeepneys leave for Kalinga.
 * Arik restaurant & snackhaus': Pancakes  with butter and sweetened condensed milk, brewed coffee . Green building on the second floor at the very end of town, on the left hand side, past the market, past the Mountain Provenience College, next to where the jeepneys leave for Kalinga.
 * Arik restaurant & snackhaus': Pancakes  with butter and sweetened condensed milk, brewed coffee . Green building on the second floor at the very end of town, on the left hand side, past the market, past the Mountain Provenience College, next to where the jeepneys leave for Kalinga.

Go next
There is a faster way to get to the East Coast without going all the way down to Baguio. There is a daily bus from Bontoc to Cervantes which departs from the market at 9:30AM. It costs and 2 hours to get to Cervantes from Bontoc (May 2011). Once at Cervantes, you can take a van to Tagudin, which is in between Vigan and San Fernando (La Union). The ride is another 2 hours and goes over the Bessang Pass. It costs. Once at Tagudin, it is relatively easy to hop on a bus going north or south. An air-conditioned Partas bus heading from Tagudin to Vigan costs and takes 2 hours.

There are regular jeepneys to Sagada.

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Boonah

Boonah is a town south west of Brisbane that is well worth a visit as a day trip or as a base to explore some of the Scenic Rim region.

Understand
About 80 km from Brisbane and 50 km from Ipswich, Boonah was essentially a service township for the rich farming district of the Fassifern Valley. As with many other small towns Boonah was a backwater for many years, but a combination of better communications, tree change migration and the natural beauty of the area has meant that Boonah lives anew as a vibrant and prosperous centre.

Get in
You will need transport. Drive west from Brisbane on the Ipswich Motorway, turning into the Cunningham Highway and then take the turn to Boonah at Yamanto. If coming from the Gold Coast, you will need to drive through Nerang (on the Pacific Motorway), Canungra and Beaudesert. Each trip will take about an hour.

See
Boonah is a useful base for visitors wishing to visit some of the features of the Scenic Rim. The Scenic Rim is the large ring of rugged and mountainous country which circles from west of Brisbane to Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Boonah provides a central and convenient jump off for many of the most spectacular parts of the rim, such as Mt Castle, Cunningham's Gap, Spicer's Gap, the Main Range, Wilson's Peak, The Head, Mt Clunie, Mt Ballow, Mt Barney and the very nearby Mt French.

Do
Normally this small mountain would not deserve note, but it has historical importance and is a mecca for rock climbers. Drive south from the centre of town and turn right at the Dugandan Hotel where Mt French National Park is well signposted. The road meanders along to the top of the mountain where the National Park idealogues have limited the number of car parks so good luck. At the top there are picnic facilities. Walk to the top of the cliffs. Here in the very early days of the convict settlement of Moreton Bay stood Captain Logan who surveyed the valley below and pronounced it an excellent area for cultivation. You can see he was right. In the late 1960s, an up-and-coming Brisbane rockclimber Rick White (now deceased) discovered the beautiful cliffs found below the look out points, and since then this has been the premier technical climbing area of the South East.
 * Mt French

Take the Boonah-Fassifern Rd west to meet the Cunningham Highway and turn left to the south. You will see the Main Range in front with the obvious saddle. There is a great story about the intrepid Kew botanist Cunningham riding with a party to the new Moreton Bay settlement from the Hunter, arriving just south of gap, but unsure of his longitude. Also worried about the fitness of his party, he turned back for the long journey south through New England to the Hunter. Now journeying by sea to the Moreton Bay settlement, he immediately saw the gap from Brisbane and explored south to confirm how near he had been. Ascend the Gap via the highway, and turn right into the parking bay at the top. This is no peaceful place because of the endless heavy traffic. The graded track system goes north to Mt Cordeux and Bare Rock on the other side for a 2- to 3-hour return, and a possible scramble to the top of the mountain. Check out the gold mine half way up! Can only be explained by gold fever. On the south side of the highway is the equally rewarding walk to the summit of Mt Mitchell, the top of which boasts an arete worth the experience.
 * Cunninghams Gap

Take the Boonah Fassifern Rd west to meet the Cunningham highway (as previous trip) and turn left past the truck stop town of Aratula to the marked road to Spicers Gap and Governors Chair. The road terminates at Governors Chair, after passing a National Park camping area. The views are rewarding, and there are walks for the adventurous. If you are equipped with a compass and map (Sunmap in Brisbane), you can follow the ridge north to the summit of Mt Mitchell for a day return walk. Take the road at first as it follows the ridge, then either opt for the ridge at a convenient location or look for a foot pad that leaves the road to meet the escarpment. Prepare to bush bash at places. There is an inspiring scramble to the arete on the summit of Mt Mitchell, which is not exposed and easily reversed.
 * Spicers Gap

You can also head south to climb Mt Spicer. A foot pad leads to the northern ascent ridge, but only the experienced and confident should apply, as the terrain is very steep and the route difficult, and harder to reverse. Spicer's Peak can also be climbed from the western forested ridge. The range to the south of Spicers Peak is known as the Main Range and the 3-day hike is one of the best in the area, challenging, rough, varied and beautiful. It's no backpackers weekend, only well led and prepared parties should attempt it.

From Boonah, drive south towards Rathdowney, turning right towards Carney's Creek and then right again towards signs that may say, The Head, Killarney or Queen Mary's Falls. The narrow road switchbacks to the top of the range and a rough lookout over Teviot Falls seen to the right. This is the summit of the Great Dividing Range, waters flowing to the west form the "Head" of the Condamine River flow finally to the sea in South Australia. Park here and head south over the fence and over pasture to the top of the ridge where a foot pad is found for the ascent of Wilsons Peak. When the summit cliffs are encountered, contour right and look for a break in the cliffs. Wilsons peak is the junction of the Great Dividing Range and the MacPherson Range which heads east to meet the ocean at Currumbin. It also forms the state border. The border fence is a combination stock and rabbit fence, rabbits not being permitted north.
 * The Head

From Teviot Falls lookout continue on. Some few km after, the road divides. Those in 4 wheel drives can fork right and follow the road through the Condamine Gorge. The river will be forded many times on this unmade road but the drive through to the town of Killarney is quite rewarding. Alternatively the turn to the left is a sealed road which also goes to Killarney via Queen Mary Falls, worth a look. At Spring Creek is a cafe restaurant which enjoys views over the ranges including Mt Superbus, the highest peak in the area at 1375 m. Killarney is on the southern Darling Downs, the huge fertile plateau of beautiful country to the west of Brisbane.

Drive south from Boonah towards Rathdowney and look for the signs to Mt Barney on the right. This road also leads to the Bigriggen Camping Area which is useful as a base. Mt Barney is a focal point for bushwalkers with many varied tracks and routes of varying difficulty up this great rocky mountain. For those interested in a simple walk, opt for the track to the Lower Portals. There are nice camp sites here and at the right time of the year some excellent swimming holes. The more ernest hiker/climber should obtain concise details of the routes on Mt Barney. It will not disappoint.
 * Mt Barney

Eat
There are a collection of good places to eat in Boonah town. All are within easy walking distance of one another (with the exception of the Dugandan Hotel), and cater to different styles.

At one end of town is Flavour's Cafe, doing decent pub-style food. Despite the higher cost, it does more or less a full plate of food for a meal. Up the road is Glen's Diner, your standard fast food diner of the town. Try the fish and chips, especially good for those on a smaller budget but still wanting a good feed with flavour. Opposite Glen's Diner is the Commercial Pub, a place with excellent restaurant meals for a price. A meal here will often fill you for well into the night if you decide to consume the entire plate's worth.

Further into town you will find Harry's Cafe, an excellent stop-off point if you are after a good coffee with decent meals for a very reasonable price. Out of town but worth the trip is the Dugandan Hotel. Commonly known as the "Duge" ("g" as in ground"), the Dugandan Hotel has been acquired by the owner of a major winery. Specialising in good quality pub food, the Duge does excellent business with those desiring a strong meal after a day's climb at Mount French or en route through Boonah township.

In addition to these business, there is an excellent bakery in Sugarloaf Bakery in the centre of the High Street, and nearby grocery shops.

Drink
High Street is the main shopping and commercial district in Boonah.

Sleep
There are two pubs in the centre of town, the Commercial and the Australian, and the former definitely has available accommodation. The pub stay experience is maybe not for everyone, but it's economical, friendly (not always, but the Commercial is OK) and unique.

title: Boonah


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Boone (North Carolina)

Boone is a town in Watauga County nestled in the North Carolina Mountains, part of Appalachia. It is the home of Appalachian State University and is the county seat.

Climate
Boone can be said as having a diverse climate with a big fluctuation of temperatures throughout the year. Although Boone is located in the American South, its climate can be more comparable to the northeastern United States with long cold winters and warm, but less humid summers. Winters are cold and snow is common with afternoon temperatures rarely getting above 40°F (4°C). Low temperatures during the winter typically drop to as low as 17°F (-8°C). January is the snowiest month when as much as 10 inches (25 cm) can fall, making it the most popular time of the year for skiers and snowboarders. Throughout the year, Boone on average receives about 35 inches (89 cm) of snow. Springs are generally cool with afternoon temperatures around 61°F (16°C). Fall is very popular amongst "leaf lookers," long-distance travelers looking at fall foliage across the Appalachian Mountains. Temperatures during fall are generally comparable to spring with afternoon temperatures falling below 70°F (21°C). Summers are much cooler than the rest of the American South and far less humidity. Average summertime high temperatures typically stay under 80°F (27°C) with frequent afternoon showers and thunderstorms when as much as an inch of rain (2.5 cm) can fall at a given time. June is the wettest month when about 5 inches (12.7 cm) of rain falls. Relative humidity in the summer generally stays under 80 percent, unlike most of the southeast.

Get in
Access is primarily by private vehicle. Fly to Charlotte, Raleigh , Asheville , or Greensboro. From Charlotte, take I-77 north to US-421 and go west or I-85 South to US 321 North at Gastonia. From Raleigh or Greensboro, take I-40 west to US 421 west at Winston-Salem. From Asheville, take I-40 east to US 321 at Hickory and head north to Blowing Rock.

Greyhound buses serve Boone and are a cheap option from major cities like Atlanta and Charlotte.

Seven times a day, the Hickory Hop shuttle goes from Charlotte to Hickory (1 hour from Boone). Continuing taxi service is available, and shuttle service is planned.

Other options include ridesharing such as the link below. See also Craigslist Ridesharing Board

Bus
AppalCART has eight bus routes running in Boone. The buses are free to use within city limits.

Foot
The downtown area is very compact and easily walkable. The remainder of town is well provided with sidewalks and some bike lanes, making non-automotive transportation a reasonable idea.

Taxi

 * Blue Bird Transportation Services

Ski
In skiing season, there are several nearby mountains that offer skiing.

Eat
Downtown Boone along King Street is home to many local restaurants and specialty shops. }}

Sleep
Trying to find lodging in Boone or nearby Banner Elk or Blowing Rock is a disaster. There are thousands of cabins around, and no consolidated way to search them. Websites are awful, ranging from out of date and poorly maintained, to unhelpful or even nonfunctional. Several others have no online search capability, expecting you to call, or manually read as many as 100 individual cabin listings each on a separate page. Of sites that do have search capability, it's generally inadequate; searching for "lodging near ski slopes" might show places as far as 30 minutes away, with its location just described as "Boone".

 * Watauga Lake Cabins, +1 803-524-5185, offers a range of cabins from simplistic to high-end, this cabin rental company has been offering vacation homes to visitors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Appalachia for nearly ten years. Cabins that are perfectly centric to the great Watauga Lake, Cherokee National Forest and the town destinations of Boone and Blowing Rock.
 * Watauga Lake Cabins, +1 803-524-5185, offers a range of cabins from simplistic to high-end, this cabin rental company has been offering vacation homes to visitors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Appalachia for nearly ten years. Cabins that are perfectly centric to the great Watauga Lake, Cherokee National Forest and the town destinations of Boone and Blowing Rock.
 * Watauga Lake Cabins, +1 803-524-5185, offers a range of cabins from simplistic to high-end, this cabin rental company has been offering vacation homes to visitors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Appalachia for nearly ten years. Cabins that are perfectly centric to the great Watauga Lake, Cherokee National Forest and the town destinations of Boone and Blowing Rock.
 * Watauga Lake Cabins, +1 803-524-5185, offers a range of cabins from simplistic to high-end, this cabin rental company has been offering vacation homes to visitors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Appalachia for nearly ten years. Cabins that are perfectly centric to the great Watauga Lake, Cherokee National Forest and the town destinations of Boone and Blowing Rock.
 * Watauga Lake Cabins, +1 803-524-5185, offers a range of cabins from simplistic to high-end, this cabin rental company has been offering vacation homes to visitors of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Appalachia for nearly ten years. Cabins that are perfectly centric to the great Watauga Lake, Cherokee National Forest and the town destinations of Boone and Blowing Rock.

Resorts
Most locations that offer skiing also have resorts. They tend to be more expensive than lodging in town, but will keep you closer to the activity.

Mill Ridge Resort in Banner Elk on NC 105 offers 1-5 bedroom homes for rent which include tennis, swimming pool and hiking. millridgeresort.com

Go next

 * West Jefferson
 * Blowing Rock
 * Linville Gorge
 * Mountain City

title: Boone (North Carolina)


text:
Boone (Iowa)

Boone is a city in Central Iowa.

Understand
Boone is the birthplace of Mamie Eisenhower, former First Lady of the United States (1953-1961). It is also home to the IMCA Super Nationals.

Nearby communities include the cities Boone (pop. 12,811), Madrid (pop. 2,211), and Ogden (pop. 2,011).

Get in
Interstate highways I-35 and I-80.

Do

 * Farm Progress Shows
 * Iowa Municipal Band Festival
 * Play a challenging game of disc golf at McHose Park.
 * Farm Progress Shows
 * Iowa Municipal Band Festival
 * Play a challenging game of disc golf at McHose Park.

Go next
Ames, about 20 miles away, is a college town with some attractions.

title: Boone (Iowa)


text:
Boonsboro

Boonsboro is a small town in Washington County, Western Maryland. Boonsboro is primarily an agricultural center, but it's also just a nice historic town for a leisurely lunch or dinner, and perhaps a stop at one of the museums, while exploring the area.

Understand
The town dates back to the late eighteenth century, when, according to local legend, it was founded by two brothers of Daniel Boone. Unsurprisingly, given its proximity to Antietam, it saw major fighting during the Civil War, and housed numerous soldiers following Antietam.

Get in
Boonsboro is at the intersection of US-40 and MD-34, so take the MD-34 exit off I-270 to the southeast of Hagerstown and northwest of Frederick. Sharpsburg and Antietam National Battlefield are just southwest of the town on MD-34.

Get around
While the town is small enough to cover easily on foot, you will want a car to explore the surrounding areas.

title: Boonsboro


text:
Boonville

There is more than one place called Boonville:

United States of America

 * Boonville (California) - A town in California.
 * Boonville (Missouri) - A town in Missouri near the start of the Santa Fe National Historical Trail.
 * Boonville (Indiana) - A town in Indiana.
 * Boonville (village, New York) - A village in New York.
 * Boonville (town, New York) - A town in New York.
 * Boonville (North Carolina) - A town in North Carolina.

title: Boonville


text:
Boonville (California)

Boonville is a town in Mendocino County, California, in the Anderson Valley. Boonville has a population of about a thousand people (2020). The small village of Philo, six miles to the west, is a secondary center of activity when visiting the valley. Navarro, further to the west, just outside the valley, is also a possible destination for those interested in the Anderson Valley (this Wikivoyage page covers the entire valley, not just Boonville).

Understand
Boonville is home to winery tasting rooms, shops, and galleries. With its location at one end of the Anderson Valley, it's also the main place to stay if exploring that part of California wine country. It's also on the main east-west route to the town of Mendocino, on the Pacific Coast.

The wine industry is the dominant contributor to the Anderson Valley economy; the valley has its own AVA. Its producers specialize in Alsatian varietals (primarily Riesling and Gewürztraminer), pinot noir, and sparkling wine. (Information about 40 or so wineries is available at avwines.com.)

Boonville is perhaps best known as the source of the Boontling folk language.

Get in
Boonville is on California Highway 128. By car, it's about a two-hour drive north from the Golden Gate Bridge. Most of the trip is on Route 101, a limited access highway, but the last section, on Route 128, does feature some twists and turns.

By bus, the Mendocino Transit Authority provides transportation between Santa Rosa, California, in Sonoma County, and Boonville, via Route 65 to Ukiah, and from there to Boonville via Route 75.

Get around
A car or other personal vehicle is pretty much required to get the most out of the Anderson Valley.

Do

 * The Anderson Valley Brewing Company (see listing below) offers tours and has an 18-hole disc golf course.

Buy

Eat
Because of the small population in the area and the limited number of places for visitors to stay, restaurants are open on limited days and hours. But the food is generally good and the prices are reasonable.

Deli, take-out, and groceries

Regular restaurants

Upscale
These two restaurants offer the valley’s most most upscale dining.

Wine

 * Baxter Winery Tasting Room: Winemaker Phillip Baxter produces first rate single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, and his wife, Claire Baxter, oversees their small tasting room.

 * Breggo Cellars Winery & Tasting Room: sit down, relax and enjoy some wine, take in the views. Time slows down here. Bring your pups and your picnic!

 * Foursight Wines: produced using traditional techniques like wild yeast fermentation and unfiltered bottling

 * Handley Cellars: the $15 per person tasting fee is relatively new. It’s also waived with a three-bottle purchase.) Well known for Pinot Noirs, Handley also produces appealing sparkling wines.

 * Husch Vineyards: tastings are free. Offers wide range of well-priced wines at the rustic tasting room, including a terrific Chenin Blanc,

 * Navarro Vineyards Tasting Room: the tastings are still free here, on the patio or in the garden. Known for Gewürztraminer, the winery produces a range of other wines, too, including Pinot Noir

 * The Wickson has tasting rooms for Drew Family Cellars and Long Meadow Ranch winery, plus a stylish cannabis dispensary, the Bohemian Chemist. Drew Tasting Room: an exceptional Pinot Noir as well as Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier and Albariño

Hotels
There are fewer than 100 hotel beds in the entire valley.

 * Boonville Hotel

 * Philo Apple Farm, still a working farm, kitchen and collection of tastefully rustic guest cottages in Philo.

 * Indian Creek Inn: Three renovated lodges decorated with artwork by co-owner Elizabeth Ashiku-Orr sit high on a hill overlooking the Goldeneye Confluence Vineyard

 * The Madrones and the Brambles: At this upscale enclave, guest rooms and cottages run $275-350. the valley’s luxury option. Owner Jim Roberts built the Italian-inspired group of buildings as a residence and design business, and in 2011 he turned it into a small inn and restaurant (The Wickson)

Other
RV camping at the Fairgrounds.

title: Boonville (California)


text:
Boonville (Missouri)

Boonville is a small town in Missouri, a state of the United States of America. It is notable as the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail, parts of which are preserved as a unit of the United States National Park System.

By car
Interstate 70 connects Boonville with Kansas City to the west and Columbia and St. Louis to the east.

By bus

 * Greyhound. Buses stop at the Fame Tire & Auto located at 17987 Jefferson Rd.

Go next

 * The Santa Fe Trail did not start in Boonville proper, but rather at the now-abandoned site of Franklin near town. Markers commemorate the site.  See also Boone's Lick State Historic Site, preserving a salt lick that was important to Santa Fe Trail travelers.

title: Boonville (Missouri)


text:
Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is a city in Maine.

See
The Boothbay region offers excellent views of the ocean, tidal rivers, and lighthouses:

title: Boothbay Harbor


text:
Bootle

Bootle is a town in Merseyside, England.

Understand
It is located within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire. It lies about 2 miles north of Liverpool, and 6 south of Southport.

By train
There are two railway stations served by frequent electric services from Liverpool to Southport. These are Bootle Oriel Road and Bootle New Strand.

By plane
Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Around 160 flights arrive daily from within the UK and Europe. The airport is well-served by low-cost airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. For a complete listing of airlines and destinations, see the Summer and Winter timetables.

Respect
Bootle has a large Irish community, and the advice given in the Ireland and Northern Ireland articles apply here in terms of respect. Some Irish people are of Northern Irish descent and may be sensitive about being called Irish, so always ask first where they're from to avoid causing offence.

Some individuals in Bootle are sensitive about being called a Scouser even though the town is contiguous with Liverpool.

People who are LGBT may face hostility and problems in some parts, mainly due to more traditional attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality, and gender identities. You may wish to avoid being open about your sexuality.

title: Bootle


text:
Bophut

Bophut is a beach village on the northeast shore of Ko Samui. Confusingly, Bophut is also a large administrative and postal district (amphoe) even encompassing Chaweng. Therefore a Bophut address is no guarantee that it is in or near the village.

Understand
Bophut is one of the few places on Samui that retains some of the island's original Thai-Chinese atmosphere. It has many hotels and guesthouses. The traditional core of Bophut, known as the Fisherman's Village, is a charming village on the east end of the beach while the new developments are to the west. In contrast to Chaweng there has been a conscious effort to dissuade the more commercial elements of Thai nightlife from setting up shop, and instead aim for couples and young families. The beach road retains much of its charm although the new construction took a bit away. Old Chinese shop-houses crowd the narrow street many with sympathetic conversions to modern use as restaurants and cafés and small trendy shops. The beach itself encompasses some 2 km of white sandy shoreline fringed by coconut palms and the calm waters of the bay make this a popular spot for playing or relaxing, rather than swimming, because the water here is often murky, especially around December.

Get in
Bophut is 15 minutes from the airport by bus or taxi. Many ferries from Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao dock at the small pier in east Bophut.

From the Nathon pier, take a brown songthaew going north (to the left) as you leave. It will cost 50 baht or so. This is the way the locals travel around the island. Do not ask a fare or you will be making a private hire. Push the button to stop the driver when you are where you want to be and pay on exit.

Do
Activities on Bophut are pretty much limited to the beach, which is quite narrow and drops off rapidly. Jet ski hire operators are located (mercifully) at the west end of Fisherman's Village. A go-kart track can be found on the main road adjacent to the village. Bophut is famed for its sunsets, fine restaurants, numerous pubs, and complete absence of girly bars. Thai Massage, (temporary rejuvenation on the beach or in the village's numerous spas) manicure and pedicure treatments are popular bargain spends for visitors of either sex.

Eat
Bophut has a reputation as being one of the best places to eat on Samui. The village boasts many fine restaurants offering a wide choice of speciality cuisines in addition to a wealth of Thai dishes. French, Italian, BBQ, Indian, and seafood outlets predominate, but there are several pubs and two bakeries offering standard European-style snacks and typical British and Australian pub grub. Some 30 bars and restaurants are located in little more than 700 m of village street. All the places below are clustered in the Fisherman's Village within easy walking distance of one another.

Sleep

Medical tourism
Increasingly popular among Western visitors is a trip to one of Samui's superb dentists. So uniformly good are the dentists, several of which are established in Bophut, and reasonable their prices, that medical vacationing is a growing segment in Samui. Some visitors arriving just to receive extensive dental treatment locally, at a fraction of the European cost. Samui's four major international hospitals each have dental departments, but there are numerous other excellent dental clinics to choose from, usually at lower cost. All conduct restorative or general dentistry from a basic inspection, clean and polish, routine fillings, extractions and root canal work, but several specialise in much more complex oral issues, including a broad spectrum of cosmetic treatments. Laser whitening is on offer at several dentists in Bophut for around 8,000 baht.

Go next

 * Bang Rak
 * Chaweng
 * Choeng Mon
 * Laem Yai
 * Lamai
 * Mae Nam
 * Nathon
 * Samui South Coast

title: Bophut


text:
Boquete

Boquete is a cozy mountain river town in Chiriqui province, in the Pacific West of Panama. It is famous for its coffee plantations and the world famous geisha coffee—so wake up and smell the coffee.

Understand

For some information, there is the Official Authority of Tourism, Panama (ATP) located a few minutes drive up the road back towards David, next to the Kotowa Coffee Shop, not in downtown Boquete. They have a small museum including some old photos of Boquete, as well as a beautiful view of the valley of Boquete.

The main features of Boquete include:

 * A year-round temperature in the low seventies Fahrenheit / mid twenties in Celsius.
 * A significant North American expat community and tourist destination, which brings with it a wide range of amenities from which to choose, ranging from hostels to luxury, health spas, reliable infrastructure, with English very widely spoken.
 * Fresh mountain air.
 * A small town, with a small town atmosphere, surrounded by relatively untouched natural beauty.
 * The ability, if you choose to venture away from the town, to visit rural, traditional Panama.
 * An abundance of outdoor activities, including zip lining, bird watching, rafting (certain times of year), hiking, and limited golf.
 * World famous coffee plantations.
 * The town is built beside the Caldara River, with a bridge crossing near the main town square, and a nice walking trail and park.

Up until the early 2000s, Boquete was a sleepy, almost completely unknown and unremarkable agriculture-based mountain village with almost zero tourism and very few people living in the area whose families hadn’t been there for generations. That changed with a series of events starting with the creation of Valle Escondido, a large residential development aimed at expats. Right around the same time, several magazines devoted to people considering becoming expats began to flourish, with one of the most popular very regularly touting Boquete as “the land of eternal springtime”.

As a result of the publicity and the natural beauty and temperate climate of Boquete, it becameone of the best-known North American expat destinations in the world, as a large expat community developed. Bouquete attracts a large number of North American retirees. That community now dominates the town, which, depending on what you’re looking for, could be good or bad.

Because of its temperate climate, moderate prices and relaxed living, it has also become a favorite with expats and retirees.

By bus

 * From David: there are regular big white and several refurbished school buses leaving roughly every 45 min until 9:45PM. Travel time is a little over 1 hr and cost is $2 (2022/08) which you pay when getting off. The bus station in David can be a bit confusing, because it more of strip mall approach with many bus vendors.
 * From San Jose in Costa Rica: there is one morning bus leaving from the Tracopa terminal at 7:30AM ($21). It takes about 8 hours to get to David, including the Costa Rica-Panama border crossing, and arrives at the David Bus Terminal. Panama immigration officers can be strict, and tourists must often provide proof of onward ticket out of Panama, at least $500 cash or bank statements, and credit cards. From David see above.
 * From Panama City by bus: There are regular buses from the Albrook Bus Terminal, run by at least three companies (Panafrom, Padafront, and Terminales David); between them, there is a bus leaving about every hour. Daytime fares (as of February 2011) are $15; there are also nighttime express buses for $18.50. It is an air conditioned bus and gets very very cold. The bus makes one 30-min meal and bathroom stop in Santiago, halfway in between Panama City and David. It takes roughly eight hours to get there, as there is construction on the Pan-American Highway between Santiago and David as they are widening it to 4 lanes. Construction can sometimes delay traffic.
 * From Bocas del Toro: Take a boat to Almirante ($6-8), a bus from there to David ($8.75), and another bus from David to Boquete ($2). 5-6 hr. Many connections. Takes about 1 hr longer than the private shuttle. (Prices 2022/08)

By private shuttle
Also, from Bocas del Toro there is a twice-daily, $30-35 private shuttle (including water taxi to Almirante), 4 hr. The shuttle is way overpriced for Panama standards, and you are better off spending 1 hr more, just paying $15 and experience the real Panama.

By plane

 * From Panama City by airplane: AirPanama has daily flights from the Albrook Domestic Airport in Panama City to the David Airport. The flight takes about 40-50 min, prices range from $100 (retired discount) to $150 each way.

On foot
Boquete is a very cosy mountain village so you won't have problems exploring the main town on foot. The central plaza, in the middle of town on Main Street, near the bridge, is where the David-Boquete bus drops off incoming visitors and locals. Note that the sidewalks can have irregular or broken sections, so not recommended for people with walking problems.

By taxi or bus
In the surroundings you can also use taxi (one dollar brings you quite far) or the local area vans/buses which leave from Casa Bruna Super Market 200 m up the main road from the bus stop. Each local van/bus has written on the front window the areas that they cover, which are normally large loops up in the mountains in areas of Bajo Mono, Alto Quiel, Arco Iris, or Volcancito. Be aware that the main "bus station" is not a building, it is a stop in front of a popular strawberry vendor!

By car
But if you want to rent a car and explore the area around Boquete, a four wheel drive may be safer, because the mountain roads do get washed out. Also be aware that there are no safe shoulders and no place for pedestrians to walk but the highway, so take caution traveling at night.

By organized tour
There are also many tour companies that offer guided trips through the mountains to see waterfalls, coffee plantations, the cloud forest, white water rafting, and the Volcan Baru National Park.

By scooter
For the smell and feel of the area there are scooter rentals at $25 for 4 hr as your means of transportation.

See
Boquete is known as the Valley of the Flowers. Nestled in the western highlands of Panama, near the border to Costa Rica, Boquete shares some of the same mountain ranges and some of the incredible wildlife and rain forests. However, because it is not as well known, and a 'road less traveled', prices are lower, and it is not as commercial.

You can hike for 1/2 a day, or all day, and still have a rare chance to see the resplendent quetzal, or a howler monkey in the wild.

Do

 * There are also the nearby in Caldera, which you might want to checkout.
 * There are also the nearby in Caldera, which you might want to checkout.
 * There are also the nearby in Caldera, which you might want to checkout.
 * There are also the nearby in Caldera, which you might want to checkout.

Hiking
There are many hiking trails in Boquete; some in the National Parks, and some off the beaten path. Most are accessible and easy enough to traverse without a guide. However, due to the density of some of the rainforests, staying on the designated trail is recommended, if you don’t have a guide. To increase your chance of actually seeing wildlife, birds, or Quetzal’s, hiring a guide is recommended.

The following three trails can be reached via minibus from Boquete to Bajo Mono, $1.50-2.50—tourist prices, bargain if you can.

 * Jeep tour to the top of Volcan Baru. There are a number of companies in the Boquete area that provide jeep transport to the top of the local volcano for around $150 per adult, $75 per child. Levels of service vary, as do their commitment to the environment. It is possible to book a jeep through tour operators in town.
 * Hiking to the top of the Volcan Baru. Though there are other options, but ANAM (Panama's Environmental Protection Organization) has encouraged local tour guides to recommend the more environmentally friendly method of hiking to the top of Panama's highest point. Expert guides can be found by stopping by the offices of many tour operators in town. If you prefer to go without a guide, Hola Panama Travel, located in the Mamallena Hostel has a cheap daily shuttle (minimum 3 people) to the Volcan Baru trailhead at around 11PM, so hikers can get to the top of the Volcano by the morning sunrise. The hike is around 6 hr, strenuous, one-way hike to the top up a steep dusty dirt road. Then 6 hr back down, which is challenging on the knees. The climb is very difficult because of the length and steepness of the trail. Take into consideration the dramatic change in climates as you summit and be prepared with warm clothes, food, and water. This is the only place in Panama that temperatures occasionally drop below freezing and two people have died on the top due to hypothermia. A guide is not necessary for hikers in groups as it is difficult to get lost on the road to the top, however Panama has been enforcing guided-only hikes in National Parks for the safety and prevention of lost tourists. At that time in the night no one will check or sell you a ticket. And back out, also no one will do so. Note, there is also a trail from the western side of the volcano, checkout OpenStreetMap (used with OsmAnd or Mapy.cz). Given the above mentioned time of transport, many people arrive two hours before sunset at the top. Considering the freezing temperature, be prepared—either walk slow, start late or bring enough warm cloths.
 * Hiking to the top of the Volcan Baru. Though there are other options, but ANAM (Panama's Environmental Protection Organization) has encouraged local tour guides to recommend the more environmentally friendly method of hiking to the top of Panama's highest point. Expert guides can be found by stopping by the offices of many tour operators in town. If you prefer to go without a guide, Hola Panama Travel, located in the Mamallena Hostel has a cheap daily shuttle (minimum 3 people) to the Volcan Baru trailhead at around 11PM, so hikers can get to the top of the Volcano by the morning sunrise. The hike is around 6 hr, strenuous, one-way hike to the top up a steep dusty dirt road. Then 6 hr back down, which is challenging on the knees. The climb is very difficult because of the length and steepness of the trail. Take into consideration the dramatic change in climates as you summit and be prepared with warm clothes, food, and water. This is the only place in Panama that temperatures occasionally drop below freezing and two people have died on the top due to hypothermia. A guide is not necessary for hikers in groups as it is difficult to get lost on the road to the top, however Panama has been enforcing guided-only hikes in National Parks for the safety and prevention of lost tourists. At that time in the night no one will check or sell you a ticket. And back out, also no one will do so. Note, there is also a trail from the western side of the volcano, checkout OpenStreetMap (used with OsmAnd or Mapy.cz). Given the above mentioned time of transport, many people arrive two hours before sunset at the top. Considering the freezing temperature, be prepared—either walk slow, start late or bring enough warm cloths.

Annual events

 * There are two fairs to celebrate Boquete's floral culture. The Festival of Flowers and Coffee is for 2 weeks between January 12th and the 22nd (the dates change sometimes by a few days) and the Expos Orchid Fair in March.

Buy

 * The Boquete Valley is rich with agriculture as well; strawberries, oranges, and coffee come from this region. Boquete is known as a prime coffee-growing region, with many farms exporting high-end coffee to Europe and Asia. The famous geisha coffee that was sold at auction for $130 a pound can be found growing on the rich volcanic slopes.

Eat
This is the bread basket of the country, so the food that is served in the restaurants is very fresh, and quite varied, reflecting its early European beginning and its gaining international popularity.

Drink

 * La Cabaña Late night bar, open Fridays and Saturdays only.

Budget

 * Hostal Palacio, right opposite the bus station and the central park. It is a bit noisy since it's right on the street, and it's important to mind your belongings. Be aware about the owners and the hostel as many tourists have had some troubles. 20 US for dorm. Across from the main plaza, but there are many much better places to stay. 8.50 US for dorm.

Go next

 * David – Even though David is not particular interesting, it is an excellent transport hub for trips to Boca Chica, the western side of the volcano, and other smaller but equally interesting destinations in the region. Take one of the frequent (hourly) buses to David from the Boquete Main Plaza, near the old train car and next to Baru Restaurant.

 * Boca Chica – Swimming, sport fishing, sea kayaking, and island snorkeling in the cool, aqua-marine clear waters of the Gulf of Chiriqui, a National Marine Park just an hour and a half drive away from Boquete. Go for a day trip or stay overnight in the charming fishing village of Boca Chica, or on one of the island resorts on Boca Brava or Isla Palenque.

 * Bocas del Toro – The biggest town on Isla Colon and party and tourist capital of the region. Bocas del Toro offers diving, beach horseback riding, starfish safari and lots of beaches on the other islands around.
 * Gualaca - A sleepy mountainside community with hiking, waterfalls, and a few small hostels. Half way between Boquete and Bocas del Toro.

 * Panama City – From the David bus station (see how to get to David above), there are buses hourly providing the 8 hr transport to Panama City for $15-20, with a 30-min meal and bathroom break in Santiago. The David Airport offers flights with Air Panama to Panama City for around $150+ one-way.

 * San Jose, Costa Rica – If you are at the end of your trip to Panama, there are a few buses a day for direct transport to San José. But you might just head to the border and start you trip of Costa Rica there, because there are already many interesting destinations directly beyond the border.

title: Boquete


text:
Bora Bora

Bora Bora is a volcanic island in the Society Islands archipelago of French Polynesia. The Polynesian island in the South Pacific is ranked at the top of the list when it comes to most remarkably beautiful in the world. The best time to visit is May.

Understand
It is perfectly possible to spoil yourself in one of the incredibly luxurious high-class resorts and spend the savings of a lifetime in a few days. Nonetheless, a bit of planning ahead can allow enjoyment of the majestic scenery with a tighter budget. Bora Bora is a very pricey destination. Everything (catering and activities) ranges from "expensive" to "indescribably expensive".

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. The island, which is about 230 km (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 m (2,385 ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts is Bolabolla or Bollabolla.

The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. The products of the island are mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. During the 2017 census, the population on the island was about 10,600 people, up from 8,880 in 2007.

History
The history of Bora Bora shows that the island’s first settlers back in the 4th century were Tongan people. The first European explorers who visited the island were led by James Cook. However, prior to this, the island of Bora Bora was already sighted by other explorers. In 1842 the island became a French colony under the governance of Admiral Abel Aubert Dupetit Thouars.

During World War II, the United States made Bora Bora a base for military supply, oil depot, air strip and seaplane base. They constructed defensive fortifications around the island. Luckily though, no combat took place here and the presence of American troops seemed to be accepted by the opposition forces.

The United States Military Base closed on June 2, 1946, following the end of the war. However, many Americans decided to stay on the island as it had become close to their hearts. Some Americans were even forcibly asked to leave following complaints from their families on the mainland. The abandoned base became French Polynesia’s only international airport until Faa'a International Airport opened in the 1962 in Papeete, Tahiti.

Bora Bora now relies largely on tourism and because of this seven luxurious resorts were built over the past few years. Hotel Bora Bora was the first to build bungalows that stand over the water using stilts. These are now a given of every resort on the island as these bungalows provide spectacular sights of lagoons and mountains.

Climate
The climate in Bora Bora and the surrounding islands is considered to be tropical. Unlike most places the seasons can be divided into two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season (Polynesian summers) runs from November till April with an average rainfall off 3/4ths of the yearly precipitation. During these times the humidity levels can be at an all time high. The storms during these months are frequent and unpredictable. The rainfall is about 1800 mm or 71 inches! And the weather is 30 °C or 86 °F. The dry season, running from May to October, is when tourism is at its peak on the island. During these months the temperature is a few degrees lower and rain is rare. The best time weather-wise with the least risk of storms is in the winter months. The very best part about the weather in Bora Bora is that the water temperature hovers around 30 °C (in the mid-80s F) on average. However during this high tourist season (May - October) tourist prices skyrocket and there are many more people around.

Language
The main languages that are spoken by people in Bora Bora Island are French and Tahitian although most inhabitants that interact with visitors have good comprehension of the English language. Most tourists that visit the island are Americans, Japanese and Europeans.

Some key words in the local language in Bora Bora include:

 * Hello - Ia Ora na (yo-rah-nah)
 * Goodbye - Nana (nah-nah)
 * Yes - E (ay)
 * No - Aita (eye-tah)
 * Man - Tane (tah-nay)
 * Woman - Vahine (vah-he-nay)
 * Child - Tamarii (tah-ma-ree-ee)
 * Friend - Hoa (ho-ah)
 * Polynesian - Ma' ohi (mah-o-hee)
 * Big - Nui (new-ee)
 * Small - Iti (ee-tee)
 * Morning - Poipoi (poy-poy)
 * Small island formed by coral and sand - Motu

Culture
There are about 10,600 people living in Bora Bora, these people have a firm grip on the culture, myths and traditions that have been handed down from the Polynesian gods. They have traditional songs and dances for the island. They love to share their culture with the visitors. The pace is laid-back with a relaxing atmosphere. They live by a philosophy ‘aita pea pea’ which means ‘not to worry’. The main languages that are spoken in Bora Bora are French and Tahitian. English is also spoken in many hotels, resorts, markets and tourist locations.

By plane
Take an international flight to Tahiti, and then a less than an hour flight to Bora Bora.

Air Tahiti flies several times a day from Tahiti. Flights are quite often full, so it is not a bad idea to make a reservation. Air Tahiti operates flights from
 * Papeete/Tahiti: 4 direct flights per day, flight time 50 min,
 * Moorea: daily, flight time 50 min,
 * Huahine: daily except Wednesday, flight time 25 min
 * Maupiti: Sunday, flight time 15 min
 * Raiatea: daily, flight time 20 min

The airport is on a small motu (islet) north of the main island. Transfer to the main island or to accommodations located on other motus is done by boat. The major accommodations have counters at the airport. For the accommodations located on the main island, you will need to take the (free) ferry to Vaitape. From there, small buses will usually pick you up. Air Tahiti operates a free shuttle boat transfer from the airport to the main village, Vaitape, by "Bora Bora Navette".

Get around

Vaitape is the arrival point of the ferry from the airport, and is the only town of any size of the island. At the southern tip of the main island, Matira has the largest beach, and several hotels and restaurants. The central part of the island is extremely mountainous, tough to access and not inhabited (and furthermore devoid of roads).

The way you get around depends greatly on your accommodation and its location. Several resorts are on motus and not on the main island, hence the need of boat transportation to get anywhere. Boat transfers from those motus resorts to the main island or between the resorts and the airport are usually provided. Accommodations on the island generally also provide a transfer to and the airport ferry quay.

On the main island, there is only one sealed road. Public transport on the island is limited, consisting of a single bus that goes halfway around the island and back approximately every hour. Taxis are also available.

Operators of activities and restaurants sometimes (but not always) provide a transfer to and from the accommodations : be sure to ask when booking.

By car or bike
Renting a bicycle, moped or a car can be an option if you plan to have your freedom on the main island. The road around the island is 31 km long, and can be driven comfortably in an hour – two hours with stops.

Europcar and Avis rent vehicles on the island, but they are expensive: an economy car will cost 12,000 F (francs) for 24 hours, while a two-seat electric Renault Twizy can be had for 4 hours for 8,000 F (Jan 2019). A scooter will cost 5,500 F for 4 hours, or 6,800 F for 24 hours. (Avis's website only offers 24-hour rates, but the office will rent for 2, 4 or 8 hours).

See
The island of Bora Bora is a volcanic caldera. This geography has produced a lagoon, well protected from waters by the surrounding motus (islets). The lagoon, and the tropical underwater life, including sharks and rays, provide fantastic opportunities for many forms of water-based recreation, ranging from swimming, through snorkelling and to scuba and other options if you want to immerse yourself in this unique environment.

In addition to the sights under the surface of the lagoon, the dominating and unusually shaped peak of Mount Otemanu which reaches 728 m above sea level, and its smaller neighbour Mount Pahia are also worthy attractions. The combination of the beautiful lagoon and these impressive peaks provide an almost endless supply of opportunities to take travel photos which will leave your friend back home cursing you for sharing them.

Very few go to Bora Bora for the historic relics. However, if you have seen enough of the lagoon, you might want to take a peek at the few World War II remains and the archaeological Polynesian relics in one of the tours of the island.

Do

There are comparatively more activities in Bora Bora to keep you occupied than in other islands of French Polynesia. Being practical while lazing under the sun in a white sand beach, a good book  will be in every case a very useful item to bring. It sometimes rains in Bora Bora (and sometimes even a lot). The vast majority of the activities take place outdoors, and there are no cinemas, libraries or museums to visit, so even if large resorts do lend books and games, bring some good reading with you.

There are many activities that are cost-free, like swimming in the lagoons and enjoying the famous sunset. Most destinations are aquatic oriented, that may also include scuba diving and snorkeling. Besides the water activities there are many other activities like parasailing, deep sea fishing which is one of its kind in the world since Bora Bora is home of over 500 species of marine wildlife. There is also family hiking and climbing trails. On the relaxation part the island is filled with natives specializing in ritual massage services. There are also private lagoon cruises, bus tours, and many Motu hangouts. The island also offers flight seeing, along with helicopter tours.

Water activities
The tropical sea sometimes reaches 30 °C (86 °F), making it perfect for various water activities. Swimming in the lagoon in perfectly clear warm water has the advantage of being free and can be very enjoyable. The beaches of Bora Bora are not huge by any standards, nor are they crammed with people. The most famous beach, Matira Beach is at the southern tip of the main island.

Like swimming, snorkeling is possible in many areas close to the shore. Even in Matira Beach, you will be surrounded by multicolored tropical fish in seconds, and in shallow waters. Remember to put on sunscreen from time to time as the sun is strong and you will get burned badly if you stay in the water for an extended period of time.

Several companies operate snorkeling tours in the lagoon, bringing you by boat farther off the coast:

 * Jet ski tours around the interior island are well worth the effort as they allow to appreciate the scenery from various viewpoints, although they do inflict noise and pollution.

 * Kiteboarding is becoming popular at the southern tip of Matira.

Land activities
The island is about 32 km (20 miles) around, and bikes and small cars are available for rent at various sites. It is well worth the investment to ride the perimeter of the island.

The Jeep tours are well worth a trip. You'll have a good time climbing through some rough trails on the island, and you'll get some breathtaking views. In addition, you'll tour the American World War II ruins, such as gun emplacements and bunkers.

It is possible to access the summit of Mount Pahia by foot, although neither the staff at City Hall nor the Gendarmerie will tell you how if you do not have a guide, as even adept hikers have gotten lost or been injured. To access the trailhead, go 100 m (330 ft) north of the cross-street into Vaitape harbor. There will be an arcade of shops to your right. Look for a dirt road between the antique dealer and snack toward the north end of the arcade. Head up the dirt road about 150 m (465 ft) and look for a small grass field on your left that is just before the last house on the drive. It is wise to ask the owner for passage, as you must traverse privately-owned property to access the trail, which will initially appear faint but become more defined after the first 10 m (33 ft). Continue along the trail until you reach a fork, which will have two other trails heading north and south (through a plantation and an open field, respectively), and the main trail up to the top due east. Make sure you are well-provisioned, as the elevation gain takes place over a relatively short distance, and be sure to identify the trees or rocks with white-red-white striping that will show you the way. Some of the latter sections can be precarious, so make sure you keep your grip and be courteous to those who may be downstream of falling rocks unintentionally loosed by your foothold. The rope climb at the end is exciting! If you want more, head south along the uncommonly-traveled trail for spectacular views.

Buy
The rich culture has influenced the shopping market greatly. Visitors have a wide choice of art galleries, studios, shops that are set up in traditional and modern settings. They also have an abundance of jewelry and black pearls.

The speciality of Bora Bora is Black Pearls. Commonly known around the world as Tahitian Black Pearls, the pearls of Bora Bora are indigenous to the remote lagoons of French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Today, the Tahitian Black Pearl has become an exotic gem sought after by celebrities and pearl aficionados alike. The most popular place to buy and make your own Black Pearl Jewellery is The Farm at the Bora Bora Pearl Company.

Self-catering is a way of dealing with the high cost of restaurants in Bora Bora, but groceries are more expensive than on Tahiti. In Vaitape, you can find a medium-sized general groceries store (called Chin Lee) near the center of town, and a Super U supermarket on the road heading north out of town. A smaller grocery store near Matira beach can be helpful if you stay in the area and you do not want to get back to Vaitape, but the choice is more limited.

Eat
The island of Bora Bora is heavily influenced by the French culture hence the rich local and French cuisines. They also have a wide selection of international restaurants.

Vaitape

 * The roulottes (food trucks) in the carpark in the center of town from 17:00 onward offer a variety of meals in generous servings, e.g. 700 F for a hamburger, or 1400 F for grilled Mahi Mahi with fries (Jan 2019).

Drink

 * If you're looking for nightlife and drinking, one of the most popular drinking venues on Bora Bora is Bloody Mary's. Bloody Mary's is essentially an American-barbecue fish and steak restaurant. Besides drinking Bloody Mary's, the chef will chargrill steak and fish to order.

 * The island's sole nightclub is Le Récife Discothèque, about 1 km (1/2 mile) north of Vaitape, which opens only on Fridays and Saturdays at 23:00 and closes at 03:00.

Budget
It is possible to keep some money for the activities by staying in one of the family pensions.

Splurge
A popular form of accommodation on the island are the overwater bungalows. Many of the resorts offer this type of accommodation due to their being more water mass than land. Some overwater bungalows feature a glass-bottomed floor and are designed in the style of traditional Bora Bora island houses. A list of overwater bungalow resorts in Bora Bora can be found here at dreamoverwater.com.

By plane
See

By boat
Maupiti, located 40 km from Bora Bora, is a smaller and less touristic but equally charming volcanic island. This island isn't for partying. Only fishermen will be doing this trip by boat.

title: Bora Bora