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Las Galeras

Las Galeras is a small village at the far end of the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. It's famous for its world class lonely beaches, e.g. Playa Fronton or Playa Rincon. Compared to Las Terrenas, the other major beach destination on the Samaná Peninsula, Las Galeras is a much smaller town, and geared towards a much more low-key kind of tourism. That means it's quieter and more relaxed, but also has fewer services available (in particular, see "Buy" below for important info on getting cash).

By bus
Getting there and away without your own vehicle is the difficult part. Public transport is limited, and the road is starting to get a little bumpy again after being paved a few years back. Caribetours offers transport from Santo Domingo to Santa Barbara De Samana and back six times daily. You can get in at the various stops in between. 4 of the 6 buses take the new highway and bring travel time down to 3 hours. From Samana you will have to take a guagua, a local minibus, which takes another 1 hour. The minibuses leave from the morning to the afternoon (6PM). The easier way to get there is by renting a car in one of the bigger cities in the country. Hereby you can avoid the fairly expensive transport fairs (15 US) later on, when you are planning to spend the day at one of the fabulous but hardly accessible beaches.

By car or motorbike
The road from Samaná town to Las Galeras is easy to follow, with no major junctions that you could think are the main route. Though it's now paved, the last stretch is starting to have a lot of potholes again (September 2020), so be careful, especially if you're on two wheels.

By boat
Signs by the beach in Las Galeras seem to suggest there are sometimes small ferry or water taxi services from the town to other places along the coast, but we weren't able to look further into it. Maybe do some of your own research.

Get around
The motoconchos, the local motorbikedrivers, will take you about anywhere you want. Locals are also offering taxi service with their private cars. Check prices before you hop on. Most places in town, including the two main beaches, are within easy walking distance of each other (about 20 or 30 minutes at most), but Playa Rincón is much too far to walk, and other outer beaches may be a long hike away from town.

See
Mainly beaches. The main town beach is called Playa Grande ("big beach"), a long, open beach with fishing boats in the sand and vendors nearby. The town's other beach, known as La Playita or Playa Pequeña ("the little beach") is accessible down a back street on the west side of town, is tucked up against the forest and has a more cute and cozy feel. There are also vendors here, and it's a popular place to hang out on the beach for the afternoon.

There are many other beaches farther from town. One of the most famous is Playa Rincón, an impressive wide expanse of sand and palm trees, accessible by vehicle on an out-of-town road (about 40-50 minutes). Don't miss the freshwater swimming hole at the far left (west) end, with cool and calm water that's very refreshing on a hot day (this is also where the local tourists and limited vendors congregate).

Do
The main thing to do here is hang out at the various beaches. For the more sporty orientated, there are a few possibilities. There is a dive school in town and now a new one has opened which is owned by a British couple who also speak Danish, Spanish, French, Italian and German. Various excursions can be organized by the local travel agencies. Mountain biking is another option as is horse riding, quad excursions and some excellent snorkelling (on a boat tour). From mid-January to the end of March you can also go whale-watching. At Playa Fronton you will find one of the best climbing spots in the Dominican Republic with over 13 climbing routes of various levels.

Hiking
There are some nice walks to do around the outside of Las Galeras, like the hike to the hidden cove of Playa Madama (get a motor taxi or directions to the trailhead several kilometers east of town, and expect to walk another 40 minutes each way on a trail that follows the edge of an orchard then passes through a forest).

There is also a trail from the righthand end of La Playita that goes out to the rocky point and may continue around to the left end of Playa Grande.

Diving
There are some nice divesites near Las Galeras around Cabó Cabron and Cabó Sámana. Aside of coral gardens there are cave, wreck, wall dives. All divesites can be reached by boat. The dominant coral species in the area are the common sea fans and sea rods. Around the caves and caverns it is a good chance to see moray eels, in the sandy parts stingrays and sometimes bluespotted eagle rays.

Divesites around Cabó Cabron: Puerto Malo Tibisi I Tibisi II La Laguna Piedra Bonita Cueva de Chopa La Herradura

Around Las Galeras: Barco Hundido Coral Garden Playita

Around Cabó Sámana: Piedra Solitaria Los Hoyones Fronton Los Carriles I Los Carriles II

Snorkeling
You can probably arrange a boat tour to somewhere with good snorkeling with one of the tour operators in town. Las Galeras is generally not good for snorkeling from the shore, since the seafloor at the beaches is mostly covered with sand and seagrass, with no coral reefs. If you're not picky at all, you can find some fish to look at in the rubble bottom on the left side of La Playita (if the waves aren't too big). Playa Rincón is mostly boring sandy bottom, but the Caña Frío ("cold channel") freshwater swimming hole at the left end of the beach has some interesting mangrove life to look at, including freshwater damselfish.

Buy
Plan ahead for money before arriving in Las Galeras: There is only one ATM in town, at the big bank, and many foreign cards aren't accepted. Some businesses likely take credit cards, but many don't, including some of the hotels. If you don't bring enough cash, your main options are (1) make a trip back to Samaná town to use an ATM there, (2) send money online to the Western Union shop in town (may close at 1pm), (3) have money wired to the bank, or (4) find a friend who can give you cash in exchange for a PayPal or other online transfer. Better to just bring cash. The Western Union shop is also a money changer, if you come with US dollars or euros (probably one or two other currencies too, but we didn't get to check).

Sleep
There are various hotels and guesthouses in Las Galeras. Due to the reputation of its world class beaches you will find anything from an all inclusive resort to a cheap bed and breakfast accommodation. Most hotels are located within the village, a few blocks from the beach rather than right across the beach like in Las Terrenas. If you don't plan to get there in the middle of the high season (December and Easter holidays) you won't have to book in advance.

- Gri Gri Hotel, located at the main intersection; fair sized clean rooms with up to three beds for around 30US

- La Rancheta, 20 min walk out of town, nice rooms, double for about 17US

- El Cabito, located 3 km away from the main intersection; two cabins for 30US and camping, hangmats and treehouse for 7,50US

- CasaPorqueNo, at the intersection, small hotel owned by a very friendly French Canadian couple offer rooms with breakfast.

Go next
Las Galeras is basically the end of the road, near the tip of the Samaná Peninsula. Other than natural destinations outside of town (covered in this article), the only place to go afterwards is back towards Samaná town (unless you're headed somewhere else by boat).

title: Las Galeras


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Lashio

Lashio is a town of 131,000 people (2009) on a low mountain spur overlooking the valley of the Yaw River in Shan State, Myanmar.

Understand
During World War II it was a stop on the Burma Road. Today it is a mercantile town that is mostly avoided by tourists except the few who make it across from China. Lashio is important for border trade between Myanmar and China.

Climate
Lashio receives heavy rains from May to October. Temperatures are generally warm throughout the year, though nights are cool from December to March.

Get in
It is 190 kilometres (120 mi) from Muse, midway between Muse and Mandalay.

The Burmese part of the Burma Road is short (Ruili border to Lashio) and can be traversed only one way (Ruili to Lashio) and only under escort.
 * By train from Mandalay: departures daily at 04:45. Travel time: 13.5 hours. Price: US$12. The scenic Goteik viaduct is near Lashio and trains travelling from Mandalay pass over the bridge, which is the highest bridge in Myanmar.
 * By bus from Inle Lake – 15,000 kyat.
 * By bus from Inle Lake – 15,000 kyat.

See

 * Kwan Yin San Temple
 * Thathana Hnahtaung Nga Pagoda
 * Man Su Pagoda
 * Sarsana mission
 * Pawdaw-mu pagoda
 * Myo U Zedi

Religious sites include the Sasana (Pyilon Chanta) Pagoda and the Mansu Pagoda. O

Do

 * Lashio Hot Spa
 * Yepusan spa is nearly 8 km away from the city center.
 * Peikchinmyaing caves

Go next
China

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

title: Lashio


text:
Lasithi

Lasithi (Greek: Λασίθι) is the eastern region of Crete, Greece.

Cities

 * (Άγιος Νικόλαος) — the cute capital of Lasithi
 * (Ελούντα) — formerly a small fishing town on Elounda Bay, close to the abandoned leper colony of Spinalonga Island. Now a popular tourist destination
 * (Γούδουρας) — village in the southeastern coast
 * (Ιεράπετρα) — the southernmost city of Europe with some nice beaches
 * (Καλό Χωρίο) — a small holiday village near the beaches
 * (Μακρύ Γιαλός) — a fishing port and a popular beach resort
 * (Παλαίκαστρο) — small village, mostly untouristy, with beautiful beaches
 * (Σητεία) — one of the towns of Eastern Crete that has lovely beaches but not a large tourism market
 * (Ζάκρος) — no tourism here because the government is still excavating the Palace of Zakros

Other destinations

 * (Χρυσή) (Gaidouronisi) — an uninhabited island with a nudist beach, reached by day trip boats from Ierapetra on the south coast.
 * (Οροπέδιο Λασιθίου) — A large fertile plateau in the centre of Lassithi Prefecture at an altitude of 840 meters (2,760 ft). Once, as many as 10,000 white-sailed windmills operated on the plateau, but these have largely been replaced by diesel and electric irrigation pumps. Numerous old stone windmills (some ruins, some beautifully restored) still stand along the passes above the plateau.
 * (Βάι) (Finikodassos) — A popular sandy beach surrounded by a large palm tree forest

title: Lasithi


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Las Palmas

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, or just Las Palmas, is the capital of Gran Canaria, the largest city in the Canary Islands, and one of the largest cities in Spain. In 2018, it had about 380,000 residents. Like for example Rio de Janeiro and Miami Beach, Las Palmas is famous for its urban beaches, of which there are five. Until the late 1960s it was the main tourist center of Gran Canaria, after that it has been surpassed by the resorts popping up along the southern coast of the island. Unlike these, though, Las Palmas also has historical and cultural attractions.

Districts
There is no actual city centre. The nucleus is the picturesque old town Vegueta. There are five administrative districts, each of which is further subdivided into barrios, identified by Roman numbers.

 * Vegueta, Cono Sur and Tafira — The first district corresponds to the historical district, named la Vegueta which translates to the "small plain". This is the narrow coastal plain created by sediments transported by streams from the mountains in the west. Until the mid 19th century this was the whole city. With the arrival of British settlers at that time, the city started expanding northwards. Tafira and Cono Sur, which aren't of much interest to visitors except for Playa de la Laja, a long beach of volcanic sand which is mostly frequented by locals.

 * Centro — Triana and Ciudad Jardin are the most "touristic" barrios in the second district. Triana is north of the old town, separated from it by a stream that has been partially paved over. It takes its name from a similar district in Seville, as many sailors from there settled in the district. The main street here is Calle Mayor de Triana, a pedestrianized shopping street lined by Art Noveau buildings. Ciudad Jardin was built mostly in the 1930s as a project by architect Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre in Rationalist style. Here you can find Hotel Santa Catalina, the most prestigious in Las Palmas. Other attractions are the Doramas Park and Pueblo Canario, a reconstruction of a historical Canarian village.

 * Puerto-Canteras — This is where most visitors head, with by far the largest concentration of both hotels and nightlife. Puerto, the port, is where cruise ships arrive, and where one can find the Catalina Park which is a venue for the carnaval and other major events. Further south, between the marina and military port is the Alcaravaneras Beach, home to many sports clubs. At the opposite side of the isthmus is Canteras with the long Canteras Beach which is the most popular and famous of them all. The southern part of Canteras forms the barrio of Guanarteme. There's the Alfredo Kraus auditorium, the Las Arenas mall, and several places to eat and drink.

 * Ciudad Alta — Mostly residential, though visitors are drawn here by the sports stadium (Estadio de Gran Canaria) and the fairgrounds (Feria Internacional de Canarias) with different events around the year.

 * Tamaraceite-San Lorenzo— The largest district with the smallest density of population. It comprises the mountainous regions in the west of the city, along the motorway "Autovía Santa Catalina-Lomo Blanco". A rapidly growing residential area, there are hardly any visitor attractions here.

There are five beaches in Las Palmas, with the most important being Playa de Las Canteras. The other ones are Alcaravaneras, Confital, San Cristobal and La Laja. Alcaravaneras is in the waters of Puerto de la Luz, set between two yacht clubs.

History

Las Palmas was founded on 24 June 1478, on St. John's day. On this day captain Juan Rejón landed on the east coast where the Guiniguada streams flows into the ocean and set up a military camp. The whole of Gran Canaria was under Spanish control by 1483 and by then the first houses had been built where the current district of Vegueta is. Las Palmas very quickly became the de facto capital of the island when a courthouse, a tribunal of the Holy Inquisition and a diocese was established here. When Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in 1492, he stopped there to have a ship repaired; so in less than a decade and a half the camp had grown to a place where ships could be repaired! From that on, Las Palmas became an important stop for Spanish transatlantic sailings.

Las Palmas established itself as a prosperous city thanks to sugar cane, but also slave trade. Portuguese and Genovese merchants settled in the city. While Vegueta was the seat of the nobility and the royal and clerical authorities, the Triana district across the Guiniguada stream was where fishermen, artisans and merchants lived.

Eventually it became the target for pirates, which led to the construction of walls and fortifications. In 1595 a fleet commanded by John Hawkins and Francis Drake made an unsuccessful attempt to plunder the city. Four years later a fleet of 74 Dutch pirate ships commanded by Pieter van der Does sacked the city for a week before Spanish troops came to rescue and drove them away. Together with subsequent pirate attacks, bad harvests and epidemics also took a toll on the city.

To develop the economy, Las Palmas was given the status of free port in 1852. This attracted especially British shipowners and entrepreneurs, and in 1883 a major expansion of the port Puerto de la Luz (established in 1833) began. In the 19th century, tourism and travelling became possible for more people and also Las Palmas started receiving visitors both from Europe and North America. In 1890 the Santa Catalina Hotel was built, today it's the grand old hotel of the city. Hotel Madrid, on the other hand, gained fame as where future dictator Franco stayed for a long time in 1936, planning his landing in mainland Spain.

Mass tourism arrived in the late 1950s, partially because of the movie Moby Dick that had scenes shot at Las Canteras beach making people aware of this long sand beach. European travel agencies started flying in planeloads of tourists, and to cope with the increase in visitors purpose-built resorts such as Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés were built along the south coast of Gran Canaria. Already in the 1970s, these had become the main destination on the island. Las Palmas still remains a tourist destination, offering visitors history, culture and events in addition to the sun and sea experience the Canary Islands are known for.

Tourist information

The tourist information (Casa del Turismo) operates four kiosks around Las Palmas.

Climate
Weather-wise Las Palmas is a year round destination - actually Syracuse University has named it as the city with the best weather in the world. Five degrees north of the Tropic of Capricorn and with suitable winds, the medium temperature is +17°C in the winter and +25°C in the summer. However, Las Palmas has a much windier climate than the southern parts of Gran Canaria, which makes it feel cooler. The sea temperate fluctuates between 19°C in March and 23.5 in October, the biggest UV index (11) occurs between Jun and August.

By plane

Getting there: take the Global interisland blue buses. Bus routes 1, 5, 11, 60 & 91 all travel from the airport to the city of Las Palmas. The #60 & #91 Global buses are the airport—city express lines. All airport / city buses travel to either of the main city bus stations of San Telmo Park (central near Vugueta/Triana historic old town areas) or Santa Catalina Park (further north near the port/marina & main city beach of Las Canteras). The airport—city buses run approximately every 30 minutes all day and night. Travellers must press the bus stop button to indicate their stop or the bus driver may continue pass stops or stations without stopping. The express lines run normally between 06:15 to 20:50. Airport—city bus travel costs €2.80-4.00, one way per person, depending on the busrouret and time of day. Express line #60 & #91 travel is the cheapest (as of 2021) for €2.80 per person per one trip. Global interisland buses allow you to place luggage under the bus. For city Guagua buses, you must be able to carry and secure your luggage with you while standing or seated if space permits. For each bus, global or guagua, travellers are responsible to load and express to the driver the need to unload luggage if departing at a stop earlier then a station where luggage unloading is facilitated normally. Bicycles can only be transported on buses if in a bag or box, and can be carried by their owner. City buses may refuse luggage or bicycles depending on the driver and number of users. Ths same applies for Global interisland buses other than the airport express line. Carry-on luggage must fit on your lap. Standing is not permitted on Global buses. City buses standing is allowed. If there is no space you must wait for space on the next bus.

A reserved taxi or private tour hire car ride to/from the city of Las Palmas to the airport costs around €30. Private tours and car hires can be cheaper but must be arranged with the drivers in advance. Most hotels and hostels can book private tours and hire cars. Taxis are the most efficient, but also the most expensive travel option. Taxis can pick up only at designated cues at the Airport. Taxis can accept cash or most credit and debit cards.

Rental cars are the main option for most groups for cost savings. Drivers must be over 23 to 25 in most rental cases, have a valid driver's licence and international permit in some cases, and be able to drive manual transmission vehicles. Almost all companies must be booked online prior to arrival. Autoreisen offers good prices with no hidden fees, and free extras such as second driver. Don't expect to get a fee refund from a rental car companies and there is no viable complaint mechanism. Expect pricing changes and vehicle switching. Always rent direct through the specific car company website. There are many, many 3rd party insurance and rental scams in Spain including at point-of-rental desk bookings. This also includes problems with rental car bookings as part of a flight package deal. Expect additional fees and charges when not dealing direct through a rental car company website.

By boat
The Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria receives ships from all over the world. The port is one of the most important ports today and there is a program of further expansion. There are many daily ferries from Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife and smaller islands. Naviera Armas (February 2021) and Fred Olsen are the largest operators, but there are several smaller companies as well. Fred Olsen ferries arrive at the nearby town of Agaete and not in Las Palmas city. Each ferry arriving at Gran Canaria operates a passenger bus to take walk-on passengers from the ferry dock to near the city of Las Palmas bus station of Santa Catalina. Same applies to reach the ferry from near the city bus station of Santa Catalina. Walk-on passengers must select use of passenger bus connection when booking their ferry tickets. If you don't book the ferry passenger connection shuttle, travel to the nearest ferry company ticket office and ask them to assist you to book the passenger shuttle bus for your ferry. Passenger shuttle departure is normally 1 hour prior to scheduled sailing time from the designated ferry shuttle bus stop. Missing the various private ferry connection shuttle buses by walk-on passengers can cost a lot of time and money as the Ferry docking ports are a great distance away (average 10-km walk) from any public transit options. Inter-island car and walk-on passenger ferry connections are run mainly by the fast ferries. Be sure to also purchase online any additional public transit tickets to travel forward from the ferry passenger bus drop-off points as most city bus systems will not allow on bus ticket purchases with cash.

From mainland Spain, there is one weekly sailing every Saturday from Cádiz operated by Transmediterránea. The journey takes about 40 hours with prices from €200. As of 2018, there are no ferries from Morocco.

By bus
The only bus company operating interurban lines on Gran Canaria is Global,. Most of the company's lines have Las Palmas as either their origin or their destination. There are two bus stations in the city:

By car

 * GC-1 cuts through the city, connecting it with the airport and other important municipalities as far as Tauro (80 km).
 * GC-2 connects the city with the North Zone, extending up to Agaete.
 * GC-3 circles the city and connects the other three highways
 * GC-4 connects Las Palmas with the communities in the centre of the island.

By bus
Google Maps and Moovit cover the city and the island for finding the right bus line to your destination.

City buses
Las Palmas has the best quality bus system in the archipelago and one of the best in Spain. The service is provided by Guaguas Municipales, +34 928 446 500, and that's why the bright yellow buses are known as guaguas pronounced wah-wahs as the g is silent in Spanish. A simple fare, paid directly to the city bus driver, is €1.10 per person per any city bus trip in x1 direction only (can not stay on the city Guagua or islands Global buses for a circular journey).

As of Jan 2021, due to the pandemic, you can’t buy tickets with cash from any bus drivers. You must buy ahead one of the various plastic top-up cards as single journey tickets are not available. They can be bought online or in Guagua booths in Santa Catalina park, San Telmo station or Teatro. Least expensive is a 2-journey city bus ticket that you blip once getting on the bus. A bus card ticket that is good for 10 rides is available for €8.50 + one time fee for the plastic rechargeable city bus card of €1.50 (best deal for city bus travel without lots of paperwork).

Family passes are available for further discounts and children under 6 are free - don't tap pay for them as refunds are not possible and cards are charged for every tap / blip. Students, seniors, and families (max 5) get further additional price discounts if presenting valid ID at purchase and fill out applicable forms online prior or at the official vendors in the bus stations when they are open. If you are over 70 and staying longer you can apply for a Senior Citizens Pass at the bus station in Telmo. This will give you a 50% discount on all bus trips over 11 km here. You will need passport photos for this and €5.

These bus cards can be recharged at machines (libraries, malls, bus stations) and various store kiosks throughout the city for a minimum top-up payment of €8.50. Machines and kiosks can accept cash, or credit or debit cards as is also possible when making an initial card purchase and top-up at the official bus station card vendors.

With a standard rechargable city Guagua bus card trips are a cost of €0.80. It is possible to take x2 city bus trips on a card within 1½ hours and not be charged more (depending on direction of travel) however this not a guarantee and at all times you must blip the city bus card when entering the bus. No money on the card means no permission to ride the bus. A city bus card may be used to pay for anyone in a group by tapping it on entry for the amount of persons in a group.

The most important bus lines have frequencies of between 3 and 15 minutes during the day and between 10 and 40 minutes at night. Most lines have service throughout the night. Among the most useful lines are:
 * Line 1  Teatro - Puerto
 * Line 12 Hoya de la Plata - Puerto
 * Line 30 Alameda de Colón - Santa Catalina

Interisland buses
Interisland Global buses (blue in color) accept most debit & credit cards for a journey purchase on the bus as most travel around the island will cost around €1 per every 15km one-way with deals for specific routes. Dual Guagua city + Global Interisland bus cards can be purchased as well at official vendors and online for significant savings.

By taxi
Taxis with the green light on are vacant and you can flag it down. It's also possible to go to one of the city's 42 taxi stops or call for a taxi.

By bike
There's just one major bike route, but leads to most sites a visitor go to. Unless you're familiar with the local style of driving, don't venture out on major streets - on smaller streets it's probably safer to get around by bike. On the downside, biking around Las Palmas can be uncomfortable due to hot weather.

There's a bike rental scheme named Sitycleta, similar to in many large cities around the world. You open an account at their site, registering your debit or credit card. Then you can go to a rental station and unlock a bike, use it and return it there or to another station and will be billed for the time in-between.

By car
Dense traffic on workdays and in certain commercial leisure zones mean that driving is really no fun here. The city street plan is not at all rectilinear, so the streets can confuse even experienced drivers.

Parking is also pretty expensive in most places. Some of the shopping malls can be used for parking for a limited time (e.g. up to three hours free) and if you need or intend to shop, receipts from the shops may be used to pay for the stay.

On the upside, the price of gasoline is significantly cheaper that the rest of Spain and Europe, there are no toll roads, and entrances, exits, main streets and important zones are all well-signposted.

Photo radar cameras & heavy police traffic enforcement is common. Do not park illegally. The local cars rarely are towed or ticked for illegal actions or parking. Tourist cars and almost always held to every traffic law possible for revenue.

The N332 website has best English driver instructions, translations and explanations of Spanish driving laws possible for free. Read up as Spain's driving laws have many quirks and quarks not seen elsewhere. Be very cautioned regarding entry and exit rights of traffic circles in Spain as the outside lane gets priority. Also, paying the guy helping you to park your car does not mean the meter was fed. Always go and pay at the meter and do tip the illegal parking helpers (€0.50 to €1) or you may find a few scratches on your car not previously there or worse that they told the traffic cop or tow truck to ticket or tow you to save them time. Fines are very high for illegal parking especially when in rural areas or historic, cultural or natural sites. Traffic police may ask you to follow them to a tow truck company site or yard to pay a ticket right away for half price. Call the Emergency line 112 should you feel something is wrong with a police officer interaction while it is happening and request an additional uniformed officer to arrive to the scene at any time, especially if it is an unmarked car or plainclothes officer or officers. You have the right to film any police interaction provided you do not make comment nor intrude their space or ability to perform their duties.

In Spain you must stop at the scene of an accident to help if no one has begun assistance. 112 is the emergency number in Spain. Many areas of Gran Canaria do not have cell phone service due to the geography of the island.

Museums

Streets and squares
If you don't necessarily want to see every corner of the city, do concentrate on the old town, Vegueta. Coming by car from Maspalomas and the airport, turn left at the marina to get to Vegueta. There's an underground parking below the small park, park there and explore the old town on foot.

Parks

Do
As a beach town, Las Palmas is especially popular for oceanside activities. Catch a wave, grab your snorkel, or just soak up some sun (after applying sunscreen, of course!) Or if you feel like exploring terra firma, do as the locals do and make use of the public tourism bus, known affectionately as the guiriguagua.

Water and beach activities

Land activities
There are two golf courses in Las Palmas:

The west coast of the peninsula La Isleta in the north of the city is an interesting hiking destination. The coastal path follows black volcanic cliffs rising from the sea. On the cliffs you can see large crabs resting in the sun, and the sand and rock landscape created by erosion also looks interesting.

Events

Major events in the city take place during the winter and early spring. In addition the local newspaper La Provincia has a good coverage on upcoming events, in Spanish.

Carnaval
The local carnaval is almost as famous as that of the neighbouring island of Tenerife, yet different and perhaps even better. It is without a doubt quite spectacular, takes place over 25 days in February and March and is centered on the Santa Catalina Park. The opening ceremony is known as el pregón - "the announcement". A famous musician or a band opens the carnaval with a concert in Santa Catalina park, historically this took place in the small square in the front of the cathedral.

The individual highlights of the carnaval are the six galas. Out of these the largest (attracting most spectators) are the Gala de la Reina where the queen of the carnaval is selected, and the Gala Drag Queen to select the drag queen. The Saturday after these galas, the Gran Cabalgata takes place, a procession through the city from Castillo de la Luz to Teatro Pérez Galdós celebrating the two queens with dance groups (murgas) each consisting of 25-30 dancers in carnaval costumes dancing along the streets to intense music. There are also comparsas - groups composed of rhythm musicians, singers and dancers.

In addition to the main events there are smaller ones like themed nights, a body painting event and a dog show. The carnaval ends with Entierro de La Sardina - "the funeral of the sardine" on Saturday before Shrove Sunday. A mock funeral procession goes through the city ending on Las Canteras beach where a boat with a large sardine in it is burned. This is followed by fireworks, song, dance and partying until next dawn. Shrove Tuesday is the time for the "day carnaval", Carnaval de Día, a street masquerade celebrated in the Santa Catalina park and in the streets and squares of Vegueta.

Other events

Spectator sports

 * Football:

Buy
Shop in the city centre or in one of the department stores like "El Corte Ingles". There's also the Calle Triana, a pedestrianzed shopping street in the north of the old town. There are cheap electronic products and souvenirs for sale everywhere. For food items, Hiperdino is a chain of stores that has a good range of products and set prices. Some of these stores also have a decent selection of wine. Check out Mercadona too. One local specialty is the local rum: Arehucas, Artemi or Armiche (and check out the local Honey Rum "ron miel").

Markets
Visiting the markets can be an interesting experience, also to see market life and taste local products.

Learn
In a Spanish-speaking environment like Las Palmas, you will likely learn the language more effectively. There are language schools offering different classes depending on your skill level.

The city has a university, focusing on human sciences and medicine. It's partaking in the European Erasmus student exchange programme.

Eat
Many restaurants have menus in an abundance of languages, and waiters often will also often be able to converse in your own language.

San Telmo
There are many inexpensive restaurants in the San Telmo neighborhood.

Splurge

Drink
Local beverages include the Arehucas rum, that is drunk straight or with cola, and the Tropical beer.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Mobile
As of June 2022, Las Palmas has 4G from MasMovil/Yoigo, and 5G from Movistar, Orange and Vodafone.

Wi-Fi
There are free Wi-Fi areas around town both in public and private spaces, the latter include Las Arenas and El Muelle shopping malls.

Postal services
The postal office in the El Corte Inglés department store has longer opening times (until 21:30) and has poste restante, parcel and money transfer services. The same set of services can be found at the, (behind Castello de la Luz). The is in Triana at Avenida Primero de Mayo 62, and the  is at Granadera Canaria 28.

Stay safe
If you have a veranda/patio on ground level - don't leave doors nor windows open unattended for any period of time.

Stay away from anyone that offers you anything for free -like lottery tickets or a free meal. These are often salespeople who want you to buy potentially worthless "holiday club" memberships or dodgy time-shares. They may seem pleasant at first, but may turn hostile and start threatening you.

You may run into drunks and prostitutes on the streets. During nighttime, particularly in the small hours when nightclubs there will be groups of drunks who occasionally pick fights with oncomers just for the fun of it. If you're out then, it's safer to take a taxi.

Go next

Any destination on Gran Canaria is reachable as a daytrip if you have a car. Nearby destinations include:

Northern Gran Canaria

Central Gran Canaria

title: Las Palmas


text:
La Spezia

La Spezia is a town in Liguria in the northwestern region of Italy.

Understand
La Spezia is one of the four provinces of Liguria and has a population of about 91,391 inhabitants. La Spezia's inhabitants are called Spezzini. The area of this Ligurian town is of 51.4 square kilometers.

It's a beautiful city with a beautiful sea that blends with the nearby mountains. A good overlap of sky, earth and water. The streets are full of bergamot trees, and next to the beach there are really beautiful gardens with weird plants, absolutely well maintained.

Get in
A direct train runs nightly from Vienna, taking 16 hours via Klagenfurt, Villach, Padua, Vicenza, Verona Porta Nuova, Milan Rogoredo and Genoa Piazza Principe.

Trains from Genoa Brignole run hourly and take 60-90 min. They may continue to Pisa, Rome or Naples, and may start from Turin. From Milan change in Turin, from Nice change in Genoa.

These trains pass through CinqueTerre National Park, with the slower trains stopping at Rapallo, Chiavari, Sestri Levanti, Levanto, Monterosso and Riomaggiore.

is 500 m northwest of town centre.

See

 * Chiesa del Sacro Cuore (Church of the Sacred Heart) huddles below the Castello.
 * Chiesa del Sacro Cuore (Church of the Sacred Heart) huddles below the Castello.
 * Chiesa del Sacro Cuore (Church of the Sacred Heart) huddles below the Castello.
 * Chiesa del Sacro Cuore (Church of the Sacred Heart) huddles below the Castello.

Do

 * Football: Spezia Calcio were relegated in 2023 and now play soccer in Serie B, Italy's second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Picco (capacity 11,500) is 2 km west by the navy docks.

Eat
Focaccia, pesto, the chickpea flour, pumpkin flowers stuffed and vegetable pies are typical recipes of Ligurian cuisine are also widely covered in La Spezia.

In addition, although originating in Lunigiana, famous in this area of Liguria are the sgabei and testaroli. But it is analyzing the real La Spezia gastronomic tradition that you discover the Extra Virgin Olive Oil and black pepper to be the basis of some more recipes; among them well-known is a soup of legumes and cereals called mescciüa.

Connect
As of June 2022, La Spezia has 4G from Tim, and 5G from Iliad, Vodafone and Wind Tre.

Go next

 * Sarzana is an attractive small town 15 km east. The town square has a market every Wednesday that's fun to go to. There is also a Luna Park for children.
 * Cinque Terre is the spectacular coastline northwest.

title: La Spezia


text:
Lassen County

Lassen County is in the Shasta Cascades region of California. This rural county sits at the confluence of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, the volcanic Cascade Range, and the high elevation Great Basin desert. Fishing, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities attract most visitors to the area.

Get around
The 26 mi Bizz Johnson trail is the county's most popular hiking and biking route. "The Bizz" follows the old Fernley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific railroad along the Susan river canyon, traversing abandoned railroad bridges, trestles and tunnels and rewarding visitors with mountain views, beautiful fall foliage, and colorful spring wildflowers.

Go next

 * - Lassen County's northern neighbor is in California's northeast corner and is home to only about 10,000 people, or slightly more than two people per square mile. Modoc County's northern and western portions have been shaped by volcanism, as evidenced by the many lava flows, cinder cones, hot springs, and volcanic mountains that visitors will encounter, while the Warner Mountain range and its many alpine lakes are found in the county's eastern side.  The county is home to several wildlife refuges where bald eagles, peregrine falcons, goshawks, golden eagles, mule deer, elk, wild horses, wild burros and pronghorn antelope can be seen.
 * - Located in the mountains and forests adjacent to the Nevada border, Lassen County's southern neighbor was a booming mining area during the Gold Rush, but today is home to only about 3,000 people. Historically the county was the site of several massive gold discoveries, including the 106 pound Monumental Nugget in 1869; a replica of the huge nugget can be seen in the Kentucky Mine Museum in Sierra City.
 * - Located southwest of Lassen County, the forests, rivers and mountains of Plumas County were originally inhabited by Native Americans before miners arrived during the Gold Rush, followed soon after by loggers, and today tourists visit the county for its camping, fishing, whitewater, snowshoeing, and other outdoor opportunities. The Feather River Scenic Byway is a popular way to see the county's beauty, with the east-west route following California's first designated wild and scenic river past nearly one hundred waterfalls, historic bridges and tunnels, spring wildflowers, vivid fall colors, and the "Stairway of Power" consisting of seven hydroelectric powerhouses installed along the river.
 * - Lassen County's northwestern neighbor is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. Massive Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, is the "houseboat capital of the world", with rentals available for those who want to vacation on the water.  Several spectacular waterfalls can be found in the county, including the 129 ft Burney Falls, which Theodore Roosevelt described as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", and McCloud River Falls, which is actually three scenic waterfalls.  In the county's southeastern corner, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a geologic hotspot highlighted by  10,457 ft Lassen Volcano.  The mountain can be summited via a steep trail, but plan to do so in the summer - the park's 600 - 700 in of annual snowfall make it the snowiest place in California.
 * - Lassen County's northwestern neighbor is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. Massive Shasta Lake, California's largest reservoir, is the "houseboat capital of the world", with rentals available for those who want to vacation on the water.  Several spectacular waterfalls can be found in the county, including the 129 ft Burney Falls, which Theodore Roosevelt described as "the Eighth Wonder of the World", and McCloud River Falls, which is actually three scenic waterfalls.  In the county's southeastern corner, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a geologic hotspot highlighted by  10,457 ft Lassen Volcano.  The mountain can be summited via a steep trail, but plan to do so in the summer - the park's 600 - 700 in of annual snowfall make it the snowiest place in California.

title: Lassen County


text:
Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a United States national park that is at the southern terminus of the Cascade Mountains in the Shasta Cascades region of California, approximately 50 miles east of Redding. Within the park's (106,000 acres are numerous volcanic features including four types of volcanoes, steam vents, mud pots, and painted dunes. In addition, with nearly 79,000 acres designated as wilderness area and fewer than 400,000 visitors per year, the park is an ideal place for a nature getaway. It's slightly off the beaten track so typically much less crowded than the flagship Western US national parks such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion.

History
Lassen Peak National Monument was established by proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt on 6 May 1907 to be administered by the U.S. Forest Service. Volcanic eruptions from Lassen Peak in 1914 and 1915 resulted in national publicity. The two monuments and surrounding areas were included in Lassen Volcanic National Park, established in 1916, administered by the National Park Service of the Interior.

Landscape
Beneath Lassen Volcanic's peaceful forests and gem-like lakes lies evidence of a turbulent and fiery past. 600,000 years ago, the collision and warping of continental plates led to violent eruptions and the formation of lofty Mount Tehama (also called Brokeoff Volcano.) After 200,000 years of volcanic activity, vents and smaller volcanoes on Tehama's flanks-including Lassen Peak-drew magma away from the main cone. Hydrothermal areas ate away at the great mountain's bulk. Beneath the onslaught of Ice Age glaciers, Mount Tehama crumbled and finally ceased to exist. But the volcanic landscape lived on: in 1914, Lassen Peak awoke. The peak had its most significant activity in 1915 and minor activity through 1921.

All four types of volcanoes in the world are found in the park. Over 150 miles of trails and a culturally significant scenic highway provide access to volcanic wonders including steam vents, mudpots, boiling pools, volcanic peaks, and painted dunes.

Flora and fauna
Although Lassen is primarily known for its volcanic geology, the park boasts a rich diversity of plant and animal life. Over 700 flowering plant species grace the park, providing shelter and food for 250 vertebrates as well as a host of invertebrates including insects.

This great diversity of life forms is due to two factors: the location of the park and the abundance of habitats that occur there.

At the southern end of the Cascade Range geologic province, Lassen Volcanic National Park lies at the crossroads of three great biological provinces: the Cascades range to the north, the Sierra Nevada mountains to the south and the Great Basin desert to the east.

The myriad habitats of Lassen Volcanic National Park are produced by variations in environmental conditions such as elevation (5,000 to 10,457 feet), moisture (precipitation is greater on the western than the eastern side of the park), substrate (rock type and soil depth), temperature, insolation (amount of sun) and prior disturbance (both natural and human-caused).

Climate
Snow covers much of the park mid-October through mid-June. The Park Road (the main road that connects Hwy. 89 through the park) is usually closed late October through mid-June. During years of heavy snowfall, the road may open significantly later. Please call the park for road and trail condition updates. Many of the main park attractions are snow covered and inaccessible by car and foot during the winter. July, August, and September may bring mostly sunny skies with warm daytime temperatures and cool night time temperatures.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By plane
The nearest major airports are in Redding and Chico. The closest major airport is on I-5 in Sacramento with additional options in Reno.

By car
The best access to the park is by private automobile. Auto rental services are available in Redding, Red Bluff, Chico, Susanville or Reno. The park is 50 miles east of Red Bluff on highway 36, and 50 miles east of Redding on the Lassen Peak Highway, California Route 44.

By bus
Greyhound and Trailways bus lines serve cities within 60 miles of the park, although neither visits the park.

By foot
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well-known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State.

Fees and permits
Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:
 * $10 - Winter Pass
 * $15 - Individual Entrance Pass (individual on foot/bike)
 * $25 - Motorcycle Pass
 * $30 - Vehicle Pass (non-commercial vehicles only)
 * $55 - Lassen Annual Pass

Get around
The main roads in the park are paved, although many are closed by snow except from June until September. Allow at least three hours to drive across the park and to make stops. Current road conditions are available online.

Eat
There are few options within the park, but the neighboring towns offer a handful of stores and restaurants.

Sleep
Additional lodging options may be found outside of the park in the town of Mill Creek.

Camping

Stay safe
The majority of the park is at high elevations so care should be taken to avoid altitude sickness.

Always stay on the paths and trails around geothermal areas. This mineral crusts can form over mudpots and hot springs that appear to be solid ground. These crusts can collapse leading to immersion in boiling water. The Bumpass Hell geothermal area is named for a man who broke through a crust and ended up having his leg amputated due to the burns he sustained.

Go next

 * Red Bluff - Offers many restaurants and lodging options. About 50 miles west of the park on Highway 36.
 * Mill Creek - Just south of the park on Highway 172.
 * Mill Creek - Just south of the park on Highway 172.

title: Lassen Volcanic National Park


text:
Las Terrenas

Las Terrenas is a small city in Samaná Province on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, notable for its miles and miles of beautiful, golden sand public beaches, combining a modest but full-service tourist infrastructure with an authentic Dominican town. It's also a jumping-off point for the nearby Limón Waterfall, popular for hiking and as a freshwater swimming hole.

Understand
Located on the once-remote Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic's far northeast, Las Terrenas doesn't is a bit of a latecomer to the country's beach tourism scene. Before the Santo Domingo-Samaná highway was completed in 2012, what's now a 2-hour drive from the capital used to take 6 hours, and in earlier Dominican history there was no way to get here by road at all. That said, Las Terrenas now has a booming tourism scene, with the high season running roughly from December to March. There's little an average tourist would find lacking in terms of shopping or services, but unlike the famous all-inclusive beach resort experiences of Punta Cana, the main draw here is mid-range hotels and cottages across the street from the beach, and plenty of opportunities to mix with the locals (as well as tourists from elsewhere in the Dominican Republic).

Most of the local people seem to be of Afro-Caribbean descent, and though just about everyone speaks fluent Spanish, it's not unusual to hear some Haitian Creole here and there. The vibe is quite relaxed (if spectacularly noisy along the downtown thoroughfares), most vendors are not out to scam you, and locals and visitors alike seem to feel pretty safe - this is considered one of the lowest-crime areas of the Dominican Republic.

Orientation
The town of Las Terrenas is oriented along a north-south strip along two main roads that stretch inland from the beach. Nearer to the beach end, these two roads are both one-way, with traffic on the western one running inland and traffic on the eastern one running seaward (as you would expect if they were the two sides of a divided highway). The tourist-oriented business district covers a triangle with its southern point at an "intersection" where these two roads touch each other before diverging again, and its other two points where they meet the coastal road. This is the area where you'll find most of the souvenir shopping and other tourist services, plus many of the restaurants and bars. The beach comes to a small point adjacent to the triangle, hosting the local fish market and on-the-beach fish restaurants just outside of the walled city cemetery (a major landmark for locals).

The coastal road stretching east and west beyond the triangle hosts most of the hotels and other accommodations, as well as many more restaurants and bars. The main beach of Las Terrenas occupies a cove between two headlands. The west, the coastal curves around a rounded point and eventually ends at Playa Las Ballenas, while to the east, most of the businesses end where the road pass the pointed beach of Punta Popy, then continues past miles of rural areas and less-crowded beaches to the El Portillo resort area.

Heading inland beyond the tourist triangle you start to enter the real downtown, where local people live, hang out, and go about their daily errands. Besides cheap food and a taste of the local culture, other things that might bring you to this area include full-service supermarkets and lowest-budget accommodations of the online rental, hostal, or bed-and-breakfast variety.

Though there are plenty of opportunities to relax on the beach right in town, some other local tourist icons (e.g. Playa Bonita and Limón Falls) are located a bit outside of town. See below for more information on reaching those.

By Air
International flights go directly to Samaná El Catey International Airport, also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Presidente Juan Bosch (AISA). In the past, cab drivers would ask for $70 US dollars from the airport to Las Terrenas. Check with your hotel for to verify and to see if you can get a better deal. The ride used to be a bit rough and take 45 mins, though the road may have improved since then.

The El Portillo airport, much closer to Las Terrenas, has been closed since 2012, and served mostly private and charter flights.

By Bus
Guagua routes exist from Santo Domingo (express guagua), Sanchez, and Samana. If you feel adventurous, you can also take a pickup truck or a motoconcho (with trailer) from Samana over the mountains.

The express route from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas is now served by a full-sized coach bus with air conditioning. It takes 2.5 hours and costs 500 pesos as of September 2020. The buses are run by Transporte Las Terrenas and leave Santo Domingo from the ASOTRAPUSA bus garage a couple blocks west of Parque Enriquillo (walking distance from the Zona Colonial, though passing through a crowded shopping area where you should be careful about theft). The bus station in Las Terrenas is at the southwest end of town, 2.5km inland from the beach.

By Car
Las Terrenas is about a two-hour drive from Santo Domingo, along a fully-paved road that was in very good condition as of September 2020. Driving here from Punta Cana or anywhere in the country's west will take considerably longer, so do your research first.

A good price for a taxi to or from Santo Domingo airport is anything under US$150.

By Motorbike or Scooter
It's perfectly feasible to travel around Samana province - and probably much farther - on a motorbike or even a moped-style motor scooter (pasola in Dominican Spanish). If you're headed to Las Terrenas from Samana and prefer an easy ride, go via Limon rather than Sanchez, as there's a very steep, long hilly section of road just inland from Sanchez. Though since most of the rentals are in Las Terrenas, you're more likely to be doing this in the other direction (still worth avoiding riding your brakes for miles down the hill entering Sanchez). Otherwise, watch out for potholes, but the roads in this area are generally in pretty good condition.

By Boat
Traveling to Las Terrenas from Punta Cana by guaguas and ferry (Sábana del Mar-Samaná) will take about 8h, but is certainly possible within one day.

If you have a sailboat, it's possible to anchor off the main beach, but be aware that there's nowhere to land your dinghy except right on the sand, it's not very sheltered from waves, and there's a maze of shallow reefs (enter in good visibility or use Bing Maps aerial imagery - Google Maps satellite view doesn't show it well).

By foot
For many visitors, your own two feet will be all you need to get around most of the time. Many accommodations are directly across the street from the long, beautiful beach, and often also within easy walking distance of the central tourist triangle and even the inland downtown area. Most of the roads in town have sidewalks, and traffic moves slowly. But if you end up staying farther from town or the beach, aren't up for much walking, or occasionally want to go somewhere farther afield, you'll want to look into other transportation options as well.

Motorconchos (motorcycle taxis)
Motoconchos are everywhere and very convenient. As of April 2021, the standard price to go anywhere in or near town, including as far as Playa Bonita, is 100 pesos per person - still charged per person even if you put more than one on the same bike (any self-respecting motoconcho driver can take at least two passengers). All of the ones we used were honest, with no one trying to overcharge us. The regular drivers wear bright yellow-green vests and hang out on street corners and in front of bars, but can also be flagged down from the roadside. If fact, they will often honk to offer you a ride as they pass by.

Guagua or collective taxis
You can catch guaguas in town and they can go a greater distance, ex. to the waterfall in El Limon. For guaguas to Limon, try the three-way intersection at the entrance to the town cemetery.

Scooters or 4x4
You can rent a motor scooter for about $20 US per day (verified Sep. 2020) or a 4-wheeler for about $40-50 US. These modes of transportation seem most common for visitors. Locals use motorcycles or cars. Daily rates may be heavily discounted for longer periods. Rentals can be arranged in most hotels but there are also many rental locations in downtown Las Terranas, along the two roads stretching inland from the beach. These agencies operate with a minimum of red tape, but do be prepared to show your ID and present a credit card, as they may want put a hold on your card in case you destroy or lose the vehicle.

Drivers will have to pay special attention to potholes especially at night or after rain. You can go to the waterfall in El Limón on a scooter. It takes about 45 mins.

Rental car
Some of the rental agencies also have jeeps or small cars, starting from about US$55 per day. This is unnecessary for getting around town, but could be nice if you're planning to explore other parts of the Samaná peninsula.

Limón Waterfall
A popular destination for visitors to Las Terrenas, foreign and Dominican alike, this waterfall (actually a group of several falls) is located about 20km east of Las Terrenas, nestled in the jungle near the hill village of Limón. Its official Spanish name is Salto El Limón, but its also commonly called Cascada Limón. The falls aren't accessible by car, but only by dirt trails which you can traverse either on foot or on horseback, accessible from several different trailheads. Expect the walk to take half an hour or so (very rough estimate), depending on where you start.

The local ecotourism cooperative charges a 50-100 peso entrance fee (someone else paid for us, so we aren't sure of the exact price), and at the major trailheads locals will try to talk you into hiring a horse at a considerably higher price. It's not necessary unless you can't do the walking, but it might be a fun experience. The trails are easy to follow and in good condition.

The highlight is a tall, misty waterfall near the middle of the area with sizeable swimming hole at the bottom. There are other smaller falls nearby too, including one downstream with a more concentrated waterflow for those who want to sit underneath and get blasted by cold water. That one's not deep enough to swim in though, with its pool mostly at wading depth.

Hang Out at the Beach
See above.

Swimming
In general, the beaches of Las Terrenas are good for swimming and wading, with warm water, gently sloping sandy bottoms, and few currents, though of course you should always exercise caution when venturing into the ocean. Follow the lead of others to find the good spots, or if there's no one else in the water, pick one of the spots where the water is clear pale blue, meaning the bottom is sandy, and not one of the spots where the water looks brownish-green or purplish, which is where the rocky reefs are (sharp rocks and sea urchins). If the water is stirred up so much by the waves that you can't see the line between the sand and the reef, be very cautious - in this case it's best if you know the area to remember which spots are good.

If you're craving a dip in some cooler fresh water, there are options outside of town, such as Limón Waterfall (see above), the Limón Natural Pool (a cement wading pool fed by a mountain stream and full of small fish), and the small natural swimming hole in El Portillo (across the main road from the beach east of El Portillo Residences).

Diving
There are some nice divesites around Las Terrenas with healthy coral reefs. Most of them can be reached by boat. The shallower divesites are also good places for snorkelling. It is possible to dive here all year round. The predominant species of corals are brain corals, seafans, sea rods. There is great profusion of surgeonfish and tangs, trumpetfish, stingrays, parrotfish and trumpetfish here. Name of the divesites Balena Rock The Holes Piedra Marcel Coson Reef 1 & 2 Creole Reef Portillo Wreck

From the Beach
The Dominican Republic isn't known for great snorkeling off the beaches, but Las Terrenas is one of the more decent places for it (along with Sosúa). Consider bringing your own gear. Unless your hotel has it or you're on a tour, your only other choice for rentals might be the Dive Academy. If they don't have rentals, you can buy a snorkel set from them. There's not a lot here for jaded old-timers - live coral growth exists but is patchy, and there aren't a lot of the bigger, more exciting fish species - but for snorkelers who just like to check out what's there or see some small, colorful fish, there's plenty to look at (damselfish, blue tang, and wrasse are abundant - if you're a little lucky you might find moray eels, butterflyfish, scorpionfish, and pufferfish).

Conditions vary drastically based on the surf. When there are strong waves, it's so murky to be completely worthless going in. On other days, there's barely any surf and the water is beautiful and clear. Winter is surfing season on the north shore, so good snorkeling days are probably fewer in the winter, but more common in the summer. The Las Terrenas surf forecast from Magic Seaweed is pretty accurate - for decent snorkeling, look for days with surf height 0.5m or less (swell height about 1m or less). When it's near the line, consider avoiding the rougher surf of the main city beach and heading west towards Playa Las Ballenas or east past Punta Popy. Those areas are a bit more sheltered by the outer reefs, and often have a bit better visibility.

To find spots to snorkel. Look from the shore or check Bing Maps Aerial imagery (Google Maps Satellite view doesn't show it clearly) to see where the reefs are (they'll look like brownish or purplish areas contrasting with the light blue of the sandy areas). You can usually see some fish over the shallow middle of any reef, though the edges are often better, with the living coral growth (about half alive, half dead) concentrated on the outer (seaward) edges. On the main city beach, the reef patch that extends right up to the little point by the fish market and cemetery is pretty good, and the next patch to the east is too (for whatever reason, both of these reefs are much more vibrant on their eastern sides, and relatively barren on the western sides).

The people at the dive shop recommend the area off of Eden Beach Bar near Playa las Ballenas, which has some nice shallow areas for beginners to see some fish (look for the rocky spots). Much farther out (about 200 meters), by the exposed coral pinnacle, is a more impressive coral garden, with interesting rock outcrops and large specimens of brain and elkhorn coral (it's possible to find these at the outer edges of the nearshore reefs on the main city beach too, but not in such a concentration). However, exercise caution if visiting here on your own - the outer reef is only for experienced snorkelers. At high tide on a low-ish surf day, the surge can be pretty intense. One can only imagine what it would be like with higher surf and a lower tide.

On a Boat Tour
The Dive Academy dive shop (see above) has boat tours to spots that are supposed to have better snorkeling, starting at US$65 per person. There is one trip that leaves right from Las Terrenas, though the most-recommended one only costs a little more, but leaves from Samana town on the other side of the peninsula instead. As at their shop for details.

Coffee Route
There is apparently a short dirt road loop through the hills near Las Terrenas for visitors who want to learn about the local coffee and cacao (chocolate) growing industry, including some free samples and of course opportunities to buy directly from the farmers. You may need a 4-wheeler or jeep for this route. Ask locally for more details.

Buy
There's plenty of tourist-oriented shopping in the area near the beach, extending a few blocks inland. Clothing, souvenirs, necessities, etc. For the cheaper goods that serve for the locals, try heading farther inland to the busy non-tourist streets.

Most tourist-oriented establishments accept credit cards, but you may find some that don't. There are several ATMs located in the town, so you should be able to withdraw cash. The Scotiabank in Plaza Rosada by the Lindo supermarket (a bit outside the main tourist triangle) is probably the most reliable for foreign cards, but you can also try the banks closer to the beach, or the other ATM inside the Lindo. Our Debit MasterCard worked at the Banco de Santa Cruz, though the cash withdrawal limit was very low.

Eat
At tourist restaurants along the beach, expect to pay 300-600 pesos for a meal. There's a strip of restaurants right on the beach just east of the river mouth, and another strip with beachview terraces to the west of there. One of the specialties is pescado con coco, a whole fish served up with a coconut-milk based sauce.

In the local part of town farther from the beach, there are cheaper options, such as barbecue stands where you can get a box of food for 200 pesos and 100-peso chimis/burgers. The in-town price for an empanada is 25 pesos, compared to 80-100 pesos near the beach.

Some of the small restaurants off the beach but still in the tourist zone may have deals such as a standard Dominican set lunch (plato del día - rice, beans, meat, and maybe a very simple salad) for 200 pesos.

Drink
Tap water is not considered potable here. Your accommodations may or may not provide drinking water for you, so make sure to ask if you don't want to be buying your own bottled water. Local people mostly use giant 5-gallon water jugs in their homes, and shops mostly sell small personal bottles, but if you want something in between, the Lindo Supermarket in the inland part of town sells 5-liter bottles, and you may find a 1.5L bottle at a few smaller stores.

For alcohol, there are small bar/restaurants all along the coastal road and around the central tourist area, with the beach-hut style bars located just before Playa Las Ballenas. Various places in town also sell freshly-made fruit juice. Expect to pay at least 200 pesos for a cocktail at a bar, likely more. A beer from the convenience store starts at about 80 pesos.

Sleep
If you're looking for mid-range hotels and apartments near the beach, you'll be spoiled for choice in Las Terrenas. But if you're on a backpacker budget, it can be a little trickier. If at all possible, visit in person and ask what deal they can make you for the amount of time you want to stay - you might get a big discount from what you see listed online, especially during the May-October low season.

As in many tropical places, expect low-end accommodations to come without air-conditioning or hot water. Free Wifi should be available but isn't always fast or reliable. Be aware that parts of the town have frequent power and water outages, though most accommodations will have a backup generator and water tank. Drinking water may or may not be provided.

Connect
Most accommodations and some of the restaurants have free WiFi for customers. There is cell phone signal in the town.

Cope
Many hotels are in quieter areas, but the town of Las Terrenas can be incredibly noisy. The main downtown streets, especially farther inland from the tourist triangle, are characterized by the intermittent piercing roar of a hundred young men with nothing better to do but ride up and down the road on un-muffled motor bikes, added to the general din of narrow streets crowded with two-wheeled vehicles. If you're sensitive to noise and need to frequently walk the main streets, consider bringing ear plugs with you. Don't expect to be completely safe from the sound of loud motors even on smaller side roads, though it's likely to be more of an occasional interruption than a constant bother there.

The other source of noise is neighbors playing surprisingly loud music (most bachata, raggaeton, and merengue). In hotel areas, don't be surprised if this happens on some weekends when domestic tourists come down to party. In low-income residential neighborhoods, don't be surprised if it happens all the time. Try to just enjoy it - it's a cultural experience.

Stay Safe
Las Terrenas is reputed to be one of the safest places in the Dominican Republic, and it does seem to have very little petty crime. We lived there for two months, only taking only minimal safety precautions, and never saw any sign that there was any danger of armed robbery or even pickpocketing. There's the occasional smooth-talking panhandler/small-time con-man, but they're easy to spot. You'll even see locals sometime leave their valuables on the beach while going for a swim, though we don't necessarily recommend pushing your luck that far.

Traffic is generally fairly slow-moving, thanks in part to the many speed-bumps, and most major streets have sidewalks. Be careful if walking home from beach bars at night though, since some parts of the coastal road are narrow and badly-lit, so vehicles might not see you until the last minute.

Avoid swimming on the parts of the beach with rocky reefs just off the shore (see "swimming" above), unless you're snorkeling and prepared not to stand up in the water. The rocks are very sharp, and there are lots of sea urchins among the crevices. We even saw a venomous scorpionfish there once. Just stay in the sandy areas and you'll be fine.

Go next

 * Samaná town, the provincial capital and a cute harbor town offering whale-watching tours
 * Las Galeras, a much smaller and more laid-back beach town for low-key travelers

title: Las Terrenas