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Valga

Valga is a town in southern Estonia, on the border with Latvia. Valga and Valka in Latvia are actually one town, Valga making up the larger part with around 12,000 inhabitants in 2021, almost three times the population of Valka.

Understand
The city has the only railway station through which one can get from Estonia to Latvia. The city is rather dull, but curious about its position on the invisible state border. It has a military museum with a rich exposition dedicated to the Estonian War of Independence.

The border (in the literal sense of the word) location is, perhaps, the most interesting feature of Valga. In the city there are neither medieval monuments nor interesting wooden buildings, so Valga is deprived of the charm and comfort inherent in many other Estonian cities. The population of Valga is mixed, 35% Russians, and most other people speak Russian, because it was and is the language of interethnic communication between residents of Estonia and Latvia. The city has a light industry (furniture, clothes and footwear, woodworking). Life along the railway station is convenient, but the overall economic situation is rather bleak, and this is evident to the unaided eye: Valga is one of the poorest county-level cities in Estonia.

History
Valga was first mentioned in 1286 under the German name Valga (literally walk). In the 14th-16th centuries, it was a small unfortified settlement, which was regularly destroyed due to numerous wars between the Livonian Order, Russian princes, Lithuanians and Poles. Finally, in 1584 the Polish King Stefan Batory gave Valga the rights of the city. However, the status of a city and the joy of receiving it were short-lived, since already in 1626 Valga belonged to Sweden. Then, after the Northern War, to Russia, which did not acknowledge the city status of the Polish king. Only in 1764, the city status was returned to Valga, after which it started the stone construction. By the beginning of World War I, Valga became a central junction with routes to Riga, Tartu, Pärnu, and Pechora. In 1919, in the vicinity of Valga, the battle for Paju Manor took place - one of the important battles of the War of Independence - after which the Estonian army seized the whole of Southern Estonia and began its offensive into Latvia.

Since its inception, Valga has been multinational in nature: Estonians and Latvians lived here, together with Germans and Russians. Estonians and Latvians did get along very well, because both of them experienced harassment from the Germans. With independence, the situation changed, as both Estonia and Latvia declared their territorial rights of the city. In 1920, after lengthy negotiations with the participation of England, the border was put directly through the city, along the small creek Konnaoja, flowing through the centre of Valga. The big northern part was moved to Estonia, and the smaller southern part to Latvia. The division turned out to be disproportionate, as Estonia demanded compensation for the participation of its army in combat operations in Latvia, and especially for the defeat of the rebellious army of General Bermont-Avalov, who attempted to capture Riga in 1919.

Unlike the by the river divided Narva and Ivangorod, Valga and Valka are a rare example of cities created entirely artificially. During Soviet times the border did essentially not exist. But after the disintegration of the USSR the situation became problematic again due to Latvian burial places appearing in the territory of Estonia. However, after the ratification of the Baltic countries to the Schengen agreement, only striped columns remained from the border, and the transition from one country to another began to occur completely unnoticed.

Get in
Bus and train schedules are easily available online—read more under Estonia.

By train
There are 3 trains per day from/to Tallinn (3½–4 hr, from Tartu 1 hr 15 min). In addition, there are 3 trains from/to Riga (Latvia) via Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera, and Strenči directly into Valga (the Latvian part doesn't have a railway station). 3 hr 15 min, €5–6. Current Estonian railway schedules and tickets are available at ELRON's website, Latvian schedules and tickets at the Pasažieru Vilciens website.

By bus

 * There several buses a day from Tallinn (4 hr).
 * Almost hourly (6–8 per day) from Tartu (1½–2 hr) and Viljandi (1½ hr).
 * In addition, there direct buses from Narva, Pärnu, and Kuressaare. However, it might be easier and faster to transfer half-way, going there—see Peatus.ee for connecting journeys.
 * Buses from Latvia go via the Valka bus station, except for the Riga-Saint Petersburg route, which used the Valga station.

By car

 * From Tartu (85 km) highway #3, from Viljandi (80 km) and Pärnu (141 km) highway #6 lead into Valga. From Tallinn it is 235 km (via Viljandi).
 * Take the Latvian A3 from Riga (160 km).

By foot
From Valka you can walk across the border.

On foot
Most of Valga's attractions are within walking distance. The border is one block west of the town hall.

Kesk (lit. "middle" or "central") is the main street. It has a boulevard in the middle and in the west it becomes Riia (i.e. Riga street), which goes across the border. In the east it becomes the streets of Vabaduse and Kuperjanovi. The city is limited by the railway in the south and a set of ponds in the north. Beyond these the town is residential and industrial, meaning it's of little interest unless you're visiting a home or company.

By bus
The town is served by 2 bus routes, connecting the centre of Valga with its outskirts—frequency 1½ hr, price €0.60 at a kiosk, €1 from the bus driver.

No buses go into Valka.

By bicycle
New bicycle tracks were built in 2009.

Monuments and memorials

Minor attractions

 * The urban development of Valga is mostly mediocre. Unusual are the ceremonial stone buildings, built on the central streets in the early 20th century, during the bloom of the city. Take notice of the (Kesk 12) from 1912—also the present board of the county of Valgamaa—the  (Vabaduse 6-8) from 1911 with the sparse signs of Art Nouveau, and the much more charming  (Vabaduse 13)—also in Art Nouveau style. The probably most interesting construction of the Valga is hidden in Kuperjanovi street, an  (Kuperjanovi 12) and reference example of Riga modern style, accidentally found in this remote Estonian province. With the exception of a few houses around the old town hall, the wooden architecture of Valga is uninteresting, and actually the five-story concrete building blocks are more numerous than wooden houses here. In the eastern part of the city you can find a rather interesting building, the  (Kungla 34) in Art Deco style and, close-by, several pre-revolutionary factory buildings (Maleva 5).

Go hunting for remaining infrastructure of the Latvian border. After both countries joined the Schengen Area in 2007, border controls were abolished and nowadays there are generally just signs stating you've entered Estonia or Latvia. Some buildings that one can clearly see that has been used for border controls still exist, for example at Sõpruse street.

Budget

 * The Military Theme Park offers cheap accommodation in case you come with a group of friends and are up for a different experience.
 * At Aare Majutus (see Mid-range below) you can pitch a tent in the yard for €8, this includes access to toilets and showers.

Connect

Cafés and lodgings often have Wi-Fi. Furthermore the library and the tourist information in the town hall building have computers with Internet access. All Estonian mobile operators - Telia, Elisa and Tele2 have 4G coverage in town.

Estonia

 * Karula National Park – The hilly landscapes of Southern Estonia. Estonian’s smallest national park on the way to/from Võru.
 * Võru – A picturesque town not far from the highest hill in the Baltic states, Suur Munamägi. The birthplace of the writer Kreutzwald and the dialect of the Estonian language.
 * Sangaste and the nearby Sangaste Castle, just 30 km north.
 * Otepää – A small town set in the hills of south Estonia and best known winter sports centre in the Baltics, and the Winter Capital of Estonia. Surrounded by lakes, hills and ski jump towers.
 * Tartu – 85 km northeast from Valga. Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city.
 * Viljandi – A beautiful, ancient and hilly city, known for its annual Viljandi Folk Music Festival, beautiful old town and overwhelming and picturesque park around the old castle.
 * Tõrva – The second largest city of Valga County after Valga. Popular for its caves, the ruins of a medieval castle, several interesting manors, and the fully authentic mausoleum of Barclay de Tolly.

Latvia

 * Valka, obviously.
 * The twin town is the gateway to Latvia with its beautiful capital Riga, the Baltic sea resorts Jūrmala and Ventspils, as well as the Vidzeme region next to Valga with the picturesque Sigulda (Latvian Switzerland) and Cēsis, and Valmiera with the only professional theatre in this region of Latvia, castle ruins, a medieval church, a famous brewery and the start of the Gauja National Park. Valmiera and Cēsis even allow for day trips from Valga.

title: Valga


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Valgeranna

Valgeranna is a beach area in southwestern Estonia, just 8km west of Pärnu.

By bus
Bus schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

Do
If you don't like the summer crowds on Pärnu Beach then Valgeranna is the place for you. It has 500m of fine white sand at the edge of a beautiful pine tree forest.

It's a good location for swimming, sailing, sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, football, and golfing.

Go next

 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches.
 * Kabli – A quiet seaside village on the Gulf of Riga with bird-ringing centre and rural beaches.

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

title: Valgeranna


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Valhalla

Valhalla is a hamlet in Westchester County, New York.

By plane

 * Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Road, White Plains (New York), +1 914 995-4860 (airlines). The closest airport, about 15 minutes drive. Rental cars are available.
 * Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. Another alternative to the congestion of the 3 major airports. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, and JetBlue	operate flights from Florida and Philadelphia (Mar 2021).
 * Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport: The three major international airports in the New York City area offer service from just about anywhere. Westchester-based taxi and livery cars offer regular service to and from the three internationals from most areas of the county. New York City yellow cabs will take to you Westchester in a pinch, but the fares can be exorbitant. If staying in Westchester, ask if your hotel offers shuttle service.

title: Valhalla


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Valiano

Valiano is a city in Tuscany, Italy

Get in
Take the main A1 motorway and exit at Arezzo.

Festivals

 * Arezzo is home to an annual medieval festival called the Joust of the Saracens (Giostra del Saracino). In this, "knights" on horseback representing different areas of the town charge at a wooden target attached to a carving of a Saracen king and score points according to accuracy. Virtually all the town's people dress-up in medieval costume and enthusiastically cheer on the competitors.

Eat
Restaurants:

Go next

 * Cortona
 * Florence
 * Rome

title: Valiano


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Valinhos

Valinhos is a city in the Campinas Region of São Paulo state.

Get in
The municipality is 73 km from the metropolis of São Paulo.

By bus
Departing from the Tietê terminal in São Paulo (capital), there are several lines to Valinhos.

Get around
Sou Valinhos operates 27 municipal bus lines.

title: Valinhos


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Valka

Valka is a town in northern Latvia, on the border with Estonia. Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two Countries". With 6,000 people, it is one of the smallest cities in Latvia, but Valga has another 13,000 residents.

Understand
Valka and the Estonian town of Valga are actually one town, with the border running through it. The border was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by British Colonel Tallents. After the expansion of Schengen Agreement to Latvia and Estonia in 2007 all the border crossing-points and fences were removed.

The town lies 160 km from Riga, the capital.

The history is essentially identical to that of Valga.

Get in
The train station in Valga, Estonia, and buses connect Valka to Riga several times a day. See 1188.lv for up-to-date bus and train schedules, route planner and prices.

By car
There are roads from Valmiera (50 km) and Riga (160 km), and also from Smiltene (44 km). The main highway from Riga crosses the border and goes to Estonia's second largest city Tartu (85 km).

Get around
There are buses serving the town but the best way is going by foot or bicycle.

Do
There is nothing much to do in Valka, however, it's a must to visit the Estonian side once you are here. As the local government is consistently trying to develop their town, the new International Studies Centre of University of Latvia will be located in Valka with the aim to attract foreigners. Still a lot of work must be done to make Valka interesting for tourists.

Eat
In the centre of Valka, other places than the following cannot be found. It is said that in the northern part of the city there is a couple of cafeterias, but it's easier and safer to go for food to the Estonian side, where the choice is more interesting.

Connect

 * The area code for the town is 47.

Go next

 * Seda - Founded in 1953 in an uninhabited area, it still embodies the pomp of Communist and Stalinist architecture. Nearby a vast peat bog man-made nature area can be found, and is not to be missed. These occurrences are historically tied to each other.
 * Smiltene – Features a manor, some castle ruins, and a watch tower over the surrounding area. Not very interesting, but quite cosy and slightly larger than Valka, and not far from the Pskov highway.
 * Valmiera – Features the only professional theatre in the region, castle ruins, a medieval church, a famous brewery, and is the start of the Gauja National Park.
 * Valga – A stone's throw away and the gateway to South Estonia. The latter inhibits the beautiful Sangaste Castle, the winter sports and nature centre Otepää, the Seto ethnicity in its far southeast, the intellectual hub and university town of Tartu, the picturesque and folk-focused Viljandi, as well as the centre of Estonian wine production, Põltsamaa. Hiking, skiing, fishing, clubbing, folk music, and beaches – South Estonia leaves nothing left to be desired.

title: Valka


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Valkenburg (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Valkenburg:

The Netherlands

 * Valkenburg - Town along the Oude Rijn river not far from Katwijk.
 * Valkenburg aan de Geul - Historical city along the Geul river in Limburg, seeing loads of domestic tourists each year.

title: Valkenburg (disambiguation)


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Valkenburg aan de Geul

Valkenburg is a city in the south of the Netherlands, usually buzzing with visitors. It has been a major domestic tourist destination for decades and packed with hotels, bars and restaurants. The crowds that gather here in summer partly come for the town's interesting historic sights but also for the general atmosphere and facilities. Christmas is the second high season here, with plenty of decorations up from the start of November and famous Christmas markets in December. In many ways, Valkenburg as a town seems to encourage visitors to just have a good time.

Understand
Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg, and the town's centre holds plenty of evidence of former grandeur. The castle in the middle of the city - of which now only a ruin remains - was destroyed in December 1672. Only two city gates (the Berkelpoort and the Grendelpoort) and a part of the city walls survived destruction and both have been thoroughly restored.

In 1853 a railway station was built on a line connecting the two cities of Maastricht and Aachen, making it possible to discover the charming little town of Valkenburg.

Nowadays Valkenburg is famous for its cycling events and its touristic character. There are several attractions to be found within walking distance of the city centre, and the many hotels, restaurants and café's cater to domestic and international travellers of all ages.

By train
Valkenburg has the oldest stone train station in the Netherlands. It is on the train line between Heerlen and Maastricht with connections from both sides every 15 minutes. The trainline is operated by Arriva train trips can be planned with the NS Reisplanner or 9292.nl. The city center can be reached on foot from the train station in 5 minutes. Internationally, there is a direct train from Aachen in Germany.

By car
The city is also situated along the A79 motorway between Heerlen and Maastricht, making it easily accessible by car. There are several indicated parking spaces, usually for a fairly steep fee. In high season, parkings fill up fast so arriving early is a good idea. Otherwise, count on walking a bit further.

By bus
Buses depart from the bus station, near the train station, to Maastricht (line 51 en 53), Gulpen and Geleen (line 49) and other places in the region.

Get around
Most attractions are easily reached on foot from the city center. Thermae 2000 and the Holland Casino are at the top of the Cauberg and require a fair climb for Dutch standards. The tourist office  (VVV) can be found near the large rock (Kei) in the city center.

It is also possible to rent a bike to explore the beautiful surroundings of the city. Within a ten-minute walk from the train station bikes can be rented from Cyclecenter.

Zuid Limburgse Stoomtrein Maatschappij operates a steam locomotive between Valkenburg and Kerkrade and a branch to Vetschau in Germany. Trains run during the summer holiday season, the Sinterklaas (November to December 5) period and the Christmas period.

Do
The local marlstone was already being used as a building material in Roman times. The underground quarrying of the stone has left a series of caves, which is arguably the number one attraction that stands out in Valkenburg. You could visit any number of times and still find something new and different. The caves themselves are a treasure chest of art and expression. As a tip, take a digital camera (with a flash, the guide is the only person who has a torch!) and be prepared to take a lot of photographs. There are amazing images and drawings hidden away in the darkness.

Buy
The town is large enough to have all the regular stores (including supermarkets and clothing shops) but due to its touristy nature it also has some boutiques and a range of gift and souvenir shops.

The main shopping streets are the Passage, Dr. Erensstraat, Grotestraat, Lindenlaan and the Louis van der Maesenstraat. The Walramplein and Wilhelminastraat have some good shops as well.

Eat
There's a wide range of good places to eat, from simple bistros to fancy up-scale restaurants. Most hotels in Valkenburg also have a restaurant, so you'll never have to walk far to find something that fits your wishes.

Drink
There are countless places to eat ánd drink, and there's even a bit of serious dancing happing here on weekends and in holidays. Young people from the area come to town to join tourists in one of many bars and clubs, and even restaurants that move their tables aside and turn the music up at night.

Connect
Many establishments offer WiFi to guests. This is not only true for hotels, but increasingly for bars and restaurants as well. GSM coverage is good.

Go next
All the other South-Limburg destinations are within easy distance. Don't miss lively Maastricht, one of the country's most beautiful cities, packed with culture and history. Go hiking and enjoy the scenery around Vijlen and Vaals or hop on the heritage train in Simpelveld.

If you're looking to cross borders, Aachen in Germany is a bus ride away, and Liège in Belgium is an hour's drive.

title: Valkenburg aan de Geul


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Valladolid

You may be looking for:

 * Valladolid (Spain) - a city in Spain, capital of the province with the same name.
 * Valladolid (Yucatan) - a small colonial city in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico

title: Valladolid


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Valladolid (Mexico)

Valladolid is a small city of 56,000 people (2020) in the state of Yucatán that is about a 45-minute drive from the (lesser-used) east entrance of Chichén Itzá. It offers an alternative base for visiting the ruins, while having its own charms as well – although further from the ruins than the town of Piste, Valladolid is less tourist-oriented (although this is changing fast) and has more historic charm. It is one of the Pueblos Mágicos de México (Magical Towns of Mexico).

Understand
Valladolid is named after Valladolid, Spain, which at the time of its founding was the capital of Spain. The name derives from the Arabic name Balad al-Walid, which means "city of al-Walid", referring to Al-Walid I, the sixth Umayyad caliph.

Valladolid in Yucatán was established by Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Montejo's nephew on May 27, 1543, at some distance from the current town, at a lagoon called Chouac-Ha in the municipality of Tizimín. Early Spanish settlers complained about the mosquitos and humidity at the original location, and petitioned to have the city moved further inland. On March 24, 1545, Valladolid was relocated to its current location, built atop a Maya town called Zací or Zací-Val, whose buildings were dismantled to reuse the stones to build the Spanish colonial town. The following year the Maya people revolted, but the rebellion was suppressed with the support of additional Spanish troops from Mérida. In 1705 there was another revolt by local Maya; the rebels killed a number of town officials who had taken refuge in the cathedral. When the revolt was suppressed, the cathedral was considered irreparably profaned, and was demolished. A new cathedral was built the following year that still exists; it was oriented to face north unlike most other Colonial churches in Yucatán which face east.

In 1847, the native Mayas rioted, killing some eighty whites and sacking their houses. After a Maya noble was shot by firing squad, the riot became a general uprising. The city and the surrounding region was the scene of intense battle during Yucatán's Caste War (1847–1915). The city was sacked by the Maya rebels but was recaptured later in the war.

Valladolid is a popular city in which to explore the history and culture of the Yucatán Peninsula. The town has seen a surge in tourism in the 21st century and now hosts numerous chic, tourist-oriented hotels and restaurants. The arrival of the Tren Maya railway in 2023 has set Valladolid firmly on the tourist circuit.

Climate
Valladolid has a tropical wet and dry climate. Valladolid's climate is hot and humidity is moderate to high, depending on the time of year. The average annual high temperature is 33 °C (91 °F), ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) in January to 36 °C (97 °F) in May, but temperatures often rise above 38 °C (100 °F) in the afternoon in this time. Low temperatures range between 18 °C (64 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in May and June. It is most often a few degrees hotter in Valladolid than coastal areas due to its inland location and low elevation. The rainy season runs from June through October, associated with the Mexican monsoon which draws warm, moist air landward. Easterly waves and tropical storms also affect the area during this season.

By car
Valladolid is just off the toll highway (180D) between Cancún and Mérida; the exit is about 5 km (3 miles) north of the center of town. The old highway (180) runs east-west through the centre of town, and highway 295 connects south towards Chetumal, and north to the toll highway and Ek Balam. Both highways run right through the centre of town on one-way streets, forming the four sides of the central town square.

By carpooling
You can have a look on Blablacar for shared rides. Especially from Cancun amd Mérida there should be some. Check also from other cities of the Yucatan peninsula.

By train
Vallodolid is a station on the Tren Maya intercity railway that loops through the Yucatan Peninsula. Passengers arriving at the Cancún International Airport can use a free shuttle service to the on-airport train station to transfer to the train headed toward Mérida, Campeche, and Palenque. Vallodolid is the third stop after leaving Cancún. Tickets can be purchased at ticket windows in the train station or online using the official Tren Maya web site.

On foot
Valladolid is small enough to make walking a reasonable choice within town.

By bicycle
To explore the city you can also rent bicycles at a reasonable rate.

By taxi
Other alternative choices are taxis (although be aware that the drivers do not speak English). A 6 minute and 2 km ride costs about M$35 (Jan 2022). As always, agree on the price before.

As of February 2024, there are no app based taxis (such as Uber, Didi or Indrive) in the city.

By bus
There are no city buses in Valladolid, only colectivos (minibuses) going on the federal roads out of town for example to the western and northern direction, but not south.

By motorbike
It is possible to rent a scooter and use it to drive around the city and to nearby sights. It should cost no more than M$ 400 per person per day, depending on your haggling skills.

Orientation
Locally the streets or Calles are numbered with the odd numbered streets going east and west and even numbered streets going north and south. The street numbers get higher as you go from east to west and from north to south. Directions and addresses can be given with the locations such as Calle 41 No 201, entre 42 y 44 meaning Building #201 along Calle 41 (going east & west) between 42 & 44 (going north & south)

See

 * Parque Fransisco Canton Rosado, the central town square, is surrounded by pretty colonial-style buildings that maintain much of their historic character. Gets lively around sunset with people gathering to get snacks from many street vendors

Do
Valladolid has tranquility and a small town charm. You can visit several Cenotes within the area and two are close enough to hire bicycles from a nearby vendor. Visit "Cenote Dzinup" — you will love it. As well you can go sightseeing of the architecture and mingle with the people of the city.

Out of town trips
Valladolid has a good modernised bus station (near the main square) which connects it with the surrounding towns and tourist destinations. There are frequent services to all major destinations.

 * – 28 km. Visit the Maya ruins of, an impressive archaeological site only about 30 minutes drive north of Valladolid. You can climb the tallest ruin which has been partially restored. This gives you a 360° view of the surroundings. This ruin is way less crowded than Chichen Itza and it provides a similar experience. Entrance is M$ 150, this can be bought together with entrance to nearby Cenote X-Canché for M$ 300. You can even haggle about the price.
 * – 40 km. The largest and most famous ancient Maya site in Yucatan, is to the west; Valladolid is close enough to the ruins to be a convenient base. The entry fee is M$571 (Oct 2022). It's open daily 8:00-17:00.
 * Further west than Chichen are another charming small Yucatecan city, – 130 km.
 * - 30 km away, a tourist complex with two large, beautiful cenotes with lots of stalactites. M$150 for each or M$300 for both, can be haggled to less. Can be easily reached by car or (motor)bike.

The following are taxis and colectivos (shared ride taxis & vans) to towns and villages in the surrounding areas. They are generally quicker in getting there than buses. With the agreements they have with the local taxi unions they cannot provide local taxi services. They are:

Buy
ATMs with low withdrawal fees in the center are BanCoppel (inside bus terminal shop), Banco Azteca (inside the elektra store) and banamex.

For buying groceries, there are minimarkets (tiendas) and Oxxos around. A bigger variety have the and the. In the east and south of the center are the Dunosusa supermarkets and Super Willys with a good variety of products. In the west of the center is the.

Buy wood carvings and traditional clothing and bags made from henequen from the vendors on the central Plaza and the grounds of "Cenote Zaci"Hand made shoes and sandals at the central Plaza.

Visit Yalat Boutique right at the Main Square, the place is filled with original artwork, fine jewelry, and is dedicated to master works and fine Mexican artcrafts including exquisite ceramic Jainas and Maya vessels that are exquisite. Owner very friendly, speaks perfect English, a bit of German and French.

Visit the Coqui Coqui Perfumery and Spa in the Calzada de los Frailes on the way of the Convent. All the perfumes they sell are from the yucatan peninsula, amazing fragrances as the agave or the flor de mayo. Also a very nice garden.

Eat
Although there are plenty of restaurants in Valladolid, as the town attracts ever more tourists it is becoming increasingly difficult to find that charming "local" spot. You will find plenty of vegan and vegetarian options however... these are not exactly local fare. Nevertheless, typical dishes of the region are:
 * Lomitos de Valladolid which is a pork dish in fresh tomato sauce

 * Cochinita pibil meat marinated in achiote, and spices, wrapped in banana leaf and barbecued or baked in a pit

 * lechon al horno

 * bistek de cazuela

 * relleno negro which is turkey cooked with a paste of charred chillies and vegetables with bits of hard-boiled eggs

 * frijol con puerco

 * chicken in escabeche

 * longaniza, which are a type of pork-based salami sausage with traditional condiments.

Local traditional candies are based on materials from the region such as honey, coconut, corn and others. Traditional ice cream is also very popular. The most common flavours are coconut, corn and fruits of the region as guanabana, mamey sapote and others.

Food markets
in the NE corner of the central square. Arcaded food court with a range of reasonably-priced food outlets, open for breakfast & lunch. El Habanero Taqueria and Loncheria Canul recommended. Also pizzerias & Chinese stalls. Mains cost about M$80-110 (Jan 2022)

Street Food
There is a few street food in Valladolid.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Sleep

 * Hostal Tunich Naj Calle 38 #202A entre 43 y 45 Centro, Valladolid, YU. Hostel with spacious 10 bed dorm M$195 (Jan 2022) and various private rooms. Clean and central. Nice staff.
 * Casa Xtakay Calle 43 entre 38 y 40. Family-owned hostel with dorms and privates. Pleasant back garden, home-made breakfast. Dentist at same place.
 * Hostal Tunich Naj Calle 38 #202A entre 43 y 45 Centro, Valladolid, YU. Hostel with spacious 10 bed dorm M$195 (Jan 2022) and various private rooms. Clean and central. Nice staff.
 * Casa Xtakay Calle 43 entre 38 y 40. Family-owned hostel with dorms and privates. Pleasant back garden, home-made breakfast. Dentist at same place.
 * Hostal Tunich Naj Calle 38 #202A entre 43 y 45 Centro, Valladolid, YU. Hostel with spacious 10 bed dorm M$195 (Jan 2022) and various private rooms. Clean and central. Nice staff.
 * Casa Xtakay Calle 43 entre 38 y 40. Family-owned hostel with dorms and privates. Pleasant back garden, home-made breakfast. Dentist at same place.
 * Hostal Tunich Naj Calle 38 #202A entre 43 y 45 Centro, Valladolid, YU. Hostel with spacious 10 bed dorm M$195 (Jan 2022) and various private rooms. Clean and central. Nice staff.
 * Casa Xtakay Calle 43 entre 38 y 40. Family-owned hostel with dorms and privates. Pleasant back garden, home-made breakfast. Dentist at same place.
 * Casa Xtakay Calle 43 entre 38 y 40. Family-owned hostel with dorms and privates. Pleasant back garden, home-made breakfast. Dentist at same place.

In the south:
Mahahual (Costa Maya) – 270 km

Chetumal – 300 km

Bacalar – 260 km

In the west:
Mérida – 160 km. From there to Campeche.

In the east:
Playa del Carmen – 140 km

Cozumel – 170 km

Tulum – 110 km

Cancún

title: Valladolid (Mexico)


text:
Valladolid (Spain)

Valladolid is the capital of the province of the same name, and is part of the region of Castile and Leon. Valladolid is a reasonably large industrial city to the northwest of Madrid. It is one of the major regional centre in Castile-Leon. The city has an older core with some interesting buildings. However it has focused more on industry than tourism. Valladolid is home to just under 300,000 people (2018).

Understand
Valladolid is in the centre of Spain's central plateau and hydrographically is in the Duero Basin. The average elevation 698 m. Its coordinates are 41° 38'N 4° 43' W.

Valladolid's climate is continental, dry, and characterised by high temperatures in summer and cold in winter. Rainfall is distributed fairly irregularly throughout the year.

By plane
There's a daily bus shuttle to the city at 05:15, 16:15, and 19:20. Timetable changes at weekends and holidays (bus info: ).
 * Ryanair offers direct flights to Valladolid from London Stansted, Milan Bergamo, and Brussels Charleroi.
 * Air France offers direct flights to Valladolid from Paris.
 * Iberia offers direct flights to Valladolid from Barcelona and Malaga.
 * Iberia offers direct flights to Valladolid from Barcelona and Malaga.

By train
The most common way to reach Valladolid by train is from Madrid (check the Spanish rail company, Renfe). €11-30. There is a high speed Spanish train AVE that connect Madrid and Valladolid (200 km) in less than an hour. Purchasing the ticket by Internet in advance (at least 15 days) the price is €12 (Jan 2008). There are train connections to other places.

By bus

 * Alsa provides a regular bus line from Madrid. Fares are similar to rail (€11-20).

By car
Distances to Valladolid: Madrid 190 km, Burgos 125 km, Leon 140 km, Salamanca 115 km.

Get around
Valladolid has a good bus service, but you can easily get around the city centre on foot.

See

 * One of the oldest and most interesting areas is the area beside San Martin Church. Really old, all the streets surrounding the area have a special charm.
 * One of the oldest and most interesting areas is the area beside San Martin Church. Really old, all the streets surrounding the area have a special charm.
 * One of the oldest and most interesting areas is the area beside San Martin Church. Really old, all the streets surrounding the area have a special charm.
 * One of the oldest and most interesting areas is the area beside San Martin Church. Really old, all the streets surrounding the area have a special charm.
 * One of the oldest and most interesting areas is the area beside San Martin Church. Really old, all the streets surrounding the area have a special charm.

Do

 * Football: Real Valladolid were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in La Liga, the top tier. Their home ground Estadio José Zorrilla (capacity 27,800) is 2 km west of city centre.
 * Football: Real Valladolid were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in La Liga, the top tier. Their home ground Estadio José Zorrilla (capacity 27,800) is 2 km west of city centre.
 * Football: Real Valladolid were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in La Liga, the top tier. Their home ground Estadio José Zorrilla (capacity 27,800) is 2 km west of city centre.

Buy
You can buy sweets typical of the city or the province, such as Mantecados de Portillo. You can buy, of course, the best wine of Spain, because in Valladolid there are some of the most famous wines in the world, like the Vega Sicilia. But you also have a lot of delightful wines at all prices.

Eat
In the city centre, you can find many restaurants. Castilla y Leon is known for suckling pig and suckling lamb. In Valladolid, the suckling lamb is more famous, and there are restaurants where you go exclusively to eat lamb and the waiters ask you just for the drinks. You can also find good places to eat suckling pig.

Valladolid has a tapas culture, but you have to pay for tapas everywhere in Valladolid. There are many cities in Spain where the tapas are for free with your drink. There is a tapas competition between Valladolid bars that is held once a year. It is so successful that the council created a national competition in 2005. If you want to visit Valladolid for a weekend it is worth checking when the tapas competition will be held.

You get another good chance at the beginning of September when the festival takes place. All the pubs put bars in the street, and next to the stadium you can find marquees from different Spanish areas where you can taste all the typical and famous Spanish dishes.

You find good tapas bars in the old part of the city centre, but one favourite is in Calle Correos, behind the council building. This pub won the tapas competition one year.

Regional specialties

 * Asado de lechazo
 * Pan lechuguino
 * Mantecados de Portillo
 * Queso de Villalón
 * Alimentos de la caza
 * Rosquillas de sartén típicas de rocío

Drink

 * The Castilla y Leon region is famous for its wines. There are three different wine areas in Valladolid: Ribera del Duero, Cigales, and Rueda.
 * Ribera del Duero is one of the best wine areas in Spain. Vega Sicila vineyard, in Valbuena de Duero (25 km from Valladolid), can be considered one of the best wines in the world and is one of the most expensive wines available. The wines produced are mainly red, of the Tempranillo type.
 * Cigales and Rueda, thought less famous than Ribera del Duero wines, are also good wine regions. Cigales has especially remarkable pink wines and Rueda has good white wines.

Connect
As of June 2022, Valladolid has 4G from MasMovil/Yoigo, and 5G from Movistar, Orange and Vodafone.

Go next
Around Valladolid are many tourist attractions which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO:
 * Burgos (122 km)
 * Cuéllar (54 km Splendid monument, one of the main centres of Moorish art. Noted for its ramparts, its castle, and the typically medieval urban cityscape.
 * León (134 km)
 * Madrid (193 km)
 * Medina de Rioseco (40 km) Well-preserved medieval city. Churches, museums, good food.
 * Olmedo (30 km) Miniature castles
 * Palencia (47 km)
 * Peñafiel (60 km) Wine museum and castle
 * Segovia (111 km)

title: Valladolid (Spain)


text:
Valldal

Valldal is the 30-kilometre-long valley going from the fjord in the south to the famous Trollstigen in the north. It is a fertile valley (known for strawberries and fruit) surrounded by alpine mountains. The valley is home to road 63 connecting Geiranger and Åndalsnes. The area sits on the northern shore of Norddalsfjorden-Tafjorden branch of Storfjorden and includes Tafjord village and valley as well as Fjørå village.

Understand
Valldal is in the south-east corner of Møre og Romsdal county in West Norway. The village Sylte at the Norddalsfjord (a branch of Storfjord) is the centre of this agricultural district. Norddalsfjord is the northern branch of Storfjord, while the more famous Geirangerfjord extends to the south. Valldal is the western border of the Reinheimen - Norway's youngest national park.

Valldal is surrounded by attractive alpine mountains and steep, green hills. A wild river runs through the valley creating several nice waterfalls, including Holsfossen (10 kilometres upstream), Gudbrandsjuvet (15 km upstream) and Skjerdsura (16 km upstream) - these waterfalls are next to the road.

Despite the northern latitude, Valldal has a mild climate and is famous for cherries, apples, raspberries, and strawberries produced on a commercial scale. The thick forests are home to a large number of red deer, roe deer and other wild animals. In the high mountains towards the east, rein deer and wolverine enjoy endless wilderness.

Road 63 through Valldal connects, Trollstigen and Geiranger, two of Norway's major attractions, to each other. Because of its natural beauty, involving both wild, alpine mountains, green fertile valleys and deep fjords, and impressive road constructions, the route was previously called the Golden Route. Now the stretch is named one of Norway's 18 National Tourist Route. The Minister of transport inaugurated all of the 18 routes in a ceremony at iconic Trollstigen mountain pass.

From Sylte (Valldal village) there is a local road to Tafjord, a tiny village at the mouth of a wild, narrow valley. From Tafjord village the road leads to the 100-metre-high Zacahricasdammen, a concrete water dam in the extensive Tafjord hydro power production system. This is also the gateway to the network of paths and huts in the Tafjord mountains, the western part of Reinheimen national park.

Places

 * Valldal village (aka Sylte)
 * Valldal valley proper (from fjord to Trollstigen mountain pass)
 * Fjørå village
 * Tafjord village

By car

 * Route 63 from Åndalsnes via Trollstigen (summer only, from mid May to November). Route 63 from Geiranger including short ferry at Eidsdal (all year) and Skjåk/Stryn via Geiranger mountain pass (summer only).
 * Route 650 from Sjøholt, connected to E39 from Ålesund (west) and Molde (north). Route 650 connects to route 60 via ferry at Stranda, route 60 allows all-year access from Stryn, Førde, Sogndal and Bergen.

By boat
Ferry service from Valldal to Geiranger has been discontinued.

By bus
To Valldal there are buses from few times every day.
 * Ålesund
 * Geiranger
 * Åndalsnes (summer only)
 * Hellesylt/Stranda

By rail
The Rauma railway terminates at Åndalsnes the closest and only railway in the area, about 50 km from Valldal, transfer from Åndalsnes via Trollstigen mountain pass (summer only).

By air
There is no airport, closest airports:

Get around
There is one road (route 63) running through the valley. There are few buses every day from Valldal via Trollstigen to Åndalsens. It is possible to get around by bus but relatively time consuming and gives no freedom stop at nice and interesting places. A car or bicycle gives the best opportunity to travel your own way.

There are a couple of taxis in the valley. Unless you are in the village, you must order the taxi by phone and be prepared to wait for it.

See
Nature and wilderness is Valldal's prime attraction. Waterfalls, gorges, alpine mountains, glaciers, and lakes are all around. Norwegian nature is free to anyone, but it's offered as it is - only the most accessible dangerous places are protected with fences and signs. Do not walk on glaciers without proper training and equipment. Be extremely careful on slippery slopes (particularly near waterfalls).
 * "The snake" - a geological formation in the cliffs above Valldal village (Sylte).
 * "The snake" - a geological formation in the cliffs above Valldal village (Sylte).

Do

 * Hike to or around numerous charming "sæters" (outfarms), scramble the hills to summits for a spectacular panorama, try fishing in the fjord. Salmon fishing in the river is reserved for owners, but permission to fish for a specific period can be purchased at the tourist information office. Valldal and nearby Tafjord are starting points for the network of trails and lodges in the Tafjord mountains.
 * Walk the small road to Muldalen and visit the abandoned farms at the shelf overlooking the spectacular Muldalsfossen. The small road starts close to the small bridge after the 5 kilometer tunnel on the road from Valldal to Tafjord.
 * See the great fjord from the mountain top at nearby Stranda via the Stranda gondola lift.
 * Drive one of the smaller roads up hill sides to get the best panorama. Lingeåsen (at Valldal village), Selboskar/Hauge (at Fjørå), Kilsti (at Eidsdal across the fjord) and Lilleås/Hatlestad (at Norddal across the fjord) offers effortless panoramas.
 * Drive one of the smaller roads up hill sides to get the best panorama. Lingeåsen (at Valldal village), Selboskar/Hauge (at Fjørå), Kilsti (at Eidsdal across the fjord) and Lilleås/Hatlestad (at Norddal across the fjord) offers effortless panoramas.

Buy
You can buy hand- and homemade jam and juice at the local shop, Norsk Baerindustri, which you can find in the street at the backside of the church. It has a healthy selection of jams and juices, pressed and simmered in the small factory behind the shop and sourced in the main from local farmers.

Eat
Try locally produced strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, apples and other fruits available from mid summer to September.

Sleep
Although many tourists rush to world-famous Geiranger, neighbors like Valldal offers inexpensive accommodation a short trip from the crowded and narrow Geiranger village.

Valldal is dominated by camping and caravans. A large number of cabins ("hytter") are available along the main road

Connect
The tourist information office in Valldal is in the village close to the marina.

Go next

 * Geiranger by bus or car via ferry at Linge.
 * By car: roads to Geiranger (short ferry at Linge), Ålesund and Åndalsnes via Trollstigen.
 * Visit Åndalsnes via the Trollstigen. Trollstigen ("The Troll Pathway") is a mountain road and national scenic route on highway 63 between Åndalsnes and Valldal in West Norway. It is one of Norway's major attractions due to its steep incline and eleven hairpin bends climbing cliffs and steep hills until the mountain pass. Trollstigen is closed during the fall and winter months. A normal opening season stretches from the mid of May to October.
 * Ålesund or Molde by bus or car.

title: Valldal


text:
Valldemossa

Valldemossa  is a village of 2,000 people (2018) in Mallorca. Valldemossa is a very attractive tourist destination, as it shows early Spanish culture. There are many shops and restaurants to indulge in Spanish culture.It is famous for the landmark Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa, built at the beginning of the 14th century, when the mystic and philosopher Ramon Llull lived in this area of Majorca.

Understand
Since the 19th century, Valldemossa has been promoted internationally as a place of outstanding beauty, largely as a result of the affection of distinguished traveller and cultural writer, the Austrian Archduke Ludwig Salvator.

By bus
Valldemossa is on the 203 TIB bus that runs from Palma de Mallorca via Valldemossa and Deià to Soller and Port de Sóller. From Palma the bus runs approximately every hour (except at noon) and takes half an hour (one way: €1.85). There is a bus to and from Sóller only every two hours, from Sóller it takes just under an hour and from Deià half an hour. There's one bus in the afternoon to Andraix at the west end of the island.

By plane
It is 26 km from Palma de Mallorca International Airport, which takes half an hour by car.

By car
From Palma you drive about 20 km to Valldemossa on the well-developed and signposted MA-1110 road in 20-25 minutes. At the entrance to the village there is a large parking lot for the countless tourists.

On foot
Valldemossa is on the GR 221 long-distance hiking trail ("Ruta de Pedra en Sec - route of the dry stone walls"), which leads over nine stages from Port d'Andratx along the west coast and through the mountains of the Serra de Tramuntana to Pollença.

Get around
Valdemossa is small enough for walking.

Understand
Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838-9 here in the old monastery. In spite of the beautiful view and general comfort of what is described as a cell, they were not happy and George Sand wrote a book which may well not have led the locals to want them back.

Do
In Valldemossa, you should enjoy the setting in the countryside and the views. However, there are also hikes, cycling, rock climbing, golfing, and horseback riding that is available in the near vicinity.

Events and festivals
There are many spectacular festivals that take place in Valldemossa, including:

 * Festes de la Beata: takes place during July 28, celebrates the Patron Saint of Valldemossa. Many parades take place on the streets during this festival.
 * Festival of Saint Bartomeu: on 24 August, also celebrates the Patron Saint. There are magnificent performances in the Cloisters of the Monastery.
 * Annual Artdemossa: this festival, at the end of July, includes art and performance exhibitions.

title: Valldemossa


text:
Valle de Bravo

Valle de Bravo is a lively lakeside town in Mexico State, Mexico, about 150 km west of Mexico City. Set on the shores of Lake Avándaro, it is a popular weekend retreat with marinas, sailing clubs, exciting adventure activities like paragliding, and beautiful natural resources, including one of Mexico's famous monarch butterfly sanctuaries.

Understand
Valle de Bravo has a population of just over 61,000 (2020) but the villages of the surrounding municipality (county) bring the regional population up to about 200,000. The town's name acknowledges its respect for Nicolas Bravo, a general during the Mexican War of Independence and a politician and vice-president of Mexico during the tumultous post-independence era.

The city was known in the 20th century for having hosted the world-famous Circuito Avandaro auto racing event, which in 1971, got hijacked by the Festival de Rock y Ruedas, a rock music festival whose massive crowds made it impossible to conduct an auto race. The Festival de Rock y Ruedes is often compared to the Woodstock festival in the United States, complete with rain and logistical problems. Xxact estimates of its crowds are impossible to know, but estimates range as high as 500,000 youthful music fans inundating the small lakeside town.

History
Valle de Bravo was originally settled by the Matlatzinca indigenous people, who were conquered by the Aztec in the 1470s. The first Spanish conquerors arrived in 1530. Dominicans, Augustinians and Franciscan all had a hand in evangelizing the indigenous populations and establishing churches in town and in nearby villages throughout the municipality (county).

During the Mexican War of Independence, royalist troops occupied the city and cracked down on sympathizers of the independence movement.

The lake was formed by a dam built between 1938 and 1947. Built to generate hydroelectric power, it is today a popular recreational area drawing up to a million visitors annually to the town. Tourism is the town's largest economic activity.

By bus
From Mexico City, take the metro line 1 to Observatorio, which is the city's western bus terminal. Multiple companies run an hourly service to Valle for M$100. From Toluca, the second-class Toluca-Valle de Bravo buses run hourly, though the trip takes almost twice as long as driving or taxi.

From Toluca airport, you can take a taxi direct to Valle (a bit over an hour), or rent a car and drive yourself.

By car
From downtown Toluca, take highway MEX 55 to the north side of Toluca, then turn west on to the Carraterra Valle de Bravo - Toluca, which you will stay on for about 60 km until you reach Valle de Bravo.

Get around
Taxis are one of the only ways of transportation in Valle de Bravo. Fares range from M$20 to M$150 for destinations in town, more to get to parks or outlying villages. There are also water taxis that take you across the lake.

Do
Valle de Bravo has a huge range of activities and providers of all sorts of sporting equipment, lessons, and activities. The lake is the hub of water activities though backcountry treks in the nearby hills are a good way for landlubbers to experience the region.

Water sports
Many visitors come to Valle de Bravo to sail, kayak, water ski or stand-up paddleboard on the lake.

Paragliding
There are two spots in Valle de Bravo that are used for paragliding (parapente) and hang gliding: El Penon is the main site and is located several kilometers south of town while La Torre is close to town but is mostly used for demo tandem launches. Tandem demo flights are offered by several local paragliding clubs, though the course to get certified to pilot your own paraglider or hang-glider takes at least a week.

Buy
"Tianguis"(in Valle it is held on Mondays, from 7 or 8 in the morning, til late in the afternoon) is like an outdoor flea market, with many different booths. A lot of the clothing and shoes being sold are used items that have been brought back from trips to the U.S. to sell. There are various booths that sell C.D.s and DVDs, at very low prices but decent quality. There are many booths that sell fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, and tortillas. This is also a great place to grab a bite to eat. There are a lot of different booths where you can sit down and eat, but plan on getting there early to get a table. And don't worry about getting wet because all the booths are covered with tents. It is really a great place to go in Valle, you can find almost anything. From the guy who does a very good job cleaning and fixing jewelry for a really low price to the best "carnitas" you will ever have. The people in Valle are very nice! Downtown Valle is very, very beautiful.

Sweet
In Valle there are tons of different ice cream shops, that have a very wide variety of different flavors. Also there are ice cream carts in the town square. In the author's opinion the best kind to try is mamey (a type of fruit, that tastes like a mix of cantaloupe and almonds. The actual fruit is about the size of a mango, but is dark brown in color when ripe.) Tip: If you buy a "mamey" that is not quite ripe, wrap it in newspaper and let it sit a day or two. (Also, U.S customs will not allow this fruit to be brought into the United States even if you remove the pit).

Drink
There are plenty of nightclubs in Valle de Bravo that are geared towards tourists and weekend locals.

Sleep
There is a wide variety of lodging available in Valle de Bravo with a huge number of smaller posadas rented through web sites like airbnb. Marinas, golf courses and spas frequently have rooms available.

Go next

 * Monarch butterfly reserves in Michoacan
 * Metepec
 * Toluca

title: Valle de Bravo


text:
Valle del Cauca

Valle del Cauca is a department in the Pacifica region of Colombia.

The countryside of this region is for the most part considered out of bounds for tourism as of 2010, due to the many landmines and activity by armed groups such as FARC-EP. See the Stay Safe section of this article.

Cities

 * – the capital of the department, with a large number of attractions and known for its night life and salsa dancers
 * – biggest port on the Pacific side
 * – old colonial town with a much visited church
 * – beach town with possible whale watching.
 * – the "agricultural capital of Colombia" is Valle del Cauca's third largest city with a beautiful cathedral
 * – small village where you can enjoy the river and nature, accessible with a motorbike-propelled vehicle that utilize the train tracks.

Get around
Call for a taxi to pick you up or rent a car. If you want you can use the MIO, the system of mass transportation.

See

 * Cali Zoo is famous for its variety and beauty.
 * "El Senor de los Milagros" in Buga is a very old and interesting church.
 * Lago Calima. A big artificial lake with beautiful farms and resorts, popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing for its steady wind.

Do

 * "La Feria de Cali", the biggest festival in Cali, which is celebrated every December.

Eat

 *  Cali Plaza Hotel Restaurant A favorite hang-out for international tourists, free Wi-Fi. Calle 15 Norte No. 6N-37 - Granada Barrio - Zona Rosa - 57 2 668 2611 - mail@caliplaza.com "http://www.caliplaza.com"

Sancocho de Ginebra, Cholados in Jamundi, Tostadas in Vijes, and every small town has delicious restaurants that any tourist will enjoy.

Drink
Aguardiente.

Stay safe
Personal safety in the Valle del Cauca Department is a major priority, especially in the rural areas near the cities of Pradera, Florida, and Palmira. As of 2010 the guerrilla movements FARC and ELN had a heavy presence in many rural areas. These armed groups have for decades been notorious for killings and kidnappings throughout the country. Always travel with a trusted native Colombian when traveling anywhere in the department. Also stay on main highways, especially during the night. Never travel alone.

Valle del Cauca is an area classified as "do not travel" by the Australian Dept. of Foreign Ministry due to the extreme amount of violence in the region. This travel warning was issued in December 2010.

As of December 2010 the U.S. State Department warned against travelling to Valle del Cauca and Cali.

title: Valle del Cauca


text:
Valle del Guadalhorce

Valle del Guadalhorce is a region in the Province of Malaga, Andalucia, Spain. The Valle del Guadalhorce is a natural region formed by the Guadalhorce River. The valley is characterized by its fertility and the cultivation of vegetables, fruit trees and citrus, and is known as the "garden of Malaga".

Cities

 * — most important town in the area
 * — a typical pueblo blanco, a whitewashed village nestled between three rocky spurs topped by the ruins of the castle
 * — a typical pueblo blanco, a whitewashed village nestled between three rocky spurs topped by the ruins of the castle
 * — a typical pueblo blanco, a whitewashed village nestled between three rocky spurs topped by the ruins of the castle
 * — a typical pueblo blanco, a whitewashed village nestled between three rocky spurs topped by the ruins of the castle

Understand
In the Guadalhorce Valley there is a great pottery tradition. The Guadalhorce Valley Ceramics Association has ceramists with great experience and curriculum, who work to keep the traditional ceramics of this area alive, and to innovate with different techniques and styles.

The Ethnographic Museum "Las Vistillas, Coín rural life", which shows the history of the Guadalhorce Region during the 20th century.

Get in
It enjoys very good communications through the A-357 highway and the commuter train that link the Costa del Sol to the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba Reservoir Natural Area.

The railway line that arrives from Seville, Córdoba, and Madrid stops at Álora, Pizarra and Cártama enbroute to Malaga. It is one of the busiest lines in Spain through which dozens of daily trains pass, including the AVE high-speed train.

The A-357 motorway from Campillos to Malaga, also known as the Guadalhorce motorway, connects, at the inter-county level, the population centres that settle along the valley.

The regional highway A-366, also known as Carretera de Coín, crosses from Churriana to Coín, becoming a crossing when crossing Alhaurín de la Torre and Alhaurín el Grande.

Get around
The Málaga Area Metropolitan Transport Consortium operates intercity and urban bus routes.

title: Valle del Guadalhorce


text:
Valledupar

Valledupar is the capital of the department of Cesar in Eastern Andino and the birthplace of Vallenato music.

Understand
Known as the “forest city”, Valledupar is considered the greenest city in Colombia. As the birthplace of Vallenato music, the city is representative of a unique part of the Colombian culture.

The city has around 350,000 inhabitants and enjoys year-round sunshine. The average temperature is 30 °C and the driest months are from December to February.

By bus

 * From the north (Cuatro Vias), a collectivo to Valledupar costs COP$20,000 and will drop you at the location of your choice in town.
 * From Bogota, 16-hr bus ride with costs ranging from COP$90,000 to COP$115,000 depending on the season.

From the bus terminal
Valledupar has different land entrances, and it's crossed by national highway route from south to north.

The easiest way is to take a taxi which will cost around COP$4500. Ask the taxi driver to let you of in the “Centro”, one block away from the "Plaza Alfonso Lopez".

By plane
It is possible to get to Valledupar by plane to the airport Alfonso López. Only two airlines cover this route: Avianca and LATAM. You are advised to book and reconfirm in high season.

A taxi ride from the airport to the Centro will cost around COP$7000.

Get around
In the urban area transportation services are provided by taxis and by private bus companies covering the entire city by shared routes. Lately, a new form of transportation has been developing: the informal auto (mototaxi). Local buses depart from the square around the market.

Do

 * Go for a swim in the river, though be aware that it gets packed on weekends and holidays.
 * Witness interesting traditions and culture of the Arhuaca people here or in their secluded town of Nabusimake.
 * Enjoy traditional and Spanish colonial architecture. The square, “Alfonso López Pumarejo,” and the traditional and colonial part of Downtown Valledupar still preserve Spanish colonial architecture.
 * Swim and dive in the cool, clean Guatapurí and Badillo rivers
 * Los Besotes ecopark : bird watch and hike in the verdant park.
 * For indigenous crafts, visit the nearby historic village of La Mina.
 * The square, “Alfonso López Pumarejo”.
 * The traditional and colonial part of the centre.
 * Swimming facilities “Hurtado” at the river Guatapurí.
 * The park “Lineal” and the “Village Vallenato”.
 * Natural swimming facilities “La Mina”.
 * The “Badillo” river.
 * The eco park “Los Besotes” and the reserve “Vida Silvestre”.
 * The eco park “Paraver”, known for its protections of the flora and fauna.
 * Visits to all the monuments and parks as: “Los Poporos”, “María Mulata”, ”Los Gallos”, “El Folclor Vallenato”, ”Mi Pedazo de Acordeón”, and “Revolución en Marcha”.
 * The “stage” Compai Chipuco.
 * The Vallenato music groups and the Vallenato parties.
 * Fruit trees you´ll find in the city; mango, cañahuate, ceibas, robles, totumos, acacias, mamones, cotoprix, uvitos, cardamomos e innumerables cauchos.
 * The important indigenous population in the area such as Nabusimake.
 * Villages like La Paz, Patillal, Manaure Cesar, Pueblo Bello, Nabusimake
 * The savannah area of the Cesar department and visits to the mountain area of the “Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta”.
 * The “Coliseo Gallístico”.
 * The “Coliseo Gallístico”.

Buy
Supermarkets
 * Exito supermarket, two blocks away from the hostel, is a huge superstore offering everything from clothes to electrical articles to fresh fruit and veg.
 * Carrefour supermarket, in C.C. Guatapuri Plaza, is another huge superstore offering everything from clothes to electrical articles to fresh fruit and veg.
 * Olympica supermarket (calle 14 con Carrera 9.)
 * Mi Futuro supermarket: four blocks away from the hostel, is a local supermarket, good prices.
 * Market - There's a local market selling fresh produce, Plaza de Mercado ¨La Galeria¨

Shopping centers
 * Guatapurí Plaza (Av. Hurtado Diagonal 10 No. 6N-15)
 * Orbe Plaza (Carrera 9 con calle 12, esquina)

Drink
Discothèques
 * La Licorera: Carrera 9 # 9 - 36
 * Plaza Mayor: Carrera 6 #15-70, Plaza Alfonso López
 * La iguana: Carrera 9 #10-44
 * Kankurua: Calle 16a # 7 - 61

Coffee shops
 * Café Plaza Mayor: Good location and nice bar. Three music ambiances. (Carrera 6 #15-70, Plaza Alfonso López)
 * Juan Valdez: Guatapurí Plaza  (Av. Hurtado Diag. 10 No. 6N-15)

Restaurants
 * Compae chipuco: Carrera 6ta con calle 16. Ask for "el almuerzo" at lunch and "menu del dia" it´s the cheap option.
 * Antore Pizza: Calle 12 Nro 17-46 Tel: (5) 573-3030
 * La Razón: Typical food. Carrera 6 Nro 11-03 Tel: (5) 584-6051
 * Jerusalem: Carrera 9 Nro 7c-29

Go next
Private rooms and hostels are available in:

Manaure - 35km away. The temperatures are more pleasant as it's in the mountains 700m above sea level

Riohacha

Camarones

Tayrona National Park

Santa Marta

title: Valledupar


text:
Valle Gran Rey

Valle Gran Rey is a town in La Gomera, Canary Islands. Valle Gran Rey is divided roughly into four areas with different characters and it's worth thinking which suits you best:

Get in

Ferries arrive in San Sebastian, where you can pick up a hire car. (Ferries also arrive directly to Valle Gran Rey, but less frequently.) It takes about an hour to drive across Gomera, not including stops at the many miradors to look at the stunning views.

Public transport is limited, with four buses a day (two on Sunday) taking an 1¾ hr from San Sebastian. It is operated by guagua, which go between the three settlements and up the valley and beyond.

Get around
Distances are walkable between the three main settlements. If you're staying further up the valley, you may need a car.

In addition to the La Gomera public busses, taxis are also available.

See
There is so much to see in Valle Gran Rey, a stroll is never boring. Starting at the top of the valley there is the stunning terracing, but not as cultivated as much as it used to be. There are great views of this from the. Coming down the valley, each part has its own character and is best explored on foot. It's worth getting a good map and using the paths that criss cross the valley. About half way down is the, a great place to rest and savour the view.

The real pleasure, though, is in the small things; looking at the different stages that bananas grow through; seeing a myriad of interesting plants, watching the cliff-face change with the light; hearing the shearwater birds making their strange sounds as they fly up the valley at night; taking a moonlit stroll on a balmy evening. And above all, just slowing down to the Gomera pace of life.

Do
It can be hotter up here, than in the valley. This inversion weather situation is normal for the Canary Islands, but in summer the inversion layer often goes down so low that you suddenly find yourself in dust-dry, very hot air while climbing a few meters in altitude, even though the temperature is still pleasant in the valley.

Walking
Whether an easy stroll around the three villages, up the valley or more challenging stuff, it's all beautiful and fascinating. Organised walking tours are also available from a small range of companies in the valley:

 * To the waterfall: 1-2 hours from . Start is marked with yellow arrows and yellow-blue mark. Then continue in the stream bed. Course of the trail changes with water level. You may have to climb in few places.
 * , and from there to Las Hayas and descent back into the Valle Gran Rey. Entry in the upper Calera at the large cistern behind a house with terrace and many flowers - can't be missed.
 * , with nearby laurel forest. You can start e.g. in just after the bridge on the left. There you climb over large boulders in the Baranco and soon find above the terraced fields the way to Las Hayas. This way is no longer maintained, though. For the second climb you have to continue on the small road. After about 8 minutes you will come to a small bamboo forest in a sharp right turn. From there, walk back a few meters and you will find the signposted hiking trail to Las Hayas on the right.
 * , from there continue via Chipude to Table Mountain La Fortaleza or descent via the pasture La Mantanza and the church path into the Valle Gran Rey. Once in the hike at the Ermita de los Reyes, there after the church square the trail continues through small villages until the signposted ascent to El Cercado.
 * - difficult hike with climbing, from there via the alp La Mantanza and the church path back to the Valle Gran Rey (arrival at the Ermita de los Reyes). Beware - due to smooth rocks, in humidity (e.g. after rain) this hike is highly dangerous. Especially the descend along Baranco de Argaga is advised against by the locals in such conditions.

In any case, hikers should provide enough water (in the summer not less than 3 litres per person, the more the better) and functional clothing. Experience has shown in the summer that a hike to Arure with 6 liters of water per person had to be stopped due to lack of water. "Refueling" of water is difficult on Gomera, as the hikes are very lonely.

You should have a good sense of orientation and look for the cairns that other hikers have set up as trail markers. With a few words of Spanish you can also ask locals, unfortunately only in the villages, on the way you rarely meet other people.

The descents are sometimes cumbersome after a long hike and require a lot of concentration because the ground is sometimes a bit hilly. This is especially true for the church path, which requires a lot of concentration. If you want to avoid this, you can take the bus back to the valley. There are stops in Chipude near the church, on the road between Chipude and El Cercado, and in El Cercado at the Bar Maria.

In Arure, the stop is on the main road opposite a large restaurant, in Las Hayas is the bus stop above the village at the turnoff to El Cercado.

You should definitely ask for the bus times, in winter, for example. there is no bus on Sundays and holidays. Bus timetables hang out in many bars, just ask the wait staff.

Look for the rare giant lizard of La Gomera, until 1999 thought to be extinct.

Other activities
Biking - either on guided mountain bike tours or on your own with a rented bike. There are three bike rentals and tour operators in Valle Gran Rey, one in La Playa (www.gomera-bikes.com), one in La Puntilla (www.bike-station-gomera.com) and one in Vueltas (www.bikers-inn.eu). They offer as well taxi transfer services into the national park.

Go on a whale and dolphin watching trip. A large motor cruiser - the Tina - operates most days, but the itinerary varies. Some days the boat takes tourists around the island to view the famous basalt rock formations, Los Organos, which are only visible from the sea but other shorter trips are dedicated solely to finding whales and dolphins. There is usually someone selling tickets on the quayside. The longer trips include food and drink.

Alternatively you can go out on very small motorised open boats holding six to ten people with an experienced cetacean researcher. The costs are very similar but obviously the small boats do not have any facilities. You do potentially get much closer to the whales and dolphins though and see them at eye level. Book a place on these boats at the Club de Mar in Vueltas on the street behind the harbour.

All these trips seem to be well run with respect for the welfare of the animals. Their success rate is remarkably high and the larger boats are in radio contact with fishing vessels and other boats. However there is of course no guarantee you will spot anything. Even so the trip is a good way to spend a few hours and to view the island from the sea. Take warm clothes and sunscreen and water and food if lunch is not included.

Buy
Groceries can be bought, e.g. in Vueltas, and there you can also buy some souvenirs along the main street. There are small shops in El Cercado, Chipude, Arure and (seldom open) in Las Hayas.

Other than that, the only recommendable thing to buy is Miel de Palma - palm tree honey. You'll think of Gomera every time you eat it.

Eat
Gomeran cuisine is tasty, unsophisticated and based on local ingredients. Being an island, fish is popular, especially varieties of tuna.

Typical dishes include:
 * Potaje de Berros - Watercress soup
 * Atún en mojo - Tuna in mojo sauce
 * Leche asada - 'Baked milk' A kind of solid blancmange, served with Miel de Palma - delicious palm-tree honey
 * Gofio - a milled grain dating from Guanche times, is also a staple and is very popular for breakfast.

Drink
Plenty of excellent fresh juices and milk-shakes:
 * Good coffee - try 'cortado leche y leche' - small coffee with both warm and condensed milk.
 * Gomeran wines - Garajonay has obtained DOC status.
 * Parra - Local firewater.
 * Gomerón - Firewater mixed with Miel de Palma.

Sleep
As the main tourist destination on Gomera, there is a plentiful supply of accommodation.

There are several large apartment complexes based around pools and with receptions. These seem to be used by all the tour groups. Especially if you speak a little Spanish, you can just turn up and try the places saying 'aparatmento' or 'alojamiento', often with a mobile number. However, this can be very hit and miss.

Go next
Many tourists come for the excellent walking. There are great walks all over the island, several of which start in Valle Gran Rey. You don't have to be a mountain goat, many walks are relatively flat and with little traffic, may even be on tarmac at times. Buy a good map and get out there. If you're feeling fit you can walk right up the valley to Chipude and get the bus/taxi back.

title: Valle Gran Rey


text:
Vallejo

Vallejo is in Solano County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.

The name "Vallejo" is locally pronounced in a confused hybrid of Spanish and English as "vuh LAY hoe." In Spanish this ought to be "bah YAY hoe," and you may find some locals who speak Spanish as their first language pronouncing the city's name this way.

By car
Vallejo has four major highways that lead into the city.
 * Interstate 80 Westbound from Sacramento and Eastbound from San Francisco
 * Interstate 780 Westbound from Benicia and the East Bay
 * State Route 29 (Sonoma Blvd.) Southbound from the Napa Valley
 * State Route 37 (Marine World Pkwy.) Eastbound from Marin and Sonoma

By ferry
San Francisco Bay Ferry (+1 707 64-FERRY) provides an hourly ferry services from San Francisco's Financial District with a crossing time of just over one hour. is at 289 Mare Island Way, near the intersection with Georgia St.

By car
Similar to San Francisco, most of Vallejo uses a grid-like network of roads with about every three blocks north–south being a major road that crosses town. It's best to also ask for a cross street when looking for directions. Most roads in this area are named by US states going east/west and California counties going north–south. On Mare Island, the grid is based on numbered and lettered streets. There are also numbered streets on the mainland, but they are in broken order and have other named roads in between them. Other roads (mostly in the east) are usually rural roads or roads that are located in the hills, and can't hold to the grid.

Enterprise, Hertz and Avis all have car rental locations in Vallejo.

Isolated areas
There are two parts of Vallejo that are isolated from the main part of town: Mare Island and Hiddenbrooke. Neither of them provide bus service.
 * The easiest way to get into Mare Island by any means would be to cross the drawbridge near Tennessee Street and Mare Island Way.
 * Hiddenbrooke can only be accessed legally through Hiddenbrooke Parkway, via. I-80 (between Vallejo and Fairfield). Bikes and pedestrians use the Solano Bikeway between Columbus and Hiddenbrooke Parkways.

Eat

 * Joy of Eating Café, 828 Springs Rd, (707) 644–5315. Probably the best place for a down-to-earth and tasty breakfast in Vallejo. The country potatoes are great, portions are large and prices are reasonable
 * Taj Grill: Tasty Indian food & they deliver! Address: 758 Admiral Callaghan Ln. Phone: (707) 644–4902.
 * My Thai House: Thai eatery offering vegan and gluten-free options among typical curries, drunken noodles, etc. Address: 3636 Sonoma Blvd. Phone: (707) 654-8969.
 * Joy of Eating Café, 828 Springs Rd, (707) 644–5315. Probably the best place for a down-to-earth and tasty breakfast in Vallejo. The country potatoes are great, portions are large and prices are reasonable
 * Taj Grill: Tasty Indian food & they deliver! Address: 758 Admiral Callaghan Ln. Phone: (707) 644–4902.
 * My Thai House: Thai eatery offering vegan and gluten-free options among typical curries, drunken noodles, etc. Address: 3636 Sonoma Blvd. Phone: (707) 654-8969.
 * My Thai House: Thai eatery offering vegan and gluten-free options among typical curries, drunken noodles, etc. Address: 3636 Sonoma Blvd. Phone: (707) 654-8969.

Stay safe
The safest areas of Vallejo are usually places that are isolated from the main part of the city, such as Mare Island and Hiddenbrooke. Most of the major shopping centers in Vallejo as well as most of Vallejo east of I-80 and the hills around the west of it are safe enough to travel, but are not completely crime free. However, Vallejo has a reputation for its areas of violent crime. Most of these areas are located in patches west of I-80, where some are labelled locally such as The Crest in the North, and Millersville in Central Vallejo; there is also one in South Vallejo along Magazine Street. Sonoma Blvd. (SR 29) between Nebraska and Georgia Streets is a main location for human trafficking. It is unlikely most of these areas will be of any interest to tourists, but if you plan to be in these areas, be vigilant and use your street smarts.

Go next
Sacramento- 80 East. About 1 hour away with no traffic.

San Francisco- 80 West. About 40 to 70 minutes away, depending on traffic.

Napa Valley- 29 North. About 10 to 50 minutes away, depending on where you are going in the Valley.

Santa Rosa- 37 West to 101 North. About 40 to 60 minutes away, depending on traffic.

title: Vallejo


text:
Vallemi

Vallemí is a town in the Northern Paraneña region of Paraguay. It is on the east bank of the Parana River, north of Concepción.

By boat

 * Vallemi is the final stop of the Cacique II cargo boat which leaves Concepción on Thursday evening. The ride takes about 30 hours and costs 53,000 Guarani. Ask the captain to sleep on board for free on Friday night.
 * The Aquidaban cargo boat also arrives in Vallemi on Wednesday afternoon before continuing on to Bahia Negra.

By bus
There are bus connections to Concepción but they are erratic, especially during rainy season.

Do

 * There are some caves nearby that are worth exploring but are not very easy to reach from Vallemi.
 * Paraguay's biggest cement factory is in Vallemi. To arrange a tour, walk there and talk to the guard at the entrance.

title: Vallemi


text:
Vallendar

Vallendar is a small town in Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) region of Germany, with about 10.097 inhabitants.

Understand
The town sits on the right bank of the Rhine with hills of the Westerwald rising to the east.

In the town is the WHU-Otto Beisheim, a private business school which only has about 500 students; the PTHV theological college; and is the location of the catholic Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt.

Get in
On the B42 between Koblenz and Bendorf

The rail station is on the East Rhine Railway with connections to Cologne and Wiesbaden/Frankfurt

See

 * The town as a pedestrianised shopping area containing a number of timber framed houses.

Do

 * The Rheinsteig goes through the town.

Buy
Rewe

Lidl

Netto

Go next

 * At the river front is the bridge to Niederwerth, the only river island village in Germany.
 * Koblenz
 * Bendorf
 * Neuwied

title: Vallendar


text:
Valle San Giovanni

Valle San Giovanni is a small village about 8 km (5 miles) from the provincial city capital of Teramo in Italy's Abruzzo Region.

By plane

 * Pescara Airport "Pasquale Lanzi", via Tiburtina (tel. +39 085

By car

 * Take the road from Teramo to Montorio al Vomano. About 6½ km (4 miles) down the road you will see the signs for Valle San Giovanni.  Travazzano is about 1 km along this road.

See

 * The ruins of San Giovanni in Pergulis, an ancient church and convent. It is located on the road that leads to Valle Soprana

 * Varano is a small village of just a few houses. It is a frazione (suburb) of Teramo. Visit the ruins of the old mill (mulino), still owned by the Di Battista family, and the small church dedicated to San Pietro, built in 1929. The previous church was built on a rock where there now stands the water fountain and the lavabo. The village is about 11 km from Teramo and about 2 km from Valle San Giovanni.  It can be a bit confusing to make your way here as there is another small town on opposite side of Teramo which is also called Varano.  The locals often differentiate them by referring to them as Varano Valle San Giovanni and Varano Nepezzano. Nine houses make up this village: two are permanently occupied by ten members of Di Benedetto family. The other eight have been repaired and are used mostly as country houses and summer retreats.  Before the townspeople began emigrating in the early part of the 1900s, Varano had a population of close to 100 residents. Some of the emigrees went to the United States, South America (mostly Argentina or Venezuela) or to be miners in Belgium.  The majority, however, made their way to Canada.
 * Travazzano is a small village located about 8 km (5 miles) from the provincial city capital of Teramo. The medieval church, Santa Maria di Ponte a Porto, is on the left bank of the Tordino river. Don't miss the 15th-century fresco depicting the Madonna along with Saints Sebastian and Rocco.

Do

 * Madonna della Neve (Our Lady of the Snow) A major religious festival which takes place the first weekend in August and celebrates an August snowfall marking the location of the present church in the town center.
 * Talk to some of the people from this town and many will tell you about their relatives who emigrated to Canada (mostly to Montreal), Venezuela, and the United States (many to Penns Grove in the state of New Jersey). Varano

Buy

 * Something from Leonardo's hardware or Paolo's general or Irma's fruit store.

Eat & drink
Only one bar in the town. It is called Bar Novanta and is run by Francesca Marini. Not much to eat though. You will have to go to Teramo or to Fabiocchi, an agriturismo located in Frondarola located 3 km to the east.

The local wine production has decreased significantly. It has become increasingly difficult to locate and hire workers to perform the labor-intensive task of caring for a vineyard. In addition, many of the younger residents who do make their own wine find it a good deal easier to buy the needed grape juice from large producers.

Sleep
You can find places to stay in Abruzzo.

Go next

 * Visit the archeological museum in Teramo, the fortress in Civitella del Tronto, the ceramics center of Castelli, the religious mecca of San Gabriele, the Gran Sasso (the highest peak in the Apennine Mountain Range), or the nearby beach town of Giulianova. All are within a short drive.

title: Valle San Giovanni


text:
Valles Calchaquíes

The Valles Calchaquíes are in the Argentine province of Salta.

Understand
Stunningly beautiful landscapes. Mountains up to high, dry valleys, extraordinary rock formations, wine-growing around Cafayate.

Get in and around
Public transport through the valleys is scarce. There are many tour agencies in Salta which offer 4WD trips to the valleys, many involving one night in Cafayate. These are spectacular and very recommended.

See

 * The Cuesta del Obispo leads up from Salta, though steep hairpin bends to the mountain pass Piedra del Molino . Beautiful views.
 * Parque Nacional Los Cardones, a strikingly beautiful highland area, famed for the great candelabra cacti growing here.
 * Cachi, lovely town at the foot of Nevado de Cachi.
 * Quebrada de las Flechas, a surreal landscape of fantastic rock formations.
 * Cafayate, a very pleasant town with plenty of tourist facilities. Centre of a wine-making area.

Do

 * Take a 4WD tour through the valleys.
 * Visit a bodega in Cafayate

Eat and sleep
Cafayate offers many fine places to stay and eat.

Drink
Some of Argentina's best wines are produced around Cafayate. Especially good are the white wines of the torrontés grape, which is only grown in Argentina.

Several wineries (bodegas) around Cafayate can be visited, including:

title: Valles Calchaquíes