One of the easiest ways to see Cusco and its surrounding attractions is to hop on one of the Cusco day tour.  The group tour is typically 5 hrs., runs 1:30pm-6:30pm, and is led by 1 guide and 1 driver.  Typically cost for the group tour is s./20-40 (US$7-$15) per person, with tour size of 15-20 people.  The tour will pick you up from your hotel in a mini bus, which will then take you to various places in and around Cusco (Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Qurikancha Temple of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay).  Private tour cost approximately US$120-130 (2-6 person), but this isn’t necessary as the typical group tours are very good.    Tours can be in Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or English, and can be arranged at any hotel/hostel concierge.  (Tips: We found the tour desk at Milhouse Backpacker and Hotel to have a very reasonable group tour price of s./20-30 per person)

For those who have a lot of time, self-guided tour can be done by walking and taking local buses/taxi.  For the reasonable of s./20-40, why bother.

Typical walking streets in Cusco

Qurikancha Temple of the Sun

Entrance Fees and the Boleto Turistico

In addition to the tour cost, you are required to pay for the admission of the various sites separately.  It is recommended to just buy the Boleto Turistico (s./130 or $47 USD, s./70 for students, free for children under 10), which allows you to visit most the sites in Cusco and Sacred Valley (including but not limited to Ollantaytambo Temple, Pisac ruins, Sacsayhuaman) in the 10 days timeframe.   A partial BTG is available for s./70 or $26, which is valid for only 1 day.  Note that you will still have to pay separate the entrance fee for Cathedral of Santo Domingo (s./25) and Qurikancha Temple of the Sun (s./10).  The Boleto Turistico  does not cover Machu Picchu and the salt mines.

You can buy your Boleto Turistico from the COSITUC office and tourist information point on Avenida El Sol 103, and from selected tourist offices and authorized travel agencies. The Boleto Turístico is also available at some of the major archaeological sites in and around Cusco.  You should just buy it from the travel agency or hostel/hotel concierge when you book the day tour.

Typical Itinerary and Places the Tour Visits

Most tour will go through Plaza de Armas, Cathedral of Santo Domingo, a walk through portion of the city to visit Historic Walls and Masonary, Qurikancha Temple of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, a gift/Alpaca store, and end at Plaza de Armas (See details below)

Plaza de Armas – Dominated by the magnificent Cathedral, this graceful square is considered the heart of Cusco and is characterized by covered walkways, colonial arcades and houses containing numerous shops, restaurants and travel agencies.

Cathedral of Santo Domingo in Cusco, Peru

Plaza de Armas – Cusco, Peru

Cathedral de San Francisco – Also known as Cusco Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco. The building was completed in 1654, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the City of Cusco listing in 1983. The Cathedral has become a major repository of Cusco’s colonial art, holding many archeological artifacts and relics, including gold, silver, and the famous last supper painting of Peru. The interior is one of the most beautiful, but cameras are not allowed (put it in your bag or purse).  It is a trip highlight and a must visit.

Ancient Inca Walls in Cusco, Peru

Historic walls and Masonary – The tour will take you through a short walk through the city and give a history of its historic walls, built 500 years ago.  The stones are neatly locked together to perfection.  Not even a piece of paper or a tooth pick can slide through.  This interlocking system is the reason the walls have lasted through numerous earthquakes over the years.

Qurikancha Temple of the Sun – It was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.  The walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold, and its adjacent courtyard was filled with golden statues. The Spanish colonists built the Church of Santo Domingo on the site, demolishing the temple and using its foundations for the cathedral.  Yet most of the bottom part of the temple is fairly well preserved and makes the site worth several hours of your time. The site is one of the best in Cuzco, containing both Catholic and Inca heritage with stunning views of the surrounding area. Looking at the outside from Avenida del Sol, you get a perfect view of the church standing on the temple and you see the differences of the Inca and the Spanish way of building.

Inside the Qurikancha Temple of the Sun

Qurikancha Temple of the Sun

Sacsayhuaman – Cusco, Peru

Sacsayhuaman –  Located on the hill overlooking the city of Cusco, Saksaywaman (pronounced very similarly to “sexy woman”) was an Incan fortress, vital to the protection and control of the city. The size of the stones at this fort is impressive, many are bigger than a car and the biggest is estimated to weigh in 200 tons. Yet, despite the sizes of the stones, they fit together so perfectly that you can’t fit a piece of paper between them. The inward leaning walls, rounded corners of the blocks, and variety of shapes used in building the fortress is said to have helped the fortress survive numerous earthquakes.  This is where you want to take pictures of your little body next to these gigantic stones.

Sacsayhuaman Panorama

Sacrafice Stone – Q’enko, Cusco, Peru

Q’enko – Located on a hill, the site was historically used for funerals and other rituals related to death, including sacrifice.   On this little site, we find the remains of the celebrations to the gods, including the Sun God ”Inti”.  On the roof of the edifice is found a stone sundial, and cut stones as often found on the sites, which show through their shadows: the solstices, the equinoxes, or the proper periods for agricultural plantations!  Under the stone perfectly cut, there is an altar for sacrifice! According to historians, usually Lamas were sacrificed, although sometimes, men and children were sacrificed in great occasion!

Tambomachay – Cusco, Peru

Tambomachay- The site consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that run through the terraced rocks. The function of the site is uncertain: it may have served as a military outpost guarding the approaches to Cusco, as a spa resort for the Incan political elite, or both. Covering a limited expanse of just over one acre, it comprises 4 large terraces and two aqueducts that carry water, presumed to be from an underground spring higher up the mountain, to waterfalls descending to a basin below.

Cusco’s Plaza de Armas

Gifts Shop/Alpaca Store – The final stop is the Alpaca store/ gift shop.  Here, the store representatives show how to tell the different between a real or fake Alpaca, the difference between Alpaca and Vicuna.  We do not know whether the Alpaca or Vicuna furs in the store are real or fake, but they were very expensive.  Most of the visitors in our group bought small gloves and magnets, etc.

Tours end back at Plaza de Armas, just in time for dinner.  For s./20-40, the trip is well worth it.  Do shop around for best pricing, and often the lowest prices are not online!

Peruvian locals making Chicha

Peru is famous for its corn or choclo.  Many things can be made from corn but the most infamous has to be the corn-based beer, chicha.  Chicha is peru’s local beer.  Like it or hate it, you have to at least try it if you are in Peru.

There are 2 kind of Chicha:

• Chicha Morado is the purple, sweat, non alcoholic drink that many restaurants in Peru serves.   It is very good.
• Chicha de jora is the fermented corn beer that used to be fermented with saliva but now malted barley is used.   It tastes like sour beer.

In the towns and villages of the Andes, getting drunk on chicha is a popular pastime – particularly during the holidays.  Chicha can be found all over peru, in any door that has a red flag or red plastic bags.  It is very cheap and to our surprise, a glass of Chicha in the  Sacred Valley area cost only S./0.50 or around USD $0.20.

As is common in other parts of the world, Andean people realized they could use saliva to activate the fermentation process, making the partial chewing & spitting out of corn kernels the first step in the chicha brewing process.  In ancient time, small group of women would chew the corn, mixed with saliva in the mouth and then spat out and stored for fermentation.   In modern time, malted barley is used for fermentation as common with other beer brewing processes.    But perhaps this old technique may still be used in remote and rural area (and perhaps in the one Chicheria we tried).

Peru’s Popular Drinks – Pisco Sour, Inca Cola

Finding Chicha at Pisac Market – Cusco, Peru

To many, Chicha may take sometime to get used to.  We think it tasted nothing more than sour beer.  A few more glasses of it will start getting you drunk and you will then surely have acquired the taste.   Often the local fermentation processes may be unsanitary, so try it at your own risk.

But if your stomach are strong enough, Chicha is one of the best way to make new friends with the locals and to experience the genuine Peruvian culture.

Use the comments box below to tell us about your Chicha experiences, or any questions you have!

Machu Picchu – From the Guard House

Machu Picchu Llama

Step 1 – Get to Lima, Peru (This is easily done with many international flights

Step 2 – Get from Lima to Cuzco

• By Bus – The cheapest way, takes 21 hrs, with prices US$30-$75 depending on company and services class.  Tickets can be booked online at www.cruzdelsur.com.pe or www.tepsa.com.pe

• By Air – Recommended way, takes 1hr 20 mins, and prices as low as US$70-80 each way with advance booking.  Flights can be booked online at www.starperu.com, www.peruvian.pe, www.lan.com, or  www.taca.com.   Star Peru and Peruvian Air are among the cheapest, and their planes are really nice.

Step 3 –  Getting from Cuzco to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) –  Aguas Calientes is a town at the base of Machu Picchu and where the train station and lodgings are. There are no road to Machu Picchu and train/hiking the Inca Trails are the only way to get there.  We will only cover the train option below as hikes must be with a guided group tour (approx. US$450-650 for the 4-days hike option).

Most tourists spend a couple of days in Cuzco, touring the city and the Sacred Valley before heading to Machu Picchu.  Many people do get altitude sickness as Cuzco is 11,203 ft. (3,395m) above sea level.  Cuzco is at much higher elevation than Machu Picchu; thus, an alternate but less taken itinerary (to help prevent altitude sickness) is to head straight to Machu Picchu after your plane lands in Cuzco and then work your way back to Cuzco.

While in Cuzco, you can find many 1 or 2 days packaged tour to Machu Picchu ($US270-350), 4 days Inca Trail Hike (US$450-650), half-day Cuzco city tour (US$10-15 or S./25-40), or 1 day Sacred Valley tour (US$12-20 or S./30-50).   The Cuzco city tour and the Sacred Valley tour are highly recommended, but don’t bother with the expensive Machu Picchu package tour as you can do it yourself as follows.  

Train to Machu Picchu

Inside Machu Picchu Train

Option 1 – Cuzco to Machu Picchu by Train – Currently Perurail is the only operator offering the services from Cuzco.  There are 3 classes of services (Expedition, Vistadome, Hiram Bingham), cheapest ticket at US$73 (one-way), and is about 3.5 hrs. trip.  Expedition used to be called Backpacker (don’t be fooled by the name, it would be one of the nicest train you have taken).  Tickets can be booked online at www.perurail.com.  A downside to this option is the limited train schedules (only 4 trains per day and all leave in early morning).   If you have the morning flight from Lima and wants to go straight to Machu Picchu, you cannot catch these trains.

Option 2 – Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu by Train –  This option requires bus/taxi/van to Ollantaytambo and then train to Machu Picchu.  It is the cheapest option with tickets as low as US$52 (one-way), and about 2 hrs. ride.  Also, there are many more trains to choose from, and you can catch this train if you arrive to Cuzco on the morning flight, and want to go straight to Machu Picchu.  The Cuzco-Machu Picchu trains also fill up quickly, so this is a good alternative.  Ollantaytambo (65km from Cuzco) is along a scenic paved road.  It is a very lovely town, and it is recommended to spend 1- 2 here and slow down to soak up the basic lifestyle.  Ollantaytambo temples and ruins are also a must visit, and are usually part of the Sacred Valley day-tour package.  Follow the methods below to get from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo.

Lovely town of Ollantaytambo – Peru

Scenic ride, Cusco to Ollantaytambo

• • 

    Ollantaytambo Streets

    Taxi – from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo will take 90 mins (US$30 or S./80).

  • Bus – You can also take the bus from the first block of Av. Grau near the bridge (US$1.50, 90 minutes) to Urubamba and then hop another bus for the 20-minute, US$1 ride to Ollantaytambo.
  • Colectivo Van – The most convenient option is to take a colectivo van from the Paradero Pavitos (US$3.50 or S./10, 90 minutes) to Ollantaytambo.  Colectivo leaves when full, and often within 10-15 mins of waiting.  These are nice vans.

The Colectivo vans

There are 2 train operators from Ollantaytambo (www.perurail.com or www.inkarail.com).  Book online in advance as trains fill up quickly, especially the evening return train from Macchu Piccu to Ollantaytambo or Cuzco (don’t even think about walking up at last minute to get these return tickets).

When booking your trains, remember that Aguas Calientes is a small town at the base of Machu Picchu and where the Machu Picchu train station is.  This is also where you can spend the night cheaply as sleeping at Machu Picchu itself will drop you (US$700/night).  Not much in Aguas Calientes, but do spend the afternoon walking around and enjoy a dip in the hot springs (US$4 or S./10).

Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu, Peru

Step 4 – Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu entrance – From Aguas Calientes you have to take a short 20 mins bus ride, through multiple scenic switchbacks up to Machu Picchu.  The fit can hike up for free in about 2 hrs., but not recommended as you should save your energy for Machu Picchu itself.  Bus runs 5:30am – 5:30pm, at 10 mins interval depending on demand, and tickets (US $9 each way, US$17 foreign adult round-trip) are available from a small ticket booth near the bus departure area near Plazaa Principal (center of town, opens at 5:15am).  Machu Picchu entrance opens from 6am-6pm but the last return bus from Machu Picchu leaves at 5:30PM (don’t miss it!)

Step 5 – Getting your tickets to Machu Picchu –  Machu Picchu tickets are NOT sold at the entrance gate and MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE.  Advance ticketing are available from the official government website (www.machupicchu.gob.pe), various ticket offices noted on that website, travel agency, most hostels, or from Aguas Calientes Cultural Center (5:15AM-9PM at Plazaa Principal), or  in Cusco at the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC).

General entrance (US$50 or S./128) are limited to 2500/day, with entrance to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Montana (US$55-59 or S./142-152, hikes to the top 2 peaks of Machu Picchu) being sub limited to 400/day.  Book early as Huayna Picchu often filled 2 wks. in advance.  The Government Site lists how many tickets are still available for each day. There are discounts for children, students with an ISIC card, and Peruvian nationals. Tickets are valid only for 1 day so you will have to buy a new one if you want to see Machu Picchu a 2^nd day.  Be sure to bring your ORIGINAL PASSPORT, as it is requested upon entry.

As of October 6, 2012 the online site is NOT accepting foreign credit cards. You must go through a travel agency or hotel in Peru or pay at any Banco de la Nacion, otherwise your reservation will expire within 6 hours and you will lose your spot.  For those with limited time in Peru and want to secure tickets in advance (especially for Huayna Picchu), try www.ticket-machupicchu.com.  They charge a minor 20% mark up, you can pay with your foreign credit cards, and print your tickets.

Machu Picchu – Temple of the Sun

Machu Picchu Peru at Sunrise

Step 6 – Enjoying Machu Picchu and the Return Trip – You can see all of Machu Picchu in about 5-8 hrs depending on how fast you walk and whether you do the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Montana hike (2-3 hrs round trip).  Below are some useful tips.

• 

  Machu Picchu – Nusta’s Bedroom

  Best view of Machu Picchu is at sunrise (6-6:30am).  Stay in Aguas Calientes the night before and be on the 1st few bus up to Machu Picchu.  Book your bus ticket the day before and arrive at bus station around 5am as long lines will form.

• Do the Huayna Picchu 10-11am option.  Spend the scenic morning time taking photos/touring Machu Picchu, then hike up Huayna Picchu for a lunch stop up top.

• Machu Picchu Montana is a longer hike than Huayna Picchu but a good alternative if you can’t get the Huayna Picchu tickets.

• Only small packs (less than 20 liters) are allowed in the park, luggage storage available at the entrance.  Sunscreens, a hat, and water are must bring.

• Food at Machu Picchu is expensive (US$11 for a burger).  Buy food/water from Aguas Calientes and hope it doesn’t get confiscated at the entrance.

• Allow enough time to catch the bus and your return train.  Remember that return trains are often full, so if you miss it, you likely have to stay overnight.

• If you do the return train to Ollantaytambo, there would be many Colectivo vans (S./10) waiting for you to take you back to Cuzco (even if you get there at 8:30pm, but likely not at 11pm)

Share your Machu Picchu experiences or leave questions/comments below!  Click LIKE if you want to go!

See Video of How to Get to Machu Picchu Below

Singapore to KL Train 1st Class Deluxe Sleeper

One of the easiest, cheapest, most comfortable way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is by train.  The trip is about 6-7 hours, cost MYR 33 (USD$10) for 2^nd class seat , MYR39 (USD$12.50) for 2^nd class sleeper, MYR114-135 (USD$36-43) for 1^st class deluxe sleeper (private cabin sleeper with private shower /toilet and LCD TV).   Note that this is cheaper than the 4-5 hr bus ride which cost about USD$24, and definitely cheaper than the cheapest Air ticket you can find.  Plus, train travel usually comes with beautiful scenery of the countryside, munching on train station food, or perhaps a nice/efficient/cheap sleep with an overnight train.

The train is clean, fair condition, good services, and has decent food.  It is very safe, and probably is the safest way to get from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

It is cheaper to buy the ticket in Malaysia or originate your trip out of the nearest town in Malaysia.  Originating or purchasing tickets in Singapore will cost you 2.5x.  More details on this below under How to Buy tickets.

Currently there are 3 trains from Singapore (Woodlands) to Kuala Lumpur (KL Sentral – Sentral Kuala Lumpur)

Train #2 EKSPRES RAKYAT: Depart daily from Woodlands at 9:12AM, arrives to KL Sentral at 2:56PM  (Class 1, 2)

Train #12 EKSPRES SINARAN SELATAN: Depart daily from Woodlands at 2:18PM, arrives to KL Sentral at 8:25PM (Class 1, 2, L, S)

Train #24 SENANDUNG SUTERA: Depart daily from Woodlands at 11:55PM, arrives to KL Sentral at 6:30AM (Class 1, 2, L, F, S)

Singapore to KL Train 1st Class Deluxe Sleeper

I recommend the overnight sleeper  (Train 24) which leaves Singapore Woodlands at 11:30PM and gets into Kuala Lumpur at 6:30am, just in time to day tour the city.  This train save you a night of hotel in Singapore and perhaps make your trip a bit more efficient as you are on the move while sleeping.

Key to classes

• L  or ADNFD = Deluxe sleeper  – 1 or 2-bed compartments with private shower & toilet, air-conditioned.
• F  or ADNFB = 1st class sleepers – Bed compartments with washbasin, air-conditioned.
• S or ADNS = 2nd class sleepers – Upper & lower berths with curtains for privacy, air-conditioned.
• 1 or AFC = 1st class seats – Reasonably luxurious, reclining, air-conditioned.
• 2 or ASC = 2nd class seats –  Comfortable, air-conditioned.

Singapore to KL Train 2nd Class Sleeper

Prices

Prices as noted at the beginning of the article.   The 2^nd class sleeper is a great deal.

How to buy tickets

The easiest , cheapest, and best way to buy the ticket is to just book from http://www.ktmb.com.my/  , which you can pay by credit card and print out your own ticket (or collect the tickets at any Malaysian KTM railway station including Singapore Woodlands).  You can also buy it from the station or call the KTM (Malaysian Railways) call centre.

The reservation open 60 days before departure and YES you need to have a reservation (one cannot just hop on and off).

When booking the tickets online, make sure to choose Sentral Kuala Lumpur, not Kuala Lumpur, as those are 2 different stations and your train options are different.

Singapore to KL Train 1st Class Seats

Singapore to KL Train 2nd Class Seats

As noted earlier, if you originate your trip from Singapore as the fare will be done in Singapore dollar and will cost you about 2.5x what it would have cost if you originate from Malaysia.  Basically, you should originate the trip from JB Sentral in Johor Bahru, thus buying tickets from JB Sentral to KL Sentral.  You can then find a way to get from Singapore to JB Sentral.  There are many buses to JB Sentral from downtown Singapore.  Click here for article on Singapore – Woodland – JB Sentral Buses

A simple method that I recommend is just to buy 2 tickets (1 from Singapore Woodland to JB Sentral and another one from JB Sentral to KL Sentral).  This way, you will only be charged more for the short 5 minutes Woodland-JB Sentral section and pay Malaysian cheaper price for the longer JB Sentral-KL Sentral section.  For example, you can buy a 2^nd class seat from Woodland-JB Sentral, then 1^st class sleeper from JB Sentral-KL Sentral.  Once the train gets to JB Sentral (5 mins ride), then walk over to your 1^st class cabin.  Note that as of January 2013, you can no longer buy the short Woodland-JB Sentral portion of your ticket online, but you can still do so in person at Woodland or by phone through the call center and pick up your ticket at Woodland on the day of your travel.  You should be able to just walk up on your day of departure and buy this cheapest 2nd class seat Woodland-JB Sentral portion.

Sleepers Cabin at KL Sentral

Woodlands Train Station Markets

Note that many web search will say that there are no food/drinks at Woodland station and they recommend you to be prepare with materials from elsewhere.  This is not miss-leading.  It is correct that there are absolutely nothing inside the train station or the ticketing area.  However, 100 meters across the street from the ticketing area, you will find a large shopping center/food complex, where there are many grocery stores, hawker stalls, and plenty of food and tiger beer to keep you spirit alive.

Share your Singapore-KL Train experiences or leave questions/comments below!  Click LIKE if you want to go!

See video of the train cabin and what to expect upon arrival below

Playa Bavaro – One of Punta Cana Best Beaches

After 7 hours of driving through heavy rain from Samana, navigating through 100’s of pot holes, the road slowly turned into beautiful 4 lanes highway passing through sugar cane plantations as we get closer to Punta Cana.  Based on the more developed highway infrastructure, we can feel that we were approaching an area of mass tourism.  After spending the past week navigating through the remote northern part of the Dominican Republic, we were ready for a bit of civilization and luxury.  The thrill and fun adventures of busting 2 tires, digging car out of a sand pit, and using our broken Spanish to get locals to help jump start a dead battery, started to wear us down and we were ready for a break.   After about 45mins on this nice highway, we arrived into Bavaro and were greeted with swaying coco palms, aqua-blue water, and beautiful white sand beach that rivals many of the top beaches in the Caribbean.

Why go to Punta Cana?

Juanillo Beach – Punta Cana

Bavaro/Punta Cana area is a top Caribbean beach paradise, but more affordable than most other Caribbean destinations.  Ask anyone who’s been to Punta Cana, and they will tell you that the beaches are among the most picturesque that they’ve ever seen.  Here, tall coconut palms dot much of the seashore, and the soft, white sand is inviting.  What is there to do?  Well, lots and lots of beautiful beaches; 35km of continuous pristine white sand.

Overview of the Area (The two town of Punta Cana and Bavaro)

Horseback Riding on Macao Beach – Punta Cana

At first impression, Punta Cana/Bavaro is very similar to Playa Del Carmen in the Maya Riviera area of Mexico.   It is basically a midsized tourist town that is surrounded by beautiful white sand beach and many mega all-inclusive resorts that are more like cities themselves than a resorts/hotels.  The area has infrastructure for mass tourism but still has the feel of a low rise small town.

Playa Blanca – Punta Cana

The main tourist area comprise of the Bavaro (accessible to the public) to the north side of the airport and Punta Cana (gated and tourists who are not staying at one of the Punta Cana’s resort can only access with a day pass) to the south side.  Whether they know it or not, most tourist that said they been to Punta Cana really spends their time in Bavaro, which is the main tourist hub.  Because of the gated area, Punta Cana is more exclusive/private (often higher end) than Bavaro; however, it is far way from any town or night life.  Punta Cana area is pretty much a beautiful master planned community of high-end resort and golf courses.  Many tourists love this beautiful exclusive feels, and many would complaint that it lacks the culture of Dominican Republic as one will not be able to tell which country they are in once inside that gated master planned community.   You will however have most of the beach to just yourself and that special person.  Many movie stars find their hideaway here.

Lounging at Playa Bavaro – Punta Cana

Bavaro has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area, closer to town, but lacks the privacy and exclusive feels of Punta Cana. The leaning palm trees, the softer white sand, and the gentle waves make this area the picture perfect beach.   All water sports activities such as parasailing, windsurfing, and jet ski are readily available in front of you.  In our opinion, we prefer the more beautiful beaches of Bavaro and the ability to easily escape from the resort to try out local food and night life in town.  Perhaps a better way to put it is that Punta Cana is more for couples/adults only and Bavaro is more for the family.  But honestly, there are so much white sand and aqua-blue water here that you will likely have your own choice of your favorite beaches.

Things to do

Punta Cana and Bavaro have everything to offer for every one of all ages.

Watersports along Playa Bavaro – Punta Cana

Punta Cana Night Clubs

Relax – The typical day is usually filled with activities at the resort such as yoga, parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing lesson, or simply sunbathing.

Party – Punta Cana/Bavaro has some party scene and night life, but it is much more toned down that that of Cancun or Cabo.    Party boats during day or sunset are available and can be booked through hotel concierge or at any restaurants/vendors in town

Punta Cana and Cap Cana Golf Courses

The Colorful Van at Juanillo Beach

Golf – There are so many golf courses around, especially in the gated Punta Cana resort area, where the courses are right on the edge of the ocean.

Beaches – Many tourists just stick the beach in front of their resort.  However, if you have a rental car (highly recommended), then you should venture out to the numerous beaches along the 35km of continuous white sand.  Driving during the day is fine, but at night is not recommended (many cars/motorcycle with no lights on the road).  Also, you should know that gas in DR is very expensive.  See our article on the Best Beaches in Punta Cana/Bavaro.

Excursions – Highly recommended is the Saona Island excursion (Click here).

Best Local Food in Punta Cana

Eat – Escape from the resort by cab or car to sample some local food.  Most of the local restaurants and night life are located in the El Cortecito waterfront area, intersection of Avenida Francia/Avenida Espana (Plaza Punta Cana/Plaza Bavaro), and the intersection of Avenida Estados Unidos/Avenida Espana (around the Texaco gas station).  Our favorite which we ate 4 times during our visit is Delicias de Bavaro (at intersection of Avenida Francia/Avenida Espana), a joint filled with locals.

If you are looking for that picture perfect white sand beach, yet affordable Caribbean vacation, look no further as Punta Cana/Bavaro has beaches that rival some of the best in the Caribbean at half the cost.

Share your Punta Cana experiences or leave questions below!  Click LIKE if you want to go!

Relaxing on Playa Bavaro – Punta Cana Beach

With 35 km of continuous white sand, Punta Cana has no shortage of beautiful beaches.  The beaches around Punta Cana are some of the best in the Caribbean, and without doubt the most spectacular beaches of the entire Dominican Republic .  Ask anyone who’s been to Punta Cana, and they will tell you that the beaches are among the most picturesque that they’ve ever seen. Here, tall coconut palms dot much of the seashore, and the soft, white sand is inviting.  If you are beach freaks like us, you will likely want to drive around to visit all of them.  Yes we gotten lost, digged car out of sand pit, and drove for 2 hours on a dirt road only to have to turn around.

In general, sands are softest and whitest around Playa Bavaro area.  As you make your way down south toward Juanillo and Cap Cana, the beach have some more rocks, seaweeds, and less pristine.   Beaches in the North such as Macao and Uvero Alto are golden sand, but are largely undeveloped and very secluded.  Below are our picks of the best beaches in Punta Cana that are easily accessible.

North Part (Starting from Playa Bavaro and Continuing to the North)

Playa Bavaro

Playa Bavaro – Punta Cana

Playa Bavaro – The main tourist beach in Bavaro, Playa Bavaro is beautiful with powdery white sand and coco palms leaning onto the shore.  Bavaro beach is very long and an evening walk along Playa Bavaro can seem endless.   The public access to this beach is a road (very clear sign) located just south of Melia Caribe Tropical Resorts.  The road ends at a large parking lot, which is mainly for the gift shops/market .  Walk pass the gift shops and find your perfect spot on the beach.

El Cortecito Beach – Punta Cana

El Cortecito – El Cortecito Beach, in the heart of Bavaro, is the closest to a small beach town/fisherman village in the area. This area is considered to be the downtown of Bavaro-Punta Cana.  You will find restaurants, bars, pharmacies, supermarkets, shopping centers, gift shops, and  banks.  Just walk pass the beach front restaurant and gift shops to get onto the beach.

Arena Gorda Beach – Punta Cana

Arena Gordo – Also known as the Fat Sand Beach because of its wide sand beach that slopes gently down to the sea. Shallow water give this beach its beautiful blue color and many people say this beach it’s perfect for kids.  Public access can be difficult and you pretty much have to stay at one of the resorts in the area.  However, we found a public beach access via Ocean Blue & Sand Service Entrance.

El Macao – Macao Beach – Punta Cana

Macao Beach –  An undeveloped, virgin beach around 20 to 30 minute drive north of Bavaro.  Driving there you pass through the little town of El Macao, and as you reach the crest of the hill you’ll see the beautiful sight of Macao beach spread out before you.  There is Macao Surf Camp, where you can rent or get surfing lesson, and restaurants right on the beach.   Macao beach is popular with local Dominicans (especially at weekends), and serves as a stop off point for a cooling swim for many of the safari truck tours and the ATV/buggy tours.

Uvero Alto Beach – Punta Cana

Uvero Alto – Our favorite but a bit out of the way to get to.  We founded it by accident because we were lost trying to get to Miches.  Uvero Alto is not a well-known beach area.  Unless you are staying in one of the secluded high-end resorts in this area, you likely will never know about it. The area outside of the resorts and hotels is relatively undeveloped and with nowhere else to eat or shop.  On the 105 from Macao going toward Miches or Laguna de Nisibon, look for a road on the right side with a sign that says Miches/Uvero Alto.  Follow this narrow 2 lane road through the country side, pass a few secluded resorts, pass the Sivory resort, and all the way until it ends and turn into a narrow dirt road.  Continue for another 100 meters on this narrow dirt road and you will come to a secluded beach.  The beach is very wide, with lush green coconut forest leaning onto it.  With the exception of a couple of folks on horseback riding tour, you may be the only people on this long, wide, beautiful beach.

South Part (Starting from Playa Bavaro and Continuing to the South)

Cabeza De Toro Beach – Punta Cana

Cabeza de Toro – Playa Cabeza de Toro is the perfect place if you want to be surrounded by the natural beautiful forests and wildlife of Punta Cana. If you like you can take a horseback riding excursion through the forests at the Natura Park Eco-Resort.  South of the Barceló Bavaro golf course, along the Bulevar Turistico del Este, you will see a road with a sign toward Cabeza de Toro.  At the end of the road, you will pass through a military area and then come to a parking lot.   Walk north pass the Dream Palm Beach Resort to get to the more secluded/natural area.

Playa Blanca – Punta Cana

Playa Blanca – A shallow water beach area that is perfect for kids as well as kite and windsurfing.  This white sand beach has very calm/clear water and can be a good photo spot.  To get there, you will have to pass through the gated area of the Punta Cana’s Resorts.  Just tell them you are going to Playa Blanca or its restaurant and they will give you a day pass in exchange for your passport or driver’s license.  Because it is located inside this gated resort area, Playa Blanca is very secluded.  Secluded and beautiful, with a nice restaurant/bar next to it, one can spend a whole day here.

Juanillo Beach – Punta Cana

Juanillo – Juanillo is a beautiful secluded beach toward the south end of Punta Cana, in Cap Cana area.  It is located right next to the Sanctuary Cap Cana Resorts. There is a beautiful beach restaurant here with cabanas and beach lounge sofas.  The food is a bit pricy, but the area is luxurious and beautiful.    We spend the afternoon here, eating lunch, playing frisbee, and even bought fish from local fisherman.  The colorful Volkswagen van next to the restaurant makes for a good photo.  To get there, take the road toward Cap Cana.  You will then come to a gated area and you have to go through the same method as Playa Blanca above.  Just mention you are going to Juanillo and hand over your ID, driver license, or passport.

Bayahibe Beaches

Dominicus Beach – Bayahibe

Other Beaches in the 1 hour drive – Within 1 hour, you can make your way south to Bayahibe, Playa Dominicus, and then perhaps a boat ride to the must visit Saona Island.

Share with us in the comment section below your favorite beach in Punta Cana!  We love to hear your picks!  Also, go to our Facebook page and post your favorite Punta Cana beach photos.

Share your Punta Cana Beach experiences or leave questions below!  Click LIKE if you want to go!

 See a Compilation Video of Punta Cana Best Beaches Below:

Then you arrive at an open beach that is 3-4 miles long, with white sands and palm trees stretching as far as you can see, and lush green mountains in the background.  You have it all to yourself as there is absolutely no one on it.  No development, no lifeguard, restroom, nothing.  Untouched beach with waves gently lap the shores, and soft powdery sand and warm water that invites you to jump in.   You have found paradise, off the beaten path paradise.

About Playa Rincon

Playa Rincon Looking East

It has been written by many travelers that Playa Rincon has been voted by Conde Nast as one of the top 10 beaches in the world (which we have yet to find the actual article).  In our mind, it is in our top 10 off the beaten path beaches in the world.  Playa Rincon is located about 25 km from the town of Samana, and 9 km from the town of Las Galeras.  The Rincon beach is surrounded by the 600-meter cliffs of Cape Cabron, and a row of palm trees that run along the white sand and turquoise water.

At the west end of the beach is a cove with protected waters that are ideal for swimming.  There is also a restaurant here.  This west end is where most boats from Las Galeras will drop you at.  At the east end of the beach is the Cano Frio, a small, freshwater stream that forms a natural border between the beach and the steep edge of the mountainous Cabo Cabron National Park. Next to this small stream is also a restaurant.  It is where most jeep/truck excursion will drop you at.  You can rent beach chairs at both ends of the beach, but why bother when all you need is a towel to lie on the soft sand.

Playa Rincon looking west

View of Playa Rincon from the Dirt Road

On a busy day, you may find no more than 15 other people.  Due to a hurricane that came through the night before, we were the only visitors.  Currently there are no hotels or developments on the beach, likely because not many tourists made it to Samana.  Go before the hotels and tourists get there.

Warning that you should not expect the beach to be clean of seaweed /trash.   Like many virgin beaches, trash/seaweed do wash up and there are no one to clean it.  It is as natural as you can have it.  Trash and seaweed often accumulate near the Cano Frio stream on the east end.  Best to spend your time in the middle of the beach where it is pristine.

Playa Rincon is simply pure paradise, not-to-be-missed if you are in the Samana Peninsula. 

Getting there

The nicer portion of the road

1. By Car – You can drive there, but the road is rough.  You do risk blowing out tires, car breaking down, and being stuck with no one to help.  You can get there with a standard car, but it is a big risk, and you have to go so slow that it will take you 1.5hrs.  You really need a 4 wheels drive, which will take 30-40 mins.  The road to Playa Rincon is 7km south of Las Galeras and clearly marked with a big sign.

2. By Excursions –  You can also do an ATV excursion from Las Galeras for about USD$50/ATV.  But it is a very long ride.

3.  By  a Local Guide – This is the option we took.  There are many locals hanging along the beach trying to find customers where they can help arrange something.  We met Ambriore, a very friendly local who agreed to take us on a pick-up truck for DR2000 (USD $50).  He was a great host.  He climbed up a coconut tree and cracked us 2 coconuts each for free.  We had such a great time, and paid him and his friend a bit extra at the end.  Ask for Ambriore when you are in town and he will get you anything you need.  Everyone in town….really everyone knows him.

A small river on east end of Playa Rincon

Lifestyle along the road – villager’s house

4.  By Boat – You can rent services of a small boat on the beach of Las Galeras for about USD $15/person or USD $55 (DR2500) if you charter the whole boat.  Prices varies depending on how many people are going to be on the boat.  Standard option is a pick up at 9am from Las Galeras and a return pick up at 4pm (negotiable).

Share with us your Playa Rincon trip or questions  below!  Click LIKE if you want to go!

See video of the Playa Rincon day trip below

Crystal Clear Water – Saona Island – Dominican Republic

If you are in the Dominican Republic (DR) and considering whether to do a trip to Isla Saona, GO!  You cannot miss it if you have made it to the DR.   We have seen many beaches and islands around the world and Saona’s beauty will always be in our memories.

Saona is a tropical island located on the southeast tip of the Dominican Republic and is part of the Parque Nacional del Este.  The island has no hotel and the only establishment on the island is Mano Juan (pop. 300).  One cannot stay overnight (unless you crash with the locals in Mano Juan) and most tourists arrive on a day trip.

The typical excursion includes a catamaran ride from Bayahibe to the island, dancing and drinking on the boat, buffet lunch, a stop at piscina natural (shallow sandbank with clear water), and a speedier motorboat trip back.

Getting There:  Boats leave from Bayahibe every morning.  Every hotel, restaurant, and shop in La Romana/Bayahibe advertise the trip.  If you are staying in Punta Cana/Bavaro, the trip can easily be arranged through your hotel or online.    Trips (including pick up from hotel) range anywhere from $50 – $80 (add $20-$25 USD for transportation if you are staying in Punta Cana/Bavaro).  During the slow August month, we found prices as low as $40/person by just walking around Bayahibe waterfront in the early morning.  Similar to most tourist destinations, expect some crowd unless you booked a trip with non-standard stops.  Dive shops/good tour co. often take tourists to the more secluded beaches (costing a bit more, but worth it).  We booked the ProExcursion’s House Tour ($89/person including transportation from Bavaro), which included catamaran to/back, a walking tour of Mano Juan, visit to the beautiful secluded beach of Canto de la Playa, snorkeling, visit the mangroves, and a stop at piscina natural.  Canto de la Playa is a very beautiful beach (one of the more memorable beaches), so ask your tour co. whether they are going there and expect to pay a bit more.

What to Bring: Towels, sunscreens, bugs/mosquitoes spray (a must), sun glasses, sandals, camera.

Our Actual Saona Trip

Approaching Mano Juan – Isla Saona

Mano Juan School

We left Bayahibe around 9am on a medium sized catamaran with a small group of 16 people.  Soft drinks and rums are all you can drink.   After about 45 minutes ride, we arrived at Saona/Mano Juan.  On a first impression, Saona has beautiful coastline of dense coconut forest leaning on to the white sand beach.  The waters around the island are very shallow, and every time the boat slows down, there are temptations to just jump in.  Mano Juan is a small village with rows of colorful houses and a small pier.  Our tour guide took us on a walking tour of the village, a visit to the local school, and an invitation to one of the villager’s house for some papaya juice and to see how they live.  We also visited a turtle nursery, held little turtles that just hatched, before stopping for a nice buffet lunch (fish/pasta/chicken) in Mano Juan.

First sight of Isla Saona

Canto de La Playa – Isla Saona

After lunch, we boarded the boat again and headed to the beautiful beach of Canto de la Playa.  As the boat approached Canto de la Playa, one can see a nearly deserted beach with coconut trees leaning onto the white sand, and shallow clear water stretching 200 meters into the sea.  A paradise on earth and one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen.  The water was very clear and the snorkeling/aquatic life plentiful.  We spend the next 2 hours taking pictures, snorkeling, laying on the sand, and drinking coconut juice.   There was only one other small tour group on this beach, so it was calm and quite.

After Canto de la Playa, we took a quick tour of the mangroves, danced a bit on the boat, and then a stop at piscina natural.  As mentioned before, piscine natural is a shallow sandbank that extends far from the shore.   Because of the recent storm, the water around piscina sandbank was not very clear, but still beautiful.   We jumped into the shallow water, held star fish, and played some rum drinking games.  Everybody was enjoying themselves and having a lot of fun.

Drinking rum with star fish

Dancing on the catamaran – Isla Saona

On the boat ride back to Bayahibe, the crew got everyone involved in dancing (from the young to the elder).  Like it or not, everyone had to dance.  Of course, after some rum drinking games at piscina natural, the dancing was much easier.  After a few songs and a nice work out, folks sat down and enjoyed the final ride back into Bayahibe.

Our catamaran – Isla Saona

After we got off the catamaran, we noticed 3-4 fishermen cleaning fishes on the beach.  We approached them and negotiated with broken Spanish for 10 fishes for 250 DR pesos.   That is only about $0.63 USD/fish.  Our dinner for the next 3 days.

The Saona trip was well worth it and every pesos well spend.  We did not experience any wild crowd, super loud music, or uncontrolled drinking that some guidebooks mentioned about the Saona trip.  It was a good mix of beautiful beaches, traditional life style of Mano Juan, relaxing boat ride, dancing, and some good laugh/smile.   It is a MUST VISIT.

See Video of Our Saona Trip Below

Playa Dorada – Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata area is one of the popular destinations in the Dominican Republic.  Located in the North coast, Puerto Plata is surrounded by mostly lush green coconut forest and tannish/gray sand beaches. The lush green coconut forest leaning into the beaches make for some great tropical paradise photos.  Most tourists come to Puerto Plata to stay at the beach around Playa Dorada or spent some time in Sosua/Cabarete.  Aside from the all inclusive resort area around Playa Dorada, this part of the country is not very developed, so be prepared for some adventure as you venture out from the all inclusive hotel zone.   Of course being less developed means you get to see DR in a more cultural/natural way (the timeless rural life), but it does come with some safety concerns and challenges.

Playa Dorada – Puerto Plata

Playa Dorada  – The closest tourist beach to Puerto Plata and really the main attraction to the area, Playa Dorada is a beautiful beach where majority of the all inclusive resorts are located.  It is the crown jewel of the North Coast.  The beach is quite long and the backdrop of coconut trees leaning in to the waves add to its beauty.   The sand on the beach is not white, but rather tannish/gray sand.  During sunset time, the sun will fall behind the coconut trees and the small mountain, making for great sunset stroll.  Playa Dorada is relaxing, not too much tourist, and is a good mix of sun, life in a layback beach town, and the pampering of the all-inclusive resorts.  There are shopping malls, ATMs, internet, Pizza Hut, Café, and car rental agency in the area.  This is where the majority of the all inclusive tourists stay in Puerto Plata.

Puerto Plata Sunset – Sosua Beach

Eventhough all beaches in the DR are public, if you do not stay at one of the resorts on the Playa Dorada, it may be difficult to find the entry to the beach itself.   One entry point is by the Grand Paradise Resort (which is behind the Playa Dorada Shopping Centre).  You will see lots of cars parked along the street and you will have to walk across a small field to get to the beach.

Most tourists who come to Puerto Plata stay on Playa Dorada.  Most use Playa Dorada as their home base and explore the region by car or through excursion from hotels/local vendors.  Popular day trips/excursions in the area are to Sosua, Cabarete, Cayo Arena, and 27 waterfalls in Domajagua.  As mentioned before, the area’s infrastructure is not very developed, but you will be rewarded with timeless rural life and more exposure to Dominican culture.  Driving in the area is not recommended for novice drivers who are not used to driving in a 3^rd world country.  The road has a lot of potholes, it is 2 lanes with lots of passing, and some motorcycles ride with no lights at night.  For the experienced drivers, your passenger would be pretty stressed.

Puerto Plata Town/ San Felipe Fort – Sad to say, but there isn’t much to see here in Puerto Plata town.  The town is very rundown and if you take a wrong turn on some of the alleys, you may feel a bit unsafe.  The Parque Central is a nice town square with a colonial church and is a good place to stop for photos, if you did decide to visit town.  Many beggars do hang around here, so take your snaps and move on.  A couple of banks/ATM and gift shops are also found here (after we drove for 30mins looking for ATM in town, we found 2 around Parque Central).

Parque Central – Puerto Plata

San Felipe Fort – Puerto Plata

At the edge of the waterfront is San Felipe Fort (built in mid 16^th century), which is great for photo from the outside, but probably not worth paying the RD$100 to see the inside.   Next to the fort is also a sad looking lighthouse that was built in 1879 and a victory monument statue that is worth a picture of.   The view of the waterfront from the Fort is nice and relaxing to spend a few minutes enjoying.

San Felipe Fort – Puerto Plata

Puerto Plata Light House

Puerto Plata Malecon

The malecon is in much better condition than most malecon that you may have seen; however, the view is mediocre and you would likely spend more of your time fending off vendors and beggars.  We did not see many tourists (maybe 10) around the malecon or the San Felipe Fort area at all, so perhaps no one really ventures out to see this area of town.  At the east end of the malecon is Long Beach which is a good spot for the locals, but it lacks the beauty of Playa Dorado (where most tourist goes).

After seeing the town, I now understand why the lonely planet doesn’t have much to write about it.  I wish they would just come out and say that there isn’t much here worth you venturing out of your resort and paying for a taxi to see it.

Teleferico – For RD$300 roundtrip, the cable car will take visitors to the top of the hill to the top of Pico Isabel de Torres, where there is a large statue of Christ the Redeemer (a smaller version of the one in Rio de Janeiro).  The view from the top is great and offers a spectacular view of the city and coastline.  There is also a nice botanical garden at the top.  There were almost no lines for the cable car.

Christ the Redeemer – Puerto Plata

View from Teleferico – Puerto Plata

In summary, Puerto Plata area is a good mix of rural life, green rain forests, leaning coconut trees, great beach, and a relaxing beach town atmosphere.  The all-inclusive hotels on Playa Dorada provide a nice oasis for a relaxing vacation for most tourists.  You can sit on the beach and do absolutely nothing.  Those who dare to venture out of the hotel zone will be rewarded with some great culture and rural lifestyle, but do have to face some 3^rd world country challenges (beggars, rundown roads, rundown town, sketchy streets, difficult driving, vendors ripping you off, and sometime feeling a bit unsafe).

For those who are deciding between Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, they are very different.  If you prefer great white sand beaches and more developed tourism infrastructure, then Punta Cana is for you.  If you prefer more cultural beach town, rainforest, golden sand beaches, and less infrastructure then Puerto Plata is for you.   Know what you are getting into for best vacation experiences.

Curry Village Tent

Curry Village

Located in the Yosemite Valley floor and close to the Trailheads, Curry Village is the little village that that actually has a real little village feels.  It is the largest lodging area in Yosemite Valley, includes 18 hotel rooms, 56 cabins with bath, 319 canvas tents and 91 tent cabins.  The canvas tents are the cheapest accommodation you can find in Yosemite ($80-$126/night as of 2012).   The canvas tents come with basic bed & mattress, towels, a lamp, a chair, a shelf, and a safe.  Food storage is outside the tent.  Share baths and restrooms are available throughout the village.  The bathrooms are all clean and equipped with all necessities (no hair dryer).

There are a grocery store, souvenir shop, burger shop, pizza, bar, Peet’s coffee, and a buffet restaurant.  Foods here are very decent quality and good price ($6.50 burger, $15 buffet), not expensive as one would imagine.  There is no private cooking allowed at Curry Village.  There is a huge lounge with free wifi (slow during prime time 6-9 pm) and an outdoor amphitheatre with activities to keep your kids entertained.  There is also a large pool.  It has its own recreation and tour center, which allow you to do anything you want in the Valley.  Bike rental seems to be the most popular activity ($11/hr or $31.50/day).

Curry Village Guest Lounge

Inside a Curry Village Tent

Curry Village is very convenient.  It often gets filled up 3 months in advance, so book early.  Booking can be done online through many internet sites.  (Bring ear plugs as the walls are very thin and you can hear the people walking and talking in the tent next to you).

White Wolf Lodge and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge  

The tent accommodations at both are similar to that at Curry Village, but much smaller in numbers and don’t have the village feels.  Because they are both further away from the valley floor, they are sometime not fully booked during the summer months.  They are great options and are both close to some beautiful vista and hiking trails that often overlooked by tourists but are absolutely stunning.  No cooking is allowed in both.  If Curry Village is fully booked try your luck here.  Both lodges ranges from $80-$126/night and can be reserved online through many websites.

Yosemite – White Wolf Tents

Tuolumne Meadows Tents

White Wolf Lodge is located off Tioga Road about 45 mins from the Valley and is a popular base for day hikes to Lukens and Harden Lakes.  There are 4 cabins with baths and 24 canvas cabins that share a central bath.  Each tent cabin is equipped with beds and linens, wood burning stove and wood.  There is no electricity.  Breakfast and dinner are served daily and lunch is available at the adjacent small retail outlet.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is at 8575 ft and is located off Tioga Road about 1 1/4hrs from the Valley.  It boasts 69 tent cabins that accommodate up to four people, and comes fully equipped with beds and linens, candles for lighting, a wood burning stove and wood. There is no electricity in the cabins.   Shower and restroom facilities are located in the center of camp..  Breakfast and dinner are served daily in a central dinning tent beside the Tuolumne River.  Because it is very high in elevation, it can be cold at night during the summer months (bring warm clothing).

Bridalveil Creek Camp Site

Camp (Pitch your own tents) –  Top Picks are Bridalveil Creek, White Wolf, Tuolumne Meadows

Most people who never camp and sleep in tents may be against it or think it is a hassle.  For a short trip, it is extremely easy and tents can be bought at any sporting goods store for as low as $30.  All you need is a tent, some water/food, flashlights, matches and firewood!  It is a lot of fun, you can grill the marshmallow, make your own campfire, and the night sky is amazing.  Once you camp, you may not want to pay for those hotels in Yosemite again!

Yosemite has several campgrounds, some with potable water, and ranges $5-$20/night.  Some campgrounds are 1^st come 1^st serve and some requires reservation.  During the summer months, campgrounds located on Yosemite Valley floor (Upper/Lower/North Pines and Camp 4) are almost always fully booked.   Upper/Lower/North Pines need reservation, while Camp 4 is 1^st come 1^st serves (but always full).  You are then left with the campgrounds North or South of the Valley, which some has good attractions nearby and some do not.  These North/South campgrounds are almost always available during the summer even on a 1^st come 1^st serve basis, so they are great alternatives if you can’t get reservation in Yosemite Valley floor.

After visiting most of the North/South campgrounds, our 3 top picks would be Bridalveil Creek, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows campgrounds due to its proximity to great vista and hiking trails.   All 3 has potable water and flushing toilets, all 1^st come 1^st serve (except for Tuolumne which is 50% reserved).  They are at high elevation, so warm clothing is a must (45-55 degrees in summer nights).  Bridalveil would be our top choice because it is close to Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome (both great for sunset and daytime view of Yosemite), and also close to many great hiking trails.  Why stay at a place that is so far away from great attractions?  Choose your campground wisely.

Each camp site is equipped with a fire pit, a picnic table, a food storage locker, and 1 or 2 parking spots for your car/trailer.  Full cooking is allowed on the campground.  Firewood available at any grocery store in Yosemite Valley or at any gas station in the park for about $8.75 a box.  There are several restrooms on the campground.  It is wise to pick a site close to it the restrooms so you don’t have to walk far in the dark at night.  Showers are only available in Yosemite Valley at Curry Village and House Keeping Camp (showers are not available elsewhere).  Most campgrounds have no electricity.  Some campgrounds are far from grocery stores, so be prepared.  Bring a flashlight, firewood, matches, lighting fluid, tents, sleeping bags, warm clothing, food, water, and you are good to go!

As mentioned earlier, most campgrounds outside Yosemite Valley floor are available on a 1^st come 1^st serve basis during the busy summer months.  If you want to be sure and get a reservation, campground that requires reservation can be reserved at CLICK HERE.  A chart that provides an overview of all the Yosemite campground/price can be found at CLICK HERE.