The Fantastic Coastal City of Ubatuba Brazil

If you are a beach lover, Ubatuba not only offers you two or three beaches; it provides you the opportunity to choose from among its 92 beaches! Sitting on the coast of Sao Paulo, this Brazilian city has many tricks up its sleeves when it comes to entertaining its guests. For starters, the beaches here are good for fun activities like swimming, sun tanning, snorkeling and surfing. Take note that in Ubatuba, the beaches close to the city are not nearly as clean and clear than the ones at the outskirts. So, you may need to travel a little more to reach the more secluded beaches in the region. But doing so will reward you with the beauty and serenity of wonderful sandy stretches.

Praia do Cedro is definitely one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in Ubatuba. Part of Cedro's appeal is its pristine rainforest landscape and abundant marine life. The consistent presence of various fascinating underwater creatures makes Praia do Cedro an ideal place to dive or snorkel.

Praia do Centro can be reached by walking from the Praia da Fortaleza. This journey in itself is a hiking adventure as it takes about an hour to walk all the way to Cedro. If the laid back surfer in you wants to get out there and try out the waves, head out to Felix, Itamambuca and Praia Vermelho, which are widely known as surfing beaches. Vermelho Beach is conveniently close the city center.

Ubatuba is also the home of the State Park of the Serra do Mar (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar). The park is one of the biggest areas protected by the state. At the center of the park, you will find the much quieter beach of Picinguaba. For years, Ubatuba has been welcoming visitors from all over, offering a large collection of restaurants, shops, hotels as well as guest houses locally called pousadas. At the seaside, the local government runs a turtle preservation program called Projeto Tamas. The project site is definitely worth visiting especially if you are an animal lover or simply a fan of turtles. Close to the city center, you will find the ruins of a large old farm called the Ruinas Lagoinha, which has become one of the city's iconic landmarks.

Just off the shore of Ubatuba lies the historical island of IIha Anchieta. The ideal time to visit the island is during early morning. There are schooners that run back and forth the island. IIha Anchieta is known for the ruins of an early 19th century prison. But the island does not only hold important historical value, its surrounding waters are excellent attractions. Diving experts consider these waters to be the most beautiful diving sites in all of Brazil. Another popular island to visit is Couves Islands, which is home two beaches. Aside from doing the usual beach activities, the island is also great for trekking trips.

To add to your adventure, the Ubatuba region is undoubtedly a marvelous trekking hub, which includes some trails that highlight thick forested landscape, waterfalls, hidden beaches and indigenous tribes. Some of the most prominent hiking spots in and around the city includes Corisco, Bonete and Corcovado.

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Kanchipuram, the temple city of India

Kanchipuram, a beautiful city, is an ancient city whose lands are marked by hundreds of temples. It is a religious city where the denizens are ardent followers of the gods. It is also a major commerce city in the state and is home to a mass of sightseeing places.

Kanchipuram, the temple city of India or the Silk city, is a beautiful city in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the few cities where religion is given a status that is higher than everything else. Although, other cities and town in India also follow the religion ardently, but people in Kanchipuram are the most devoted towards religion with whom one will ever come acros. Religion abides in the city since the medieval era when the city was ruled by kings and royal families. There came several rulers who were great devote of the gods, and they built several temples, shrines, and other religious sites in different parts of the city. It is said that once there were over one thousand temples in and around the city, and for this fact, the city was given the epithet the "city of 1000 temples". Even today, there exist many ancient temples that survived the destruction/demolitions caused by battle for power; following the change in administration, and also the beatings of time and weather.

Meanwhile today, Kanchipuram is also making it huge in the domain of modernization and commercialization. The city has turned into a major centre of commerce in the region from being an ancient city. Of all the industries that flourish in the city, Silk is the most dominant industry. Silk weaving and manufacturing products of silk are the prime producer of work opportunities in the city. The famous Kanjeevaram Saree is the forte of the city. Besides, the city is also popular for its gold products. Buying the Kanjeevaram silk sarees and the gold jewelery is a popular activity whenever one is in the city.

Other than being a shopping paradise and a major pilgrimage, Kanchipuram is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. People head to the city to explore the culture of Tamil Nadu. The city has a rich glorious cultural heritage. In fact, the city is refereed as the cultural capital of the state. Other than the culture, it is the exotic hospitality, appetizing culinary food, soothing weather, and the serene sightseeing places that beckon one to visit the city. While one explores and enjoys the tour of the city, there is a good-fun amusement park that is a must check. It is called Queens Land and is located between Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur. The park is home to some of the best-thrilling rides. To name some include centorx, Himalayan Water Ride, Alphen Blitz, and Water Slides. The place also houses a fun cable car ride which is the longest cable car ride in India. The ride lasts for about 30 minutes. It opens at nine in the morning and closes at six in the evening. The good thing is the amusement park is easily accessible. All local modes of transportation are available to the park. Plus, there are some good hotels in Kanchipuram that also offer transportation to the park.

Simply putArticle Search, Kanchipuram is a modern yet historic city. It is beautiful and is also an excellent tourist destination. The places to visit in Kanchipuram are available in plenty offering one a great time when in the city. Head to the city for a relaxing uninterrupted holiday.

The Amazing Masaya Volcano National Park

The Masaya Volcano National Park is one of the prime, must see attractions when in Nicaragua. The National Park lies between the cities of Managua and Granada, and proves to be a captivating site that is worthy of a visit.

The national park covers 54 square kilometers, which include two volcanoes as well as five craters. These volcanoes have erupted so many times throughout history including during the time of the Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The frequent eruption is the reason the Spanish conquerors called one of the active volcanoes the "Mouth of Hell" (La Boca del Infierno). They believed that the devil had something to do with the regular eruptions. Thus, they planted a cross called La Cruz de Bobadilla to exorcise such evil. Today, you can still encounter the cross that was named after the priest Francisco Bobadilla, and this structure has become one of the popular attractions in the park.

One highlight of a trip to Masaya Volcano National Park is the large impressive crater called Santiago. The crater is sandwiched between the Masaya and Nindiri volcanoes. Due to successive eruptions of the craters in the park during the 1900s, they eventually collapsed in 1985. These days, when you head over to the vicinity of the craters, you can still smell the sulphurous gasses as well as hear the lava flowing below the ground. The landscape in this volcanic area is filled with rocks and ashes. However rough the surroundings may be, it also has a certain serenity to it.

If you want to be a bit adventurous, grab the opportunity to peek over the edge of the Masaya Volcano. By doing so, you will see in full scale, its magnificent and powerful crater, which still emits sulfur gases and smoke. After marveling at the central crater, you can also hike over to the other craters and viewpoints. Such hikes are certainly worth it as the captivating volcanic surroundings will unfold before your eyes. Aside from the trails that lead to craters and lookout points, there is also one that leads to the Tzinaconostoc Cave, known as the haven for hundreds of bats.

Special trails which stretch from 1.5 to 6 kilometers, are all guided and have corresponding fees depending on the distance. Aside from the usual day tour, the park management also offers the nocturnal tour, which is quite unique and exciting. This night tour begins at 5 pm and ends at around 8 pm. The objective of the tour is to lead the participants first to the La Cruz de Bobadilla before sunset, and then proceed further to the crater area for wildlife observation, underground tunnel exploration and possibly, to watch the red, glowing lava flowing through the deep crater opening. This spectacular sight can only be seen at night.

The Masaya Volcano National Park also houses a nice visitor's center, which is situated just halfway up to Masaya Volcano. The center offers valuable information about the volcanoes in the park, as well as in other parts of the country. Here, you can also get acquainted with the various animals and plants inhabiting the park area. One of the fascinating creatures you will learn about are the Green Parakeets. For some reason, these birds have positively adapted to the sulfur smoke and decided to build their nests right near the crater.

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The Exotic Isla Mujeres Mexico

Don't you easily dream of going to a warm beach resort during the cold months of winter? For North Americans, one of the relatively nearby places to go to escape the chilly winter is Isla Mujeres (The Island of Women). This Mexican island is just a short boat ride away from the renowned vacation center - Cancun. Some say that the island was dedicated to the Mayan goddess named Ixche. But don't worry as members of the female gender are not the only ones allowed to step foot on the island.

This former fishing island stretches to only about 5 miles, and is half a mile wide. You can reach it by traveling 8 miles across the Bahia de Mujeres from Puerto Juarez in Cancun. Because of its small size, it is easy to navigate around the island, including the downtown area. Even though people have a tendency to make Isla Mujeres just a day trip destination, the island can actually hold its own as the prime tourist island.

Those who are seeking for a quieter, more serene yet beautiful environment will absolutely adore Isla Mujeres. An added plus is that the island is actually more affordable than Cancun. The highlight of the island stay is definitely the beaches. Most of these sandy stretches feature crushed corals and turquoise blue waters. Some travel experts even argue that these beaches are better than those found at other premier Mexican vacation spots like Holbox or Cozumel.

Some of the best beaches on the island are on its northern most tip. The sandy stretch at this area is called Playa Norte (North Beach). This popular white sand beach is equipped with bars, restaurants and hotels. Playa Sol is the less-crowded neighbor to Playa Norte and is known for its stunning sunset views. When you head out to the southern end of the island, you will find Punta Sur beach with its old lighthouse, modern art sculpture park and Mayan temple.

There is also no end of activities to keep you entertained while on Isla Mujeres. Scuba diving and snorkeling are highly enjoyable activities as the waters surrounding the island are teeming with tropical marine creatures and colorful reefs. Some of the best places to dive include the reefs of Manchones, Punta Norte, the Cave of the Sleeping Sharks and two sunken ships. On top of this, you can also go sailing, kayaking, take fishing excursions, or arrange a trip to see up close the marvelous underwater sculpture museum of the artist Jason de Caires Taylors. This underwater display is the largest of its kind in the world. On dry land, one exciting thing to do is to rent a bike, a golf cart or scooter and drive around the island.

If you are visiting with small children; they also will love experiencing the Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm, an endangered sea turtle hatchery and rehabilitation center, run by the government.

When the sun goes down, the island's nightlife does not disappoint those who want to stay up late. But the action is not your usual all-out big party bash. It is more relaxed, which suits Isla Mujeres' more laidback atmosphere. Other prominent landmarks you can explore during your visit here include the 19th century Hacienda Mundaca and Garrafon National Park, where the archaeological temple ruins of the Goddess Ixchel can be found.