Finisterra, part 2
Sightseeing in Finisterra
Being somewhat removed from the centres of population in Isla Bonita, Finisterra is not teeming with tourist attractions like its neighbours. Nevertheless, it offers a few sightseeing activities -- and some of the most breathtaking natural views in the entire island.
De Gracia Parroquia (church) and Avenue
De Gracia Avenue extends for about a kilometer on the foothills of the Finisterra Massif
In the midst of the Flatlands skyscrapers stands the Nuestra Señora de Gracia church, a small remnant of a once much more modest town. From its entrance, the Avenida de Gracia extends -- once the pilgrimage route south, to the sea, and now still a pedestrian area, open to the public 24/7 (the church is open from 8:00 to 20:00, and it holds regular Catholic services).
The modest church and its surrounding gardens
Some of Finisterra's attractions can be found along this route, most notably the local chapter of the State Fair, where agricultural products from all over the island can be purchased.
The avenue ends at the aptly named Avenida de Gracia station, served by Tramline 5 (the Coast & Mountain tram). The station itself is located on a vantage point with views to the sea and Isla Sur, across the sea.
The city ends alongside the station
How to get here
The easiest way is to hop on Line T5 and get off at Avenida de Gracia station. The State Fair is served by Danforth rail station to its west, though services on the Finisterrra -- Pueblo Simón scenic branch are sparse. There are plenty of bus lines that serve the general area, and while traffic tends to be pretty heavy during peak hours, the nearby highway (crossed by Avenida de Gracia) allows for decent capacity and speed.
Catania Beach and Peninsula
Located in the far northwestern part of the city, Catania neighbourhood is wedged between the sea and the mountains. Originally farmland, it has now become one of the most attractive spots to settle in Isla Bonita, thanks to its cool, maritime weather, its gorgeous views, plenty of canals and substantial nightlife.
The main attractive of the area is its namesake beach, over 1 kilometer of sandy yellow coastline starting all the way in neighbouring Cuerno de Águila. Catania Beach is open all week long for as long as there's light out, while the nearby shops open until midnight.
Catania Train Station, just across the avenue, sits on a branch of the Anclaje Northeast railway (despite its western location) and has regular service from Anclaje Keleti
Speaking of shops, the Catania Marina extends all over the Peninsula and features plenty of shops, stores and even cinemas. Seaside properties are open until midnight, while most land stores close around 10 pm.
For the best in fine dining, head… elsewhere. The Peninsula has Burger King and the Hard Rock Cafe
The Cosmos has been declared a Historical Building and offers a wide selection of auteur films
For something slightly different, head inland and you'll find the famous Catania Park alongside the Catania Cerebral Cathedral (or the "Triple C", as the locals know it), the Main Library and a few more shops and pubs.
How to get here?
Catania is the best-connected neighbourhood in the entire city. It is served by two Line 1 subway stations (Avenida del Parque and Cosmos), part of its latest extension. It also features the Catania Rail Station and a ferry station near the Marina. As usual, there are plenty of local and express buses, with the latter usually taking Highway 1 (seen next to the park).
Old Town
The aptly-named Old Town is the first part of Finisterra to have been founded. Despite being integrated into the rest of the South Bay metro area, it retains its character as a quiet suburb with single-family homes and tranquil beaches, and it remains very popular for day trips amongst South Bay denizens.
The Old Town: red streets, two-story housing, small quays.
The fanciest part of town, undoubtedly, is the Finisterra Hotel, combining the luxury of an all-inclusive with its location, right next to the local beach and some luxury stores. The beach is free to access, but it's closed at sundown and loud music is strictly forbidden.
How to get here?
The original way to get into town was via the Anclaje Northeast railway. The Union Pacific station serves this part of town, is a Historical Building in the Art Decó style and sits right across from the Fishermen's Wharf (great restaurant place) and the Old Town beach.
Sightseeing buses are another popular option for tourists
Union Pacific is also the terminus for the scenic railway, more on that later.
Depending on where they're staying, most tourists choose one of two ways to arrive. Tramline T5 and Monorail Line A finish at Finisterra station, across town. Obviously, the monorail is the fastest way to get here (and it comes straight from the Bahía Medusa airport), but the tramline arrives here after some street running, so it offers more value for sight-seeing tourists. Either way, Finisterra station is a great shopping hub, both within the station and in the surrounding area.
Finisterra zoo and vantage points
One of the newest attractions in the city is the Finisterra zoo, located near the top of the Finisterra Massif, right next to the local LDS Temple, at the bend of Dorsal Avenue. The zoo sits atop a small plateau, with great views to the recently inaugurated Playa Ancha wilderness zone.
The Zoo opens Tuesdays-Sundays, 11 am to 8 pm in the summer, 6 pm in the winter, and a regular ticket is §1, while the Temple is usually closed to the public.
The hills are teeming with wildlife, so much so that some people have wondered if the zoo isn't a bit pointless
Following the ridge of the mountains, the Finisterra Buddhist temple sits nearby. Styled after the Sungrye-Mun gates of Seoul, the temple offers some of the best views of the entire island and you can book a tour of the place.
Speaking of great views, the aforementioned Playa Ancha wilderness zone is open during daytime, Tue-Sun. The entrance is located not far from the Zoo, close to where Transversal Avenue currently ends, and the road gets you all the way to the Playa Ancha scenic point. Entry is free of charge.
The faux-Roman arch signals entry to the Wilderness area
Catalina Restaurant holds a concession to operate the vantage restaurant. Reservation holders can enter the wilderness area at night
How to get to all these places?
While they're all nearby, your transportation needs may vary.
- For the Zoo: Meudon station on Tramline 5 is right across the avenue. There are plenty of buses running along Dorsal Avenue, with most stopping at either Meudon or nearby Parada Zoológico.
- The Buddhist Temple is not well-served by transportation. Your best chance is to get off at Dorsal Avenue station on Tramline 5, and from here, take a local bus to Templo Budista stop, which is across the street. You can also try walking from the station, since it's about 400 meters, but you'll be walking uphill and you need to take Corea street.
- There is a bus line that takes you from Meudon or Dorsal Avenue stations (it stops at both) to the vantage point. Frequency is about 15 minutes, though so be ready to wait.
Scenic routes
More than any other city or suburb in Isla Bonita, Finisterra features plenty of regular commuter lines that offer stunning views for the price of a regular ticket. Here's our favourites:
Tramline T5
Coming from Pueblo Simón to the east, and after a bit of street running, Line T5 starts climbing from Ferry station along the coast to Avenida de Gracia station, and from there, it's a steep climb to Meudon, before crossing the entire massif and coming down the other side. While not featuring such breathtaking views as other routes in this list, line T5 does go through a fair amount of wooded wilderness.
Line T5 sees heavy usage during peak hours and weekdays, so please, refrain from riding it then.
There has been talk of walling the area around the line to avoid hitting wildlife
Monorail Line A
The Monorail route in its final stretches is probably the best option for the transit-savvy tourist looking to take good pictures. After Final de Valle station, the monorail digs deep under the Massif to come out… here.
Watch out for the curve!
Sit on the left on your way to Finisterra station to get the best views of the ocean as you climb uphill before going into the second tunnel. It's no more than a couple of minutes to travel this section, so keep your camera ready!
And into the Earth we go
Scenic railway
The Pueblo Simón-Finisterra branch railway links Union Pacific station in Finisterra to Calle Alta station in Pueblo Simón. There are rail connections linking this branch line to Catania station and Cuerno Águila, on one side, and the mainline to Providencia Island on the other, but the line itself does no longer feature any passengers connections. And for good reason: while both Tram and, to an extent, Monorail connections are pretty direct (Monorail is helped by its greater overall speed and lack of stops in between), the rail (already the slowest means of transportation) features several long tunnels, steep climbs and close curves.
The now tourist-oriented 30-minute trip sees you starting on Union Pacific station and entering Finisterra Rail tunnel.
Don't be fooled by the catenaries. This is going to be a slow trip
Emerging on the other side of the massif, there's short coastal section with great views of the nearby ocean and Isla Sur.
The train does stop here for pictures, but the nearby beach is off-limits
Finally, a second tunnel leads the train into the hillside, on the Flatlands side, and into Danforth station. You can get off here to go to the nearby State Fair, as mentioned beforehand, or you can continue your trip into Pueblo Simón.
Plenty of wildlife here, too!
The trip costs §5 one-way, whether you get off on Danforth or Alta Calle, and it runs on weekends with an hourly frequency. Tickets can also be bought, and trains ridden, on the other stations – though for obvious reasons, passengers are discouraged from doing only the Danforth to Alta Calle leg.
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