Kamchatka for tourists

• Time in Kamchatka
• Transport
• Money
• Shops
• Restaurants
• Water
• Useful phone numbers
• About bears

Time in Kamchatka

Exact Kamchatka time, time zone UTC+12.

Transport in Kamchatka

The main types of transport are buses, minibuses, and taxis.

Buses operate from approximately 06:00 to 23:00.

Private minibuses operate on city routes.

Daily trips are made from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Kozyrevsk with stops in Milkovo and Esso. Tickets are sold at the central bus station on Komsomolskaya Square in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and at the bus station in Yelizovo.

Minibuses also make express trips on the Yelizovo - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky route. From Petropavlovsk they arrive at the bus station in Yelizovo, from where they go back.

Car rental in Kamchatka is gaining popularity.

Money

Most payments in shops, restaurants, hotels are made in cash in Russian money, but in large supermarkets you can always pay with a bank card. In the markets, sellers prefer "cash payments" in rubles.

ATMs are located in different places in the cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Elizovo: in large hotels, in shopping centers, at the airport, in banks.

In large hotels, shopping centers and some air ticket agencies you can pay with VISA, VFSTER CARD, MAESTRO, MASTERCARD credit cards.

Currency exchange offices are available in many banks, large stores and shopping centers in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Elizovo. To exchange money, you must present your passport.

Shops

Large shopping centers are open from 9:00 to 21:00, some stores are open 24 hours.

Restaurants

Russian, European, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Uzbek, and Caucasian cuisines are widely represented in Kamchatka.

Water

Kamchatka is famous for its purest water, which you can safely drink from the tap, as well as from streams and rivers.

Useful Phone Numbers in Kamchatka

"Bears and People" (tourist guide)

The brown bear is a large predator, unusually strong and, of course, dangerous to humans. There is a high probability of conflict situations arising when a person and a bear meet. It is important to always remember that such a meeting can happen at any time and in any place, and to be mentally prepared for this. These recommendations are intended to help avoid such situations, and if they arise, to minimize the negative consequences. Of course, it is impossible to foresee every specific case

Bears do not like surprises!

If you are traveling in bear country, make yourself known - especially where the landscape or vegetation makes visibility difficult. Make noise, sing, talk loudly, or tie a bell to your backpack.

If possible, travel with a group. Groups make more noise and are easier for bears to recognize.

Avoid dense bushes. If you can't, try to walk so that the wind is blowing from your back, so the bear can smell you.

Contrary to popular belief, bears see almost as well as humans, but they trust their noses more than their eyes or ears. Always let a bear know you are there.

Like humans, bears use trails and roads. Do not pitch a tent near a trail they might use. Avoid areas where you smell dead fish or animals, or see animals feeding on carrion. There may be food there, and if the bear is nearby, it may aggressively defend the cache.

Do not crowd the bears!

Give the bear as much space as possible. Some bears are more tolerant than others, but each bear has its own “personal space” - the distance within which the bear feels threatened. If you are in this zone, the bear may react aggressively. When photographing bears, use a telephoto lens; getting too close for close-ups may put you in this danger zone.

Bears are always looking for something to eat!

Bears only have 7 months to build up fat before their long winter hibernation. Don't let them know that human food or garbage is an easy meal.

It is foolish and dangerous to feed bears, or to leave food or garbage that attracts them.

Prepare food away from your tent. Store all food and supplies away from your campsite.

Hang food where bears can't reach it. If there are no trees, store food in airtight containers or special containers.

Remember that pets and their food can also attract bears.

Keep your camp clean. Wash your dishes. Avoid using strong-smelling foods, such as bacon or smoked fish.

Don't let your clothes smell like food.

Burn garbage on a campfire, and fire cans.

Food and garbage are equally attractive to bears, so handle them properly.

Burying waste is a waste of time. Bears have a keen sense of smell and are good diggers.

If a bear approaches you while you are fishing, stop fishing. If there is a fish on the line, do not let it splash. If this is not possible, cut the line.

If the bear understands that it can only get the fish by approaching the fisherman, it will come back again.

Close encounters with a bear. What to do?

If you see a bear, try to get away from it. Give the bear every opportunity to avoid you.

If you do encounter a bear, remain calm. Attacks are rare. Chances are that you are not in danger.

Most bears are interested in protecting their food, cubs, or their personal space. When the threat has passed, they will pass by. Remember the following:

Make yourself known!

Let the bear know that you are a human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you.

If the bear cannot recognize who you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or sniff. A standing bear is usually curious, it is not dangerous.

You can try to slowly back away diagonally, but if the bear starts following you, stop and do not move.

Don't run!

You cannot outrun a bear. They have been found to run at about 60 km/h, and like dogs, they will chase a fleeing animal.

Often bears intimidate, sometimes 3 meters from their enemy, without trying to attack. Continue waving your arms and talking to the bear.

If the bear comes too close, raise your voice and become more aggressive. Bang pots, pans. Use loud tools. Call for help.

Never imitate a bear's growl or scream loudly.

If the bear attacks

If the bear starts to attack, surrender! Drop to the ground and play dead. Lie on your stomach or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your head.

It is typical for a bear to stop attacking if it feels the threat has been eliminated. Remain motionless as long as possible.

If you move and the bear sees or hears you, it may return and resume

• Avoid close encounters with bears;
• Watch for signs of a bear that it is nearby and make as much noise as possible;
• Do not crowd the bear, respect its “personal space”;
• Do not attract a bear by improperly storing food and garbage;
• Plan ahead;
• Remain calm;
• Make yourself known;
• Do not run.