South America's Vibrant Cities

Posted on Friday, October 22, 2010

While ecotourism leads us to the remote areas, South America's modern cities are vibrant and filled with places of interest and historic importance. The cities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina are outstanding. These are some of the highlights.

• Spectacular Rio de Janeiro has magnificent beaches and mountains right in town. Locals enjoy the long, sandy Ipanema, Copacabana and Leblon beaches every day while the famous statue of Christ watches over them from atop the 2,300 ft. Corcovado mountain. Take a cog railway ride to the top to see this amazing statue. From here you'll have a panoramic view of the city. A two-stage cable car takes you to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain for more breathtaking vistas.
• Rio's annual Carnival is the most lavish in the world. The Samba schools compete for the best costumes and floats in the Carnival parade and the city celebrates with a host of events. Carnival is a wild four-day celebration which takes place 40 days before Easter, from Saturday to Fat Tuesday, which ushers in Lent. Around half a million international visitors attend each year.
• The magnificent beaches that skirt Montevideo, Uruguay are a well kept secret while the beach resorts of nearby Punta Del Este are renowned worldwide. Montevideo is also of architectural interest notably the El castillo Pittamiglio (Pittamiglio Castle), a rather strange house built in the early 20th century by architect and alchemist Humberto Pittamiglio.
• Buenos Aires is a favourite city of many world travellers with its magnificent architecture (including the home of the President, the famous Pink Palace), wide avenues, street side cafes, manicured parks and colourful barrios or neighbourhoods. Seeing Tango dancers perform spontaneously in the street at historic La Boca gets you in the mood of this exciting city. Eva Peron (Evita) is buried in one of the remarkable mausoleums in La Recoleta Cemetery.

From the breathtaking views of Rio to the unique nature of the Galapagos islands, you'll find the many contrasting elements of South America create a memorable and exhilarating vacation experience.

UNESCO Sites in South America

Posted on Friday, October 01, 2010

Eco-aware travellers can find an excellent guide to protected areas through the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO (The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). These are areas of outstanding universal value in the areas of nature and/or history.

Here are some of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites in South America.

• Iguazu National Park, Argentina
• Noel Kempff National Park, Bolivia
• Central Amazon Conservaton Complex, Brazil
• Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
• Cape Horn Archipeligo and biosphere reserve, Chile
• Historic Cartagena, Colombia
• The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
• The City of Quito, Ecuador
• The historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru
• The city of Cuzco, Peru
• Canaima National Park, Venezuela home to Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall

Chilean Wine Routes

Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The wines of Chile are loved around the globe, from lush Chardonnays and zippy Rieslings to vibrant Pinot Noirs and juicy Merlots. Chile also has its own unique Carmenere, a vibrant red which disappeared from Europe in the mid 19th century.

Chile enjoys excellent natural conditions for producing a range of reds and whites. Wineries are also eco-friendly with some of the largest organic vineyards in the world found here.

For travelers, the wine routes offer an enjoyable way to visit the middle of Chile. They stretch from Coquimbo in the north to Temuco in the south.

• Wine routes give you a chance to visit different wineries and vineyards across a region on day trips or longer tours with overnight stays.
• Peaceful vineyards stretch across picturesque countryside with the Andes Mountains always a stunning backdrop.
• The Mediterranean climate, which is ideal for wine production, makes the wine routes pleasant to visit.
• The sub-regions best organized for winery visits are Casablanca, south of Valparaiso; Maipo, Colchagua, Curico, and Maule in the Central Valley outside Santiago.
• You can walk and bike the wine routes as well as drive or take a tour.
• There are many fine restaurants appearing at wineries making it a gastronomic as well as a wine experience.
• Stay overnight at a winery for the ultimate experience. There are many with excellent hotel facilities ready to welcome you.

Tours and cruises in Chile include wine experiences like visits to wineries, tastings and overnight stays in wine regions.

We can also arrange day trips to wineries or customize the ideal wine route vacation just for you, through our partners on the ground in Chile.

Whichever way you choose to visit Chile, be sure to enjoy the local wines during your stay.

S Milne
Ensemble Travel Group

Iguassu Falls

Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009

Words and photographs have tried to do Iguassu Falls justice. Both have failed. Wider than Victoria and higher than Niagara, Iguassu Falls is arguably more spectacular than both. The thunder of the water and the brilliance of the rainbow that crowns the furious torrent at first boggle the mind, then linger on as a rare testimony to the grandeur of Earth. Beginning its course close to the Atlantic seaboard, the Iguassu River then crosses the western highlands of the states of São Paulo and Paraná and arrives at the edge of a plateau unequally divided between Brazil and Argentina. There, a series of islands divides the massive falls into some275 separate waterfalls or "cataracts," hurtling themselves headlong into the canyon below-a geologic formation aptly named the Devil's Throat. The falls actually derive their name from the Gaurani Indian word meaning "great water." Little wonder, seeing as how they discharge their waters at a startling rate of almost 60,000 cubic feet per second.

To truly experience the dazzling spectacle of the waters, one should really view Iguassu from both sides. Or, more appropriately, both countries. In Brazil, from the vantage point of the precipice, the grand overview is simply hypnotizing. In Argentina, you're treated to a closer look. It's a multi-sensory experience of roaring falls, rainbow arcs and drenching mist amidst a backdrop of parrots and hawks cruising aloft over the deep green jungle.

Places to Visit in Peru

Posted on Friday, November 20, 2009

Peru is full of wonderful things to discover...whether it's the mysterious and fascinating Nazca lines, or the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. The warmth of Peru's people, the stunning scenery and diversity of landscape make any journey to Peru unforgettable.

Machu Picchu & the Inca Trail:  The "Lost City of the Incas," amongst the towering peaks of the Andes, is Peru's most famous and dramatic archeological attraction. Travel by train is feasible, however the trek along the 4-day Inca Trail is the insipration choice of tested travellers. For many tourists to Peru, this is the purpose for their trip.

Cuzco:  The ancient capital of the Inca Empire is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. Stonewalled cobblestone alleys wind through a town filled with arcaheological wonders and local culture.  Surrounded by the majestic Andes, Cuzco is full of opporunities to go hiking, biking or rafting.

Nazca:  Along the southern cost of Peru lays a stony desert in which an ancient mystery is set.  The Nazca lines, a series of enormous geometric shapes and animal figures etched into the ground, are a compelling draw to many travellers.  The origins of these mystical formations are still unknown.

The Amazon:  Some of the best preserved and least expired parts of this massive rainforest lie in Peru.  It contains the origins of the Amazon River and thousands of unique plants and rare animal species.  The biodiversity is unmatched anywhere in the world.