South and Central America Tours 2012
Posted on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
South & Central American destinations are becoming hot spots for American travelers. Central America attracts seasoned travelers looking to escape the high prices in Europe, while South America is the new South of France. Wealthy and celebrity travelers are flocking to Brazil, with everybody else close behind!
Why South & Central America?
- Walk among the remains of ancient civilizations.
- Cruise Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords.
- Visit the Amazon jungle for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Explore endless beaches where travelers can swim, surf, dive, or just lounge in the sun while reading their favorite book.
- Travel to “The End of the World.”
- Witness old celebrations, dances, and rituals in Peru.
- Taste an unbelievable variety of foods and wines.
- Shop around Buenos Aires' Recoleta for a truly European feeling with South American flair.
- Visit the Galápagos Islands to see unique fauna that can be found nowhere else in the world.
Why is South & Central America a smart travel choice?
- No jet lag due to time zones being the same or similar to the U.S.
- Value of the dollar! Your money will go farther in South America.
- Airfare is relatively reasonable for an international destination.
- Buy beautiful souvenirs at a fraction of their cost in the U.S.
- Great (and affordable) for family travel.
- Variety – from the unique cultures of each country, to the varied landscapes, to the choices in travel styles – South America delivers a wide array of vacation experiences.
Browse South America Tours and Central America Tours 2012 & 2013
South American Music
Posted on Saturday, April 23, 2011
South & Central America's musical inheritance is a passionate blend of the sounds of European, African and indigenous peoples. In fact, today South America alone boasts about as many musical styles as it has countries, regions and ethnic groups.
In Argentina, it's their long heritage of tango music that gets the locals (and non-locals) dancing, while in Brazil, it's the seductive samba that permeates the dance clubs along with more modern sounds like the Música Popular Brasileira. Metizo, is the music of Ecuador. String instruments create the hypnotic melodies and its many different rhythms were born from the blending of Spanish and Indian music. The Indian music in Ecuador enjoys a strong influence from the Inca Quechua culture and the rhythms are distinctly different from Metizo's. In Peru, the most popular sounds are marked by Indian, Spanish and black African influences while native Peruvian music is dominated by the national instrument, the charango, a type of mandolin. The Peruvian coast boasts its own distinct sound called Música Criolla. Rooted in a fusion, it's a seductive mix of Spanish, Gypsy and African sounds.
Whether it's cool Latin jazz, the bossa nova, creole, forro, choro, zamba or samba, the infectious rhythms of South & Central America portray the enthusiasm and passion of its people.
Panama Canal: Connecting the Atlantic & Pacific
Posted on Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Panama is steeped in history – from early Inca traders and Spanish conquistadors, to the Panama Canal, a modern-day engineering marvel. Completed in 1914, almost 50 miles long and one of the most complex engineering projects ever undertaken, your journey across the Isthmus of Panama takes you through the Gaillard Cut, carved through the Continental Divide. Take a partial transit cruise on the Pacific Queen for a once-in-a lifetime chance to view this marvel up close and learn all about its construction and importance in world trade. Pass through the Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks, and learn about the canal expansion project. It’s an unforgettable journey between the seas. Learn more about this unique destination on our Discover Panama: The Land Between the Seas vacation.
We enter the canal at the north end of the Gailard cut, where the Chagres River flows into the canal. The Gaillard Cut (also known as Culebra Cut because its curves resemble a snake) is one of the main points of interest for visitors because it was carved through the Continental Divide and this section of the Canal is full of history and geological value. The Pacific Queen will travel the Cut's 13.7 kilometers on the way to Pedro Miguel Locks. As you transit the Cut you will be able to appreciate the continuous maintenance that this area requires, because it is very susceptible to landslides. In this area you will also be able to observe the work in process for the Panama Canal expansion project.
Before reaching the Pedro Miguel Locks at the southern end of the Cut, you will be able to view the new Centennial Bridge which crosses over the Canal. Next, the Pacific Queen will enter Pedro Miguel Locks, which is one of the two sets of locks on the Pacific side, and here the vessel is lowered 9 meters in one step. You will then enter Miraflores Lake, which is a small artificial body of fresh water that separates Pedro Miguel from Miraflores Locks, the latter being the final set of locks before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At Miraflores Locks the vessel is lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps.
Once in the Pacific Ocean the vessel will sail to the beautiful Flamenco Marina where passengers disembark. On the way to Flamenco, you will pass under the Bridge of the Americas, and later, you will be able to admire the Bay of Panama and Panama City's splendorous skyline.
Tags: panama , panama canal , panama tour , panama tours
Facts About Manaus
Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Manaus is located at the mouth of the upper Amazon where the Negro and Solimoes rivers meet and form the larger section of the Amazon. Founded in 1669 by Spanish explorers, Manaus became famous because of its rubber trade during the late 19th century. Rubber barons made it "one of the grandest cities in the World". The major attraction to last from this heyday is the Teatro Amazonas Opera House; recently restored, it is again hosting performances.
Today Manaus is a vibrant city of nearly 2 million residents and is the commercial center for the Amazon. Lumber, Brazil nuts, petroleum refining and numerous manufacturing companies are a staple for most of the industrial and commercial businesses. The airport is Eduardo Gomes International and offers domestic and international airline flights.
This area offers many yearly festivals:
- Amazonas Carnival - February
- Ponta Negra's Music Festival - May
- Amazonas Opera Festival - May
- Amazonas Folklore Festival - June
- Amazonas Jazz Festival - July
- Anniversary of Manaus - October 24
- Amazonas Film Festival - November
- New Year's Eve festival - December
Tags: amazon , manaus , south america tour , south america tours , south america travel
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