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.

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

Argentina Imposes New Fee for Travelers

Posted on Monday, December 28, 2009

Starting today, the government of Argentina will charge a reciprocity fee to all American, Australians and Canadians who arrive at the Buenos Aires airport. The reciprocal fee will be $131 for Americans, $100 for Australians and $70 for Canadians.  Why the different rates? The fee is equal to what Argentines pay to get to those countries. The fee will be collected upon arrival at the airport and can be paid in Argentinean pesos, US dollars, credit cards or travelers checks.  This fee is good for the life of your passport.

Argentina is not the first in South America to implement fees. Chile is $131 for travelers arriving by air, Bolivia is $135 for a visa, Paraguay is $65 for a visa and Brazil is $150 for a visa.  Lima and Montevideo are now currently the only ones with “fee-free” entry.

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.

South America Cruise

Posted on Thursday, November 12, 2009

Diverse and dazzling, South America has been inspiring explorers for centuries with her sun-kissed beaches, stunning glacier fjords, lush tropical rainforests and remote indigenous villages.  Travel in the week of Magellan around Cape Horn and through the strait named in his honor, and encounter the breathtaking scenery of Antarctica. From the towering mountains of the Andres to the mighty Amazon river, discover a continent that takes your breathe way and leaves awe in its place.