Oct
26

Budget-Friendly Guide

Travelling to paradise can really be one of the most fulfilling activities in life. For some, it is true that only once you’ve reached the most sought after destinations can you really say, “Life well-lived.” Unfortunately, some people choose not to travel to some of the world’s greatest destinations due to fear of financial burden. What most people do not know, however, is that some of the greatest tourist spots won’t hurt your pockets!

One good example of a budget-friendly trip is travel to Central America. Central America consists of the countries Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama – all of which have marvelous tourist spots. A lot of cheap flights to Central America are available, so no need to worry about your hard-earned cash. For U.S. and Canadian residents, the cost of travel to Central America is just around $100-$300 more than domestic flights. You may also opt to go for available Central America travel deals, which already include both roundtrip air transportation and hotel & resort accommodations for a couple of nights – a great technique to save money, time, and effort in planning for your trip.

Affordable Latin America travel packages can help your vacation go as smooth as possible. These packages include a tour of your selected place, so your itineraries will be planned for you. You won’t have to worry about where to go to next, making your trip more stress-free. Nevertheless, if you want to be able to manage your own trip, then you can also just search online for the most famous tourist spots in the area.

Staying in Central America doesn’t have to be expensive. There are numerous hotels and inns in the area that offer cheap but pleasant accommodation. For only a couple of bucks per night, you can find a neat place to stay at in Central America. And for most places, that kind of accommodation already includes the private room, private bath, and room service. You should just know where to find these places, and try to avoid expensive tourist zones as well.

Great food is just one of the many perks in Latin America travel – and it’s inexpensive. In some parts of the region, you can get a whole meal for less than $10. Central American food usually consists of rice, corn tortillas, meat, vegetables, seafood, and beans, so those stomachs of yours surely won’t be complaining during your stay. And for those of you who would want to try eating something different than the usual, most places in Central America have certain unique food specialties, so you may want to try those out.

Financial matters shouldn’t be a hindrance for one to truly enjoy the world’s beauty. With cheap Central America travel coupled with strategic skills, you can enjoy the Earth’s wonders without splurging a lot of your precious money. You just need to know where to look, and how to budget your cash.

Oct
19

South American Travel – Planning Your Holiday

It’s one of the most beautiful continents in the world with a huge range of ecosystems, including the untouched beauty of the Amazon, the mountains and highlands of Peru, and the beaches and party lands of Rio. It’s a place of unsurpassed beauty but if you are planning some South America travel it’s a good idea to make sure you go prepared as you can for the different culture, environment and are aware of dangers.

Of course if you go as part of an escorted group a lot of these issues become easier. Using an experienced guide you can be assured you are going to places they have already checked over, and they can help you stay safe while still getting in amongst the culture to take home many authentic memories.

An escorted tour can also help you plan a trip to parts of South America you may not have even considered. For instance:
- Paraguay: surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil this landlocked country offers two widely different regions and therefore experiences
- Ecuador: situated on the equator and is the smallest country in the Andean Highlands
- Bolivia: the highest and most remote of the countries in South America

Finding out the current status of many of the countries you are going to is a good idea if you are planning to go alone. There are often flare ups of political unrest in some of the countries that may not make it back to New Zealand’s news. While travel specialists who focus on this region keep themselves up to date of these issues and adapt their trips accordingly if you are going as a solo traveler it’s a good idea to research these yourself. While you do so also keep an eye out for which aeroplanes and bus companies have the safest records, so you can travel around the area with more confidence.

South America travel like any other, should be planned out with an itinerary that you can leave with loved ones. Then if there are any issues while you are away, they will have that as a starting point to find you. If you are planning to go into areas that are remote consider registering yourself with the local consulate, so they know where you are. It’s a good idea to pack the phone number of the consulate with you as well.

Of course there are plenty of places that are completely safe, as long as you take normal precautions, such as wearing clothes that are not too flashy, not waving expensive camera gear around, and keeping money in a money belt rather than a handbag. It’s a good idea to place any valuables in a strong box or safe if you stay at a hotel to keep them protected. Once you’ve got your head around that, you are ready for some great South America travel experiences.

Oct
12

Choose A South American Travel Specialist

Argentina is such a diverse country that a holiday needs to be well planned to catch a glimpse of the wide range of activities on offer. That’s why having a South America travel specialist will really pay off when you are planning your itinerary in this fabulous land.

Argentina is truly a place where there is something for everyone. No matter what your taste or passion, Argentina and its people will thrill you to the core. Slotted between the Andes and the Atlantic, Argentina boasts a unique mix of influences. The capital city, Buenos Aires, is a magical, beating heart of a city with a nightlife to challenge any other capital city worldwide. It’s usual to see people, including families, dining out at midnight because, in the cities of Argentina, nightlife starts late and goes all night.

But Argentina has so much more to offer than just its vibrant cities. It has a variety of geographical features – including the world’s largest waterfall – flora and fauna, colourful culture, fantastic food and wine and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

To make the most of your time in Argentina, it’s wise to take the advice of a travel specialist with local knowledge specific to South America and, particularly, Argentina. They will be able to help you decide between the huge range of tourist options and steer you in the direction of the cities, towns and villages that most suit your individual needs.

You will want to spend time in glorious Buenos Aires, savouring the culture, cuisine and nightlife. You’ll enjoy strolling through wide boulevards and across leafy parks and looking at some of the historical buildings. And don’t forget to learn the tango!

Other Argentinean cities on your itinerary could include Cordoba, Mar del Plata and Mendoza. Cordoba is a beautiful city bordered by the Sierra Chica mountain range which makes it the perfect beginning point for a tour of the Andes. In complete contrast, Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast is Argentina’s most popular beach resort. Mendoza has a modern look because of a devastating earthquake in the 1800s which meant the city had to be completely rebuilt. As a result, it’s a well designed city with every amenity for the tourist.

Other places of interest in Argentina that your South America travel specialist may recommend include the quaint town of Bariloche which is the gateway to the ski resorts, Jujuy with its therapeutic waters and Puerto Madryn for its huge range of underwater activities. And if you can find the time in your schedule, you won’t regret a visit to the southernmost tip of Argentina – Tierra del Fuego. If you travel here in January, you’ll have 18 hours of daylight. Now that’s a great way to make the most of your time in this land of diversity.

Oct
05

Best South American Travels

South American travel destinations are growing in popularity, and offer the travel some unique ecological and cultural places of interest. We chose Latin America because we love the food and culture of Latin America.

We began traveling to Mexico in the early 1970′s as kids, way before the million dollar condo projects…or roads for that matter. As adults we continued vacationing in Mexico and often traveled with our kids. It was really a natural extension for us to push further south and include Central America and South America in our travel plans.

There are many great South American travel sites, we only include a few here that our family hopes to visit. All of these are easily visited by arranging the trip yourself or tour companies will have these available in their South America travel packages.

Amazon

Visiting the Amazon is on the list of everyone that travels to South America. Beginning in Peru, the Amazon winds its way out of the Andes through many South American countries and through Northern Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Amazon is one of the most exotic places on earth, and is home to a diverse ecosystem that is home for many plants and animals only found there. This is a not to be missed travel destination

Galapagos Islands

Located almost 600 miles off the Pacific Coast of Ecuador lie the Galapagos Archipelago, a string of some 22 islands that is home to many unique plant and animals only found on these islands.

Giant Tortoises, the unique Marine Iguana, Blue Footed Boobies, flightless Cormorants, and the Galapagos Penguin are just some of the unique creatures you will find on the islands and in the seas around the islands.

Access to the islands is controlled by the Ecuadorian government, and the most popular way to visit is through an approved tour operator. They offer many different tours, and they will have something that fits your interest, time, and budget considerations.

Machu Picchu

For anyone heading to Peru, Machu Picchu is certainly to be on their itinerary as it is the most visited tourist destination in Peru. These Inca ruins are located at about 8,000 feet, atop a steep mountain overlooking the Urubamba River.

Declared a Unesco World heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu is believed to have been built around 1460 and was an important city in the Inca civilization. The remarkable beauty and spirituality of the site draw visitors from all around the world.

Lake Titicaca

Another popular attraction in Peru is Lake Titicaca, the largest in South America and believed to have been the origin of the Inca Empire. The lake is 12,500 feet above sea level, 122 miles long and 35 miles wide.

According to Incan mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo emerged from the depths of the lake on the sacred rock gate on Isla Del Sol to found the Inca Empire. The best known islands on the lake are the floating reed islands which are maintained by adding fresh reeds to the surface even as the ones on the bottom decompose.

Iguazu Falls

Everyone that I have spoken to that has visited these falls tells me that these are a must see. On the border between Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu Falls are more than twice as wide as the Niagra Falls and also taller.

The falls are protected by both Argentinean and Brazilian national parks on both sides of the falls, and the falls themselves are part of virgin jungle ecosystem.
2/3 of the falls are on the Argentina side, and where you can also find tours of the national park and jungle hikes.

Whatever your interests, there is a South American travel destination to meet your interests. The next time you are planning a family vacation or extended travel, consider the options that South America provides.

Sep
28

Travels Tips

The Free State Province of South Africa is dry, but far from dull, the Free State with its vast open spaces and cloudless blue skies offers those who like to explore, literally and figuratively, the ideal canvas.

Here outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy birding, game viewing, trophy hunting, hiking, horse riding, biking, 4×4 off-road driving, river rafting, fly-fishing, camping, climbing, spelunking or just relaxing in its more than 80 parks and reserves, such as the scenic Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

History buffs have many significant sites to delve into and those with geological interests will marvel at the meteorite-impact site at Vredefort, the world’s oldest crater.

CLIMATE:

The Free State is hot in summer (Dec-Feb) when most of the rain falls, but can be very cold in winter (Apr-Jul) with heavy frost over most of the province. Snow is often recorded on the eastern mountains and occasionally over the rest of the region.

SHOPPING:

Traditional dress; woven baskets; silk painting; bead work; ‘mampoer’ (alcohol distilled from fruit); red meat, game and ‘biltong’ (dried meat); cherry or asparagus products; original art; beautiful handcrafted items from Phuthaditjhaba; mohair rugs and sandstone products.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:

Golden Gate:

Highlands National Park In the Maluti Mountains, named after the golden sandstone cliffs; the scenery is magnificent incl. the imposing Brandwag rock and the climate invigorating; staying over is a popular option for humans and animals alike in this highlands habitat

Bloemfontein:

The ‘City of Roses’, Bloemfontein boasts cultural and political significance, featuring sandstone architecture, important museums and monuments and a busy events calendar; don’t miss the Franklin Game Reserve, only one in the world completely surrounded by a city; the Macufe Festival in Sep; the Loch Logan Waterfront; the historical township jazz performances and the War Museum.

Parys and the Vredefort Dome:

Named after Paris, Parys is situated on the Vaal River in the Vredefort Dome – a crater caused by a massive meteorite which hit earth about 250 million years ago; in Parys, don’t miss the Golf Island in the middle of the Vaal and other water activities and at Vredefort, adventure junkies can go on hiking routes, see untouched San paintings and ruins of iron age settlements, rock climb and abseil; the 200km Dome is best seen from the air.

The Battlefields:

Many historic sites related to the Anglo-Boer War are to be found in the Free State. Explore 13 battlefield sites, 8 military monuments, 2 war museums and 3 war and concentration camp cemeteries. Some of the main battles of war in 1900 are: Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Sannaspos, Mostertshoek, Jammerbergdrift, Sand River, Biddulphsberg, Yeomanry Hill, Roodewal, Surrender Hill and Doornkraal.

Xhariep / Gariep:

Meaning ‘Great River’; a vast open grassland fed by the 2000km Gariep Dam offering travellers endless vistas of open blue skies, starry nights and unpolluted air; land of farms, parks and reserves ideal for hunters and eco-tourists alike.

Towns of Thabo Mofutsanyana:

Clarens is a picturesque town described as the “Jewel of the Free State”, here artists and art galleries abound and photographers find the scenery a magnet in autumn and spring; Memel is fast becoming a birding mecca with over 350 species including many ‘specials’ and 15 Red Data listed species, other attractions are the scenery and the spectacular Seekoeivlei Wetlands floodplain; Ficksburg is filled with adventure options from the usual hiking, fishing and game activities to the unusual such as altitude scuba diving (2650m above sea level) and ox-wagon adventures!

Eastern Highlands:

Breathtaking scenery in pristine area with snow-capped mountains, densely vegetated valleys and wild gorges; ideal for romantic hide-aways, trout-fishing, bird watching and hiking; don’t miss the Bushmen paintings.

Vaal River:

The inland water mecca of South Africa offering boundless water sport opportunities such as white water rafting, relaxed sailing, powerboating and water skiing; game farms, accommodation facilities, camping sites and a casino also feature; Deneysville and Jim Fouche Resort near Oranjeville are major venues.

Lejweleputswa (Free State Gold Fields):

Go on underground mine tours of some of the deepest mines in the world on the Goldfields Route; visit Welkom, one of the few cities in the world planned to completion before building where you can go on a trip to the world’s deepest wine cellar at 857m below the earth’s surface at St Helena Mine and see the Gold Museum in the city as well as Phakisa Freeway, one of the top 5 motor racing circuits in the world; Virginia was home to the richest gold reefs in 1946 and is a nature lover’s paradise.

Basotho Cultural Village, Qwa Qwa National Park:

Scenic Qwa Qwa National Park offers an authentic traditional African experience in the form of its Basotho Cultural Village; see the reed-and-stick structures and mud huts, drink sorghum beer, watch the weaving and have your fortune predicted by a local healer.

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