About.com South America Travel

"Guyana is a rare opportunity for travellers"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:27:38 +0000

Tourism professionals say Guyana is a rare opportunity for travellers (caribbeannetnews): "Guyana played host to an esteemed group of tourism professionals - tour operators, researchers, journalists, and conservationists - on a product familiarization trip spotlighting the South American country's nature and cultural tourism activities. The participants were all seasoned world travelers and their feedback places Guyana on par with other top nature destinations.

The trip featured birding, wildlife watching and cultural activities in Georgetown, Kaieteur Falls, Karanambu Lodge, Caiman House at Yupukari Village, Rock View Lodge, Aranaputa Village, Surama Village and Eco-Lodge, Fair View Village, Iwokrama River Lodge, Atta Rainforest Lodge and Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, and Baganara Island Resort."

Explore Guyana with a view to your own familiarization tour.

View of Kaieteur Falls, a favorite destination in Guyana, is displayed with the kind permission of Bill Curtsinger / Getty Images.

"Guyana is a rare opportunity for travellers" originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 06:27:38.

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Biking in Peru: Trip Reports

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:00:37 +0000

There's more to this feature about biking in Peru than just the Lake Titicaca: The Bike Tour (livinginperu.com).

There are blogs about rides in and around Cumbe Mayo in Abancay, Traveling the Milky Way in Cajamarca, Cuzco, El Refugio de Francesca in Ancash, Chasing the Sun from Lima to sunnier spots, Lambayeque, Back Road from Cajamarca to Chachapoyas, Ballestas islands and an overall view of biking in Peru.

View of Santa Apolonia Church in Cajamarca is displayed with the kind permission of Paul Kennedy / Getty Images.

Biking in Peru: Trip Reports originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 06:00:37.

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Hot tips for 2010 South American travel

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:45 +0000

Adventure holidays: hot tips for 2010 (guardian.co.uk) "We asked the experts to reveal the trips they are most excited about - from Papua New Guinea's jungles to Greenland's ice floes."

Two of South America's locations made the list: Off the beaten track in Northern Peru and Island-hopping in The Falkland Islands.

View of the adobe pyramid of Huaca del Sol is displayed with the kind permission of Peter and Jackie Main.

Hot tips for 2010 South American travel originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 19:45:45.

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Cholitas in La Paz battle it out

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:00:06 +0000

The author describes an entertaining evening at a wrestling match in the Los Altos section of La Paz in which women, called cholitas tackle each other and male contestants in free-for-all matches: Slammin' ma'ams win over the fans (brisbanetimes.com)

Included are some recommendations for reasonable accommodations.

Cholitas in La Paz battle it out originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 06:00:06.

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Meatless in Argentina

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:14:23 +0000

With descriptions of meals, photos and some suggestions, the author asks: Can a Vegetarian Survive in Argentina? (concierge.com)

And the answer is Yes! Take a look at more traditional Recipes from Argentina for ideas and you can always ask to have a vegetarian dish prepared for you.

Meatless in Argentina originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 16:14:23.

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Power Outage in Brazil and Paraguay

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:49:19 +0000

Brazil blackouts hit up to 60M, spur Olympic fears (AP): "Brazil emerged Wednesday from a widespread power outage that plunged as many as 60 million people into darkness for hours, prompting security fears and concern from residents about another black eye for a country hosting the 2016 Olympic Games."

Paraguay, who shares the power from the Itaipu dam, the world's second biggest hydroelectric producer, also lost country-wide power, but for a much shorter time.

View of the Itapu dam thanks to ArtToday.com. For more views, browse through Sampling of Paraguay.

Power Outage in Brazil and Paraguay originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 13:49:19.

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Trip Report: Providencia Island

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:34 +0000

Colombia's unspoilt island idyll (guardian.co.uk): "A strange mix of South America and the Caribbean, the tiny Colombian island of Providencia enjoys a pace of life that makes Antigua or Barbados look frenetic."

The author recounts his adventures in four days spent swimming, diving, cruising around the island and relaxing in a hammock.

"Providencia was all about pace. I really don't remember the last time I switched off to such a degree. Imagine a place with no mobile reception, no internet cafe other than in the main urban area, no shops, no chains of any kind, no chefs, no TVs in the bedrooms. Less is more, nothing is everything. Providencia by name and by nature. Colombia being off the map for so many years has ensured this island's isolation from Latin America's anxious, often half-baked urge for European-style development."

This view of a Providencia island beach is displayed with the kind permission of Glowimages / Getty Images.

Trip Report: Providencia Island originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 06:00:34.

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Minas Gerais Trip Suggestions

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:05:48 +0000

On your next trip to Brazil, make sure you check out the scenic views and the hospitable towns and people in The Other Brazil: Minas Gerais (NYTimes): The author explains that he "had taken my two friends to Minas Gerais to show them what I think too many foreign travelers like them miss: the Brazil that lies beyond the Christ on the hill in Rio, the eco-lodges of the Amazon and the model-flecked beaches of Florianópolis. Instead of a cross on a hill, Minas has colonial towns loaded with Baroque-style churches. Instead of vast rain forests, Minas has gorgeous mountains and countless waterfalls. And instead of beaches, it's the home of a country cooking style famed across this nation of more than 190 million."

With descriptions and recommendations for Ouro Prêto and surrounding locales, the author gives us an on-the-spot look at the area. See more with this Visit to Ouro Prêto, Brazil, with the historic Praça de Tiradentes. Also on their itinerary was a visit to the state capital, Belo Horizonte and Tiradentes, named for Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, a dentist or tooth-puller, who was executed in 1792 for his role in encouraging Brazilian independence from Portugal, and is today honored each April 21st as the Civic Patron of the Brazilian nation.

View of the Praça de Tiradentes with a statue of Tiradentes and a baroque-style church in the background,, seen from this location, is displayed with the kind permission of Peter and Jackie Main.

Minas Gerais Trip Suggestions originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 15:05:48.

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Witches Market, La Paz

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:00:09 +0000

Need a potion to succeed in business, love, or insure good health? Or maybe a more sinister reason? You'll find them all in the witches market stalls of Bolivia's not-so-wicked witches (globalpost.com) also known as the Mercado de la Hechicer�a.

Photo of a witch's market stall thanks to ArtToday.com.

Explore more about La Paz, the city that touches the sky.

Witches Market, La Paz originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 06:00:09.

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Unspoiled Beach Escapes: Sound good?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:44:14 +0000

Are you looking for a great holiday with fewer visitors? If you are looking for peace and quiet, a restful communication with sand and sky, take a look at these suggestions for Unspoilt Latin American beach escapes (guardian.co.uk) in Uruguay, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela.

This view of Lover's Beach near Natal, while not listed by name in this article, is displayed with the kind permission of Peter and Jackie Main and gives us a good idea of an unspoiled beach.

Unspoiled Beach Escapes: Sound good? originally appeared on About.com South America Travel on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 14:44:14.

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