Yagua Natives

You probably already have the idea that the Amazon rainforest is quite large but you may not have realized just how huge it is.  It covers about 2.5 million square miles, representing 54% of all the rainforest on the planet.  Parts of it can be found in nine separate South American countries including Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas which are made up of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.  The Amazon River, which begins in the Andes Mountains of Peru, flows for more than 4,000 miles until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil.

The vast majority of people visit the rainforest either by taking an Amazon River cruise or by staying in one of the many Amazon jungle lodges, which provide quality, hotel-style comfort, great food, professional guides, and fascinating excursions into the forest itself.

Choosing the right option for your own Amazon tour will depend on your interests, budget and preferred style of travel.  As a general rule of thumb, Amazon cruises are perfect for travelers looking for a more relaxed and luxurious experience and those on higher budgets.  Lodges range from ultra high end to highly affordable and family friendly.  Both types of trip include plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with the forest on excursions ranging from night canoeing, to piranha fishing, to caiman and wildlife spotting.

Likewise, choosing which part of the forest to visit will depend on what you’re looking to experience and discover during your trip, as well as how much time you have to spend: the longer you have, the further you will be able to get into the jungle and away from civilization.  The farther in you get, the more wildlife you are likely to see.

If you have a specific interest, such as bird watching, you may want to opt for a lodge that specializes in this.  For example, the Tambopata Research Center in Peru is a comfortable place to stay that will teach you loads about the local wildlife and, in particular, take you to the nearby clay lick where you will see an abundance of macaws.  About a third of all the species of birds in the world make their home in the Amazon rainforest as do more than one half of the world’s plants, animals and insects.  It influences life all over the world, being responsible for more than 20% of the earth’s oxygen as well.

For Amazon cruises, you can depart from Iquitos in Peru or Manaus in Brazil.  Both of these are also great places to experience the unique atmosphere of jungle cities, where the main access routes are by river, and daily life is heavily influenced by the surrounding jungle, giving the cities a profoundly “frontier” feel.

From Iquitos, you can cruise into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, the only way to reach this protected area, the largest natural protected area in Peru.  These cruises can range from luxury to extremely rustic, so you will want to be very clear about what is being offered.  You will have the opportunity along the way to make expeditions into the forest to see its abundant wildlife including multiple species of monkey, sloth and the famous pink river dolphins.  Visits to native villages are also often part of the activities offered.

Cruises from Manaus are similar to those from Iquitos, allowing you to get farther into the rainforest, take hikes to see wildlife and visit local communities.  You can even choose to cruise all the way from Iquitos to Manaus.  It is even possible to cruise the entire length of the Amazon River if you have several weeks in which to do it.

Although the forest is still home to many un-contacted and protected native tribes, there are a number of places where native people are well accustomed to contact from the outside world and welcome visitors into their villages, where you can learn about the indigenous way of life.  Many jungle lodges and river cruises offer this opportunity, some of the most popular (and ethically regulated) are the Yagua village, located near Peru’s Ceiba Tops Lodge, or the native villages near the Amazon Eco Park Jungle Lodge in Brazil.

If you’re still unsure which Amazon tour is right for you, Contact Us, to discuss your options with one of our travel consultants.

Mitad del Mundo

Welcoming thousands of tourists per day in its modest airport, Quito is Ecuador’s major launch point for tours of the country.  Many visitors headed to the Galapagos Islands will spend at least a night in the city, but Quito’s Old and New Towns are great spots for dining and sightseeing which could keep visitors well occupied for at least two or more days.

What’s more, Quito is close to a number of popular and rewarding places of interest, all of which make an interesting excursion, either on a day trip or an overnight stay.

Mitad del Mundo

The easiest of side trips, Museo Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World Museum) is just 45 minutes from Quito, and draws local and international tourists by the busload, all for the experience of straddling the equator with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other foot in the southern.

Once the novelty of jumping from north to south has worn off, the museum is also home to a number of educational and amusing exhibits, such as a demonstration that water really does flush in the opposite direction when you cross the equator, as well as the interesting fact that you weigh noticeably less here than you do back in Quito.

Exhibits, shops, and cafes dot the entire site and crowds are lighter on weekdays rather than weekends.

Otavalo Market

Two hours north of the capital, Otavalo is the premier market town in Ecuador, and one of the most famous in South America.  On normal days, the town hosts a regular fruit and vegetable market as well as a textile market.  However, on Saturdays the main market comes to life with indigenous Otavaleños arriving from the surrounding villages to sell their wares.

Textile vendors overflow into produce stands as the famed animal market bustles with piglets, chickens, and calves for sale from the countryside.  There is also excellent people watching on the weekends, when Otavaleña women stroll the streets in beautiful black skirts and embroidered blouses.

Cotapaxi Volcano

For outdoor enthusiasts and hikers, a visit to Cotapaxi Volcano is a convenient way to stretch your legs and get up close and personal with the Andes.  This is the highest active volcano in the world, a colossal snow-capped cone rising to almost 6,000 meters (19,347 feet) above sea level.

Cotapaxi National Park offers a wide range of adventure activities, including multi-day treks, ice climbing and other challenges.  But the less ambitious can still appreciate the volcano on a day trip from Quito, which includes a hike, an off-road 4X4 adventure, and a visit to one of the region’s many crystalline Andean lagoons.  Don’t forget your camera!

Baños de Santa Agua

Baños de Santa Agua, or just Baños, is located three and a half hours south of Quito and enjoys national accolades as Ecuador’s best hot spring town.

Water enthusiasts strut through the streets on weekends and holidays on their way to the mineral pools.  Waterfalls surround the town on all sides, and two great plazas offer shady reprieve on warm summer days.  Here, travelers board large (sometimes decorative) buses that escort them through town and out to the virgin waterfalls.  Many people visit Baños and stay for a lifetime.  Be prepared to fall in love.

All of these excursions offer an excellent complement to our Ecuador Tours and Galapagos Islands Cruises, and can be arranged in advance through South American Vacations.

Puerto Madero

Like all mega-metropolises, Buenos Aires, Argentina is home to neighborhoods as varied as their names indicate.  There’s Recoleta, Retiro, La Boca, and Puerto Madero.  There’s the microcenter, downtown, and Abasto.  Upon first arrival, I loved the cobblestone streets and graffiti artwork.  Each day, I would visit a new barrio and experience an incredibly different vibe.  After three weeks of living in San Telmo and a week of exploring top sights these are some highlights of my Buenos Aires visit.

San Telmo

Constructed for Buenos Aires’ upper class citizens who later abandoned the neighborhood due to a flu outbreak, San Telmo offers colonial architecture with a youthful vibe.  Bakeries, resto-bars, and pizza joints line the streets, offering afternoon marathons of empanada tastings.  Cafés range from minimalist trendy sidewalk establishments to traditional darkwood watering holes.  For great sandwiches, El Federal is the oldest in the business with a bustling coffee bar and sweet pastries for lazy mornings.  At night, check out the string of bars hosting live music from an extremely gifted generation of young artists.

Tigre Delta

Just one hour from Retiro Station, the Tigre Delta is a water wonderland experience that should not be missed.  We took the “scenic” Tren de la Costa (coastal train) but were disappointed with its views.  It’s best and cheaper to use the regular public trains which only cost 1.35 pesos (30 cents).  In the port, I bought a ticket for the launcha which are wooden boats that take local river residents to and from stilted homes.  The ride is fabulous as you skim past little cabins and sprawling mansions on the delta.  For lunch, El Hornero is a good choice in the town of Tres Bocas.  A giant tree and leafy trellis offer shade beside the canal as the classic Argentinian grill churns out perfectly char-crusted meats, made medium rare and juicy.  As I applied a healthy dose of bug spray, I watched seacraft park ashore for a fill up at a riverside gas station.

Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay

It’s almost like a two for one.  I came to Argentina and slipped in a sidetrip to Uruguay while in the capital.  Via ferry, I crossed the small stretch of water between the countries and landed in a UNESCO world heritage town.  Cobbled and charming, Colonia is ideal for romantic sunset strolls and boasts posadas, or bed and breakfasts.  I read and lounged under shady trees and drank famed Montevideo wines.  Slightly more expensive than neighboring Argentina, Uruguay hospitality has simple rooms with private bathrooms starting at US$75 though a few hostels provide more affordable options as well.

With four weeks in the city, I felt as if I’d seen very little when thinking of the grand scale of Buenos Aires.  Even with an apartment and easy access to public transportation, I still had to prioritize the sights.  Nature, music, and architecture were high on my list.  But no matter your preferences, Buenos Aires has museums, trains, and neighborhoods to satisfy all travelers.

Hiram Bingham

In 1911, Yale scholar Hiram Bingham rediscovered Machu Picchu.  Although he thought, incorrectly, that he had found the last refuge of the Incas (this was actually Vilcabamba), there is no doubt that what he did find has turned out to be much more significant for visitors to Peru.

In 1912, Bingham sent a number of artefacts from Machu Picchu back to Yale University with the permission of the Peruvian government.  Although intended to be a loan, these pieces remained in the United States until just last year when an agreement was finally made to begin shipping them back.  Under this agreement, the pieces will continue being studied through a partnership between Yale and San Antonio Abad University in Cusco.

The first of these pieces are now on display at the Casa Concha museum in Cusco.  This museum is housed in a Spanish colonial mansion, built on top of the palace of Tupac Inca Yupanqui.  It is possible to see architecture from both structures while touring this site.

Rather than a full museum, Casa Concha is more what you might think of as an exhibit, as the number of pieces currently being shown are not that numerous.  They are also simpler every day types of items as opposed to fine ceramics or precious metals.  Despite this, it is fascinating to view even simple objects knowing that they were once used at Machu Picchu itself.  There are also some pieces on loan from the Inca Museum that are from the same period.  Having these pieces on display as well helps to give a fuller picture of life at that time.

Perhaps the most interesting aspects of the exhibit are the explanations of what has been learned from the artefacts thus far.  For example, Bingham originally believed that most of the skeletons found at the site were women.  This promoted various theories about what the site was used for.  Now, we know that the ratio of male to female skeletons was actually fairly even.

Going through the Casa Concha museum before your Machu Picchu tour will allow you a much better understanding of this ancient archaeological site.  While you are taking your tour, do pay attention to the house itself.  There are some beautiful fireplaces, ceilings and other architectural details that are worth viewing for their own merits.

The museum is located at Santa Catalina Ancha 320.  It is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  The price to enter is S/. 20 for tourists.

South American Vacations offers over 40 Machu Picchu Tours.  Contact Us for help in planning your Peru Vacation.

Larco Museum Lima, Peru

The Larco Museum in Lima, Peru should be on your list of Must See attractions when visiting this city.  Founded in 1926, the museum displays gold, silver, and ceramic objects that provide an excellent overview of 3,000 years of pre-Columbian history in Peru.  The museum is housed in a vice-royal mansion of the 18^th century built over a 7^th century pre-Columbian pyramid.  The lower level of the museum has an impressive erotic collection and a storage area with 45,000 classified objects.  Contact Us for more information about this museum or for help in planning your Peru Vacation.

Metropolitan Cathedral Quito

LAN Airlines recently announced that starting April 16, 2012 they will offer daily Miami to Quito nonstop flights.  The existing nonstop Miami to Guayaquil flights will be discontinued.  LAN also updated the connections between Quito and Guayaquil, to make it easier to connect to the existing daily nonstop Guayaquil to JFK flights.  Please Contact Us for information on flight times or help in planning your Ecuador Vacation.

Galapagos Penguins

In the Galapagos Islands, the wildlife is the main attraction. Below is an indication of what you can expect to see in January and February during your Galapagos Cruise or Galapagos Land Based Tour.

JANUARY

• Beginning of the rainy season.
• Land birds start nesting, generally after the first rain.
• On Hood (Española) Island, adult marine iguanas become brightly colored (green, red, and black).
• The green sea turtles arrive to beaches in Galapagos to lay their eggs.
• Land iguanas begin reproductive cycles on Isabela Island.
• Both water and air temperatures rise and stay warm until June, which is an ideal time for snorkeling.

FEBRUARY

• On Floreana Island, greater flamingos start nesting.
• Bahama pintail ducks (Black-tailed pintail) start their breeding season.
• Nazca (masked) boobies on Hood are at the end of their nesting season.
• Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz Island.
• The highest water temperature reaches 25C (77F).  This temperature remains constant until April.
• Very few Galapagos penguins are sighted at Bartolome Island (most have followed the cool waters back to the west or near upwelling areas).
• Nesting season of the Galapagos dove reaches its peak.

Martha Cohen in Tikal, Guatemala

I recently returned from a family and working vacation in Guatemala, where we traveled as guests of INGUAT, the country’s tourism promotion department.  Guatemala vastly exceeded our expectations!  The people were friendly, the Mayan and Spanish colonial histories were fascinating, and the landscapes were breathtaking. 

We began our adventure in El Peten, the jungle-covered lowlands in the north of the country, about one hour by plane from Guatemala City.  This area is considered the cradle of the Mayan civilization, and the main attractions are the numerous Mayan ruins, including Tikal.  Tikal is a huge complex, located in the middle of the rainforest.  Its central city occupied six square miles and included over 4,000 buildings.  Temple IV, at 213 feet, is the tallest building in Tikal, and the second highest pre-Colombian building after La Danta at El Mirador.  The highlight of my visit to Tikal was the view from the top of Temple IV of Temples I, II, and V peeking through the canopy, with the sound of howler monkeys in the background.

After El Peten, we travelled from Guatemala City to Antigua, the former Spanish Colonial capital, which was destroyed by an Earthquake in 1773.  This caused the Spanish to relocate the capital to Guatemala City.  Antigua’s colonial character has been maintained by renovations throughout the years, and it was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.  It is surrounded by three large volcanoes, has cobblestone streets, and numerous Spanish-language schools, making it a hub for tourists.  The city is also known for its weekly processions during the forty days of Lent leading up to Holy Week.  We enjoyed people watching in Parque Central, taking a horse drawn carriage ride back to our hotel, and witnessing the creation of sawdust carpets lining the path of one of the processions during our visit.

On the way from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, we stopped at the Iximche archaeological site, which consists of four ceremonial plazas, temple structures up to 33 feet tall, and ball courts.  Iximche is still an important ceremonial site for the local Mayan’s and we observed one of the ceremonies while we were there.

 Lake Atitlan, our last stop, is one of the most spectacular natural settings that I have ever seen.  It is a deep blue lake formed by a caldera (collapsed volcano), surrounded by steep cliffs and three immense volcanoes at the southern end of the lake.  The main village on the lake is Panajachel, and there are a number of other Mayan villages around the lake, each with its own unique charm.  We crossed the lake by boat from Santa Catarina Palopo to visit Santiago de Atitlan, the largest village.  Here, we learned about the tocayol (women’s traditional headdress), Maximon, a deity of mixed Mayan and Catholic origins, and shopped for arts and crafts.

 I want to thank INGUAT, our host during this vacation, our wonderful guide Rita Maldonado, our driver Waldemar, who got us everywhere safely, and the people of Guatemala for their warmth and hospitality.  Our vacation was truly a memorable experience.  I have uploaded our Guatemala Photo Album and several videos to our Facebook page, and will be adding Guatemala Tours to our website soon.  Contact Us for help in planning your Guatemala Vacation.

Red Footed Booby

Planning a Galapagos Vacation can seem like a daunting task when you are just starting out, but answering the following (basic) questions will make it easier for us to help you plan your trip.

1. What is your budget per person not including international airfare? This is perhaps the most important question to answer.  The minimum cost for Quito and a Four Day Cruise (7 Days/6 Nights) is $2,000 per person (including the Quito-Galapagos-Quito-Airfare).  Quito with a five or Eight Day cruise will cost a minimum of $2,400 and $3,600 respectively.  Special promotions and child discounts are offered throughout the year, which will reduce the above costs.  Other fixed costs to consider are the Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100 adult/$50 child), Transit Control Card ($10), and tipping of the crew ($15/day) and naturalist guide ($8/day).
2. How many days do you have for your vacation? Most Galapagos Vacation Packages are a minimum of 4 Days/3 Nights.  Since it is suggested that you arrive in Quito or Guayaquil two nights prior to departing to the Galapagos, and most flights to North America out of Quito or Guayaquil after the cruise are in the morning, you will need a minimum of seven days for most Galapagos Tours.
3. When do you want to visit? This is an important consideration since we will need to confirm the availability of a cabin before sending you a proposal.  While the Galapagos Islands are a year-round destination, certain times of the year are more popular, and booking further in advance will be required to ensure space on a ship or at a hotel during those times.  Popular dates include Holy Week, Summer Vacation for North Americans and Europeans (June-August), and Christmas Week.
4. Do you want a Galapagos Cruise or Galapagos Land Based Tour? If you want a Galapagos Cruise, you will need to decide between a small (16-36 passengers), medium (36-48), or large ship (90-100 passengers).  The smaller ships offer a more intimate experience, and the medium and larger ships offer more stability and on board amenities.  A Galapagos Cruise also provides access to the more remote islands of the archipelago.  If you want a Galapagos Land Based Tour, the choice is between staying on one island and visiting other islands via daily yacht excursions, or staying on two or more islands, which is referred to as “Island Hopping”.  Galapagos Island Hopping tours explore parts of the Islands that are seldom seen by cruise passengers.
5. What activities do you want to participate in? Many of our Galapagos ships offer snorkeling and sea kayaking, but if you want to SCUBA dive, you will either need to book a dive live-aboard cruise or add time before or after the cruise for a diving excursion.  For our land based tours, available activities include snorkeling, sea kayaking, SCUBA diving, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching.
6. What type of wildlife do you want to see? One of the best aspects of visiting the Galapagos Islands is that you can see a wide variety of plants and animals throughout the year.  If there is one particular animal species that you are intent on seeing, such as Red Footed Boobies, which can only be seen up close on Genovesa Island (Tower), it is best to consult with us first so that we can advise you which ships visit that island.
7. What other destinations do you want to combine with the Galapagos Islands? The Galapagos Islands can be combined with the Highlands of Ecuador, the Ecuadorian Amazon, Machu Picchu, the Peruvian Amazon, Easter Island, and any other destination in Central and South America.

Plaza Mayor Lima

Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communication has announced that all domestic and international airport taxes, which were previously paid separately at local airports in Peru, are now included in the cost of airfare to Peru.  The fees are included in the airfare in order to improve the quality of airport services nationwide.