Holiday Destinations - South America

Antigua  is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la Antigua—St. Mary the Ancient. It is also known as Wadadli, from the original Amerindian inhabitants, and means approximately "our own".[citation needed] The island's circumference is roughly 87 km (54 mi) and its area 281 km2 (108 sq mi). Its population was estimated at 86,754 (July 2010).[1] The economy is mainly reliant on tourism, with the agricultural sector serving the domestic market.

Over 31,000 people live in the capital city, St. John's, at 17°6'N 61°45'W. The capital is situated in the north-west and has a deep harbour which is able to accommodate large cruise ships. Other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239), according to the 2001 census.

English Harbour on the south-eastern coast is famed for its protected shelter during violent storms. It is the site of a restored British colonial naval station called "Nelson's Dockyard" after Captain Horatio Nelson. Today English Harbour and the neighbouring village of Falmouth are internationally famous as a yachting and sailing destination and provisioning centre. During Antigua Sailing Week, at the end of April and beginning of May, the annual world-class regatta brings many sailing vessels and sailors to the island to play sports.


Antigua's economy is reliant upon tourism, and it markets itself as a luxury Caribbean escape. Antigua is also supported by the growing medical school and its students. Many hotels and resorts are located around the coastline, and the island's single airport is serviced by several major airlines including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, US Airways, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Air Lines, Caribbean Airlines and Air Canada.

The only regular service to Barbuda flies from VC Bird Airport. The United States Air Force maintains a small base near the airport as part of its Eastern Range, used for space missions and communications.

The University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA) and the American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine teach aspiring doctors.

The country's official currency is the East Caribbean dollar. However, many prices in tourist-oriented businesses are shown in US dollars. The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of $1 US = $2.7169 EC.


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Antigua's history, rich in intrigue, is well-known among maritime buffs and English scholars. Prior to European colonialism, however, the first residents were the Ciboney Indians, who inhabited the island for several thousand years before mysteriously departing. Pastoral Arawak Indians settled here before being replaced by the Caribs, the last group to inhabit the island before it was taken over by Europeans. That occurred in 1493, when Christopher Columbus spotted Antigua on his second voyage. Life did not change dramatically for nearly 150 years after, though, as the Caribs resisted any European efforts to colonise.

The Arawaks were the first well-documented group of Antiguans. This group paddled to the island by canoe (piragua) from Venezuela, ejected by the Caribs—another people indigenous to the area. Arawaks introduced agriculture to Antigua and Barbuda, raising, among other crops, the famous Antiguan "Black" pineapple. They also cultivated various other foods including:


Some of the vegetables listed, such as corn and sweet potatoes, still play an important role in Antiguan cuisine. For example, a popular Antiguan dish, dukuna (/'du?ku?n??/), is a sweet, steamed dumpling made from grated sweet potatoes, flour and spices. One of the Antiguan staple foods, fungi (/'fu?nd?i/), is a cooked paste made of cornmeal and water.

The bulk of the Arawaks left Antigua about A.D. 1100. Those who remained were subsequently raided by the Caribs. According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, the Caribs' superior weapons and seafaring prowess allowed them to defeat most Arawak nations in the West Indies. They enslaved some and cannibalised others. The Catholic Encyclopedia does note that the European invaders had difficulty identifying and differentiating between the various native peoples they encountered. As a result, the number and types of ethnic/tribal/national groups at the time may have been more varied and numerous than the two mentioned in this article.

The indigenous West Indians made excellent sea vessels which they used to sail the Atlantic and Caribbean. As a result, Caribs and Arawaks populated much of South American and the Caribbean Islands. Relatives of the Antiguan Arawaks and Caribs still live in various countries in South America, notably Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia. The smaller remaining native populations in the West Indies maintain a pride in their heritage.

Christopher Columbus named the island "Antigua" in 1493 in honour of the Virgin of La Antigua, found in the Seville Cathedral in southern Spain. A common practice for Spanish explorers was to name newly discovered areas after Catholic saints. San Juan in Puerto Rico, Santiago in Hispaniola, as well as Santa Barbara, San Diego, and San Francisco in the United States are examples of this custom.

In 1632, a group of English colonists left St. Kitts to settle in Antigua. Sir Christopher Codrington, an Englishman, established the first permanent European settlement. From that point on, Antigua history took a dramatic turn. Codrington guided development on the island as a profitable sugar colony. For a large portion of Antigua history, the island was considered Britain's "Gateway to the Caribbean". It was located on the major sailing routes among the region's resource-rich colonies. Lord Horatio Nelson, a major figure in Antigua history, arrived in the late 18th century to preserve the island's commercial shipping prowess.

According to A Brief History of the Caribbean, European and African diseases, malnutrition and slavery eventually destroyed the vast majority of the Caribbean's native population. No researcher has conclusively proven any of these causes as the real reason for the destruction of West Indian natives. In fact, some historians believe that the psychological stress of slavery may also have played a part in the massive number of native deaths while in servitude. Others believe that the reportedly abundant, but starchy, low-protein diet may have contributed to severe malnutrition of the "Indians" who were used to a diet fortified with protein from sea-life.


Sugar became Antigua's main crop in about 1674, when Christopher Codrington settled at Betty's Hope Estate. He came from Barbados, bringing the latest sugar technology with him. Betty's Hope, Antigua's first full-scale sugar plantation, was so successful that other planters turned from tobacco to sugar. This resulted in their importing tens of thousands of slaves, as sugar cultivation and processing was labour intensive.

According to A Brief History of the Caribbean, many West Indian colonists initially tried to use Indians and whites as slaves. Unfortunately, these groups succumbed easily to disease and/or malnutrition, and died by the thousands. The African slaves had the misfortune of adapting well to the new environment; and thus became the number one choice of "unpaid labour." In fact, the slaves thrived physically and also provided medical services, and skilled labour, such as carpentry for their slave masters.

Today, collectors prize the uniquely designed "colonial" furniture created by West Indian slaves. Many of these works feature what are now considered "traditional" motifs, such as pineapples, fish and stylised serpents.

According to "A history of Antigua" by Bran Dyde, by the mid 1770s, the number of slaves had increased to 37,500 from 12,500 in 1713, whereas the white population had fallen from 5000 to below 3000. The slaves lived in wretched and overcrowded conditions, and could be mistreated or even killed by their owners with impunity. The Slave Act of 1723 made arbitrary murder of slaves illegal, but did not do much to ease their lives.

Unrest among the slaves became increasingly common. In 1729, a slave named Hercules was hanged, drawn and quartered, and three others burnt alive, for conspiring to kill the slave owner Crump and his family. In 1736, a slave called "Prince Klaas" (whose real name was Court) planned an uprising in which whites would be massacred. Court was crowned "King of the Coromantees" in a pasture outside the capital of St. John's, in what white observers thought was a colourful spectacle, but was for the slaves a ritual declaration of war on the whites. Due to information obtained from other slaves, colonists discovered the plot and suppressed it. Prince Klaas and four accomplices were caught and executed by the breaking wheel. Six slaves were hanged in chains and starved to death, and another fifty-eight were burned at the stake. The site of these executions is now the Antiguan Recreation Ground.[2]

The American War of Independence in the late eighteenth century disrupted the Caribbean sugar trade. At the same time public opinion in Britain gradually turned against slavery. Great Britain abolished the slave trade in 1808, and all existing slaves were emancipated in 1834.

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (who was not created Viscount Nelson until 1801) was Senior Naval Officer of the Leeward Islands from 1784 to 1787 on H.M.S. Boreas. During his tenure, he tried to enforce the Navigation Acts. These acts prohibited trade with the newly formed United States of America. Most of the merchants in Antigua depended upon American trade, so many of them despised Captain Nelson. As a result, he was unable to get a promotion for some time after his stint on the island.

Unlike the Antiguan merchants, Nelson had a positive view of the Navigation Acts. The following quote from The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson by Robert Southey sums up his views about the controversial Navigation Acts:

The Americans were at this time trading with our islands, taking advantage of the register of their ships, which had been issued while they were British subjects. Nelson knew that, by the Navigation Act, no foreigners, directly or indirectly, are permitted to carry on any trade with these possessions. He knew, also, that the Americans had made themselves foreigners with regard to England; they had disregarded the ties of blood and language when they acquired the independence which they had been led on to claim, unhappily for themselves before they were fit for it; and he was resolved that they should derive no profit from those ties now. Foreigners they had made themselves, and as foreigners they were to be treated.

Southey then quotes Nelson as saying that "The Antiguan Colonists are as great rebels as ever were in America, had they the power to show it."

A dockyard started in 1725, to provide a base for a squadron of British ships whose main function was to patrol the West Indies and thus maintain Britain's sea power, was later named "Nelson's Dockyard" in his honour.

While Nelson was stationed on Antigua, he frequently visited the nearby island of Nevis, where he met and married a young widow, Fanny Nisbet, who had previously married the son of a plantation family on Nevis.

In 1967, with Barbuda and the tiny island of Redonda as dependencies, Antigua became an associated state of the Commonwealth, and in 1981 it was disassociated from Britain. The country was then led by what many describe as an elected family dynasty, with Vere C. Bird, the first prime minister, having been succeeded in 1993 by Lester B. Bird, his son, who retained the post until 2004.

The ethnic distribution consist of 91% Black, Mulatto and mixed Black/Amerindian, 4.4% Other Mixed Race, 1.7% White, 2.9% Other (primarily East Indian and Asian). The majority of the white population is ethnically Irish and British, and Portuguese. There are also Christian Levantine Arabs (primarily of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian descent) and a small population of Asians and Sephardic Jews.

Behind the late twentieth century reviving and re-specifying of the place of African-Antiguans and Barbudans in the cultural life of the society, is a history of race/ethnic relations that systematically excluded them. A colonial framework was established by the English soon after their initial settlement of Antigua in 1623.

Mixed-race relationships and later immigration resulted by the late nineteenth century in the emergence of five distinct and carefully ranked race/ethnic groups. At the top of this hierarchy were the British, who justified their hegemony with arguments of white supremacy and civilizing missions. Among themselves, there were divisions between British Antiguans and non-creolised British, with the latter coming out on top. In short, this was a race/ethnic hierarchy that gave maximum recognition to Anglicised persons and cultural practices.

Immediately below the British, were the mulattoes, a mixed-race group resulting from unions between, generally, white European males and enslaved black African women, many of which took place in the years before the expansion of slave population. Mulattoes were lighter in shade than the masses of black Africans. Some white fathers had their sons educated or trained in crafts. They sometimes benefited them in other ways, which led to the development of a separate class. Mulattoes gradually distinguished themselves from the masses of enslaved black Africans. They developed complex ideologies of shade to legitimate their claims to higher status. These ideologies of shade paralleled in many ways British ideologies of white supremacy.

Next in this hierarchy were the Portuguese— 2500 of whom migrated as workers from Madeira between 1847 and 1852 because of a severe famine. Many established small businesses and joined the ranks of what was by then the mulatto middle class. The British never really considered Portuguese as their equals, so they were not allowed into their ranks. Among Portuguese Antiguans and Barbudans, status differences move along a continuum of varying degrees of assimilation into the Anglicised practices of the dominant group.

Below the Portuguese were the Middle Easterners, who began migrating to Antigua and Barbuda around the turn of the twentieth century. Starting as itinerant traders, they soon worked their way into the middle strata of the society. Although Middle Easterners came from a variety of areas in the Middle East, as a group they are usually referred to as Syrians.

Fifth and finally were the African-Antiguans and Barbudans who were located at the bottom of this hierarchy. Transported as slaves, Africans started arriving in Antigua and Barbuda in large numbers during the 1670s. Very quickly they came to constitute the majority of the population. As they entered this hierarchy, Africans were profoundly racialised. They ceased being Ashantee,Ewe,Yoruba and became Negroes or Blacks other African nationals make up the population of Antigua & Barbuda.

In the 20th century, the colonial hierarchy gradually began to be subversed as a result of universal education and better economic opportunity. This process gave rise to blacks reaching the highest strata of society and government.

In the last decade, Spanish-speaking immigrants from the Dominican Republic and African-Caribbean immigrants from Guyana and Dominica have been added to this ethnic mosaic. As new immigrants often fleeing poverty and political unrest, they have entered at the bottom of the hierarchy. It is still too early to predict what their patterns of assimilation and social mobility will be.

Today, an increasingly large percentage of Antiguans have migrated abroad, most notably to the United Kingdom (Antiguan Britons), United States and Canada. A minority of Antiguan residents are immigrants from other countries, particularly Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica, with an increasing number of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ghana, and Nigeria. There is also a significant population of American citizens estimated at 4500 people, one of the largest American citizen populations in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean.

Almost all Antiguans are Christians (74%, with the Anglican Church (about 44%) being the largest denomination. Catholicism is the other significant denomination, with the remainder being other Protestants: including Methodists, Moravians, Pentecostals and Seventh-Day Adventists. There are also Jehovah's Witnesses. Non-Christian religions practiced on the islands include Rastafari, Islam, Judaism, and Baha'i.

Argentina is a country of Gauchos, Mate, Asado, Tango, Pampas, and Dulce de leche. The name immediately conjures up the image of big steaks, passionate men and women and long night of eating the best meat of the world and sipping mate, afterwards. Buenos Aires, the capital, is the center of the country in all ways except its geographical location. With the Río de la Plata, in the east of the country, it is actually the city that is closest to the Old Continent, and probably the most European city in South America.Behind Buenos Aires, the land of the Pampas begins. Many towns with historical centres that go back to colonial are worth visiting. In the west, the Andes mountains offer great outdoor opportunities: hiking, skiing and much more. Patagonia, the far south of Argentina is a rugged and cold land. The area around Ushuaia, southern most city of the counrty, is mild in October to May. It is great for the lovers of nature and wildlife; big glaciers that go directly into the Barney, birds, seals and other arctic animals abound. In the northwestern corner of this dreamed land, deserts and steppes are the most common geographical sites; and in the northeastern part of the country, Iguazú Falls, complete all kinds of climate existing on the Earth... all in one beautiful country.

The Bahamas (officially named The Commonwealth of The Bahamas) or The Bahama Islands, is an archipelago consisting of many islands. There are about 2,000 islands if you include the cays which are small islands that are formed on coral reefs. The word Bahamas is of Spanish decent and means 'Shallow Water' 

When Christopher Columbus first arrived in the West Indies in 1492, he landed on a Bahamian island he named San Salvador. The island now presently known as San Salvador (formerly called Watling Island) has long been thought to be the island where Columbus landed. But in truth, historians do not agree on the exact site of the landing. The possibility narrows between two islands: San Salvador itself and Samana Cay, about 80 miles southeast. 

Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador Island in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. 

The official language spoken in the Bahamas is English. The populace is predictably friendly and more religious than one might expect: the Bahamas have one of the highest ratios of churches per capita in the world, with Baptists being the largest single group. Local newspapers will reveal religious references by elected officials in a manner that exceeds what would be found in the United States. This devotion does nothing to prohibit the activities of visitors nor is it intended to. There is a very "libertarian" attitude about personal morals. 

The biggest event in the Bahamian calendar is Junkanoo, a street carnival held on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year's Day (January 1). Junkanoo groups "rush" through the streets of towns, especially Nassau, wearing spectacular yet disposable costumes of crepe paper and playing distinctive Junkanoo music, which combines African rhythms with loud brass and cowbells, fusing them together in a medley that veers on cacophony but is exceedingly dancable. The costumes, made from scratch every year, are disposed of on the streets as the party ends and make a great free souvenir to bring home!Bahamas is also the site of Ms.Universe 2009 

There are many types of music known in the Bahamian culture but the four most prevalent forms of music are Calypso, Soca, Junkanoo and Rake and scrape. The music of the Bahamas is associated primarily with junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day and again on New Year's Day. Parades and other celebrations mark the ceremony. Groups like The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler and Kirkland Bodie have gained massive popularity in Japan, the United States and elsewhere. 

Calypso is a style of music which originated African and Caribbean decent but originated in Trinidad and Tobago. This form of music has spread through many parts of the Caribbean, mainly the Bahamas. 

Soca is a form of music which involves dance and originated from calypso music. Originally it combined the melodic rhythmic sound of calypso with firm percussion and local chutney music. Soca music has grown in the last 20 years primarily by musicians from various Anglophone Caribbean countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, United States Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica and Belize. 


Rake and scrape music comes from the musical traditions of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is characterized by the use of a saw as the primary instrument. It was brought by immigrants from those islands from the 1920s to about the 1940s, who settled on Cat Island, and elsewhere. Rake and Scrape is traditionally used to accompany the Bahamian Quadrille and the heel-toe polka all relics of the initial mixture of Africa and Europe [1].Many of these Turks and Caicos Islanders became some of the most famous musicians in the Bahamas. Many eventually moved back to their homelands, bringing with them junkanoo. Turks and Caicos are now the second home for junkanoo. 


Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream. Hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage. Can be cool if trade winds shift. During summer months, temperature in the Bahamas rarely goes above 90°F (32°C). The normal climate during winter is mild with temperatures around 60°F (16°C). The Northern and Western islands, Grand Bahama Island, Great Abaco, Andros and Eleuthera are somewhat cooler than the southern islands. The Bahamas hurricane season runs between June and November and rain storms are expected during this period. 

The Bahamas archipelago are in fact the tops of banks that were formed some time between 90,000 and 120 years ago from coral reef formation. The well known pink sand beaches of the Bahamas get their vibrant appearance from the fractured pieces of seashell combined with the sand. The highest point in the Bahamas is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island, which is 63 meters (over 200 feet) high. 


Wildlife in Bahamas contains various species. Many different breed of crabs can be found on the beaches. Kermit the Hermit and Cardisoma guanhumi are two of the land crabs to be noted frequently in the island. The wild horses of Abaco are famous in The Bahamas. 

During a tour of the Bahamas, tourists can come across various other species including the Bahamas Hutia, numerous frogs, rocky raccoon, snails such as Cerion, cicada, blind cave fish, ants and reptiles. 

Bahamas Wildlife features a wide range of amazing birds. Parrots and pigeons are two of the most common and popular birds found in The Bahamas. 

The Bahamas is also home to numerous aquatic life. Sharks, manatees, dolphins, frogfish, angelfish, starfish and turtles can be viewed in the waters surrounding The Bahamas. Apart from numerous species of fish, tourists can spot several types of worms also. 

Long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills. The highest point is Mount Alvernia (63 m), on Cat Island. Grand Bahama Island features breathtaking white sandy beaches, beautifully clear turquoise blue waters and plenty of lush, tropical foliage

Barbados  is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and as much as 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width, amounting to 431 square kilometres (166 sq mi). It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres (62 mi) east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea;[4] therein, it is about 168 kilometres (104 mi) east of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north-east of Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane belt. Barbados was visited by the Portuguese in 1536. They did not want to settle in Barbados and did not claim it for their country, but thought it would be a good place to visit now and again and they let loose a number of wild hogs to make sure that whenever they returned here they would have a good supply of meat. The first English ship, the "Olive Blossom", arrived in Barbados in 1625. They took possession of it in the name of 'James, King of England'. It became an English and later British colony.[5] The island has an estimated population of 284,589 people,[6] with around 80,000 living in or around Bridgetown, the largest city and the country's capital.[7] In 1966, Barbados became an independent state and Commonwealth realm, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.[8] Barbados is one of the Caribbean's leading tourist destinations and is the most developed island in the region, with an HDI number of 0.788.

According to accounts by descendants of the indigenous Arawakan-speaking tribes in other regional areas, the original name for Barbados was Ichirouganaim, with possible translations including "Red Land with White Teeth",[9] "Redstone island with teeth outside (reefs)" or simply "Teeth".

The reason for the later name Barbados is controversial. The Portuguese, en route to Brazil were the first Europeans to come upon the island, and they named it Barbados. The word Barbados means "bearded ones", but it is a matter of conjecture whether "bearded" refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island; to allegedly bearded Caribs once inhabiting the island; or to the foam spraying over the outlying reefs giving the impression of a beard. In 1519, a map produced by the Genoese mapmaker Visconte Maggiolo showed and named Barbados in its correct position.

Other names or nicknames associated with Barbados include "Bim", "Bimshire" and "da Rock". The origin is uncertain but several theories exist. The National Cultural Foundation of Barbados says that "Bim" was a word commonly used by slaves and that it derives from the phrase "bi mu"[16] or either ("bem", "Ndi bem", "Nwanyi ibem" or "Nwoke ibem")[17] from an Igbo phrase meaning "my people". In colloquial or literary contexts, "Bim" can also take a more deific tone, referring to the "goddess" Barbados.[citation needed]

The word Bim and Bimshire are recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary and the Chamber's Twentieth Century Dictionaries. Another possible source for "Bim" is reported to be in the Agricultural Reporter of 25 April 1868, The Rev. N Greenidge (father of one of the island's most famous scholars, Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge) suggested the listing of Bimshire as a county of England. Expressly named were "Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Bimshire".[17] Lastly in the Daily Argosy (of Demerara i.e. Guyana) of 1652 it referred to Bim as a possible corruption of the word "Byam", who was a Royalist leader against the Parliamentarians. That source suggested the followers of Byam became known as Bims and became a word for all Barbadians.[17]


Amerindian settlement of Barbados dates to about the 4th to 7th century AD, by a group known as the Saladoid-Barrancoid.[18] In the 13th century, the Caribs arrived from South America.[19]

The Portuguese briefly claimed Barbados from the mid-16th to the 17th centuries, and may have seized the Arawaks on Barbados and used them as slave labour. Other Arawaks are believed to have fled to neighbouring islands. Apart from possibly displacing the Caribs, the Portuguese left little impact and by the 1610s left for South America, leaving the island uninhabited. Some Arawaks arrived from Guyana in the 1800s and continue to live in Barbados.[19][20][21]


From about 1600 the English, French and Dutch began to found colonies in North America and the smaller Caribbean islands. Barbados was the third major English settlement in the Americas (1607: Jamestown, 1620:Plymouth Colony, 1627: Barbados. The British Leeward Islands were occupied at about the same time as Barbados: 1623: St Kitts, 1628: Nevis, 1632: Montserrat, 1632: Antigua.) In the period 1640–60 the West Indies attracted over two thirds of English emigrants to the New World. By 1650 there were 44,000 English in the Caribbean, 12,000 on the Chesapeake and 23,000 in New England. The population of Barbados was estimated at 30,000. Most emigrants arrived as indentured servants. After five years of labor they were given 'freedom dues' of about £10, usually in goods. Before the mid-1630s they also received 5 to 10 acres of land but after that time the island filled up and there was no more free land. Around the time of Cromwell a number of rebels and criminals were also transported. The death rate was very high (Parish registers from the 1650s show, for the white population, four times as many deaths as marriages.) The main export was tobacco, but tobacco prices fell in the 1630s as Chesapeake production expanded.

From the 1640s the introduction of sugar from Dutch Brazil completely transformed society and the economy. A workable sugar plantation required a large investment and a great deal of heavy labor. White smallholders were bought out and the island was filled up with large slave-worked sugar plantations. At first, Dutch traders supplied the equipment, finance and slaves and carried most of the sugar to Europe. In 1644 there were about 800 slaves on the island. By 1660 there were 27,000 blacks and 26,000 whites. By 1666 at least 12,000 white smallholders had been bought out, died or left the island. Many of the remaining whites were increasingly poor. By 1680 there were seventeen slaves for every indentured servant. By 1700 there were 15,000 free whites and 50,000 enslaved blacks. In 1680 over half the arable land was held by 175 large planters who held at least 60 slaves. The great planters had connections with the English aristocracy and great influence on Parliament. (In 1668 the West Indian sugar crop sold for £180,000 after customs of £18,000. Chesapeake tobacco earned £50,000 after customs of £75,000). So much land was devoted to sugar that most food had to be imported from New England. The poorer whites that were squeezed off the island went to the British Leeward Islands or, especially, Jamaica. In 1670 South Carolina was founded from Barbados.

By 1660 Barbados generated more trade than all the other English colonies combined. It was surpassed by Jamaica in 1713. Bridgetown, the capital, was one of the three largest cities in British America (the other two were Boston, Massachusetts and Port Royal, Jamaica.) By 1700 the English West Indies produced 25,000 tons of sugar, compared to 20,000 for Brazil, 10,000 for the French islands and 4,000 for the Dutch islands.[22]

English sailors who landed on Barbados in 1625 arrived at the site of present-day Holetown. The English then took possession of Barbados in the name of James I. From the arrival of the first English settlers in 1627–1628 until independence in 1966, Barbados was under uninterrupted British governance (and was the only Caribbean island that did not change hands during the colonial period). Nevertheless, Barbados always enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy. Its House of Assembly began meeting in 1639. Among the initial important figures was Anglo-Dutchman Sir William Courten.

Fighting during the War of the Three Kingdoms and the Interregnum spilled over into Barbados and Barbadian territorial waters. The island was not involved in the war until after the execution of Charles I, when the island's government fell under the control of Royalists (ironically the Governor, Philip Bell, remained loyal to Parliament while the Barbadian House of Assembly, under the influence of Humphrey Walrond, supported Charles II). To try to bring the recalcitrant colony to heel, the Commonwealth Parliament passed an act on 3 October 1650 which prohibited trade between England and the island, and because the island also traded with the Netherlands, further navigation acts were passed prohibiting any but English vessels trading with Dutch colonies. These acts were a precursor to the First Anglo-Dutch War. The Commonwealth of England sent an invasion force under the command of Sir George Ayscue which arrived in October 1651. After some skirmishing, the Royalists supporters in the Barbados House of Assembly led by Lord Willoughby surrendered. The conditions of surrender were incorporated into the Charter of Barbados (Treaty of Oistins), which was signed in the Mermaid's Inn, Oistins, on 17 January 1652.[23]

With the increased implementation of slave codes, which created differential treatment between Africans and the white workers and planters, the island became increasingly unattractive to poor whites. Black or slave codes were implemented in 1661, 1676, 1682, and 1688. In response to these codes, several slave rebellions were attempted or planned during this time, but none succeeded. Nevertheless, poor whites who had or acquired the means to emigrate often did so. Planters expanded their importation of African slaves to cultivate sugar cane.

Barbados eventually had one of the world's biggest sugar industries after starting sugar cane cultivation in 1640. One group which was instrumental for ensuring the early success of the sugar cane industry were the Sephardic Jews, who originally been expelled from the Iberian peninsula to end up in Dutch Brazil.[24] This quickly replaced tobacco plantations on the islands which were previously the main export. As the sugar industry developed into its main commercial enterprise, Barbados was divided into large plantation estates that replaced the smallholdings of the early English settlers. Some of the displaced farmers moved to other English colonies in the Americas, most notably North and South Carolina, and British Guiana, as well as Panama. To work the plantations, planters imported enslaved West Africans to Barbados and other Caribbean islands.

The British abolished the slave trade in 1807 but not the institution itself. In 1816, slaves rose up in the largest major slave rebellion in the island's history. Twenty thousand slaves from over 70 plantations rebelled. They drove whites off the plantations, but widespread killings did not take place. This was later termed “Bussa's Rebellion” after the slave ranger, Bussa, who with his assistants hated slavery, found the treatment of slaves on Barbados to be “intolerable”, and believed the political climate in the UK made the time ripe to peacefully negotiate with planters for freedom (Davis, p. 211; Northrup, p. 191). Bussa's Rebellion failed. One hundred and twenty slaves died in combat or were immediately executed; another 144 were brought to trial and executed; remaining rebels were shipped off the island (Davis, pp. 212–213).

Slavery was finally abolished in the British Empire 18 years later in 1834. In Barbados and the rest of the British West Indian colonies, full emancipation from slavery was preceded by an apprenticeship period that lasted four years.

Statue of Lord Nelson in National Heroes Square which predates the more famous Nelson's Column by some 27 years. 
In 1884, the Barbados Agricultural Society sent a letter to Sir Francis Hincks requesting his private and public views on whether the Dominion of Canada would favourably entertain having the then colony of Barbados admitted as a member of the Canadian Confederation. Asked of Canada were the terms of the Canadian side to initiate discussions, and whether or not the island of Barbados could depend on the full influence of Canada in getting the change agreed to by the United Kingdom. Then in 1952 the Barbados Advocate newspaper polled several prominent Barbadian politicians, lawyers, businessmen, the Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly and later as first President of the Senate, Sir Theodore Branker, Q.C. and found them to be in favour of immediate federation of Barbados along with the rest of the British Caribbean with complete Dominion Status within five years from the date of inauguration of the West Indies Federation with Canada.

However, plantation owners and merchants of British descent still dominated local politics, owing to the high-income qualification required for voting. More than 70% of the population, many of them disenfranchised women, were excluded from the democratic process. It was not until the 1930s that the descendants of emancipated slaves began a movement for political rights. One of the leaders of this movement, Sir Grantley Adams, founded the Barbados Labour Party in 1938, then known as the Barbados Progressive League.

Adams and his party demanded more rights for the poor and for the people, and staunchly supported the monarchy. Progress toward a more democratic government in Barbados was made in 1942, when the exclusive income qualification was lowered and women were given the right to vote. By 1949 governmental control was wrested from the planters and, in 1958, Adams became Premier of Barbados.

From 1958 to 1962, Barbados was one of the ten members of the West Indies Federation, an organisation doomed by nationalistic attitudes and by the fact that its members, as British colonies, held limited legislative power. Adams served as its first and only "Premier", but his leadership failed in attempts to form similar unions, and his continued defence of the monarchy was used by his opponents as evidence that he was no longer in touch with the needs of his country. Errol Walton Barrow, a fervent reformer, became the new people's advocate. Barrow had left the BLP and formed the Democratic Labour Party as a liberal alternative to Adams' conservative government. Barrow instituted many progressive social programmes, such as free education for all Barbadians and the school meals system. By 1961, Barrow had replaced Adams as Premier and the DLP controlled the government.

With the Federation dissolved, Barbados reverted to its former status, that of a self-governing colony. The island negotiated its own independence at a constitutional conference with Britain in June 1966. After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados finally became an independent state on 30 November 1966, with Errol Barrow its first Prime Minister, although Queen Elizabeth II remained the monarch. Upon independence Barbados maintained historical linkages with Britain by establishing membership to the Commonwealth of Nations grouping. A year later Barbados' international linkages were expanded by obtaining membership to the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

Barbados has been an independent country since 30 November 1966. It functions as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, modelled on the British Westminster system, with Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, as head of state represented locally by the Governor-General, Clifford Husbands and the Prime Minister as the head of the government. The number of representatives within the House of Assembly has gradually increased from 24 at independence, to its present composition of thirty seats.

Barbados functions as a two-party system, the two dominant parties being the ruling Democratic Labour Party and the opposition, Barbados Labour Party. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had been in government for 15 years, since 1993 until the 2008 general election. Under this administration, the former Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Owen S. Arthur acted as the Regional Leader of the CSM (Caribbean Single Market).

The Honourable David Thompson, who was elected Prime Minister of Barbados in 2008, died of pancreatic cancer on 23 October 2010. He was succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stewart, who was sworn in the same day.[25][26]

Barbados has had several third parties over a period of time since independence: The People's Pressure Movement formed in the early 1970s and contested the 1976 elections; The National Democratic Party, which contested the 1994 elections; and the People's Democratic Congress, which contested the 2008 elections. Apart from these there were several independents who contested the elections, but independents are yet to win a seat in Parliament.


The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law of the nation.[27] The Attorney General heads the independent judiciary. Historically, Barbadian law was based entirely on English common law with a few local adaptations. At the time of independence, the British Parliament ceased having the ability to change local legislation at its own discretion. British law and various legal statutes within British law at this time, and other prior measures adopted by the Barbadian parliament became the basis of the modern-day law system.

More recently, however, local Barbadian legislation may be shaped or influenced by such organisations as the United Nations, the Organization of American States, or other international fora to which Barbados has obligatory commitments by treaty. Additionally, through international cooperation, other institutions may supply the Barbados Parliament with key sample legislation to be adapted to meet local circumstances before crafting it as local law.

Laws are passed by the Barbadian Parliament, whereby upon their passage, are given official vice-regal assent by the Governor-General to become law.

In Barbados, camouflage clothing is reserved for military use and forbidden for civilians to wear.

As of October 2010, it is illegal for persons to smoke in public areas.

The local court system of Barbados is made-up of:
Magistrates' Courts: Covering Criminal, Civil, Domestic, Domestic Violence, and Juvenile matters. But can also take up matters dealing with Corornor's Inquests, Liquor Licences, and civil marriages. Further, the Magistrates' Courts deal with Contract and Tort law where claims do not exceed $10,000.00
The Supreme Court: is made up of High Court and Court of Appeals. High Court: Consisting of Civil, Criminal, and Family law divisions.
Court of Appeal: Handles appeals from the High Court and Magistrates' Court. It hears appeals in both the civil, and criminal law jurisdictions. It may consist of a single Justice of Appeal sitting in Chambers; or may sit as a Full Court of three Justices of Appeals.

The Caribbean Court of Justice , (based in Port Of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago), is the court of last resort (final jurisdiction) over Barbadian law. It replaced the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC). The  may resolve othe

Belize formerly British Honduras) is a constitutional monarchy, and the northernmost Central American nation. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Belize is bordered to the north by Mexico, south and west by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. Belize’s mainland is about 290 kilometers (180 miles) long and 110 kilometers (68 miles) wide.

With 22,960 square kilometers (8,867 square miles) of land and a population of only 333,200 people (2010 est.),[4] Belize possesses the lowest population density in Central America.[5] The country's population growth rate of 2.21% (2008 est.), however, is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the western hemisphere. Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species, and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place within the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

Belize is culturally unique among its Central American neighbours; it is the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage. As a part of the Western Caribbean Zone, however, it also shares a common heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries. In general, Belize is considered to be a Central American nation with strong ties to both the Caribbean and Latin America. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).

The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but one idea is that the name is from the native Maya word belix, meaning "muddy water", applied to the Belize River. Others have suggested that it is derived from a Spanish pronunciation of the name of the Scottish buccaneer Peter Wallace, which was applied to an early settlement along the Belize River and to the river itself.[7] Belize has a sizeable proportion of Africans from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, who could have brought the name with them, as there is a Belize in Angola as well.

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Maya civilization spread itself over Belize beginning around 1500 BC and flourished until about A.D. 800. The recorded history of the centre and south is dominated by Caracol, where the inscriptions on their monuments were, as elsewhere, in the Lowland Maya aristocratic tongue Classic Ch'olti'an.[8] North of the Maya Mountains, the inscriptional language at Lamanai was Yucatecan as of A.D. 625.[9]

In the late classic period of Maya civilization (before A.D. 1000), as many as 400,000 people may have lived in the area that is now Belize. Some lowland Maya still occupied the area when Europeans arrived in the 16th century. By then the primary inhabitants were the Mopan branch of the Yucatec Maya.

Spanish colonists tried to settle the inland areas of Belize, but Maya rebellions and attacks forced them to abandon these efforts.

English and Scottish buccaneers known as the Baymen first settled on the coast of Belize in 1638, seeking a sheltered region from which they could attack Spanish ships (see English settlement in Belize). The settlers turned to cutting logwood during the 18th century. The wood yielded a fixing agent for clothing dyes that was vital to the European woollen industry. The Spanish granted the British settlers the right to occupy the area and cut logwood in exchange for an end to piracy.

The Battle of St. George's Caye was a short military engagement that lasted from 3–10 September 1798, undertaken off the coast of what is now Belize. The name, however, is typically reserved for the final battle that occurred on 10 September. The British first appointed a superintendent over the Belize area in 1786. Prior to that time, the British government did not initially recognize the settlement in Belize as a colony for fear of provoking Spanish attack. The delay in government oversight allowed the settlers to establish their own laws and forms of government. During this time a few wealthy settlers gained control of the local legislature, known as the Public Meeting, as well as of most of the settlement's land and timber.

The battle took place between an invading force from what would become Mexico, attempting to wrest Belize for Spain, and a small force of resident woodcutters called Baymen, who fought for their livelihood assisted by black slaves.

The Spanish repeatedly tried to gain control over Belize by force, but were unsuccessful. Spain's last effort occurred on 10 September 1798, when the British repelled the Spanish fleet in a short engagement with no known casualties on either side known as the Battle of St. George's Caye. The anniversary of the battle is now a national holiday in Belize.

In the early 19th century, the British sought greater control over the settlers, threatening to suspend the Public Meeting unless it observed the government's instructions to eliminate slavery in a whole. Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1838, but this did little to change working conditions for labourers in the Belize settlement. Slaves of the colony were valued for their potentially superior abilities in the work of mahogany extraction. As a result, former slave owners in British Honduras earned £53.6.9 on average per slave, the highest amount paid in any British territory.[11]

Soon after, a series of institutions were put in place to ensure the continued presence of a viable labour force. Some of these included greatly restricting the ability of individuals to obtain land, a debt-peonage system to organise the newly "free." The position of being "extra special" mahogany and logwood cutters undergirded the early ascriptions of the capacities (and consequently limitations) of people of African descent in the colony. Because a small elite controlled the settlement's land and commerce, former slaves had no choice but to continue to work in timber cutting.

In 1836, after the emancipation of Central America from Spanish rule, the British claimed the right to administer the region. In 1862, Great Britain formally declared it a British Crown Colony, subordinate to Jamaica, and named it British Honduras. As a colony, Belize began to attract British investors. Among the British firms that dominated the colony in the late 19th century was the Belize Estate and Produce Company, which eventually acquired half of all the privately held land in the colony. Belize Estate's influence accounts in part for the colony's reliance on the mahogany trade throughout the rest of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.


The Great Depression of the 1930s caused a near-collapse of the colonial economy as British demand for timber plummeted. The effects of widespread unemployment were worsened by a devastating hurricane that struck the colony in 1931. Perceptions of the government's relief effort as inadequate were aggravated by its refusal to legalize labour unions or introduce a minimum wage. Demonstrations and riots in 1934 marked the beginning of an independence movement. In response, the government repealed criminal penalties for workers who violated the terms of their labour contracts regarding unions and granted workers the right to join unions.

Economic conditions improved during World War II (1939–1945) when many Belizean men entered the armed forces or otherwise contributed labour to the war effort. Following the war, the colony's economy again stagnated due to the pressures caused by its damaging effect. Britain's decision to devalue the British Honduras dollar in 1949 worsened economic conditions and led to the creation of the People's Committee, which demanded independence. The People's Committee's successor, the People's United Party (PUP), sought constitutional reforms that would expand voting rights to all adults.

Constitutional reforms were initiated in 1954 and resulted in a new constitution ten years later. Britain granted British Honduras self-government in 1964, and the head of the PUP—independence leader George Price—became the colony's prime minister. British Honduras was officially renamed Belize in 1973. Progress toward independence, however, was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over the territory of Belize. When Belize finally attained full independence on 21 September 1981, Guatemala refused to recognise the new nation. About 1,500 British troops remained to protect Belize from the Guatemalan threat.

With Price at the helm, the PUP won all elections until 1984. In that election, the first national election after independence, the PUP was defeated by the United Democratic Party (UDP), and UDP leader Manuel Esquivel replaced Price as prime minister. Price returned to power after elections in 1989. Guatemala's president formally recognised Belize's independence in 1992. The following year the United Kingdom announced that it would end its military involvement in Belize. British soldiers were withdrawn in 1994, but the United Kingdom left behind a military training unit to assist with the newly formed Belize Defence Force.

The UDP regained power in the 1993 national election, and Esquivel became prime minister for a second time. Soon afterwards Esquivel announced the suspension of a pact reached with Guatemala during Price's tenure, claiming Price had made too many concessions in order to gain Guatemalan recognition. The pact may have curtailed the 130-year-old border dispute between the two countries. Border tensions continued into the early 2000s, although the two countries cooperated in other areas.

The PUP won a landslide victory in the 1998 national elections, and PUP leader Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister. In the 2003 elections the PUP maintained its majority, and Musa continued as prime minister. He pledged to improve conditions in the underdeveloped and largely inaccessible southern part of Belize.

In 2005, Belize was the site of unrest caused by discontent with the People's United Party government, including tax increases in the national budget. On 8 February 2008, Dean Barrow was sworn in as prime minister after his UDP won a landslide victory in general elections.

Throughout Belize's history, Guatemala has claimed ownership of all or part of the territory. This claim is occasionally reflected in maps showing Belize as Guatemala's twenty-third department. As of March 2007, the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved and quite contentious.[13][14] Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory rests, in part, on the terms Clause VII of the Anglo-Guatemalan Treaty of 1859 which (supposedly) obligated the British to build a road between Belize City and Guatemala. At various times the issue has required mediation by the United Kingdom, Caribbean Community heads of Government, the Organization of American States, Mexico, and the United States. Notably, both Guatemala and Belize are participating in confidence-building measures approved by the OAS, including the Guatemala-Belize Language Exchange Project.[15]

Since independence, a British garrison has been retained in Belize at the request of the Belizean government including, at times, Harrier jets.

Big Rock Falls in the Cayo District 
Belize is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It shares a border on the north with the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, on the west with the Guatemalan department of Petén, and on the south with the Guatemalan department of Izabal. To the east in the Caribbean Sea, the second-longest barrier reef in the world flanks much of the 386 kilometres (240 mi) of predominantly marshy coastline. The area of the country totals 22,960 square kilometres (8,865 sq mi), an area slightly larger than El Salvador or Massachusetts. The abundance of lagoons along the coasts and in the northern interior reduces the actual land area to 21,400 square kilometres (8,263 sq mi).

Belize is shaped like a rectangle that extends about 280 kilometres (174 mi) north-south and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) east-west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 mi). The undulating courses of two rivers, the Hondo and the Sarstoon River, define much of the course of the country's northern and southern boundaries. The western border follows no natural features and runs north-south through lowland forest and highland plateau. The north of Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains, in places heavily forested. The flora is highly diverse considering the small geographical area. The south contains the low mountain range of the Maya Mountains. The highest point in Belize is Doyle's Delight at 1,124 m (3,688 ft).[16]

The Caribbean coast is lined with a coral reef and some 450 islets and islands known locally as cayes (pronounced "keys"). They total about 690 square kilometres (266 sq mi), and form the approximately 320-kilometre (199 mi) long Belize Barrier Reef, the longest in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. Three of merely four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere are located off the coast of Belize.

Brazil is the biggest country in South America. It borders every other country of the continent except Chile and Ecuador.
Brazil is very much a country of contrasts. When someone hears the word Brazil, one thinks of the great Amazon forest, fantastic beaches, great soccer players, Carnival time - and that's all. Well, Brazil, the most important country in South America, certainly has MUCH more to offer - warm people, great cities with everything from slums to high technology, a wide range of weather patterns, an awesome mixture of cultures and races - and much more!     
There is nothing in the whole wide world like Carnival in Rio. Brasilia, the capital city of the country, is known by its great architecture. It is a planned city.
The most up-and-coming resort in Brazil is now the small friendly Praia de Pipa, in the NE of the country; serviced by international airports at Natal and Recife, this small town is popular with both Brazilians and foreign tourists. The laid back attitude of the open and friendly locals make this a welcome change to some of the more recognised but less safe and inviting destinations.
In Southern Brazil you can visit the state of Santa Catarina, which is visited every year by people who prefer not too crowded spots like major cities or places where all tourists go. Small beaches like Mariscal, Garopaba, Taquaras or Estaleiro beach are not too far away from medium size cities, so they provide all necessary structure, but at the same time still conserve their natural enchantments. Praia do Pinho (close to Balneario Camboriu - the most important touristic spot in southern Brazil) is the paradise for naturists as it is the first official nude beach in Brazil (http://www.praiadopinho.com.br). Many options of adventure activities such as rafting, diving, fishing, trekking are aso available in this beautiful region.


The most visited places in Brazil includes Fernando de Noronha Island, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (the two bustling megacities of the south-east), the more relaxed city of Salvador in the northeast, or the old colonial towns of Ouro Preto and Olinda. For natural beauty, try a visit to Iguacu Falls. If you have the chance the best time to visit is Carniv
Brazil enjoys a strong economy with thriving business and a strong currency. Most recently, the trend has been for Brazilians to purchase real estate in Florida. This is due to the combination of their strong currency, coupled with the weak US dollar, plus Florida real estate prices are currently depressed by 30% or more. Add to this the Florida sales tax of approximately 6% compared to a VAT tax in Brazil and shopping for cars, cloths, electronics, etc are all much cheaper in the US which is why Brazilians are choosing to earn their money in Brazil and spend it in Florida.

Chile is a long and narrow country in South America, with the Andes mountain range bordering one side and the Pacific Ocean bordering the other. It is over 4,000 km long and has an extremely diverse flora, fauna, scenery and climate.
Chile is divided politically into 12 regions, plus the metropolitan region, which can be found in the central part of the country. At Turismochile.com we have incorporated our own divisions for the country, especially taking into account tourist and geographic criteria. Hence we have divided Chile into zones, sectors, and finally destinations, not necessarily linked to the traditionally used regions or provinces.

Colombia La Candelaria, Bogotá
Welcome to Colombia, a tropical country of incredible diversity and charm. Its ever-changing geography, a history loaded with mystery and adventure, its people and cultures, have fascinated the world for centuries.
Although its excellent coffee and the purity of its emeralds have made the country famous, Colombia is also the homeland of the El Dorado legend and the magical universe of Garcia Marquez’s Macondo.If you still have not been here, you can browse our portal and realize how much you have been missing. Coming to Colombia is discovering a completely new world.
National flag of the Republic of Colombia /Picture el_cafe/
Colombian flag
Colombian people have many reasons to be proud of their country. Our contrasting natural regions, their profuse flora and fauna, the ethnic diversity of our people and the richness of our cultural and artistic patrimony are some of them.
We also recognize ourselves in multiple symbols and icons that identify us in front of the world. They are present in our everyday life, in our celebrations, events and solemn occasions. Their meaning is the pride we feel to be Colombians, our belonging and origin. They state our presence and comfort us in face of adversity. These symbols make up an indivisible unity out of our diversity.
Yellow is a symbol of the country's riches; blue represents the two oceans; red is for the blood spilled by our national heroes
Created by General Francisco de Miranda, the Colombian flag fluttered for the first time on March 12 1806 at La Vela harbor, and was officially adopted on November 26 1861. The primary colors, yellow, blue and red, inspired it. Yellow stands for our country’s richness. Blue, for our coasts on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, while red evokes the blood of our Independence heroes.
The Republic of Colombia’s oat of arms has three horizontal stripes. The condor, bird of our Andes, means freedom. It stands frontward, wings extended and looking to the right. A green laurel crown and a waving ribbon hang from its beak. On the ribbon are written the words “Libertad y Orden” (Liberty and Order), the national motto.
On the upper third, there is an open gold grenade on a blue background. It evokes the Nueva Granada, name of the country during the XIX. Century. On both sides, there are cornucopias: the right one is full of gold and silver coins, the left one tropical fruits. They symbolize the richness and prodigality of our soil.
In the middle stripe, there is a Phrygian cap over a platinum background, which stands for freedom. In the lower stripe, two ships with unfurled sails appear on both sides of the Panama isthmus, symbolizing the country’s two oceans. Unfurled sails stand for our international trade. Two national flags on both sides surround the coat.
The Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world
The majestic, big-sized Andean condor is considered the national bird. The Colombian coat of arms bears it, representing the country’s Glory. The Andean condor is the world’s biggest flying bird.
It can fly up to three hundred kilometers in a single day. Its plumage is almost completely black with metallic reflections, a white stripe on its wings and a white collar on the bottom of its neck. Males have a red comb on their head.
Cattleya orchid, national flower of Colombia /Pic. adrian-afonso National Flower
The cattleya trianae orchid, also known as “May flower” or “May lily”, is Colombia’s national flower since 1936. Its name honors Colombian naturalist Jose Jeronimo Triana, and it’s typical of tempered heights (between 1000 and 2000 meters above sea level and 17-24º C.).
National Tree
The palma de cera (wax palm) grows in the Cocora Valley, in the Quindio province, a department of the Café Triangle. Its main features are its strength, longevity and size, since it reaches heights of seventy meters.
Wax palm in Quindío /Pic. paulhs
Colombian Music
The cumbia is the traditional Colombian musical genre best known in the world. Its origins date back to Guinean dances. It emerged from musical and cultural syncretism between Indians, Africans and Europeans in the Magdalena delta region.
Cumbia combines their contributions. It is performed in groups by couples who dance in a circle to the beat of the drums and gaita music and hold a lit candle in their hands.
Nowadays, vallenato and national pop music are the stars of the world’s musical scene. Colombian music is an always-reinventing melting pot of tendencies and rhythms.
Cumbia is the genre of music for which Colombia is known by the rest of the world.
National Sport
The tejo (quoits) is a modern version of the ancient Muiscas turmeque, a game they used to play more than five hundred years ago in the high plateau of Cundinamarca and Boyaca. It consisted in throwing a gold disk, called zepguagoscua, and through the centuries evolved into the game of tejo played in Colombia and neighboring countries.
Nowadays it consists in putting an iron quoit into a metal circle or bocin, whose edges are loaded with firecrackers, or mechas. Whoever causes more explosions wins the game. The Indians used to drink chicha, a fermented corn beverage, while playing the game. Now the players quench their thirst with beer.

Costa Rica is the ideal tropical paradise for your vacation. Tourists can enjoy the pristine beaches and see whales and dolphins play. For Nature lovers there is a great variety of exotic wildlife and tropical plants. Butterflies and orchids, crocodiles and sharks, turtles and Toucans´ are everywhere. The rainforest covering the mountains are a paradise for eco tourism.
Life is good in Costa Rica, a friendly, democratic and peaceful country.
For action vacation you can surf, hike, do rafting, canopying, diving, deepwater fishing and snorkeling. You can go with a low budget or seek the more exclusive resorts. 
For relaxation there are beautiful unique golf courses and luxury spas. The hotels have all the modern comforts in the most private and secluded environments. 
Costa Rica has it all.

Defying all logic, the world’s 105th-largest country is also one of its most instantly recognizable. Think psychedelic Che Guevara murals and antediluvian American Buicks, dudes with bongos and old men slapping down dominoes, queues outside ration shops and communist cadres smoking chunky Montecristos. Cuba has a way of going against the grain. It’s all part of its historical make-up, part of its dynamism, part of its intrinsic beauty.


Travel here not only requires a passport, money and a good sturdy rucksack; it also requires flexibility, creativity, good humor, patience and a healthy sense of adventure. Speaking Spanish, though not a prerequisite, is undoubtedly a huge advantage, and will allow you to travel further and dig deeper than the average tourist.

Linguistic dexterity aside, Cuba remains an easy country to travel in and there are few barriers stopping you from wandering around pretty much how and as you choose. A slight loosening of the screws since Raúl Castro took office in February 2008 has allowed Cubans access to cell phones and entry into tourist hotels, meaning interaction with the locals is now simpler and often surprisingly candid.

Ecuador A land of wonders and diversity!
Although the smallest of all the Andean countries, The Republic of Ecuador holds historical, cultural and natural wonders befitting an entire continent.  Straddling not only two hemispheres but also two worlds - the ancient and the modern - this tiny republic with its remnants of past civilizations and Spanish conquests offers the traveler a striking blend of landscapes, peoples and cultures.  
From ancient markets of the indigenous peoples, Amazon tributaries, Inca ruins, Andean peaks, 16th century churches, and the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands, Ecuador boasts an incredible diversity which belies its diminutive size.   Indigenous cultures, tropical forests, active volcanoes, and a wealth of animal and bird life are all highly accessible within a matter of hours in a country no bigger than the U.S. State of Colorado.  
Ecuador is situated on the equator on the South American continent.  Almost due south of the U.S. state of Florida, Ecuador is about 4-hours by air from Miami.  
Temperatures and rainfall vary depending on the region, altitude, and seasonal factors. 
Quito, in the northern Andes, has an temperature varying from 45° to 74° F.  The rainy season is typically from September to June, varying from 4 to 7 inches per month. 
Guayaquil, on the pacific coast, has a temperature that varies from 75
North Seymour Island, in the Galapagos, typically has variations in temperatures from 88 F in March and April, to 75 F in August and September.January through April is the rainy season, but even then rainfall rarely exceeds 2 inches per month.  
Once the Inca Empire's northernmost territory, successive waves of invaders have left their indelible mark on the country.  The remains of Inca and pre-Inca fortresses dot hill tops across the Sierra, while in the highland valleys Quechua-speaking Indiana sell traditional handicrafts in thousand year old markets.  The beautifully preserved cities of Quito and Cuenca, both rich in 16th century art and architecture, and the elegant colonial haciendas found throughout the conquests and three hundred years of Spanish rule.

Mexico is a great destination, and has a lot to offer to travellers. Whether you decide to visit the beautiful beaches famous around the world, historical cities from the time of the Spanish colony and archeological sites of cultures such as the Maya, Olmeca and Azteca among others, beautiful national parks in deserts, mountains and forests, or just hang out in one of the modern cities, you will enjoy Mexico holidays any time of the year.
Highlights in Mexico are the capital city of Mexico City, Monterrey, with its beautiful colonial buildings and Guadalajara. For colonial cities one should visit Oaxaca, Morelia, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Merida in the Yucatan peninsula, among others.         
For beaches, some of the best, most unspoiled are located on the Oaxaca coast, particularly Zipolite and Puerto Escondido. Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen located at the Riviera Maya, Mazatlan, Manzanillo, Ixtapa and Puerto Vallarta among others, are the place to be for all fun loving creatures. The peninsula of Yucatan offers an ideal mix of Maya culture, great weather and some of the world's best snorkeling and diving in places such as Cozumel and Cancun located at the Riviera Maya. For a truly Mexican experience, the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas offers a view of the indigenous Mayan peoples in a beautiful colonial city. Los Cabos in Baja California Sur has been a favourite get-away for Mexicans and Americans for years.
Archeological sites in Mexico are vast, one should keep in mind Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Palenque, El Tajin and Monte Alban among just a few.
For those looking for an active vacation, Mexico offers golf courses, scuba diving and lots of mountains to go hiking in, including cloud rainforest in Chiapas.

Paraguay  officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay, pronounced [re'pußlika ðel pa?a'?wai]; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the country from north to south. Due to its central location in South America, it is sometimes referred to as Corazón de América, or the Heart of America.

As of 2009 the population was estimated at 6.3 million. The capital and largest city is Asunción. The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní, both being widely spoken in the country. Most of the population are mestizos.

The Guaraní have been living in Paraguay since prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, when Paraguay became part of the Spanish colonial empire. Paraguay gained independence from Spain in 1811.

With an area of 1’285,215 square km (496,225 sq mi), Peru is bigger than France, Germany, Italy, Netherland and Switzerland combined. It is the third largest country in South America and bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia, to the east by Brazil and Bolivia, to the south by Chile and to the west by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
We are taught as early as kindergarden that the country is divided in 3 geographic regions: the coast, highlands and the jungle.
Coast (12% of the territory): a warm climate along the coastline that includes superb natural beaches, mysterious deserts, fertile river valleys and exotic dry woods.
Highlands (28% of the territory): a region of varied terrain and temperate climate, dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes rising above 6,000 meters, the highest of which is Mount Huascaran, at 6,768 meters (22,206 feet). It includes deep canyons such as the Colca and Cotahuasi, the two deepest on the planet; and high plains like the plateau of Collao, on the shores of the world's highest navigable lake, Titicaca, at 3,810 masl (12,500 feet).
Jungle or Amazonia (60% of the territory): a region of tropical climate, lush vegetation and abundant fauna that is part of one of the planet's largest natural reserves. Peruvian Amazonia is the source of the Amazon River, the largest in the world.
Climate
Temperatures and atmospheric cycles vary from one region to another.
Coast: There are two clearly-defined seasons on the coast: summer (December-March), when temperatures can reach 27ºC (80ºF); and winter (May-October), which is damp and chilly, with temperatures falling to 12ºC (53ºF). Although it rarely rains on the coast, mist and drizzle are common during the winter. The far north coast enjoys sunshine all year round, with temperatures reaching 35ºC (95ºF) in the summer.
Highlands: The climate is dry and temperate, with two clearly-defined seasons: the dry season (May-October), with sunny days, very cold nights and scant rainfall -the ideal time to visit the Andes; and the rain season (December-March). There is a sharp contrast in temperature between sun and shade, and temperatures can often vary widely during the same day, from 20ºC (68ºF) to 2ºC (35ºF).
Jungle: The area has a tropical and humid climate. There are two well-defined seasons: the summer or dry season (April to October) with sunny days and temperatures above 30ºC (86ºF), and the rain season (November to March), with frequent showers and high river levels.

Do you have a sister or brother that’s truly energetic? That’s Trinidad!
When first-time visitors come to the Caribbean, they may expect to find a laid-back paradise of piña coladas and poolsides however Trinidad challenges the status quo and breaks the mold. You can chart your own adventure with our help of course and discover the unexpected with a vast choice of festivals, fun events and a host of other adrenaline-pumped activities.
Port of Spain, our bustling capital city, is filled with an enchanting myriad of art galleries and restaurants. At the National Museum you can delve into the culture of our country and its diverse people.
If you prefer to be more laid back and take your time discovering our treasures, we also have our share of quiet quality. Once part of the South American mainland, Trinidad, with its boot-like shape measuring 37 miles (80km) by 50 miles (60 km), boasts an ecological and geographical diversity unmatched in the region.
The gorgeous, sandy beaches along our North Coast provide the perfect atmosphere for seclusion, rest and recreation. Dominated by densely forested peaks, the northern interior offers excellent hiking trails framed by canopies of lush, indigenous rain forest, while the low, predominantly agricultural plains of Central Trinidad strike a fascinating contrast.
Our East Coast is home to protected wetlands and miles of beach frontage lined by groves of coconut palms, known to locals as the ‘Cocal’. The island’s ‘Industrial Capital’ is a hilly, friendly base from which to explore the island’s modern oil towns, picturesque fishing villages and calm, deserted beaches.
The more serene of the siblings, Tobago is home to the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. It is the very last of the unspoilt Caribbean. Once you behold her beauty, you will understand why Tobago was Robinson Crusoe’s isle – and why our European settlers fought over her ownership more than any other Caribbean island. This strip of elongated land, just 41 by 14 kilometres, abounds with natural allure - palm-lined beaches, lush rain forests and pristine coral reefs teeming with rich marine life.
Contrasts of rolling hills against wave-beaten shores create a stunning backdrop for the island’s unequalled beauty. The South (Windward) Coast is washed by the dark green, wave-whipped Atlantic and is lined with vibrant fishing villages, while the North (Leeward) Coast provides Tobago with some of its finest beaches. In the main, the eastern landscape of the interior rises steeply into tall peaks and rolling hillocks, providing shelter for the oldest protected forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere.
A perfect complement to bustling Trinidad, Tobago is a true jewel of the Caribbean Sea, who

The most attractive of Venezuela is its wide range of natural beauty where contrast diverse landscapes such as the mountain range of the Andes in the west, the almost unexplored jungle in the south, the beauty of the Gran Sabana and the spectacular Angel Falls in the east, and the tropical beaches of the Venezuelan shores.
Venezuela, the “Little Venezia” of America, is a Caribbean country. It lies in the north of South America and is the sixth larger country in the South American continent. Venezuela is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea to the north, Colombia to the west, Guayana to the east and Brazil to the south.
The major tourist attraction of Venezuela is the Angel Falls or also called Churun Meru by the local natives, that is the highest waterfall in the world. Located in the Canaima National Park, in the Gran Sabana in the Bolivar State, the Angel Falls offers an unique and spectacular experience for the visitors.
Venezuela is a country that has much to offer and a place worth to visit.

Abancay, “the Valley of the White Lilies” in the Quechua language, needs no further arguments to entice the traveler. Founded in 1574, this colorful city is the capital of the department of Apurimac and famous for its superb local cuisine, offering mouth-water dishes such as cuy relleno (stuffed guinea pig), kapchi (a hearty soup of beans, milk and eggs) and huatia (meat cooked over hot stones). A good time to visit is during Carnival, held here in April. The city is overshadowed by a towering peak, Mount Ampay 5,235 meters (17,170 feet), a magical mountain which ensures that the region enjoys one of the mildest climates in the Peruvian highlands. This mountain is located within the Ampay National Sanctuary, a protected area that is home to natural forests lakes and snowclad peaks.
Abancay is the starting point to explore the attractions of the region: Curahuasi, which produces Peru’s best aniseed liquor; Saywite, one of the finest examples of Inca sculpture and the imposing Apurimac Canyon, a wild beautiful region considered one of the world`s deepest, ideal for trekking and whitewater river rafting.
Those who have visited the area understand why the Chanca tribe and the Incas fought for dominance of this region filled with lakes, gorges and valleys. The area witnessed epic battles and legendary feats which today are still ritually portrayed by the descendant of those civilizations, most of them now peaceful farmers. Sondor Raimy (the Festival of the Condor), which symbolizes the most bitter battled fought between the Chancas and the Incas, is reenacted every June by the shores of Lake Pacucha, near the city of Andahuaylas, on the northern edge of the department. The majestic lake is the setting for a ritual involving thousands of actors who take part in one of the most impressive rites in Peru, comparable only to the Inti Raymi festival in Cuzco.
Meanwhile, in the province of Cotabamba during July, visitors can witness one of the most exotic and traditional festivals in the area: Yawar Fiesta. This centuries-old rite involves a bull and a condor to symbolize the bitter struggle between natives and Spaniards.
Apurimac is a wild and exciting place and a land where tradition and old memories come together to make your stay an unforgettable one.
AMPAY NATIONAL SANCTUARY
Located in the department of Apurimac, covering an area of 3,636 hectares, the national sanctuary protects the largest forest of intimpa trees in the Peruvian highlands. The intimpa is Peru’s only native conifer species, and the dense forests shelter many species of wildlife, largely birds. The sanctuary also features a series of glacial lakes and crystal-clear streams flowing down from the majestic snow-capped peak of Mount Ampay, which dominates the region and lends its name to this protected area.

You can admire in Acapulco a natural beauty environs; mountains give the access to the town, though not difficult to access particularly since the construction of a 2-km-long tunnel to the waterfront from the remote areas in the 1990s. An earlier effort to get the cooling sea breezes by cutting through the mountains a passage called the Abra de San Nicolas had some beneficial and comforting effect.
In the coordinates latitude 16.85° to the north and longitude 99.92° to the west is located Acapulco. According to the census of the year the 2005 municipality had 717 766 inhabitants, according to the INEGI in Acapulco is 24% of the population of Guerrero. Account with a territorial extension of 1.882,60 km ² what represents the 2,6% of the state surface and its coast (62 kilometers in length) occupies the 12,3% of the coast of the state.
Acapulco has been well known as a traveler's crossroads for at least a millennium. Its name is a Nahuatl word, meaning "plain of dense reeds". The earliest local remains, stone metates and pottery utensils, were left in the 3rd millennium BC. Much later, sophisticated artisans fashioned curvaceous female figurines. Other artifacts resemble those found in highland Mexico. Although influenced by Tarascan, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Aztec civilizations, sometimes paying tribute to them and frequented by their traders, Acapulco never came under their direct control, but instead remained subject to local caciques until the Spanish conquest.
Acapulco was christened as “Santa Lucia”, is one of the principal tourist destinies on the world and it is the mayor Mexican sea port located in the state of Guerrero, southwest from Mexico, but its official name is “Acapulco de Juárez”.
The City of Acapulco
Acapulco harbor arises when Cortés arranges that the ship San Miguel and San Marcos, in Diego Hurtado de Mendoza’s authority, they go to explore the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. The villa or village that arises in consequence of this exploration, Acapulco did not have a similar birth to other populations.

Asunción (Spanish pronunciation: [asun'sjon]; Guaraní: Paraguay) is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.

The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San Antonio, Limpio, Capiatá and Villa Elisa, which are part of the Central Department. The Asunción metropolitan area has more than 2 million inhabitants. Asunción is located at 25°16'S 57°40'W (-25.2667, -57.6667). The Municipality of Asunción is listed on the Asunción Stock Exchange, as BVPASA: MUA, a unique feature of any city.

It is the home of the national government, principal port, and the chief industrial and cultural centre of the country. Local manufacturing production includes footwear, textiles, and tobacco products.


Asunción is one of the oldest cities in South America and the longest continually inhabited area in the River Plate Basin; for this reason that it is known as "Mother of Cities". It was from here that the colonial expeditions departed to found other cities, including the second foundation of Buenos Aires and of other important cities such as Villarrica, Corrientes, Santa Fe and Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

The site of the city may have been first visited by Spanish conqueror Juan de Ayolas, on his way north, up the Paraguay River, looking for a passage to the mines of Alto Perú (present-day Bolivia). Later, Juan de Salazar y Espinosa and Gonzalo de Mendoza, relative of Pedro de Mendoza, were sent in search of Ayolas, but were unable to find him. On his way up and then down the river, de Salazar stopped briefly at a bay in the left bank to resupply his ships. He found the natives friendly, and decided to found a fort there, in August, 1537. As customary, he named it Asunción.

In 1541, natives destroyed Buenos Aires, and the Spaniards fled to Asunción. Thus, the city became the center of a large Spanish colonial province comprising part of Brazil, present-day Paraguay and northeastern Argentina: the Giant Province of the Indies. In 1603 Asunción was the seat of the First Synod of Asunción, which set guidelines for the evangelization of the natives in their lingua franca, Guaraní.

Asunción. The stamp is Scott no. 711
In 1731, an uprising under José de Antequera y Castro was one of the first rebellions pene against Spanish colonial rule. The uprising failed, but it was the first sign of the independent spirit that was growing among the criollos, mestizos and natives of Paraguay. The event influenced the independence of Paraguay, which then materialised in 1811. The secret reunions between the independence leaders to plan an ambush against the Spanish Governor in Paraguay Bernardo de Velasco were held at the home of Juana María de Lara, in downtown Asunción. On the night of May 14 and May 15 the rebels succeeded and were able to force governor Velasco to surrender. Today, Lara's home is known as Casa de la Independencia (House of the Independence) and serves as a museum and historical building.

After Paraguay became independent, there was significant change in Asunción. Under the presidency of Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia roads were built throughout the city and the streets were named. However, it was during the presidency of Carlos Antonio López that Asunción (and Paraguay) progressed, as the new president implemented new economic policies. More than 400 schools, metallurgic factories and the first railroad service in South America were built during the López presidency. After López died, his son Francisco Solano López became the new president and led the country through the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance that lasted for five years. After the War of the Triple Alliance (1865–70), Asunción was occupied by Brazilian troops until 1876.

Many historians have claimed that this war provoked a steady downfall of the city and country, since it massacred two thirds of the country's population. Progress slowed down greatly afterwards, and the economy remained stagnated.

After the War of the Triple Alliance, Asunción began a slow recovery attempt. Towards the end of the 19th Century and during the early years of the 20th Century, a flow of immigrants from Europe and the Ottoman Empire came to the city. This led to a change in the appearance of the city as many new buildings were built and Asunción went through an era more prosperous than any since the war.

The Carnival of Barranquilla is a celebration Colombia offers to the world: a mestizo festival, enlivened by rhythms by the names of cumbia, porro, mapalé, chandé, puya, fandango, and last, but not least, merecumbé. Some call it a party of sones and danzones. This is a feast that gathers traditions based on the creativity of our people as expressed through dance, music, handcrafts, costumes, and party styles.
The Barranquilla Carnival is singular for its cultural diversity and the fact that the entire city participates. Each and every dance, folk group, and costume play an important role in making this celebration one of the best shows in the world, not only for watching, but for enjoying. Barranquilleros believe that the carnival is their property and their very special way of expressing their beings and feelings.
Also called La Arenosa (the sandy one) and Curramba la Bella (Curramba the beautiful), Barranquilla was founded around 1629. It is the main river and sea port of the country, and its historic center was declared a national monument in 1959. Several waves of immigrants have enriched its traditions and given the city its metropolitan and deeply joyful character.
The Carnival belongs to all and has its own expressions of being and feeling.
The buildings in El Prado neighborhood exhibit a Mediterranean architecture adapted to the Caribbean. Among the cultural compounds are the Teatro Amira de la Rosa and the Estadio Metropolitano.
Barranquilla has several hotels, restaurants, and night clubs where every night a small reenactment of the carnival is performed. UNESCO declared the carnival a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The actual carnival takes place during the four days before Lent, but preparations begin several months before.

Belo Horizonte, a Portuguese name meaning "beautiful horizon", is the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil. You'll find this city at about 2/3 of the way from Brasilia to Rio. It is the capital of Minas Gerais state. The name means Beautiful Horizon. The city of Belo Horizonte was completely built on a plan corresponding to that of Washington D.C., with a very long highway circling the whole city. It is considered to be one of the cities with the best quality of life in Latin America. Belo Horizonte was founded in 1897 and is Brazil’s third largest city with a population of some 2.5 million inhabitants and over 5.1 million inhabitants in metropolitan area. The city is also a leading cultural center, with more than three universities, a historical museum, numerous libraries, and sports stadiums.
Belo is built on several hills and completely surrounded by mountains. The constant rising and falling of the streets sometimes makes navigation a bit tricky, but the wide avenues lined with trees are always easy guidelines. Unfortunately, the growth of the population has been bigger than anticipated 100 years ago. So there's a lot of poorly built architecture and slums, but also still some excellent colonial buildings. You should not miss the fin-de siecle buildings around the Praca da Liberdade and the market on Av. Afonso Pena, each sunday.
Located about 100 kms from Belo Horizonte you will find the charming city of Ouro preto (which means "Black Gold"), a colonial city with great churches and impressive pieces of work.
The city is often referred to as BH, which is pronunciated as "Beagá". Created to replace Ouro Preto as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte is one of the few Brazilian towns that were planned (other major cities which were planned before construction are Brasilia and Palmas). Situated at an altitude of 858.3 metres, its construction began in 1893 and it was inaugurated four years later with the name Cidade de Minas Gerais. In planning it, the engineers, Aarão Reis and Francisco Bicalho, found their inspiration in the town plan of Washington DC (USA).
Because it is a city that was actually planned, and also because of its neoclassical and modern architectural features, Belo Horizonte can be regarded as a landmark for town planning and for architecture in Brazil. Visitors should not miss the Pampulha Center, the site of the first revolutionary works of Oscar Niemeyer, the best known Brazilian architect. The Pampulha also has works by the artist Cândido Portinari, by the world famous landscape architect Burle Marx and by sculptor Ceschiatti, and includes the church of São Francisco de Assis, the Belo Horizonte Museum of Art, the Yacht Club, the Dancing Academy, the House of Juscelino Kubitschek, the Headquarters of the Zoo-Botanical Foundation, the monument to Iemanjá and the Mineirão and Mineirinho stadiums, registered as historic heritage.
Another of the important architectural works of Belo Horizonte is the Palace of Liberty, the seat of the State Government. Constructed in the neoclassical style, it is the result of the influence exercised on Brazilian architecture by a French mission that visited the country at the end of last century. Particularly interesting as places to be visited in the capital are the Mineralogy and Historical Museums and the Palace of the Arts, situated in the Municipal Park, with a modern theatre, cinema, craft shop and space for exhibitions of plastic arts.

Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, located in the center of the country on a vast plain at 2,600 meters above sea level and with a moderate temperature has a population of eight million people from all corners of Colombia; a city as diverse as the entire country.
Declared World Book Capital by UNESCO and Iberoamerican Capital of Culture by the UCCI, Bogotá has become one of the most important cities of the continent, with public spaces such as plazas, streets and modern avenues. Its Mass Transit System is considered one of the most important in Latin America and a model for transportation systems in the country and the continent. The city has the world’s largest bicycling network –the Ciclovía, which covers close to 300 kilometers.
Bogota: travel to a city full of culture and nightlife.
Bogotá has a varied nightlife offering domestic and foreign tourists alike different options and styles; a permanent cultural agenda that is reflected in its more than 60 museums and art galleries; the most famous Rock Festival of the continent and the most important theater festival in the world, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival; 29 religious temples that are part of its heritage; 4,500 parks; close to 50 shopping malls and outlets where visitors can purchase the latest fashion and creations by haute couture Colombian designers.
Bogota Culture, nightlife, recreation, sports and knowledge are quite sophisticated.
Bogotá has earned a place among the major gastronomic capitals of Latin America. Its six dining areas with world-class restaurants offer local and international cuisine. The many accommodation options with over 300 hotels of international and national chains make of Bogotá the main destination of foreign tourists arriving in the country. Its venues for business, events and conventions consolidate it as one of the favorite destinations for executives worldwide.
The city, which was declared by the prestigious New York Times as one of the 31 destinations to visit in 2010 is an inspiring city with millions of amazing stories that surprise visitors every day.
Altitude
2,640 meters above sea level
Bogotá is situated in the center of the country, on the western part of the Bogotá savanna. To the south, the Bogotá river forms the falls of Salto de Tequendama. Its tributaries shape valleys with thriving towns whose habitants make a living from agriculture, cattle ranching, and the manufacture of handicrafts.
El Dorado International Airport + 57 (1) 425-1000 concentrates 65% of the aerial operations in the country. All procedures related to entering or exiting Colombia, as well as connections to the rest of the country, can be made from this airport.

Boyacá is a sea of fertile mountains on the Eastern Range, decorated with thousands of colors that witnessed the battles for independence that gave shape to South America. Its rich topography exhibits the aromas of a vast agricultural production and landscapes as majestic as the desert of La Candelaria and El Cocuy snow peak, around which many picturesque colonial villages attract quite a number of tourists.
A turquoise sea amid mountains
Tota Lake, in Boyacá, Colombia / Photo by Flickr user elgatomagenta.
Tota Lake is Colombia’s largest body of natural water.
Who would think that amid the Eastern Mountain Range, over 3,000 meters above sea level, an imposing lake is hidden? It is a lake that descends from an inner Andes sea from the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras. Tota Lake is the largest body of natural water in Colombia, covering an area of 44 km², with turquoise-colored waters and white-sanded beaches that recall icy oceans.
The largest tourist attraction is sports fishing, especially for excellent rainbow trout. It is also an attractive setting for engaging in water sports and sailing. A fishing and nautical sports championship is held annually.
There are three islands in Tota: San Pedro, Santa Helena, and Cerro Chiquito,the smallest of the three.  They may be reached by motorboat and offer a landscape worth admiring. South of the lake, is Playa Blanca, a white-sanded beach, where the Muisca Indians revered their gods and which is also a good place for camping and enjoying the menus of a good restaurant area.
Tota means “farmland” in the indigenous language.
A good plan is to spend the day in the surroundings and to visit villages with traditional architecture that mix peasant and colonial styles. These villages are: Aquitania, an industrial city, and Iza, Cuitiva, and Tota.
This magical destination is located three and a half hours from Bogotá by land. “Farmland” is its meaning in the Indigenous language.  Due to the altitude above sea level, it is important to use a sunscreen and a warm jacket for the cold.
Tunja, historical architecture and religious tourism
Architectural facades in Tunja’s historical center
Central Plaza, Tunja.
A tour of the capital of the department of Boyacá includes an architectural walk of the Tunja Cathedral, with its Gothic-Elizabethan style and plateresque details from the Spanish Renaissance.  There are temples and convents in the Spanish Mudéjar style, as well as the spectacular temple of Santo Domingo, considered by many to be the “Sistine Chapel of Hispanic-American Baroque art”. The typical Andalusian style may be found in the houses of Juan de Castellanos, the city founder, and Don Juan de Vargas, an illustrious scribe.
The main square in Tunja is the largest built in America during Spanish colonial times.
Since the churches and temples of Tunja exhibit the best of the beautiful architecture inherited from the Spaniards, it constitutes an excellent option for religious tourism. Among others, the temples of Santa Clara La Real, San Francisco, San Laureano, and Santa Bárbara stand out.
Tunja’s Plaza Mayor, the main square, is the meeting place for the city’s inhabitants. Framing the square is the largest number of colonial buildings in the city. The Christmas celebrations by the name of aguinaldo boyacense also are held here. The main square in Tunja is the largest built in America during Spanish colonial times.
Black earthenware vessel on Guacamayas sisal placemat Black earthenware vessel on Guacamayas sisal placemat Desert landscape in Boyacá Desert landscape in Boyacá Boyacá marketplace Boyacá marketplace Boyacá peasant Boyacá peasant Paipa Convention Center Paipa Convention Center Boyacá landscape Boyacá landscape Central Plaza, Tunja Central Plaza, Tunja Puente de Boyacá the bridge where the last battle for independence was fought Puente de Boyacá the bridge where the last battle for independence was fought Handicrafts exhibited on Ráquira facades Handicrafts exhibited on Ráquira facades Health and beauty facilities, PaipaHealth and beauty facilities, PaipaFacades in Tunja’s historical center Facades in Tunja’s historical center Villa de Leyva central square Villa de Leyva central square Villa de Leyva: a town of fantasy
Villa de Leyva is a town for relaxing, resting, and having fun.
One of the small towns that better preserves memories of old colonial times and expresses the best of Spanish influence is Villa de Leyva. Its main square is enormous: 14,000 m² of space for bringing together tourists and locals around colorful, interesting festivals that are celebrated throughout of the year.
Main church in Villa de Leyva, Boyacá.
During the low season, it is a place for relaxing, strolling cobblestone streets, and enjoying small, yet pleasant, restaurants that offer both typical and international food. During the high season, it is a place for entertainment and the enjoyment of local festivities, such as the Festival de Viento y las Cometas, the Festival de las Luces, Astronomía, and Cine (wind and kites, lights, astronomy, and film festivals, respectively).
Aside from an excellent hotel infrastructure, there is the possibility of leasing houses with lovely facades and gardens that bring the freshness of the surrounding green mountains into their midst.
There are numerous sites to visit in the outskirts of Villa de Leyva, the main ones being El Museo del Fósil, a museum with a gigantic 120-million year old fossil; El Infiernito, a Muisca astronomical center; the Periquera waterfalls; Iguaque Lake; and the desert, ideal for mountain and BMX biking. Other sports include canyoning, ecological hiking, caving, and horseback riding.
Boyacá, artisan hands of clay and sisal
Ráquira is Colombia’s handicrafts capital.
Due to a vast ceramics  tradition dating back to pre-Hispanic times, Ráquira is the handicrafts capital of Colombia. In addition to pots, pitchers, coffee cups, and kitchen utensils, there are anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, pieces for Nativity scenes, piggy banks, etc.
Perhaps for this ability of Ráquira inhabitants, the name of the town in the Chibcha language is “City of Pots”. These indigenous peoples used them to prepare chicha (a fermented corn drink), store their food, and prepare their meals.  Artisans work with black, white, yellow, and red clay.
Black earthenware vessel and Guacamayas sisal placemat.
Guacamayas is another town in Boyacá, where many of the prettiest and colorful sisal handicrafts used for decoration or as household utensils are manufactured, the main ones being, placemats, fruit bowls, and baskets.
One material that has gained a lot of popularity is the tagua nut, used for making jewelry and decorative items. It is in the town of Chiquinquirá where this material – known as “vegetable ivory” – is transformed more creatively.
Although found across Boyacá, ruanas are made specifically in Nobsa, a town in the east of the department. A ruana is a poncho for the cold country, made from thick, warm virgin wool, and excellent for chasing away the cold temperatures of the Boyacá mountains.
Health and wellness tourism, in Paipa
Paipa is a health tourism destination thanks to its hot springs.
Paipa is a very appropriate city for rest, relaxation, and health tourism thanks to its ample hotel infrastructure and reservoirs of hot springs with medicinal properties. Surrounding these hot springs, various centers for hydrotherapy, mud therapy, saunas, steam baths, and massages have been developed - excellent for relaxing, resting, and beautifying.
Hydrotherapy, mud therapy, saunas, steam baths, and massage centers have developed around the Paipa hot springs.
The architecture of Paipa evokes the colonial, fusing it with the modern. The handicrafts street is in the town center, just the place for purchasing lovely handmade objects that represent all the expertise of the inhabitants of Boyacá. The city also stands out for its infrastructure for corporate tourism, conventions, conferences, and incentive trips.
Other plans could include visits to the Pantano de Vargas, the site of a famous battle; the Monumento a los Lanceros, a half hour ride from Paipa; and the Sochagota Lake, with plans for families, friends and even couples. By land, Paipa is located three hours from Bogotá; it is also possible to travel by air, landing in the city airport.

For centuries, civilization did not portrude into Brazil far from the coastline. The vast majority of the population was there, trade was there, cities were there. It has always been a dream of the Brazilian government to move the capital inland - thereby gaining more control of the vast interior of the country.
This dream did not become reality until the 1950's, when Brazilian president Kubitchek decided Brazil needed a monumental capital if it was ever to become a world power. As America had Washington DC, Australia had Canberra and Russia had once had St. Petersburg, so too would Brazil have its Brasilia.
Brasilia is the result of a modern urban project designed by Lúcio Costa. If seen from above, the city's pilot plan resembles the shape of an airplane; some people consider that it looks like a bird with open wings. The architect, Lúcio Costa's original urban concept arranged the city in the shape of a cross, to symbolize possession. He planned the city around large avenues which divided it into sectors.
The modernist architecture is stunning. No doubt about it. Many of the buildings set along the central axis are surrreal in their appearance. They are meant to impress. the houses along the wings of the airplane shaped city all look out onto parks, while wide boulevards lead into the center. It was a laboritory for modernist achitects and urban planners, and today the city is a Mecca for anyone interested in architecture.
The architectural dream of the 1950's turned out to be a nightmare for the people that had to populate the city: the civil servants. The government may have moved, all the excitement was left in Rio de Janeiro, the old capital. If you have more than a day to spend in Brasilia, you will notice that the city center is devoid of night- and daylife: it is surprisingly boring. It is as if the architects forgot to build the entertainment.
If you don't have a car, there is nothing more to do than cross the empty plain that is the heart of the city, have dinner at Brasilias only McDonalds and go to your hotel for an early nights' sleep.
However, if you do have access to a car (or speak enough portugese to tell a taxi driver where to go), things are looking more bright. Drive down the wings of the city, and go to one of the smaller neighbourhood centers: that's where you'll find the restaurants, bars, clubs.

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados, the eastern most island of the Caribbean. Bridgetown is the only city on Barbados and well over half the island's residents live there. Bridgetown is the port of call for many cruise ships and is known for its duty-free shopping as much as for its more cultural and historical attractions.

Buenos Aires is the heart of Argentina, it is located on the coast of the Rio de la Plata. With more than 10 million residents, is the third largest city in South America.
The first European to reach the future City of Buenos Aires was Juan Díaz de Solís, the city, initially, was called "Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Aire" (literally City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds) on 1536, by the Spanish expedition under Pedro de Mendoza. In the second half of the 19Th century, Buenos Aires became a metropolitan and multicultural center, those years, the main avenues and buildings were built, including the Teatro Colon, one of the world's top opera theatres.
The climate in Buenos Aires is mild, but in summer the city can get humid and hot, at this time the city can be quiet, because many Porteños take their vacations, they go, specially, to Mar del Plata Porteños or bonaerenses, as the multinational people of Buenos Aires are known, have an elaborate and rich cultural identity. Multinational people, because, the people of Buenos Aires have European (German, Portuguese, Polish, Irish, French, Croatian, English, Welsh, Romania, Ukraine, Armenian and specially Spanish and Italian), Arab, Asian, African, Criollo and Mestizo (Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay) origins. This seductive city, is divided into 48 neighbourhoods (barrios), these barrios are grouped into 15 communes (comunas), each of which has his own attractiveness and beauty, the most famous barrios are La Boca, San Telmo, Recoleta, Palermo and Puerto Madero. You can reach easily tourist locations around the city using the public transport network connected through bus and subway lines linking all the points of the city, the downtown area is full and noisy, but the city offers enjoyable places to walk around, also, the city has low crimes rates. This cosmopolitan city has high standards of living, is the most European City in South America (sometimes is called the "Paris of the South"), after devaluation, Buenos Aires has become a cheap city where there are much to see and do: there are elegant houses, cosy parks and historic buildings that comes from the nineteenth century, the city has several attractive museums, theaters, cultural centers, cinemas, bars. All this make of Buenos Aires a place with passion, excitement and infinite movement. You will enjoy the architecture of the city, visit the shopping centers at day, enjoy incredible food at the restaurants and cafes, and by night you can choose between a wide variety of Discos, Bars, a Casino (Buenos Aires don't sleep).

Cancun occupies an area of about 50,000 square kilometers that can best be described in two words: jungle and sea. Their white smooth sandy beaches and the infinite scales of blue give a wonderful landscape. And the natural beauties of Quintana Roo don´t end here, because the calm of the water on its surface becomes nonstop movement underwater, with its intricate coral forests are home to inestimable aquatic species.
In the walls of the archaeological sites one can almost hear the voices of those who built the history of one of the most significant Pre Hispanic cultures: the Mayans. Amongst the Mayan cities are Kohunlich, it host more than two hundred buildings; Tulum, the walled city of the Mayans; the imposing Coba (meaning: water shaken by the wind), that is one of the bigger Mayan cities of the region.
The history of the state of Quintana Roo is at the same time old and modern, for several years it remained forgotten by the western world. The Spanish not even planed it in their campaign of colonization, because there were very few people. The first Spanish who arrived were two survivors of a shipwreck who lived on the coast from 1511.
Visit the surrounding places if you prefer other possibilities; there are many mysterious Mayan archaeological sites of Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza or Uxmal with boat trips to the nearby islands of Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and Contoy are well-liked and available to do.
The City of Cancun
Barely 30 years ago was not more than a long virgin island, Cancun is not just a Mayan name, a deserted, sun-drenched island off the northeast tip of the Yucatan peninsula, the splendid resort city of Cancun now offers visitors over 25,000 rooms in four and five star hotels as well as all including everything accommodations that offer package deals including food, drink and rooms. Some hotels are internationally renowned, but there also small family style hotels that offer first class service and accommodations.

Caracas (officially known as Santiago de León de Caracas) is the Capital of Venezuela and the most populated city all over the country with more than 4 millions of inhabitants. Caracas is the administrative, financial, commercial and cultural centre of Venezuela.
It was founded in 1567 by Don Diego de Lozada, Caracas took an important part in the Latin-American history because it was the place in which the Libertador Simón Bolivar was born. He commanded the Independence War fof about half of South America.
Caracas is located in the Caracas Valley in the Venezuelan coastal mountain range (Cordillera de la Costa) at 900 meters above the sea level. Thanks to its geographical location Caracas is blessed with a pleasant warm climate over the year with a media of 22ºC (72ºF) being considered as the “Eternal Spring city”.
It is the capital of the country and has had an important growing the last 30-40 years, and despite the actual conjunctures, Caracas has much to offer to the tourists, such as exclusive resorts, museums, hotels, attractions that contrast the past with the modernity though natural points where it is possible to appreciate the natural beauty that this country offers.

Copacabana and Lake Titikaka
Copacabana and Lake Titicaca are two of Bolivia's most valued landmarks. My fondest memory is skimming across the lake on a hydrofoil to Peru - about 6 hours. On the Island of the Sun you can get out and do some hiking and see some Incan ruins. The Island of the Moon is much smaller, but also pretty. Skip the pizza and have some Titicaca trout on the shore in Copa. It doesn't get fresher than water-to-grill. Skip Copacabana around February 2nd unless you're into hundreds of people dancing drunkenly in the streets and stay at the Andean Eco Village in Huatajata instead.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Copacabana or Lake Titikaka, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to enter our Titicaca Travel Forum.

Cusco offers the traveller an incredible array of attractions and activities, and it is very worthy of being the main tourist destination in Peru. The city is located in beautiful mountain scenery, and offers a wonderful combination of colonial Peru and the Inca heritage of the country. The nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Pisac and Ollantaytambo are some of the most interesting in the country, and the fabled lost city of Machu Picchu is every bit as beautiful and mystical as the famed images suggests. The Cusco area is also home to one of the most famous hikes in the world: the Inca Trail. This walk through Inca settlements offers some stunning scenery, rising through the Andes before descending into the cloud forest and arriving, magically, at Machu Picchu.
For visitors wishing to get away from the tourist crowds, there are many nearby areas of outstanding interest, which are far less visited. The major Inca ruins of Choquequirau, in a setting every bit as impressive as Machu Picchu’s, are rarely seen by visitors, and the last Inca city of Vilcabamba, from where Manco Inca launched guerrilla attacks on the Spanish conquistadors, is a fascinating site set in verdant jungle. Both of these sites are reached by hikes through beautiful mountain scenery, and present wonderful alternatives for travellers wishing to escape the crowds on the Inca Trail.
Cusco is one of the best bases in South America for adventure sports, and there are some fine mountain biking routes near the city, and it is possible to go paragliding in the Sacred Valley. The Apurímac River, a couple of hours from the city of Cusco, offers excellent white-water rafting, with rapids of up to class V, and the Urubamba River also offers good, although gentler, rafting. For hikers, in addition to the routes mentioned above, there are some spectacular treks around the 6,400m Ausangate, and other snow-capped peaks.
The Cusco area is home to some sites of outstanding natural beauty. The Pongo de Mainique, a long, but beautiful, bus ride from Cusco, is a narrow gorge, with 300m-high cliffs on either side of the Urubamba River, with waterfalls pouring down into the river. Tres Cruces, only four hours from the city, offers one of the world’s most spectacular sunrises, with optical illusions giving the impression of the sun dancing, splitting in two and changing shape.
Despite the high level of tourism in Cusco, most of the surrounding towns and villages have remained unaffected and still cling to ancient ways of life and traditions. There are many colourful and noisy festivals throughout the year that are very interesting to visit. Ccoylloritti, near the base of the Ausangate Mountain, has a very interesting festival every June to which thousands flock to from all over the Andes. Paucartambo has a very lively celebration in mid-July, involving lots of music, dancing and drinking, and some very colourful masks. Inti Raymi, celebrated in June in the city of Cusco, is a recreation the ancient Inca festival of the winter solstice.
Cusco is also one of the best entry points into the jungle. The Tambopata-Candamo Reserve near Puerto Maldonado, which includes the world’s largest macaw lick, is easily accessible via Cusco, and the Manu National Reserve, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site that offers some of the most pristine rainforest in the Amazon, is only accessible through Cusco.
Most visitors to Cusco spend less than a week in the area because of time limitations. However, many travellers on less tight time budgets find it a captivating place and end up extending their stays in the area substantially. Cusco is a wonderful, fascinating place, and could easily keep one interested for many months.
Tourist Ticket
If visiting the attractions in the city of Cusco and the nearby ruins, the Tourist Ticket is essential. This allows entrance to 16 different sites in and around Cusco for a single payment of $10, and is valid for 10 days, although it is possible to get a one-day extension. This is good value as long as you visit a few of the sites, but if you only want to visit one or two it is rather expensive. The 16 sites are: Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara, Tambo Machay, the Cathedral, the museum of religious art, San Blas, the museum of Santa Catalina, the museum of the municipal palace, the site museum at Qorikancha, the museum of regional history, Chincheros, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Tipón and Pikillaqta. The ticket can be bought at any of the sites.
Alternately, if only visiting the sites in the Sacred Valley, there is another ticket allowing entry to Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros for $6.
The Quechua language, from which many of the names in the Cusco area are derived, did not have a written form in the Inca period. It was only with the arrival of the Spanish that a written form of the language was developed, and this, not surprisingly, adopted Spanish pronunciations and spellings where possible. For example, the ‘W’ sound has generally been representing by ‘HU’, e.g. SacsayHUaman, and ‘C’ has often been used instead of ‘Q’, e.g. CusCo instead of QosQo. The written form of a phonetic language will often have different ways of being represented, and therefore there are often different ways of writing the same name. For example, there are a number of different ways of writing Sacsayhuaman. The INC currently prefers Saqsaywaman. Peter Frost, in Exploring Cusco, chooses Sacsaywaman. No particular rule is followed in this guide, with ‘W’ and ‘HU’ both being employed, as well as ‘C’ and ‘Q’. Generally, the spelling most commonly employed is followed.

Historical Spanish-colonial character abounds in central Havana and the spectacular old town area known as Habana Vieja has earned itself a UNESCO World Heritage listing, following its substantial restoration work, which transformed it after many years of poverty. The Habana Vieja Walking Tour is the perfect way to acquaint yourself with this city and the tourist attractions that it has to offer. If you prefer to do things at your own pace, then choose between a visit to the Partagas Cigar Factory (Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas), the National Aquarium (Acuario Nacional), the National Zoological Park (Parque Zoologico Nacional) or the National Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico Nacional). Then perhaps finish off your day of sightseeing by enjoying a stroll along the scenic El Malecon promenade, taking in the seafront views and perhaps stopping off at one of the many bars and cafes to watch the sun setting.
Being the proud Cuban capital and a true Caribbean metropolis, prominent landmarks and striking buildings are in good supply in downtown Havana, particularly around the Habana Vieja and Centro districts. Here you will find the Plaza de Armas (Square of Arms), which serves as the city's principal plaza and is where it all began some 500 years ago. Although this square is easily the most important and interesting, many others exist in the city, with the most obvious being the Plaza de la Catedral, the Plaza del Cristo, the Plaza de la Revolucion, the Plaza de San Francisco de Asis and the Plaza Vieja. When it comes to buildings, the National Capital Building (Capitolio Nacional) is one of Havana's most magnificent and functioned as the Cuban seat of government for many years, until the revolution in 1959. Another landmark of note is the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a historic fortress dating back to the 16th century and built to defend the city from possible pirate attacks.
The list of cultural offerings within Havana is quite lengthy and there are easily more than you would ever wish to visit during a holiday. Therefore, it is well worth selecting those that appeal the most, with the Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolucion) being a very likely candidate and found within the former Presidential Palace. The Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad) on the Plaza de Armas is another good bet, while if you are here with children, then the National Museum of Natural History (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural) may be more appealing. For an insight into the country's love of art, both the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) and the Museum of Colonial Art (Museo de Arte Colonial) will appeal.

Getting out and about is an integral part of any Cuban holiday and a variety of day trips are possible. Although Havana enjoys a coastal setting alongside the Straits of Florida, there are not actually any decent beaches in this area. If you would like to spend the day sunbathing on some of the best beaches in this part of Cuba, then an excursion to the resort town of Varadero is in order, being around two hours away and to the east. Located a similar distance from Havana, only this time to the south-east, is the vast Cienaga de Zapata National Park (Parque Nacional Cienaga de Zapata), where scuba diving, walking and bird watching are all highlights. Closer to home is the municipality of Playa, which is sited just over the Almendares River and fronted by a series of old forts. Located a short distance from the city's harbourfront is the bustling port town of Regla, where a vibrant Afro-Cuban community welcomes visitors.

The Incas built an enormous set of trails that spanned their empire, enabling them to cross great distances relatively rapidly. These trails were well maintained, and by using chasquis (messengers), messages or goods could be sent all over the empire very quickly. Each chasqui would run a leg of approximately 10km before passing on the message to the next chasqui. For example, it was said that fish from the port of Puerto Inca, south of Nazca, could get to Cusco, 250km and many mountain passes away, in under 24 hours. Even today, a bus to from Cusco to Nazca, about the same distance, takes approximately 18 hours!
What is known as the Inca Trail is in fact only one of many Inca trails in the Cusco area, a number of which are still in use today by locals. However, this trail has become famous due to its final destination: Machu Picchu. Undoubtedly the best way to arrive at Machu Picchu is on foot, catching your first glimpse of this beautiful site from the Inti Punku, the sun gate. In addition to the incredible final destination, the trail itself is superb. The change in scenery and vegetation, as the walk first rises to 4,200m before descending into the cloud forest, is fantastic. The trail also helps give some important background information to Machu Picchu. Rather than being a lost city, completely isolated, the many ruins on the route help to place Machu Picchu in context. The Inca Trail is enclosed in the area known as the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, and is a very important natural, as well as archaeological, reserve. It is, in fact, one of only 23 UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites, with all the others only in one or the other category. The flora that is seen, including many varieties of orchids, is fabulous, and there is also the chance to see some interesting wildlife, including condors if you are lucky. The whole walk is very beautiful, and it is easy to understand how it has become one of the most popular treks in the world.
The trek has become so popular, in fact, that it could hardly be called a walk in the wilderness. In addition to people on your group, hundreds of people start the trail each day. It is impossible to walk the trail without seeing other people, so walk the trail prepared: expect beautiful ruins and stunning scenery, but do not expect an escape from the hordes of tourists in Cusco. Fewer groups begin the trail on Sundays, so start on this day if you want the trail a bit more to yourself.
The trail had been getting so crowded that it was virtually being destroyed. People were camping in many places, including those that were supposedly forbidden. Open campfires were being lit, destroying the environment, and litter was becoming a real problem. To counter this, the INC (Peru’s National Institute of Culture) introduced some very strict regulations in 2000. It is now only possible to walk the trail as part of an official group through an agency with authorisation. Camping is in specific sites only. No open fires are allowed all agencies carry natural gas cylinders for cooking. The entrance fee for walking the trail is now $50, and there are checkpoints throughout the trail ensuring that regulations are being followed. The situation is now improving, although there is still some way to go.
The full Inca Trail is approximately 40km long, and spread over 4 days, this amounts to relatively little walking per day. Generally, there is no more than about five hours walking per day, although you can walk at your own pace – you are not forced to walk with your group the whole time. It is not a very difficult walk, although there are a couple of high passes, and a steep climb on the second day, so a basic level of fitness is required. It can be walked in trainers, although walking boots are preferable.
For those who do not have the time or inclination for the four-day trail, a shorter walk, The Sacred Trail, has been introduced. This is much shorter than the full Inca Trail, being only about 14km in total, and is generally walked in two days. As with the Inca Trail, the Sacred Walk must be done on an accompanied tour.
If you fancy doing a trek through beautiful Andean scenery to some important Inca ruins, but do not like the idea of having to go on an organised tour or being with so many other tourists, there are a couple of alternatives. The walk to the impressive ruins of Choquequirau is very beautiful, perhaps even more so than the Inca Trail, and is walked by few tourists at the moment. The walk to Vilcabamba La Vieja (also known as Espiritu Pampa) is also very beautiful and ends up at the last bastion of the Inca Empire.

This beautiful Venezuelan island Isla Margarita is situated in the southeast Caribbean Sea, near to Coche and Cubagua islands, in the northwest part of Caracas and the north of Araya peninsula of Sucre State. The trip from Caracas uses to last for some 35 minutes by air, if you prefer is possible to take a ferry in La Cruz harbor or Cumaná, from there the trip uses to last for a couple of hours. The island constitutes the unique insular state in the country; it is called New Esparta (Nueva Esparta), and has a privileged geographic situation and an especial free harbor condition.
It possesses all the characteristics of an important tourist center; for example, it has luxurious hotels, casinos, national and international food restaurants, boutiques and an attractive nightlife. All these attractions added to its tropical weather have made that this place be known as The Caribbean pearl among Venezuelan and foreigners tourists.
The island played an important role in the story of the Venezuelan independence. Later, it became an important trade center, which was developed thanks to the help proceeding from traveling foreigners, most of them from Spain. It offers to their visitors beautiful beaches of fine sands bordered by palm, traditional towns and very kind people.
It constitutes one of the most important tourist destinations in Venezuela, it is a place where any activities can be done, besides this, it can be an interesting starting point to begin with to explore the rest of the country.

La Paz - 2nd Highest City in the World
La Paz is where I spent most of my childhood. The city has grown immensely since then. El Alto was an empty plain with nothing but the airport and the tiny town of Viacha when I went to grade school and graduated from high school there. Good times!
La Paz has a lot of great museums and art galleries. Visit my friend Susana Castillo, one of Bolivia's most renowned artists. For a cultural experience, visit during February - Alasitas Fair and Carnaval. Buy and Ekkeko (the god of abundance) and load him up with miniatures of all the things you want him to bring you during the coming year (you can even buy a miniature visa! He he).
I love eating a salteña on the Prado at about 10 in the morning when the air is still cool and brisk, and a cuñapé with tea at 5 near Plaza Murillo (by the way at Plaza Murillo in the morning around 10 am you can see the changing of the guards at the government palace too).
The Montículo is an overlook in Sopocachi where you can take a walk through a small plaza high above the city and look out over it. It's a prime location for photos of Illimani, when it's not clouded over, which is like, almost always.
The Witches Market behind the San Francisco Cathedral is a definite must if you want to learn about weird traditions, like why dead llama fetuses are buried under new constructions.
A visit to Peña Naira at night for folkloric singing and dancing and drinks in a dark stuffy little room makes for one good evening.
One of the absolutely most bizarre tours in Bolivia is the San Pedro Prison Tour. I used to visit the prisons in La Paz with my mom as a child and it's heartbreaking. I can understand why this would attract tourists, but I personally believe taking this tour is hazardous. These tours supposedly don't exist any more after the combined stupidity of prisoners, guards and some very badly behaved tourists led to a prisoner mutiny (but actually they still take place).
A trip to the Valley of the Moon is a great day trip. Careful climbing around, the soil is soft and breaks away easily.
Mallasa is where the Zoo is located. You can also ride horses, but they're usually kind of old and saggy.
Laikakota is a park in Miraflores just a few blocks from the Stadium. It's built up on a hill in the center of the city. Has several playgrounds and you can't take better photos anywhere! From this vantage point, you have a 360º view of the city. It's one of my favorite photo spots!
I scaled the Muela del Diablo (Devil's Tooth) several times as a teen. It used to be a 6-hour climb. Now you can take a bus almost all the way to the top. At night the city lights look like a great big handprint from El Alto down to Calacoto.
Calacoto, in the southern half of the city, is an upscale neighborhood with lots of foreigners. I went to school there. Now it's full of upscale discotheques, boutiques and stores, malls, gyms, movie theaters, and lots of other stuff.
Sundays are soccer day. Catch a game at the stadium in Miraflores.

Centuries before it was founded as the City of Kings, the territory of Lima, capital of Peru and of the department of Lima, was inhabited by civilizations that had gauged its wealth and strategic location. Proof of that can be seen in the countless huacas or temples that dotted the valley, particularly the Pachacamac shrine, a major pilgrimage center during the Inca empire. This spurred Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro in 1535 to choose the Rímac River Valley to found the capital, as its location by the sea provided a link with sailing routes.
Lima is the main gateway to Peru, a major city bustling with living history and movement. It is an ethnic melting pot, featuring pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern elements. The metropolis is also surrounded by every aspect of Nature: the sea, islands, mountains, desert and plantlife. Its various quarters feature an active nightlife and well-endowed cultural scene, as well as plentiful public transport and non-stop activities, a city of more than 8 million souls.
Before exploring Lima, the visitor should map out a route. The old city center harbors churches and mansions brimming with colonial and religious art, including such superb architectural examples as the Casa Aliaga or Palacio de Torre Tagle mansions. Colonial Lima also features many fine churches and convents such as Santo Domingo, San Agustín, San Francisco and La Merced.
Further south lie the Pantanos de Villa, a natural wetlands area which has been declared a reserved zone and which is a haven for more than 150 bird species, while the Pachacamac complex is to be found further south. In the Cañete highlands, 180 km from Lima, lies the Lunahuaná Valley, a hotspot for adventure sports.
To the north, 105 km from Lima are the Lomas de Lachay, a national reserve in the foothills which features a unique mist-fed eco-system of wild plant and animal species. A little further north, meanwhile, is Paramonga, which features pre-Hispanic archaeological sites.
The climate is dryer and sunnier east up the Central Highway, in the Andean foothills. The road heads up through the province of Huarochirí, until it reaches the town of San Pedro de Casta, from where one can see the Marcahuasi plateau. The area is the site of huge natural formations eroded by the climate into the shape of animals and people.

This is one of the most beautiful regions that have Venezuela, it is conformed by the plains which are extensive savannas that occupy approximately the 40% of the Venezuelan surface and they extend until reaching the horizon. In this part of the country, the vegetation and the fauna are very varied constituting a very beautiful and awesome landscape.
These immense lands homes an enormous number of ecosystems which at the same time offer the opportunity of appreciating a diverse quantity of landscapes that become this place in a very gratifying experience for the nature lovers and at the same time converts it in an ideal place to the observation of birds, alligators or any cattle activity.

The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is the star attraction of Cuzco. Discovered in 1911 by US explorer Hiram Bingham, the citadel is deemed one of the world's finest examples of landscape architecture.
Machu Picchu ("old mountain" in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas) nestles on top of a mountain saddle high above the Urubamba River in the middle of the cloud forest. It was both a center of worship and astronomic observatory as well as the private retreat of the family of Inca ruler Pachacútec. It is split into two major areas: the agricultural zone, made up of terracing and food storehouses; and the urban zone, featuring the sacred sector, with temples, squares and royal tombs which have been carved to an extraordinary degree of perfection. The stone staircases and canals are found throughout this unique archaeological site. Over the citadel looms Huayna Picchu ("young mountain" in Quechua), which can be climbed up a steep stone-paved trail.

It is located in the occidental extreme of Venezuela, in the state if Zulia, in the southwest shore of the lake that has the same name (we mean the Maracaibo lake, the biggest in South America). It is the capital of Zulia state and the homonymous municipality.
Maracaibo is also known as "La Tierra del Sol Amada", it is the second biggest city in Venezuela, it has an extension of 557 km2 and a population of 1.3 million of inhabitants. It was discovered on August 24, 1499, by the marine Alonso de Ojeda, companion of Columbus in his second journey.
It is the principal harbour and industrial center of the rich oil basin of Maracaibo, it is a modern and dynamic city that you must visit in order to enjoy all of the charms that it offers.

Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México, D.F. or only México) is the capital city of Mexico. It is the principal economic, industrial and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city with 8,720,916 inhabitants in 2005, sometimes considered the world's largest and most peopled city. On the other hand, forms a rough oval of about 60 by 40 kilometers, on the dry bed of Lake Texcoco, surrounded on three sides by tall mountains and volcanoes such as the Ajusco, the Popocatepetl and the Ixtlacihuatl. In 2005 Greater Mexico City had a population of 19.2 million. The city is located 2200 meters above the sea level. Some people not used to high places have experienced difficulty when breathing; however these symptoms fade a few minutes after arrival.
The Distrito Federal part of the city, which is where most visitors will spend the greater part of their time, is separated up into 16 delegations, like the boroughs of New York, which in turn are divided into "colonies" (colonias), of which there are about 250. As with many very huge cities, the organization is moderately decentralized, with numerous parts of the city having their own tiny "downtown areas". Nevertheless, the real downtown areas are Centro, the old city center, and Zona Rosa, the new business and entertainment district. In addition, Mexico is the city with the largest quantity of museums in the world.
Weather
In Mexico City there are visibly diverse seasons but generally calm weather, never too hot, never too cold, with the highest temperature in summer around 31 °C and the lowest -2°C in winter.
Spring - A sudden change characterizes this season, a hot temperature with the arrival of spring and is probably the warmest season. Average high of 26°C and low of 12°C.
Summer - Is when most of rainwater occurs. Average high 24°C of and low of 12°C.
Fall - Windy and rainy, average high of 22°C and low of 10°C.
Winter - Is generally dry and windy with sunny skies. January is probably the coldest month, bring warm clothes. End of February is known by a lot of wind. Average high of 21°C and low of 6°C.

Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas, a member of the British Commonwealth. It is the largest city in the Bahamas and its low-rise sprawl dominates the eastern half of New Providence Island.

Founded around 1650 by the British as Charles Town, the town was renamed in 1695 after Fort Nassau. Due to the Bahamas' strategic location near trade routes and its multitude of islands, Nassau soon became a popular pirates' den, and British rule was soon challenged by the self-proclaimed "Privateers Republic" under the leadership of the infamous Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. However, the alarmed British soon tightened their grip, and by 1720 the pirates had been killed or driven out.

Today, with a population of 260,000, Nassau contains nearly 80% of the population of the Bahamas. However, it's still quite low-rise and laid back, with the pretty pastel pink government buildings and the looming giant cruise ships that dock daily.

Oaxaca State is situated in the South-eastern part of the Mexico; the state of Oaxaca is bordered on the north by the states of Veracruz and Puebla, to the east by Chiapas, to the west by Guerrero, and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, Oaxaca has an area of 95,364 km².
The large valleys of the state are placed between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca. Oaxaca is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's capital city. The name of the state in addition to the capital City, "Oaxaca" proceeds from the Nahuatl word "Huaxacac" (huaxin-a type of squash, yacatl-nose), meaning "in the nose of the squash." it borders on the North with Veracruz and Puebla, Chiapas on the East, Guerrero on the West and the Pacific Ocean on the South.
Oaxaca has a pleasing sub-tropical weather and the tranquillity of distant places catch the attention of most tourists to the Oaxaca Valley. It has peaks almost 10,000 feet (more than 3,000 metres) high, virgin beaches, caverns among the deepest in the world, hidden jungles, and luminous valleys that house populations where, people of all cultures who once lived in its middle come jointly.
The State of Oaxaca is the most varied state in Mexico and is the historic dwelling of the Zapotec and Mixtec peoples and the fourteen other ethnic groups still existent in its culture and traditions. Also Oaxaca is home of Mexico's most famous heroes, President Benito Juárez, came from the Oaxacan village of San Pablo Guelatao. Other renowned Oaxacans include Rufino Tamayo, Porfirio Diaz, José Vasconcelos, Francisco Toledo, María Sabina, J. Alberto Canseco Díaz, Major League Baseball player Vinicio Castilla, chemical engineer Marco Rito-Palomares and several other writers, artists and statesmen.
The city of Oaxaca is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of the same name (formally: Oaxaca de Juárez, in honor of 19th-century president and national hero Benito Juárez, who was born nearby). It is located in the Oaxaca Valley in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, at 17°05'N 96°45'W near the geographic center of the state, and at an altitude of about 1550 m (5000 feet).

Pando - Once the Rubber Capital of America
Pando has an interesting past. It lost half of its territory to Brazil (the northernmost region of Acre, now know as the Brazilian state of Acre). Read the History of Pando to learn why this is one of the reasons Pando is the most sparsely populated departments of Bolivia. However, there are a lot of very nice natural areas in Pando, such as beautiful lakes, rivers and lagoons. I haven't built a section on Pando yet because it's the one place I've been away from the longest and I need to take an update trip! Soon!
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Pando, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to .......

Potosí - The World's Highest City
Not only is Potosí higher than La Paz, during colonial times Potosi was the most populated city on Earth! There was so much silver in the mines at Cerro Rico that the Spanish (and Bolivians after them) have mined it for over 500 years. Tin overtook silver to become Bolivia's prime export during World Wars I and II and Bolivia's wealth increased dramatically at the time. As of only about 15 years ago, oil and natural gas from Eastern Bolivia (Santa Cruz and Tarija) have replaced tin to fill Bolivia's coffers.
In Potosí the two most interesting things are the mines and the Casa de la Moneda. When I was little women were not allowed into the mines. Only men could go in. The miners believed that El Tio (the devil) would cave the mines in if women entered. Working conditions have not improved at all over the past 30 years and although tourists can now enter some of the shafts, I don't really suggest going too far in. Safety from falling rocks and cave-ins is a problem even for miners today, as they dynamite without discretion. But the other problem is the silica. Miners have an average life-span of 45 years because they spend their entire lives breathing in the invisible silica particles that are like fiber glass that cuts away at their lungs.
The Casa de la Moneda (the Spanish MINT) is where the Spanish turned much of the silver into imprinted silver coins before sending shiploads of them to the King of Spain. It's an extremely interesting museum now.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Potosí, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to enter our Potosí Travel Forum.

Puno is one of Peru's foremost tourist destinations and one of the most interesting spots on the continent. Few cities lie by the shores of such a extraordinary body of water as Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake.
Legend has it that from the waters of Lake Titicaca emerged Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, the mythical founders of the Inca empire. The area also gave rise to one of the greatest pre-Inca civilizations, that of Tiahuanaco, the maximum expression of the ancient Aymara people.
The Spaniards founded the city of Puno in 1668. It is a city rich in local mestizo art, the fusion of native and Spanish styles in its colonial balconies, weavings and pottery. However, a greater attraction lies a bare 10 blocks from the main square: Lake Titicaca, which covers an area of 8,560 square kilometers and which local fishermen row across on rafts made from totora, a type of reed that grows along the shore. There are also motorboats for hire for visitors.
The lake is also dotted with dozens of islands, each of them with their own characteristics and peculiarities. The floating islands of the Uros, whose inhabitants descend from one of the oldest known tribes in the Americas, feature typical native huts made from reeds. The inhabitants of Taquile island, meanwhile, still use traditional weaving techniques that tourists can learn if they decide to stay the night there and accept the traditional hospitality of the locals. In other cities around the department like Pucará, stand out for their superb pottery, while visitors can explore the chullpa stone burial towers at Sillustani, built by the Tiahuanaco culture. The area is also famous for its traditional festivals such as the Virgen de la Candelaria and dances like the Diablada, celebrated in February, an ideal time to visit the area. An unforgettable experience.
Lake Titicaca National Reserve
Located in the department of Puno, with a surface area of 36,180 hectares, the national reserve in practically its entirety covers the world's highest navigable lake.
The Titicaca Reserve is split into two separate sectors: the first, which lies in the Bay of Puno itself, protects the totora reed clumps which provide sustenance to the Uros-Chulluni communities; the second, which is located in the Huancané area, features less-visited totora marshes, but which are equally rich in species and just as interesting. In the area there are 60 bird species, including the Titicaca grebe, 14 native fish species and 18 types of amphibians, including the giant Titicaca toad.

San Francisco de Quito
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 2,850 m. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.
San Francisco de Quito, mainly called Quito, is in northwestern South America. It is positioned in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.
Quito is the second the majority populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. It is also the capital of the Pichincha province and the seat of Metropolitan District of Quito. In 2008 the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations.

RIO DE JANEIRO, in english "River of January"; is the name of both a state and a city in southeastern Brazil. The city was the capital of Brazil (1763–1960) and of the Portuguese Empire (1808–1821). Commonly known as just Rio, the city is also nicknamed A Cidade Maravilhosa - "The Marvelous City".
It is famous for its spectacular natural setting, its Carnival celebrations, samba and other music, hotel-lined tourist beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon and pavements decorated with black and cream swirl pattern mosaics. Some of the most famous local landmarks in addition to the beaches include the giant statue of Jesus, known as Christ the Redeemer "Cristo Redentor" atop Corcovado mountain; Sugarloaf mountain "Pão de Açúcar" with its cable car; the Sambódromo, a giant permanent parade stand used during Carnival; and Maracanã stadium, the world's largest. Rio also boasts the world's largest forest inside an urban area, called Floresta da Tijuca, or "Tijuca Forest".
Rio de Janeiro is located at 22 degrees, 54 minutes south latitude, 43 degrees 14 minutes west longitude (22°54'S 43°14'W). The population of the City of Rio de Janeiro is about 6,094,183 (2005 IBGE estimate), occupying an area of 1,182.3 square kilometres (456.5 sq mi). The larger metropolitan area population is estimated at 11-12 million. It is Brazil's second-largest city after São Paulo and was the country's capital until 1960, when Brasília took its place. Residents of the city are known as Cariocas. The city's current mayor (2006) is Cesar Maia. The official song of Rio is "Cidade Maravilhosa."
Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city of contrasts. Impossibly steep granite mountains jut out of the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand, impeccable colonial buildings nestle in between modern glass skyscrapers and verdant forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas. It is a city high on life, a city of beach worship, football, samba and Carnival. And high above all this fun and frivolity stands Rio's ever-present, iconic landmark – the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
The continuing strength of foreign currencies against the Brazilian Real and the national football team's success in the 2002 World Cup have both helped to make Brazil, and Rio in particular, an increasingly popular and affordable year-round destination. And as the host of the forthcoming Pan American Games in 2007, the city is undergoing considerable regeneration and many new hotels are either built or being built. As well as the city's well-known landmarks of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment – enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.
Situated in southeast Brazil, on the natural port of the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay), Rio is a city of over 10 million people squeezed between the ocean and the mountains. The cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) is a melting pot of cultures and peoples in varying degrees of wealth or poverty. In Rio, the rich and poor live together and the exclusive areas stand in stark contrast and close proximity to the slum areas or favelas. But no matter what their background or economic standing, the Cariocas (as the citizens of Rio are known) are characterised by a passion and enthusiasm for life, which is on full show during Rio's famous annual Carnival.
Central to the Carioca lifestyle is the beach. From dawn until dusk and even after dark, the residents of Rio can be found enjoying the long stretches of sandy coastline with which the city is blessed. The beach is not merely a place to absorb the sun's rays but also an important venue for sports, socialising and even business. It is a people-watcher's paradise – clothing is minimal and bodies are bronzed and beautiful. The famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are magnets for Brazilians and tourists alike.
It has taken 500 years for Rio to transform itself into one of the world's greatest cities. On 1 January 1502, Portuguese explorers sailed into Guanabara Bay and named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth. The French attempted to gain control of the bay in 1555 but were finally evicted by the Portuguese in 1567.
The Portuguese colony was based on sugar cane and agricultural products throughout the 17th century, until the discovery of gold in the nearby Minas Gerais region led to the city's emergence as a control, export and taxation centre. Black slaves formed the majority of the population in these early days of trading and the African influence is still present in the city's culture. The capital of colonial Brazil was moved from Bahia (now Salvador) in 1763 to Rio de Janeiro and the city began to flourish, especially when coffee became the predominant export in the 19th century. After the Portuguese monarchy was exiled from Portugal, when Napoleon conquered Lisbon, Rio became their home and eventually the capital of an independent Brazilian Empire. Finally, Brazil became a Republic in 1889; Rio de Janeiro remained its capital until 1960, when the Federal government was transferred to Brasilia.
Rio has continued to grow and has become a popular destination not only for tourists but also for migrants from other parts of the country. Despite its development, the city still has more than its fair share of social problems. Strong divisions exist between the ‘haves' and the ‘have-nots'. Attempts have been made to curtail crime, although both residents and tourists should remain alert to petty thieves.
Rio's best season is undoubtedly the summer months, between December and February, culminating with Carnival. Temperatures can rise to around 40ºC (104ºF) or more, which is ideal weather if tourists do as the Brazilians do and visit the beaches rather than rush around.

Salar de Uyuni - The World's Largest Salt Beds
The Salar de Uyuni (a vast salt desert up to 120 meters deep) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bolivia. Three million acres (12,000 square kilometers) of blinding white salt are were left behind millions of years ago by the receding Lake Minchín. It's vast and extremely flat expanse is enjoyed by tourists who like to play with the optical illusions the lack of horizon causes - super fun photo opportunities await you here. Located at over 3000 meters above sea level, it gets very very cold at night. You can stay at a hotel where everything right down to the furniture is made completely out of salt bricks.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Uyuni, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to enter our Uyuni Travel Forum.

San Carlos de Bariloche is a city located in the Rio Negro province, at 770 meters above sea level and at 1,680 kilometers away from Buenos Aires. Bariloche is one of the main tourist destinations in Argentina, is known as a popular winter and summer resort in the Argentinian Andes. The city es surrounded by forests, beautiful lakes such as Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Lake, Mascardi Lake and splendid mountains with snow-capped peaks, such as the Tronador, Cerro Catedral, Cerro López. The winter season from June to September, brings the stunning snow and the time of winter sports such as snowboard, snow polo, paragliding and mostly skiing. The main mountain is Cerro Catedral, 18 kilometers away the city, this resort features 67 km of rinks, cable cars, hotels, shopping centers, rental of equipment and general assistance, another good skiing destination is Cerro Chapelco in San Martin de los Andes. The mountains features trails for skiers of every level. In the summer, Bariloche becomes in a major destination for outdoor sport such as water sports, fishing activities, hiking, biking, trekking, climbing, golfing, including trips to Chile via the lakes route. Bariloche is a very lively town, the Civic Centre, is the most representative spot of the city, it reminds a Swiss village, its buildings lodge the City Council, the Police, the Cathedral, the Clock Tower, the Patagonia Museum, the Library, the tourist area of Bariloche, is located near the Civic Centre, the main shopping and business are on Mitre street, Moreno street and intersections. There are many chocolate shops, restaurants and fast food outlets, tourist agencies and shows, tourist can learn more about the history of Bariloche visiting the Patagonia Museum located in the center of the Civic Centre. Tourist can visit the Cathedral Nuestra Señora del Nahuel Huapi, it has interesting vitraux that mixes religious subjects with Patagonian items. In Beschtedt Street, tourist can visit one of the most antique buildings, the Capilla de la Inmaculada (literally Chapel of the Immaculate), built in 1905, was initially settled in Moreno Street and moved to its current location using rails, during 1973, it has been declared a Historic Monument.

San Jose, the capital, is on a plateau in the Central Valley at 1200 m (3,700 ft) elevation. It is ringed by lush green mountains and valleys. The population of this city is probably half of the whole country. It contains the primary airport, the University of Costa Rica, the US' and other embassies and many museums, cultural venues, hotels, markets, etc. It is the hub of the country.
The Climate in San Jose Costa Rica can be different at all times depending of the route of the winds and yearly seasons, some times in the later months of the year it is colder than the months at the middle. For many Costa Ricans the coolest temperatures in San Jose are equal to high (warm) temperatures for a Northern American Citizen or some one from a country with a snow season. When you view the size of Costa Rica, then you can understand why weather temperatures differ from one city to another across short distances, unless the Caribbean weather suffers a major event in the atmosphere. Because of its elevation San Jose is usually 70 to 80°F (21 to 27°C) though it can get chilly at night. The rainy season is from mid April through December.

Santiago has so many sights and activities worth seeing and doing that it's hard to limit the recommendations to only 30 items. I first got the idea to make this list for Santiago after reading Jeff Barry’s great article, 30 things to do when visiting Buenos Aires. So here’s my list of things to do in Santiago, Chile. I don't feel that it is complete by any means, but these are the things that I really love about Santiago. If you see a link, click on it to read an article that I’ve written with all the info you'll need. For those without links, info can generally be found in standard travel literature or researched easily on the internet. My goal is to write a full review of every item on this list, including all relevant tourist information, and I will be adding to it over time. If you don't have time to read this list now, feel free to print it out and bring it with you to Santiago.
Cerro San Cristóbal: Although it’s almost exclusively a tourist site, there is really no view of the entire city that compares to the panorama at the top of this hill. Take a ride up in the funicular from Bellavista and make sure you visit the statue at the peak. Go a half an hour before sunset on a clear day and watch night fall over the city. You will be amazed.
Plaza de Armas: In the main pedestrian plaza of the city you’ll see tons of street entertainment, art for sale, and get a good look at the faces of Santiago. The chess club of Chile almost always meets here during the days (pretty much every time I’ve been) and I’ve seen public dance displays on weekends. Check out the Cathedral of Santiago here, it’s probably the biggest one in Chile.
Bandera: 30 used clothing stores all on one street. Find anything from used leather jackets to bridal gowns to little league uniforms.
Jazz: There are 4 or 5 jazz clubs in Santiago, 3 of which are in Bellavista. The most famous, however, is Club de Jazz, Santiago, located a short walk from Plaza Ñuñoa (open Thu-Sat). You can find live jazz Wednesday thru Saturday.
La Chascona: One of the 3 homes of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the place is decorated with an incredible collection of anything you can imagine from all over the world and is also host to his Nobel Prize. There are rooms designed to create the feeling that you are on a ship, and there are some great views of the city. Check out his Nobel Prize here too. Neruda’s other two houses aren’t too far from Santiago (one in Valparaiso, the other in Isla Negra) and all are worth seeing if you have time (there are tours that take you to all 3 if interested).
Villa Grimaldi: This enclosed plot of land was used as a torture center under Dictator Augusto Pinochet from 1974 – 1978. The political tortures in Chile haven’t been publicized enough to the outside world and this memorial site holds both history and memory. You need to go on a tour of this place if you want to learn about the history of the 1973 military coup and dictatorship in Chile and its violations of human rights. The tour I went on was guided by a survivor of the camp itself, and was extremely emotional. Unfortunately, I don’t have contact info for tours guided by survivors in English, but I know they exist and I will get the info up as soon as I have it.
La Moneda: The courtyard of the Presidential house of Chile is very easy to enter and there are awesome sculptures by Chilean artists worth seeing. Tours of the inside of the building need to be planned in advance. Be sure to toss a coin into the fountain and make a wish.
Cerro Santa Lucia: Right in Santiago Centro, this hill takes 15-20 minutes to climb and provides another sweet view of the city. There are various murals, statues, lookouts and ponds hidden all over the Cerro, and multiple ways to get to the peak (just keep going up).
Fútbol: If you like sports, or even if you don’t, going to a Chilean league game or seeing “La Roja”, Chile’s national selection, is an experience worth having. Crowds can get pretty rowdy, and I wouldn’t recommend sitting in “la barra” where the crowds chant and jump nearly the entire game. The most popular teams are Universidad de Chile, Colo-Colo, and Universidad Catolica (the teams use the names of the universities, but have no current relation).
Skiing and Snowboarding: – How many global cities are only an hour away from high quality ski resorts? Well Santiago is. Check out one of the biggest resorts in South America, Valle Nevado, or one of the smaller ones such as Farellones or La Parva, all within an hour and a half from the city.
Mercado Central: After walking around the fish market of Santiago, have a meal at one of the restaurants. Although touristy and a bit overpriced, you’ll find the most exquisite seafood in the city, including crabs the size of a basketball. While you’re here, check out La Vega Central, the biggest fruit market in Chile (a whole city block), just across the river from Mercado Central.
Have a Terremoto at La Piojera: – The terremoto (translation: earthquake) is a Santiago staple “copete” (drink) that every traveler needs to try. What is it? A mix of wine, pisco (a domestic liquor made from grapes), pineapple ice cream, and a hint of grenadine. Make sure to mix well and you will walk out feeling like a tremor just hit you. La Piojera is only a minute’s walk from Mercado Central.
Giratorio: – If you haven’t had enough panoramic views of the city at Cerros San Cristóbal and Santa Lucía, have dinner at this restaurant on the top floor of a 20-something story building. You’ll eat on a rotating platform that allows you to view all points of the city throughout the course of an hour and 15 minutes. Pricier than most, but eating with the view is worth it. Metro: Los Leones.
Sushi: While I’m not too keen on Chilean food itself, the countless sushi restaurants in the city never let me down. You do have to be careful however, as Chilean sushi comes with cream cheese on just about everything (although it can be requested without). Try “Too Much” near Metro Tobalaba. They have an all you can eat special (really tasty) for 5.000 pesos ($10 US) and a really interesting drink called Wasabi Sour, which seems to be a Pisco Sour with some wasabi inside. Too Much, Santiago.
Salsa Dancing: There are live Salsa shows as well as some dance clubs with live bands in Santiago. Check out Havana Salsa (address: Dominica 142) for shows or Ilé Havana (on Bucharest, a short walk from Metro Los Leones) for live music and dancing. Yes, they like to exploit the name Havana.
Emporio La Rosa: The best ice cream in Santiago. Have one while wandering around the neighborhood of Lastarria/Bellas Artes. Close to Plaza Italia. Address: Merced 291.
Republica: This street is lined with tons of small universities and stately manors that house specific schools of major ones. Go on a school day in the afternoon to check out the Chilean college scene. Many of the buildings on this street are old mansions converted into schools. The Savlador Allende Solidarity Museum, a collection of art confiscated and hidden during the dictatorship, can also be found here. Metro: Republica.
Quinta Normal: You could call it Santiago’s museum district, a huge park on the east end of Santiago Centro. I don’t know the exact number, but I would guess there are between 5 and 10 museums in the park and you could spend a whole day here. Some museums include: Museum of Visual Arts, The Train Museum, and The Artequin, which displays remakes of the world’s masterpieces, such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Most museums close around 5 or 6.
Plaza Ñuñoa: Great for a night out with an ambience completely different from the hustle of El Centro and Providencia. Safe neighborhood, tons of bars and restaurants, a rock club (Batuta), a university theater, a jazz club, and a cool lit up fountain.
Lastarria: One of the more bohemian streets in Santiago, go for a stroll at night and pick from one of the many restaurants or cafés to eat at. During the day/evening, there are a few street vendors that cater to the more sophisticated crowd, like the guy who sells original prints of historic Chilean newspaper editions (including the first report of the 1973 military coup). You can also head towards Museo Bellas Artes from here and there are even more mid-upper range restaurants, cafés and bars to chose from. There’s also an art theater that plays principally foreign films on Lastarria.
Museo Bellas Artes and Museo de Arte Contemporaneo: Museo Bellas Artes is Santiago’s flagship museum and for good reason. I had avoided going in for my first four months here because I thought it would typical art that I don’t really care for. Turns out that Chile has an amazing Contemporary art scene and Museo Bellas Artes hosts some of the best works in the country. The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo is adjacent to Bellas Artes and is basically an extension of the latter. Admission is free on Sundays, plus when you’re done, you can check out…
Barrio Bellas Artes and Parque Forestal on Sundays: Every decent-weathered Sunday, hundreds to thousands of Chileans come out to the section of Parque Forestal right around Museo Bellas Artes to enjoy the life in Santiago. There’s tons of used clothes and art for sale, people playing music and break dancing, jugglers, great street entertainment that you can understand without speaking Spanish, and more. You really can’t go to Santiago without seeing this.
Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile: This awesome open art display by the students of the school of design at the national university never ceases to amaze me. I studied here for six months and saw sweet new art every week.
Parque Arauco: If you want to see where the upper echelon of Santiago buys its clothes, check out some of the department stores at this huge indoor/outdoor mall. Has a year-round ice-skating rink, a Nike store, an Apple store and live music Saturday evenings. My favorite store here is Zoo Concept, which has awesome shoes and odds and ends. For even classier shopping, head to Portal La Dehesa.
Museo Ralli: One of the smaller museums I’ve been to in Chile and also perhaps my favorite. The museum hosts modern art from all over ibero-america and has works that really impressed me. My personal highlight was stumbling upon the six to eight original sculptures by Salvador Dalí. Awesome. You can get there by metro, then bus, then walking, but I would just get to Metro Escuela Militar and then take a taxi to the address: Alonso de Sotomayor 4110. Map. Hours: November to April, Tue-Sat, 11:00am to 5:00pm. May to October, Tue-Sat, 10:30am to 4pm. Call (56) 2 2064224 to confirm hours as they aren’t always fixed.
Cementario General: All but two of Chile’s presidents (Liberator Bernardo O’Higgins and Dictator Augusto Pinochet) are buried here. Each president’s tomb varies between 2 and 3 stories in height and is quite impressive. If you liked the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, you’ll love this one. Metro: Cementarios.
Bellavista: The ultimate nightlife sector of Santiago is also very centrally located. Tons of bars (for drinking), discotecas (for dancing and drinking), and restaurants (for eating, and of course, drinking). There is also plenty to do here during the day, but be on your guard at night as there are many drunks and people looking to take advantage of outsiders.
Sanhattan/El Golf: Get off the metro at stops Tobalaba or El Golf to see the modern second financial center of Santiago. There is some great architecture here and awesome sculptures all around, including a series of painted horses down the main drag, Apoquindo.
Sculpture Park: Along the banks of the not so beautiful Mapocho River running through Santiago lies a tranquil park with about 30 sculptures made by Chilean artists. This is a gem of the city that I have never seen talked about in English guides to Santiago. Make sure to check out the concerts in the park in summer months (January-March). Getting there: From metro Pedro de Valdivia, walk north on Pedro de Valdivia to the other side of the river and it’ll be on your right hand side. Map. Ask anyone for “Parque de Esculturas” if you feel lost.
Winery Tours: Chile is known for a lot of things, but I think wine is that which I was most aware of before coming here. Viña Concha y Toro offers tours all seasons, but I've heard about much better tours (Concha y Toro is the only one I've been on). Some tours let you actually pick grapes and participate in the wine making process while at others you only get to do the tasting, so research carefully.

São Paulo overwhelms the senses with its sheer size. With over 10 million inhabitants, it is the world's third largest city and the largest in South America. São Paulo and its rival Brazilian city, Rio de Janeiro, have often been compared to New York and Los Angeles respectively. If Rio has gained fame for its striking natural setting, São Paulo's attraction lies in its people and its vibrant cultures. The Avenida Paulista's canyon of upthrusting skyscrapers only hints at the city's sources of energy. A more cosmopolitan city than its counterpart, São Paulo possesses significant ethnic minority communities, including substantial Japanese, Italian, and Arab and Lebanese Christian neighbourhoods.
The array of nationalities living in São Paulo have made it a legendary city among gourmands: Japanese, Italian nuova cucina, Brazilian, Chinese, Jewish, and Arab restaurants are all familiar parts of the city's landscape. Brazil's famously good beef is put to good use at the numerous rodizios and churrascarias. Succulent, roasted cuts of meat are circulated around the tables and cut to patrons' order. In fact, people often visit São Paulo just to dine out. The Jardins district is the center of the dining scene, and thus the center of the São Paulo social scene. Paulistanos eat late--restaurants often don't begin serving until 9pm or 10pm, and it is common for them to stay open until 3am.
Brazil's most modern, cosmopolitan city has much to offer in addition to its outstanding cuisines. Its museums are among the finest in South America, its surrounding coastline is graced with many lovely beaches, and its entertainment and nightlife have for years attracted some of the best performers in the world. In recent years, the city has evolved into a center for Brazil's own martial art, capoeira, whose dance-like motions are performed to music. The art has its own traditional instruments: drums and the berimbau, a stringed rod used to keep time. Originally developed as the martial art of the slaves of the Bahia, capoeira was banned by the ruling classes. To keep their art alive, the slaves turned capoeira into a dance, and the berimbau, which had warned of an approaching master, began to accompany the dance itself. As late as the 1920s capoeira was still outlawed and practiced only underground; today, it is a well-known and much-loved spectacle.

Sucre - Bolivia's One and Only Capital City
Sucre is one of my favorite cities in Bolivia. It's totally colonial architecture is beautiful and it's everywhere. There's a large park across the street from the Supreme Court building where kids can "climb" a rusty replica of the Eiffel Tower. Everywhere you look the houses have European balconies, there are tons of antique shops where you can get European antiques that are hundreds of years old, and pay attention to the glass in many of the windows of the homes and buildings on the center plaza - many still have centuries-old French glass panes.
Other places to visit include the Recoleta at the top of the hill where the convent is to get a great view of the entire city and the cemetery which is gorgeous and where many of Bolivia's former presidents are buried. Little kids give you a complete tour with a history lesson to boot. Also, there are several cool bars and restaurants. I personally like La Tertulia which is kind of quiet and dark and a great place to have some coffee and a good read. Sucre has the cleanest market I've ever seen anywhere in Bolivia.
There are several beautiful colonial churches, lot of great architecture, beautiful parks and plazas, and really nice people. There is also a historical museum and the Casa de la Libertad, where the first Bolivian constitution was signed and there are several colonial paintings and documents on display. Lastly, visit the natural history museum where you can see pieces of pottery, weavings, and even mummies that are thousands of years old. Strangely, at night Sucre reminds me of Cuzco.
If you go to the main plaza in Sucre you can find the DINO TRUCK and take a day tour (it's only about 4-5 hours total) to the world's largest repository of dinosaur footprints ever found! CalOrcko. They'll have you there and back in 1/2 a day for about Bs. 50! (Unfortunately, in early 2011 a portion of this hill collapsed, taking with it a fairly large section of the prints).
Don't miss the museums in Sucre. Especially the Ethnographic museum where you can see mummies and all kinds of cool stuff. And at the weaving museum you can see people weaving on looms. by the way, Sucre is also Bolivia's one and only capital city. Here's why people mistakenly think Bolivia has two capitals.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Sucre, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here t

Tandil is in the middle of a scenery formed by mountain ranges, valleys, streams and ancient forests, Tandil lies within the area of the fertile Humid Pampa (Pampa Hùmeda in Spanish) of the range of hills known as the Tandilia System, which is the main feature of the region, that makes up an ideal landscape 179 meters above sea level, it is a modern city that has not lost the spirit of a village. Tandil is famous for the enormous Piedra Movediza ("Balancing Rock"), rested at an inconceivably steep angle on one of the top hills of the city, this rock finally smashed to the valley floor, on February 29, 1912, the place where it once stood this rock, is one of the most visited places in Tandil. The Independencia Park, the famous and impressive stone El Centinela, a rock of seven-metre high, situated at 5 km southwest of the town centre, and the Tigre Mountain Range are another attractions for most tourists in Tandil. You could feel a religious experience, during the Easter holidays, when ten of thousands of believers visit the Mount Calvary ("Monte Calvario") along the Way of the Cross ("Via de las Cruces"), here it is possible to watch fourteen groups of sculptures, illustrating the sequence of the route of Christ to the Cross, which ends at Monte Calvario. It is one of the more important religious festivities in Tandil, this destination can be visited any time in the year. Last Minute Accommodation booking visit www.lastbeds.com
You should not miss the "Epoca de Quesos", on the corner of 14 de Julio and San Martin, this place is one of the of Tandil, once you have finished looking around, you can enjoy the delectable homemade hams, cherry beer, salami, and herb cheeses. After that you could visit the Museo Tradicionalista, at 4 de Abril, which has a wide range of items, there are huge farm carts, a replica of a "pulperia" (a kind of bar), hundred of photographs and even a 1940s fighter plane, in 17 huge exhibit halls.Around Tandil, there are peaks of up to 500 meters, its environment is an ideal site for adventure travel, manifested in activities such as horse-riding, paragliding, hiking, mountain biking, there are many tourist agencies operating tours out of the town. Tandil has the perfect combination of the better of a city and outdoor life, and its many alternatives turn the city in a very good place to visit.

Tandil is in the middle of a scenery formed by mountain ranges, valleys, streams and ancient forests, Tandil lies within the area of the fertile Humid Pampa (Pampa Hùmeda in Spanish) of the range of hills known as the Tandilia System, which is the main feature of the region, that makes up an ideal landscape 179 meters above sea level, it is a modern city that has not lost the spirit of a village. Tandil is famous for the enormous Piedra Movediza ("Balancing Rock"), rested at an inconceivably steep angle on one of the top hills of the city, this rock finally smashed to the valley floor, on February 29, 1912, the place where it once stood this rock, is one of the most visited places in Tandil. The Independencia Park, the famous and impressive stone El Centinela, a rock of seven-metre high, situated at 5 km southwest of the town centre, and the Tigre Mountain Range are another attractions for most tourists in Tandil. You could feel a religious experience, during the Easter holidays, when ten of thousands of believers visit the Mount Calvary ("Monte Calvario") along the Way of the Cross ("Via de las Cruces"), here it is possible to watch fourteen groups of sculptures, illustrating the sequence of the route of Christ to the Cross, which ends at Monte Calvario. It is one of the more important religious festivities in Tandil, this destination can be visited any time in the year.
You should not miss the "Epoca de Quesos", on the corner of 14 de Julio and San Martin, this place is one of the of Tandil, once you have finished looking around, you can enjoy the delectable homemade hams, cherry beer, salami, and herb cheeses. After that you could visit the Museo Tradicionalista, at 4 de Abril, which has a wide range of items, there are huge farm carts, a replica of a "pulperia" (a kind of bar), hundred of photographs and even a 1940s fighter plane, in 17 huge exhibit halls.Around Tandil, there are peaks of up to 500 meters, its environment is an ideal site for adventure travel, manifested in activities such as horse-riding, paragliding, hiking, mountain biking, there are many tourist agencies operating tours out of the town. Tandil has the perfect combination of the better of a city and outdoor life, and its many alternatives turn the city in a very good place to visit.

The Ancient Ruins of Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku)
Up on the highlands in the opposite direction (heading Southwest from La Paz and toward Lake Titicaca) are the ruins of Tiwanaku (sometimes spelled Tiahuanaco) which was the ceremonial epicenter of Andean culture for thousands of years and has a great museum and of course, ruins of temples and monoliths as well as the Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate) that shouldn't be missed. In this section you can read about its history and watch some videos on the legends and myths that surround this unearthly city. You'll hear what scientists have to say about whether or not Tiwanaku is the oldest city on Earth.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Tiahuanaco, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to enter our Tiwanaku Travel Forum.

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, located at 461 km southwest of Punta Arenas and 594 km south of Río Gallegos, offers a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy of its amazing environment, a combination of mountains, sea, glaciers, forests, you can hire a modern catamaran or a comfortable sailing boat, which will take you along the Beagle Channel, to the Cape Horn(in the Chilean side) and the Antartic Continent, in the way you can see the local birds and fauna, such as penguins and sea-wolveThe tourist attractions include the Tierra del Fuego National Park; the southernmost in Argentina which limits in his occidental side with Republic of Chile. Its objective is protect the sub-antarctic environment; the Escondido and Fagnano Lakes, the Harberton and Moat Ranches or maybe you should go through the Heart of the Island to meet the picturesque little town called Tolhuin or the Chepelmut and Yehuin Lakes. You can learn about the history and culture of the people of Ushuaia, visiting the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum), the Maritime Museum and the old part of the city that allows to watch the typical architecture. Nature lovers can go to the base of the Martial Glacier and admire the wonderful view of the city, Beagle Channel and the Glacier itself, tourist can practice outdoor activities such as trekking, horse riding, mountain bike, sport fishing, or excursions through unexplored sites. In Ushuaia is located The Centro Invernal Cerro Castor, the newest ski resort in Argentina, situated at only 15 minutes from Ushuaia city, was built at the Krund mountain, from May to October, offers better snow conditions. Another interesting place is the Isla de los Estados (The Staten Island), where the Faro del Fin del Mundo (Lighthouse at the End of the World) can be found, this lighthouse was made famous by Jules Verne in its novel of the same name, published in 1905. The wild fauna is composed of penguins, sea wolfs, seals, seagulls and cormorants. You can travel on the Tren del Fin del Mundo (World’s End Train), considered the southernmost functioning railway in the world, the train originally was built to transport prisoners, now has been turned into heritage railway into the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
The typical meal in Ushuaia, includes lamb barbecue, king-crabs or chocolates, and finally, Ushuaia receives regular flights from Buenos Aires, at Ushuaia - Malvinas Argentinas International Airport, there is also cruise ships to Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

Windhoekis the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529. A population influx from all over Namibia has caused researchers to estimate the figure now to be well over 300,000.
Due to its relative size Windhoek is, even more than many other national capital cities, the social, economic, and cultural centre of the country. Nearly every national enterprise is headquartered here. The University of Namibia is, too, as are the country's only theatre, all ministry head offices, and all major media and financial entities.The governmental budget of the city of Windhoek nearly equals those of all other Namibian local authorities combined.
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The City of Windhoek is traditionally known by two names: |Ai?Gams, (Khoekhoe: hot springs) and Otjomuise
(Otjiherero: place of steam). Both traditional names reference the hot springs near today's city centre.
Theories vary on how the place got its modern name of Windhoek. Most believe it is derived from the Afrikaans word Wind-Hoek (wind corner). Another theory suggests that Captain Jonker Afrikaner named Windhoek after the Winterhoek Mountains at Tulbagh in South Africa, where his ancestors had lived. The first mention of the name Windhoek occurred in a letter from Jonker Afrikaner to Joseph Tindall, dated 12 August 1844.[6]
[edit] Pre-colonial
Around 1840, Jonker Afrikaner established a settlement at Windhoek.[7] He and his followers stayed near one of the main hot springs, located in the present-day Klein Windhoek suburb. He built a stone church that held 500 people, which was also used as a school. Two Rhenish missionaries, Carl Hugo Hahn and Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt, started working there in late 1842 and were two years later driven out[8] by two Wesleyans, Richard Haddy and Joseph Tindall.[9] Gardens were laid out and for a while Windhoek prospered, but wars between the Nama and Herero eventually destroyed the settlement. After a long absence, Hahn visited Windhoek again in 1873 and was dismayed to see that nothing remained of the town's former prosperity. In June 1885, a Swiss botanist found only jackals and starving guinea fowl amongst neglected fruit trees.[10]
Sanderburg, one of the three castles of Windhoek
[edit] Colonial era
In 1878, Britain annexed Walvis Bay and incorporated it into the Cape of Good Hope in 1884, but Britain did not extend its influence into the hinterland. A request by merchants from Lüderitzbucht resulted in the declaration of a German protectorate over German West Africa in 1884. The German colony came into being with the determination of its borders in 1890 and Germany sent a protective corps, called the Schutztruppe under Major Curt von François, to maintain order. Von François stationed his garrison at Windhoek, which was strategically situated as a buffer between the Nama and Herero, while the twelve strong springs provided water for the cultivation of food.
Present-day Windhoek was founded on 18 October 1890, when Von François fixed the foundation stone of the fort, which is now known as the Alte Feste (Old Fortress). After 1907, development accelerated as people migrated from the countryside to the city. There was also a larger influx of European settlers arriving from Germany and South Africa. Businesses were erected on Kaiser Street, present Independence Avenue, and along the dominant mountain ridge over the city. At this time, Windhoek's three castles, Heinitzburg, Sanderburg, and Schwerinsburg, were built.
Independence Avenue, the main street in downtown Windhoek
[edit] Foreign administration after World War I
The German colonial era came to an end during World War I when South African troops occupied Windhoek in May 1915 on behalf of the British Empire. For the next five years, a military government administered South West Africa. Development of the city of Windhoek and the nation later to be known as Namibia came to a virtual standstill. After World War II, Windhoek's development gradually gained momentum, as more capital became available to improve the area's economic climate. After 1955, large public projects were undertaken, such as the building of new schools and hospitals, tarring of the city's roads (a project begun in 1928 with Kaiser Street), and the building of dams and pipelines to finally stabilize the water supply.[10] It also introduced the World's first potable re-use plant in 1958, treating recycled sewage and sending it directly into the town's water supply.[11]
[edit] Since Namibian independence With Namibia's independence from South African administration in 1990, Windhoek was recognised as the capital city of South-West Africa as administered by the South African government. It continues to be the capital city of the Republic of Namibia, as well as the provincial capital of the central Khomas Region. Since then the city experienced accelerated growth and development.
The city is the major commercial and financial center of Namibia. It sits on a sloping plain on the northern side of the Khomas Hochland (Khomas Highlands) at an altitude of 1,728 metres (5,669 ft).
Expanding the town area has – apart from financial restrictions – proven to be challenging due to its geographical location. In southern, eastern and western direction Windhoek is surrounded by rocky, mountainous areas which make land development costly. The southern side is not suitable for industrial development because of the presence of underground aquifers. This leaves the vast Brakwater area north of town the only feasible place for Windhoek's expansion.[12]
Windhoek is situated in a semi-arid climatic region. Days are mostly warm with very hot days during the summer months, while nights are generally cool. The average annual temperature is 19.47 °C (67.05 °F), which is high for a site at such a high altitude on the edge of the tropics.[13] This is mainly due to the prevalence of a warm northerly airflow and the mountains to the south, which shelter the city from cold southerly winds.
The winter months of June, July and August usually experience little or no rain. Minimum temperatures range between 5 °C (41 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). Nights are usually cool, although the temperature seldom drops below 0°C, and it almost never snows. Days are usually warm to hot, varying from a maximum of 20 °C (68 °F) in July to 31 °C (88 °F) in January.
In 1971, there were roughly 26,000 Whites living in Windhoek, outnumbering the Black population of 24,000 but no longer. About one third of Whites, 9,000, were Germans.
Windhoek's population currently[update] stands at over 300,000 (67% blacks, 16% whites, 17% Coloureds, Basters and Asians) and grows by over 4% annually with the informal settlements growing at almost 10% per year.[12]
Air Namibia has its main office in the Trans Namib Building in Windhoek.[17] Several shopping malls were built in the post-independence era, including Maerua Mall, and Wernhil Park Mall.
Parliament GardensChrist Church
Tintenpalast in Windhoek
* Christ Church - A Lutheran church. Construction on the church was begun under Pastor Wilhelm Anz in April 1896. After the end of the wars between the Germans and the Khoikhoi, Herero, and Ovambo, it was dedicated as the Church of Peace in 1910. The Lutheran Church, which was built in the gothic revival style with Art Nouveau elements, stands in the historic center of Windhoek. Its 24 m high spire was made, like the rest of the church, out of quartz sandstone. The exception is the portal and the altar, which are made of marble. The colourful stained-glass windows in the sanctuary were a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Church is next to the Parliament Gardens and Tintenpalast.
* St. Mary's Cathedral
* Zoo Park - a public park on Independence Avenue in downtown Windhoek. The current park is landscaped and features a pond, children's playground and open-air theatre.[18]
* Tintenpalast - German for "Ink Palace", is the seat of both chambers of the Namibian legislature, the National Council and the National Assembly. It is located just north of Robert Mugabe Avenue, and was designed by the architect Gottlieb Redecker and built by the company Sander & Kock between 1912 and 1913 out of regional materials as an administration building for the German government, which colonised Namibia at the time. The building is surrounded by the Parliament Gardens.
* Alte Feste- German for "Old Fortress". Built in 1890, today houses the National Museum
* Supreme Court of Namibia
* The three castles of Windhoek built by architect Wilhelm Sander: Heinitzburg, Sanderburg, and Schwerinsburg
* National Library of Namibia
* Windhoek Railway Station
* Holy Cross Convent School - built in 1906
* Daan Viljoen Game Reserve -situated near Windhoek
* Windhoek Public Library - built in 1925, next to the Alte Feste

Yungas: Coroico, Caranavi, Death Road
To the North of La Paz you can take a trip to the Yungas either on the new paved 2-lane highway by bus or car (where you can visit towns such as Coroico, Chulumani and Caranavi or even continue on as far as Rurrenabaque or Trinidad in Bolivia's second largest state of Beni) or by way of one of the most exhilarating and famous (or shall we say infamous) tourist attractions of Bolivia, by biking down what has become known as Death Road. As a child I took this road many times. It lives up to its name and can cost you your life.
If you have any questions about things to do, places to stay or eat, or tourist attractions in Coroico, or if you'd like to share your travel stories and photos, click here to enter our Coroico Travel Forum or Death Road Travel Forum.