Federal health officials have issued a travel alert about the spread of yellow fever in Brazil and say travelers need to be vaccinated before heading to affected areas. People may have to plan ahead because there is a shortage of yellow fever vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in its alert.
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Travel industry leaders are saying that “transformational travel” is the next evolution. It has similar elements of experiential travel, but taken a step further—it’s travel motivated and defined by a shift in perspective, self-reflection and development, and a deeper communion with nature and culture. "The 1.8 billion Millennials worldwide do display some particular characteristics that influence their travel behavior", Sarah Catlett, Senior Vice President with global consultants Kantar Futures, told participants at a recent forum. For example, this “first global generation” seeks authenticity, is very adaptable yet also has come of age with a built-in expectation of having control of their activities. In travel terms, they want to experience new cultures, blend experiences across different types of trips, encounter and engage with local people and have authentic experiences, she explained. For destinations to attract Millennial travellers they have to be “genuine and creative”, offering a mix of adventure and relaxation, she advised. That is an exact fit to travel to South America.
Because of the altitude, aridity, and almost non-existent light pollution, some of the most technically advanced and scientifically renowned observatories in the world are located in the Atacama Desert.
I read that Travel + Leisure has posted on its website the list of “The best places to visit in 2017” and Pisco, Peru has been included within this important list. What is it that makes Pisco an unmissable destination for visitors from all over the world (even though I think it is largely ignored by the majority of Peruvian tourists)?
For one thing, it is close to several other places that I found to be very interesting when I travelled to there: I am re-reading a book I had read years ago (Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice) and it got me to remembering when I was researching my first trip to the Amazon over 20 years ago. I had been reading trip reports at an office in Quito and read things like:
People go to Patagonia for different reasons - some want to trek in Torres del Paine or Glaciares Park, some want to experience it's vast open vistas, others want to see wildlife. So, when is the best time to go?
It was reported that the percentage of foreigners travelling to Brazil because of the country’s natural attractions and adventure tourism activities increased from 12.8% in 2014 to 15.7% in 2015.
"Brazil is lucky to have treasures such as the Amazon Rainforest, the Pantanal, the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest and over 8,000 kilometers of coastline, as well as the largest river basin in the world. With professional management and a partnership between the public and private sectors, these products can be exploited in a sustainable manner and to the benefit of local communities," says interim Tourism Minister Alberto Alves. As a person who loves exploring, I have an interest in going to places that might not be big tourist destinations, but should be (at least I think so). But it seems that not many others find those places interesting. Would you be interested in visiting places like these? ![]() 20 years ago I traveled to the Chachapoyas region of Peru with a friend of mine and a group of others that he put together. At that time the government had it in it's 5 year plan to develop the area as the "Machu Picchu of the north". Peter Lerche, the German in the video below, which was published last month, showed us un-excavated ruins on many mountain tops (as he mentions in the video, only about 10% have been excavated now). I sent a group there a few years later and they got to visit a lost city that had only been discovered the week before they arrived. Since that time, some of the highest waterfalls in the world have been discovered and in 2013, 35 sarcophagi belonging to the Chachapoyas culture were found. Archaeologists believe that the sarcophagi – painted clay coffins placed upright above ground – were placed in a cemetery for children because the figures measure some 70 centimeters tall.
Chapada Diamantina (Diamond Plateau) is one of the most fascinating natural parks in Brazil. A scenic mountain range that has an average altitude of over 1000m (3000 feet). The area offers some of the most scenic landscapes you can find in the country.
Just as looking for jaguars in the Pantanal has gained in popularity during the past few years, looking for Pumas in Chile in the Torres del Paine area has also increased in popularity because it is the best place in all of South America to track, spot and photograph these beautiful big cats in the wild.
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AuthorJim has been an agent for over 20 years and has specialized in South America for much of that time Archives
April 2024
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