“Argentina is an increasingly popular travel destination, with growth of more than 80 percent in the number of bookings to Argentine hotels this year versus 2010,” said Marco Tagliatti, Expedia vice president of lodging for Latin America. “The growth is coming from international travelers, who are traveling in the greatest numbers from the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., Australia and Spain.”

Expedia has a hotel market management team dedicated to working with hotels in Argentina who want to offer their property on Expedia and Hotels.com sites around the world, and attract international travelers. Expedia market managers provide strategic counsel and market insights to their hotel partners, Current recommendations for local hoteliers include:

Incorporate a mobile booking channel into your property’s distribution strategy. Expedia has seen strong continued growth in bookings made via its mobile channels, especially in metropolitan areas as more consumers around the world use mobile devices to book their hotel stays.

Look to international travelers as a source of new, incremental demand. According to Expedia, some of the strongest demand for travel to Argentina is coming from Europe and Asia-Pacific, with each region growing between 50 to 125 percent over the past year.

In addition, local tourism boards such as Inprotur have partnered with Expedia Media Solutions, to promote Argentina as a tourist destination to international travelers. Expedia’s cost-per-click product TravelAds has also been especially helpful in extending visibility for hotels, with participating properties experiencing average returns of 10 times their investment.

Expedia executives, including Tagliatti, are in Buenos Aires this week to attend FIT, where the company will meet with local tourism officials and members of the Argentine hospitality community to discuss strategies for promoting Argentina as a top travel destination to Expedia’s global audience of travelers.

Thursday evening representatives from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Expedia Media Solutions will host a partner appreciation event for more than 200 members of the local hospitality community, where Expedia executives are expected to recognize several outstanding Buenos Aires hotel partners across three categories:

Top Producers 2011:

Unique Luxury Park Plaza
Caesar Park Hotel Buenos Aires
Hollywood Suites

Top Producing Hotel Chain 2011:

Unique Hotels Collection
Fastest Growing Hotel 2011
Vista Sol Buenos Aires

“Participating at FIT gives us the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our local hotel partners, who by partnering with Expedia have been successful in bringing international travelers to Argentina, and growing their business in the process,” said Rafael del Castillo, Expedia director of market management for South America. “We’re very encouraged to see the growth Expedia has delivered to Argentina hotels over the past year, and we remain confident that by working closely with local properties we can continue to develop strategies for efficiently marketing Argentina as a top destination to the nearly 60 million travelers that visit our sites each month.”

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the largest online travel company in the world, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes more than 100 localized Expedia.com®- and Hotels.com®-branded sites; leading U.S. discount travel site Hotwire®; leading agency hotel company Venere.com™; Egencia®, the world’s fifth largest corporate travel management company; the world’s largest travel community TripAdvisor® Media Group; destination activities provider ExpediaLocalExpert®; luxury travel specialist Classic Vacations®; and China’s second largest booking site eLong™. The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers vast opportunity to reach the most valuable audience of in-market travel consumers anywhere through TripAdvisor Media Group and Expedia Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for some of the world’s leading airlines and hotels, top consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates through Expedia® Affiliate Network. (NASDAQ: EXPE) For corporate and industry news and views, visit us at www.expediainc.com or follow us on Twitter @expediainc.
_______________________________________
SOURCE:
“Expedia Data Shows Online Travel Bookings to Argentina on the Rise”
Oct. 28, 2011
http://www.prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expedia-data-shows-online-travel-bookings-to-argentina-on-the-rise-132785823.html

Argentina and Antarctica

Journey Latin America has an 18-day trip to Argentina and Antarctica. Start in Buenos Aires and go on to visit Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia, followed by a cruise to Antarctica aboard the MV Antarctic Dream – explore the Antarctic Peninsula with stops at Deception Island, Port Lockroy, Cuverville Island, Gerlache Strait, Neumeyer Channel and Paradise bay (you’ll go wildlife spotting for whales and seals) before flying back to Buenos Aires and then to Puerto Iguazu.

There, trek through the Iguazu National Park rainforests and spend two nights in a luxury hotel on a hilltop with spectacular views of the Rio Paraná. You’ll also visit the Brazilian side of the famous Iguazu Falls for panoramic views of the entire length of the falls’ edge, which stretches to 2.7 kilometres.

The trip costs from £5,198 (Dh29,411) per person (if booked before October 31), and includes domestic flights, airport transfers, a 10-night cruise (full board), all accommodation, some meals and sightseeing. International airfare is not included. Visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk to book.

Cuba

Explore Cuba on this two-week epic walking tour that includes treks through tobacco fields and hikes through mountains and rustic farmlands. Explore the caves of Vinales Valley, a mountainous area known for its limestone karsts; go birdspotting on the pine-covered slopes of the Sierra del Escambray (listen for the distinctive call of the Cuban national bird, the tocororo); then move east towards Sierra Maestra and ascend Pico Turquino, the highest point in Cuba. You’ll also explore Trinidad and Havana, two cities that are Unesco World Heritage Sites, on walking tours.

From £1,329 (Dh7,534) per person, including the services of guides, local transport, some meals and accommodation, including a night in a camp. International airfare is not included. Visit www.exodus.co.uk for more information.

Guatemala

Wild Frontiers is offering a 16-day Christmas adventure in Guatemala that covers the central highlands of Antigua, offering a peek at its colourful holiday celebrations, a visit to Lake Atitlan and the traditional Mayan villages of the Ixil Triangle; a journey by boat to the Mayan site of Aguateca and a trip to the Garifuna community on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

From £2,150 (Dh12,250) per person, including accommodation based on two sharing, some meals, sightseeing and local transport. Departure on December 24. International airfare is not included. Visit www.wildfrontiers.co.uk or call 00 44 20 7736 3968.

Mexico

Mexico is one of the most popular tourist countries on earth (over 20 million foreign visitors last year). Much of the tourist industry is centered around the beach resorts as well as the altiplano in the central part of the country. Visiting the northern interior allows visitors to get off the beaten path a bit.

American tourists tend to predominate on the Baja peninsula and the more modernized beach resorts (Cancún, Puerto Vallarta), while European tourists congregate around the smaller resort areas in the south like Playa del Carmen and colonial towns San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Main attractions in Mexico

Mexico City: Capital of the Republic, one of the three largest cities in the world, and a sophisticated urban hub with a 700-year history. In Mexico City, you will find everything from parks, Aztec ruins, colonial architecture, museums, to nightlife and shopping.

Acapulco: A sophisticated urban beach setting known for its top-notch nightlife, elegant dining, and nightmarish traffic. Many of the older (pre-1990s) concrete structures have suffered tropical decay.

Cancun: One of the worlds most popular and famous beaches, known for its clear Caribbean waters, its lively party atmosphere, and its wealth of recreational facilities, cancun holidays can be exciting during Spring Break it is noted for drinking, sunburning, and debauchery.

Guadalajara: A traditional city, capital of Jalisco state, and the home of mariachi music and tequila. Guadalajara is blessed with perpetual spring weather and its colonial downtown is graceful and sophisticated.

Mazatlan: Lively Pacific coast town, Mazatlan is a shipping port, a transportation hub with ferries to Baja California, and a beach resort destination with miles of sandy shore. It is a popular Spring Break destination due to its variety of affordable lodging options.

Moreover, with the widespread cutbacks in the workplace, most people can’t afford to demonstrate that their company can survive without them, even for a few days. So how can the average person go about relieving stress without adding even more? An innovative startup, www.coffeebreakvacations.com, just may have the answer: a “visualization vacation.”

CoffeeBreak Vacations has devised a way for consumers to sample the tastes, smells, sounds, and soul of places heretofore relegated only to dreams and bucket lists, by offering multi-sensory (and refreshingly low-tech) packages designed to make those dreams even more real – and all for under fifty bucks. “Each CoffeeBreak Vacation is created with one goal in mind: to whisk you away to an exotic location completely different from your everyday world, all in the amount of time it takes for you to enjoy a cup of coffee,” says the company’s founder, Tiffany Taranto.

Taranto acknowledges that while nothing can fully match the experience of traveling to far-off and exotic destinations, a CoffeeBreak Vacation can help to enhance and flesh out the fantasy of taking such a trip, without all the required preparations and hassles inherent in international travel. The creators of CoffeeBreak Vacations set a goal of creating a pleasurable near-meditative experience, the objective being to relieve the stress that builds up on a day to day basis and provide the user with a satisfying experience at a very reasonable cost.

CoffeeBreak Vacations’ multi-sensory approach is actually right in step with current research about the merits of engaging all of the senses for everything from stress relief to pain management. (Innovative “multi-sensory” rooms are even being used to help children and adults with developmental disabilities.) While CoffeeBreak Vacations doesn’t claim to be “therapy,” the virtual vacations it offers can certainly be therapeutic to overworked people who haven’t been on a real vacation in years. California acupuncturist Jennifer Chen Everett, L.Ac, says, “I’m finding that as the stress levels continue to rise in our complicated world, many people and patients are needing more outlets for stress relief. CoffeeBreak Vacations offers a visualization vacation that offers similar benefits to meditation but in a fun, new way.”

While they’re riding one trend, the creators of CoffeeBreak Vacations are bucking others – most notably, they’re going against the grain of tech-dependent products by returning to the basics. “We offer a more simple, real, organic experience within yourself,” says Taranto. “A CoffeeBreak Vacation gets you off the computer or iPad or iPhone, and back to the basics of a book, a CD playing in the background, and the use of your mind and imagination. We’re overrun with technology, and this is a great way to escape that for a little while, as well.”

The CoffeeBreak Vacation packages consist of a collection of items designed to make each destination “real,” allowing immersion into the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and culture of the destination. The packages include:

- A CoffeeBreak Vacation passport booklet, filled with interesting facts about the chosen location – complete with gorgeous pictures. The passport booklet is literally the itinerary for the “visit,” offering insight into the unique culture of the destination, and helping the consumer create his or her own experience, all in the time it takes to savor the cup of coffee.

- A Vacation Soundtrack CD, filled with the music and sounds that, according to the CoffeeBreak Vacations creators, are “the soul of your dream destination.”

- A scratch-and-sniff assortment of Vacation Scents reminiscent of the location to help immerse the consumer more fully in the experience.

- A pouch of Vacation Coffee inspired by the chosen location.

- A Vacation Door Hanger, literally a “Do Not Disturb” sign to let others know not to interrupt the “Vacation.”

- A CoffeeBreak Luggage Tag and Bookmark.

Each Coffee Break Vacation comes packed in its own quality-crafted travel bag, for which the consumer will no doubt find countless uses, both on exotic journeys and right in their own neighborhood. As of this writing, Coffee Break Vacation destinations include Buenos Aires, Argentina, Kauai, Hawaii, Barcelona, Spain, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and the Basque Country in Spain and France. Additional destinations will be added in the near future, and consumers are invited to offer suggestions via the CoffeeBreak Vacations Web site.

The creators of CoffeeBreak Vacations believe a “visualization vacation” will appeal to a wide range of people – busy stay at home moms, doctors, students, elderly people who can no longer travel comfortably, teachers, and executives – as well as anyone who loves travel, music, books, or learning about new cultures and places. In addition, travel channels and shows have enjoyed an explosion in popularity, and CoffeeBreak Vacations provides a new outlet that brings people even closer to the real thing – and can even help motivate them to plan an actual trip. They also make a unique gift idea.

“When both money and time are tight, people still need – and deserve – a break,” says Taranto. “CoffeeBreak Vacations provide the fun without the fuss, and relieve stress without relieving people of their life savings.”

For more information visit www.coffeebreakvacations.com

CoffeeBreak Vacations
Contact: Tiffany Taranto
4225 Solano Avenue #642
Napa, CA 94558
707-927-8778
Email for press inquiries: PR@coffeebreakvacations.com
_____________________________________
SOURCE:
“Brunch in Barcelona? Break time in Buenos Aires? CoffeeBreak Vacations take you away without the cost or hassles”
MMD Newswire (press release) – 30 Aug 2011
http://www.mmdnewswire.com
http://www.mmdnewswire.com/staycation-packages-coffeebreak-vacations-64257.html

In recent years only cargo has crossed the Argentina-Uruguay border by rail. Passenger train service was discontinued nearly 30 years ago due to frayed bilateral relations. In recent years disagreement has centered on the construction of a cellulose plant in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, that Argentina alleged would pollute the Río Uruguay on the border of both countries. For the last three years, Argentines in the city of Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos (at times with the support of the federal government), staged numerous protests including a blockade of the bridge over the Río Uruguay.

The new railway—and this afternoon’s inauguration ceremony, which hundreds of government officials from both countries are expected to attend—underscores the warming relations between the South American neighbors. CFK’s trip, replete with symbolism, will take her from across the Río Uruguay in Concordia, Entre Ríos, to Salto, as she and Mujica launch the rail line traversing the river border between their two countries.

This transnational infrastructure is part of El Plan de Acción Binacional Argentino-Uruguayo (Argentine-Uruguayan Bi-National Action Plan), that was signed earlier this month by the two countries’ ministers of transport. Today’s symbolic journey from Concordia to Salto will expand on September 9 to a weekly, 813-kilometer (505-mile) journey from Pilar, Argentina to Paso de los Toros, Uruguay. Service will become daily by December.
_____________________________________
SOURCE:
“Argentina and Uruguay Inaugurate Trans-Border Train Line”
AUGUST 29, 2011
by AQ Online
http://www.americasquarterly.org
http://www.americasquarterly.org/node/2846

“Let’s face it. Most people aren’t willing to shell out the cash for a trip to South America unless there’s a good reason to travel,” remarks Kaitlin Nunn, Marketing Coordinator at SouthAmerica.travel. “What better excuse to travel to South America than to take a honeymoon tour and revel in the romance of this vast continent.”

Honeymoon in Buenos Aires

Offering new honeymoon tours to South America is one of several strategic promotions for this year. In an effort to meet the growing demand of honeymooners who want to make the trip to South America, the company is responding with more customized, private tours and honeymoon trip ideas. “Honeymoon tours became one of our primary selling points because we have become experts in customizing luxury tours over the years,” explains CEO Juergen Keller.

The company’s website, www.southamerica.travel, offers several new honeymoon tour pages. There are wine tours including wine tasting in the Mendoza Valley in Argentina, adventurous treks such as the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Brazilian beach resort tours, and Amazon tours that will delight any wildlife-loving couple. Patagonia cruises and Antarctica cruises are also recommended for honeymoon tours. And multi-country tours, such as the Tango, Samba, and Waterfalls tour to Argentina and Brazil, are also available.

One of the most popular honeymoon tours is the classic tour to Machu Picchu, a four day Peru tour that starts in Lima, heads to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and ends with the spectacular city-in-the-sky, Machu Picchu.

Another popular choice is hitting the beach at a pousada on the coast of Brazil. SouthAmerica.travel offers several choices for Brazil Beach Resorts for honeymooners.

All South America honeymoon tours include hotel nights in 4* or 5* hotels; all breakfasts in hotels, other meals as mentioned in itineraries; all tours, transfers, and entrance fees; all private tours and transfers; domestic flights, trains, and buses; English-speaking guides.

Travel agents and tour outfits can get in touch with SouthAmerica.travel to book South America honeymoon tours by calling 1-800-747-4540, by email at info-please@southamerica.travel, or by filling out our Contact Us form. Travel agent commissions are 15%.

SouthAmerica.travel LLC is a US-based travel agency and incoming tour operator with offices in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Lima. They offer 4* & 5* luxury South America tours to Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Colombia. Licensed and bonded in the US, the company has been sharing its love of South America travel since 1999, and is proud of its A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. They are members of the ATSA, USTOA, SATA, and BTOA. The company stands by its commitment to offer valuable travel packages, trust-worthy sales practices, and real-world South America travel expertise.

Contact Info

SouthAmerica.travel
Phone: 1-800-747-4540
Web site: http://www.southamerica.travel
322 SE Parkhill Dr
Chehalis WA
98532 USA

__________________________________
SOURCE:
“South America Travel Experts Unveil New South America Honeymoon Tour Packages”
August 13, 2011
http://www.theopenpress.com
http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=113065

With the goal of boosting relations between Italy and Argentina, Minister Franco Frattini is on a two-day mission to Buenos Aires, where he will be meeting with President Christina Kirchner and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman. The mission agenda will range from economic relations to defence cooperation.

The Italian minister’s visit to Argentina coincides with the resumption of the sessions of the joint economic commission, which is an indication of a significant upswing in bilateral relations, not only from an economic viewpoint but political as well. The commission, jointly chaired by Scotti and Luis Maria Kreckler, Argentina’s Under-Secretary for International Trade, consists of two separate tables dedicated respectively to economic /financial and cultural/scientific/university cooperation. The sessions will consist of technical discussion groups on matters of defence, cooperative credit and social security.

A number of accords will be signed; discussions will begin on agreements regarding tourism and air transport. The commission sessions will be concluded by Minister Frattini and his colleague Hector Timerman.

Among the many items on the agenda will be the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification, with lots of events planned: exhibition of the “Spear-Bearer” by Polycletus, a concert by the “Solisti Veneti” and an exhibition on the “’Antica Cartografia d’Italia, Expo Milano 2015 and the upcoming Italy-Latin America and Caribbean Conference.

The “Spear-Bearer” by Polycletus will remain on display for three months at the National Museum of Fines Arts in Buenos Aires, and was presented to the press during an event at the museum chaired by Guido La Tella and Director of the Argentine “Bellas Artes” Guillermo Alonso. “This exhibition is a dream come true”, recalled the Ambassador, describing “the lengthy preparations and obstacles overcome, ranging from authorizations to transport”. The initiative, sponsored by Telecom Italia, Pirelli and ENEL, with the insurance coverage of Generali Argentina, is part of a cultural calendar designed to coincide with Italy’s 150th birthday and Argentina’s bicentennial.

Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Buenos Aires Giuliana Dal Paz underscored “the emotional experience of having the Spear-Bearer here in Buenos Aires”, one of the highlights of Naples’ archaeological treasures. “Initiatives such as this loan strengthen our countries’ cultural bonds”, concluded Museum Director Alonso, who announced that a Caravaggio exhibition at “Bellas Artes” was being considered for next year. The arrival of the statue by Polycletus was broadly covered in the local press: for La Nacion, which carried the event on the front page with a photograph, the sculpture is an example of “an illustrious visitor to Argentina”, while Clarin and other dailies and TV channels also followed the event.

Recommended travel destinations in Argentina and Italy

- Tuscany, Italy:

From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoes and architectural masterpieces. Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine. Walkers enjoy the mountain paths, cyclists the rolling hills, summer vacationers the sea coast and islands. Students come to learn the beautiful Italian language and culture.

Where to stay in Tuscany? Situated in Florence, Tuscany Villas & Farmhouses & Holiday Homes has been renting holiday houses in Tuscany for years: apartments in villas in the Tuscan countryside, farm holidays apartments, holiday apartments in historical centres, detached villas – luxury villas, villas with swimming pool, luxury villas in Medieval castles – and finely renovated old Tuscan farmhouses with private swimming pool.

- Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Mix together a beautiful European-like city with attractive residents (call them porteños), gourmet cuisine, awesome shopping, a frenzied nightlife and top-drawer activities, and you get Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan metropolis with both slick neighborhoods and equally downtrodden areas – but that’s part of the appeal. It’s an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge, laced with old-world languor and yet full of contemporary attitude. BA is somehow strangely familiar, but unlike any other city in the world.

In between cutting-edge designer boutiques, ritzy neighborhoods and grand parks are unkempt streets full of spewing buses and bustling fervor. Seek out classic BA: the old-world cafés, colonial architecture, fun outdoor markets and diverse communities. Rub shoulders with the formerly rich and famous in Recoleta’s cemetery, making sure to sidestep the ubiquitous dog piles on the sidewalks. Fill your belly at a parrilla (steak restaurant), then spend the night partying away in Palermo Viejo’s trendiest dance club.

Hunt for that antique gem in a dusty San Telmo shop, or visit on Sunday for the barrio’s spectacularly popular fair. Learn to sweep your leg dancing the sultry tango, and then attend a super-passionate fútbol match between River and Boca. These unforgettable adventures (and many more) are just waiting for you to go out and experience them.

Everyone knows someone who has been here and raved about it. You’ve put it off long enough. Come to Buenos Aires and you’ll understand why so many people have fallen in love with this amazing city, and even decided to stay. There’s a good chance you’ll be one of them.

1: Machu Picchu, Peru

It’s no wonder Machu Picchu is Peru’s most-visited site. Dating to the mid-1400s, it’s a marvel of mortar-free limestone architecture perched on a high plateau deep in the Amazonian jungle. Get there via train from Cusco or, if you’re not faint-hearted, make the trip on foot via a multi-day hiking trail—you’ll travel through deep Andean gullies and enjoy stunning views.

2: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Whether your curiosity is piqued by the International Olympic Committee’s selection for the 2016 Games, or you’re heeding the call of the famous twin beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio offers more than you can imagine, and offers it at all hours. With breathtaking views from Corcovado Mountain and breathtaking deals in the city’s endless malls and markets, Rio de Janeiro is a vacation paradise, whatever it is you travel for.

3: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires’ European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city’s oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America’s shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards.

4: Cusco, Peru

Incan majesty and Andean baroque exist side-by-side in Cusco’s stone streets, epitomized by the Qoriacancha palace and the church of Santo Domingo flanking the Plaza de Armas. In this high-altitude melting pot of Amerindian and mestizo culture, you’ll find extraordinary textiles, lively summer festivals and archeological wonders.

5: Florianopolis, Brazil

Florianopolis was dubbed by Brazilian weekly Veja as “the best place to live in Brazil”, so it’s only natural that tourists would want to check it out, too. And do they ever. Florianopolis is a thriving destination for its perfect beaches, excellent surfing, amazing seafood, and juxtaposition of a modern megacity with 16th-century colonial fortresses and relaxed markets and parks.

6: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Antigua Guatamala is known as the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in South America. Stroll the cobblestone streets, lounge with the locals in Central Park on sunny afternoons or hike up one of the volcanoes overlooking the city for amazing views.

7: Jericoacoara, Brazil

If you want to step off a plane and be at a mega resort 15 minutes later, Jericoacoara probably isn’t for you. But if you want an unspoiled beach town, and don’t mind bouncing along rough dirt roads for an hour to get there, you might just think it’s paradise. Kitesurfing, windsurfing, Capoeira, and, of course, just lying on the beach are popular activities.

8: Buzios, Brazil

If there’s a “beach economy,” Buzios is its Wall Street. Its more than 20 beaches, world-class galleries, clubs and boutiques draw an elite set of travelers. Surfers love Geriba Beach, snorkelers enjoy Ferruda, hip Ossos Beach offers upscale beachside cafes and laid-back Ilhabela Beach offers a more down-to-earth Buzios experience.

9: Ushuaia, Argentina

The world’s southernmost city is located on the Beagle Channel, between the Martial Range and the end of the world. It is a key access point to skiing at Cerro Castor and Glaciar Martial, wildlife adventures with penguins and orcas in the Beagle Channel, and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Of course, it’s also the port of call nearest Antarctica, and a unique destination for kayaking, sailing or having a drink in a warm hotel bar.

10: Torres del Paine, Chile

Hike the trails of Torres del Paine National Park and see spectacular views of forests, lakes, and glaciers. Whether you choose to stay in a hotel or to rough it at one of the park’s many campsites, you’ll surely have a vacation to remember here

11: Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, a gorgeous fishing village on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, has excellent beaches, a historic old town (that’s entirely walkable) and beautiful colonial architecture. It’s also one of the safest places in the country, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular port of call for cruise ships. Need a break from exploring the cobblestone streets? Stop at an outdoor cafe for excellent pastries and people-watching.

12: El Calafate, Argentina

Building on its must-visit location, the once-tiny El Calafate has grown quickly to cater to and profit from the visitors to nearby Los Glaciares National Park. Many visit to see such natural wonders as Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive glacier that’s actually composed of many other pieces of shifting ice. Yet travelers will find that El Calafate is much more than merely a gateway to the Patagonian wild—it’s a fun town offering all sorts of outdoor adventures.

13: San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

Nipping at the ankles of the Andes, San Carlos, the largest ski area in South America, also offers thrilling boating, trekking, paragliding and climbing. The truly brave at heart can take the plunge into icy Lake Nahuel Huapi, which, even in summer, never rises above a chilling average temperature of 57°F. Beaches like Playa Bonita and Villa Tacul are stunning, but try to avoid the city in July, when the town is inundated by high-school students.

14: Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil

Part of Morro de Sao Paulo’s charm is its mix of upscale, new hotels and restaurants with older, shabbier pousadas and taverns. This car-free and carefree island has just one road and a handful of beaches… it’s a wonderful place to get away from it all.

15: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Looking for an unusual and beautiful landscape? Sandstone canyons, flamingo-dotted salt flats, steaming geysers, hot springs, volcanic peaks and alien-looking rock formations are on offer all around San Pedro de Atacama. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are the preferred means of exploration. Death Valley here is surprisingly great for picnics.

16: Foz do Iguacu, Brazil

Giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, endangered jaguars and clouds of butterflies are among the attractions at this World Heritage-designated park that marks the border between Brazil and Argentina. By foot or by raft, explorers can view one of the world’s most stunning waterfalls, Iguazu Falls. Among the park’s 270 waterfalls, spectacular Devil’s Throat combines 14 falls and generates a “perpetual rainbow” in good weather

17: Salvador, Brazil

Brazil’s former capital is renowned for its African-influenced cuisine, music and architecture. Known as “the Capital of Joy,” because of its exuberant week-long Carnaval celebrations, Salvador brims with contemporary music and art amid architecture that has gone untouched since the 17th century.

18: Punta del Este, Uruguay

Punta del Este is known as the St. Tropez of Uruguay, thanks to its beautiful beaches, upscale resorts and swanky nightclubs. The Vegas-style Conrad Casino adds to the lively entertainment scene. For a break from surf and sand, saddle up with a local gaucho and ride horseback through the wild plains surrounding the city.

19: Porto de Galinhas, Brazil

An hour or two south of Recife, Porto de Galinhas was made for the not-so-extreme tourist. Raves one traveler, “It’s what it doesn’t have that makes it great:” no heavy traffic, no nightlife to speak of. Explore the natural tidal pools that form in the reef, feeding fish that swim all around you; or ride a dune buggy to romantic Muro Alto beach. Or skip all that and doze in a hammock by the warm, green, clear Atlantic.

20: Sao Paulo, Brazil

The largest city in South America, Sao Paulo’s cuisine and art is as multinational as its diverse population of 10 million. With the restaurants of the Jardins district serving every food imaginable to diners from around the world, you wouldn’t be out of place going to Sao Paulo just for the dining. But you’d be missing out on world-class museums, diverse and vibrant neighborhood tours, and crazy-good shopping.

21: Bogota, Colombia

Ten million people call vibrant, passionate, sprawling Bogota home. The energy of this metropolitan heart of Colombia is in part fueled by its hundreds of eclectic and authentic dining hot spots, fantastic wines, and frequent foodie festivals. Ask the locals where they like to eat, then walk off your empanadas and aji with a stroll through the historic district of La Candelaria or during an indulgent shopping adventure on the North Side.

22: Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Tamarindo is a prime spot for surfing and sportfishing, diving and sunning. Nesting leatherback turtles do their thing along the beaches from October to May and, for some nesting of your own, gorgeous beach houses, B&Bs and luxury hotels line the sunny sands. Shopping and dining options are superb and plentiful, perfect for sampling the true flavors of Costa Rica.

23: Santiago, Chile

Santiago is one of those metropolitan joys where the more you look, the more you find. Funky cafes and dance clubs dot Bellavista, Forest Park art collections range from pre-Columbian to contemporary, and architecture runs the gamut from the 16th-century San Francisco Church to mirrored office towers. Shop with the locals at Mall Panora¡mico and give your palate meals to remember with hearty Chilean fare.

24: Uyuni, Bolivia

Most travelers come to Uyuni to visit some of the world’s most unusual terrain—the Salar de Uyuni. This is the world’s largest salt flat, and you’ll want to bring a camera for surreal photos of salt-encrusted ground, geysers, and multicolored lakes.

25: San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro is “La Isla Bonita” that Madonna made famous. Now it’s a tourist mecca, but still boasts great beaches and plenty of dive shops so you can enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. Plan a side trip to Caye Caulker while you’re here; it is less developed and more laid back, and has its own splendid swimming areas.
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SOURCE:
“Top 25 Destinations in Central & South America”
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations-g291958-cTop25-Central_America.html

You won’t find this information front and center in your Antarctic tour company’s brochure: Even if perfect weather enables all of the scheduled shore excursions, you will still spend 90 percent of your trip on board the ship in a confined space with a bunch of complete strangers.

It’s got the makings of a season of “The Real World.” Fortunately, your fellow humans can be a highlight of your Antarctic adventure. I traveled on the first sailing of the 2010-11 Antarctic travel season (which runs from early November through May) aboard the M/V Antarctic Dream and was surprised to discover that my shipmates were not the well-heeled-but-dull older travelers I’d expected based on the fact that these trips are pricey and sometimes involve the word “cruise.”

Stacey Richman brought a snow cone machine to Antarctica.
Eric Mohl, Special to the Star Tribune

Views like this compel people to travel to Antarctica.
Eric Mohl, Special to the Star Tribune

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Antarctic tour companies are reporting a trend toward younger passengers. Nadia Antetomaso, a guide with GAP Adventures, says the company has noticed the shift over the past few years. Some of that is driven by price — GAP Adventures and Antarctic Dream trips tend toward the more economical end of the Antarctic travel spectrum, which typically ranges from $3,500 to $16,000 per person for 11- to 35-day trips.

Whatever the reason, many of the passengers on my sailing were in their mid-40s or younger and most of them were hilarious companions. First, we survived the Drake Passage together. Then the real fun began.

Drake Passage drama

“We could lose the ship in seconds.”

That was our distractingly dapper captain’s totally honest answer when asked what the worst-case scenario is when sailing among icebergs and crossing the Drake Passage.

Things do go wrong in the Drake Passage — which must be crossed in the first and last few days of all Antarctica tours to and from Ushuaia, Argentina (the main port). That’s because the Drake Passage is the spot where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans literally crash into each other, resulting in some of the roughest seas on the planet.

In early December 2010 the Clelia II lost an engine in the Drake with 165 people aboard and spent days being tossed around by 30-foot waves before the ship was repaired and able to continue on to Ushuaia.

Thankfully, the most dangerous things passengers on the M/V Antarctic Dream encountered during my journey through the Drake were the increasingly askew hairdos of passengers who had been confined to bed either by seasickness or by the drowsy side effects of seasickness medication. Trying to determine how many hours fellow passengers had spent in bed based on the state of their hair served as a great icebreaker, so to speak.

The penguin chicks

Two 30-something women, Hannele Luukkainen from Finland and Helen Joannidi from the United Kingdom, were riding along only as far as Port Lockroy. The British-run former research station has a small museum, gift shop and one of the most remote post offices in the world, and it serves as a shore excursion that most Antarctic tour operators make.

We would leave Hannele and Helen at Port Lockroy to begin their five-month volunteer stint during which, they explained with equal measures of excitement and trepidation, they would live in a dorm with two other volunteers, use an outhouse (no shower), help run the gift shop and count penguins as part of ongoing research into the effect of tourism on the animals’ behavior.

My emerging clique of passengers immediately dubbed them “the penguin chicks.”

Handing out nicknames became something of a ritual on board but one passenger came pre-nicknamed. “The Glen,” a 28-year-old long-term traveler from Australia, may have had a short name but he was full of big surprises during our shore excursion to Deception Island.

The island was formed when a caldera flooded and heat from the still-active volcano, we were told, now warms the waters around the island, making a quick dip possible.

We all optimistically packed our swimsuits before we scrambled into Zodiac boats and headed for Deception Island to explore its abandoned whaling station and small cemetery. In the end, though, the Glen was one of only four brave souls who took the plunge — and the only one who did it without a swimsuit.

Before we knew it, the Glen was naked and bounding into the not even vaguely warm water. A huge tattoo of the Antarctic continent was plainly visible in the middle of his bare back as he sprinted gingerly into the water.

Snow-cone treats

At first glance Stacey Richman, a defense attorney from New York City, might seem like the kind of traveler I was expecting to find on an Antarctic cruise. Then she opened her luggage and revealed an unexpected traveling companion. On a whim she’d brought a hand-cranked Snoopy snow cone machine featuring America’s favorite cartoon dog snowboarding across a plastic mini-Matterhorn. She planned to use it to turn some of that 1,000-year-old glacial ice into delicious frozen treats.
_______________________________________________
SOURCE:
“Icebreakers in Antarctica”
By KAREN CATCHPOLE, Special to the Star Tribune
Last update: January 30, 2011
http://www.startribune.com
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/114740509.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUvDEhiaE3miUsZ

Sunita Puri, a doctor at the MedCare clinic on Madison Boulevard, visited the Earth’s southern most continent in December 2010.

It was incredible,” Puri said. “I’m planning to go again.”

Puri took a 12-day cruise to Antarctica that departed from Ushuaia, Argentina.

She said visiting Antarctica was something she had always wanted to do.

“It was something different, something adventurous,” Puri said.

There were only 89 other passengers onboard because Antarctica only allows small ships, according to Puri.

“That’s how it stays so pristine,” Puri said.

Puri experienced the landscape firsthand through land excursions. The cruise ship anchored twice a day for three to four hours so passengers could travel on land via smaller motorized boats called zodiacs.

She said her favorite part of these excursions was seeing the wildlife, especially the penguins.

While onboard the ship, Puri attended lectures on the environment, glaciers, whales, climate change and birds.

She said her favorite thing she saw while in Antarctica was the glaciers.

“Standing by a glacier was an incredible experience,” Puri said.

She said she was joined on her adventure by people of all nationalities and ages, as passengers on the cruise ranged from 14 to 85.

“Age has nothing to do with it,” Puri said.

Puri described the continent as “paradise on Earth.”

“I’m planning to go back,” Puri said.

Scroll down to read Puri’s first-hand account of her trip.

PARADISE ON EARTH, BY DR. SUNITA PURI

There is something very special, almost spiritual about Antarctica. I could not escape the “little voice.” The world’s largest ice mass can be found in Antarctica. Ice covers 99 percent of the landmass except some rocky coastal area and tallest mountain peaks. It is quite magical to get close to the icebergs, especially when the sun is shining and glistening on the ice water like millions of sparkling diamonds.

I was standing on the deck of the ship at 1 a.m., gazing at the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in the golden glow of the midnight sun. The scenery was so impressive that I stared with stunned silence. There was nothing to say. Is it not amazing what God can do with his color palate? God started painting the sky again with different shades of color at 3 a.m. sunrise. Yes, there were 22 hours of sunshine in Antarctica. It was summer in Antarctica. The weather is very unpredictable. It is very windy at times.

Antarctica is not as difficult to reach as it sounds. The incredible journey begins and ends in the southernmost city at the bottom of the world, Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia nestles between the dramatic summits of the Andres and the Beagle channel. The Drake Passage is a filter of 600 miles of famously rough water called “Drake shakes.” It separates South America from Argentina. It is one of the reasons Antarctica remains such a pristine place. Ten to 30 feet water waves are common in the Drake Passage, but when I saw the glaciers I forgot about the rough water!

Antarctica is the fifth largest of the seven continents. It is a land of snow-capped mountains, dramatic rock formations, ice fjords and floating giant icebergs. Ice cliffs, ice shelves, ice sheets, glaciers, pancake ice and packed ice dominate the scenery. Pancake ice looks like lily pads, which become curled at the edge as they collide with each other. Extensive brash ice and growlers reflect their amazing colors on the water.

In the winter, sea ice freezes. When the temperature warms in the spring, ice breaks off and the pieces begin to move with wind. Most of an iceberg is under the water. There exist cathedrals of ice that are charged with mystical blue lights, which seem like an “out of earth” experience. There is an international agreement that protects the entire continent of Antarctica. Antarctica is a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. It is politically neutral.

Every cruise ship to Antarctica carries a fleet of zodiac crafts, which are sturdy and inflatable. They are hulled, and are used to reach inaccessible wildlife and scientific sites. Initially, getting in and out of a zodiac with cameras becomes an often hilarious attempt at stepping ashore. Then it becomes second nature.

The most famous inhabitant of Antarctica is the penguin. These birds do not fly; however, they are superb swimmers that move with ease and grace. They breed on the land or ice surface along the coast and islands. Penguins incubate eggs in a nest of pebbles, just out of pecking range of each other. During spring, baby chicks are born and thousands of them are seen everywhere. I was sitting on a rock at Neko Harbor Island and three seals were sleeping peacefully on the ice. Beyond them across the impressive blue water was a colossal glacier cracking and caving in the sunshine. Two whales cruised by in the open water; their distinctive blows clearly visible to the naked eye. Behind me was a vertical mountain of weakened rocks, which provided a home and nesting place for countless birds. Hundreds of penguins on the nearby beach and rocks were enjoying playing in the water; they are not afraid of human presence. Seals were floating on ice slabs. They were watching us with their brown eyes as curiously as we were watching then. It was breathtaking.

In Antarctica there are so many places like this. It is the wildlife and scenery that explain the white continent’s allure. A penguin tried to clamber up my snow boots. I cruised among the icebergs bluer than sky. I watched humpback whales so close that I could identify them by the shape and color of the tail. I photographed a seal sliding off a chunk of ice, swimming menacingly towards a zodiac before disappearing in the blue water behind us. Three whales surfaced and put on a good show for more than 30 minutes.

I truly experienced a “paradise on earth.” Traveling to Antarctica is something that “grabs” you. It is a spiritual adventure. You can barely comprehend the power and beauty of nature that makes Antarctica so addictive.
__________________________________________
SOURCE:
“Local resident visits Antarctica”
January 26, 2011
By Laura Vaughn
http://www.madisoncountyrecord.com
http://www.madisoncountyrecord.com/2011/01/26/local-resident-visits-antartica/

We were participants in a short-term study abroad program provided by AUIP, American Universities International Programs. The program provided us with a 15-week online lecture series covering all things Antarctic, followed by a two-week trip to the Southern Hemisphere over winter break.

Our trip consisted of four days in Argentina and a 10-day cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula.

We spent a lot of time exploring the concept of sustainable tourism while in Argentina, with each class member writing a paper on sustainable tourism based on our experiences during our trip. Ushuaia has a rapidly growing tourism industry largely related to the increase in Antarctic tourism. As these industries grow, the region is faced with the challenge of maintaining sustainable practices while accommodating more people.

Emi Ikeda standing at the Neko Harbor landing site,
her first landing on continental Antarctica.
Photo Brandon Nunnery

Although Argentina was interesting, the highlight of our trip was the Antarctic cruise. Our ship was the Marina Sveteva, a Russian icebreaker retrofitted for polar tourism excursions. A Russian crew ran the ship, while the Canadian company One Ocean Expeditions managed the expedition.

To get to Antarctica we had to travel for two days over some of the roughest waters in the world, the Drake Passage. Those who were not seasick spent the journey attending presentations by the expedition staff, watching seabirds follow the ship, and partaking of afternoon naps.

The AUIP students were tasked with mini-research projects to work on during the trip. Half of us observed wildlife several times a day throughout the trip to study the change in biodiversity as we traveled to Antarctica and back.

The other half did a project on invasive species in Antarctica, and gathered information by talking with passengers, expedition staff and the Russian crew.

We arrived on the Antarctic Peninsula on the 21st of December, and stayed until Christmas day. Most of our time in Antarctica was surprisingly warm. Although it snowed on the 21st, it was sunny for much of our journey, and hiking during landings kept us warm.

On Christmas Eve the weather drastically changed, and we encountered high winds and snow. Hiking on Christmas Eve was a true Antarctic experience: cold and windy. We experienced both sides of the Antarctic climate that changed from beautiful and sunny to harsh and windy conditions.

A typical day in Antarctica consisted of two excursions where we either did a landing or cruised through the sea in Zodiac rafts. Landings provided us the opportunity to observe wildlife close-up, and to hike to panoramic viewpoints.

We spent hours among breeding colonies of Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins. Zodiac cruises brought us close to icebergs and sea ice, and provided more close wildlife encounters.

On one cruise we found ourselves in the middle of a feeding pod of humpback whales, with whales surfacing within a few feet of our rafts. Penguins and seals were also fun to see during Zodiac cruises.

The more adventurous of us were given the opportunity to camp in Antarctica. We spent two nights camping on Ronge Island, with different groups camping each night. About 20 of us, including me, camped on the night of the 23rd.

Most of us dug snow pits (we called them “graves”) to keep out of the wind during the night.

Camping in bivy bags (small, lightweight, waterproof shelters) instead of tents allowed us to enjoy the scenery as we fell asleep, and during our morning awakening.

Our night in the snow allowed us to feel like Antarctic explorers, despite returning in the morning to a warm ship and hot breakfast.

Our final day in Antarctica was my favorite. We traveled north to the South Shetland Islands, and anchored in Whalers Bay on Deception Island.

Trapped by stormy weather, we spent a relaxing morning on the ship. After lunch we were able to land on the island. The historic whaling station located at Whalers Bay was fun to explore, but the highlight of the day was the wildlife.

A curious chinstrap penguin that I called Popper gave me a great Christmas present when it ran up to me and pecked at my knee. We were also able to see a young Weddell seal that was hauled out on the beach. Antarctica was bidding me farewell by giving me close encounters with two of my favorite Antarctic species.

Our time on Deception Island concluded the time we spent in Antarctica before beginning our second two-day journey through the Drake Passage and back to Argentina, where we spent one more day before flying back home.

It was difficult to leave Antarctica, which had come to mean so much to me. The opportunity to study abroad taught me not only about Antarctica, but about myself as well. There were challenges to overcome to make this trip a reality, but it was worth every hardship.

Few people can say that they have journeyed to Antarctica, and I am proud to be one of them.

Emi Ikeda is a senior at Oregon State University majoring in Fisheries & Wildlife Science and Zoology. She has spent extensive time volunteering at the Creswell Library where her mother, Su Liudahl, is the library director. For her narrative of the entire Antarctic trip, visit her blog at emisspot.com/journal.
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SOURCE:
“Students on ice: an Antarctic adventure”
By Emi Ikeda
Creswell Chronicle – 12 Jan 2011
http://www.thecreswellchronicle.com
http://www.thecreswellchronicle.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8874