World Cup in the Amazon

In June, 2014 Manaus will host some of the World Cup Soccer games. Manaus is already the gateway to the Amazon and the games are bringing huge investments in  tourism infrastructure. There are new domestic and international flights, a new airport, many new hotels, an extensive guide training program, and increased protection of environmental areas near Manaus. So, the players will not be shooting goals into the rainforest, but the games will make it still easier for travelers to enjoy the Amazon.  http://www.amazonadventures.com/amazon.htm


Next month, American Airlines begins New Daily Flights to Manaus: AA961 MIA to MAO 17:10 / 22:35 and AA964 MAO to MIA 23:50 / 05:15

-TAM Airlines Has Daily International Flights to Manaus: JJ8076 MIA to MAO 14:10/ 18:25 and JJ8077 MAO to MIA 06:10 / 12:25

Cuiaba will also be hosting some games, so watching a game or 2 there and adding on a Pantanal trip is also a good possibility! http://www.amazonadventures.com/pantanal.htm

El Pedral Lodge, Valdes Peninsula in Patagonia Argentina

The exclusive use of a house or villa is certainly a new trend in the industry for those who want privacy and exclusivity and El Pedral Lodge, Valdes Peninsula in Patagonia Argentina is a perfect option for this new type of demand.  It’s a great choice of many families and friends, that want to manage their schedule,  doing excursions at their own pace, being able to comment on the menu  every day, and also avoid dealing with a lot of  strangers. They prefer staying 3-4 nights at the same place and learning more about the environment, rather than constantly changing hotels and traveling to different places.

During  last season the lodge had a lot of these cases. The groups  made active navigations that included things like swimming with sea lions, watching majestic Southern Right Whales from the coast, walking between elephant seals, fishing, enjoying the swimming pool and the great Argentinean “asados”. They also kayaked and had fun looking at the charming penguins. We hope that more people can live this unique experience, surrounded by such impressive nature!

El Pedral Lodge is easily adapted to these needs. The main house is the heart of this Patagonian estancia. The 8 rooms are distributed in two other buildings; therefore the house can be exclusively booked for groups of 4/6/8/12 and up to 16 persons, making the guests feeling just like home.

Based on this new trend in tourism, they decided to reserve four months in the year for exclusive groups: August, February, March and April. Valid for families or groups of friends. The minimum of stay will be two nights. During these months they will not take individual bookings. For the rest of the season, from September to January, they will continue with individual reservations, and also, in case of having availability, the full house could be reserved. Remember that the best months for watching Whales are August and September; the coastline here is so deep, that Southern Right whales are able to swim very near the beach. This is a unique spectacle which can be seen while just sitting on the sand! In the gulf, whales can be seen up to middle December.

Low Season Reduced Rates in Torres del Paine Park, Chile

From September 10th until October 31st 2012 all guests booking to do an EcoCamp Wildlife Safari in either Suite domes or Standard domes or booking to do the 5 or 7 day trek will enjoy: 30% Low Season Reduced Rates* (*discount based on high season rates)

Visiting Torres del Paine during the off-peak season also has other benefits - wildlife is more abundant and visitors can enjoy the wonderful colours which spring up and line the park’s gorges. Animals are more often seen due to the lower number of visitors and guests on an EcoCamp Wildlife Safari can enjoy flora & fauna at its peak.

This off-peak discount applies to all travellers opting for:

» 7 day W trek - first tour Monday Oct 1st 2012

» 5 day short W trek - first tour Sunday Sep 30th 2012

» Wildlife Safari - first night Monday Sep 10th 2012  -

Antarctica Explorations on the M/V Ortelius

I received a few more details about some of the voyages on the M/V Ortelius:

There are two, truly “great” areas of coastal Antarctica – the Peninsula and the Ross Sea. The voyages onboard M/V Ortelius in early 2013 offer a unique combination of both areas, so passengers can experience both terrains in one voyage. There are no other ships now conducting this voyage.

The Peninsula is the most wildlife rich area of Antarctica. Characterized by young pointy mountains, long fjords and heavy snowfall, it is classically beautiful and undoubtedly one of the world’s most glorious places. The Ross Sea, on the other hand, is more grand and true deep Antarctica – the crucible of the golden age of Antarctic exploration.

The secret to unlocking the wonders of the Ross Sea in particular, in a cost effective manner, is to have a strong, robust, full expedition ship, equipped with helicopters. This is exactly what these voyages offer. They are a treasure trove of Antarctic human history because the plan is to visit the historic sites related to the voyages of Palmer, Arctowski, de Gerlache, Charcot, Rymill, Bellingshausen, Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton. Passengers will see emperor penguins, albeit in small numbers. The plan is to visit the World Heritage listed huts of Scott Shackleton on Ross Island and Borchgrevink at Cape Adare if conditions are favourable. Visits to the scientific stations of the US Mc Murdo and NZ Scott, nestled beneath the massive active volcano of Mt Erebus, are also planned We also hope to fly into the Martian landscape of the Dry Valleys. There is simply nowhere else in the world like these valleys.

The Ross Sea is a particularly tricky, ice bound region, so the use of helicopters massively increases the chances of getting to these key, rarely visited treasures.

On the passage between the Peninsula and the Ross Sea we cross the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas via the remote Peter I island, by following the wildlife rich edge of the frozen sea.. These are the feeding grounds of minke, fin, sei and orca whales as well as the great  albatross and petrels- a sea-birders paradise!  Once again the helicopters add a magical ingredient.

Sounds really unique and thrilling doesn't it?

Also, there are several departures to the Weddell Sea and an Emperor Penguin colony:

Finally, it is possible again to visit the Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill Island. It is an extraordinary ´once in a lifetime´ voyage for real penguin fans. The cruise through heavy pack ice of the Weddell Sea is an adventure in itself with fantastic imagery awaiting the polar traveller. Helicopters are necessary in order to cover the final leg of the journey there, the impenetrable ice barrier between ship and shore. The helicopters land in the proximity to the colony , at a respectful distance but less than an hour walk away. It is early summer in Antarctica and you will still see adults and immature (unfledged) birds in the colony. The ice is breaking up at this time of the year, and birds wander back and forth from their colony in order to find food in the open water.You will be very close to nature.

See details at http://www.amazonadventures.com/ortelius.htm

Amazon Indian Problems

Photo from Survival International

I read this article about problems with an isolated Indian tribe and it made me think that Peru is only going to have more problems with the indigenous people in the national parks and reserves because the government is allowing oil companies to buy leases inside these areas. Fortunately there has not been a lot of drilling activity yet, but the people are very anxious about the negative affects that the activities will have on their lives.  A few months ago Peru fired it's top indigenous rights official after she blocked a gas project , so that's definitely not a good sign.

Tucume Peru

Accessed via Chiclayo, Túcume, the once-grand capital of the Sican culture, is Peru’s mythical Valley of the Pyramids. There are two main trails. One leads to Cerro Purgatorio, a craggy hill overlooking the 26 pyramids that comprise the site. From atop the hill, you can appreciate the scale of Túcume. Constructed about 1000 years ago, the complex; features over two-dozen pyramids, in various states of erosion. Today, the most prominent ruin at Túcume is the Huaca Larga, an elongated pyramid which extends over 2,000 feet in length. The other trail leads across the desert to Huaca Las Balsas, a partially-excavated pyramid. Las Balsas is famous for its murals, which focus on ocean themes: waves, sea creatures and marine birds.

While in this area you can visit the museum that houses the artifacts from the tomb of the Lord of Sipan and you can also go down to Trujillo, to visit Chan Chan, the Temples of the Sun and Moon and more, so that you can learn about other cultures that preceded the Incas in northern Peru, such as the Moches and Chimus.

Events in Buenos Aires

When we say that Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in the world we do not exaggerate. It  is one of the most culturally oriented cities with lots of interesting things to do.



First of all we want to share with you the news that we have season tickets for the Colon Theater for the 2012 Opera Season for which we are very happy.

The shows are:
MAR 15TH – La Pasion segun San Marcos (The Passion according to St. Mark)
APR 26TH – La Forza del Destino (The Force of Destiny)
JUN 1st – Edipo
JUN 15th – Rinaldo
JUL 26th – ERWARTUNG – HAGITH (2 one act Operas)
AUG 30th – I due Figaro
SEP 28th – La Cenerentola (The Story of Cinderella)
NOV 30th – El Oro del Ring (this is a worldwide launch of an abridged version of the Opera of The Ring of the Nibelung).

We have 2 tickets per show and the cost is of U$S 200.- per person for each show. The seats are great – main hall row 15 – so an opportunity not to be missed. We are only offering them to clients who buy packages.

Weather is Buenos Aires in January and February can be really warm but this makes up for great evenings and lots of activities in the open air. Just to give you an idea of the amount of things that can be done in Buenos Aires during these 2 months, let us share with you the agenda the government of the city of Buenos Aires has prepared:

CIRCUS – Polo Circus. There will be circus functions from Thursdays through Sundays at 0500PM every week till the end of February. Admission free (San Telmo)

JAZZ & FOLK MUSIC – Every Friday at 0830PM starting February 10th open air concerts. Admission Free (Puerto Madero)

ROCK & REGGAE – 2 weekend Concerts –Fr to Sunday – during the summer (the first one on Jan 27th and the other one to be confirmed) – Admission Free (South of Buenos Aires)

TANGO in CAMINITO (La Boca)- Every weekend there will be tango dancing and live orchestras in Caminito through the end of February. Everybody is invited – Admission Free (La Boca)

BAFICITO – A Film Festival dedicated to the children – Fridays and Saturdays at 0830PM in Parque Centenario (Parque Centenario West of the city)

DRIVE-IN THEATRES – In beautiful Palermo there will be this drive in theatre exhibiting mostly Argentine films such as The Secret in their Eyes (the award winning ). Saturdays at 0900PM

THEATRE & MUSICAL SHOWS – There will be 2 Musical shows based on Argentine characters (Sarmiento –who was a president that modernized Argentina in 1880 – on Thursdays and Belgrano who is regarded to be the creator of the Argentine flag and one of the mentors of Argentine Independence – on Wednesdays). Certainly not to be missed.

The Museums in Buenos Aires will also be part of this cultural activity by offering shows, special exhibitions and theatre;

So as you can see really lots of great ideas to be in the city and enjoy the splendid evenings outdoors.