Latin America Potpourri
Chapter 16
Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
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Central America Cruises
Costa Rica, Belize Panama Canal
Ecotourism & culture Spanish
except for Belize Travel Advisories
www.voyage.gc.ca Political unrest Documentation &
health ITC packages to
Roatan, Costa Rica, Panama City, San Blas & El Salvador
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Costa Rica Most:
Popular Stable Prosperous
Departure tax San Jose
Capital & airport Gold Museum Jade Museum National Theatre
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Costa Rica Ecotourism National Parks – 20
Tortuguero is famous for sea turtle nesting Monteverde Preserve
Quaker community Bird watching – quetzal Horseback riding Tree-top adventures
Zip lining, Aerial tram, suspension bridges Poas
Active volcano – highest in C.R- 3,432m Irazu
Volcano – 25% protected areas- exotic flora & fauna
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Costa Rica (cont.)
Cruise ports Puerto Limon
Lush vegetation Friendly Afro-Caribbean culture Bird, turtles, sailing, flora
Puerto Caldera Lush vegetation Horseback tours, alligators, aerial trams
2 centre holiday ITC packages popular Crafts & colourful oxcarts Whitewater rafting, sport fishing
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Belize Formerly British Honduras
English speaking Politically stable
Mayan Ruins Altun Ha, Lamanai,
Jungles Cruise port
www.travelbelize.org
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Belize (cont.)
Barrier Reef – 2nd largest in world Diving, reef exploring
Ambergris Cay Largest, beaches and close to reef
Cay Caulker Sunny sleepy, relaxed & slow paced
Blue Hole Originally cave - roof fell in
10,000 years ago Visible from space Circular hole 305 m in diameter & 126 m
deep Shark Ray Alley
Swim along Nurse Sharks & Sting rays in 2.5 m
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Panama Casinos, jungles, shopping Panama mints its own coins (centavos) but
uses $US as its currency $US is referred to as the “Balboa”
Canadians require passport & tourist card www.voyage.gc.ca
Rainy season Apr - Dec www.visitpanama.com
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Panama (cont.)
San Blas islands Kuna Indians Coral reefs & diving
Panama Canal Cruises www.pancanal.com
ITC Packages from Canada
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Guatemala Famous Mayan ruins of Tikal
www.tikalpark.com Poor road conditions
Repairs still continuing from Hurricane Stan 2005
Political unrest Highest crime rate in Central
America Canadians should monitor media reports and
confirm travel arrangements with their travel agent
Hurricane season June to end of November
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Honduras
Bay Islands Roatan Island www.roatanisland.net ITC packages
Mayan ruins in Copan Lush rain forests Tegucigalpa - capital Largest & poorest
$CAD cannot be converted into lempira – take $USD
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El Salvador Crimes are common throughout
country Hotels in Escalon & San Benito are safe
San Salvador – capital Tourist infrastructure still recovering
from civil war and earthquakes Most accommodating to independent
traveller Tourist card purchased upon entry
Exit tax $USD is official currency Red tide appears seasonally
Follow local warnings
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Nicaragua Extreme political unrest &
instability Tourists are not advised to travel
to Bonanza, La Rosita and Siuna in NE Nicaragua
Transit drug zone Mines Mosquito Coast
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South America
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Columbia
ITC packages to San Andrés
Avianca from US Refocus of tourism Spanish Peso
$CAD not accepted $USD widely accepted
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Columbia (cont.) San Andrés, Santa Marta,& Cartagena tourist resort areas
have lowest level of security incidents in Colombia. Cartagena
walled fortress Bogotá
Gold museum Zipaquira
Salt Cathedral Leticia
Gateway to Amazon cruises
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Venezuela Caracas
Security uncertain Spanish Bolivar
Carry $USD to convert Passport & Tourist card Margarita Island
ITC packages Orinoco River Cruise port
La Guaira
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Venezuela (cont.)
Rainy Season May – Dec Angel Falls
979 M Tallest waterfall on earth Jimmy Angel – 1933 bush pilot
Bring insect repellant!
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The Guianas Guyana
Formerly British Guiana Georgetown Kaieteur Falls English Diamonds
Suriname Paramaribo Dutch – Surinamese
Guilder Passport & Visa Eco-tourism Rain – May to Aug & Nov -
Feb
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French Guiana Cayenne French Euro Rain – Jan - June Kourou
Devils Island Papillon Cruise port
Adventure travel
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Ecuador Rainforests Quito
2nd highest capital in South America
86 churches Museums City of Eternal Spring
Equator 24km from Quito Straddle 2 hemispheres
Potatoes & guinea-pig Spanish
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Ecuador (cont.) Otavalo
Saturday Market Weavings, textiles, panama hats,
Guayaquil Main port & commercial city
Galapagos Islands Darwin - 1835 Living lab of evolution Visitors limited to 24,000 year Cruises 3/4/7 nt
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Peru Lima
Spanish & Quechua Altitude sickness Nazca Plains
S. of Lima 472km 900 Mysterious lines and
figures 50km² Up to 300m long
Iquitos Yagua Indians
Callao Cruise port
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Peru (cont.)
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge www.orient-express.com
Lost City of the Incas 112 km from Cuzco
3 ½ hour train 2350 m above sea level Not discovered until 1911 by
Hiram Bingham Rainy season Nov-Mar View from Huayna Picchu
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Cuzco, Peru Cuzco
Cult of the Sun the oldest inhabited city of the Americas Hotel Monasterio
Oxygen enrichment systems in rooms www.monasterio.orient-express.com 16th C monastery Orient Express Hotel
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Bolivia Highest altitude
El Alto - airport Titicaca- lake La Paz- capital
Climate Cooler due to altitude Jun – Aug - coldest May – Sep – driest
Altitude sickness
www.enjoybolivia.com
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Bolivia (cont.) La Paz
Seat of government El Prado
Market of Witches Tiahuanaco
Built 1580BC – 1172AD Door of Sun, Temple, Pyramids, & monoliths
Chachaltaya Highest skiing in world 5580 m 36 km from LPB
Valley of Moon Erosion produced landforms
Sucre constitutional capital
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Paraguay Asuncion Spanish & Guarani Climate
Hot Sept – Apr Rainy Dec - Mar
Tourist facilities limited outside Asuncion
USD only Passport & visa Golden triangle
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Paraguay Bus
Often best & cheapest mode of transport Mennonite colonies in the Chaco 11 national parks
Increased interest in eco tourism Ciudad del Este
Duty free Fastest growing city casinos
Iguazú Falls
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Uruguay Montevideo
Plaza Independencia Spanish
Highest literacy rate in S.A.
Carrasco Beaches & mansions
Punta del Este beaches sophisticated
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Uruguay (cont.)
“Riviera of South America” Thermal tourism
Hot springs Rural Tourism
Estancias & gauchos Eco Tourism
Trekking, caving, Adventure
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Argentina Air to EZE from Canada High season
Jan/Feb/Jul Andes
Aconcagua (6959m) Buenos Aires
S.A. “Paris” Colon Theatre
Perfect acoustics Cruise port Plaza de Mayo
Casa Rosa Calle Florida
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Argentina (cont.) Tango Mar del Plata
upscale beach, Casinos, resorts European influence
Bariloche Skiing
Gauchos Pampas
Futball
Patagonia Coldest Woods, lakes
glaciers Unique flora &
fauna
www.argentinaturistica.com
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Chile Wine
seafood LAN www.lan.com
Connections from Canada
Easter Islands Santiago
High pollution level Passport & tourist
card
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Chile (cont.)
Santiago Plaza de Armas San Francisco Church
Valparasio port
Vina del Mar Exclusive beach resort
Portilla Ski resort – June - Sept
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Chile (cont.)
Easter Islands Rapa Nui
Navel of the earth Moai megaliths LAN flies from SCL Hiking & surfing Mountain biking Horseback riding Scuba & snorkelling
Cruise port
www.southpacific.org/text/finding_easter.html
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