latin america potpourri chapter 16. copyright © 2007 by nelson, a division of thomson canada...

Latin America Potpourri

Chapter 16

Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

2

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

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/


3

Costa Rica Most:

Popular Stable Prosperous

Departure tax San Jose

Capital & airport Gold Museum Jade Museum National Theatre


4

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


5

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


6

Belize Formerly British Honduras

English speaking Politically stable

Mayan Ruins Altun Ha, Lamanai,

Jungles Cruise port

www.travelbelize.org

http://www.travelbelize.org/


7

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


8

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

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/

http://www.visitpanama.com/


9

Panama (cont.)

San Blas islands Kuna Indians Coral reefs & diving

Panama Canal Cruises www.pancanal.com

ITC Packages from Canada

http://www.pancanal.com/


10

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

http://www.tikalpark.com/


11

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

http://www.roatanisland.net/


12

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


13

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


14

South America


15

Columbia

ITC packages to San Andrés

Avianca from US Refocus of tourism Spanish Peso

$CAD not accepted $USD widely accepted


16

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


17

Venezuela Caracas

Security uncertain Spanish Bolivar

Carry $USD to convert Passport & Tourist card Margarita Island

ITC packages Orinoco River Cruise port

La Guaira


18

Venezuela (cont.)

Rainy Season May – Dec Angel Falls

979 M Tallest waterfall on earth Jimmy Angel – 1933 bush pilot

Bring insect repellant!


19

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


20

French Guiana Cayenne French Euro Rain – Jan - June Kourou

Devils Island Papillon Cruise port

Adventure travel


21

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


22

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


23

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


24

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

http://www.orient-express.com/


25

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

http://www.monasterio.orient-express.com/


26

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

http://www.enjoybolivia.com/


27

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


28

Paraguay Asuncion Spanish & Guarani Climate

Hot Sept – Apr Rainy Dec - Mar

Tourist facilities limited outside Asuncion

USD only Passport & visa Golden triangle


29

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


30

Uruguay Montevideo

Plaza Independencia Spanish

Highest literacy rate in S.A.

Carrasco Beaches & mansions

Punta del Este beaches sophisticated


31

Uruguay (cont.)

“Riviera of South America” Thermal tourism

Hot springs Rural Tourism

Estancias & gauchos Eco Tourism

Trekking, caving, Adventure


32

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


33

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

http://www.argentinaturistica.com/


34

Chile Wine

seafood LAN www.lan.com

Connections from Canada

Easter Islands Santiago

High pollution level Passport & tourist

card

http://www.lan.com/


35

Chile (cont.)

Santiago Plaza de Armas San Francisco Church

Valparasio port

Vina del Mar Exclusive beach resort

Portilla Ski resort – June - Sept


36

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

http://www.southpacific.org/text/finding_easter.html

latin america potpourri chapter 16. copyright © 2007 by nelson, a division of thomson canada...

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