Recommend August 2012 - (Page 32)

Top honors in accommodations in Paramaribo go to the Royal Torarica Hotel, located within walking distance of Independence Square; amenities include a pool and casino. (royaltorarica.com) With more than 35 percent of its population of the Hindu faith, expect that Holi, a 3-day Festival of Color, is a spectacle not to miss: in 2013, the festivities start up in Paramaribo on March 27. What’s New in Suriname SURINAME This is the smallest independent country in South America, yet its neo-tropical natural resources come on a grand scale—the world’s largest nature reserve at four million acres—and a cultural melting pot embracing Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese Indonesian, Amerindians and Bushnegro peoples. Among the leading attractions is the capital of Paramaribo whose historic center is distinguished by white wooden buildings and bustling produce markets; it’s on the ofﬁcial list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visitors are rewarded with nature reserves (a.k.a. national parks) such as Brownsberg, three hours from the capital; Central Suriname Nature Reserve, rich in bird and mammal species and accessed by air, bus, and dugout canoe; and Galibi Nature Reserve, protecting four endangered sea turtle species and reached by boat (nesting seasons vary—for instance the giant leatherbacks lay their eggs between February and April). From Paramaribo, tours travel the coast road (ferry crossing at the border) to visit the Kourou Space Center and Devil’s Island in French Guiana. (surinametourism. com) URUGUAY While Uruguay’s attractions may be less dramatic than those of its neighbors Argentina and Brazil, its appeal lies in miles of ﬁne-sand beaches and dunes, enormous ranches where guests get a taste of gaucho life, and a riverside capital that is interesting and welcoming. Nowadays there’s lots of buzz about Uruguay: its vineyard touring; its active and eco-oriented adventures; and its expanding roster of upscale designer hotels and resorts by the sea, matched by estancia lodgings. Montevideo, now connected to the U.S. with American Airlines’ nonstop service to Miami, sprawls along the wide Rio de la Plata. About a 2-hour drive from S14 august 2012 the capital, the country’s most famous destination, Punta del Este and its surrounding villages, sits on a peninsula separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Rio de la Plata estuary. The draw here is miles and miles of sand, great surﬁng off Playa Brava on the Atlantic side, deep-sea ﬁshing, tennis, golf, whale watching (July-November), gambling and a nonstop nightlife (in season). Nowadays, many of the smart set have moved on from “Punta” to the ﬁshing village of La Barra, 15 minutes north, and then to Jose Ignacio, another 15 minutes away; both have a bevy of small, charming and often very chic lodgings tucked into the rocks by or near the sea. Three hours north from Montevideo is Colonia del Sacramento (a.k.a. Colonia), located on the broad Rio de la Plata, a hydrofoil ferry trip away from Buenos Aires. Founded by Portuguese settlers, the quiet little town is a beauty, distinguished by its cobblestone streets and a carefully restored and protected 17th century district known as Ciudad Vieja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fifty miles away (and accessible overland from Argentina) is Carmelo, centerpiece of a bucolic world of horses, Model T Ford cars, wide open spaces, vineyards, pristine beaches and the Four Seasons Carmelo Hotel (four seasons.com/carmelo). Also near Carmelo is Estancia Tierra Salta (estanciatierra santa.com), one of many guest ranches that make their guests at home on the range. (turismo.gub.uy) VENEZUELA Best known for its oil politics and feisty president, Venezuela is in fact one of Latin America’s most alluring natural treasures, endowed with sugar-white beaches along the Caribbean, steamy rainforests along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, the vast grassland of the Gran Sabana, and snowcapped Andean peaks around Merida. For An increasingly lively arts scene, spurred by the Ralli Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art and the Pablo Atchugarry Foundation, is another reason to spend time any season in “Punta.” Rural tourism is the newest visitor option, and currently 50 farms and ranches are registered to host travelers in guest houses, farms and ranches. New to the marketplace is Lares Tours’ Open Voucher System program beckoning independent visitors to explore Uruguay in a self-drive car, staying at small estancias and cozy posadas along the way. (larestours.com) What’s New in Uruguay the active vacationer, Venezuela is Nirvana. After landing at Caracas airport, ﬂy off to Canaima National Park, home to Angel Falls, which spills down 2,648 ft. to the canyon below, forming the highest waterfall on earth. Travelers ﬂy over the falls (weather permitting) or approach by river boat from lodgings on Canaima Lagoon. Then, travelers can head out to Los Llanos where during a stay at a hato (working cattle ranch), they’ll see natural wonderlands populated by capybara, anaconda, caiman, anteater and birds galore. Henri Pittier National Park, a 2-hour drive from Caracas, is another wonderland for bird lovers. By the sea, pick Isla Margarita, a short hop by air from Caracas for beaching and surﬁng; highland villages with lively craft markets and championship golf courses; historic fortress and churches, as well as nature reserves such as La Restinga National Park. For snorkeling, diving, sailing and ﬁshing, no location is more idyllic than the archipelago of Los Roques, 80 miles off the coast. Small planes land on the main island of Gran Roque, where visitors stay in guesthouses (posadas) and take boat excursions to white-sand islets ﬂoating above one of the largest coral reefs in the Caribbean. (burodevenezuela.com) Now in fashion with beach buffs: the lush tropical Paria Peninsula on the Caribbean with its deserted palm-fringed beaches and brightly painted ports and villages. Posada Playa de Uva is one place for clients to hang their sombrero: recommend one of the clifftop VIP villas with private plunge pools. (parquenivaldito.com) On Isla Margarita, the windsurﬁng and kitesurﬁng set now head for either Playa Yaque beach or Coche Island. One popular attraction no longer to count on in Venezuela: the longest and highest cable car system in the world, the 8-mile-long teleferico in Merida, is no longer operating. What’s New in Venezuela recommend.com http://www.royaltorarica.com http://www.larestours.com http://www.fourseasons.com/carmelo http://www.estanciatierrasanta.com http://turismo.gub.uy http://www.suriname-tourism.org http://www.burodevenezuela.com http://www.parquenivaldito.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: DogSpa Resort & Wellness Center
Tour Talk: MLT Vacations
The Danube With AmaWaterways
Striking Gold With Vegas' Golden Gate
Central & South America Guide
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Cape Cod
New Zealand's South Island is Sheer Eye Candy
Seven Stars Resort, Turks & Caicos
Iberostar Cancun
Three Days in Cape Town & the Winelands, South Africa

Recommend August 2012