Recommend March 2011 - (Page 43)

Hotel HigHs: Iguassu Falls is the second most important visitor site in Brazil, and the Hotel das Cataratas has long been an iconic place to stay. It needed a redo and a remake, and orientexpress Hotels has done just that beautifully. tour sample: international expeditions’ (ietravel. Com) 8-day Brazil’s Pantanal visits Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Fast Facts: getting tHere: From the U.S., nonstop air service from Miami to Montevideo entry requirements: U.S. passport, valid for six months beyond visit Best time to go: September-April and Northern Pantanal (four nights); from $4,998 pp dbl, including deluxe lodgings, all meals, naturalist expedition leaders. Three departures: June/July/August. Fast Facts: getting tHere: From the U.S., nonstop air service to Sao Paulo, Rio, Manaus, Brasilia, Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador, Belo Horizonte entry requirements: U.S. passport, valid for six months beyond Brazil visit, and a tourist reciprocity visa obtained in the U.S. Visa cost is $140, valid for 10 years Best time to go: Anytime to most of the popular visitor areas, although it gets hot on the coast around Carnaval time— February-March. In Amazonia, dry season is July through November URUGUAY This is one of South America’s smallest countries, a land of rolling hills and grasslands where travelers make themselves at home on the range at an estancia (ranch). More than 200 miles of beautiful Atlantic beaches also distinguish the country, as does its population of well-educated yet unpretentious, industrious, and relaxed citizens. montevideo, Uruguay’s capital and major air gateway, sprawls along the wide Rio de la Plata. It is a safe, walkable city with a lovely historic quarter, whose essential attraction is the Cowboy and Coin Museum, housed in a rococo 19th century mansion, and essential pastime is a typical Uruguayan bbq lunch in the Mercado del Puerto, occupying a never-used train station. + Colonia is the landing port for visitors taking the hydrofoil from Buenos Aires. Founded by Portuguese settlers, this little town is a colonial beauty whose original 17th century Ciudad Vieja quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage site. + punta del este is Uruguay’s most famous destination, packed with the “beautiful people” of South America over Christmas and New Year’s. Called simply La Punta, the seaside resort lies two hours by car from Montevideo. In addition to beach time and such watersports as sailing and skiing, visitors play tennis, polo and golf or go deep-sea fishing. They also visit the Ralli Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art, drop in at the craft market, take a boat to see the sea lion colony, and way after the sun goes down, go partying—often until the sun comes up. There are smaller resorts along the coast, with san ignaCio the new jet-set hideaway. Hotel HigHs: All jet-set eyes are on a chic new pair of luxe getaways: playa vik by the sea in San Ignacio and estanCia vik, just inland on a 4,000-acre ranch. tour sample: ladatCo tours’ (ladatCo.Com) 12-day Uruguay Plus with visits to Montevideo, Punta del Este, Colonia, Estancia San Pedro de Timote, and Buenos Aires; from $7,600 pp dbl, including deluxe hotels and inns, private car and guides throughout. Paraguay offers an unspoiled land where time and tradition have stood still for generations. For example, its Indian language, Guarani, endures, and is often the language of preference outside the capital. Fans of this lesser-known destination say that Paraguay may be short on trendy eateries and luxurious accommodations, but it’s long on charm, as well as great bird and wildlife. asunCion is a provincial capital whose pleasures are simple: a stroll through the botanical gardens, a leisurely lunch at an outdoor cafe, and an afternoon for visiting two museums of note—the Museo del Barro, with a collection of Guarani ceramics, and the Museo de Bellas Artes. + A day’s drive away from the capital is the town of luque where Paraguayan harps and guitars are made, while itagua is the hometown of the women who craft the country’s unique, spider-web nanduti lace. + The 17th century Jesuit Missions are Paraguay’s most compelling architectural attraction. Closest to the capital is san ignaCio, founded in 1609 and housing the best collection of Guarani wood carvings. The most impressive missions are in trinidad, built hilltop between 1712 and 1764; collectively they are a UNESCO World Heritage site, as is the Church of Jesus del Tarangue that sits hilltop six miles away. + tHe CHaCo is the area west of the Rio Paraguay, occupying a harsh plain of grasslands and scrub forest; isolation has resulted in creating an oasis for rare animal species and more than 600 bird species. FiladelFia, settled by Mennonites in the 19th century, is the base from which to explore The Chaco with naturalist guides. Hotel HigHs: Go traditional and stay in the capital’s oldest hotel: the gran Hotel del paraguay, a well-preserved mansion with grand verandahs and tropical gardens, and 19th century furniture and paintings. tour sample: soutH ameriCan tours’ (soutHameriCa. travel) 10-night La Vida Paraguaya, highlighting Asuncion, The PARAGUAY Chaco and Mennonites colonies, Itaipu Dam and Tati Yupi Park, Iguassu Falls, and Jesuit Ruins; $3,335 pp dbl includes three-star accommodations with breakfast, touring by private car with guide. Fast Facts: getting tHere: From the U.S., no nonstop air service; most frequently, Asuncion is accessed through connecting flights in Brazil or overland from either Argentina or Brazil entry requirements: U.S. passport, valid six months beyond visit and a tourist visa, issued in the U.S. for multiple entries; $100 visa fee Best time to go: Coolest months are June to September l L17 http://www.LADATCO.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Disney Dream
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Baja Airventures
Central Gems of Japan
2011 Guide to Latin America
The Tastier Side of Central Japan
Ireland With Brian Moore International Tours
Exploring Antiquity: Egypt, Israel & Jordan
Sailing Into Antiquity on the Nile
Florida's Ever-Changing Hotel Landscape
Riding North America's Rails
Small Ships in the Old South
Turks & Caicos Keeps Expanding
St. Lucia—Beyond the Pitons

Recommend March 2011