Recommend March 2011 - (Page 54)

MAYAN WORLDS FAST FACTS: GETTING THERE: From the U.S., nonstop air service to Belize City ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport, valid for three months after date of entry BEST TIME TO GO: From November to May EL SALVADOR This is Central America’s smallest country, but ﬁlled with important Mayan ruins, ﬁne craft traditions alive and well in country villages, jungle peaks that brush the sky, and lines of volcanic cones that rise over lakes and valleys, as well as a Paciﬁc shoreline with bluffs and bays, where surfers push off from white-sand beaches to meet world-class waves. Best 2-country Maya route: El Salvador to Copan in Honduras. + SAN SALVADOR, at 2,230 ft., sits geographically in the middle of the country, making it easy for visitors to take off in many directions. Before leaving, visit the historic National Theater, as well as three excellent museums showcasing ancient Mayan artifacts, modern and popular art. + COSTA DEL SOL is an hour’s drive south from the capital. The best beaches, with an accompanying bevy of resorts, lie west of La Libertad along the roughly 175-mile-long coast. Expert surfers—for whom the country is a sporting mecca—ﬂock here to catch the best surﬁng waves in Central America. + A favorite town with travelers is charming SUCHITOTO, a 30-mile drive north from San Salvador. The cobblestone streets are bordered by colonial-style buildings, cafes and art galleries, and on weekends, the town hosts an arts festival with live music, food stands, arts and crafts exhibits. + Drive farther north to LA PALMA, hometown of El Salvador’s most famous artist, Fernando Llort. It seems everyone here now follows in his footsteps in crafting hand-painted wooden objects and decorative canvases. + The country’s most important Mayan discovery and a UNESCO World Heritage site is JOYA DE CEREN, whose ruins lie 20 miles northwest of San Salvador. The village thrived 1,400 years ago before being buried intact around A.D. 600 during a volcanic eruption. On view are adobe houses unearthed with their household goods and utensils in place, as well as a shaman’s house and a community sauna, all part of the archaeological park and excellent museum. + Another star in the country’s Mayan treasury is TAZAMUL, with its step pyramid, ball courts and temples. + Following the ROUTE OF THE FLOWERS is an ideal way to enjoy the villages and ﬂora of the highlands west of the capital, where you can watch furniture craftsmen at work in NAHUIZALCO; sample the regional foods during JUAYUA’S weekend food and crafts fair; stop in APANECA to zipline above the ﬂowering coffee plantations; and stop for a night or two at a local inn. + El Salvador’s natural treasures are on view close to the capital in CERRO VERDE NATIONAL PARK, a haven for birders with 127 recorded bird species, including 17 kinds of hummingbirds. + PARQUE NACIONAL EL IMPOSSIBLE is one of the country’s most Tropical Island Paradise... ROATAN ISLAND, HONDURAS Discover and explore the pristine beauty of spectacular Roatan Island at Parrot Tree Beach Resort & Marina. Choose from 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom luxury beachfront villas that feature gourmet kitchens, elegant furnishings, lavish linens, spacious bathrooms and verandahs that let the cool breeze in and offer calming ocean views. With a soft-sand beach at your doorstep, only steps away from our crystal-clear blue lagoon in our 200-acre resort, couples and families can explore and discover—swim, snorkel, dive, fish, kayak, and hike–or just rest and rejuvenate. Parrot Tree’s bountiful nature and aquatic wonderland are right outside your door. After you have thoroughly enjoyed all the sea and sand, visit Roatan’s iguana and butterfly farms, or West End, a funky beach town with a varied assortment of restaurants and shops. Fishing charters, canopy tours, sailing excursions, kayak adventures, hiking and horseback riding are all readily available. Easy access from North America with direct flights from Houston. Please contact us for more information and/or to make a reservation. parrottree.com 011-504-2449-0108 OR 011-504-2449-0780 reservations@parrottree.com info@parrottree.com L28 recommend.com http://www.parrottree.com http://www.parrottree.com http://www.recommend.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