Most tourists come to Chile to see the Atacama desert or to go hikingin the southern national parks of the country. However, Santiago as the biggest Chilean city has quite a lot to offer to visitors – here is a list of ten of the most important things to visit:
1.The historic center with the Casa de la Moneda (were Salvador Allende died in 1973), the Casa Colorada, one of the oldest buildings in Santiago and the Plaza de Armas, were everybody meets...
2. The Mercado Central (the Central Marked) at the Estacion Mapocho. You can get vegetables, fruit and meat here – but it is also a great place to eat well and not too expensive. There are several restaurants inside the marked, Donde Augusto (great seafood) being one of the best.
3.Bellavista – for its ever changing but always interesting restaurants. From Chilean to P Portuguese to French, you´ll find a variety of food
4. Again Bellavista – Pablo Neruda build one of his three houses here and it has been transformed into an interesting museum
5. The Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino is among the best in Latin America and shows an interesting exhibition about the pre columbian period in Chile
6. The Villa Grimaldi, one of the most important places of torture during the Pinochet era. Today the Parque de la Paz (the Peace Parc) keeps the memory of the people who disappeared and were killed
7. The pedestrian zone with the Calle de Huerfanos and the Paseo Ahumada. It was created by Agusto Pinochet who wanted to present a modern country with a modern capital to the world...
8. Providencia – modern Santiago at its best: little shops and restaurants, galleries and cafes plus nice buildings and posh villas
9. One of the wineries on the outskirts of the city, Concha and Toro being one of the most imoprtant – there are organised tours
10. The Valle del Río Maipo is a favourite of the Santiuaginos – you can go hiking or rafting or just enjoy the good air after breathing the smog of Santiago...
More on Chile: Travel Chile
4.09.2009
Deforestation In The Amazon: Its Roots And Consequences
Located in the northern part of South America, the Amazon is shared by nine different countries one of which is Brazil. Its vast landmark stretches out to almost 60% of the Brazilian lands. Full and rich of 120 feet tall trees, and equipped with species both known and unknown to man, the Amazon forest is a home to both the human race and the animal kingdom.
It also does much in the absorption of carbon dioxide and is the largest contributor to the prevention of greenhouse gases accumulating in our atmosphere.
What would happen if the Amazon forest dies? Its accumulated carbon dioxide will eventually be exhausted back to the air; and the imense negative changes of greenhouse effect will take place. Our wildlife resources would soon be depleted and the biggest source of natural life would undoubtedly come to an end.
The Roots Of Deforestation In The Amazon
Annually, gigantic land areas of the Amazon forest are being destroyed for the sole purpose of agricultural use; and the main culprits are underprivileged farmers and huge companies. Clearing smaller areas of the forest is a form of feeding the impoverished population, while larger tracts are being emptied for the conversion of forest areas to soybean vegetation. Statistically speaking, these companies would reach heights up to the level of the American Midwest soybean plantation; and they would gradually be covering the entire Amazon if not stopped.
Logging is also one of the leading causes of barren areas in the Amazon. Local people depend on wood for building small houses and generating fire. However they don´t do much damage to the forest, since they only use a relatively small quantity of wood. However, the large corporations with their massive demand for timber, would undoubtedly deplete the Amazon forest of its sources fast if not stopped. The chances for the forest ecosistems of recovering completely after such an "attack" are minimal. One wrong move of the humans can cause enormous and drastic changes over the environment.
The Outcomes of Deforestation In The Amazon
The forest is the home of many living creatures; it is also the source of many human essential needs. The home of thousands of plants and animals will be destroyed, the world's climate will change, human sources of medicine and food will be terminated.
Humans will no longer be protected against catastrophes such as flood, erosion and drought, tribal people will lose their habitat, and lastly, there would be no nice and natural forests to explore in.
And last but not least the world would lose on of the most spectacular ecosystems to be visited. Responsible tourism could result in growing income for locals and make it economically worthwile to protect this wonderful territory.
Foto: Stock.xchng: saniainen
Costa Rica on a Budget
lthough Costa Rica is definitely not one of the cheap travel destinations in Central America you will be able to get a lot out of your trip even if you are on a tight budget.
The first step would be to find a good deal on a plane ticket to Costa Rica. There are two airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose.
The two main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines.
The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier's Bed & Breakfast website, another good ressource is Bed and Breakfast.
Finding a bed and breakfast is also a good idea for women travelling by themselves, as it is fairly easy to find contact with other travellers.
Meals: The water is good in Costa Rica, you don't have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma's Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don't want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?
Getting around in Costa Rica: public transport is quite well developed, although you might have to go to San José every time in order to a different region, since all bus lines tend to start there. Renting a car is not too expensive either and it is a great option if you would like to visit some of the remoter regions.
This great Blog Post provides more in depth information for budget-travellers to Costa Rica!
Click here to view
the best airfare-rates to Costa Rica!
The first step would be to find a good deal on a plane ticket to Costa Rica. There are two airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose.
The two main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines.
The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier's Bed & Breakfast website, another good ressource is Bed and Breakfast.
Finding a bed and breakfast is also a good idea for women travelling by themselves, as it is fairly easy to find contact with other travellers.
Meals: The water is good in Costa Rica, you don't have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma's Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don't want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?
Getting around in Costa Rica: public transport is quite well developed, although you might have to go to San José every time in order to a different region, since all bus lines tend to start there. Renting a car is not too expensive either and it is a great option if you would like to visit some of the remoter regions.
This great Blog Post provides more in depth information for budget-travellers to Costa Rica!
Click here to view
4.08.2009
Belize: an Adventure!
Belize is not one of the mayor travel destinations but if the country invests a little in proper advertising that might change soon. Belizes biggest asset as a tourist destination is the spectacular beauty of its nature - which makes it the perfect sopt if you are looking for an adventure holiday.
The north of teh country is characterized by flat and swampy coastal plains. Belizes forests are among the richest in the world when it comes to plant species. The countrys southern part is composed of the low mountain ranges of the Maya Mountains while its Caribbean coast is lined with soft coral reefs and some 500 islets and islands called "cayes." The Belize Barrier Reef is known as the longest in the western hemisphere and is considered as the second longest in the whole world, next to the Great Barrier Reef.
Here are some suggestions about what to visit when going to Belize:
1. The Great Barrier Reef. Being one of the world’s greatest treasures, a trip to Belize would mean nothing if you have not visited the longest reef in the western hemisphere, The Great Barrier Reef.
2. Visiting the caves. Caving is indeed one of the most adventurous activities that you can do while in Belize.
3. Exploring the island by land. Get yourself a bike and discover the country at your own pace.
4. Exploring the seas can be as exciting as rediscovering the land. To relish the beauty of the island and its waters, rent a charter boat with guide to go around the island or rent a kayak or a boat to explore the coastline. Take your fishing rod if you are an adept of this sport. The posibilities for adventure sports are (almost) endless: you can go jetskiing, waverunning, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking...
Although Belize is the perfect desitination if you just feel like baking at the beach, you would miss its best part if you don´t indulge yourself in a little adventure...
The north of teh country is characterized by flat and swampy coastal plains. Belizes forests are among the richest in the world when it comes to plant species. The countrys southern part is composed of the low mountain ranges of the Maya Mountains while its Caribbean coast is lined with soft coral reefs and some 500 islets and islands called "cayes." The Belize Barrier Reef is known as the longest in the western hemisphere and is considered as the second longest in the whole world, next to the Great Barrier Reef.
Here are some suggestions about what to visit when going to Belize:
1. The Great Barrier Reef. Being one of the world’s greatest treasures, a trip to Belize would mean nothing if you have not visited the longest reef in the western hemisphere, The Great Barrier Reef.
2. Visiting the caves. Caving is indeed one of the most adventurous activities that you can do while in Belize.
3. Exploring the island by land. Get yourself a bike and discover the country at your own pace.
4. Exploring the seas can be as exciting as rediscovering the land. To relish the beauty of the island and its waters, rent a charter boat with guide to go around the island or rent a kayak or a boat to explore the coastline. Take your fishing rod if you are an adept of this sport. The posibilities for adventure sports are (almost) endless: you can go jetskiing, waverunning, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking...
Although Belize is the perfect desitination if you just feel like baking at the beach, you would miss its best part if you don´t indulge yourself in a little adventure...
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