We’re just 10 days out from the beginning of Rio Carnival season on February 18 and only a few more days away from the official kick off of Rio de Janeiro’s biggest party of the year on February 24— Rio Carnival 2017!Although Carnival, which has its roots in Catholicism, is celebrated in almost 70 countries around the world (many of them in Latin America.)
Read MoreTomorrow, February 2, is World Wetlands Day. In honor of this decades old celebration, we’re sharing our Top 10 wetlands of Latin America!Since the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, World Wetlands Day has been celebrated annually on February 2 to mark the occasion— that’s more than 45 years! The first meeting was held in the Iranian city of Ramsar, and the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands...
Read Moret’s our final blog post in January, and we’re wrapping up our 17 in ’17 series for Latin America travel! So far, we’ve given you our top picks for must visit Latin America cities and amazing active tours in the region. This week, we’re hitting foodies in their sweet spot— the stomach— with our favorite restaurants…
Read MoreIn honor of the U.S. National Park Service’s centennial birthday celebration this week here at home, there’s never been a better time to share our favorite national parks abroad. From glaciers in South America, to Mayan ruins in Central America, our continental neighbors to the south boast some of the most awe-inspiring national parks in the world. We’ve covered national marine reserves before...
Read MoreEarlier this week, Americans celebrated their independence from Colonial rule. This annual tradition, held each year on July 4, marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence after the Revolutionary War and represents the official separation of the United States from the vast British Empire.Though the holiday wouldn’t be referred to as “Independence Day” for many years to come, the first celebration of U.S. independence took place July 4, 1777...
Read MoreA diverse melting pot of European, African and pre-Columbian indigenous peoples, Brazil is a highly multiethnic destination where cuisine can vary widely by region. However, one thing remains consistent from the southern border with Uruguay to the Northern Amazon basin and everywhere in between— Brazilians love to eat, and they consider mealtime sacred.
Read MoreThe first ever recorded Olympic Games were played in 776 BC in ancient Greece, and the modern Games began in 1896 with 14 countries and 241 naked men (of course, no women) participating in 43 events.Held in Athens, Greece to honor the Olympiad legacy of the region, the modern Olympics...
Read MoreNew reports about Zika Virus emerge daily, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has published seemingly contradictory statements on the subject. To date, cases of the virus, which was virtually unknown to the general public until very recently, have been documented in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico...
Read MoreFavorite SCUBA and Snorkel Spots - There's just something about being elbow to elbow under water with marine life that makes a person feel alive. From huge schools of tropical fish to large pelagic dinosaurs, nothing can quite compare to scuba diving and snorkeling in the deep blue sea.Whether you prefer shore, wall, deep or some other variety of dive or snorkel...
Read MoreWith its moderate rainfall, cool coastal breezes and extended warm summers spanning almost from November through March, it’s easy to see why Chileans have been making wine since the mid-16th century when European settlers first arrived with Spanish grapes in tow.
Read MoreHere at VIP Tour Group, we agree with author Helen Keller that “life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” That’s why we make it our business to plan distinctive one-of-a-kind journeys to Central and South America for a wide variety of travel styles and personal interests.
Read MoreAwasi Patagonia at the End of the World - No one knows this better than the team behind the privately held Relais & Chateaux Awasi hotel group. One of the first VIP luxury hoteliers in the region, they provide “the joy of tailor-made” to guests in Southern Chilean Patagonia at Awasi Patagonia in Torres del Paine park and much farther north in the driest place on Earth, the Atacama desert...
Read MoreScientists estimate there likely have been millions of active volcanoes throughout our planet’s lifespan, but in recent history there are only about 1,500 known active volcanoes. Of those, 75 percent occur within the Pacific Ring of Fire, and as many as 20 are erupting somewhere on Earth on any given day. Humbling, awe-inspiring and formidable, volcanos...
Read MoreWhether you call it soccer or football, the sport affectionately referred to as “the beautiful game” is the most popular sport in the world. Two of its biggest stars rank in the top 10 highest paid sportsmen. Five out of 10 of the world’s highest attended sports leagues are soccer leagues. And, an estimated 600 million people watched the World Cup final in 2014.
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