The International Day for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), celebrated annually on April 18, is just a few days away, so there's never been a more appropriate time to share our list of must see Latin America monuments.ICOMOS was created and approved by UNESCO in 1983 to help protect and conserve cultural heritage sites.
Read MoreWe're recently back from a week in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, so it only makes sense that part two of our destination spotlight series is about a Costa Rica vacation! This country may look small on a map, but it certainly packs a big punch-- and we didn't even have time to venture outside of the northern province.
Read MoreDespite growing popularity among modern tourists and adventure-seekers, zip lines in some form have been around for at least two centuries and possibly much longer. Today, many zip lines are billed as eco-tourism activities that allow intrepid travelers to get up close and personal with Mother Nature in remote destinations not otherwise easily accessible. Of course, the extent to which zip lines are eco-friendly...
Read MoreToday, March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day in Latin America and beyond— an event that has been observed annually since 1908 when more than 15,000 women marched in New York City for shorter work hours, better pay and voting rights. Today, the day belongs to no one group and, instead, is a collaboration between numerous companies, nonprofits...
Read MoreIn 1973, at a time when commercial interests often outweighed the wellbeing of the planet’s plants and animals, the United Nations drew up an international treaty to “protect wildlife from over-exploitation and to prevent international trade from threatening the survival of species in the wild.” This global agreement between governments was called the Convention on International Trade...
Read MoreHere at VIP Journeys, we’re all about inspiring you to get out there and chase your passion!Whether you’ve always dreamed of hiking Machu Picchu, sailing the Galapagos Islands, climbing Tikal Mayan ruins or cruising down the mighty Amazon River, we’re here to help make your vacation dreams an easy breezy reality.
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 MoreStretching from the Argentinian and Uruguayan borders in the south to the massive Amazon Basin region in the north, Brazil is the world’s fifth biggest country and the largest nation in South America in both size and population.Although no longer the country’s capital, the bustling coastal metropolis of Rio de Janeiro...
Read MoreAs Brazil relaxes its Visa requirement around the upcoming 2016 Rio Games, there’s never been a better time for U.S. and Canadian citizens to visit the world’s fifth largest country, occupying nearly half the South American continent. Whether you’re planning to attend the Games or simply want to avail yourself...
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