The 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...
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 MoreOutside of Carnival, there are no bigger celebrations in all of Latin America than those that take place to ring in the New Year. Traditions are wild, colorful and, in many cases, hold great significance for revelers, so a trip to Central or South America for New Year’s Eve brings not only a raucous good time but also a peek into other cultures.
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.
Read MoreWhat do you get when you land a billionaire jet-setting business whiz with an affinity for art at some of South America’s most awe-inspiring locales? If that whiz is the somewhat reclusive Alex Vik, a man Forbes has called “the most interesting man in the world,” you get an exclusive handful of critically-acclaimed retreats and a spattering of vineyards and wineries home to a delectable, award-winning brand of wine.
Read MoreDia de los Muertos Celebrations in Latin America - As we, here in the U.S., gear up for Halloween by donning our spookiest costumes, most bone-chilling makeup and our biggest candy collection buckets to head out and solicit treats from neighbors or party the night away with friends...
Read MoreVIP Trip Designers have shared Argentina Wine Tours we Love! From arid desserts and cascading waterfalls, to lush forests and even magnificent glaciers, Argentina is a land of picturesque and diverse beauty, abundant natural resources and an ancient and storied culture.
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