Check out our new website!!!

We are very happy to announce the launch of the BRAND NEW AVENTOURAS WEBSITE! Daydream through photo galleries of our destinations, enjoy some great travel stories on our Aventouras blog (oh wait, you’re already here!), and read what our guests have most enjoyed about their travel experiences. After 7 years of running Latin America’s best active travel adventures, we figured it was time for a facelift! The new site is packed full of images, travel stories, testimonials from our past guests, improved usability and flow, and of course, more detailed information about our trips. Please take a moment to check it out!

 

A few features we’re particularly excited about:

•  Featured trips – Our new scrolling homepage features photos and captions of our most popular destinations, with detailed trip pages just one click away.
• Multiple itineraries per destination – When we started Aventouras, we offered only one itinerary per country. Well, we’ve expanded our repertoire extensively, and now our top destinations (like Peru, Galapagos, and Guatemala) feature a variety of adventures so you can choose the trip that’s perfect for your interests
• Social media integration – From the launch of our new blog, to regular Facebook posts and tweets, we’ve embraced the world of social media, and we’re weaved these features seamlessly into the new site’s functionality
• Photo Galleries – Each trip offers an all new photo gallery of images that say far more about our adventures than any written words can express.

For you past Aventouras travelers, you may want to check out the testimonial page and the photo galleries – we’ve featured some great guest feedback and pictures! If you’re interested in providing photos, a testimonial or a short travel story, please email us - we’re always looking for traveler submissions for our new site or an upcoming blog post!

 

So, take a peek, surf around, and let us know what you think! And while you’re there, plan your next Latin American adventure! We look forward to showing you our signature style of authentic travel for active travelers.

 

Lisa Smith

800-930-2846

info@aventouras.com

www.aventouras.com

Ecuador´s Most Popular Sport

Ecua-Volley

Soccer, right?  Well maybe, but equally as popular as the world´s game is an Ecuadorian version of volleyball: EcuaVolley.  And it is everywhere in this country.  Courts are in every park, in every town – way more prevelant than soccer fields.   It´s similar to volleyball as we know it, but with a few important differences:

• Generally played on cement courts with a soccer ball
• 3 on 3
• Higher nets, preventing most players from spiking the ball (Ecuadorians aren’t the tallest people)
• A much more liberal touch time for each contact with the ball

When we first witnessed the game, I thought everyone was cheating – you can’t palm the ball in volleyball!  Well, in EcuaVolley, you can.  There are some talented players down here, and games we witnessed got competitive and heated.

Venga Pescado!!

Venga pescado!  Venga pescado!  Yup, that’s right, this truck is driving around selling fish.  Direct to your door (or just passing you walking down the street).  There is a megaphone on top of the truck, a cooler in the back, and all the trucha (trout, farm raised) that you could possibly want.

This one has a bit larger variety.  He’s got fruit, snack food, soda, and…fish!  These guys drive around rural Ecuadorian villages, blaring their inventory over the megaphone.  Considering most people have to travel 1-4 hours by bus to make it to the local market to purchase food, it’s a pretty brilliant business model.

But don’t discount Peruvians either!  Here’s a vendor boat servicing tourists and locals on the Uros floating islands of Lake Titicaca:

The entrepreneurship of Ecuadorians and Peruvians is impressive!

Machu Picchu – More Amazing Than You Ever Expected

By Lisa Smith, Aventouras

Taking it all in

 

 

I had been hiking the Inca Trail for the better part of the day. The views were gorgeous-dense jungle, waterfalls, a surprise treat passing through the ruins of Wiñay Wayna that I never would have seen had I stayed on the train all the way to Machu Picchu, and the solitude. I hadn’t expected any solitude on this very coveted Inca Trail. But there I was, walking alone up the final incline to reach the Sun Gate. And then, all at once-the entire classic panorama of Machu Picchu laid out before me. I was completely overcome with emotion. I got the chills. I was speechless. I’m fairly certain my mouth was dangling open. I may have even cried with joy. It was unbelievable and the awe surpassed any expectation I had for what it would be like to experience Machu Picchu or the hike on the Inca Trail to get there through the Sun Gate. The only thing I can compare it to is how I felt as I stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon for the first time and a gust of wind came and cleared out the cloud and fog that had been encasing the canyon and I saw it all at once and simply cried with joy.

I had seen countless incredible images of Machu Picchu, but nothing compares to seeing it first-hand. It just doesn’t. Friends had warned me. They said it was so different in person and that their many amazing pictures of this iconic natural wonder didn’t really do it justice. I didn’t believe them….until I stood there at the Sun Gate and peered down at the magnificent Inca fabled city for myself.

Believe it or not, it’s more amazing than this in person!

Aventouras offers two incredible itineraries to Peru – the award-winning Discover Peru and the brand new High Andes Trekking Peru. Both trips include several of the same amazing highlights – biking in the Sacred Valley, a tour of Cusco, and a one-day hike on the Inca Trail, ending at the awe-inspiring ruins of Machu Picchu. Discover Peru also includes two days of sea kayaking on Lake Titicaca, staying in community-operated guesthouses on Isla Taquile and the lake shore. Alternatively, High Andes Trekking Peru includes 5 unsurpassed days of trekki ng in the region of the sacred peak Ausungate in the high Andes mountains, staying in Tambos – alpine lodges built by the local communities.  

Both of these trips require Inca Trail permits, which have gone on sale for the 2012 season. Some dates during the high season (May-September) have already sold out. If you are considering Peru as an option this summer, NOW is the time to book your travel to ensure access to one of the limited Inca Trail permits. Call us today to book your adventure of a lifetime with Aventouras!

800-930-2846

info@aventouras.com

www.aventouras.com

Almuerzos

Ecuadorian Almuerzo

The Andean countries of South America (such as Ecuador and Peru) offer a brilliant lunch concept. Almuerzos, or simply “lunch” in English, are set menu meals, where patrons simply order the meal of the day. It nearly always starts with a huge bowl of sopa (soup), followed by a segundo (second plate) of meat or fish, and finished off with a desert. Best part – these large meals cost anywhere from US$1-3!

Of course, there are some variations. Some restaurants offer a choice between 2 or 3 different segundos (perhaps chicken vs beef vs pasta), others will include a small additional entrada (appetizer) and a glass of juice. Sometimes the restaurant will also offer a la carte items as well, but these are never as cheap as the set menu. But some restaurants are open only for lunch, and only offer one option. There is something delicious to be said for buying in bulk, preparing a massive amount of one meal, and offering a smokin deal.

The Unexpected Delight of Isla Taquile

Trip Highlights by Butch Gemin

 

Walking among Isla Taquile’s terraced slopes on community-built paths

Peru is spectacular – whether trekking the High Andes at 17,000 feet, biking the back roads of the Sacred Valley highlands, or enjoying the Inca trail and ancient ruins. We all target Peru for our bucket lists to see and experience Machu Picchu, and it certainly does not disappoint. But one of the most memorable destinations in Peru for me was Lake Titicaca and sea kayaking on this magnificent lake as part of the Aventouras’ Discover Peru trip. Our sea kayaking destination was Isla Taquile, a small island of 5.72 square km with 2,200 native people living at just over 13,000 feet on the highest navigable lake in the world.

 

The paddle was exciting, just to be so far out into open water on Lake Titicaca – a first for me after many coastal kayaking experiences – with the mountains of Bolivia providing a unique skyline far in the distance. But the highlight was reaching Isla Taquile and our overnight stay at a guesthouse with a warm, welcoming local family. The hike around and up the island to the guesthouse alone was worth the half-day paddle; cultivated fields, traditional fishing boats out on the water, women drying laundry on the rocks along the shoreline, rock homes and corrals, with nearby islands jutting out of the lake. Our hosts provided “a clean well-lighted place,” as Hemingway would write, with thick blankets of llama and alpaca and a bedside candle for light – there is no electricity on Taquile!

 

Intricately woven textiles in the Taquile style

Taquile is an island of weavers, fisherman, and subsistence farmers. The textiles here are  considered among the highest-quality in all of Peru. The women weave exquisite blankets, chuku (shawls), belts, and purses, while men are considered the master textile producers, often knitting at a blinding pace while casually chatting with you about life on the island. Married men on the island wear caps of red of their own making, while eligible men wear caps of white and red. Dating appears to be a bit stressful for the young men – to win the hand of a chosen young woman, the man offers his cap to the father who fills the knitted cap with water to check the rate the liquid sifts through the fine stitching. If the water flows slowly enough, the young man’s skill is confirmed and the marriage can take place.

A young Taquileno stops to greet our group

Taquile is community-based tourism at its most authentic. The people of Taquile have practiced collectivism ancestrally, dividing the island into six sections to coordinate crop rotation and placing community above all else. Taquilenos take the same approach to tourism. Each community takes responsibility for building sections of the stone pathway that connects visitors to the various parts of the island, and the community assigns lodging with guests being rotated to the various homes in turn to be sure all in the community benefit from the growing number of island visitors. 

The next morning we enjoyed another paddle around Taquile before saying goodbye to an unexpected treasure: the people and culture of this unforgettable island. 

Book today! Aventouras’ Discover Peru trip includes this incredible community tourism experience on Isla Taquile, and also hits the traditional country highlights – Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and the Inca Trail! 2012 is the year to make your Peru dreams a reality – remember, we keep our groups small, and spaces fill up fast. Hard-to-get Inca Trail passes for 2012 are selling out quickly, contact us today to reserve your spot! 800-930-2846

 

On the Hunt for Mayan Artifacts in Belize

By Butch Gemin, Aventouras

Indiana Jones would be envious of the adventure I experienced with our visit to the Mayan ritual cave, Actun Tunichil Muknal, in the Cayo district of western Belize.  After a stroll through the jungle and wading across the river three times, we had a short swim into the mouth of the cave before we began weaving through beautiful, delicate stone formations. The passages led us through water from knee-deep, to chest-high, to waist level, and the experience was like nothing I had imagined, much less actually done.  At places, the cavern ceiling loomed far above our heads, in other places the stalactites and stalagmites are close enough to touch – but please don’t! 

Skeletal remains of Mayan sacrifices

After 40-45 mystical minutes of walking (rather wading), we reached the elevated and dry ritual chamber where we had to lose our shoes and don our socks as not to degrade the quality of the cave, as well as out of respect to the Maya ancestors interned here.   It was not long before we encountered the first of fourteen skeletal remains discovered in the cavern, a number of which have been identified as human sacrifices.  Most sacrificial remains are accompanied by a “kill pot” with a distinctive icon embossed on the pottery.  More than once our guide Jorge cautioned us “Don’t step back or you’ll step on that bone.”  There are no fences or railings to separate a visitor from the reality that these relics conjure up.

Never was the spirit of those gone before more tangible than when we reach the “Crystal Lady,” the full skeleton of a teenage girl, supposedly a human sacrifice.  The bones sparkle from a creamy translucent veneer deposited by the natural processes of the cave.  A fitting climax to one of the more unique experiences in Latin America.

The hunt for Mayan artifacts is one of many amazing experiences on Aventouras’ Explore Belize itinerary.  Other highlights include snorkeling the world’s 2nd longest barrier reef, cave tubing, and hiking through the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve.  Contact Aventouras today to book your adventure to this incredible country!  800-930-2846

The Unmatched Himalayan Mountains of Nepal

by Lisa Smith, Aventouras

The Himalayas

I love high mountains. I love seeing them from afar. I love hiking in them. I love to climb them, bike them, run up them, ski them and camp in them. I’m blessed to live in a state that has over 50 peaks that are over 14,000 ft. I’ve climbed a number of them but I tend to seek out other international destinations with high peaks too: Switzerland, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, etc. But, I was completely blown away when I got to see the Himalayas in Nepal. I had been trying to get to Nepal for something like 15 years before I finally made it, and with all that built up anticipation for finally laying eyes on the Himalayas for the first time I was still blown away by what my eyes were seeing. Incredible!

While in Nepal, I got to do a few treks that I thoroughly enjoyed—The 19-day Annapurna Circuit and the Langtang/Gosinkund Treks. Unbelievable. Really.

Throng La Pass 17,873 ft

How to describe the Annapurna Circuit succinctly and what made it so special for me…. I loved starting off in the jungle and walking up and up and up a lush, green incredible valley along the Marsyangdi River with all sorts of diversity. No two days of trekking were alike in terms of the environment, the challenges, the people, the views and gradually the culture/religion changed as I walked through various regions and villages. And, there was the personal accomplishment of making it over the Throng La Pass at 17,873 ft which is the highest I’ve been to date. And, then trekking down the next valley over, along the Kali Gandaki River, that was a completely different and strikingly dry environment with completely different traditions and culture. 

While Aventouras does not send people to the Himalayas, we’ve partnered with another Colorado-based company that has similar values and styles of trips with years and years of experience in the region called One World Trekking. If you are interested in traveling to the Himalayas and don’t want to do your first trip there alone, contact One World Trekking and talk to Andy or email him and tell him I sent you!

Community-based Tourism is Changing Lives in Rural Ecuador

The following story is by Aventouras guest blogger, Ted Martens, who shares his experiences with community-based tourism in Ecuador

Pucara, Intag River Valley, Ecuador – The Intag River Valley, a gorgeous and lush mountain landscape northwest of Quito, is home to one of the most bio-diverse zones in all of Ecuador (a UNESCO biodiversity “hot-spot” and deemed one of the 10 most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world, due largely to its extreme elevation change – sea level to 11,000 ft in only a couple dozen miles).  In addition to its one-of-a-kind forests, flora, and fauna, the region is also home to a wealth of valuable minerals and ores beneath its surface.  A number of mining enterprises are in pursuit of digging rights, and many locals are tempted by the short-term financial returns promised by these companies.  Without a financially viable alternative, the region is doomed to be exploited and destroyed by the mining industry.

Intag River Valley

Pucara, a small Intag community of roughly 300 residents, is confronting these challenges with the help of The Inter-American Center for the Arts, Sustainability, and Action (CASA), an NGO committed to helping rural communities realize sustainable economic development opportunities.  CASA Director Peter Shear, an American who has lived in Ecuador for over 12 years, is working closely with the Pucara community to develop viable economic alternatives to combat urban migration and unsustainable resource extraction.

While CASA’s projects span a wide range of economic development initiatives, a core component is community-based and volunteer tourism.  For over 7 years, CASA has been bringing groups of student and young-adult volunteers to the area, working side by side with the locals to build community projects and infrastructure that benefit the residents and the community at large.  Volunteers participate in “mingas”, organized project days where residents come together to work on a particular construction, farming, conservation, or other community-benefiting initiative.  Funding for minga projects comes from local sources, as well as money raised by volunteers prior to their trips.  To date, CASA volunteer tourism projects have included:

• Building homes for residents in need (recipients of the homes were chosen by a community housing board that accepted applications and prioritized based on economic and social factors).
• Construction of a community center for meetings, events, celebrations, weddings, etc.  The center is the largest of its kind in all of Intag, and has turned into a source of revenue for Pucara, as neighboring communities have begun renting it out.  Proceeds from this program now pay for transportation for Pucara students to attend high school in the neighboring community of Apuela (prior to this program, most kids in Pucara did not attend high school due to the prohibitive transportation costs).
• Purchase of land and construction of community organic gardens.
• Purchase of land and construction of community farms.  Some of the poorest residents in town have no land, and were in need of space for subsistence farming.
• Construction of solar hot water showers for community use.
• Construction of soccer field facilities.
• Conservation through land purchasing, reforestation, and preservation.
• Education through organic and agro-ecological farming instruction and testing.
• Construction of community-based tourism facilities, including the Intag Spanish School (which employs 4 local women who otherwise would have little or no income); a trail network through the town and the protected area; and other visitor infrastructure.

A Minga in Pucara

The Intag Valley (and most of rural Ecuador) is faced with a growing number of challenges in an increasingly globalized economy.  With the majority of the younger working class fleeing traditional farming for greater financial opportunities in urban areas, Intag residents face an uncertain future.  While the proposed mining project would reverse this trend and bring short-term returns to these poor regions (local jobs, mining subsidies, etc), the long-term environmental impacts would be disastrous.  Volunteer and community tourism is one example of a successful alternative sustainable economic development model that is bringing similar benefits to the local population, allowing these communities to preserve their heritage, culture, and environment.

A Destination Like No Other – The Galapagos Islands

Trip Highlights by Butch Gemin

 

Blue Footed Boobie

The Land of Darwin is just as exotic and otherworldly as you have dreamed; rugged islands with black volcanic shorelines, sea birds everywhere, iguanas sidling up to your feet in the sand, giant tortoises reminding one of the age of the dinosaur, and twisted trees thirsting for water on these desert-like islands surrounded by ocean.

It’s difficult to pinpoint a highlight of my trip to the Galapagos Islands simply because there were so many of them; watching bald and featherless hatchling blue-footed boobies from just feet away, taking an up-close portrait of a giant tortoise, watching the clumsy but somehow spectacularly graceful landing of an albatross as it flew 10 feet over our heads, or maybe the sight of a coastal lava rock populated by Galapagos penguins, pelicans and marine iguanas. It was also amazing just watching the islands pass by from the deck of our boat, with sea birds circling and squawking, and frigate birds following the ship and landing on the railings to give you a great close-up. We even saw the smoke and vapor of an erupting volcano from the deck as we passed Isla Isabella.

 

Tortoise - up close!

But the real treat was when we began to peak into the marine environment. The snorkeling was spectacular – at one point, I was floating in front of a sea turtle munching algae a foot or two under the water, when a sea lion passed inches from my mask between me and the turtle. As I was regaining my composure (an “oh wow” moment for sure), three Galapagos penguins swam between us as well, followed by a marine iguana brushing my mask – all within 25-30 seconds. You cannot make this stuff up – it was amazing!

While there are many ways to travel through the Galapagos Islands, Aventouras uses an intimate 16-passenger luxury catamaran. The catamaran offers great stability and amenities, but it is the size of the boat that enhances the experience for guests; greater access to the guides, more comfort during meals, less congestion suiting up for snorkeling excursions, and less crowded areas to relax on deck.

Luxury Catamaran

In contrast, one day we crossed paths with an 180-passenger cruise ship, juggling panga (small excursion boat) after panga, each sorted by age and physical ability, with a single guide trying to explain the wonders and details of the Galapagos to groups of 20 or more. We, on the other hand, enjoyed quiet strolls on the islands with our guides in groups of 8. As with all Aventours trips, group size is critical—if your group is too large, you run the risk of impacting the environment you are hoping to observe. Smaller groups allow you to experience the environment without altering it – a better experience for us and the animals. This is how the Galapagos was meant to be seen!

The marine and terrestrial wildlife encounters on each Galapagos trip are unique, but they are guaranteed to be plentiful. Click here to learn more about Aventouras customizable eco-adventure in the Galapagos. The Galapagos Islands are a great year-round destination, however small, intimate boats means space is limited – contact Aventouras today to book your cruise to this unmatched nature destination.

800-930-2846

info@aventouras.com

www.aventouras.com