Jetsettersblog

The Spirit of Big Five Foundation, the 501(c3) nonprofit organization founded by Big Five Tours and Expeditions, has joined other international groups, including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and World Wildlife Fund in helping Friends of Nature (FoN) in Belize with funding support to protect the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

The Belize-based community conservation organization has been active since 1996, and has worked to protect and manage two critically important marine protected areas in the Belize Barrier Reef Complex: Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, a high biodiversity hotspot. In addition, through a co-management agreement with Belize’s Ministry of Fisheries, FoN is expecting to also oversee management of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, another UNESCO site, in the near future.

The 150-mile-long Belize Barrier reef supports a large diversity of marine life and habitats, including hundreds of species of fish, and relatively pristine swaths of mangroves, seagrass, atolls, and barrier, patch, and fringing coral reefs. The reef ecosystem is under tremendous threat from indiscriminate and illegal fishing as well as land-based pollution, climate change, oil exploration, shipping, and unregulated coastal development. What began as a grass roots organization in five local communities,

FoN is now recognized as a conservation leader in the management of marine protected areas in Belize. FoN plays several key roles in protecting these fragile environments: enforce laws and regulations; and provide management presence within and beyond park boundaries; expand and establish no-take zones; conduct scientific monitoring and research; foster community participation in ecotourism as an economic alternative to reliance on commercial fishing; strengthen stakeholder local community groups; implement adaptive marine conservation management; and develop a long-term sustainability plan to help protect the second largest barrier reef on Earth.

The Spirit of Big Five Foundation’s small grant funding goes directly to support FoN’s scientific monitoring and management of the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. These funds will be used to support ranger patrols to prevent illegal poaching within the marine protected area, scientific data collection used to carry out environmental impact assessments from unregulated coastal development, and local community educational outreach, including funding marine conservation awareness and teaching about the environment in collaboration with local elementary schools.

 FoN joins a number of other projects that the Spirit of Big Five supports, including Heritage Watch in Cambodia, Fundacion Galapagos in Ecuador, Blind Foundation of India and St. Nicholas Community Development Center & Children’s Home in Kenya. The Spirit of Big Five Foundation awards small grants and makes funding donations to projects and organizations that aim to protect or enhance natural and cultural heritage and/or increase the capacity of disadvantaged communities to achieve economic empowerment. The foundation’s overhead costs are funded directly by Big Five Tours and Expeditions as part of the company’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices. One hundred percent of foundation funding goes to the projects it supports.

For more information, contact Deborah Kilcollins, communications liaison, at 800-244 3483, email deborah@bigfive.com  or visit www.bigfive.com

Cayo Espanto, an exclusive private island off the coast of Belize, plans to kick off the New Year with an offer of free air fare on five-night packages purchased between Jan. 8 and May 31, 2009.

The Free Flyin’ to Cayo Espanto program is subject to availability. Some limitations and holiday black-out periods apply. Book either of the one-bedroom villas, Casa Olita and Casa Manana, for five nights, or reserve one the expansive two-bedroom villas, Casa Estrella or Casa Aurora, for five nights and receive two free airline tickets or a maximum credit of $1,200. Guests who prefer to reserve the intimate Casa Brisa or the over-the-water bungalow, Casa Ventanas, will receive one free airline ticket or a maximum credit of $600 on a minimum five-night stay. All stays at Cayo Espanto include San Pedro Airport greeting and transfers; a personal butler; three custom-tailored meals each day; complimentary bar drinks, beer, sodas, fruit juice and bottled water; guests’ favorite snacks; daytime launch service to/from San Pedro daily; and non-motorized activities, including the use of sea kayaks, pedal boats, sailboats and spin reel fishing tackle.

Cayo Espanto is a celebrity haven that has been the recipient of numerous awards since opening in 1998. These include inductions into the distinguished Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts organization, accolades like Hideaway of the Year from Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, Best of the Best from the Robb Report, Hotel of the Year and one of the Top Ten Best Escapes in the World from Caribbean Travel + Life, and inclusion in the World’s Best lists from Conde Nast Traveller.

Each five-star villa or bungalow is staffed with a personal houseman, offering the ultimate in attentive service. While guests may entertain the fantasy of being all alone on a beautiful deserted island, the employee-to-guest ratio of 2-to-1 assures that every possible wish or whim is satisfied and the discreet behind-the-scenes operation of the island’s award-winning staff.

Guests can fly fish right outside their door, opt for scuba diving or snorkeling excursions at the second-largest barrier reef in the world, enjoy 18 holes of golf on a nearby island, or relax and do nothing at all on their private dock with an intimate plunge pool or Jacuzzi. Direct flights are available from New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Houston and Dallas. Cayo Espanto’s Reservations Department will book airline tickets, applying the appropriate $600/$1,200 credit or will issue the corresponding credit to the client folio upon confirmation of the reservation. Complimentary drinks exclude wine and champagne.

For more information on this private island paradise and the Free Flyin’ offer, call 888-666-4282 or visit www.aprivateisland.com

Through the end of 2008, Tranquility Bay Resort on the northeast coast of Ambergris Caye is offering a 25 percent discount on all cabanas, which includes daily breakfast and use of snorkel equipment and kayaks. Through Dec. 14 a four-night intimate beach getaway at Tranquility Bay starts at $139 per night. The Belize Barrier Reef will celebrate its thirteenth anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.

As the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, the reef was declared a protected site in 1996 to support conservation efforts. The owners of Tranquility Bay strive to preserve the World Heritage Centre’s mission to “encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world’s cultural and natural heritage.”

“We are the only resort in the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, part of the Belize Barrier Reef’s UNESCO World Heritage Site,” said Ralf Sturmberg, general manager of Tranquility Bay.

“There are only 878 official sites around the globe with ‘outstanding universal value,’ and Tranquility is pleased to be included. We take advantage of our unparalleled location by encouraging guests to explore the natural, protected habitat at our front door.”

Surrounded by the park and protected from mainstream tourism, the resort provides opportunities to spot sea turtles, pelicans, ibises and herons along with shoreline mangroves. A short swim or quick boat ride takes guests to the pristine reef for snorkeling, diving and fishing.

Tranquility Bay Resort in Belize opened in February 2006 and has quickly become the premiere boutique property for active travelers on Ambergris Caye. The resort is comprised of 11 charming beach-front cabanas located on 12 picturesque acres. Tranquility Bay is known for its modern amenities, direct access to the Belize Barrier Reef and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. The resort offers the best of a carefree island getaway combined with world-class aquatic adventures and features a full-service restaurant and bar, top-of-the-line water sports equipment and an expert staff to assist with diving, fishing and numerous adventure activities.

 For more information, call 888-843-2293 or visit www.tranquilitybayresort.com

Smugglers Run Plantation, Belize’s first master planned golf resort community now taking shape, has gone interactive with the early November activation of its website, www.smugglersrunplantation.com. Designed by a Belize City-based web firm, the new website leans heavily on local talent. The imagery is largely the product of Belizean photojournalists and graphic artists. The music incorporates the sounds of local instruments rendering the Garifuna and Bak-a Bush cantinas native to Belize.

Recorded in Belize City, the score was composed and performed by world-renowned Belizean artist, Andy Palacio, who was honored on Oct. 1, 2007 as an Artist for Peace by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

The interactive web portal details the depth and breadth of Smugglers Run Plantation’s tourism and real estate offerings, including home sites, golf course and marina condominiums, town homes, duplex villas, single family homes and equestrian home sites. However the site also underlines the Plantation’s commitment to creating a world-class destination by leaning heavily not merely on the Belizean environment, but its history, culture and know-how.
“The idea may strike some as elemental,” said Smugglers Run Plantation owner and developer Trevor Miles, a sixth-generation Belizean. “However, we’re all familiar with a Caribbean region that today is teeming with resorts and real estate ventures that replicate a North America or European cultural aesthetic and drop it into a tropical setting. At Smugglers Run Plantation, that would never do. We acknowledge there are international standards for luxury and quality; we have resolved to set them in a thoroughly Belizean context. The spectacular natural surroundings, the diverse culture, the long and colorful history, and the people of Belize — these factors influence everything we have done and will do at Smugglers Run Plantation. It shows in the architecture, the cuisine, and the amenities and yes, even the website.”

Smugglers Run Plantation is a residential golf resort master planned community located 18 miles up the coast from Belize City, near the International Airport.

The 1,000-acre development on gentle rolling hills with its select Caribbean Sea view is scheduled to open in late 2010 and will include at full build out 1,540 golf, jungle, and marina view condominiums, town homes, duplex villas, single-family homes and plantation and equestrian estate home sites which are now on sale. Amenities will include an Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates 18 hole championship golf course, a large clubhouse and activity center, a 240 slip wet and dry marina and yacht club, a golf school and tennis academy, fitness center and spas, retail village, equestrian center, a water park, and two hotels — one with a casino.

For more information, call 800-640-2514 or visit www.smugglersrunplantation.com

 Cultural Immersion

Latin America offers endless opportunities to get off the beaten path, experience exotic landscapes and cultures in active, adventurous and exciting ways. Aventouras specializes in active and unusual trips such as a multi-day camping and hiking trip through the jungle of northern Guatemala to reach the spectacular Mayan ruins of Tikal, sea kayaking the highest navigable lake in the world in Peru to reach a remote island community, or snorkeling among the islands of the indigenous San Blas archipelago of the Caribbean in Panama.

Other activities include biking trails and roads in parts of the Sacred Valley of the Incas that most tourists never see, climbing an active volcano in Guatemala, and flying through the canopy on zip lines in Costa Rica and Panama.

Small group sizes of twelve or less allow Aventouras adventurers access into lodges and communities that are simply not available to larger tourist groups. There is always a personal touch - largely in getting to know the guides, communities, and lodges in each destination country.

 Thorough planning maximizes time for activities and top-notch remote locations, while minimizing travel time. Aventouras trips depart each month to Peru, Galapagos, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize, and Ecuador, with additional new destinations planned. Trip lengths generally range from a week to ten days, and prices range from $1798 - $2698 with a supplement for single occupancy.

Prices include all activities, meals, lodging, guides, and in-country transportation.

http://www.aventouras.com

 In response to growing consumer demand and ease of travel, Avanti Destinations has added new programs to Latin America. “The increase in consumer vacations to South and Central America reflects the great sightseeing, amazing cuisine and wonderful accommodations that are available at a very affordable cost,” said Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti Destinations. The destinations are featured in Avanti’s new Essence of Latin America brochure, which is now off the printing presses and is arriving at travel agencies. For 2009, Avanti has added FIT programs for Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Guatemala. “Reflecting the increase in traffic to Latin America, airlines have been adding capacity. It is now easier than ever to fly from either Atlanta or Miami,” Dalgaard said.

Dalgaard noted that the interest in vacations to Chile has been especially strong. On that basis Avanti has added five new FIT programs for that country. One example is the 13-Day Ultimate Chile RVP. It features Santiago; the mountains, lake, glaciers and unique flora and fauna of Patagonia; the beautiful Lake District; the pristine scenery of the Atacama; and picturesque Valparaiso. Priced from $3,868, the package includes all ground transfers, accommodations, daily breakfast and select meals. Also new for Chile is a self-drive program focused on Chile’s wine country with bookends in the exciting cities of Santiago and Valparaiso. It includes two nights in a charming Colchagua area inn, nestled between the Andes and the coast.

The Central Valley Self-Drive Tour is a six-day package with an airport arrival transfer, compact manual car rental, accommodations and daily breakfast, priced from $889. Argentina continues to be a favorite for Avanti in South America.

 One of the most popular choices has been Avanti’s eight-day Argentine Food and Wine package in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. It features fine dining, cooking classes and visits to wineries with tastings. It is priced from $4,052 and includes roundtrip airport transfers, accommodations, daily breakfast and featured meals. Avanti’s new Ultimate Argentina RVP is an 11-day package that includes cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, a stay in Southern Patagonia, the famous Lake District and Iguassu Falls.

The program includes three nights in Buenos Aires, three nights in Calafate, two nights in Bariloche and two nights at Iguassu. Ultimate Argentina is priced from $1,756.

For more information, call 800-422-5053 or visit www.AvantiDestinations.com

Windstar Cruises is reducing its cruise deposit requirement by 50 percent on all new bookings made Oct. 22 through Dec. 15 for any 2009 sailing that is not within final payment requirement.

The new program allows guests to make a deposit of $375 per person, instead of $750 per person, within three days of booking a Windstar cruise to secure a reservation for 2009 sailings that are outside of the final payment period. The remaining deposit is due Jan. 15. “In these challenging economic times, we are offering guests more value by significantly reducing the amount of deposit required on luxurious Windstar cruise vacations,” said Diane Moore, president of Windstar Cruises.

For more information, call 800-258-7245 or visit www.windstarcruises.com

BikeHike Founder Trish Sare to Lead Special January Tour

Vancouver, BC – The long, dark season may be settling in, but don’t pull out those sweaters just yet. Grab your swimsuit, pack your bags, and head for the aquatic playground of Belize Jan. 26-31, 2009 for an unforgettable kayak experience, led by BikeHike Adventures founder Trish Sare. For 15 years, BikeHike has leveraged the smaller size of its operation to deliver personalized service at affordable rates to groups of adventure enthusiasts. In these hard economic times, that is music to any traveler’s ears.

Belize has some of the best snorkeling opportunities in the world, and its calm protected waters and manageable distances between islands make this the perfect place for sea kayak exploration. BikeHike’s “Belize Paddlers Paradise” combines these two activities in an exciting liquid adventure built specifically for water enthusiasts.

Launching out of Placencia, the “Belize Paddlers Paradise” itinerary calls for four days of paddling and snorkeling along the longest reef in the western hemisphere. Participants will navigate the labyrinth of deserted islands scattered throughout the warm and clear Caribbean Sea via sea kayak. They will have opportunities to snorkel the rich and colorful ocean, abundant with exotic tropical fish and coral that plunge deep into the earth. When not on the water, guests can stretch out in hammocks and chill beneath coconut palms in the refreshing ocean breeze. The one-week itinerary is short enough to fit into busy winter work schedules, and yet has the perfect blend of activity and relaxation to feed the spirit and enrich the soul.

Trish Sare will be leading the January 26-31, 2009 “Belize Paddlers Paradise” tour.

Sare founded BikeHike Adventures in 1994 to bring together like-minded active people who have a passion for cultural exploration and physically rewarding travel. BikeHike Adventures has since become one of the industry’s leading adventure travel companies and was recognized this year by National Geographic Adventures as one of the “The Best Outfitters in the World”. Sare brings over 20 years of experience and extensive cultural and environmental knowledge to this Belize adventure, and past guests have appreciated her savvy ability to deliver the perfect mix of adventure, comfort, culture, and companionship.

In addition to the January departure, BikeHike is offering four other “Belize Paddlers Paradise” excursions between February and May, 2009. For more information, please visit www.bikehike.com. The cost of this 6-day Belize experience is $1,899. Bookings include twin shared accommodations, three meals a day, airport transfers, kayaks, snorkel and camping gear, and veteran guides. Gratuities and taxes not included. Call 1-888-805-0061 or e-mail info@bikehike.com for more information.

About Bike Hike

Named one of “The Best Outfitters in the World” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine in 2008, BikeHike (www.bikehike.com) specializes in small group Multi-sport Adventures in South and Central America, Canada, Europe, Oceania, Asia and Africa. Every itinerary is unique and combines a range of activities from mountain biking, hiking, and whitewater rafting to horseback riding, sea kayaking, and rock climbing, and incorporates opportunities for authentic encounters with the local people.

 BikeHike is committed to sustainable tourism practices that benefit the local communities and environment in the destinations they serve, and actively supports projects around the world to help raise cultural and social awareness.

Celebrity Cruises today announced new itineraries for Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Mercury, presenting guests with new cruise vacation options from the historic coastal cities of Baltimore, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina, along with the brand’s popular Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Correspondingly, the line announced plans to discontinue its Australia and New Zealand cruises previously scheduled for late-2009 and 2010 on Celebrity Millennium.

“Australia and New Zealand are charming and beautiful destinations, and we’re confident we’ll return again as our brand and fleet grows,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Currently, though, our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the Eastern seaboard, where our brand was founded, and still has a very large and loyal base of cruisers. So, we’re pleased to present some very attractive new cruise vacations from that region.”

CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM TAKES ON CELEBRITY MERCURY’S TERRITORY
The 2,038-guest Celebrity Millennium will cap its 2009 season in Alaska with cruises previously scheduled for the 1,898-guest Celebrity Mercury, offering more capacity on the popular sailings. The itineraries will reflect those previously announced for Celebrity Mercury, with the addition of a 12-night wine-themed cruise departing from Vancouver on September 28, 2009, followed by an eastbound, 16-night Panama Canal cruise on October 10, 2009, from San Diego to San Juan, where Celebrity Millennium will offer a series of 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from San Juan, beginning October 26, 2009. Ports of call on the Southern Caribbean itineraries include Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, St. Croix, St. Kitts and Dominica, with slight variations between the 10- and 11-night sailings.

Guests with reservations on the sailings previously scheduled for Celebrity Mercury will be contacted and re-accommodated on the same sailing dates on Celebrity Millennium, at the rates paid.

CELEBRITY MERCURY OFFERS NEW OPTIONS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD
Celebrity Mercury will sail a 17-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego on October 23, 2009, ending in Baltimore. There, from November 2009 to February 2010, the ship will present a series of new 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting St. Thomas; St. Kitts; Antigua; St. Maarten, and Tortola, as well as four 9-night cruises visiting Charleston; Key West, Fla., and Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Celebrity Mercury then will present a series of 10- and 11-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from Charleston from February through April 2010, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Tortola on the eastern series, and Key West; Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico, and Nassau on the western lineup.

The new itineraries on Celebrity Mercury replace the Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan previously scheduled from November 2009 to April 2010. Guests with affected bookings will be contacted and offered the option to be reaccommodated in like accommodations on identical Southern Caribbean itineraries on Celebrity Millennium at the rate paid.

Guests holding either individual or group reservations on Celebrity Millennium’s previously scheduled Australia and New Zealand cruises between October 9, 2009 and March 22, 2010, will be offered the option to either re-book on Celebrity Millennium’s Australia and New Zealand cruises between October 17, 2008 and April 12, 2009, subject to availability, at the prevailing rate, and will receive a Aud$600 per-stateroom or Aud$800 per-suite onboard credit. Alternatively, these guests may re-book Celebrity Millennium’s new Panama Canal or Southern Caribbean sailings between October 10, 2009 and April 16, 2010, and receive a aud$200 per stateroom and Aud$400 per suite onboard credit.

All guests and travel agent partners with affected bookings will be contacted by Celebrity Cruises. Any reservations on the late-2009 and early-2010 Celebrity Millennium sailings in Australia and New Zealand that have not been moved or cancelled by Friday, October 3, 2008, will be cancelled automatically.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America.

Noted for four of the top ten “Top Cruise Ships in the World” in the large-ship category, as voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers’ poll), Celebrity’s current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011.

TACA, the international airline with a 77-year history in Central, South and North America, unveiled a new brand image and a series of new services on board and on the ground as it seeks to provide a new customer experience and compete in a demanding and competitive airline industry. The new brand identity was developed by TACA’s marketing team with the help of New York-based Lippincott, one of the world’s leading brand management consulting firms. With 39 destinations to 22 countries in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, TACA will begin to offer passengers a new experience that includes improvements to onboard services, fleet upgrades and an overhaul of the airline’s customer service philosophy.

This new repositioning strategy has been a collaborative process. The new brand identity was developed by TACA’s marketing team with the help of New York-based Lippincott, one of the world’s leading brand management consulting firms. The new uniforms were created by Colombian designer Isabel Henao. TACA’s fleet is made up of the latest aircraft available in the Americas and includes 38 Airbus 319s, 320s and 321s, as well as two Embraer E190 jets, with the latest in aerospace technology, safety features and amenities for its passengers.

For more information, visit www.TACA.com