Jetsettersblog

Goway Travel is offering a 10-day World of the Maya trip that presents an opportunity to learn about the enigmatic culture of the Mayans during the year when the Mayan calendar comes to an end. According to Don Forster, Goway’s product and marketing manager for Latin America, although the Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans ends on Dec 21, 2012, it does not necessarily predict catastrophe.

“Though the Mayans have calculated that the date of Dec. 21, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count) marks the end of a cycle and a beginning of a new one, they did not stipulate or predict what this ending and new beginning may denote,” Forster said.

According to Forster, there are generally two schools of thought on the matter. One is a more holistic spiritual view in which we see the ending of one phase and the beginning of a new one. The other is what he calls the “Hollywood view” in which a catastrophic event may take place, even the end of the world as we know it.

The trip surveys Mayan culture in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala with opportunities to extend your trip into Belize. The record of the civilization of the Maya can be found carved on towering temples such as Copan and Tikal as well as in the handiworks and daily life rituals of the modern descendants of the Mayan culture, all seen on Goway’s World of the Maya.

The 2011-12 Latin America travel planner prominently features the journey as well as many other options in to Central and South America. To order a copy of the Latin America Travel Planner, call 888-469-2955, email info@goway.com  or visit www.goway.com

Specialist independent tour operator On the Go Tours has just launched brand new Mexico and Central America touring programs.

Its new flexible small group tours, with a maximum of 18 passengers that range from 9 – 22 days, provide an adventurous way to visit the very best that Mexico and Central America offer. From the Mayan sites of Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tiakal to the Colonial cities and towns of San Cristobal, Antigua and Granada the region is awash with history and culture. Added to this all of the countries in Central America and the southern regions of Mexico offer unrivalled natural beauty from lush tropical beaches to untamed rain forests.

Tour can also be combined so that it’s possible to travel from Mexico City to Panama City on a 51 day extravaganza passing through the Mayan Empires countries and onto the nature lover’s paradise of Costa Rica before finishing in the cosmopolitan capital of Panama City.

Each individual group tour has been designed to provide maximum local interaction and a true flavour of the individual countries. Throughout Central America local family run simple hotels and public transport has been selected so that the authenticity and charm of the region can be fully appreciated. All tours are fully escorted by an English speaking tour leader.

On the Go Tours run the following tours in Mexico and Central America:

Cancun to Antigua – 10 days from £610

Costa Rica Calling – 14 days from £1090

Cost Rica to Panama – 14 days from £1,030

Footsteps of the Mayans – 13 days from £740

Mayan Empires 22 – days from £1280

Mexico City to Guatemala – 22 days £1310

The Way to San Jose -15 days from £990

Wild Cost Rica – 9 days from £580

www.onthegotours.com
Tel: 020 7371 1113
ABTA, ATOL & AITO bonded

Guatemala and Honduras with Friendly Planet Travel JENKINTOWN, Pa.-October 24, 2011-Central America’s exquisite culture, picturesque views, and rich history have attracted travelers for ages. Now, thanks to Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator of high-quality, affordable vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide, travelers can experience the untamed nature and impressive sites of Guatemala and Honduras on the 11-day Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour, visiting four UNESCO World Heritage sites. Guatemala combines the best of colonial Spanish culture with traditional Mayan heritage, and Honduras is the heart of ancient Mayan culture, with impressive Mayan tombs and step-pyramids. Seeing these two historic countries on one value-packed trip will make it the trip of lifetime for any traveler. They’ll get all this for the unbeatable price of $1,999, which includes airfare, superior accommodations, fully escorted tours, and more.

Travelers begin their journey in Guatemala’s capital and largest city, Guatemala City, before heading to the colonial town of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled between three picturesque volcanoes and colonial architecture.

As travelers explore Antigua, they’ll walk the cobblestone streets and discover Antigua’s most famous sites, including Church of San Francisco, La Merced Church, and Antigua’s Jade Factory. Travelers will stop at the bustling, colorful, open-air markets of Chichicastenango and enjoy the unique opportunity for lunch with an indigenous family before heading to the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlan for a boat ride to Santiago and Santa Catarina. Later, travelers return to Guatemala City. From there, travelers will cross over the Honduran border through the vast coffee and fruit plantations, and continue to Copan, the most renowned archeological site in Honduras and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The abandoned ruins of Copan, dense tropical vegetation, and mystical monuments will round out the sightseeing in Honduras. Travelers continue back to Guatemala, stopping along the ancient trade route of Quirigua, another UNESCO World Heritage Site known for intricately carved, giant sculptures, including the massive Zoomorphs. A balanced mix of tour and leisure time continues as travelers enjoy a ride across Rio Dulce, also called the “Sweet River,” and visit an indigenous community development organization, Ak-Tenamit to learn about the indigenous communities of Guatemala and the sustainability of Mayan culture in a modern world. A stop at the Fort of San Felipe and logging village of Sayaxche is sure to inspire the history buffs on the trip. A tour of the twin cities of Yaxhe and Topoxte in the jungles on the shores of Yaxha Lake and later exploration of the islands of the lake will keep travelers enthralled. A final stop at the fourth UNESCO World Heritage of Tikal, located in the heart of the Mayan biosphere, entices travelers with impressive tropical forests and enormous amounts of plant and animal species. A climb to the top of some of Tikal’s tallest pyramids rounds out the best Guatemala and Honduras has to offer. The trip includes round-trip airfare from Miami and all transportation; superior hotel accommodations; 10 full buffet breakfasts, four lunches and one dinner, including lunch with an indigenous family; comprehensive sightseeing with a local, English-speaking expert guide; and a visit to the Ak-Tenamit sustainable development community. “This tour’s combination of the unmatched culture and nature in Guatemala, and impressive temples and terraces in Honduras and Guatemala, will attract even the most experienced traveler,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel. “Magnificent monuments; exotic, tropical landscapes; dynamic Mayan culture; and stops at four UNESCO World Heritages Sites make for an unforgettable exploration of Central America’s gems.” Friendly Planet’s 11-day Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour has the following departures at the $1,999 rate: Mar. 16, Apr. 20, May 18, June 15, and July. 27. For more information about Friendly Planet Travel’s Best of Guatemala and Honduras tour, please visit the company’s website at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com; the blog at blog.friendlyplanet.com; or contact Jackie Zima at 610-228-2138 (office), 215-534-2973 (mobile), or write to Jackie@GregoryFCA.com. ABOUT FRIENDLY PLANET TRAVEL Friendly Planet Travel makes high-quality exotic travel affordable for everyone. Since 1981, Friendly Planet Travel has been arranging all-inclusive escorted discount vacation packages and cruises to the most exciting destinations in the world at the lowest possible prices. Each year, Friendly Planet Travel offers more than 30 different group travel packages to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America-at discounts of hundreds of dollars off similar vacations. With no hidden charges, add-ons or surprises, Friendly Planet Travel vacations include convenient flights and airfare, carefully-selected first-class and superior hotels, knowledgeable English-speaking guides, many meals, and itineraries as well as friendships and memories that last a lifetime. Friendly Planet Travel offers its extensive, economical travel services to private groups including universities, religious institutions, alumni associations, and families. Groups who wish to travel together can count on Friendly Planet Travel’s three decades of experience to operate their group travel program expertly and always at the very best possible prices. Visit us at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com. You can also follow Friendly Planet on Twitter and Facebook.

Spirit Airlines has begun service between Fort Lauderdale and San Salvador, El Salvador, and is offering introductory one-way fares of $19, based on roundtrip purchase. Spirit now operates three nonstop flights per week between Fort Lauderdale and San Salvador, El Salvador. For more information, visit www.spirit.com

The resort of Punta Roca in El Salvador, a country which is considered amongst the best surfing destinations in the world, has been selected by the International Surfing Association (ISA) as the location for the World Master Surfing Championship which will take place from 16 to 23 October 2011. More than 30 countries will take part in the event, which will be followed by 240 million spectators Worldwide.

This is a historic first for El Salvador, a country which offers surfers 500 kilometres of Pacific coastline with perfect breaks. Punta Roca, in particular, has waves which can reach up to half a metre and stretch from 500 metres, and has been attracting local and foreign surfers for more than 40 years.

To select the best dates for this year’s tournament, the ISA appointed wave forecasting expert, Sean Collins of Surfline.com to study the swells, climate and patterns in Punta Roca during the month of October for the past five years. He concluded that the best wave consistency will be from 16-23 October.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, owners of the W, Sheraton, St Regis and Westin hotel chains, has recently announced plans to open two new hotels in Central America, one in Costa Rica and one in Panama, both aimed at business travellers. In San Jose (Costa Rica), the new hotel is expected to open this year and will have 150 rooms in seven floors. Starwood is also investing around US$ 50 million in a new hotel in Panama City with 312 rooms, expected to open in December 2012.

Panama is also attracting the attention of other major international hotel chains such as Hilton, planning to open a new hotel with 213 rooms in Panama City; Ritz-Carlton, also opening a 216 room hotel in the capital, the Ritz Plaza Suites; and the Spanish chain NH Hotels, which will open a 180-room hotel in Panama City.

In El Salvador, the previous Radisson hotel has become a modern Crowne Plaza Hotel with 194 rooms and 23 meeting rooms to suit the most demanding business traveller, following an investment of US$ 3 million by Spanish group Agrisal.

There are currently more than 7000 hotels in Central America, with a total of 108,500 rooms, catering for both leisure and business tourists.

NEW WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The recently created World Association for Sustainable Tourism, which has Costa Rica as its new vice-president, aims to transform tourism by sharing sustainable initiatives from different countries to learn from their experiences and implement best practice.

The Association is formed by 18 national governments, five United Nations entities, The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OEDC), 17 international and business organisations, as well as 16 ONGs committed to promote sustainability in the tourism sector.

Under this umbrella, the hotel sector has launched several initiatives aimed at implementing good environmental practice such as the energy efficiency, renewable energy, residual water treatment and use of alternative water sources such as rainwater.

Specific strategies will be devised for places which require special care such as archaeological sites, beaches, forests and marine parks, contributing to offset the impact of visitors. Such initiatives have already been implemented in Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

PANAMA LAUNCHES FIRST MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR TOURISTS
The Panama Tourist Board (ATP) has launched a new Medical Insurance for Tourists to guarantee the wellbeing of visitors to this exotic country. The insurance is applicable to any foreigners or Panamanians living abroad who arrive in the country through Tocumen International Airport, and is valid for 30 days. It can be obtained, at no cost, on arrival at the airport.

The new medical insurance, backed by Generali and Axa, covers travellers in the event of falling ill or having an accident while in Panama, including: hospitalisation, medical expenses, transfer to the nearest hospital or regular place of residence, hotel expenses if they are convalescent for more than 10 days, pharmaceutical expenses, legal assistance, accidental death and repatriation to the country of origin, amongst others.

LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR LAUNCHES TWO CLIPPER SHIP ITINERARIES

Cox & Kings is offering a new way to explore the magnificent Pacific coastlines of Central America, rich in wildlife, culture and buccaneering history. The new itineraries of the Star Flyer Tall Ship focus on Costa Rica, offering access to major and lesser-known national parks, some located on remote islands and bays inaccessible to land-based tourists.

NEW: COSTA RICA AND PANAMA CRUISE
This seven-night cruise begins with a visit to the Panamanian island of Isla del Coiba, which is covered in virgin rainforest and home to howler monkeys and scarlet macaws. Other highlights include visits to the famous national parks of Corcovado, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, and Manuel Antonio, a tropical lowland forest where the jungle meets the ocean.

NEW: COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA CRUISE
Sailing north, the first port of call on this seven-night cruise is the fishing town of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua where optional excursions include visiting the colonial town of Granada or the Masaya volcano crater. Returning to Costa Rica’s northern coast, visits are made to Palo Verde National Park, which contains 300 species of bird and Islas Tortugo, whose waters are home to manta ray, whale and dolphin.

Both cruises are priced from £2,995 per person including international flights with Iberia, 1 night accommodation in San Jose, 7 night accommodation on the Star Flyer in a category 4 outside cabin on the Commodore deck, meals as detailed, private transfers and an excursion on Day 2. All excursions on board are optional and payable locally.

International Surfing Association
La Libertad, El Salvador
16 – 23 October 2011

The best master surfers of the world will compete in Punta Roca’s perfect waves | espanol

The 2011 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship will be held in the impressive waves of Punta Roca, in El Salvador’s town of La Libertad, from October 16 to 23. The best master surfers from all over the world will be competing as members of their National Surfing Team, for the honor to win the Gold Medal for their country. They will also be competing for individual gold, silver and bronze medals in the different age divisions.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said, “It is great to have another ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in warm Central America. We will hold the tournament in the perfect waves of Punta Roca. The ISA Masters is a great event, where camaraderie and fair play allow the best over-35 year old surfers in the world to perform and enjoy spending time with their peers from around the world.”

This will be a turning point for surfing in the country, as it will be the first time in history that El Salvador hosts a World Championship of surfing.

El Salvador Minister of Tourism, José Napoleón Duarte Durán, commented regarding the upcoming event, “I am pleased that El Salvador was chosen to host the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. This event will help make El Salvador an even more attractive surf tourism destination. Our wave-rich coast includes the great surf spots of El Sunzal, Punta Mango, Las Flores and the epic Punta Roca, where the event will take place.”

The Minister of Tourism continued, “El Salvador is getting ready to welcome the best surfers in the world from over 30 countries to a surfing tournament that will reach more than 240 million television viewers worldwide. With the coverage of respected sports channels such as ESPN, Sports News and CBS Sports, among others, the ISA World Masters will deliver a global promotion for our Nation.”

El Salvador offers surfers a 300-mile coastline packed with perfect waves. It is a dependable surfing destination with consistent swells all year long.

Carlos Ortiz, representative of Gray Line El Salvador, Avitours DMC and Olas Permanentes, companies in charge of organizing the event, said, “Ever since we started working with the government to promote surfing five years ago, we have had the goal of organizing a World Championship. We are happy that we have finally accomplished this goal.”

Regarding the famous wave of Punta Roca, Ortiz added: “It is an epic point break that has attracted locals and foreigners for over 40 years. If you’re lucky to surf it in the 7 to 10 foot range, I can guarantee that it is going to be one of the best sessions of your life. The 2011 ISA WMSC will see a lot of friendship and unity in one of the top surfing spots in the world.”

It is most likely that perfect waves will show up at the 2011 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship. In order to ensure favorable conditions, the ISA hired surfing forecast guru, Sean Collins of Surfline.com, who studied the swell, weather and wind patterns at Punta Roca in October for the last five years, concluding that the period with most consistent waves was 16 to 23.

Located at the coastal town of La Libertad, Punta Roca is considered by many as one of the best waves in the world. With the ideal swell, waves can reach up to 12-to-15 feet, extending for over 500 yards. Often called the “Jeffrey’s Bay of Central America,” it is a perfect right point-break.

About the International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running Open Division World Championships since 1964, Junior World Championships since 1980, and Masters World Championships since 2007. The ISA will hold the first Stand Up Paddle (SUP) World Championship and the first World Bodyboard Championship in 2011.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 65 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA’s three Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karín Sierralta (Peru).
www.isasurf.org

WITH “GREEN” PORTFOLIO OF ITINERARIES, CENTRALIZED BOOKING SYSTEM: ECOEXPERIENCIAS EL SALVADOR SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR, Feb. 14, 2011- For the first time online, El Salvador is “speaking the language” of international travel companies with a new centralized booking system for eco and adventure travel: www.ecoexperienciaselsalvador.com. This website provides detailed information on multitudes of new itineraries in Central America’s least explored country, El Salvador. Surfing the world’s best waves at dawn, mountain biking along the narrow trails of the coffee highlands at midday and kayaking the serene channels of the mangrove forests that line the Pacific Ocean are the types of day trips that make El Salvador a prime destination for thrill-seekers and outdoor lovers alike. EcoExperiencias also recently launched a new line of seaside tours including endangered sea turtle nesting and release tours, whale watching and artisan fishing with local guides! EcoExperiencias El Salvador has developed exciting itineraries with international tour operators such as GAP Adventures and ResponsibleTravel.com. The expert staff at EcoExperiencias seeks to work with adventure and ecotourism firms across the U.S. and Europe to create unique itineraries with its growing list of well-trained inbound operators. The innovative EcoExperiencias El Salvador business model was designed to support small-scale tour providers with the expert guidance of sustainable tourism consulting firm, EplerWood International, in cooperation with an extensive local team that has combed the countryside for the best national parks, deserted beaches, colonial villages and back-country adventures available. EcoExperiencias upholds the international sustainable tourism standards, the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), developed as part of an initiative led by Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The full EcoExperiencias tour portfolio is available at: http://www.ecoexperienciaselsalvador.com

Copa Airlines has announced that that as of June 2011 it will increase daily flight frequencies to several countries in its extensive route network, offer more convenient schedules and begin service to three new destinations — Toronto, Canada; Porto Alegre, Brazil; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Copa Airlines’ transition as of June 15 from a four-bank to a six-bank operational system (groups of connecting schedules) will allow the airline to better utilize Tocumen Airport’s existing infrastructure as well as offer passengers more and better scheduling options.

As of June 15, the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen Airport will add to its existing flight banks, currently two in the morning and two in the afternoon, a group of early morning departures — ideal for travelers who want to arrive at their destination early in the day — and a group of afternoon departures.

These operational changes also translate to significant improvements in Copa Airlines’ flight schedules to major destinations on the American continent, such as New York’s JFK Airport and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., as well as to South America’s principal cities.

Copa will also increase frequencies of flights in other markets, including Lima, Bogota, Santiago, Orlando and Miami.

For more information, visit www.copaair.com