Posts Tagged ‘Costa’

Cruise South America With Costa Cruises

An adventurous cruise through South America will take in a huge array of wildlife, you could see many natural wonders and some spectacular scenery, and even lost cities along the way. Rich with beauty and atmosphere, a South American cruise truly is a unique experience.

For travellers who are in search of breath taking mountain views, vast tropical rainforests and natural, rugged beauty a South American cruise really is it. The west coast of Chile with deep fjords and icy glaciers is something to behold. In contrast you could experience the tropical atmosphere of a mangrove river in Costa Rica or explore a tranquil fishing village in Mexico. This huge continent covers many thousands of miles and has equatorial tropics and sub Antarctic regions. There are fourteen countries and territories that make up the continent and that means some wonderfully diverse cultures as well as many interesting animals to be seen, from Whales to Penguins and Sea Lions as well as many tropical birds.

This is adventure cruising, and as well as the main cruise itself, you will probably want to take excursions away from your ship in order to truly experience this region. Boat up the Amazon to see the jungle surround you and a wonderful array of wildlife and birds that just can’t be seen anywhere else. Take an excursion to see OIinda, a wonderful Portuguese hilltop town which is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Or sightsee in the exotic and cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro. You might even take in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands on your route and experience a little slice of Britain out in the South Atlantic.

Travel round the Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of the southernmost continent, and visit Patagonia, a vast landscape of deserts and mountains that stretch between Chile and Argentina which in it’s gentlest parts looks something like the wildest areas of Scotland, here you can go penguin spotting and visit the national glacier parks, and possibly even see a killer whale. There are so many places to visit in this area that no cruise can take them all in, but whichever route you choose you are bound to experience some wonderful sights, and if visiting Antarctica appeals to you, it is possible to take a day cruise out there from some main cruises, but these can be expensive at around £1,500 per person for this day event. It is however a once in a lifetime experience.

In between visits to exotic places, there is of course the wonder of the South Atlantic ocean to see. From your ship at night you will be able to view the stars over the water in this vast unspoilt area, and there are many aquatic creatures to look out for along the way in the daytime such as the South American sea lion which can be found on the Peruvian, Uruguayan, Argentine and Chilean coasts. So, with fine dining aboard ship and adventurous trips inland to be taken, as well as incredible wildlife and astounding landscapes and seascapes to be seen, most people enjoy cruising this area which is like no other anywhere on the globe.

Golfing and Golf Courses of Costa Del Sol Spain

This region has been nicknamed Costa del Golf with a good reason, as it is a paradise for the golfers with about 70 golf courses in Andalucía, and the Costa del Sol boasts of almost 50 of them. There are four golf courses in the region which are among the top ten in Europe.

The first thought which comes to our mind when we hear Costa del Sol, Spain would be sea, sand and the sun. This part of Spain has been endowed with an abundance of natural seaside, beaches and coves. The coastline is about hundred kilometers long with a number of shimmering beaches all the way along.

Spain is fast becoming the golfing Mecca of Europe. It has a winning recipe with world class courses designed in spectacular settings and weather which offers golf all the year round for all golfers to enjoy.

The Spanish mainland as well as the islands are home to an amazing assortment of golf courses and golfing, for golfers with all skill level, taste as well as budgets. You can enjoy golf from the Costa del Golf in Andalucía to the stunning courses in Catalonia situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

This is no wonder that the country is one of the most sought after golf holiday destinations in the world. Costa del Sol or better known as Costa del Golf has a number of golf courses which can fulfill the requirements of all golfers. As new courses are being designed even the most frequent golfer will have new challenges every time he visits this region of Spain.

Every year thousands of north European golfers make it their winter destination. With its concentration of varied courses along the coastline and foothills of the mountain ranges. This region offers the golfer ideal weather with its warm and sunny climate. In fact if you love playing golf then a visit to Costa del Sol in Spain is a must.

The region of Costa del Sol offers numerous world class clubs such as Valderrama, which is the most celebrated golf course in Spain and was home to the Ryder Cup in 1997 and the World Golf American Express Championships in 1999 and 2000. This club has also become the sacred venue for the esteemed Volvo Masters tournament.

There are some other well known clubs including Torrequebrada the impressive and challenging Monte Mayor, which is a golf course designed on the mountainside and has the unmatched panorama of the Gibraltar, Mediterranean and North Africa. San Roque is another famous club which has a golf academy started by Seve Ballesteros and an equestrian centre managed by Captain Mark Phillips.

With the huge success of the Ryder Cup, golf has been taken to new heights at Costa del Sol in Spain and it has also gained worldwide appreciation. This has seen the designing of top quality courses in this region to cater to the ever growing demand with Finca Cortesin Golf Course the most recent championship course to play in Costa del Sol, Spain.

The reasons are many and over the years Costa del Sol has demonstrated that the numero uno destination for golfers looking for interesting, challenging as well as a relaxing golf vacation is here.

Top Costa Rica Tourist Attractions

The Caribbean island of Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. Along with the many resorts, hotels and beaches, tourists have opportunities to enjoy beautiful scenery and exquisite shopping. However there are many natural and manmade Costa Rica tourist attractions that you should have on your itinerary when you visit this island.

1. Arenal Volcano National park and Observatory. This is an active volcano located in the San Jose area of Costa Rica. The tours usually start in the afternoon and involve about an hour’s walk through lava rocks before reaching the place where you can view the volcanic eruption. The sight of the eruption and the lava flow from the observatory is spectacular and is a sight that will remain in your memory for years to come. The best time to see the eruption is after dark when the glowing lava lights up the sky. If you visit on a cloudy day, you may not see anything.

2. Our Lady of Los Angeles Church. This is the most famous church in the Cartago Region, if not in all of Costa Rica. The focal point of the church is the statue of the Virgin Mary, called La Negrita. As legend has it, this statue was discovered at the site of the present church in 1635 and reappeared miraculously after it was removed. This is a destination for thousands of pilgrims each year, especially on August 2.

3. The Rainmaker. This is a series of suspension bridges on the Pacific Coast of the island. It was the first aerial walkway in Central America and reaches 25 stories tall at its highest point. The area around the bridges is spectacular with rainforest trails that wind along streams and to glorious waterfalls.

4. Rainforest Aerial Tram. This is a train that moves along the canopy of the rainforest. There are 22 cars in the train, each of which can carry five passengers. A naturalist guide points out sights of interest and explains the workings of the rainforest as well as the names of the birds and animals that you may be able to see.

5. Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. This type of forest is usually cloudy and humid because of its high altitude. There are eight different ecological zones within this reserve with over 400 species of birds, 110 species of amphibians and lizards, 100 species of mammals and over 2500 species of plants. Some of the hiking trails could be a bit muddy so visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

6. Santa Rosa National Park. This is one of the oldest parks in Costa Rica. It covers almost 100,000 acres of land on the Santa Elena Peninsula. The numerous hiking trails offer breathtaking scenic views and the possibility of seeing many type of native wildlife. It is the largest dry tropical rainforest in Central America and is one of the best camping places in Costa Rica. It is the home of a sea turtle sanctuary as well as fabulous beaches for swimming and surfing.