South America

Travel through South America by country:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

Travel through South America by popular city:

Bogota, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro

Travel through South America by popular things to do:

Adventures in the Amazon, Falkland Islands, Iguazu Falls, Tierra del Fuego

Mazatlan and cruise lines, not a good match anytime soon

by Chris Owen on
Mazatlan, Mexico and cruise lines just can’t seem to get along. Now saying major cruise lines overreacted by stopping ships from calling at Mazatlan, the cruise-port/danger-zone that most cruise lines stopped visiting after two men were shot close to a hotel frequented by tourists. The two men shot were not cruise passengers but that was good enough reason for cruise lines to divert ships.

“I believe there are parameters in the industry that they could have checked with and got more information from before they made this decision-and they obviously didn’t,” says Julio Birrueta of the Mazatlan Tourist Board.

What does that even mean? Let’s look again.

“…there are parameters in the industry that they could have checked with and got more information from before they made this decision…”

What? Like because the dead people were some other kind of tourist, that’s OK?

Cruise lines think it is not OK. Dead is dead and tourist is tourist and if they are cruise passengers, on a land tour, dropped in via skydiving or Eddie the Eskimo, cruise lines don’t want any part of it.

Pretty much ever since the Poseidon Adventure, little light bulbs go off in cruise line executives heads when danger is lurking. Just lurking. Danger does not have to jump out of the bushes and hold up passengers at gunpoint for ships to steam full speed ahead away from it.

Rightfully so.

Cruise ship passengers buy into the notion that traveling via the closed environment a cruise ship provides is safe. They expect that level of safety to extend to their time off the ship too, at least on the ship-sponsored shore excursions. While run by local vendors, there is an implied safety level that is undeniable. I had been told that cruise lines often send along crew members posing as passengers to check the quality and safety of shore excursions. I never really thought much of it until we were in Alaska on a Princess Cruises cruisetour last year.

On that tour was an adorable little boy who caught the attention of the group early on. Later, at an event for journalists along for the ride I was pleased to see that little boy’s father who was not a guest as we were but a member of the Princess management staff.

Yes, safety is a really big deal to the cruise lines.

Still, Mazatlan is a beautiful city with a relaxed atmosphere, great food and worthy of a visit, if not by sea, maybe by land and stay a while…in a safe part of town.

Related Stories

Flickr photo by Dario Presencia

Video of the Day – Underwater in the Galapagos

by Stephen Greenwood on

I’m not one to shy away from a good adventure. I’ve bungee jumped Victoria Gorge, plummeted from a plane at 15,000 ft, and stood atop the summit of Kilimanjaro.

But the thought of strapping a cylinder to my back and descending into the depths of the ocean mildly terrifies me.

If there was one video that could change that and make me reconsider my fear, it would be today’s Video of the Day from underwater videographer Darek Sepiolo. Captured along the coast of the Galapágos Islands with a Sony EX1, this 7 minute adventure displays some of the incredible sea life that the Galapágos is famous for. From sea lions and exotic schools of fish, to hammerhead and whale sharks; it’s a stunning glimpse into an entire world that all too often goes unnoticed.

Do you have underwater pictures or video that we should see? Have you faced your fears while traveling? Leave a comment below and it could be tomorrow’s Video/Photo of the Day!

AeroMexico cabin crew stops drunk pilots from flying home

by Scott Carmichael on

Cabin crew members of an AeroMexico flight stopped their flight deck colleagues from entering the cockpit when they suspected the pair were under the influence of alcohol. Local police were called and performed a breathalyzer test. The co-pilot tested positive, but the pilot refused to cooperate.

Since no spare flight crew was available in Costa Rica, the flight was delayed so a replacement crew could be flown in. The 101 passengers were compensated for the delay and made their way to Mexico City 24 hours later. According to a local newspaper, the pilots had been partying seven hours before their flight.

AeroMexico apologized for the incident and will be investigating the behavior of the pilots.

%Gallery-76818%

[Photo: Flickr/So Cal Metro]

Fat Tuesday – top 5 places to party for Carnival

by Justin Delaney on

Fat Tuesday is the culmination of Mardi Gras, Carnival, Carnevale, and like minded celebrations that take place across the world today. From Guatemala to Greece, Fat Tuesday represents the last bastion of excess in Christian culture before the Lent fasting season begins. The streets pulse with energy and revelers don costumes, throw beads, shout sheenisms, and generally have a booze-fueled fantastic time.

So where are the top 5 places to throw down and party for Fat Tuesday?5. Venice
Venice provides the Italian atmosphere and throwback baroque charm to make you feel like you have stepped back in time a few centuries. Massive Parties are thrown at Piazza San Marco and thousands dress up in extravagant costumes to add an air of aristocracy to the Venetian streets. European revelers clog Venice’s narrow alleyways and bridges with a great time. The oldest Carnevale party in Venice took place in the 13th century, making Venice the original spot for the party.

4. Portugal
Portugal’s celebrations vary by region with some smaller cities incorporating pagan rituals into the “Carnaval” experience. The largest party in the country happens in Lisbon and is a very cosmopolitan experience. With famous dancers and a massive parade, it is easy to find a great time in colorful Lisbon. In northern Portugal, revelers dress up in colorful yellow, red, and green costumes with tin masks (pictured above) and consume a lot of meat.

3. Trinidad and Tobago
This tiny island hosts the largest Carnival experience in the Caribbean. The party lasts over a month and climaxes with a massive 3 day party in the Port of Spain that ends on Ash Wednesday. Steel pans and Calypso music echo out across the massive party as Trinidadians and Tobagonians dance to the beat while clutching cups filled with sugary rum. On the Monday before Fat Tuesday, revelers wear old clothes and cover themselves in mud, oil, and paint. Some dress as devils. On Fat Tuesday, the party hits overdrive and revelers enrobe themselves in their Carnival finery.

2. New Orleans
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and in the States, New Orleans is the place to take in the party. People come from all over the world for this French-American version of Carnival. The epicenter of the party is Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and Fat Tuesday is the apogee of the debauchery. With parades, beads, and hand grenades, it is hard not to have a great time in New Orleans.

1. Rio de Janeiro
The craziest and most intense carnival celebration takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazilians call it the greatest show on earth, and they make a valid point. Millions of people descend on the streets of Rio to dance the night away and gawk at Brazilian goddesses dressed in Samba costumes. The celebrations really take off the weekend before Ash Wednesday with the party exploding like a star on Fat Tuesday. Check out the video below to see what the world’s biggest party looked like in 1955.

flickr images via justindelaney and Rosina

Abandoned Caracas skyscraper is home to 2,500 squatters

by Justin Delaney on

In downtown Caracas, thousands have found home in an unlikely structure. The “Tower of David,” a one time symbol for Venezuela‘s economic growth prospects, is an unfinished 45 story skyscraper filled with idle Venezuelans and enterprising small business start-ups. According to the New York Times, a housing shortage in Caracas has led many to make the most out of the housing opportunity provided by this massive abandoned structure.

A relic of the Venezuelan banking boom, the slum-scraper is one of the tallest buildings in Latin America and houses roughly 2500 squatters. The tenants have wired electricity, created makeshift shops, and installed DirecTV satellite dishes that cling precariously to the exterior of the re-purposed tower. Many residents have set up businesses, including a PlayStation home-brew arcade, a beauty salon, and a suspicious sounding dentistry operation.

The DIY housing solution is currently inhabited up to the 28th floor, though residents plan to push higher towards the incongruous Helipad that rests atop the tower. This video by the New York Times provides a candid glimpse into life within the dilapidated tower.