The Virtual Woman: A Woman's
Weekly Guide To Cyberspace
Buen Viaje! Latin American Travel on the Web
Bienvenidos, cyberamigos! Hungry for some frijoles negros, chile con carne, guacamole and chips? Find yourself interested in salsa at the dinner table and on the dance floor? Maybe it's time for you to get your little cuero over to Latin America, where the tourist attractions run the gamut: natural wonders, ancient ruins, folk traditions, spicy nightlife, and hey--even cybercafes (for the essential email check-in every couple of days). Put your mano on your ratoncito and click on over to some of the Web's finest resources for Latin American travel.
Dear Virtual Woman:
I've wanted to travel
to Latin America for several years now, and I've finally got my chance! But I hardly know
where to begin. Can you point me to some useful sites where I might start my research and
planning?
- Rarin' to Go, Amarillo, TX
Dear Rarin':
I'm a fan of www.latin-america.com, with its simple layout and plentiful resources. In the text menu beneath the main map, click on the country you want, and you'll be instantly rewarded with a detailed map, a window for searching, and a long list of interesting and relevant categories, among which is "travel." Click there and you'll get yourself a new menu: hotel guide, cultural guide, restaurant guide, attractions, activities, events and travel agencies. Muy bueno, no? It's not the prettiest site on the Internet, but it gets you where you need to go, and I favor its streamlined design. When you want the basics, there's no need to be clicking around a whole mess of distracting and irrelevant features. I'd also recommend heading over to one of my favorite travel sites in general-- http://www.lonelyplanet.com--the Internet home of the publisher of the coolest travel books on the market. In addition to giving you the straight dope about your destination, Lonely Planet focuses on the quirky and out-of-the-ordinary (that would be, afuera del beaten path) as well as tours for those of us without dinero to burn. Simply click on "Destinations" and choose your region or country. You'll get a pithily written overview and plenty of juicy details about the delights awaiting you.
Dear Virtual Woman:
My husband and I are about to
celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary, and we'd like to travel in Latin America.
However, we have a special interest. We've heard a lot lately about ecotravel, and we'd
like to try it. We're both interested in protecting the environment and thought that this
would be a good way to start.
- Jenny, New Rochell, NY
Dear Jenny:
First of all, felicitationes on your aniversario! Even though I might just have said "Happy Birthday" in French, I mean only the best for you and yours. In fact, I have just the gift: www.planeta.com. Here you'll find a rich, detailed database of information about every region in Latin America and how you might make an eco-friendly voyage there. Along with investigations of the exact meaning of ecotourism, you'll find plenty of links and resources to get you on your way. This site even has a guide to cybercafes in Latin America!
Dear Virtual Woman:
I'm an outdoorsy kind of gal,
and when I travel, I don't want to stick to buses and taxis. I want to be hiking in the
mountains, kayaking on lakes, and pitching my tent in the rainforest! Any ideas for how I
might do that sort of thing in Latin America?
- Jungle Jill, St. Louis, MO
Dear Jill:
Far be it for me to warn you about poisonous insects or the spiders the size of dinner plates--to the jungle you go! You can begin at www.adventurequest.com, which seems to offer precisely the kinds of trips you seek. You can browse by activity or region, and you'll be served a lengthy menu of outdoor delights. I personally was amazed at the selection, and the South America page goes on and on and on. Get ready to do some serious scrolling, and enjoy!
Happy Surfing!
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