GO BEYOND THE GUIDEBOOKS: Celebrate Mexico's Day of the Dead Like A Local

Day of the Dead is one of the most important and impressive festivals in Mexico. Yet many of the most authentic ceremonies remain inaccessible to outsiders.

Travel beyond the guidebooks with small-group, cultural tour company, Traditions Mexico, and experience unparalleled access to Day of the Dead ceremonies deep in the Oaxaca Outback and among the Maya of Chiapas with the following two 3-day tours.

1. The Return of the Souls. Day of the Dead in Outback Oaxaca. October 31 - November 2, 2011. 

Oaxaca © Eric Mindling 

Beautiful, moving and fascinating and in the midst of the most lovely time of year, Day of the Dead in Oaxaca is not to be missed. This unique trip takes the celebration even one step further, transporting travelers far beyond the crowds and carnival atmosphere that have become the festival norm around Oaxaca city and into a remote village seemingly lost in time in outback Oaxaca.

Slow down, walk the earthen streets, smell the river scented air, and meet bakers, wood cutters and tamale makers, and truly immerse yourself in a small town’s preparations for the return of the souls of their loved ones. Join them in the candle-lit pre-dawn quiet of the cemetery for this one of a kind ceremony.

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Trekking for Chocolate in Ecuador

Nine Day Cacao and Culture Tour of Ecuador Follows Path of Gourmet Channel Documentary ‘El Cacao’ Released in May 2011

Gourmet adventure along the ‘cacao route’ is reason enough for anyone with a sweet tooth and penchant for offbeat travel to book a trip by this name through Equatortrekking to explore chocolate production in Ecuador.

by JackJelly for iStockPhoto.com“This is a must for foodies who can sample chocolate, learn how it‚s used in indigenous dishes, scrutinize its harvest and the supply chain,” says Mateo Ponce, founder of Equatortrekking. “Our travelers are always pleasantly surprised by the quality of Ecuadorian chocolate. This response inspired us to combine Ecuador’s rich chocolate history with the country’s people, landscape and culture to create this distinctively flavored tour.”

The per person rate for Gourmet Adventure in the Cacao Route is $2,430 (exclusive of air into Ecuador) for the nearly all inclusive, nine day-eight night tour. 2011 departures are June 20, July 15 and 30, Aug. 15 and 30, and Sept. 15.

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How Travel Can Make a Difference

”It began with a commitment to preserve whatever we found, wherever we went.”  Thus begins the introduction to a new Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy web site, which showcases opportunities for travellers to become involved with 50 pioneering projects worldwide. 

“As travel increasingly becomes about the things money cannot buy – shared experiences and treasured memories – more and more of our guests want to make a personal connection and a positive contribution to the places they visit,” says Abercrombie & Kent Vice Chairman Jorie Butler Kent, who guides Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. “We hope to use this new web site to multiply the impact of what our guests have started.”

Working through A&K’s offices around the world, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy identifies and supports proven grassroots organizations. Guests who want to give something back can contribute to one of these local projects with a tax-deductible donation which can be made directly through the secure AKP web site. 100% of all donations go directly to the chosen project.  Guests travelling on many of A&K’s small group escorted journeys, private Signature itineraries or Tailor Made programs can visit projects in person, learning more about their destination through the work of its most dedicated people. Examples include:

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Two Upscale Adventures to Old Mexico in Late December

Austin-Lehman Adventures Suggests Two Gifting ‘Wows’ This Holiday Season

A staple of a comprehensive, active and culturally authentic vacation with Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) is the wow factor that its guests experience. When combined with insider’s access to the end of year festivals of Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico, ALA guests stand to give and receive more than the usual holiday gifts.

“What better time than the Christmas and New Year holidays to break with old traditions and create a new set of stories to be told and cherished for years to come,” says Dan Austin, director and co-founder of Austin-Lehman Adventures.

While Austin points out it might spoil the surprise if all were revealed in advance, two of the many ‘wows’ guests can expect on ALA’s Oaxaca itinerary include a rare glimpse of secret recipes and techniques during an exclusive cooking class at Oaxaca’s Instituto de Cultura y Cocinar and a visit to the village of San Martin Tilcajete where master carver Jacobo Mendoza treats guests to a private demonstration and showing.

On the Chiapas itinerary, the ‘wows’ include shopping for one-of-a-kind indigenous handmade treasures along the cobblestone streets of San Cristobal de Las Casas and a private visit to the home of a traditional back-strap weaver in the Maya highland town of SanLorenzo Zinacantan.

While limited to just 12 guests, ALA reports that space is still available on their two upcoming holiday trips:

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Adventure Travel for Families in Panama

Austin-Lehman Adventures Makes Panama

 Accessible to Active Families on Three New Departures

New for 2009 on Austin-Lehman Adventures’ (ALA) list of iconic destinations for families is a 9 day / 8 night Panama Family: Reef & Rainforest Adventure with three departures scheduled in spring and summer breaks beginning in April.

The per person (double) rate is $3,498 (single supplement $780), with children ages 7 and up at $3,148 for first child and $2,798 for each additional child. Departures are Apr. 11-19; June 27-July 5 and July 11-19.

While trekking through a rainforest or flying overhead the canopy in an aerial tram, guests have the opportunity to see monkeys, toucans and elusive wild boars, hike to the top of Volcano Baru with views of the Caribbean and Pacific from the summit and explore the engineering feat that is the Panama Canal.  There are also cultural and scientific visits to a coffee plantation, butterfly farm, ancient ruins and more.

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PALAU: SHARKS, CROCS, JELLYFISH, DOLPHINS, WORLD WAR II RELICS AND CORAL

Where else can you find the opportunity to safely interact with sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, dolphins, World War II memorabilia, kayaking into inner lagoon wonderlands and the most coral species in the world all in one location?  None other than the destination of Palau, Micronesia, which is a natural, ecologically-responsible habitat for each of these attractions.

SHARKS
Shark enthusiasts are invited to enjoy a shark themed week full of adrenalin-packed activities as the Micronesian Shark Foundation (MSF) holds it 7th annual shark week at the Fish ‘n Fins dive shop, in Palau between March 8-15, 2009.  

Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate.  This generates a fabulous opportunity for shark lovers to dive with the world famous sharks of Palau and to participate in data collection. Special hotel packages for this week start from $1250

CROCS

In January, Palau’s newest attraction made its debut, namely the Jungle River Boat Cruise, where crocodiles are at center stage. The Jungle River Boat Cruise is one of Palau’s eco-friendly tours, providing visitors with the ideal opportunity to see crocodiles; Palauan Fruit Dove Bird, or Biib; Palauan Fruit Bats; Kingfishers; Archer Fish; and several other wildlife and fauna. Additionally, passengers might get a glimpse of locals collecting their catch of the day, big mangrove crabs, along the river banks. For information, contact Billy Takamine at rivercruise@palaunet.com or call (680) 488-1188.

JELLYFISH

Attractions most can only dream of also include the daring and the unusual - like Jellyfish Lake, where two types of jellyfish can be found, namely the golden jellyfish known as Mastigias and the moon jellyfish known as Aurelia. This intriguing lake departs radically from convention for it is an enclosed body of water wherein resident jellyfish have completely lost their sting because they haven’t had to fight off predators, allowing adventure seekers a rare opportunity to swim amongst these truly unique water creatures.  In order to access this unique adventure, visitors will need to enlist the transport of a local tour guide, both Fish ‘n Fins and Sam’s Tours offer public access.  It’s recommended that visitors sign up for the full day excursion, which includes snorkeling, lunch in the Rock Islands and a trip to nature’s spa the Milky Way.

DOLPHINS

Dolphins Pacific is a local outfit that was created to preserve the integrity of these popular mammals, educate visitors about their unique place in the environment and to study their behaviors and abilities. The facility offers several public encounters, including everything from a basic one-hour interactive program to fantastical wedding ceremonies.  One favorite is the Dolphin Symphony, which is priced at only $80 and provides the opportunity to swim with several dolphins in the clear blue waters of “Dolphin Bay.” Additionally, Dolphins Pacific recently introduced the Dolphin’s Ocean Blessing for those interested in a less conventional wedding ceremony.  The package starts at $1,600.  For information, call (680) 488-8582, visit www.dolphinspacific.com, or email e-dream@dolphinspacific.com.

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Adventure in Latin America: Multi-Sport Excitement and 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.

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Cruceros Australis Announces The Adventure Cruise of a Lifetime

Cruceros Australis of Santiago, Chile has officially opened their 2008-2009 season, offering expedition cruises to some of the most beautiful and rarely explored regions of the world. Travel to Tierra del Fuego in Southern Argentina and sail the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel to see some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery and wildlife. Cruises run September through April each year with three night or four night one-way itineraries, or combine them into a seven night round trip cruise.

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