Archive for December, 2009

Fascinating ruins of early civilizations and beautiful coastal paths above the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean are ours to discover on this walking tour of ancient Sicily.

Seaside town of Cefalù

“In Sicily, I love the incredible variety of landscapes, the beaches, volcanoes, wine country, and the extreme intensity of its natural colors, the strong scent of spring flowers, the solemn, silent Greek temples, the exorcising richness of the pastry (because life can be sometimes bitter), and the great heart of the Sicilians.”

Join Boundless Journeys’ April 18-25 Ancient Sicily walking tour and enjoy the full-blown Mediterranean spring, from Palermo to Taormina, and explore some 2,800 years of layered civilizations – Greek, Roman, Saracen, Norman, French, Spanish, and Neapolitan. For more information call, 1-800-941-8010, or visit our trip web page.

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Are You a Twitcher?

Respledent Quetzal

If you are unsure if you are a twitcher, you’re not. “Twitchers” are the most commited type of bird watchers; the kind who keep life lists, and who, when they arrive on an African safari, get annoyed when another pesky lion interferes with their sighting of a Blacksmith Plover hatchling. But you needn’t be a twitcher to come to appreciate what makes these bird lovers so fanatic about their feathered friends. Spend a week in Costa Rica with Boundless Journeys, and you will find yourself evolving from bemusedly tolerant of your guide’s seemingly endless knowledge of bird behavior, to sneaking his well-used Central American bird guide out of his backpack for a little light evening reading.

And there may be no better place for the novice birdwatcher to stretch his or her wings than in beautiful Costa Rica, with about 600 resident species, and another 300 or so arriving seasonally to enjoy the fine weather and abundant food supply. Among the diverse species you’ll soon come to recognize (and yes, truly appreciate) are the cotton-candy colored Roseate Spoonbill, the clownishly entertaining Montezuma Oropendula, and of course, the famous Respledent Quetzal.

Still not sure birds are enough to hold your interest? That’s fine. Join a small-group tour to Costa Rica for the hiking, ziplining, exploration by boat, and to just get away from it all in one of nature’s most enticing playgrounds. Next thing you know, you’ll find yourself checking species off your life list and making notes in the margins of the bird guide you purchased on Day 3.

Join Boundless Journeys for their March 14-21 Nature’s Richness Revealed tour and save $300 (new reservations only; reservations must be made directly with Boundless Journeys).

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An Ancient Chinese Cocktail….with actual tails in it…

Chinese snake wine

“When I arrived in China a few years ago I knew I was in for some culinary heavy-hitters; the crispy, supreme Peking Duck in Beijing, the delicate dumplings in Xi’an with a symphony of equally impressive fillings, and the modern fusion cuisine in Shanghai’s diverse gastronomic neighborhoods – what I wasn’t expecting, however, was a jar filled with what was basically serpents and moonshine.

It means much more than that, however, to locals all over China and many other Southeast Asian countries. Snake wine is a tonic that is believed to possess medicinal qualities, and the wine is often advertised to cure anything from farsightedness, to hair loss, to sexual performance. Snake wine is produced when a large venomous snake is placed into a glass jar of rice wine often with many smaller snakes, turtles, insects, or birds, and left to ferment for many months.

Have no fear, the venom is rendered ineffective by the ethanol in either the wine used to make this concoction; its proteins are degraded and therefore deactivated.

Some say that the unexpected are foreboding in travel – a delayed flight, a rain storm, a traffic jam – but it is moments like when our local Chinese guide pulled out the jar of snake wine, the look on his face very knowing that he was about to surprise a well-traveled visitor, that make me feel the opposite. Travelers have to cherish the unexpected; even when it means your cocktails come with a scaly garnish.

Care to try some yourself? Here’s the perfect opportunity, China: Rediscovering an Ancient Empire, April 19-30.

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Aerogal direct flights to the Galapagos Islands

Getting to Ecuador Just Got Easier
Now it is easier to get to Ecuador than ever before. Aerogal airlines just introduced nonstop daily flights to Ecuador from NY’s JFK airport. The 24-year-old carrier’s new route extends its range from domestic flights, plus nonstop links with Miami and Bogotá, with its new “Big Apple” service. AeroGal Flight 901 departs JFK’s Terminal 4 at 11:59 p.m., arriving in Guayaquil at 6:29 a.m. The return flight from Ecuador’s prime port departs at 2:30 p.m., landing at Kennedy at 8:40 p.m. AeroGal operates its New York connection with a 210-passenger Boeing 767.

Why put Ecuador on your must-see list?
Ecuador is among the most rewarding travel destinations in South America. With its array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, pristine islands, and dense rainforest, it packs its perimeters with more points of interest than many countries twice its size. With Boundless Journeys expert local guides you can swim with sea lions, hike up volcanoes, visit the famous Otavalo market, snorkel with sea turtles three times your size, and relax in charming seaside hotels or on a deluxe yacht each night.

Boundless Journeys' Yacht: The Eric

If you Choose to Cruise
Boundless Journeys’ Cruises offer an up close and personal experience with small, deluxe yachts ranging in size from 12-48 pax. Each tour begins in your choice of Quito to Guayaquil, followed by 8-days out at sea. During this time you will encounter incredibly rare and beautiful wildlife with an expert naturalist guide. Days are filled with opportunities to snorkel, hike, swim, kayak, or just relax on deck. Evenings are spent debriefing the day, dining al fresco on delicious local and international cuisine, and letting the ocean gently lull you to sleep.

Galapagos Family fun

If you Prefer Land
Boundless Journeys’ Explorer’s Galapagos is for those individuals who crave a variety of nature walks, snorkeling, kayaking, and small-boat excursions with the comfort of charming, land-based accommodations each night. Activities on this itinerary include a hike up Sierra Negra volcano, snorkeling among tropical fish, penguins, and sea lions, hiking in the highlands, and visiting a giant tortoise breeding center in San Cristobal Island. This is a perfect option for families.

An Ecuadorian weaver in the Highlands

The Highlands
Get to know more about the local people and landscape of Ecuador with a visit to the highlands. Boundless Journeys offers 4-day tours to Otavalo and the northern highlands, and 3-day tours to Cuenca and the southern highlands. On these tours experience the ruggedly beautiful countryside, tour Inca ruins, and shop at traditional indigenous markets.

For more details please call Boundless Journeys Galapagos destination manager Deborah Tobey at 1-800-941-8010, or e-mail deborah@boundlessjourneys.com.

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E-mail is the best way for us to let you know first about new trips, travel tips, special events, and current promotions. Sign up for our e-newsletter, e-mail your name and address to info@boundlessjourneys.com, or give us a call (800-941-8010), and we’ll keep you in the loop! We respect your privacy and will never sell or share your e-mail address with any third party company, and our unsubscribing process is easy and prompt.