When you see Lake Titicaca you can be forgiven for thinking someone has stuck a medium-size sea right in the middle of the Andes! It is massive, covering 8,000km² and is the highest navigable lake in the world, forming most of Peru's border with Bolivia. Many people fit a visit to Lake Titicaca into their Peru holidays and it's definitely a location you should consider trying to visit on your holiday in Peru

It is an incredibly tranquil place, and is home to some of the most ancient of the Peruvian peoples. Many speak Quechua (the language of the Incas) as a first language and maintain a very traditional way of life. The lake itself played a prominent part in Inca creation myths and there are many items of historical interest both in and around the lake!

The Uros are floating islands made entirely out of the reeds which go all round the lake. The largest have several hundred people living on them and one great thing to do on your holiday in Peru is to take a boat trip out to visit some of the smaller islands. The trip out to these remarkable homes amid the tranquility of the lake is definitely something to remember!

Of course, if you don't fancy trusting to reeds, then a trip to Taquile and Amantani - two of the 'real' islands further out in the lake is perhaps a better idea! Both islands are absolutely beautiful and have a rich heritage of both Inca and pre-Inca ruins, and both have a famous tradition of handwoven textiles. For the more adventurous, it is also possible to stay overnight on either of these islands with a local family and sample some real Andean hospitality as part of your holiday in Peru.

The main town on the lake is Puno and this is most people's base when visiting Lake Titicaca during their Peru holidays. It is a centre for traditional music and is a great place to buy llama and alpaca gear - much cheaper than in Cuzco or Lima! There is a large daily market in Puno and you can find it just by walking towards the lake from the town itself, along Avenida Los Incas. If you are arriving by train from Cusco, the very last stage of the journey actually goes through it!

There is also a great vantage point behind the town which you reach by following a path symbolising the stations of the cross. The views across the town and out over the lake are well worth the walk!

Outside Puno itself, there are several sites of interest within easy reach, of which the most important is Sillustani. This village has an astonishing congregation of Inca and pre-Inca funeral towers. It is still unclear exactly how they were constructed and they are defying archaeologists attempts to re-create them. There is a small museum at the site (although the exhibits and displays are all in Spanish) and the location is beautiful so if you find yourself with a few hours to spare then it’s definitely worth a trip. A taxi from Puno should cost about $25 and won’t take more than 45 minutes - a worthwhile addition to any holiday in Peru!

Lake Titicaca should definitely be on your Peru holiday checklist so make sure you don't get carried away thinking about Cusco and Machu Picchu and forget about when you're looking to book your Peru holidays this year!

By: Dan Clarke
Dan Clarke works for the Real Peru Holiday Company, the UK specialists in tailormade Peru holidays. He also maintains the Peru Holidays Guide to give you even more advice on holiday in Peru!

The fabulously colourful and exotic Central American nation of Belize is becoming a more popular vacation destination with North Americans, Brits and Europeans as it becomes more accessible and better known. It's a stunning Caribbean country with so much varied flora and fauna, with dramatic scenery, untouched coastline and a wealth of things to do and see - so much so that it's as popular today with backpackers as it is with families and it is as popular with the baby boomers as it is with young couples!

A truly paradise nation, Belize is seriously worth consideration if you're after a bit of adventure tempered with a laid back lifestyle, and if you like to combine beachcombing with mountain climbing! In other words, there really is something for everyone in Belize and because the US dollar is pegged to the Belizean dollar, Americans will not find it expensive and British and European visitors will find it positively cheap!

In terms of things to do in Belize - how about this for starters - you can explore the rainforest and share the experience with over 500 amazing species of wildlife. You can explore caves and Mayan ceremonial sites, you can island hop by boat, by canoe, kayak or even under your own swimming steam! You can sunbathe until sunset and then watch the sun setting over the ocean or from atop a mountain or a Mayan temple. You can snorkel, learn to scuba dive and explore the stunning reefs around the country's coast, you can fish, hike, bike, be wined and dined and just fall in love with the culture, history and vibe in Belize.

The only trouble is that there may come a point during your vacation when you realise that you don't want to leave! And if you find yourself in this position the good news is that you can probably get a visa to stay! Visas are available for all ages and for most nationalities and you can get a visa to live and work in Belize, a visa to retire to Belize or just a visa to extend your vacation...to find out about your rights as a foreign citizen who wants to live, work or even buy property in Belize visit the Belizean embassy in your country.

By: Rhiannon Davies
Rhiannon Davies writes about living and working abroad, to read more about living and property in Belize as well as visiting Belize, check out her site http://www.ShelterOffshore.com

Brazil is the country that gave birth to carnival, the dazzling costumes and glorious beaches of Rio de Janeiro, will allure you to the rhythm of the Samba. The mix of colors shows Brazil’s great diversity. It has a hospitable spirit unequalled anywhere else in the world. The country of Soccer, good food, exotic beaches, rainforest, waterfalls, and many other topics make Brazil come together and the ideal destination for those who wish to be well received and treated as if at home. This is a place where many people leave their hearts.

Indubitably it is an ideal destination for travelers that deserve a very luxury custom program, service and money wise tour provider. It’s obvious that so many costumes arrive home already day dreaming of returning.

Brazil is a unique mix of races, Breath – taking Mountains, Amazing wild life, and a great pleasure. Come and get a glimpse of Brazil rich biodiversity. Those who come, fall in love.

Large International Hotels and good quality of service area way of life. Growing numbers of tourists are coming to Brazil, and in the last 5 years the number has grown 10 % and continues.

From Amazon to Iguassu Falls it’s a fantastic scene with beautiful views of cities, Unbelievable forest and happy and smiling people. From the big cities to the little ones, you arealways going to find many magic spots and a reason to come back to a paradise named Brazil. The beauty and excitement of Brazil is vast, but for those who do not have months to explore her riches, we have selected several gems that will give you a wonderful experience of the best Brazil has to offer.

***** Buzios- What was once a quaint fisherman’s village is now an international hotspot for tourism. Buzios attained international attention when the renowned actress, Brigitte Bardot began to frequent the sultry peninsular paradise. ***** Rio de Janeiro - O Rio, Rio how lovely art thou, Rio! Rio de Janeiro is without a doubt one of the most popularly visited spots worldwide. If you think about it, it really has it all—the mountains, beaches, Arts, museums, sophisticated and bargain shopping facilities of all kinds, historical sites, red hot night life, and the list goes on forever. ***** Sao Paulo- The third largest city in the world and the financial center of Brazil, Make Sao Paulo a very special place for Business and Tourism. When you think of the largest world cities, Sao Paulo ranks highly on the list. It is home to 19 million people, including vast numbers of Lebanese, Japanese, and Italian immigrants. ***** Salvador- The name means savior and was actually the first capital of Brazil ( the current Brazilian capital is of Course Brasilia ). Salvador is the capital of the enormous state of Bahia. This quaint yet prodigious city is the site of colonial style houses and beautiful old catholic churches.

By: Luiz Silva
Let us help you enjoy the best of Brazil http://www.seeyouinbrazil.com
Born and raised in Brazil, Luiz graduated with a B.A in Portuguese an English Literature from Brazilian University. He later achieved the Approximate Brazilian equivalent of Master in Business

Administration with s Focus in Management. Having lived the vast majority of his life in Buzios (possibly the most exotic beach city in Brazil), Luiz learned from in early age to eat, sleep, and breath tourism.

He worked at some of the top first class hotels in Buzios, such, as Casas Brancas (white house) Colonna Park , etc. He worked directly with the Mayor at the City Hall of Buzios for seven Years in the Planning and Administration Division. Luiz has visited quite a number of US States. He also traveled extensively in Europe , visiting France, Portugal, Switzerland. He led several different groups of Brazilian Soccer players to France to Jockey for positions on professional teams there. He was the only architect of this whole program designing, planning, at supervising the entire project. He received a plaque from the City Hall of Buzios for his tireless effort on this endeavor.

Getting around Ecuador

Ecuador is split into 3 separate climate zones: costa, sierra and selva (the coast, the mountains and the jungle). The geography, culture and climate of each of the three areas is remarkably distinct and means that even a short holiday in Ecuador can be like three holidays in one! Ecuador's excellent road network and very good domestic airlines make it really easy to combine a jungle adventure with some Andean scenery and some relaxing time on the beach even in the shortest holiday!

The coast offers some excellent beaches, and there are places to suit every taste - from 5-star resort hotels in Salinas and Manta, to laid-back surf beaches such as Montañita. The jungle of Ecuador's Amazon Basin is some of the most unspoilt rainforest in the world and much of it is protected under international law. The rainforest is home to an amazing and spectacular array of wildlife, with more species being discovered every year! What's even better is that Ecuador is ahead of much of South America in developing sustainable tourism with programmes and lodges run by and for the local indigenous communities. Meanwhile, the Andes mountains form the heart of Ecuador and are an unmissable part of any Ecuador holiday. From the splendour of the Cotopaxi volcano and national park to the hustle and bustle of the local markets at Otavalo and Saquisili, there's simply tons to see and do, and loads of fun to be had!

Highlights of a holiday in Ecuador

The obvious key feature to most people's Ecuador holiday is a cruise in the Galapagos Islands. And with good reason! The Galapagos are quite simply one of the most amazing places on earth and for nature-lovers they are an absolute must-see. Even if you don't have yourself down as a real nature fan then we challenge you to share your beach towel with an iguana or go swimming with sea-lions and not change your mind!

Where we think most people go wrong is by ignoring the rest of mainland Ecuador... Since all international flights go through the capital, Quito, anyway, why not take some time to explore this UNESCO-listed World Heritage site? The gorgeous colonial Old Town is one of the finest in South America and its winding cobbled streets are well worth a look around. Or why not take a couple of days and head south to the Cotopaxi National Park. Here you can enjoy superlative scenery by day, and then retire to a luxury Andean Spa at night to soak away your cares in the hot springs... For those of you with a little more time, then a trip into the rainforest is an unforgettable experience and a trip on the roof of the Devil's Nose train from Riobamba to Alausi is something which will stay with you forever!

Nuts and Bolts - Language, Accommodation and Money

The primary language in Ecuador is Spanish and 90% of the population have it as either a first, or only language. In the Andes mountains, particularly around the city of Riobamba, many people speak Quechua (the ancient language of the Incas) as a first language, although almost all will also speak Spanish. Some degree of English is also often spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and by the staff of services that deal with international customers (eg: airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.

Ecuador's currency is the US dollar, which makes things very easy for holiday-makers coming from the States, and currently very good value for those coming from Europe. If you live in the UK and are considering a holiday in Ecuador then now might just be the ideal time!

In terms of accommodation, most of Ecuador's towns and cities have a wide variety of accommodation, from home stays to luxury hotels. Ecuador is ahead of the game in terms of quality character accommodation, with boutique hotels in most cities for those looking for something a little bit different. In the mountains, a small selection of Andean haciendas offer the same kind of quality and character, while in the jungle there is a range of excellent jungle lodges to suit everybody from those looking for real adventure to those looking for a little luxury on their holiday.

By: Dan Clarke
Dan Clarke is one of the founders of Real Ecuador Holidays http://www.therealecuador.co.uk - the UK's leading specialist in organising tailormade holidays in Ecuador and cruises to the Galapagos Islands. Dan is a regular visitor to Ecuador, researching new ideas and making sure the old favourites are still great!

Thinking of Rio, the first image that comes to mind is of the sandy beaches, the sun and the ‘Girl from Ipanema’. Beach culture is prevalent in all of Brazil, and nowhere is it bigger or more impressive than in Rio de Janeiro. The beach culture in Brazil is a scene for fashion and trend setting. It's not just about enjoying the sun, but also a social occasion. It is a chance to meet, socialize and for participating in sports like volley ball, soccer and surfing. Even during the winter and in poor weather, the Cariocas, as the locals are known, frequent the promenade.

Wedged on a strip of land at the foothills of Rio is one of the world’s greatest beaches, Copacabana. This highly populated region reverberates with a non-stop party atmosphere. Beach partying is a ritual here for the young and old alike. With an array of bars and nightclubs, there is always something happening on the beach, day or night. All along the 5 km beach, clusters of people sleep and sunbathe under umbrellas and in the white sand.

Lifeguard stations, called 'postas' are numbered and stretch along the length of the beach. The Copacabana beach stretches from Princesa Isabel Avenue to the lifeguard watchtower six, Posto Seis, near the Forte de Copacaban.

South of the city of Rio de Janeiro, lying adjacent to the Copacabana beach is the district of Ipanema. The beach at Ipanema is lined with world class restaurants cafes and shopping malls. Ipanema is one of the most expensive places in Rio and the symbol of Brazilian pleasure and wealth. It is frequented by affluent Brazillian youth as well as tourists.

Two hills known as the 'Two Brothers' are situated at the western end of the beach. The beach is also marked into segments with points known as postos. Ipanema beach has several favorite hotspots with each block attracting a different type of crowd. There are always people playing football, volleyball, and footvolley, a combination sport unique to Brazil. The beach at Ipanema was immortalized in the song, “Girl from Ipanema” by Carlos Jobim.

By: Marcus Peterson
Rio De Janeiro provides detailed information on Rio De Janeiro, Beaches In Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro Hotels, Rio De Janeiro Carnival and more. Rio De Janeiro is affiliated with Caracas Venezuela.