Take A Vacation To The Land Of The Rhythm, Colombia

Over the past five years, Colombia has experienced a tourism boom. With an increase in the number of flights to the country, an influx of hotel chains and the country’s peace negotiations settled, Colombia is becoming a major tourist destination. Its Caribbean beaches, Pacific coast, Amazon rainforest, Andes mountain range and desert plains appeal to a diverse tourist crowd. Colombia is full of unique and wonderful landscapes. Take a vacation to the land of the rhythm, Colombia and follow our guide to make memories that last a lifetime:

The Mavecure Hills

These ancient rocky hills in the deep jungles of eastern Colombia are barely known outside of the country, but are well worth the extra effort to visit. The jungles have hardly been touched by tourism and the views from the summit of the Mavecure Hills over the jungles at dawn are truly breathtaking.

Barranquilla Carnival

Colombia is the home of the world’s second largest carnivalafter Rio, the Barranquilla Carnival on the Caribbean coast. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience and an amazing party as well! In 2018 it takes place in February, so get booking those hotels now.

Buenavista and Pijao

The best up-and-coming destinations to discover the world of Colombian coffee, Buenavista and Pijao are a pair of delightfully off-the-beaten-track towns in the Quindio department, not far from the incredibly popular town of Salento. Buenavista is home to the excellent Panorama Café Hostel, and Pijao is the base for the WakeCup Experience Coffee Tour — perhaps the best of its kind in Colombia. Try and visit in July to enjoy the Yipao Jeep Parade.

Salt Cathedral

First constructed in 1816 by the miners working within the salt mine as an area to pray, the Salt Cathedral has developed dramatically into a major tourist attraction on the outskirts of Bogotá. Located in Zipaquirá, 32 miles (52 kilometers) from Colombia’s capital, Bogotá. The Salt Cathedral is made up of a number of attractions including a 3,000-seat cathedral, the seven stations of the cross, a climbing wall, 3D movie theater, museum, art gallery and café.

La Guajira

The vast Caribbean deserts at the most northerly tip of Colombia are home to some of the country’s most spectacular beaches, surreal scenery, and the best kite surfing in the country. There’s also the incredibly off-the-beaten-track Macuira National Park to discover as well.

The Choco Pacific Coast

The wild jungles of Colombia’s Pacific Coast region are some of the most biodiverse on the planet, and are among the best destinations in Colombia for nature lovers. Between June and October you can watch humpback whales, in September sea turtles come to lay their eggs, and if you’re less of a nature freak then you can always go surfing instead.

Caño Cristales

Caño Cristales, or “the river of five colors,” is located in the Serranía de la Macarena National Park. This unique and wonderfully colorful phenomenon is a picturesque sight located within a remote part of the country. The 62-mile (100-kilometer) stretch of river has beautiful waterfalls and natural pools.

Amazon rainforest communities

The Amazon rainforest is a vast ecosystem covering large areas of Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Visiting the Amazon rainforest is a unique experience, where you will witness communities living with nature and very few material items. Visiting an Amazon community is a life-changing experience; you get to see how villagers live with no running water or electricity. In the Amazon you can trek through the rainforest, visit monkey island, take boat trips and go fishing for piranhas.

Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park is located close to the city of Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast. Tayrona National Park is a sacred area for the local indigenous community of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The park boasts some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, backed by the rainforest and the snow capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands are a collection of 27, predominantly uninhabited Caribbean islands, located off the coast of Cartagena. These islands are a protected National Park due to their coral reefs and marine life, which make for incredible snorkeling and diving experiences. The islands can be reached by boat from Cartagena’s port, and visitors can stay overnight in hotels dotted around the islands, or alternatively visit for a day trip.

Take A Vacation To The Land Of The Rhythm, Colombiawith XcelTrip and make memories that last a lifetime

Stunning Cities To Visit On Your Spring Getaway To Colombia

Cast all of your outdated ideas aside, like drug wars and gangsters, and you’ll find that Colombia is a nation brimming with confidence and rushing headfirst into a more peaceful and prosperous future. In this land of contrasts, you’ll encounter snow-capped Andean peaks, tropical Amazonian jungles, turquoise Caribbean coasts, and two sun-kissed deserts. You’ll also find a host of spectacular attractions at the places in between, from the bustling cities of Cartagena and Medellin to the quiet colonial villages of Salento and Mompox.

Above all else, the famous Colombian hospitality will undoubtedly find you coming back for more. Find the best places to visit with our list of the top cities to plan your spring getaway to Colombia.

SALENTO

Source: https://destinationlesstravel.com/

Salentois a charming little town located in the heart of Eje Cafetero (also called the Coffee Triangle), a region in the Andes Mountains famous for producing excellent coffee. Widely known for its coffee estates and verdant landscapes, the small town has long been a popular getaway for vacationing Columbians and foreign backpackers, yet has been able to retain much of its old-world charm.

The real draw of Salento would be Valle de Cocora. Hop on one of those shared jeeps at the main square and visit the swaying lines of Quindio wax palms, Colombia’s national tree. They are also the tallest palm trees known to man, standing nearly 60 meters above the green valley floor!

FILANDIA

Another of Salento’s sister towns is Filandia, also located within the “Coffee Triangle”. It is much less frequented by foreigners than other areas of the region, in fact you will probably be the only few foreigners in town, which is the perfect chance to have an authentic experience of the place. You won’t find stores selling souvenirs and printed t-shirts; instead, you will see a Colombian working-class town that is focused on itself and what it does — traditional woven baskets and coffee.

Stroll along the streets of color-splashed houses and inhale the delicious scent of coffee that lingers in the air. The best thing to do in Filandia is to take a second and do nothing at all, except enjoy a nice cup of the very thing this region is known for. If drinking isn’t enough, visit any of the coffee plantations and learn how it’s made with a local coffee farmer!

JARDIN

While Salento is very popular on the backpacker trail, you could have the idyllic town of Jardin to yourself. Known for its brightly-painted houses, colorful floral displays and milk candies, Jardin is one of the prettiest Columbian towns that has remained virtually unchanged for more than a century, you will feel like you’ve entered a time capsule and have been brought back in the past!

For nature lovers, go on a challenging hike to Cueva del Esplendor, a stunning series of caves and waterfalls a few hours outside the city. Amid beautiful landscapes, this spectacular cave has a 10m waterfall gushing through a large hole in the roof. Jump into the natural pool and have a quick dip!

SAN ANDRES

One simply cannot talk about Colombian beaches without mentioning San Andres. The seahorse-shaped island sits off the shores of Nicaragua and although relatively far away from the mainland, it remains the most popular beach destination for mainlanders. Beach-goers seeking a bit of relaxation will find here the perfect place to laze away in hammocks while watching the world pass by. The sunsets won’t disappoint and many casual beachfront restaurants with great ambiance can be found.

Fun fact: being a Colombian territory in Costa Rican and Nicaraguan waters, San Andres is in fact a duty-free zone! Goods sold there are cheaper than any other airport in the world so get your credit card ready, it’s time for some shopping!

SANTA MARTA

Another prime spot for beach lovers would be Santa Marta. Also located in the Caribbean Sea, it is often used as just a jumping off point for the surrounding islands, but is definitely worth dedicating some more time to! Santa Marta’s inspiring ocean views are no less spectacular than those in San Andres and offers some unforgettable experiences such as swimming with dolphins and reef snorkeling.

Don’t forget to visit Tayrona National Park, it is perhaps the best trip you can take out of Santa Marta and takes only 45-minutes by bus. Its untouched beaches and rustic charm makes it one of the most picturesque sights in Colombia.

MANIZALES

Manizales is tucked high in the Andes Mountains between Medellin and Bogota, surrounded by coffee farms and filled with steep hills. Being home to several big universities in Colombia, the town has a hip and youthful vibe year-round; one unique thing to experience is the emblematic Manizales Fairs, a national cultural heritage that takes place every year on the second week of January, hosting bullfighting, parades and the famous International Coffee Beauty Pageant.

Manizale is also very close to the famous Parque de Los Nevados and its snow-capped volcanoes. Hiking up the national park is challenging but the scenery is definitely rewarding; you will even get to see the world’s only pink lava!

BOGOTA

Bogota, also referred to as The Athens of South America, is Colombia’s capital and one of the largest cities of the continent. The city’s cultural hub is La Candelaria, the cobblestoned historic downtown to which most travelers tend to gravitate. It is packed with colonial buildings, trendy cafes and interesting museums including the most famous Museo del Oro, which contains more than 34,000 pieces of gold and other kinds of articles belonging to the pre-Hispanic societies in Colombia.

Be sure to check out the Gaira Café Cumbia House on a Friday or Saturday night, it will guarantee you a great Colombian-style night out! Run by the popular Colombian singer Carlos Vives, this eclectic restaurant and bar has its own stage for weekend live music shows and serves delicious coastal Colombian dishes.

MEDELLIN

The second biggest Colombian city is Medellin, the epitome of a city that has completely reinvented itself. Once home to Pablo Escobar and considered as the most dangerous city in Colombia, Medellin is now proudly positioned as the country’s most desirable city to live in. Thanks to its remarkable urban innovations throughout the past years, it was even voted as the World’s Most Innovative City in 2012.

Travelers who come here will find an inviting, vibrant city with the best climates one could ever ask for. Any time of the year is good for a visit, but with the famous Fería de las Flores (a huge 11-day flower festival celebrating the region’s culture) taking place in early August, that would be the best time.

Use XcelTrip to plan your spring getaway to Colombia and visit the above cities to make memories that last a lifetime.

Take A Sakura Vacation To Japan This Olympic Season

Every year is different when it comes to the sakura(cherry trees). As springtime begins, the country waits patiently for the first flushes of pink. Usually, the blooms burst into colour between March and early April. But, if you can’t make peak bloom, don’t fret. An alternative is February, when the equally beautiful but lesser-known plum blossoms are on show. Keep an eye on this handy sakura forecast to track when 2020 blooming is expected to start.

This year will see cherry blossom season arriving earlier than usual in Tokyo. This is all down to the weather: a combination of high temperatures in autumn and winter, as well as warm and sunny weather in spring. Full blossom is now expected on March 27, according to a forecast by Japan Meteorological. Corp.

Tokyo — March 19
Kochi — March 19
Nagoya — March 22
Hiroshima — March 22
Kyoto — March 23
Osaka — March 25
Kagoshima — March 25
Sendai — March 25

You’ll find sakura hotspots in over 1,000 locations across the country so picking the best can prove tricky.

1.Yoshino

Come sakura season and this is probably Japan’s most famous cherry-bloom destination, where a carpet of blushing blooms cascade the mountainsides.

2.Maruyama Park

The star of its show is a huge tree, whose blossom-fringed branches bow towards the ground. It’s illuminated in the evening from dusk until midnight, which is well worth sticking around for. Mount Yoshino is a worthy pilgrimage, covered in over 30,000 cherry trees.

3. Himeji Castle

Head here during full bloom for its striking white wooden walls that provide the perfect backdrop for the 1,000 cherry trees bursting into life around it.

4. Fuji Five Lakes

These stunning lakes come with the backdrop of Mount Fuji. For a more relaxing experience, visit the volcanic island of Honshu and loll in bubbling hot spring style with silky petals swirling all around.

5. Hirosaki Castle

Possibly the prettiest spot for cherry blossom viewing, this ancient three-story castle is surrounded by a fortified moat and a huge tree-lined park that hosts illuminations in the evenings.

6. Ueno Park

Japan’s cutting-edge, cosmopolitan capital isn’t all sleek high-risers and robot bars. It’s brimming with pretty parks, immaculate gardens and riverside promenades — many of which become home to cherry blossom festivals. One of the most popular spots in the city, and one where trees tend to bloom, is Ueno Park, home to over 1,000 cherry blossom trees, as well as plenty of museums, shrines and ponds. A 4km stretch is illuminated from 5pm to 9pm (from about March 23 to April 10). Graze as you go, on noodles and sticky rice balls from food stalls.

7. Maruyama Park

If Tokyo’s the epitome of modern; Kyoto’s the essence of tradition. Ancient teahouses rub shoulders with elaborate temples, while geisha scurry between the two on route to secret liaisons. Try Maruyama Park, where the main event is a tall shidarezakura weeping cherry tree illuminated at night, or the Philosopher’s Path — a canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees.

8. Laki Ashi

This photograph was taken early on a November morning on the shore of Lake Ashino, in Hakone, Japan.

While the coastal city of Kamakura is known for its sandy beaches in summer, spring offers plenty of backdrops for your cherry blossom snaps — from huge bronze Buddha’s basking in the sun to the iconic Mount Fuji making an appearance as you sail along the tranquil waters of Lake Ashi.

9. Matsumae Park

Matsumae Park quietly shelters historical carvings in a clutch of temples: the swaying of cherry blossom ensuring the serenity of the Buddhist artefacts. Two hundred and fifty varieties of blossom stretch long into the season, their wooden name tags claiming their time in the spotlight, joined by the castle prettily illuminated as dusk descends.

10. Lake Kawaguchi (also known as Kawaguchi-ko)

The hot spring resort town of Lake Kawaguchi is the second largest of Fuji’s five lakes. Arrive early morning to gaze up through the mist at majestic Mount Fuji framed through the rose-coloured spectacle of the glorious blossoms, fluttering gently along the northern shores of the lapping lake.

11. Arashiyama

Ride the Sagano Romantic Train (£4 for one way) through a tunnel of sakurain Arashiyama.

12. Yamashina

Want to beat the crowds? In Kyoto, make for Yamashina, in the southeast of the city — you’ll find nearly 700 trees lining the canals, yet far fewer tourists.

Use XcelTrip to travel to Japan during the sakura and Olympic season to walk along the blossom covered streets and make memories that last a lifetime.

Travel Tips: Japan Edition

For those who are planning a trip to Japan, this article might be a bit of help. we have listed essential Japan travel tips and advice which are especially useful for first timers to Japan. Check out things to know before and during your trip in Japan during the Olympics season:

Time:

JST (Japanese Standard Time) is 9 hours ahead of GMT and has No Daylight-Saving Time. From north to south, all Japan is in one time zone.

Climate:

Japan has four distinct seasons: Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August), Autumn (September to November) and Winter (December to February). The climate and temperature vary depending on season and area, and also each season offers different attractions and sightseeing spots.

Public Holidays:

It’s a simple advice but it’s better to check the Japanese calendar than not doing. Japan has 16 public holidays through the year, and tourist attractions get very very crowded or some may be closed on these days. Especially, the long weekend in May “Golden Week” and middle of August “Obon” are the busiest time of the year. It’s a wiser idea to avoid travelling on these periods in Japan.

Book Accommodation

Japan is one of the most popular countries to travel in the world, so booking accommodation in advance of your trip is essential especially during high season as many hotels tend to be fully booked. Besides regular hotels, there are various types of accommodation available in Japan where tourists can have unique “only in Japan” stay experiences such as Japanese style Ryokan inn and tiny budget capsule hotels.

Book Pocket WiFi

Japan is one of countries where having pocket WiFi could make a massive difference. The area with free public WiFi is expanding slowly but still it’s not like you can connect everywhere you go. Also as I will explain it later, travelling Japan sometimes could be harsh with language barrier, especially in countryside. So the internet could be the biggest savior for your trip to Japan.

Get Japan Rail Pass

If you are planning to travel multiple cities in Japan, Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a must-have item, and it can only be purchased outside of Japan which means you should place your order before coming to Japan. This “exclusive to foreigners” rail pass allow you to travel with any JR lines across the country including bullet trains (usually very pricey!). However, if you are only visiting Tokyo, this is not necessary item.

Exchange Money

According to many travellers to Japan, the exchange rate in Japan seems like higher than other countries. Also there are not many exchange counters on the street either. So it’s wiser to have some yen ready in your country before travelling and manage with your credit card while travelling.

Learning the culture

Japan has an unique own culture which is hard to understand for many and very interesting/valuable. While you are in Japan, it’s highly recommended to try one of cultural activities, such as kimono, tea ceremony and samurai training. These experiences could be done only in Japan and don’t miss a chance for the “once in your life time” kind of moment.

Be an early bird

Japan is basically a small sized country with a massive number of population. Everywhere you go, it seems packed even during week. If you are quite keen on photography and wanna capture views of some of famous tourist attractions like on magazines, it may be a bit of disturbance to have tons of people surround you and a subject. So the best way to avoid this situation is to get up early and go to the destination in early morning.

Download apps

Some apps can massively ease your trip like Google map&street view are must. Also transportation app is very useful, which can tell you the nearest station and how to get to your destination, as Tokyo’s (especially) Metro is like a spider web.

Use Suica wisely

If you are not familiar with Japanese money and wanna avoid fuss with dealing with coins, the best way is to use “SUICA” card rightly. It’s basically a electronic money card by JR to use for most of transportation in Japan, but it can be used for shopping too. It’s acceptable at most of convenience stores, vending machines, supermarkets, restaurants and more. You can purchase it or top-up at the ticket machine of any stations.

Use XcelTrip to travel to Japan during the Olympic season and follow the above tips to make your explorations easy to make memories that last a lifetime.

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony

Long regarded as one of the cornerstones of Japanese culture, the chadō, or tea ceremony, is a quintessential expression of aestheticism and philosophy in perfect harmony. But the story of how it came to be is an epic tale spanning centuries, including political intrigue, murder and suicide along the way.

The tea plant was brought to Japan in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk by the name of Eichū on his return from China, where tea had been in widespread use for centuries. Eichū served the drink to an emperor not long after and an imperial decree was issued to start cultivating tea plantations in Japan.

It would take another three centuries before tea ceremonies would become a spiritual practice. Initially, tencha, a type of matcha tea, was consumed at religious rituals in Buddhist monasteries.

But by the 13th century, tea had become a status symbol and samurai were participating in luxurious tea-tasting parties, where prizes were given out for guessing the correct variety of tea. The drink was seen as a decadent luxury, synonymous with Japanese nobility, and tensions started to emerge between opulence and minimalism in tea culture. These tensions would come to a bloody climax more than 200 years later.

In Today’s day and age however the Japanese tea ceremony is something of a tradition that ought never to be missed. Below is a step by step guide for a Japanese Tea Ceremony:

Prior to the ceremony, an invitation has to be sent to the guests and the teahouse has to be cleaned including any garden around it. The utensils have to be selected beforehand and the meal has to be prepared in advance.

Some of the steps of the ceremony change from one school to the other, and several elements, such as the time of the day, the season of the year, and the venue also modify some of the steps. There are some differences between the winter and the summer ceremony, mostly regarding the location of the kettle used to heat the water. However, the same general steps are followed in most cases:

1. The door to the tearoom is opened and the guests come into the room.

2. A tray of sweets or a meal is presented to the guests, depending on the formality of the ceremony and the time of the day.

3. The tea utensils are brought and displayed. The order in which they are presented is:

First, the Mizusashi, or cold water container.
Second is the Furo, a small stove made mostly of clay.
Third is the Chawa or tea bowl, the Chasen or tea whisker, and the Chashaku or teaspoon used to place tea in the bowl.
Fourth is the Natsume or tea container.
And fifth is the Kama or kettle and the kettle lid.

4. Greetings are exchanged. The tea preparer, or Teishu, focuses on entering the right meditative state of mind to prepare the best bowl of tea.

Use XcelTrip to travel to Japan for the Olympics this year and try the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Explore The Mysteries Of The Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is a UNESCO world heritage site, known for its hundreds of gigantic moai statues scattered all over the island. Check out the following places to explore the mysteries of Easter Island.

Rano Raraku

Known as ‘the nursery,’ the volcano of Rano Raraku, about 18km from Hanga Roa, is the quarry for the hard tuff from which the moai were cut. You’ll feel as though you’re stepping back into early Polynesian times, wandering among dozens of moai in all stages of progress studded on the southern slopes of the volcano. At the top, the 360-degree view is truly awesome. Within the crater are a small, glistening lake and about 20 standing moai.

On the southeastern slope of the mountain, look for the unique, kneeling Moai Tukuturi; it has a full body squatting on its heels, with its forearms and hands resting on its thighs.

Ahu Tongariki

The monumental Ahu Tongariki has plenty to set your camera’s flash popping. With 15 imposing statues, it is the largest ahu ever built. The statues gaze over a large, level village site, with ruined remnants scattered about and some petroglyphs nearby; some figures include a turtle with a human face, a tuna fish and a birdman motif.

The site was restored by a Japanese team between 1992 and 1996. A 1960 tsunami had flattened the statues and scattered several topknots far inland. Only one topknot has been returned to its place atop a moai.

Anakena

Beach bums in search of a place to wallow will love this postcard-perfect, white-sand beach. It also forms a lovely backdrop for Ahu Nau Nau, which comprises seven moai, some with topknots. On a rise south of the beach stands Ahu Ature Huki and its lone moai, which was re-erected by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl with the help of a dozen islanders in 1956. Facilities include public toilets as well as food and souvenir stalls.

Orongo Ceremonial Village

Nearly covered in a bog of floating totora reeds, the crater lake of Rano Kau resembles a giant witch’s cauldron and is a wild greenhouse of endemic biodiversity. Perched 300m above, on the edge of the crater wall on one side and abutting a vertical drop plunging down to the cobalt-blue ocean on the other side, Orongo Ceremonial Village boasts one of the South Pacific’s most dramatic landscapes. It overlooks several small motu (offshore islands), including Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao.

Built into the side of the slope, the houses have walls of horizontally overlapping stone slabs, with an earth-covered arched roof of similar materials, making them appear partly subterranean. Orongo was the focus of an island-wide ‘birdman cult’ linked to the God Make in the 18th and 19th centuries. Birdman petroglyphs are visible on a cluster of boulders between the cliff top and the edge of the crater. Orongo is either a steepest climb or a short scenic drive 4km from the centre of town.

Use XcelTrip to plan your trip to Chile and explore the mysteries of the Easter Island to make memories that last a lifetime.

Tour France By Rail

France is the largest nation in western Europe so train travel makes sense. Happily so, France has a fast and efficient train system and the French government has invested massively in high-speed trains (the TGV train or Train a Grande Vitesse), and on high-speed lines (LGV or igne à Grande VitesseL).

There are over 1700 km (1056 miles) of dedicated high-speed lines and thousands more of main lines and smaller lines so almost everywhere is accessible by train travel in France. The French rail network links all the major towns while also linking up many small towns in rural France. With careful planning, you can get around just using train travel during your vacation. Generally, the trains are on time, comfortable and relatively cheap. However, some trains run only at certain times on certain days, so you need very careful planning if you are traveling in rural France by train.

Like many capital cities, Paris suffers from having no central railway hub, but a number of mainline termini. Here are some of the main destinations served from the main stations.

Gare du Nord: Northeast France, London (Eurostar), Brussels, Amsterdam (Thalys), Lille, Valenciennes, Calais
Gare de l’Est: Nancy, Metz, Reims, Strasbourg, Germany, Luxembourg
Gare de Lyon: Lyon, Dijon, Besançon, Geneva, Mulhouse, Zurich, Clermont-Ferrand, Marseille, Nice, Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan; Italy and the east of Spain
Gare d’Austerlitz: Tours, Poitiers, Limoges, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, western Spain
Gare Montparnasse: All western TGVs, Brittany, Brest, Rennes, Nantes
Gare St. Lazare: Caen, Cherbourg, Rouen, Le Havre

All types of trains run in France, from the impressive TGV train and other high-speed trains to smaller branch lines. While there are still some lines operating old carriages, most of the trains are now comfortable, modern and have high tech additions like WiFi. Many have massive picture windows along the sides; others have an upper deck which gives you a wonderful view of the French countryside you are powering through.

The main types of trains in France are:

The TGV Train network (Train a Grande Vitesse) runs to major cities in France and Europe.
Intercites trains cover many of the medium distance routes between cities like Amiens, Orleans, Bordeaux, Caen, Lyon, Reims, Troyes, Toulouse, and Paris. They link cities in French regions like Nantes, Bordeaux, and Lyons-Nantes-Tours.
TER is the French regional service running from towns and villages over 21 regional networks in France.
AutoTrain sleeper service runs from Paris Bercy Station down to the south of France taking you and your car.

Source: https://www.european-traveler.com/

TGV train technology is used by other national rail carriers in Europe

TGV Lyria trains run through France into Switzerland
Eurostar runs between the UK, Lille, Paris, and Brussels
Thalys trains run to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany

How and Where to Buy Tickets

Like most countries, ticket prices vary widely. If you can book early you will get good bargains, but you may well have to stick to a specific time. If you book that and miss the train, you may not get reimbursed.

Ticket prices are no higher on a TGV or express train than on a normal local line. And to compete with the low-cost airlines, TGV trains offer good prices for early bookings, and for the less popular times of trains. Internet booking is always a good idea.

All French train tickets can also be ordered online and you can then print them out on your computer as an e-ticket, exactly as the airlines do.

Visitors from the USA can buy online with Rail Europe and visitors from the UK can buy online with Voyages sncf (formerly Rail Europe UK).

Train Station Tips

Arrive early to find out which platform the train goes from. Paris train stations can be quite confusing.
There might not be good refreshments on the train; check in advance and if necessary, buy your own snacks/light lunches at the station.
You will have to validate your ticket. Look for the yellow machines (‘compostage de billets’) usually just before you reach the platform. Insert your tickets into the slot and retrieve it. Ticket inspectors will check your ticket on the train and if it is not validated will probably find you.

Adventure Sports To Try Before You Die

Ready to feel your pulse racing? From volcano boarding to cave diving, bungee jumping to kitesurfing, we’ve put together 8 adrenaline pumping adventure sports to try before you die and the stunning destinations that go with it.

Volcano boarding

Pioneered by an Australian traveller in León, Nicaragua, volcano boarding is the art of zooming down the face of an active volcano on a reinforced plywood toboggan. Using your heels to brake and steer, it’s possible to clock speeds of up to 90km/hr. That’s after you’ve hiked up the volcano, of course. Head to Leon’s Big Foot Hostel to try out volcano boarding.

Freshwater cave diving

Ocean scuba is extreme enough for some, but descending into a hole in the earth to explore a submerged cave system is next-level stuff. Stalactites are usually the big draw. Head to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has the world’s largest concentration of cenotes (sinkholes). Fringed by lush jungle, its crystal-clear turquoise pools are idyllic.

Heli-skiing or boarding

Using a whirlybird to access untouched terrain, heli-skiing is quite technical, and you’ll get more bang (or in this case, powder) for your buck if you’re an advanced skier or snowboarder.

Widely banned in Europe, heli-skiing is popular in North America and New Zealand. Alaska’s Chugach Mountains boast some of the world’s deepest, softest powder. Visit Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, a luxury lodge near Anchorage, to learn from some of the best backcountry ski guides in the world. Dreamy views of Denali and volcanic summits sure don’t hurt either.

Zorbing

Another Kiwi invention, zorbing (also known as sphereing, orbing and globe-riding) is the act of rolling down a hill in a transparent plastic ball. Opt to zorb solo, with friends, and/or with water — all in the name of fun. The original zorb company is based in Rotorua, but you’ll find outfits all over the world. Try it in Hatta, Dubai.

Bungee jumping

Inspired by Vanuatu’s ritualistic land divers, the modern sport of diving off a ledge while attached to a safety cord was popularised by Kiwi entrepreneur AJ Hackett.

Hackett-owned Macau Tower boasts the world’s highest commercial jump point (233m), but the original Kawarau Bridge Bungy in Queenstown (43m) and Victoria Falls Bungee in Zambia (111m) are more scenic.

Slacklining

Proponents call this evolution of tightrope walking, in which participants manoeuvre across a strip of nylon held taut between two anchor points just above the ground. It might not look particularly extreme, but it’s very tough (and great core exercise).

Particularly agile? Look into slacklining yoga across the USA with YogaSlackers. Super adventurous? Try highlighting in Joshua Tree National Park in California. Or simply DIY with your own slackline (shop online at Gibbon Slacklines).

Cheese rolling

Originating in Gloucester, England, in the 15th century, this injury-prone activity sees participants charge down a steep hill in pursuit of a round of cheese. Gloucester’s annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling is the world’s largest competition.

Ice swimming

Northern Europeans have been partial to an icy dip between sauna sessions for centuries, but the more modern International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) deems an official ice swim as a one-mile swim in water below 5°C while wearing a standard swimming costume.

It’s popular in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Russia, France, USA, and the Netherlands. If you want to make your first solo swim official, register your witnessed attempt with the IISA.

Use XcelTrip to attempt all the above adventure sports to try before you die and make memories that last a lifetime.

Satiate Your Traditional Cuisine Cravings In Chile

Being such a long stretched out country covering a variety of landscapes, Chile has a vast range of dishes to offer. While the highlights of Chile dishes are fish and seafood, we put a spotlight on the authentic and everyday Chilean foods you will find across the country. We discovered and wrote about seafood found along the long Pacific Ocean coastline. In Santiago, at the famous Mercado Central, we experienced locos (abalone) and pastel de jaiba (crab pie). Further north in the city of Valparaiso, we fell in love with a colorful city and incredible Reinata fish, a local white fish specialty. The high-quality Chilean wines are not to be missed. Maipo Valley, considered the “Bordeaux of South America’ has exceptional wines. And Maule Valley, the largest and oldest wine region in the country, has several family-owned vineyards, offering small intimate tours. The below list of food will satiate your traditional cuisine cravings in Chile, this summer:

Valdiviano

A meal originated in the Santiago garrison. On the trip by train from the Capital city to the South of Chile, before getting to the train station in Valdivia and after a long night, this thick soup was served that contained egg, onion, meat and mixed vegetables. When getting off the train in Valdivia, the body had already recovered and acclimatized to the change of temperature there.

Pollo al barro

Take a young, tender chicken, hopefully one not much ran around in the vegetable garden. Wash it, smear it with garlic salt and wrap it in plastic. Then, make a paste with mud and cover the chicken. Take the preparation to an earth oven and wait with infinite patience, as the chicken will cook in its own juices.

Sopaipillas

This is a typically Chilean type of flat circular deep-fried bread or scone, made from flour, cooked pumpkin, a pinch of salt and lard. In the beginnings, it was called sopaipa and it originated back during the Arabic invasion of Spain, where it was a kind of dough dunked in oil. The Spanish conquistadors brought it with them and it took root in our land where it accompanies the cold, rainy days in the South or a well-spiced Chancho en Piedra (see description) in the Central zone. Nowadays, the sopaipilla is available from north to south in those street vendor kiosks that are usually located at bus stations, busy corners in any city and even at sport events in our land. Always ready for the winter, the sopaipilla pasá is a sopaipilla dunked in a viscous mixture of dark-brown sugar called chancaca (see description) with orange peel, clove and chuño (dried potato flour). Delicious on a rainy winter evening.

Porotos granados

Although in some cases we share meals and preparations with other Latin-American nations, in the case of Porotos Granados the invention is absolutely Chilean. With fresh coscorrones variety beans, corn, pumpkin, onion, garlic and basil this is a summertime dish. It can be made with mashed fresh corn, called mazamorra, where you can stand the spoon on the dish, or with whole fresh corn, called pilco, a more liquid version, if you are expecting more guests.

Prietas

The prieta from the South is served with steamed potatoes and under the homely heat of a brazier. It is a wintry dish found in traditional butcher’s shops. It is possible to find it in some very typical restaurant or in some eatery, because, as with other national meals, it doesn’t succeed into penetrating the more exclusive gastronomical circles.

Pichanga

This low profile, unpretentious dish does not belong to the gastronomical circles and is kept at bay in the more traditional eateries. It is made of diced meat, olives, pickles, cheese, tomatoes and avocados. The idea is to nibble this appetizer while you wait for the main course; as such, it is an opportunity to share with friends.

Pataska

The altiplanic people from the North of Chilemake this spicy stew from charqui (salted/dried meat), mote (boiled maize) and potatoes. It is part of the tradition of Chiu-Chiu, a village in the Atacama, where it is prepared for typical festivities in honor of the Pachamama, for the harvests and cattle.

Ajiaco

This is not strictly speaking a Chilean dish; for instance, it is also found in Bogotá, Colombia. However, the Chilean version is generally done with the meat leftovers of a big barbecue, and it is good when you have a somewhat mild hangover. Into the broth with the barbecued meat cut into dice, add potatoes, chopped onions, green hot chili peppers, parsley, salt, pepper, cumin and oregano. This tasty soup helps to mend the body or the hangover and to get one’s strength back, whether it is to go to work or to continue celebrating whatever it is that has to be celebrated.

Use XcelTrip to travel this summer to try food that would satiate your traditional cuisine cravings in Chile and make memories that last a lifetime.

Wonderful Chilean Cities To Visit This Summer

With easy access to beautiful landscapes and fascinating urban attractions, there are numerous cities across Chile that are well worth a visit. The following wonderful Chilean cities to visit this summer, combine the very best of the country’s diverse natural beauty and metropolitan appeal.

Pucón

A nine-hour drive south from Santiago, Pucón is the ideal city for adventure tourism. Located on the Villarica Lake with the active Villarrica volcano nearby, Pucón has numerous trekking and water sports opportunities for tourists. Miles of hike and bike paths surround the hilly terrain around the lake, ripe for exploration. In the city, you can easily rent bikes, kayaks or other equipment, or arrange activities like zipline rides and skydiving. In the area, there are also waterfalls, hot springs and caves accessible through local buses or tourism companies.

Santiago

Almost half of Chileans call Santiago and its surrounding area home. It’s easily Chile’s most metropolitan city, highly developed and home to Latin America’s tallest skyscraper, Costanera Center. Santiago presents diverse tourism opportunities, thanks to its many hills and parks, artisan fairs, unique neighborhoods, emerging foodie scene and vibrant nightlife. It’s also conveniently located next to the Andes mountains, Chilean wine country, with the coast just an 90-minute drive away.

Coyhaique

Set in the beautiful landscape of the Northern Chilean Patagonia, Coyhaique is the largest city in the area and is the urban center for the region. As such there are various malls, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs for visitors to check out. While the setting of the city is stunning with the impressive mountains rearing up all around it, most visitors use it as a base from which to explore the nearby natural wonders. With fantastic trekking, fly-fishing and mountaineering on offer, the surrounding delights of Patagonian ice caps and the lovely sights that line the winding Carretera Austral road make Coyhaique worth stopping by.

Valdivia

As the most important university town in the south of the country, Valdivia has a lot of cheap bars, restaurants and cafes as well as a thriving arts scene which gives the city a youthful feel to it. Lying at the spot where the Calle and Cruces rivers join, it is a picturesque place surrounded by waters and wetlands and old colonial buildings are interspersed among more modern edifices. Following Chile´s independence, German settlers flocked to the area and as such there are some great local beers and atmospheric bars. Every year the local brewery puts on a bierfest with German music and performances by folk bands.

Castro

A scenic city, Castro lies at the head of a fjord on Chiloe Island and its brightly colored wooden houses that sit on stilts above the water give a distinctive feel to the place. Modern buildings mix seamlessly in with its older buildings and churches and thanks to its range of fantastic trendy restaurants it is considered a gastronomic destination. Castro is a surprisingly cosmopolitan city for its location although the local Chilote culture still shines through. Many visitors to the city use it as a base to explore the island and the nearby archipelago.

Vina del Mar

Situated just outside of Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar couldn´t be more different. Clean and uncluttered, leafy avenues cut through the city before palaces and parks give way to the tower blocks that look out over the expansive beach. Nicknamed Garden City, there are some fantastic botanical gardens on offer and although various parts of the city have retained their elegance and charm, large parts of Vina Del Mar look just like any other beach resort around the world with the usual casino, restaurants and bars. It is very popular however for its lovely beaches and every year hordes of people visit for its amazing music festival.

Iquique

Spectacularly located at the foot of a desolate coastal mountain range with a gigantic sand dune overlooking it, Iquique is a bustling cosmopolitan city with a fantastic beachfront. As it borders the Pacific Ocean and is in a duty-free shopping zone, an eclectic mix of people descend on the city with surfers and casino goers, paragliders and shoppers all equally at ease in Iquique. One of the best beach resorts in Chile, its lovely oceanfront promenade makes for a peaceful and scenic walk as wooden walkways add to its charm. As well as lounging on the perfect beaches, surfing in its waters or paragliding above the dunes, Iquique is also a great place from which to explore the northern part of Chile.

Valparaiso

Charming yet messy, colorful but falling apart; Valparaiso´s stunning setting overlooking the ocean only adds to its uniqueness. With winding streets and stairways dripping down the hillsides of the city to the water down below and vibrant street art and brightly painted decaying buildings, Valparaiso is a delight to explore and has long drawn artists and thinkers to its shores. Despite its bohemian feel, the city is quite grimy and edgy as sailors and prostitutes dot its streets and there are a couple of crime-riddled areas which tourists should avoid. Having said that, Valparaiso is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country and when you see its old town full of atmospheric cafes and bars around the port area; you´ll surely fall in love with this idiosyncratic place.

Use XcelTrip to travel to the above wonderful Chilean cities to visit this summer and make memories that last a lifetime.