Gadling

The Inca Rally: A Road Race Through South America

Kraig Becker — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Festivals and Events, South America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela

Looking to add a little excitement to your summer? Then look no further than the Inca Rally, a new road race that is set to get underway in August and promises to offer plenty of adventure to those crazy enough to enter.

The three-week long event begins in Lima, Peru where racers will first barter for a car that is utterly ill suited for the roads they'll be driving on. Once they've acquired their sacrificial vehicle, they'll hit the road on August 1, driving across Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana. What route they take along the way is completely up to the drivers, they simply have to reach the finish line in time for the blowout party at the end of the three weeks.

This is pure adventure at its finest. There will be no support crews, few directives and plenty of freedom on the open road. Teams can choose to make their way through the Andes, visit the Amazon Rainforest, follow the scenic coasts or get completely off the beaten path. They can visit large, bustling cities or remote villages; they just have to get to the finish line in Georgetown, Guyana.

While the Inca Rally is meant to be a spirited adventure it will also help shine the spotlight on local charities and help raise funds for those organizations. You can find out more about the event and those charities on the Rally's official website, where you can sign up for the race as well.

We definitely need a Team Gadling in this event!

The Inca Rally: A Road Race Through South America originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America

Laurel Miller — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, South America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Budget Travel, Central America

With the possible exception of Argentina, most people don't associate Central or South America with cheese. Like all of Latin America, these countries are a mix of indigenous cultures, colonizing forces, immigrant influences, and varied terroir, climatic extremes, and levels of industrialization. They possess some of the most biologically and geographically diverse habitats on earth. As a result, the cuisine and agricultural practices of each country have developed accordingly.

The use of dairy may not be particularly diverse in this part of the world, especially when it comes to styles of cheese, but it's an important source of nutrition and income in rural areas, and a part of nearly every meal.

While writing a book on cheese during the course of this past year, I tapped into my rather obsessive love of both street food and South America for inspiration. As I learned during my research, the sheer variety of cheesey street snacks from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego are as varied as the ethnic influences responsible for their creation. Read on for a tasty tribute to queso.

Arepas: These flat little corn or flour cakes from Colombia, Venezuela and Panama may be grilled, baked, boiled, or fried. They're usually stuffed or topped with a melting cheese, but may also feature meat, chicken, seafood, egg, or vegetables.

Anafres: Essentially Honduran nachos, composed of giant tortilla chips, refried beans and melted cheese. Named for an anafre, the coal-fired clay pot the dish is served in.

Pupusas: This Salvadorean staple is similar to an arepa: a thick, griddled corn cake stuffed with meat, cheese-usually a mild melting variety known as quesillo-chicarrones (pork cracklings), or queso con loroco (cheese with the buds or flowers of a vine native to Central America).

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Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Of The Day: Venezuelan Skies Time-Lapse

Elizabeth Seward — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Photos, South America, Venezuela, Video, Ecotourism

This time-lapse video featuring Venezuelan skies and aptly named "Venezuelan Skies" just brightened my day. A recent addition to Vimeo with very few plays (5 total plays as I write this), this gem deserves to be seen. Upbeat music is paired with captivating images in this video. Swirling clouds in Venezuela and fog soar above beautifully colored scenery. Large rock formations are juxtaposed against vivid vegetation as the video continues. Once this video begins to near its end, the time-lapse transitions into the gorgeous nighttime sky, complete with the occasional blurred artificial light. Take the time to watch this video by monoelemento on Vimeo and you'll be glad you did. Spoiler: there's a helicopter!

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Video Of The Day: Venezuelan Skies Time-Lapse originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frommer's reveals top destinations for 2012

Libby Zay — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Ghana, China, Turkey, Albania, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, United States, Australia, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, News, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

What destination are you dreaming of for 2012? The staff at Frommer's have just unveiled their list of top travel destinations for the coming year. Included in the list is a little something for everyone: large metropolises, secluded beach towns, colorful riverside villas, and more.

But Frommer's didn't just rely on their expert editors and author's for this years list--they also polled readers to find out where they wanted to visit in 2012. Click through the gallery below to see Frommer's (and their reader's) picks--including one surprising midwestern city that is the only spot in the United States to make the cut.

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Frommer's reveals top destinations for 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ghostscrapers - Top ten post-apocalyptic abandoned skyscrapers

Justin Delaney — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Photos, Stories, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, North Korea, Thailand, Poland, United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Hotels and Accommodations, Video, Central America

When city plans exceed reality, or the money dries up, or people simply leave in a mass exodus, skyscrapers vacate and slowly decay. High winds thrash through broken windows. Rats live undisturbed amongst decades old rubble. Stairways lead to doors that may never open again. The ghost of ambition's past arrives in the present like a howling specter, creating eyesores, dangerous conditions, and free housing for opportunistic urban survivalists.

These abandoned skyscrapers range from forsaken structures aborted long before their doors opened to icons from a bygone era. While a slumper like Detroit has its fair share of empty giants, even cities with tiger cub economic growth like Bangkok are not immune to the plague of creepy abandoned high-rises. South America brings vertical favelas to the list, and Poland has a tower named after a pop-culture villain. And even San Francisco, a city with a high recreational scooter to human ratio and droves of individuals who see the world just beyond the tip of their nose, has its very own abandoned skyscraper.

From North Korea to Venezuela, these structures differ in their stories and circumstance, but each is a fine glimpse at post-apocalyptic urban decay.

Gallery: Abandoned skyscrapers from around the world

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Ghostscrapers - Top ten post-apocalyptic abandoned skyscrapers originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capturado - Venezuela turns drug baron deportation into a TV reality show

Scott Carmichael — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Venezuela

Forget Survivor or Dancing with the Stars -- Real reality TV shows convicted drug dealers being deported on state owned TV. The first criminal on the "deportation show" promotes the deportation of Dutch drug lord Merk Anton Herman, wanted by Interpol. Scroll forward to the 5:20 mark to see the awesome scary music and some special effects, along with the vital statistics of this drug dealer.

The government had been under attack for its relatively limited amount of effort put into capturing drug traffickers, so this bit of live TV drama is probably their way of showing that they mean business.

Capturado - Venezuela turns drug baron deportation into a TV reality show originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Abandoned Caracas skyscraper is home to 2,500 squatters

Justin Delaney — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, South America, Venezuela, Hotels and Accommodations, Video, Camping, News, Central America

In downtown Caracas, thousands have found home in an unlikely structure. The "Tower of David," a one time symbol for Venezuela's economic growth prospects, is an unfinished 45 story skyscraper filled with idle Venezuelans and enterprising small business start-ups. According to the New York Times, a housing shortage in Caracas has led many to make the most out of the housing opportunity provided by this massive abandoned structure.

A relic of the Venezuelan banking boom, the slum-scraper is one of the tallest buildings in Latin America and houses roughly 2500 squatters. The tenants have wired electricity, created makeshift shops, and installed DirecTV satellite dishes that cling precariously to the exterior of the re-purposed tower. Many residents have set up businesses, including a PlayStation home-brew arcade, a beauty salon, and a suspicious sounding dentistry operation.

The DIY housing solution is currently inhabited up to the 28th floor, though residents plan to push higher towards the incongruous Helipad that rests atop the tower. This video by the New York Times provides a candid glimpse into life within the dilapidated tower.

Abandoned Caracas skyscraper is home to 2,500 squatters originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cuba gets broadband internet

Sean McLachlan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, South America, Cuba, Venezuela, Caribbean

A new fiber optic cable from Venezuela will finally get Cuba into the age of broadband, the BBC reports.

Cuba has some of the slowest Internet access in the world because it has had to rely on satellite and international phone line communication. It's also hard to get, with a limited number of Internet cafes and virtually no private lines for regular people.

The new fiber optic cable stretches 1,000 miles from Venezuela and will make logging on 3,000 times faster. The Cuban government crowed that this line breaches the U.S. embargo. Florida is much closer to Cuba that Venezuela but no line can be built there under current law. Once again U.S. investors have missed out on an opportunity thanks to a short-sighted embargo that has done nothing to change Cuba's government.

Instead, the Cubans can say thanks to the Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Communities of our America. This group was started at the suggestion of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and includes Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Equador, Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The group is also developing its own regional currency, the SUCRE, which is already being used to a limited extent as a virtual currency to replace the dollar in international transactions. The plan is to eventually make it a hard currency to reduce American economic dominance in the region.

Cuba gets broadband internet originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Venezuela's Caracas airport shut down due to power outage

Scott Carmichael — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Venezuela, Airlines, Airports, Central America

Simón Bolívar International Airport in Venezuela just emerged from a rough night after it was forced to send inbound flights to other airports. Four main power sources for its runway lights were knocked out, effectively making the airport unusable.

The outage lasted eight hours, and planes heading to Caracas had to be rerouted to airports in Porlamar, Maracaibo, Curacao and San Juan.

According to a statement issued by the airport operator, 23 outbound flights, and 20 inbound flights were impacted. The fault was eventually located in part of the wiring for the landing lights on runway 10-28. At 3:45AM, engineers located the fault and power was restored. Because the fault was in the runway cables, it was not possible to restore power using backup systems.

By Wednesday morning, nine rerouted international flights were scheduled to arrive, most with a 12 hour delay.

Back in 2008, we reported on a large power outage in Stockholm that cut the power in parts of the city center after a rat entered a signal box, and more recently, passengers on the prestigious Queen Mary 2 lost power after a catastrophic explosion in the engine room.

Just goes to show how important it is to carry a flashlight and some backup power to keep your phone going - you never know when you'll find yourself in total darkness stuck at the airport.

[Photo: Flickr/Slash_)

Venezuela's Caracas airport shut down due to power outage originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Venezuela's government-run supermarkets offering "just" prices

Aaron Hotfelder — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Food and Drink, Venezuela

You know you've arrived in Venezuela when you can't even walk down the grocery store aisle without seeing a sign decrying the excesses of capitalism.

I'll admit I had no idea there existed a "just price" for a liter of vegetable oil, but as you can see, it is clearly written in permanent marker right there on the advertisement. You can't argue with that. Turns out it's 4.73 Bolívares Fuertes, or a little over one US dollar. For that price, I'll suppress my capitalist instincts and enjoy the 32% savings!

This photo was taken at the Mercado Bicentenario, a government-owned grocery store located in Caracas, Venezuela.

[via Greg Mankiw]

Venezuela's government-run supermarkets offering "just" prices originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pittsburgh restaurant features 'conflict cuisine'

Jeremy Kressmann — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, News, Middle East

Most American travelers will never set foot in Iran, but at least now if they make it to Pittsburgh, they can enjoy some of the country's delicious cuisine. It's the idea behind a new take-out restaurant called Conflict Kitchen, a new eatery that's attempting to feature cuisine from countries the United States is in conflict with.

Conflict Kitchen might serve food, but it's hardly your normal carry-out joint. The project, which was started by artist Jon Rubin, will regularly shift themes to feature a different "conflict country" and promote cross-cultural understanding. The first four months are devoted to a collaboration with Pittsburgh's Iranian community. In addition to delicious food like the Kubideh Sandwich, Conflict Kitchen also plans to host events, performances and discussion surrounding this much discussed Middle Eastern country. Though there's been no announcement on the project's website, chances are good that other "rogue states" like North Korea, Venezuela and Afghanistan will get similar treatment.

The Conflict Kitchen project raises an interesting question. Who are we demonizing when we disagree with a country's politics? Is it the government of that country? Or is it also the people who live there, many of whom have nothing to do with the policies we dislike? Perhaps by traveling and through projects like Conflict Kitchen we can learn to better differentiate between the two.

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Pittsburgh restaurant features 'conflict cuisine' originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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17 of the world's strangest natural wonders

Gadling staff — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, South America, China, Israel, Jordan, Philippines, Hungary, Ireland, United States, Argentina, Venezuela

Nature has the power to amaze. From towering mountains to vast grasslands and immense oceans, there's a world of natural wonder out there waiting to explore. But sometimes the outdoor world isn't just amazing - it's also downright weird. Mysterious sliding rocks, bizarre sinkholes...even lakes where you can float. We've put together a list of 17 strange natural wonders around the world. What strange forces are at work here? You'll just have to read on to found out...

Lake Hévíz - Hungary
Lake Hévíz is Europe's largest thermal lake and a destination for people looking to rest their bones and experience the water's alleged healing powers. The spring-fed lake is rich in blue and green algae, with good bacteria to aid in curing human ailments. Lake Hévíz is able to keep its own water fresh because a spring cave beneath the lake replenishes the entire body of water in a single day day. The lake's strong health tourism industry has helped Hévíz continue to thrive.

Stone Forest - China
China's landscape is rugged, yet lush and full of personality. The Stone Forest is no exception. Tall rocks shoot out of the hills like skyscrapers forming a city skyline. Most of the rocks are weathered to a smooth surface, but some formations look like animals and people. At times the rock formations move seamlessly between trees, blending in to create a scene almost like a painting.

Sarisarinama Sinkholes - Venezuela
The four sinkholes at Sarisarinama are very large and form almost perfect circles on the summit of Venezuela's flat-topped mountains. Besides the geological abnormality, the unique plant and animal life found on the floor of the sinkholes is an object of much research by scientists - some species are found no other place on Earth.

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17 of the world's strangest natural wonders originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Venezuelan church back from watery grave

Mike Barish — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: South America, Venezuela, News

Potosi, Venezuela hasn't been on anyone's travel radar much since 1985. That was the year when the town was deliberately flooded by the Venezuelan government to build a hydroelectric dam. That left most of the worthwhile souvenirs from Potosi rather soggy. However, severe droughts in the region have resulted in an odd miracle, of sorts. The water levels in the man-made reservoir are so low that the town's previously submerged church is now completely above water and resting on dry land.

National Geographic has some haunting photographs of the 82-foot-tall church that hasn't been seen in its entirety in 25 years. The good news is that visitors can now witness this beautiful church and marvel at the effects of El Niño. The bad news is 68% of Venezuela's power is hydroelectric. That means that the country is now experiencing an officially-declared energy emergency.

One could assume that the drought will eventually end and the reservoir will once again drown the town of Potosi. Until then, the church stands in the center of a ghost town that is seeing visitors for the first time in over two decades.

Photo by Flickr user JunCTionS.

Venezuelan church back from watery grave originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 great romantic destinations

Lauren Nigro — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, France, Italy, Mexico, United States, Venezuela

Some people like to travel for food. Others prefer to travel for sun. Still others enjoy traveling so they can share a secluded destination with a loved one. Here are ten romantic destinations for couples of all ages to enjoy... together.

Verona, Italy
Located in the northeast part of Italy near the Swiss border, Verona is most famously known as the setting of William Shakespeare's passionate Romeo and Juliet. Many tourists and lovers travel to Verona simply to see the balcony that has a historical connection to the fictional characters of that famous play. The covered passageway that leads to the balcony is covered in graffiti and letters from visitors asking Juliet for luck in love.

Visitors may also go googly-eyed with a romantic stroll over the Castelvecchio Bridge, along Verona's winding Adige River. Be sure to walk all the way to St. Peter's Castle for an awe-inspiring view of the city shrouded in sunset.

St John, USVI
There are numerous secretive retreats in the Virgin Islands, but Moon Cottage is said to be the Caribbean's "most romantic villa." Located on the island of St. John, Moon Cottage offers lovers a hidden getaway and is the perfect place for couples to expand their relationship. Amenities include a private heated pool, walking distance to the beach, and complete seclusion.

For those seeking to mix some adventure with their passion, consider a day-trip to Jost van Dyke, the "New York of the Virgin Islands," and home to (quite possibly) the world's most amazing bar.

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10 great romantic destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exploring Venezuela's lost world

Kraig Becker — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, South America, Venezuela, Camping

We told you about Roraima, the remote and rugged region along the border of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil last year. Known for its flattop mountains, called tepuis, Roraima was made all the more famous when it was featured prominently in last year's Pixar movie Up. Now, U.K. newspaper the Guardian has discovered the allure of the place, posting a story of their own.

Known as the Lost World, Roraima is said to have inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book of the same name. Grainne Mooney, the travel writer for the Guardian, was similarly inspired when visiting the place, starting with the wildlife. The lowland areas are teeming with animals, including crocodiles, giant anteaters, monkeys, and capybara, the largest species of rodents in the world.

Eventually, the writer's attention turned to the mountain itself, which towers more than 9200 feet above the jungle below. The entire trek would take six days to complete, including two nights spent on the flat summit. Beginning in arid grasslands, the hike eventually moves up into humid rainforests, before climbing above the tree line altogether. On top, the mountain seems like another world, and the rocky surface is often described like being on the moon.

Not only is this story a good overview of what it is like to visit Roraima, it offers plenty of insights into current conditions traveling through Venezuela as well. The writer notes that the capital city of Caracas is the most dangerous in the world after Baghdad and with inflation running wild, it is recommended that you exchange your dollars for bolivars on the black market, where the exchange rate is much better.

Seems like visiting Roraima isn't the only adventure to be had in Venezuela.

Exploring Venezuela's lost world originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hugo Chavez wants to rename Angel Falls

Kraig Becker — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, South America, Venezuela, Ecotourism

Standing at a height of 3212 feet, Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world. Located in southern Venezuela's Canaima National Park, the falls are a UNESCO World Heritage site and are named for Jimmie Angel, an American pilot who first spotted them from the air back in 1933. He would later bring photos to the world of that astounding sight, making the falls famous across the globe. Now, however, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is looking to rename the falls, restoring their indigenous name.

Amongst the local Pemon people, Angel Falls is known as Kerepakupai-Meru, which means "waterfall of the deepest place" in their tribal language. On his weekly television show, Chavez, who has a contentious relationship with the United States, asked his countrymen how they felt about the falls being named after the American aviator, and then proposed the change after fumbling with the pronunciation a few times. The Venezuelan President went on to say that the landmark, which is one of his country's biggest tourist attractions, had been seen by many indigenous people before Angel ever arrived on the scene. He concluded his declaration by saying "No-one should refer to Angel Falls any more."

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Hugo Chavez wants to rename Angel Falls originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Family Guy cartoon banned in Venezuela

Alison Brick — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, South America, Venezuela, News

I think we'd all agree that there are some bad TV re-runs out there that deserve to be taken off the air. But I'm not sure that Family Guy is one of them.

Venezuelan authorities have banned the cartoon from future broadcast. Any TV station that doesn't drop the show will be fined.

What prompted this reaction? The recent episode in which Brian, the talking dog, started a campaign to legalize marijuana.

Watch out future cartoons, so you don't offend the Venezuelan government! It has happened before, and it will surely happen again. The Simpsons was banned there last year because of its "messages that go against the whole education of boys, girl, and adolescents."

Televen was one station threatened with a fine for showing The Simpsons in the morning hours. What did they do to avoid the fine? They were forced to show public service films as an apology. And they replaced The Simpsons with Baywatch.

Really, now. Baywatch is better?

It seems as though the government and TV in Venezuela are closely linked. President Hugo Chavez hosts his own talk show. And if new regulations go into effect, cable stations would be forced to broadcast all of Chavez's speeches.

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Family Guy cartoon banned in Venezuela originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viagra ice cream and other crazy flavors

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Japan, United States, Australia, Venezuela, Middle East

Do you think you're exciting because you go off-menu at Cold Stone? That's nothing! To find the strangest flavors in the world, leave the United States and see what the world has to offer. At the top of the list is a fake Viagra ice cream in Venezuela (maybe the placebo effect will help you get lucky). Taiwan has a smelly durian fruit ice cream - but that doesn't compare to the raw horseflesh concoction you can pick up in Tokyo (as long as it's not monkeys, right?).

The world's biggest ice cream eaters are Australia and the United States, but volume doesn't equal adventure. Candy and sweets dominate in the United States, something that changes in Europe, where fruits and tea become the bases for more flavors. Saffron is a hot flavor in the Middle East. Chocolate and peanut butter - that fantastic staple - only play together over here. But, I think that's still better than the salty licorice mixed into ice cream in Scandinavia, which Travel+Leisure writer Katrina Brown Hunt likens to "the faint but horrifying aroma of ammonia."

Don't worry - if you need more ideas, Hunt has no shortage of them.

Gallery: "Gross" Food

Gallery: Culinary tour of Japan

Viagra ice cream and other crazy flavors originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventure Destination: Roraima

Kraig Becker — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, South America, Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Camping, Ecotourism

Here's a tip for an out of the way adventure travel destination that isn't on the radar for many travelers yet, and remains a remote escape for those looking to get away from the tourist crowds.

There is a region in the Amazon Basin known as Roraima that sits where Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana come together. The area is dominated by rainforest, as you might expect, but there is a small patch of savannah as well. But the most awe inspiring aspect of the landscape is the towering tepuis, or flat topped mountains, that rise up from the jungle and dominate the horizon.

Roraima is incredibly remote. So much so that it was the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book The Lost World in which dinosaurs are found roaming the jungle. It is a tropical destination with a warm, wet climate, at least at the lower altitudes. When you scale the tepuis, the altitude changes the climate dramatically, bring gusting winds, cooler tempertures and thick clouds.

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Adventure Destination: Roraima originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Highest Cities in the World

Kraig Becker — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Asia, North America, South America, Nepal, Pakistan, Costa Rica, United States, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

The BootsnAll Travel site has a great article up listing the highest cities in the world. Amsterdam doesn't make this list however, as we're talking the cities that fall at the highest altitude. These mountain communities will have you gasping for air as soon as you step off the plane, both with their thin air and stunning mountain scenery.

Topping the list as the highest city in the world is La Rinoconada in Peru. This city of 30,000 is known as the highest permanent human habitiation" and rightly so. Located in the Andes, La Rinoconada sits at 16,728 feet, more than 3100 feet above the next highest city, El Alto, Bolivia at 13,615 feet.

The only city from the U.S. to make the list is Leadville, Colorado which, with 3000 permanent residents, is the highest incorporated city in the country. Leadville falls at 10,152 and is famous for the Leadville 100, a 100 mile long mountain bike race held annually that notoriously punishes endurance athletes.

A couple of the other cities on the list are famous amongst adventure travelers. Lhasa, Tibet at 12,002 feet and Namche Bazaar in Nepal, at 11,482 feet are both stops for trekkers and mountaineers on their way to Mt. Everest. And Cuzco, Peru, which sits at 10,800 feet is a popular starting point for backpackers hiking the Andes and visiting Machu Picchu.

There are some amazing cities on this list, and if you have the opportunity to visit any of them, be sure to bring your camera. And bottled oxygen.

The Highest Cities in the World originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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