They call it the "ultimate waterfall rappel". Frommer's calls it "a bigger rush than a canopy tour."

I'm talking about the Pure Trek Canyoning tour near Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. Canyoning is a mixture of rappelling down waterfalls and hiking in a canyon. Noted by TripAdvisor as one of the top 10 activities to do in the Arenal area, the Pure Trek Canyoning tour will have you rappelling down some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica.

Few people experience places like this. Imagine b

by Susan E. Frost

You may have heard that my hometown (and Oregon's biggest city, with 500,000 people and 1.6 million in the metro area) has more than a whiff of cool about it these days. True enough, but what I like even more -- and what clinches the deal for many visitors -- is its scenery, greenery, and water everywhere, in fountains, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Fall foliage season is, to my taste, the most beautiful time to visit, though to yours it may be springtime, when our famous flowers

According to historians living under the Nguyen dynasty, Phu Yen is a half-mountain and half-plain territory. It is adjacent to the South China Sea in the East, leans against the mountain in the West. It shares border with Binh Dinh province in the North (Cu Mong Pass), Khanh Hoa province in the South with the high Dai Linh Pass. The province is home to high peaks named Dai Linh and Thach Bi, large river named Da Dien. There are fortifications of Thach Linh and Phuoc Son upland used to defend th

Cuando pensamos en buceo, tenemos la imagen mental de un traje de escafandra y un tanque de aire en la espalda. Su historia se remonta a un pasado reciente. Fue en el siglo XVI cuando comenzó a dar sus primeros pasos. En aquel entonces, las personas comenzaron a utilizar las campanas de buceo para bombear aire desde la superficie para quienes estuvieran sumergidos. Huelga decir que los avances tecnológicos han superado tal procedimiento, pese a la importancia que revistiera por varias centurias.

Fuel and insurance are often two of the most misunderstood issues when it comes to hiring a car. In this article we try to shed some light on these topics!

Fuel Policy

There are two main types of fuel policies in the car hire industry: "full to full" and "full to empty". For many years, "full to full" was the norm. With this type of fuel policy, clients were given the car with a full tank and had to return it with a full tank, thus avoiding any fuel charges by the rental company. Nowadays, most lo

One thing about Costa Rica is the country loves a good party! Costa Ricans are known for being gregarious and fun-loving and their enthusiasm is contagious when the country celebrates its numerous fiestas, festivals and horse parades.

Plan your travel to Costa Rica during these cultural events and experience first-hand the country's rich local traditions, tasty cuisine, vibrant music, and sense of fun. Make new friends and have a grand time! Costa Rica's summer season definitely is jam-packed wit

Esta ha sido una interrogante a la que se le han dedicado muchas horas de estudio. Tanto profesionales de las Ciencias Sociales como los entendidos de la Economía han deliberado al respecto. Cabe recordar que hace más de siglo y medio el británico Adam Smith intentó darle respuesta al asunto con su obra «La Riqueza de las Naciones». La discusión se había zanjado cuando se definió el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) como método infalible para determinar cuáles eran los Estados «ganadores».
No obstant

"Gatlinburg Mansion"   

  Our Newest Cabin is now Open for your enjoyment

 "Gatlinburg Mansion" is a 14 bedroom luxury cabin, overlooking The Great Smoky Mountains Mount Leconte.  Awe-inspiring views & memorable times await you!  Providing the ultimate in elegance, fun & amenities, this 3 story, lodge sleeps 44 people.

When people heard we were going to Mexico City they were shocked, how could we go to such a dangerous place. Our response was always, What do you know about Mexico City, why do you think it is dangerous? To us, it was a chance to experience one of the biggest cities in the world. With a population of roughly 18 million, it is thought to be the third largest city!

Mexico City is a city full of vibrant culture, unique neighborhoods and delicious food. Mike and our friend Chris arrived a few days be

The great icon of really like, Taj Mahal is the living record and the most stunning monument of Native indian. Shah Jahan, who was completely in really like with his third spouse, Mumtaz Mahal became mentally week after her rapid loss of life. To communicate his limitless really like for his nurturing spouse, Mumtaz, Shah Jahan determined on providing a honor to his spouse. Thus this perfect executive awesome of Native indian was designed by Shah Jahan in the storage of his charming associate, M

Many of those who visit the Dominican Republic for its golden sandy beaches, tropical forests, and adventure in Jurassic Park-esque settings discover that it's also home to a world of rich culture, intriguing history and especially some world-class contemporary art.

One of the DR modern art scene's most famous figures was the late Cándido Bidó, whose work earned him international fame in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. His works were highly sought after by foreigner collectors s

Nova Scotia is so much more than I expected. It’s a delight to the senses, a city that speaks to the soul. I went there to learn about the wines, and came home with a wider appreciation of their dynamic and intriguing mix of heritage and culinary mastery. It’s such an easy trip to get there, you should definitely think about adding it to your “must travel to” list. I am glad I did.

Flying into Halifax to start my seven-day trip with seven other writers was easy. The airport is small and easy to n

Your heart beat faster, a moment of anticipation...even how may times you are told that nothing good will come from indulging from it, yet you still come back for more.

In its cholesterol yummy goodness Bebek Goreng had become my comfort food since I had arrived here in Cirebon. Back home bebek (or duck) is not usually part of a staple diet at least where I came from. It was the one of the first restaurants we were introduced to when we first got here. We went to H. Salamet Bebek Goreng. Everbody

The onset of Costa Rica’s “green season” means it is whitewater rafting time! Rainwater flows into Costa Rica’s tropical rivers this time of year, making the rapids bigger and more exciting. What could be more fun than splashing down a warm-water tropical river on a hydro-powered rollercoaster? Costa Rica is one of the world’s top destinations for whitewater rafting.

Tropical rivers in Costa Rica are renowned for their beauty. Thick green jungle splashed with rainbow colors of over-sized flowers,

Melodious bubbling of the river below combines with the metallic “clink” of Common Tink Frogs and the hum of crickets to lull me to sleep. My soft, cushy bed in my modern, comfortable bungalow is just steps from the wild Costa Rican rainforest. I make out the dark outline of large vine-covered trees out the window, and sweet fragrances of night-blooming flowers drift through the room. This is jungle living!

I spent a recent weekend at Portasol Rainforest and Ocean View Community on Costa Rica’s C

There are few animals – and offhand I can’t really think of any birds – with quite the mystique of the iridescent emerald-green denizen of southern Mexico and Central America known as the resplendent quetzal. Since they’re fairly rare (officially “near threatened”) and even more elusive, you’re very unlikely to spot one if you go birding in the scrub forests of the Yucatan or the highlands of Chiapas (they’re somewhat easier to spot further south, in places like Costa Rica and Guatemala, altho

If you’re traveling in a wheelchair, getting around at your destination is a major concern. Yes, there are companies like Wheelchair Getaways that provide wheelchair accessible van rentals but they run around $100 a day, plus tax and mileage.

Luckily, one option is becoming more common in increasing areas of the world…accessible public transportation.

Here in the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that new public transit be made accessible and older transit choices be adapted

One day in Bocas del Toro an indigenous man dropped by with a parrot to sell me. I knew I wasn't going to be here long enough to buy pets, but I had owned a parrot when I lived in South America as a kid, and I always wanted another. I figured that when I left Bocas I would let him go, like I did my macaw in Cochabamba.

As long as he was there, I decided to ask him about the indigenous culture. Not necessarily how they lived now, but what their history and traditions were. 

“What island are yo

After half a century of being classified as a national historic site in 1962 and seven years of being recorded in the Vietnamese Guinness Book as the pagoda with the most unique architecture in the country, Mot Cot (One-Pillar) Pagoda was recently recognized as “The Pagoda with the Most Unique Architecture in Asia” by the Asia Record Organization.

This once again affirmed the nearly-thousand year old pagoda’s historical and architectural values. 

 Mot Cot Pagoda is also called “Lien Hoa Dai” becau

A Taiwanese business group visited in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi Wednesday to take part in an international travel fair and boost Taiwan's tourist attractions.

Illustrated photo

The 23-member delegation, consisting of representatives of tour agencies, hotels, leisure farms and specialty stores, and led by Wu Tsung-lin, director of the Kuala Lumpur office of Taiwan's Tourism Bureau, will take part in the 2013 Hanoi International Travel Exhibition and Trade Fair slated for April 18-19.

The deleg