2 Nights in Caledon with Spa Treatment

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

from R1,220 per person sharing

Caledon, only 110 kms from the bustling city of Cape Town, is set against the stunning backdrop of the Swartberg mountain range. It’s impossible to visit the pretty town without letting the gentle way of country life wash over you leaving you ready to face city life again on Monday morning! To further enhance your relaxation a Spa Treatment to the value of R200 per person is included in the price. To spice up your weekend there is always the Caledon Casino, which is worth a visit!

Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation in a double/twin superior room (based on two people sharing)
A R200 Spa and Wellness Centre voucher for each person sharing a room
Full breakfast

To book or enquire contact us.

Terms & Conditions:
Accommodation is subject to date restrictions and availability. Prices are subject to change without prior notification. Unless otherwise specified holiday packages are per person based on twin share, and do not include flights or transport to and from the place of accommodation. Only meals stated above are included in the package.

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Cusco: The Cradle of the Inca Civilization

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Cusco -South America, is known all around the world for its special beauty and the incredible archaeological ruins of Muchu Picchu.

This is the town hikers depart from in order to go on the Inca Trail.

Cusco/Cuzco- “the old imperial Inca capital, which was both the administrative and the religious centre of the empire. Seized by the Spanish in 1533 after the murders of the Incas Huascar and Atahualpa, many of the original Inca buildings were destroyed and their stone used to construct palaces and churches for the invaders. Much of the city was also burned during the rebellion of 1534.”

Cusco porudly carries the title of “Archeological Capital of the Americas” because there is no other place on the continent where you can easily experience such an amazing culture as that of the Incas in such beautiful surroundings.

The contrast between native and western cultures, between history and the present makes Cusco especially attractive to foreigners visiting Peru



Lake Titicaca – The World’s Highest Lake in Peru

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest lake navigable to large vessels, lying at 12,500 feet (3,810 m) above sea level in the Andes Mountains of South America, astride the border between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east. Titicaca is the second largest lake of South America (after Maracaibo). It covers some 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km) and extends in a northwest-to-southeast direction for a distance of 120 miles (190 km). It is 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point. A narrow strait, Tiquina, separates the lake into two bodies of water.

In Inka mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo, children of the Sun, emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca to found their empire. Like famous naturalist Jacques Cousteau, today’s visitors to Titicaca will surely feel the same emotion that captivated the symbolic universe of the ancient Peruvians. With lofty snow-capped peaks along its far shores, the vast blue lake at 3,800m is one of the Andes’ most enchanting scenes.



Festivals in Peru

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

For many, South America equals festivals. The festivals bring along with them an abundance of pilgramages, parades, dancing and general merriment, but they also focus on the sacred and the profane manifestation of vitality, pride and happiness. The festivals of Cusco form a rainbow of colour bringing together sounds, flavours, scents and a sense of reinventing a synthesis of Man and the Earth,

Choose a date for your holiday that coincides with a festival and feel the true essence of South America

Festival

Description

Place

Dates

Surrenders of Sticks

The power in a stake

Cusco

January 1

The Visit of the Wise Men

Folkloric and religious festival

Ollantaytambo

January 6

Typical Births

Exhibitions of typical birth in churches and homes of Cusco

Cusco

Until January 6

The Chiaraje

A ritual battle

Canas

January 20

Carnivals

Party for happiness

Cusco

February and/or March

Lord. of Tremors

The brown Christ and the crimson flower

Cusco

The second part of March and the first week of April

Cruz Velacuy

Party of the crosses and Andean spirit

Cusco

May and/or June

Qoyllur Rit’i

The biggest indigenous pilgrimage in America

Quispicanchis

The first week of May

Cusco Beer Festival

Music concerts of international and national groups

Cusco

Last week of May

Festival of OllantayRaymi

Staging of Ollantay drama, dances and typical dishes

Ollantaytambo

The first part of June

Inti Raymi

The Inca festival of the Sun

Cusco

June 24

Corpus Christi

The steps of the saints and the virgins

Cusco

June

Virgin of the Carmen

Mamacha Carmen

Paucartambo

The second week (15-16) of July

Corpus of Santiago

A religious festivity

Cusco

July 25

Corpus of Santa Ana

A religious festivity performed in the chapel of San Cristobal

Cusco

July 26

Corpus of San Cristobal

A religious festivity performed in the chapel of Santa Ana

Cusco

August 2

Warachikuy

Dramatisation of Warachikuy in Sacsayhuaman

Cusco

August and/or September

Corpus of Almudena

A religious festivity celebrated in the church of Almudena

Cusco

September 8

Lord of Huanca

Pilgrimages and agriculture fairs

San Salvador

September 14

Corpus of San Jeronimo

A religious festivity celebrated in the district of San Jeronimo

Cusco

September 30

Virgin of the Rosary

Taurine fairs and preparation of Pachamancas

Quispicanchis and Canchis

October 10

All the Saints’ Day

Visits to cemeteries, Preparation of the suckling pig

Cusco

November 1 – 2

Christmas in Cusco

Time of integration and artistic splendor

Cusco

December 24-25

Santuranticuy Fair

The sale of saints

Cusco

December 24



Sao Paulo – Brazil’s Capital City

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

São Paulo, the gateway to Brazil, is one of the world’s largest cities. Seventeen million people occupy just under 500 square kilometers. It is an urban jungle with a stretch of high-rise buildings as far as the eye can see. As the country’s commercial capital, one resident offered an apt description: “São Paulo works so that the rest of Brazil can play.”

Paulistanos (residents of São Paulo) work hard, and play even harder, inhabiting their city with a street-savvy, stylish energy. Bear in mind, the city doesn’t go out of its way to cater to foreign tourist; rarely will you find yourself amidst a sea of American, German and Australians. Instead, you will experience life undiluted and dynamic, as do its citizens. Spend your time shopping (people come from all over the world for São Paulo’s malls, markets, and shops) or attending performances (theatre or capoeira) or clubbing or eating in one of the city’s many delightful restaurants. From its humble beginnings as a mission on a hill in 1554, São Paulo has grown to become the continent’s biggest metropolis. Italian, Japanese, German, Lebanese, and Indian neighborhoods weave into the fabric of the city, connected together by a bustling transportation system. Art museums and galleries, parks, markets, bars, and dance clubs enliven the city, offering pleasing rewards for those who seek them out. It is a challenging, intoxicating and unforgettable city.



Sao Luis – The Jamaica of Brazil

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

This small city sits 1,600 kilometers from Recife, and is known for its lively parties and delicious food. It is a UNESCO city (Cultural Patrimonio of the Humanity) due in large part to its beautiful azulejo (tiles) walls and cobblestone streets. São Luis is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Maranhao, and is the only city established by the French and then occupied by the Dutch. It remains a distinctly Portuguese colonial city with its own unique culture marked by its cuisine, traditions, festivals, and live reggae parties. Eat peixada (a regional large fish) and shrimp pie, arroz de cuxá (typical dish of rice with local herbs), carne de sol (beef that is sun-dried then cooked). Try drinking Jesus, a regional soft drink that is pink and tastes like bubblegum.



Bahia- The Real Brazilian Carnival

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Salvador da Bahia (generally known as ‘Salvador’) is the African soul of Brazil. It was the nation’s capital until 1973 when Rio took over as the political head. Sugar and tobacco comprised this small city’s economy in the 16th and 17th centuries, causing the influx of slaves shipped in from Africa. The descendents of these slaves preserved their cultural roots, resulting in a city infused with hypnotic drum beats, graceful dancing, fragrantly spiced delicacies, and an irresistible energy.

Once famous for its gold-filled churches and beautiful mansions, now it’s host to many an outrageous festival. One of the biggest and most impressive Carnival celebrations takes place in Salvador, with live music pulsing from enormous trucks. The Pelourinho (the now renovated city centre) offers the biggest collection of colonial baroque architecture in Latin America. There are loads of terraced restaurants, bars, and, of course, sublime beaches. Be sure to visit the Museu Afro-Brasileiro for the Candomblé Culture exhibition. The museum exhibits wood carvings, baskets, pottery and other artwork and crafts, tying together Brazilian and African artistic traditions. There is an extremely fascinating exhibit of photography, sacred objects and ceremonial apparel demonstrating the African roots of Brazilian Candomblé religion. Salvador is an ideal location for daytrips to nearby sites. It is the gateway to Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil’s “Lost World”, situated in the northeast of the Bahia state. The park, created in 1985, is a mixed landscape of wild rock formations, caves, crystal clear lakes, underground rivers, and the semi-arid Sertão. Spend time in another enormously popular nearby destination, Diamantina. If you’re there at the right time, you’ll catch the bimonthly vesperata in which musicians play old favorites whilst posted in windows and balconies around the charming square, Beco do Mota. Be sure to visit Ilha de Itaparica (Island of Itaparica) or the beaches further north.



Rio de Janeiro

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Rio, that lush, ocean-edge city, is the tourist capital of Brazil. Framed by waters dotted with islands, it is a city of memory, fantasy and allure – a cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city). It is home to world famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, and to a nightlife admired around the world. The Cariocas (people of Rio) know how to enjoy themselves. If you visit the clubs, bars, theatres, and restaurants, not to mention the beaches, you will know why.

Christ the Redeemer, the statue on Corcovado Mountain at the edge of Rio, overlooks one of the most densely populated cities on earth, and is witness to a spirited people thriving on dance, drink, beach, sport, and sun. In the daytime, the fifty-nine beaches that spread along Rio’s coast cater to people of all shapes and sizes. At night, the Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and Lagoa beach districts pulsate with irresistible beats. Everyone finds something appealing about Rio: from visiting ritzy neighborhoods to hiking the surrounding mountains to beach lounging to taking a tour through one of the world famous favelas (slums). It is a city where you can leave behind your preconceptions, and open your heart and imagination to the vivaciousness of life.



Porto de Galinhas- Beaches with Coconut Palms, Blue Sea and Natural Pools

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

A 100 km bus ride away from Recife Brazil, is Porto de Galinhas (Port of Chickens). Its curious name comes from the 18th century forbidden slave trade when “chicken” was the code to refer to the slaves stepping off the boats. Porto used to be an anonymous fishing village; today, it’s one of the most important tourist destinations in Brazil. Many locals still make a living from their catches of the day, as well as from the coconuts that abound in the palm plantations.

Porto is known for the best beaches in Brazil. Eighteen kilometers of white sand beaches stretch along the coast, speckled with resorts, and buffed by a permanent breeze. The centre of town offers a grid of streets lined with small houses, hostels, shops, and restaurants. Visitors can depart from the centre for boat or buggy trips to the Porto beaches.



Natal- A tranquil Oasis in Brazil

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

The sunny beaches of Natal, 300 kilometers from Recife, have always been a tranquil oasis. In recent years, with improved infrastructure and information systems, tourism has dramatically increased. As in many towns in Brazil, Carnaval is a hugely celebrated event, bringing to the streets concerts, parties, and crowds of dancing people. During non-Carnaval time, however, there is still plenty for a visitor to see and do. Buggy ride in the sand dunes in the day and in the evening, watch a regional show of music and dance at the Centro de Turismo. There are bars, cafes and restaurants offering great food – you’ll be amazed at the many ways prawns (camarones) can be cooked and eaten!