La Lancha is sets in one of the wilder spots in the world – secluded in rainforest on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala. Owned by movie director Francis Ford Coppola, the lodge is located a 30 minute drive away from the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal. Weather Nov to Jun is the best time to visit.

There are ten naturally built brightly decorated “casitas” that are inspired by antique Balinese and Guatemalan furniture but well equipped with modern amenities. The lodge featuring two rooms with queen-size beds, decks with hammocks and private large marble bathrooms. 

Activities: Canoeing, hiking, bird-watching, fishing, kayaking at the lake, horse riding, walking trails. The hotel offers spectacular views of the glassy lake’s waters and the greenery of Guatemala. There is also a restaurant specializing in regional dishes, open-air bar, swimming pool and gift shop.

The Los Roques Archipelago is one of the world’s biggest National Marine Parks, and lies 145 km due north of La Guaira, the mainland port for Caracas. About 50 coral cays and sand bars are arranged in a huge lagoon, but it’s only from the air you get true idea of its scale – it covers the same area as the whole of Virgin Islands. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

The isles are shielded from eastern currents by a 24 km coral reef running from north to south and the second reef, running 32 km from east to west. They form a pristine environment that attracts only the most discerning visitors, who come in their own boats or yachts in search of solitude and tranquility, or in small groups by light aircraft, often just for a day, from Caracas or elsewhere on the Venezuelan mainland. The islands residents came from Isla Margarita and are descendants from 110 families. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

They will welcome you as temporary family members, and you will find that, along with the old style of manners, they still use the old ways of fishing to catch lobsters, king conch and Spanish mackerel. Los Roques is a countless transmutations of blue and green beauty and sharing the natural vibes of a totally unspoiled ecosystem. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

When to go: Year-round. Between July and September storms makes the water less suitable for scuba-diving. Population: 1,500. Getting there: By light aircraft from Caracas or by boat from Isla Margarita. You should know: There are no words to describe the sense of peace you get in Los Roques. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

Hotel de Larache is cobbled together from 20 small farming plots, drawing inspiration from the traditional estancias of northern Chile. Set in the oasis of San Pedro within the Atacama Desert, it offers guests the opportunity to explore the region’s unique landscape. 105 km from Calama in the Atacama Desert. This hotel, very shortly after its opening was chosen amongst the 100 best hotels in the world!

Hotel de Larache has 52 luxury spacious rooms with Jacuzzi, sitting rooms and ample natural light with wood and tile accents and plush linens. Far superior in style, these airy rooms afford about 50% more space.

Hotel Amenities: Outdoor pool and sauna, Massage services, Dining room with exquisite cuisine, Private stables, Gift shop, Library with books and maps, Laundry, Internet facilities. Meeting room for 70 persons.

Open Bar. Including alcoholic drinks and a wide selection of wines. 

Every day different excursions are offered: by bike, on foot, on horseback or in a group of max. There are few places on earth, where a dream of luxury and adventure will come true!

Las Lajas Cathedral, built in 1916, is located in remote southwest Colombia, deep down in a gorge of the Guaitara River. An example of Gothic revival architecture, the cathedral is memorably framed by stark mountains and 100 feet waterfalls. The name Laja comes from the name of a type of flat sedimentary rock similar to floor tiles found in the Andes Mountains.

The church was built to commemorate the appearance of the Virgin which legend has it, her image appeared on an enormous vertical rock 45m above the river. Apparently, an image of Virgin of Las Lajas was painted on the side of the cliff. As a result, the altar is located here and the rest of the church is built jutting outwards  from the cliff.

The story of the cathedral’s creation is that in 1754 an Amerindian named “Maria Mueces” and deaf-mute daughter “Rosa” were caught up by a very strong storm. They found refuge between the gigantic Lajas.

This image was imprinted on the rocks of a gorge above the Guaitara River. The image is situated inside a cave very high in the mountains, and was completely unknown until it was discovered in the mid-18th century by an Indian.

Huacachina is a village in the Ica Region, in southwestern Peru. The oasis attracts many tourists as well as Peru’s rich families. The area around the lake is known for dune buggy trips and sandboarding. It is a tiny location, although it does have a few restaurants, bars and clubs.

In this quiet place, at a height of over 600 meters above sea level, ancient whales’ skeleton fossils were exposed by a slow process of wind and rain.  Huacachina is a very special place as.  In the middle of a massive sandy desert, surrounded by huge sand dunes was a gorgeous oasis with palm trees and a lagoon which is said to contain therapeutic properties. Particularly effective for the cure of skin and rheumatic illnesses.

Legend holds that the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter. She fled, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon.

This tiny little oasis in the desert is surrounded by the highest sand dunes in the world.

Parque Tayrona is truly a magnificent natural park located at the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The Park covers an area 300 square kilometres in size. Off the coast are a number of coral reefs, and nearby is the archaeological site. This little delightful spot is located about 30 minutes from the city of Rodadero, with beautiful beaches and hammocks to rent. Park Tayrona is about 45 minutes East of Santa Marta.

The park covers some 30 square kilometres of maritime area in the Caribbean sea and some 150 km² of land. One nature reserve where there is an incredible variety of dry and wet tropical forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds. The park boasts fascinating wildlife including black howler and “titi” monkeys, red woodpeckers, iguanas and jaguars.

Places of interest include Canaveral (camping area), Neguange, Arrecifes, El Cabo beach, Playa Linda and La Piscina . Arrecifes is centrally located to explore many of Park Tayrona’s beaches. The scenery is breathtaking: verdant jungle sloping down to meet the Caribbean sea at white sandy beaches. Most beaches right next to the camping grounds are relatively unsafe for swimming due to heavy currents.

Bahia Cinto, Parque Tayrona- Nested within the Tayrona Park, this hideaway bay with exclusive bungalows serves as an ideal base for diving in the Tayrona Park.

La Piscina- La Piscina is mostly a place to swim and hang out.

The accommodation is very natural: you can enjoy traditional camping hammocks between palm trees and overlooking the majestic mountain. Or private, two storey huts perched on a hillside overlooking the sea. Tayrona Park has just one genuine hotel, called “Eco-habs”.

The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is a National Park and a set of highlands within the Cordillera Oriental mountain range in the Andes Mountains of Colombia.  The Sierra Nevada Del Cocuy, about 8 hours from Bogota, has over 20 snow capped peaks and some forty lagoons. Temperatures oscillate in the lower part at around 23º C and go down to 3º C in the snow covered peaks.

The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is a 306,000 km² protected area from which rise 23 snow peaks surrounded by waterfalls, lakes, parama vegetation. Also and tapirs, spectacled bears, Andean condors, eagles, and paramo deer.

The Park area contains several high peaks covered with snow: Pan de Azucar (5120m), Diamante (4800 m), el Pulpito del Diablo (5100 m), Toti (4800 m), Portales (4800 m), Concavo (5200 m), Concavito (5100 m) and others. Some peaks are inaccessible to man; for example, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta , on the Caribbean Coast.

Displayed on bubble-shaped stands, Galeria Melissa’s hip, gaudily-colored prime sellers—plastic shoes made in collaboration with design stars like Karim Rashid—look like art objects from outer space. The shop aims to be Sao Paulo’s “go to” place for cutting edge styles and ideas. Housed in a space created by Muti Randolph, the architect behind the electronic music temple D-Edge’s retro-futuristic beat box design, Galeria Melissa updates itself every three months by renewing the prints and graphics on its walls, a jungle of striking tints and bold shapes.

Cano Cristales lies in the Serrania de La Macarena, Colombia. Often called “the most beautiful river in the world” as well as “the river of five colors,” Cano Cristales is one of those destinations you almost have to see to believe. Cano Cristales is about 100km in length. During Colombia’s rainy season, the water flows fast and deep as rivers are wont to do.

Depending on the time of year, the amount of colorful algae found in the river gives it an impressively technicolor appearance.

Blotches of amarillo, blue, green, black, and red–and a thousand shades in between–coat the river. It is indeed a unique biological wonder.

The bed and rocks of this river are covered with mosses and algae which for much of the year appear as dull green and brown water plants.

Emiliano Hotel offers Sao Paulo a new concept in hospitality with an exclusive and luxury product. The hotel offers its guests pleasant and contemporary ambience. Emiliano’s restaurant blends top class contemporary style with sophisticated haut cuisine and provides its guest with an unforgettable home away from home experience!

The hotel is situated at Oscar Freire Street, which stands for Sao Paulo like Rodeo Drive stands for Los Angeles. In the Jardins heart, it is a four-sided block and one of the most celebrated and exclusive shopping streets. It offers the best fashion boutiques, galleries in art, business centres as well as lodges the headquarters of several domestic and multinational companies.

Their exclusive and sophisticated suites are 904 square feet. They were designed with one king size bed, and two different ambients – living room and bedroom. Each suite include 34-inch flat screen liquid crystal TV’s in all rooms, CD, MD, DVD player and home theater with digital sound. High speed internet access in each room.

The hotel also features business center, events-banquets, presentation room, lobby bar, Emiliano Restaurant, Spa and gym. The lobby bar offers interesting atmosphere combines with special selection of appetizers and beverages. The Staff is always trying to attend the guests with all the kindness and efficiency they deserve. There are 3 exclusive employees per guest. Class and style for guests who know the art for savoir- faire close or far from home either for work and leisure.

Livraria da Vila Library is built on a very narrow plot in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The place is a unique bookstore and library. Livraria da Vila offers comfort with translated into the composition of low-ceiling spaces, dark tones, indirect lighting and floor to ceiling shelves. Whichever direction one looks at, there are books without a pretentious feel, allowing customers to browse or even read at ease in the couches and easy chairs scattered around the stories.

The library has various space. The inclusion of the basement level allowed for an entire floor exclusive for children, in addition to a small auditorium, to hold courses and lectures whilst the voids connecting one floor to the next invite customers to enter and explore the store.

The architect is Isay Weinfeld. The Livraria da Vila stocks thousands of culture, fiction and theory titles: most are in Portuguese, with the notable exception of the extensive, English-led art and design sections.

Alpamayo is one of the most conspicuous peaks in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of the Peruvian Andes in the Ancash region, Peru, South America. Elevation 19,511 ft (5,947 meters). Has a 60 degree almost symmetrical pyramid shape.It is the most beautiful and conspicuous peak ever and has two sharp summits South and North.

Alpamayo mountain peak was climbed for the first time by a German expedition through the N ridge. It was voted “the most beautiful mountain in the world” in a worldwide survey of scenic beauty at Munich in 1966.

The most common climbing route, known as the Ferrari route, is situated on the southwest face of the mountain. It is considered a difficult climb, demanding good crampon and ice-climbing technique. ( Best months are the May to September dry season).

Alpamayo should not be underestimated!

It is a trail full of turquoise lagoons, mountains of more than 6000 masl, beautiful valleys and many high passes with magnificent views. The campsites are expansive and tranquill.

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Cabo de la Vela is a headland in the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia with an adjacent small fishing village. Facing the Caribbean Sea and Venezuela in the northern most part of South America. The department capital city is Riohacha.

Cabo de la Vela is the most visited tourist destination of La Guajira. It has paradisaical beaches and an excellent landscape.This truely special region is well worth a visit. From Riohacha you have to go by car over to Cuarto Vias then up through Uribia to Cabo de la Vela probably another 70/80 km.

There’s over 60 guesthouses  in Cabo de la Vela – all offer pretty basic accommodation in either cabanas with beds or in hammock. Seafood is the number one and only option and lots of beach restaurants have fresh langostas and fish on the menu.

Just as the Guajira is the ideal place for adventure tourism. Camping, bicycle tours, water sports, cultural exchanges, dances and festivals in the region.

It is a nice place and the sunset in Cabo de la Vela is amazing!

Rio de Janeiro has budgeted $US10.7 million for further permanent construction at the site, and an additional $US9.6 million for temporary construction to get the venue ready for the Games. International Olympic Committee members shocked everyone at the Bella Convention Centre in the Danish capital by eliminating favorites Chicago in the first voting round. Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid’s 32 in the final round of voting.

It is one of Colombia’s most attractive natural landscapes! Tatacoa Desert is close to Villavieja, a little town located approx 50 Km north from Neiva. In order to get to Villavieja you will likely need to take a collectivo from Neiva.

The Tatacoa covers a total area of 300 km² mostly covering the municipality of Villavieja.The Desert of Tatacoa has a grey and a red part.

You can find turtles, rodents, snakes, spiders, scorpions, eagles, lizards, and ocelots. In the evening the lighting is particularly beautiful and the area is swarming with interesting species of birds.

The stunning earthly landscape of reds and greys, abundant with cactuses and desert flora and fauna-the locals say here that the desert waters contain special powers.

The Natural pool, spectacularly set in the middle of the desert, where you could bathe and lookout at the dramatic landscape.