Photo by Ange Gervan

Last Month

Congratulations to Benj Binks from Australia who correctly identified the photo from last month: the Solaar de Uyini in Bolivia.

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Driving south, and make your way to the Monte Azules Biosphere Reserve and locally run Las Guacamayas Ecolodge to float the Tzendales River and watch toucans cruise through the air. Crocodiles and eerie howler monkeys await you at Yaxchilan, an extensive archeological site tucked into a bend on the Usumascinta River.

But the coffee…

Our hearts took us to Argovia Finca Resort, where their passion for the best coffee aligned with ours. Fly into Tapachula where you’ll be met by the Ruta del Café Volkswagen. Wind your way up into the steep jungle. Bruno Giesemann’s family has owned the coffee plantation for 4 generations, and you’ll love touring his coffee production facility, eating beans off the trees, and harvesting flowers in his gardens. Take a horse or a mountain bike to any of the four surrounding fincas, and your gear will be shuttled there for you.

Most importantly, taste the signature Chiapas coffee, perfectly roasted to bring out its unique feature: the chocolatey aftertaste.

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Surf

The flight from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido is breathtaking. In Puerto Escondido find Roxelle Perez Contreras and her husband at Bazar Puerto Excondido, who can teach you how to surf or boogie board. Try a surf lesson from the man legendary for surfing in a luchador mask – ask for Angel! – at Central Surf Shop. Here, you can try out paddleboarding as well and get to know the man who is coordinating a surf championship for handicapped surfers this spring.

At the end of the day, call Lalo Tours to take a night boat ride through a nearby lagoon, where a plunge in the water leaves you glowing—with bioluminescent plankton all around. As people swim away from the boat you’ll see only the glow around them in the water, radiant light speckling the calm waters.

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Mauricio Morales, a legend and pioneer in the Mexican whitewater world, has created a self-contained ecolodge across the way at Mexico Verde, where everything from leaves to gray water is recycled or composted.

On the other side of town, check out Rio y Montana and Okavango, and find out about the hike to the village of Chopilapa on your day off from the river.

And down to the ocean breezes…

Fly in and out of Veracruz City, a port city with a lively colonial downtown, complete with a traditional coffee drink from La Parroquia. The Costa Esmeralda north of the city offers a chance at a great sport with one of our favorite guides: Peppi Stunkel from Elemental Kite School. After dinner head out to the beach to assist on a turtle conservation project; patrols are needed nearly year round for multiple species of turtles that nest along the beaches of Costa Esmerelda.

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Team Competing in a Challenge

Last year we introduced you to Competitours before they launched their inaugural tour – It was a massive success and they are running new routes again this year.

As we know, adventure travelers have a reputation for fearlessness and at times, let’s be honest, a competitive nature.  Competitours is the Amazing Race for regular people – and perfect for the Adventure Traveler. Teams participate in a series of challenges through a mix of Eurail-connectd cities and out of the way villages, to claim victory of first prize: $5500 or 200,000 starpoints (there are also 2nd and 3rd place prizes).

So assemble your team, pay your trip fee, and get your adventure on! The price includes your airfare, which on the outbound flies you to a “surprise European destination.”  Once you arrive, you have seven days to demonstrate your travel prowress.  There are no physical stunts, teams have to use their brain power to complete the challenges. A challenge might be visiting the Torture Museum in Prague to shoot a video “explaining how an instrument of torture could be used as a nonlethal household item.” The Judges use videos filmed by the teams to announce each day’s winner, but no videography experience necessary.

Visit their site for more info.

PS: Your Canadian editor would like to point out that, unlike the Amazing Race, people from all nationalities can participate in Competitours!

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Stephanie Wilson took some time to explain a little about life on Vista Verde. Roughly translated, Vista Verde means ‘Green View.’ True to its name the area around the ranch is more lush than other areas of Colorado. Grass is plentiful so when it comes to feeding time, the horses can just be put out in the pasture. Unlike many guest ranches, this one has only passed through the hands of four owners, allowing Vista Verde to develop stability and its own unique individuality among ranches to which many get attached.

Vista Verde is able to cultivate depth and continuity with guests, although the owners have invested much in the ranch, they are hands off, allowing the diverse array of personalities among the staff to do what they know best. From professionally prepared meals (that include everything thing from BBQ to braised lamb shanks) to wine tastings by Chef Roberts, who the guests adore. Located only 45 minutes from Steamboat Springs, CO. (known for its excellent ski resort), Vista Verde Guest Ranch prides itself on being able to take care of its guests like they were old friends.  Staffer, Stephanie commented on their staff-guest relationship dynamic, “It’s great when the first thing guests ask when they arrive is, “how are your kids?”

Vista Verde summer season starts June 6^th and ends September 26th. Activities include rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, you can also pay a little extra to take a ride on a hot air balloon. Winter season goes until March 20^th and has more than enough skiing, horseback riding, and sleigh rides to go around.

Be sure to check out TripAdvisor for guest reviews and also Vista Verde’s website for more information: www.vistaverde.com

If you’d like to book a reservation, email Stephanie at reservations@vistaverde.com

-Tania Segura

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The methodology relies on hard data and expert surveys to asses countries in 10 pillars: Sustainable Development, Health, Safety and Security, Cultural Resources, Natural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Infrastructure, Entrepreneurship and Image.

The top three developing countries this year were Slovak Republic, Israel and the Czech Republic.   The top three developed countries were Iceland, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Click here to access the reprots and click here to join th discussion!

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You’re looking for a new way of doing things in a place that’s worth doing them.  You’re an experienced creative who can take the best of the old and meld it seamlessly with everything that’s new today.  You know how to generate a big idea and execute across a range of media, especially online. You’ve got the skills to lead, mentor and help our agency leverage its expertise in helping brands market to travelers, specifically the emerging geotravel segment.

Above all, you value authenticity of place, the outdoors and snow—you have to value snow.  And you’ve been chomping at the bit for a chance to build a creative department to match the vision and contribute to the agency’s success at a high level.  If you can say yes to all these things, especially the snow and online parts, then we should talk.  Tell us your story frankly in an email to: Jeff.welch@mercurycsc.com

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