Vamos Colombia Tour takes you to Barranquilla Carnaval March 3-14, 2011

Contact us at Vamos Colombia Tour website. Or email us at info@vamoscolombiatour.com.

Barranquilla Carnaval 2011 set to begin soon

The 2011 edition of the world famous and UNESCO-recognized Barranquilla Carnaval is soon upon us! The highlights are on the weekend of March 5-8, 2011, just before the start of Lent.
The vastly improved website can be found at:
http://www.carnavaldebarranquilla.org/

The schedule can be found at
http://www.carnavaldebarranquilla.org/Programacion

Information about the many kinds of traditional Colombian dance and rhythms that are found at the Carnaval can be found on the website:
http://www.carnavaldebarranquilla.org/DanzasExpresiones



Vamos Colombia Tours will be happy to help you enjoy the Carnaval in luxury and with all the amenities.

www.vamoscolombiatour.com

Gay Parade at Carnival in Barranquilla, 2010

These pictures are from the gay parade held a week before the main Carnival parade in Barranquilla, Colombia. It features many transgenders, including both drag and transexuals.

Carnival in Barranquilla, Colombia, 2010

The Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia, celebrating Mardi Gras, got off to a great start. These pictures from El Heraldo newspaper tell it all.

Carnival in Colombia

Join me in Barranquilla, Colombia, to experience Carnival, a unique UNESCO Heritage-recognized event of humankind's cultural patrimony, or as I prefer to call it, an incredibly fun party!

Packages for the independent tour (hotels, domestic air flights, and parade tickets) start at $1190 (double occupancy).

If you prefer to go with a group, join me on the 10 day tour that includes the Barranquilla Carnival, as well as nearby Cartagena and cosmopolitan Bogota.

If you have additional time, consider continuing on with me to Peru and Machu Picchu.

Contact me directly for any additional info!

Walter Rey
415 637 2660
Walter@VamosColombiaTour.com
www.VamosColombiaTour.com

Delta-Avianca Code Sharing to Resume

Travel to Colombia may get even more convenient with codesharing restarting between Delta and Avianca (the Colombian airlines). This will permit travelers to fly from many US cities to several Colombian destinations with just one ticket and without having to recheck bags on the connections.

Check out
http://airlineroute.blogspot.com/2009/08/delta-avianca-codeshare-resumes-07sep09.html

Tourism in Colombia on the Rise Still 2009

From the Colombia Reports website:

Colombia's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism expects the country to receive 2.8 million visitors in 2010, a record figure representing an increase of 15 percent over 2008.

This projected rise is based on the proportional increase of arriving travelers listing recreational and business purposes for travel in Colombia.

According to the Ministry, Argentina is one of the countries generating the highest number of visitors to Colombia, ranking 6th in the world in the period from January to June 2009. In the same period, Colombia received more than 638,000 visitors, a growth of 10.3 per cent over the same period in 2008.

Favorite Colombian destinations of tourists, in order of importance, are: Bogota, Cartagena, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and San Andres. Destinations that have grown most in the first half of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008 are Medellin (33.5 per cent), Bucaramanga (27 per cent), and Santa Marta (14.4 per cent).

The figures for January-June 2009 have reinforced the growth trend observed earlier this year, when official reports of the World Tourism Organization marked a growth in tourist arrivals of 7.5 per cent during the first two months of the year, contrasting with a 7.7 per cent decline of tourism worldwide.

Tourism is currently Colombia's third largest export, behind oil and coal, according to Minister Luis Guillermo Plata.

Barranquilla Jazz Festival, 2009

Barranquilla will celebrate the biggest International Jazz Festival in Colombia with world-class artists ranging from Latin Jazz, Salsa, Flamenco, Colombian Jazz and Jazz-Fusion. Barranquijazz takes place September 9 to 13, 2009.

There will be several Jazz Festival in Colombia next week but Barranquijazz is the most important of all, followed by the Medellin Jazz Festival.

What began as a project of some music lovers in 1997 turned quickly into one of the annual highlights of Barranquilla. The world's biggest jazz and Latin jazz artists have attended Barranquijazz.

This year the Caribbean city will host Mark Walker (United States), Papo Vazquez, Dave Valentin, Omara Portuondo and his orchestra (Cuba), Jaume Vilaseca quartet (Spain) and Rik Mol (Netherlands) among others.

Music lovers can enjoy the jazz vibes at the Teatro Amira de la Rosa, Plazoleta Teatro Amira de la Rosa, Plaza de la Paz, University del Norte, stadium Romelio Martinez and the Salon Jumbo del Country Club.

For more information and the whole program, check out http://www.barranquijazz.com/

Pictures from Barranquilla Carnaval in Colombia

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

From Barranquilla Carnaval 2009

For a complete slideshow of Barranquilla Carnaval pictures, check out our galleries:
Flicker/Yahoo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vamoscolombiatour/sets/72157622047963646/

and Google/Picasa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/vamoscolombiatour/BarranquillaCarnaval2009#slideshow/

Cumbia from Carnaval, Barranquilla, Colombia

Hundreds of dancers parade for blocks while performing professional level cumbia and other dances, accompanied by live music, while in traditional costumes and with a big smile! It is an enchanting sight as part of the Carnaval festivities in Barranquilla, Colombia. Join us next year for a front row seat!

Check our our trip in 2010 that includes the Carnaval in Barranquilla Colombia!

http://vamoscolombiatour.blogspot.com/2009/08/colombian-carnaval-and-machu-picchu-13.html

Colombian Carnaval and Machu Picchu 13 day tip

AMERICAS TRAVEL and VAMOS COLOMBIA TOUR invite you to join us on an exciting journey to Peru and Colombia.

Peru - Colombia

13 Days Escorted Tour

February 12 - 24, 2010

The perfect combination to enjoy the best of Peru and Colombia, from ancient civilizations to cosmopolitan settings, from mystical encounters with the glorious past, high in the mountains, and in the enchanting Caribbean.

Barranquilla, Colombia, Colombia's "Golden Gate"; it's carnival features traditions dating back to the 19th century.

Cartagena, Colombia, has the largest (and best restored) walled colonial city surviving on the continent, combined with the gorgeous blue waters of the Caribbean.

Bogota, Colombia, has a thriving nightlife. Bogota also surprises visitors with its culture, including the famous Gold Museum, one of the largest pre-Colombian collections in the world.
Lima, Peru, takes you to the heart of the latest trend in international cuisine, with many new gourmet restaurants featuring the latest in modern Peruvian food.

Cuzco, and the Sacred Valley, in Peru, will introduce you to the ancient and modern worlds of the Inca civilization, from the beautiful ruins to the popular markets.

Machu Picchu, Peru, is heralded as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, a fascinating and spiritual destination that leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.

This 13 day trip includes 2 countries and 7 flights (domestic and international, all included in the 1 low price), with hotel, tours and some meals.

Only $3995 per person
Single Supplement $550.00

Price includes: International and domestic flights and transportation throughout the tour ~ Hotel accommodations, based on double occupancy ~ Daily breakfast and meals specified in the itinerary ~ Transportation in air-conditioned bus with driver and English-speaking guide ~ Visits mentioned in the itinerary with guides and entrance fees.

Price does not include: Optional Tours ~ Extra baggage charges ~ Gratuities and personal expenses ~ Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance ~ Airport Departure Taxes in South America

ITINERARY

Fri 12 Feb ~ USA to Barranquilla, Colombia
Depart USA in morning, arrive same evening, transfer to hotel.

Sat 13 Feb ~ Barranquilla
Attend Carnival parade. (B)

Sun 14 Feb ~ Barranquilla – Cartagena
Morning bus departure to Cartagena, transfer to hotel. Guided sunset walking tour old city; evening at leisure (B)

Mon 15 Feb ~ Cartagena
Day at leisure in Cartagena; optional Rosario island day tour. (B)

Tue 16 Feb ~ Cartagena – Bogota
Flight to Bogota, transfer to High Park hotel (B)

Wed 17 Feb ~ Bogota
Guided day tour of Bogota: Candelaria, Monserrate and Botero and Gold Museums. (B,L)

Thu 18 Feb ~ Bogota
Half day tour : Zipaquira, Salt Cathedral; dinner optional at famed Andres Carne de Res (B)

Fri 19 Feb ~ Bogota – Lima, Peru
Flight to Lima, Peru, transfer to hotel Casa Andina Miraflores Centro. Half Day Lima city tour (B)

Sat 20 Feb ~ Lima
Day at leisure (B)

Sun 21 Feb ~ Lima to Cuzco
Flight to Cuzco, transfer to hotel, afternoon city tour including nearby ruins (B)

Mon 22 Feb ~ Machu Picchu
Full day excursion (B,L)

Tue 23 Feb ~ Sacred Valley
Full day excursion (B,L)

Thu 24 Feb ~ Cuzco to Lima to USA

To register for Peru & Colombia 2010, please follow these steps:
1. Fill out and sign the Registration Form (available upon request).
2. Review and sign a copy of the Terms and Conditions.
3. Fax or mail these documents to AMERICAS TRAVEL with your deposit.



AMERICAS TRAVEL
348 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102-4421, USA
Fon: 415-703-9955 ~ Fax: 415-703-9959
www.americastravel.net
cesar@americastravel.net

VAMOS COLOMBIA TOUR

www.vamoscolombiatour.com

415-637-2660
walter@vamoscolombiatour.com

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Final Day of Carnaval Barranquilla - Videos and Pictures

The final day (Tuesday) of Mardi Gras is known for the funeral procession of "Joselito Carnaval" the representation of the Carnaval which is deceased (since it is the last day), and is then buried.  Of course it is a parade with dancing nonetheless. This one was right in the street and no fence so everyone can go right up the participants to dance, take pictures, or cry with the many "widows" of Joselito dressed in black (both beauty queens and drag queens) and parading. 

While this Carnaval does not have the topless women and the over the top costumes that the Rio Carnaval is known for, it clearly is a city- and country-wide event with many strong traditions that remain very much alive. For the non-Colombian visitor, it is chance to see live Cumbia, Mapale and other traditional dancing on a large scale, and hear live music of all kinds which is rare to find (live) outside of Colombia and never on this large of a scale. This is also a country of beauty which is very much on display in both the women and the men.  Interestingly, it is also a chance to see a somewhat fractured country come together for a large community-wide event, and of course a chance for a big party which is non-stop, all day and all night for 5 days in a row. 

Even Obama would not miss the festivities as he greets Walter and Vamos Colombia Tour!

The videos will give an idea of the non-stop dancing all the way down the many blocks of the parade. Check out the Mapale and the Afro-Caribbean dancing, and you will get an idea of where Shakira learned her moves! (One video here, the second in the next entry)

The partying, by the way, is famous here for the use of foam and fine white corn powder, both of which are sprayed on everyone when they are drinking, or just watching the parades. We managed to avoid it until the last night, when we found a group of friends of a friend, who quickly became our friends too, found a hoping bar with tables on the street, let go, had fun with everyone else!

Feather and Fantasy at Third Barranquilla Carnaval Parade

Feathers and fantasy costumes were the order of the day on the third and final parade in Carnaval Barranquialla 2009. Many of the same groups as on the first day, but all of them seemed to dance continuously down the long parade route (only 2 hours for this parade, so more managable). We also had the chance to go check out the participants before the parade began for some close up photos. 

Check us out at www.vamoscolombiatour.com