PicaJet Blog

Amazonian home near Santarem, Brazil

Despite a history of gold deposits and despite being one of the largest cities located along the Amazon, Santarem and the surrounding area is rich with the flavour of days gone by.  If you are seeking a more historical Amazon, slower-paced, and a more pastoral bit of civilization, then Santarem is the place to go.

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Do your knees quake at the thought of swinging across the jungle canopy suspended from a steel thread?  If so, zip-lining may not be for you.  But if you are into a fun exhilarating adventure, then be sure to book a zip-lining adventure in a place like Belize or St. Lucia.  But take some precautions first.

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Tentative Touch - EXPLORED

Dominica in the Caribbean, is a small island that plays big. Especially if you brave the tiny winding roadways filled with rubble, and make your way up to the rain forest aerial tram. Bring your rain poncho.

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Handyman Special: A Fixer-Upper in Scarborough, Tobago

Here is an instance where smaller just might be better. Tobago is much smaller than its sister island of Trinidad (Tobago is only about 26 miles long and 6 miles wide), but you might discover it has way more charm.

What’s more is that the cost to travel around the island is affordable compared to other places in the Caribbean.

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“Two if by Sea!” or Stealth Ship

If I NEVER return to St. Barth’s in the Caribbean, it will be too soon.

Some places, and some of the the inhabitants of certain places, take themselves all too seriously. St. Barth’s is like that. From the moment my foot hit the dock, I suspected that this was not the place for me.

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Moonrise over the Amazon

If you are looking for a truly memorable adventure, an awe-inspiring vacation, then set your sights on Brazil and the Amazon River.

At first glance, the dirty brown Amazon is confusing, but once you get into a small wooden boat or canoe, and head off down one of its tributaries, it will all come clear.

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Yes, drugs. And the accompanying side effects.

It’s not possible to travel to many countries today without first getting topped up with a variety of inoculations and prescription drugs. Take Brazil, for instance. Getting the plane ticket or the cruise ship ticket is the easy part. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeve. The sleeve on your needle arm, that is.

Read on . . .

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Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Bored kids?  Bored grandparents?  Bored you?  Is there a cruise line that is perfect for the entire family?  Yes. 

With the huge number of cuise lines to choose from, and the even bigger number of individual ships in the line, the task of choosing a ship that will be perfect for your family might seem impossible. 

 There is hope.  And help.  One of the Internet’s most popular social sites for cruisers has come up with it “Editors’ Picks” for 2008.  Among the site’s conclusions includes the BEST family ships and the BEST ships for fitness buffs.

 Read on . . .

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Long gone are the days of simply buying a ticket and hopping on a plane; travel today is a much more precise science, especially if you are planning a trip into the Amazon, or other parts of Brazil.

When budgeting for a trip into Brazil, be prepared for all the extra fees you will encounter, fees that have nothing to do with your flight or your accommodations.  Like the cost of getting a Brazilian tourist visa.

You may be living in a country that is exempt from needing a Brazilian visa, but if you are Canadian, Australian, or American, you must apply. (Citizens from countries like Germany, France, and Italy do not require a Brazilian visa.)

In addition, no matter what country you hail from, Brazil (especially the Amazonian area) is disease-carrying mosquito territory, and you must prepare.  That means getting vaccinated for Yellow Fever, as well as Hepatitis A and B. 

Read on . . .

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