Central America Travel

Central America : Travel Tips : International Travel : Travelocity Customer Care | My Stuff Home Travel Info Center Flight Status >Destination Guides Travelocity Business About Travelocity Flights Search Flights Top Deals Web Fares Low Fare Alert Last Minute Packages Hotels Search Hotels Top Deals Trip Ideas Popular Cities Cars/Rail Search Cars Search Rail Top Deals About Neighborhood Search Popular Car Destinations Vacation Packages Search Vacations Top Deals Disney Vacations Trip Ideas Cruises Search Cruises Search by Destination Search by Cruise Line Top Deals Ship Finder Last Minute Packages Search Deals Top Deals This Weekend Next Weekend Need Ideas? Activities Activities by Destination Guides & Advice : Traveler Advice : Tips & Advice Home : International Travel Central America Jungles, volcanoes, dazzling wildlife, and more await you in Central America--but so do several health risks. Staying healthy can make or break any trip, so read on to get some preparatory information about the regions health challenges. Enjoying your trip to its fullest always involves some amount of preparation and knowledge, so to make your planning easier weve put together some basic information outlining the general risks you might face in Central America. Consult the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the most up-to-date information on current health risks, and ask your physician about the best courses of vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis for the area youre visiting. Food and Water: Stick with bottled or purified water, and only eat cooked vegetables and peeled fruit, as well as well-cooked meat and seafood--these simple rules can easily be the key to staying healthy during your vacation in Central America. Except in the most established and hygienic of restaurants, ceviche, a regional specialty of raw seafood salad, should be avoided, especially if it has any shellfish in it. Milk is not pasteurized in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, so avoid all dairy products. If youre really craving some milk, mix powdered or tinned milk with purified water as a safe alternative. The Elements: When youre in the tropics, youre in prime sunshine territory. Clearly this is a plus for all us sun-worshipping folk, but its important to protect yourself from damaging UV rays. Apply lots of sunscreen throughout the day, try to limit your exposure to the sun when you can, and wear protective clothing. Also, be sure to drink lots of water to stave off dehydration. Drink up even when youre not thirsty, and especially if youre engaging in outdoors activities. Combined with the intensity of the sun, even mild dehydration can really put an unpleasant tinge on your experience. Altitude Sickness: If youre planning on doing some trekking in the mountains or on volcanoes, be prepared for some possible bouts of altitude sickness--something that cannot be prevented, but can definitely be alleviated quite easily. For more information, read our How to Avoid Altitude Sickness tip. Health Risks: Costa Rica and Panama generally present few risks (other than those pertaining to food and water) if you stick to the big cities, beaches, and main tourist spots. However, these countries rural areas--as well as other surrounding countries--contain maladies that you should know about. Malaria is a year-round risk in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama--with the exception of urban areas. If you plan on venturing outside of the cities, consult your doctor several months before your departure to determine the best course of malaria medication for you. Dengue fever has been reported in the above countries, so arm yourself against mosquitoes with strong insect repellent. Mosquitoes are easily attracted to moisture--mosquito nets are advised if youre staying in coastal areas. For more information on dealing with insects, read our Creepy, Crawly Critters tip. Rabies is widespread throughout Central America, so abstain from provoking stray dogs or other animals in the wild. If you get bitten, seek medical help immediately. Fluke illnesses (from bacteria transmitted in food), Chagas disease, leptospirosis, and lesihmaniasis have been reported in rural foci throughout the region. Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) occurs in some freshwater sources, so avoid swimming and paddling in freshwater whenever possible (for more information on this matter, read our Take Me to the River tip). Immunization Suggestions and Requirements: The following information was culled from reputable sources, such as CDC and WHO and reflects countries currently featured on Travelocity.com. Belize Hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, polio Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas Costa Rica Typhoid, polio, cholera (although chances of contracting the latter are very slight) Guatemala Cholera, hepatitis A, polio, typhoid Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old coming from infected areas Honduras Hepatitis A, typhoid, cholera, polio Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers coming from infected areas Panama Hepatitis A, cholera, typhoid Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside of urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported International Travel Tips & Advice Information on the Euro Africa Asia Central America Caribbean Australia/South Pacific South America Middle East Europe North America Embassies and Consulates--A Little Piece of the United States Abroad Choosing the Right Gift for Business Associates in Japan Getting Through Customs Expediting Your Passport Application Process Handling Cash When Traveling Overseas '+' Means Some Taxes & Fees Additional | About Travelocity | Security Guarantee | Affiliate Program | Jobs | Site Map Partners and International Sites: IgoUgo | lastminute.com | Odysia.fr | ShowTickets.com | Site59 | Travelchannel.de | Travelocity Canada Travelocity Denmark | Travelocity Norway | Travelocity Sweden | Travelocity United Kingdom | World Choice Travel | ZUJI © 1996-2005 Travelocity.com LP. All rights reserved. Travelocity and the Stars Design are trademarks of Travelocity.com LP. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Travelocity User Agreement and Privacy Policy . CST# 2056372-50. dest.advice.tips.item|Tips and Advice|TRAVELOCITY|ST||||tipID=229| --

Vacation Package Florida Beach

Cheap Vacations, Weekend Getaways, Family Vacation Special Offers Tell A Friend -- - State of Residence - ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D.C. WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING Fairfield Getaways offers weekend getaways, family vacations, and travel packages that include hotel accommodations and extra goodies to top destinations. Book your package today. Special Offers Tell A Friend --| About Fairfield | FAQ | Affiliates | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy Florida Timeshare Las Vegas Family Vacations Myrtle Beach Vacation Package Florida Beach Vacations Las Vegas Package Deals Palm Springs Vacation Package Florida Golf Vacations Cheap Las Vegas Vacation Package myrtle beach family myrtle beach golf palm springs family palm springs golf Daytona Vacation Packages Fort Lauderdale Vacation Packages Disney World Vacation Packages Smoky Mountian Getaways Smoky Mountian Vacations Williamsburg Vacation Packages Williamsburg Virginia Vacations alexandria vacations alexandria va vacations durango ski vacations durango vacation packages nashville tn_vacation packages nashville vacation packages new_orleans louisiana vacations new orleans vacation packages berkshires vacation packages hancock_vacation_packages historic san antonio vacations lake tahoe vacation deals lake tahoe vacation packages romantic sedona getaways san antonio getaways sedona vacation packages kona hawaii vacation packages oahu vacation packages myrtle beach timeshare vacation branson timeshare

Mexico Travel

Guadalajara Mexico - Travel Tourism Vacations You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Other Places > Guadalajara Mexico - Travel Tourism Vacations Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors Guadalajara Cathedral Photo thanks to KSU.edu Stay up to date! Guadalajara Cathedral Photo thanks to KSU.edu Email to a friend Print this page Elsewhere on the Web Guadalajara Photos Guadalajara City Scenes Most Popular Mexican Music La Paz, Mexico Quinceanera Packing List Tijuana, Mexico What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Related Topics California for Visitors South America for Visitors Caribbean for Visitors Mexican Cuisine Guadalajara, Mexico From Apply Now , Your Guide to Mexico / Central America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! The "Pearl of the West" Guadalajara, founded in 1542 by the Spanish conquistadors, is located in the western-central part of Mexico, in the state of Jalisco. It is a large and beautiful Mexican colonial city sitting on a high plateau more than 5,000 feet above sea level. The city is close to Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest lake, and is also close to the famous beach resort town of Puerto Vallarta. As the second largest city in Mexico with a population of several million persons, Guadalajara is a busy metropolis, and a major center of Mexican commerce. Despite its size, however, it is an easy city to navigate, and the residents are friendly and helpful to visitors. Guadalajara (and its surrounding area) is the birthplace of some of the most recognizable symbols of Mexico including mariachi music, the jarabe tapatío (Mexican hat dance), sombreros and tequila, and many consider Guadalajara to be the most traditional of all of the larger Mexican cities in the country. The city, while a large metropolis, nevertheless retains a small provincial town flavour with its numerous plazas, colonial buildings, broad tree-lined avenues, fountains, parks and colorful flowers. The city is famous for its local craftsmen, who produce a wide variety of high quality handmade items that are highly prized the world over. Because of its location at an altitude of 5000 feet above sea level, Guadalajara has a very comfortable climate year-round. Winters are mild and spring-like, and summers rarely get too hot. The wonderful climate, in large part, explains the city's enormous popularity as a retirement area. Guadalajara is not normally regarded as a resort town, and it is an ideal vacation destination for the traveler who is seeking a change of pace or escape from the traditional Mexican resort scene. The following are some of the many things to do and see in Guadalajara: Guadalajara Historic Center Perhaps the most beautiful area in the city is the historical downtown area of Guadalajara or "Centro Histórico", consisting of several large outdoor plazas, colonial buildings, museums and outside coffee places and restaurants. It is a great starting point for a leisurely stroll through the city's cultural center, enabling one to explore and obtain a taste of the town's gorgeous colonial architecture. The largest of the plazas in this area is the Plaza Tapatia, an huge 8 square-block plaza filled with important historical buildings and architecture, and a social meeting place for local residents to spend their free time in the evenings and on Saturdays and Sundays. As an alternative to exploring the area on foot, a unique way to see the historic center and the downtown area is to hire a Calandria - horse drawn carriages offering tours for nominal prices. Metropolitan Cathedral The Plaza Tapatia in downtown Guadalajara is the site of the city's most famous landmark - the Metropolitan Cathedral. Although construction commenced in 1561, the Cathedral took over 100 years to complete. The massive church, with its unique 65m high yellow-tiled twin steeples resembling inverted Calla Lillies, is an incredible example of Gothic, baroque, moorish and neoclassical architectural styles. The Cathedral houses the figures of many saints, has eleven alters and it is the final resting place for the assassinated and much beloved Cardinal Posadas. Guadalajara Zoo This wonderful zoo with lush vegetation is located about 9 miles from downtown Guadalajara, on the Barrancas de Oblatos - large deep gorges with rivers flowing over the edges. A mini-train travels throughout the zoo and will let you see all of the local animals, as well as many exotic animals from throughout the world. Connected to the zoo is a children's amusement park ("Selva Mágica") with dozens of different rides and other attractions for children, including a marine park with dolphin and seal shows. Parque Agua Azul This huge park is located just south of the city and is divided into two parts, connected by a bridge. There are large open green areas, an orchid house, a butterfly house, bird house, and various special attractions for the kids. Musical and cultural shows are performed regularly in the large outdoor auditorium, known as "La Concha Acústica". Local musicians perform along an area in the park known as "Musicians Boulevard". The Libertad Market Located in the historic center of Guadalajara is the Libertad Market ("Mercado Libertad"), said to be the largest market in Mexico under one roof. Inside this bustling and colorful market you will find dozens upon dozens of small stalls selling a wide range of products including Mexican handicrafts, household goods, food, chilies and leather goods. You can buy huaraches (sturdy Mexican sandals), authentic Mexican food, paper flowers, embroidered clothes, hammocks, guitars, hats, leather purses, belts, wood carvings, and so on. The very large food section of this market will dazzle you with its colors and aromas. 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Vacation Package Florida Beach

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Travel Guide with Pictures, Maps and Tours Bugbog Travel Guide with Pictures, Maps and Tours Bugbog is an independent, impartial travel guide that helps plan holidays - whether it's beaches, safari, exotic or European tours - quickly and efficiently. We provide guides to the world's best destinations, with key tourist information, festival dates, travel pictures, travel health and safety advice, maps and thousands of useful exit links. Guerba have been at the forefront of adventure travel, guiding people to Africa, Asia, South America and Europe for 23 years. Guerba: Guerba Tours | Europe | Latin America | Africa | Asia | Himalayas | Free Brochure Heat, chills and passion in Argentina Pictures and Argentina Travel Guide 'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page' St. Augustine Bugbog is designed to help you make quick, efficient travel destination decisions. The travel guide summarises the best times to go, good and bad points of different great holiday destinations, and gives you an idea of what they look like with well over a thousand travel pictures in our many photo galleries. Bugbog is not attempting to be a detailed reference, but rather a concise and inspirational guide. So after choosing a destination on Bugbog, please use one of the external links listed on most pages for more detailed tourist or travel information, such as 'online travel guides', 'national tourist offices' or visit one of our sponsors who are selected to offer travel services and products relevant to the pages they sponsor. Friends of Bugbog: The Hotels | 1st New York Hotels | Mappic - Travel Maps with Pictures | Travels In Paradise - Photos Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog