With more than 22 years in business under its skin, Tara Tours continues to specialize in Central and South American vacations, one of its best being also the cheapest. How does Guatemala for $699 sound to you, airfare from Miami, 5 nights, and tours included?
You'll explore the capital city, then depart for Antigua, the former Spanish colonial capital of the country. There, walk down cobblestoned streets, past houses and mansions with colonial-style facades and red tiled roofs. You'll be taken by your guide to see churches, convents, monasteries and other colonial buildings, in a charming setting you're not likely ever to forget.
After another day of leisure in the capital (check out the local museums or take one of the company's optional sightseeing tours), you'll go to Chichicastenango, for its famous outdoor native market (held only twice a week), then see the 400-year-old church of Santo Tomas. The final highlight of your tour will be a visit to Lake Atitlan, with views of its three background volcanoes. From the capital once again, you'll have time if you wish for an optional tour to Tikal, the 2,000-year-old capital of the Mayan Empire.
During this 6-day (5-night) journey, you'll stay in the 4-star Biltmore Plaza or the Princess Reforma in Guatemala City, with American breakfast, room taxes and service charges taken care of. Not included in the tour price are U.S. departure tax of $72, insurance, meals unless otherwise noted, tips, Guatemala departure tax of $20 and a $5 tourist card. From December 9 to 31, add $220 to the price, from January 1 to March 31, 2003, add $100 per person.
Of equal importance are Tara's tours to Inca country, the Galapagos, the Amazon and Panama. An Inka Express trip of 6 days (5 nights) takes you to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu, with tours in each place, from $1195 per person, sharing a double room, and including airfare from Miami.
A Wild Amazon tour of 8 days (7 nights) takes you to a jungle lodge on that river, with all meals, excursions, and airfare from Miami, starting at $1399. Tara's Galapagos trip is 8 days (7 nights), with a 3-night cruise around the islands, 4 nights in Quito and tours, from $1959 per person, including airfare from Miami.
A Panama All Inclusive trip of 7 days (6 nights) takes you from Miami to the Royal Decameron Beach Resort, with all meals, beverages and most sports, from just $799 per person.
There are add-on prices (from $50 to $260) for departures from 100 other gateway cities other than Miami, of course, and all flights are on American Airlines. For more information and to book, phone Tara Tours at 800/327-0080 or e-mail them at taratours@aol.com, Their Web site is www.taratours.com.
