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This month I started my look at the unique Adventures by Disney vacation program by highlighting their trips to Asia, Africa, and Australia. This week I’d like to overview Adventures by Disney in Central and South America.
Those interested in taking a Disney-led trip to Central or South America have four options: two seven-day-stays in Costa Rica, one the normal Family vacation and one the Family Signature, 10 days in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, or nine days in Peru.
There actually aren’t too many differences between the two Costa Rica vacations. On both families get to visit a pineapple plantation, take an aerial tram tour with a local guide over the Costa Rican rainforest, white water raft over the Sarapiqui River either over class 2 rapids or on a calm paddling trip, and go zip lining atop the rainforest canopy. The Family Vacation travels to the Tortuguero National Park whereas the Signature Family Vacation tours around the Manuel Antonio National Park, but the activities at each, searching for native Costa Rican species like sloths and monkeys, are the same.
Yet the Signature Family Vacation costs $1000 more than the Family Vacation (with rates from $4000-$4500 instead of $3000-$3500), so the extra price must come in the level of service. Travelers on the two trips stay at different hotels, so the ones reserved for the Signature Family vacation must be fancier hotels than the ones booked for the regular Family Vacation.
Those looking to travel to the center of the world should consider the Treasures of the Galapagos Ecuador and Galapagos Islands trip. Spend three nights at the Hacienda Cusin, a 17th century Andean estate, learning weaving from local experts and hearing a private performance from a local flute maker. Cruise the Central American islands for four nights aboard the Galapagos Explorer II, receive Ecuadorian cuisine cooking lessons, hike and snorkel amongst the exotic array of Galapagos wildlife: flamingos, sea turtles, giant tortoises, penguins, and more, and finally, stand on the center of the earth at the Quitsato Equator Sundial.
Or instead travel across the country of Peru, starting in a cycle from Lima to the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and returning to Lima. Watch master Peruvian weavers work their craft with alpaca wool, take a private tour around wondrous Machu Picchu, raft down the Urubamba River, follow the ancient Incan path down into the Sacred Valley of Moray and Maras, and immerse yourself in Peruvian culture watching historical Incan dances while eating the traditional Andean feast of Pachamanca.
I’ve always wanted to see Peru especially in South America, so I find today’s Adventures by Disney particularly tempting. I am a little baffled, though, at some of Adventures by Disney’s offerings; I think it’s strange that suddenly for Costa Rica Adventures by Disney decides to create two identical vacations with the only differences being the quality of the hotels. AbD didn’t do this for any of its tours in Asia, Africa, or Australia, so why do so for Costa Rica?
The only way to really find out is to go on one of the tours, or at least, research it further than I have space to do here. Check out Adventures by Disney’s official website for more information on its trips to Central and South America.
Related Articles:
Clean the World the Disney Way
La Hacienda at the Mexico Pavilion
Fun for Grown-Ups at Disney: The BoardWalk
*(This image by egroj is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
