Fonte: www.belo-horizonte.travel

For a brief study of the accessibility in Othon Palace Hotel in Belo Horizonte, check the article: Accommodation Assessmnet – Hotel Othon, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

If you want to book it, please visit Belo-Horizonte.travel.

Curitiba has since 2002 one of the greatest and modernst museums in Latin America: the Museum Oscar  Niemeyer. This museum is today one of the symbols of the city and has the project by Oscar Niemeyer, the famous architect that projected Brasilia in the 50s and still is active as 101-year-old genius.

The museums main bulding was projected in the 60s to be a State secretary and after a complete  remodalation and the built of the so called “eye”, it became one of the cities most photographed sightseeing spots.

The museum has over 17,000 sqm exhibition place and receives temporary exhibitions from international and Brazilian artists. It is open from Tueday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Entrance fee is R$ 4 per person.

For further information: http://www.pr.gov.br/mon/

Plan your visit to Curitiba and surroundings with a local specialist – http://www.curitiba-travel.com.br.

In 2007, 920 thousand Argentine tourists visited Brazil, which constituted the major number of foreigners received. The second nationality was of North Americans, with 700 thousand travelers. Last year, 5 million foreigners arrived in Brazil, leaving an income of approximately 4,900 million dollars.

The power of Brazilian economy and the strong internal demand can still foment tourism domestic and compensate the lesser flow of foreign tourists. The devaluation of Real will also result in a smaller number of Brazilian going abroad, circumstance that would allow a balance on the tourist stream. 2007 displayed a deficit of 3,300 million dollars, and in the first 8 months of 2008 it reached 3,996 million.

There aren’t estimations of how Brazil will be affected by the financial crisis and how the flow of Europe and United States tourists that plan to visit Brazil will react.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian Association of the Industry of Hotels (ABIH) affirmed that so far the sector did not feel the effect of the worldwide crisis, however waits an impact for 2009.

“Until now the hotels are full. We are getting close to high season that goes until the Carnival of the 2009” the ABIH president said.

The Central and South America division of WHL.travel – a global online booking provider -, foresees that the demand for trips within Latin America and Brazil will be privileged, creating a good opportunity to grow.

Consequently, although the economic damages are everywhere, Brazilian destinations have the chance to gain popularity and some extra profits with the summer season.

Consulted source: Reuters Brasil

Ilha do Mel is renowned as a pleasant tourist destination for possessing a unique and beautiful environment with diversified landscapes, and also for its heritage buildings that reveal the region`s rich history. It is searched by tourists to relax and for the practice of nature related sports.

The island, located in the entry of Baía de Paranaguá, center of Paraná coast, has a perimeter of approximately 35 km and an area around 2.760 hectares. It is part of the municipality of Paranaguá, being its jurisdiction and protection incumbency of the Environmental Paraná Institute (IAP) and the Battalion of Forest Policy of the Military Policy of Paraná.

In accordance with the demographic census of 2000, Ilha do Mel has 910 inhabitants. The infrastructure of the Island counts on electricity and canalized water proceeding from a natural spring. The main economic activity is fishing – parallel to the tourism – and that`s the main food. Shrimp is also very frequent. Because of the poor soil lacking in nutrients, few plants are cultivated for the inhabitant’s subsistence.

The environmental value of the island is enormous, owning an exuberant and peculiar natural beauty. Its fauna is diversified and counts on about 153 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and 24 species of mammals. Amongst these there are dolphins, sea turtles, toucans and more. Ilha do Mel has many rare animals as the paca and the jaguatirica. About 95% of the island area is formed by forests and mangues. The flora counts on about 650 vegetal species.

But the presence of the man in Ilha do Mel has disturbed the natural environment, basic support of vegetal and animal life in the region. The concern with the ecological aspects took the Environment Association of Defense and Education (ADEA) to consider its protection, culminating with the creation of the Ecological Station of Ilha do Mel in 1982. A Managing Plan foresees occupation areas, as much for the local population as for the outsiders, establishing lines of direction for preservation of the natural patrimony of the island.

The man factor in Ilha do Mel is present throughout large part of its history. During centuries XVIII and XIX, it was used by the Portuguese as a strategic point for commerce routes and military use. In the decade of 1920, Ilha do Mel lived its earliest tourist phase, being the first tourist hide out of Paraná. In 1926 the beach road was inaugurated, initiating a decay phase that got worse with World War II. The population of the island continued to live of the traditional fishing.

During two centuries, the access difficulty restricted the flow of people to the Island. By the end of the seventies the tourist movement gained power, and nowadays Ilha do Mel receives lots of travelers. Currently, during summer and high season the main economic activity is the tourism, making the guesthouses, camping and restaurants busy all day long.

The island counts on some cultural attractions, but what magnetizes the great majority of tourists is the chance to be in contact with the nature. The main attractions offered are:

• Hike options that cover the entire island and offer varied and wide views. It stretches by the beach and forest;

• About 30 beaches;

• Sports as paraglide, diving, climbing, sports, fishing, trekking; everything with an intense contact with the nature;

• Boat rides to other parts of the island, surrounding islands and Paranaguá;

• The Encantadas Cave surrounded with fantastic legends and stories. It is a natural socket, to the level of the sea, located on the south side of the island;

• The Shells Lighthouse (1870), which dominates the high of Shells Mount, a magnificent landscape;

• Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres Fortress, constructed in the beginning of 1766, still conserve armaments of that time. At the top of the Whales Mount is located a labyrinth of cannons and a belvedere, where it’s possible to have the most beautiful and scenic vista;

• The San Francisco Chapel, located at 151 m above sea level, placed at Mount Nhá Pina;

Beyond counting on the basic infrastructure for the attendance of tourists in Ilha do Mel, a net of services exists formed by hotels, diverse guesthouses, some campings, rental houses and restaurants. The tourists still count on boat transport service from the continent to the island. One of the rendering of services activated mainly during summer is the transport of luggage to different points. In South Pontal, close to the place tourist catch boats to Ilha do Mel, diverse safe parking lots are available (walled with security day and night).

To support this great flow of tourists, Ilha do Mel counts on some mechanisms that objectify to keep the quality of the environment and tourist activity. One of them is the number of visitors per day limitation, controlled by the Environmental Paraná Institute. When the tourist limit is reached, the boat stops to run. Moreover, the entrance of domestic animals is forbidden and also the removal of wild animals. The same measure is taken for the entrance of any type of motorized vehicle.

Since 1990 the garbage also suffers a great control on the part from the population. An accord was established between Natives Association and Paranaguá`s City Hall to improve the collection system. The separated garbage is directed every month, by boat, to Paranaguá, where is sold. The collected money is used to help to pay the collectors and the boat that carries the garbage.

Fernando de Noronha is formed by 19 islands, being the greater of them the only one with inhabitants. The archipelago, considered the prettiest of Brazil is isolated in Atlantic, distant 345 km from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, and 545 km of Recife, Pernambuco.

In 1988 the marine national park of Fernando de Noronha was created to protect the archipelago which today is one of the most valued preserved paradises of Brazil. The application of rules in the island is extremely rigorous comprising measures like interdiction and imposition of schedules for visitation. The access is limited in 420 people and an environment preservation tax is charged by the government of Pernambuco, destined to hold the maintenance of the archipelago environment and ecological conditions.

The main island possesses about 18 beaches. In the island is located Vila dos Remédios which concentrates the tourist movement, the Visitors Center, the airport and the major road. Throughout this highway the guesthouses and restaurants are spread out. There are also rental boats to arrive at the diving spots.

Fernando de Noronha owns about 3,000 inhabitants and someone can only live in the island in few cases: when marrying with a local is one of them. Moreover, the population is also sensitive about the preservation necessity. Children learn at school the importance of fauna and flora; guides are local and receive training; the population itself owns restaurants, commercial hotels and other establishments. The tourism is the main source of job and income for these people.

But the biggest wealth of Fernando de Noronha is in the depth of the sea, which has 50m of wide visibility and where dolphins, an infinity of sea fishes, turtles and sharks live. Also, the island has many thrilling tracks, an untouched nature, historic fortress (Fernando de Noronha was invaded by the Dutch, Frenchmen and English and was a criminal colony serving for isolation of political prisoners), exuberant vegetation and hills. It is easy to find receptive agencies that offer various boat and truck rides, beyond diving, trekking and others.

Conceição Beach is enjoyed by tourists and locals. It`s closest to the heritage center of Vila dos Remédios, the administration headquarters, Fortress Ruins and the base of Pico Mount, island culminating point with 323 meters. It is a nearby beach for the majority of tourists and has the easiest access.

The Sancho Bay is considered one of the prettiest beaches of Brazil, surrounded by enormous cliffs and accessed by an unique stair that pass inside a rock where tourists find green and calm waters that shelter a varied shoal of fishes.

The Dolphins Bay is one of the highest preserved areas. It is a spot where dolphins rest, copulate and suckle, therefore inaccessible, as much from land and sea. Only a boat ride that leaves Saint Antonio Port make possible to arrive at the roundness of the bay to observe the dolphins. It can also be superficially sighted after hiking a two kilometers track.

Outside Sea main beaches are the Lion`s Beach, important habitat of sea turtles monitored by Tamar Project, and Atalaia, a natural aquarium where flat swimming pools full of fish shoals are. It also has the South-East Bay, a migratory birds and sea turtles feeding place.

Fernando de Noronha has innumerable natural attractions, each one with its particular beauty. The great care with the ecosystem and the awareness about preservation makes the island an example of how tourism can be implanted in an educative way, without huge environmental damages and with the participation of the local community. Fernando de Noronha is an ideal of Ecotourism, a perfect place for any holiday season.

]]> http://traveltobrazil.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/fernando-de-noronha-travel-to-brazil-destinations/feed/ 0 André Franchini http://traveltobrazil.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/international-flights-to-belo-horizonte/ http://traveltobrazil.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/international-flights-to-belo-horizonte/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:05:55 +0000 André Franchini http://traveltobrazil.wordpress.com/?p=14 ]]> Belo Horizonte International Airport – also known as Confins and Tancredo Neves – gained much more significance in Brazilian scenario, after all national and international main flights got moved from Pampulha to there. The goal was to relieve the old airport and give a new breath to Confins, which operated with less than 10% of its total capacity, approximately 5 million passengers per year.

After the plan strategically designed by the authorities and since the aerial chaos took place on 2006, the airport appeared as a new connection and hub, an alternative to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro problematic situation. New national and international flights now start form Belo Horizonte, including the BH-Lisbon route operated by TAP, BH-Santiago by GOL and BH-Buenos Aires by TAM.

Recently, TAM and Air Canada declared that they have reached an agreement for codesharing and integration of their frequent flier programs, TAM Fidelidade and Aeroplan (Air Canada’s mileage plan). Scheduled for November, the bilateral accord will enable the two companies to strengthen services for passengers traveling between Canada and Brazil, including connections to Belo Horizonte as well as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Recife, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.

In addition, TAM has launched a daily flight from Confins to Miami, stopping in Rio de Janeiro, as well as daily services to Paris, stopping in Sao Paulo. It’s estimated that the roundtrip price between Belo Horizonte and Miami will begin at US$ 829. The same route was also offered by another major company, American Airlines, including also the cities of Salvador and Recife. To encourage the new routes, they are offering special fares and benefits.

With all the new activity, Confins is showing its hidden and unknown deficits. It’s emerging a new situation where Belo Horizonte Airport now is not able to fit and manage all flights, and problems with parking lots are visible.

Nowadays the airport prepares to receive great investments, including the improvement of the access, the implementation of one second landing and take-off track to operate with independence and the installation of an industrial airport.

Photo: BHvirtual.net
Consulted sources: Fox Business, Trading Markets and Focus on Travel News