Participate in South and Central America’s Easter Festivities

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Participate in South and Central America’s Easter

Festivities with the Discover.Travel Group’s Specialized

Luxury Travel Packages

Special Easter Packages Provide a Unique Experience of Exotic Cultures and Peoples

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, April 3rd 2009 --- Most South and Central American countries are predominantly

Catholic, therefore the Holy Week of Easter is the most important religious festival on the Continent.

The so-called Semana Santa, Holy Week, is observed with a range of celebrations, from the most

solemnly religious ceremonies, to a mix of popular traditional and cultural events. This is a fantastic

opportunity for international travelers to meet the peoples of the South and Central American

countries, commonly known as exceptionally hospitable, friendly and open to foreign visitors, in a

festive mood and observe and participate in their diverse and fascinating customs. Intelligent Leisure

Solutions and the Discover.Travel Group creates tailor-made luxury travel packages for individual

travelers and groups, allowing them unique insights into these countries and their peoples, histories and

cultures, and providing a dream travel experience for each client. Specialized Travel Consultants help

choose the perfect destination for the taste of each traveler to South and Central America. Amongst

their recommendations are destinations as diverse as the following.

La Antigua, Guatemala

During Holy Week, La Antigua Guatemala hosts the

most beautiful religious celebration in the Americas,

when huge processions daily wind their way through

the town's colonial architecture and streets which are

covered with ornate carpets made of flowers, leaves

and colored sawdust. On Good Friday, Antigua streets

are filled with processions and reverent spectators.

The processions consist of big floats, so-called 'andas',

bearing statues of Christ with a cross, carried by

hundreds of purple-robed men, and float with the

Virgin Mary followed by women dressed in black. National and international visitors crowd streets not

just to see the processions, but also to participate in the detailed elaboration of the colorful carpets

which decorate route the procession will take.

On the evening before each procession, there is a Holy Vigils at the respective church for each sculpture

that will appear in the processions. A carpet is constructed in front of the sculpture and surrounded by

fruit and vegetables, bread, candles, and flowers. Outside the church a carnival-like atmosphere

develops with traditional foods, drinks and even games. Visiting Antigua during the Holly Week of Easter


with the Discover.Travel Group is an extraordinary and spiritually rewarding experience which you will

never forget.

Ouro Preto, Brazil

The Easter Week celebrations in the magnificent colonial city of Ouro Preto, in Brazil's southeastern

state of Minas Gerais, feature some of the country's most spectacular Holy Week processions. Ouro

Preto bloomed in golden splendor due to a tremendous gold and silver rush in this region which is

known for the silver and gold mines. The Holy Week celebrations include processions through the

cobblestoned streets of the historic center lined by 13 splendid Baroque churches and festive church

services. A poignant reenactment of the removal of Christ's body from the Cross on Good Friday makes

Easter in Ouro Preto a unique travel experience. The Discover.Travel Group creates luxury travel

packages to individually suit the festive program, including stays at the best hotels.

Cuzco, Peru

In Cuzco, capital of the

Inca Empire, Semana

Santa celebrations

revolve around the

Señor de los

Temblores. Legend has

it that the statue of

Christ, sent by Philip V

of Spain to aid in the

conversion of the

Indians, became

emaciated and

blackened after an

earthquake on May 31,

1650. The statue, now resembling the native population, has been revered since then as the Cristo de

los Temblores (Christ of the Earthquakes.) The processions through the streets are lined by colorful

textiles with gold threads hanging in the windows and accompanied by firecrackers.

In Peru, Easter festivities are an exceptional culinary experience. On Good Friday, twelve traditional

dishes are served, from soups, fish and potato dishes to desserts. Again on Easter Sunday, celebrating

with food ends the Semana Santa observations. The Discover.Travel Group’s specialized travel packages

include meals at the most sophisticated restaurants.

All Discover.Travel Group’s Special Easter Packages can be extended to include further destinations to

provide each traveler with an itinerary that takes him to experience the highlights of South and Central

America and suits his individual travel style.


For further information on travel destinations, services, hotels and contact with a specialized travel

consultant please visit the Discover.Travel Group’s websites www.Discover.Travel,

www.DiscoverBrazil.com, www.DiscoverSouthAmerica.Travel and www.DiscoverCentralAmerica.Travel.

Recent accomplishments by Intelligent Leisure Solutions and the Discover.Travel Group:

• 2008 Ulysses Award for Innovation in Tourism Enterprises from the UNWTO (United Nations World

Tourism Organization),

• World Travel Award 2008 for South America’s Leading Travel Management Company,

• World Travel Award 2008 for Central America’s Leading Travel Agency,

• Managing Partner Robert Phillips was elected ASTA Chapter President for Brazil.

• Selected by the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism as an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World

Tourism Organization.

• Authenticated by the Tralliance Corporation and the .Travel Registry.

Contact:

Email Address: [email protected]

Telephone Number: +1 888 457 3266

Fax Number: +55 71 3113 4203

www.Discover.Travel

www.DiscoverBrazil.com

www.DiscoverSouthAmerica.Travel

www.DiscoverCentralAmerica.Travel