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February 2012

02

Ecuador & Galápagos

Eight-day/seven-night women-only tour includes four nights aboard M/V Santa Cruz; departures June 16 & Sept. 22, 2012. Highlights: Quito/Otavalo Indian market/fly to Baltra, embark M/V Santa Cruz/iguanas on Baltra/snorkel, glass-bottom boat tour off Bartholome Island/fur seals on James Island/frigates, boobies, sea lions at Darwin Bay/giant tortoises on Santa Fe Island. Land, $3,850. Single supp., $1,410. Isram World of Travel — A Woman’s View (New York, NY; 888/789-6626, www.womansviewtravel.com).

Mayan Triangle

Nine-day/eight-night tour of Mayan areas. Highlights: In GUATEMALA, colonial city of Antigua/Chichicastenango market/Lake Atitlán/Mayan ruins in Copan, HONDURAS/Mayan city of Joya de Cerén in EL SALVADOR/in San Salvador, Devil’s Door, National Palace, handcraft market/beaches on the Costa del Sol. First class, land, $1,450; single supp., $585. Deluxe, land, $1,650; single supp., $810. SITA World Tours (Encino, CA; 800/421-5643, www.sitatours.com).

Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island

Eight-day/seven-night tour in CANADA. Highlights: Titanic history in Halifax/Sherbrooke Village, a re-created19th-century lumber town/Prince Edward Island National Park/Cavendish, setting for “Anne of Green Gables”/lobster fishing and feast in Shediac. Land, $2,125. Single supp., $610. Brendan Vacations (Chatsworth, CA; 800/421-8446, www.brendanvacations.com).

The Last Refuge

Eight-day/seven-night tour. Highlights: From Johannesburg, South Africa, fly to Maun, BOTSWANA/lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs in Okavango Delta/in Livingstone, ZAMBIA, tour Victoria Falls. Land, $6,795 (low season) to $9,795. Internal air, from $744. Single supp., $1,575-$3,275. African Travel, Inc. (Glendale, CA; 800/421-8907, www.africantravelinc.com).

Japan Unmasked

14 days/13 nights. Highlights: Tokyo/snow monkeys at Yudanaka Onsen, Nagano/Zenko-ji temple/Ukiyo-e (woodblock) Museum in Matsumoto/Hida No Sato Folk Village/Hiroshima/art galleries in Kurashiki/Kyoto/Yokohama. Land, $2,800. No single accommodation available. Inside Japan Tours (Boulder, CO; 303/952-0379, www.insidejapantours.com).

Follow The Path Of Paul The Apostle

Nine-day/eight-night cruise-tour aboard 110-passenger SeaDream II, June 30-July 8, 2012. Highlights: In Pergamum, TURKEY, Temple of Trajan/Ephesus, where Paul preached/Myra, where St. Nicholas lived/Rhodes, GREECE, home to Paul/Hydra. Cruise, $9,900 (Deck 2) to $24,750 (Owner’s Cabin); limited availability “Book Today and Save” rate, $5,899-$13,639. Single supp., 75% of cruise price. SeaDream Yacht Club (Miami, FL; 800/707-4911, www.seadream.com).

Ireland Hike & Bike Adventure

Eight days/seven nights. “Moderate” level (7½-10 miles’ walking on each of two days plus one day of cycling 12 miles). Highlights: Walk from Glenbeigh to Kerry Bog Village Museum/coastal Kerry Way/cycle in Killarney National Park/15th-century Muckross Abbey/boat trip on the three Lakes of Killarney/Ross Castle. Land, $1,250. Single supp., $275. Active Journeys (4891 Dundas St. West #4, Toronto, ON, Canada; 800/597-5594, http://activejourneys.com).

Shell Grotto in Kent

Discovered in 1835 in Kent, England, the Shell Grotto (Grotto Hill, Margate, Kent, CT9 2BU, U.K.; phone 08143 220008) is a 70-foot-long subterranean passageway whose walls and ceiling are covered with mosaics made of seashells, at least 4.6 million of them. When was it created? By whom? And why? It remains a mystery.