 | Who doesn't love a spicy chunk of Latin America? Salsa, jaguars, spectacular cities... We've been going nuts on these areas lately, upgrading our WorldGuide profiles and covering some smaller destinations that deserve a bit of spotlight. We've also been chopping up our guidebooks to the area into juicy, downloadable chapters. Want a look? Dive in to this month's Comet. | | | 
 |  » Pick & Mix - For Pickin' - and Mixin'How much would you love to get a guidebook and just yank out the bits you needed and leave behind the bits you don't? Dream no longer; Pick & Mix is just that. You can pick, download and print only the chapters you need in digital (PDF) format. We've (digitally) chopped up all of our guidebooks on South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean for starters, and we plan to do more. So check out Pick & Mix and download the first chapter of each guide - FREE! | | back to top | 
|  » Calling All Film StudentsLonely Planet and World Nomads are offering one lucky film student both a volunteering trip and a documentary scholarship. This is the deal: you'll go on assignment to Kenya with a professional documentary producer, and help refurbish a school. While you're there, you'll create a short documentary about the whole experience. You'll also receive a travel video pack to shoot and edit your film with. Get the details here - we'll give you a 20% discount on your next Lonely Planet shop purchase just for checking them out! Perfect if you want to get your hands on Lonely Planet's new handbook, Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide which also comes with a bonus copy of Code Green: Experiences Of A Lifetime. » And First Prize Goes to...We knew when we put the call out to all you budding film-makers out there that we would get to see some amazing stuff. But you guys knocked us for six. The quality and creativity was incredible and made judging the lonelyplanet.tv competition a real joy. So...(drum roll) we're delighted to announce that first prize has been awarded to fluffysgonnadie for Timeless Adventures in Thailand. | Video Stars And for something a little different... | back to top |  | Wanna Be a Winner? Hey, have you entered the Haystack competition yet? Come on, you know you want to. You can win some juicy travel vouchers just for browsing the accommodation, so get to it! Plus we've cooked up some great Latin American accommodation deals for you this month. Discounts, freebies - if you needed any incentive to go, this should tip you over the edge. Check availability on individual properties for further details. Offers valid for stays between 15 July and 31 August 2007.
Dream Latin American hotel deals: Top Latin American destinations of the month: | | back to top | 
| » Hot Off the Traveller's Tongue Here are some great suggestions, questions and answers on the Thorn Tree this week. In keeping with this month's theme, we've honed in on Latin America. This information comes directly from travellers but remember, it's not always verified, so check with the relevant embassy for further details, and go to the Thorn Tree to hear travellers' views. | | back to top | 
| Venezuela
Piranhas, oil, plastic beauty queens and a tough-talking president with his own TV show - Venezuela's reputation is all heat and flash. Add the world's highest falls, the world's highest cablecar and the world's weirdest bird (the oilbird, who lives in caves and feels its way with whiskers), and you've got a pretty sensational brew. But the country also has its gentler pleasures - samba in Caracas, sunsoaked beaches and the chance to spot an ocelot. Here're some sights you really shouldn't miss: Cueva del Guácharo
Venezuela's longest cave system, the Guácharo Cave is a spelunker's delight. Read more » Angel Falls
Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall and Venezuela's number-one tourist attraction. Read more » Archipiélago Los Roques
Los Roques is a group of nearly 300 shimmering, sandy islands and islets that lie in aquamarine waters north of Caracas. Read more » 
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| FEATURED BLUELIST » Andean Highs
By: Weezo Condor spotting (Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands)
These mighty birds once flourished along Latin America's Andean spine but are now more elusive. Peru's Colca Canyon affords a good opportunity, but check out Ecuador's Laguna Cuicocha if you want to avoid the photographic scrum. Castellano y Quechua
Sounds obvious, but investing a few man hours in language lessons can make Latin America infinitely more enjoyable - even if you do end up asking barmen for kisses instead of glasses resulting in general hilarity! Churup (Peru) The Andes seem to offer almost as many spectcular lakes as they do dodgy buses. Lago Churup, around a two hour hike from Huaraz, is as good as any, with crystal clear water, crisp mountain air and breathtaking views of the Cordilleras Blanca & Negra. Read More » | | back to top | 
|  » Planet Blog
Our travel blog has authors reporting back from all the hidden crevices in the world, where they unearth some great finds, report on issues and raise some interesting points. In keeping with the theme, check this post: Used to be that if Americans were feeling frisky, all they had to do was drive over the border into Tijuana to indulge in the vices not so easy to find back home. Maybe they'd even pick up a black market velvet Elvis. Or a Bart Simpson piggy bank. Or a box of Chiclets.
Read More » » Staff Secrets
Everyone here at Lonely Planet loves to travel, and we're pretty vocal about our favourite haunts and experiences. Last month we introduced a new section where Lonely Planet staff share their best recommendations with you. 
This month, Tom, who has defected from our US office to our Melbourne office, recommends that anyone headed to Buenos Aires check out a great neighbourhood called San Telmo for its 'old, cobblestone streets, weird old market and rundown turn-of-the- century bars. It's currently undergoing a bit of a renaissance but it's still got a fantastic atmosphere. Try a vintage bar like El Federal - it's been going since 1864 and seems to be running on the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' ethos.' | Make a Difference School for Chiapas supports the autonomous, indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico in their efforts to create a just, democratic and dignified education. Signspotting: Vote for Sign of the Year 2007 Who doesn't love getting a little bit lost in translation? Vote for your favourite slip-up in Signspotting. Check out the contenders and vote for your favourite.  Compass Competition We have five copies of South America on a Shoestring guides to give away. To win one, tell us where you would find: Calakmul Fuerte de San Diego Museo Franz Mayer Email your answers here by 30 July 2007. Travel Tip of the Month For all you budding snowboarders out there, Vince from our Melbourne office recommends looking for chunky wheels and guard rails when buying your board bag. The bigger wheels make it easier to crunch through the snow and the guard rails will protect your board as you lug it up and over curbs. | back to top | 
|  Now here's a spin on travel insurance. When you buy a World Nomads travel insurance policy and contribute to a Footprints Community Project, Lonely Planet will add a further 5% of your policy price to your chosen project. Read more » | | back to top | Your privacy is important to us. Read our privacy policy to find out what we do and don't do with your personal details. If you no longer wish to hear from us please click here or contact us at Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 90 Maribyrnong Street Footscray VIC 3011 Australia / tel: + 61 3 8379 8000. copyright © 2007 Lonely Planet Publications | Locked Bag 1, Footscray, Victoria, Australia 3011 | |
