(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, January 22, 2013 ) SALEM, OR -- Tofino Expeditions, a veteran commercial sea kayaking company since 1988, is announcing exciting sea kayaking tours for 2013 that take travelers on explorations of Italy and Brazil, considered two of the worlds’ trendiest destinations to visit in 2013. In a recent article in the New York Times titled “The 46 Places to Go in 2013”, both Rio de Janiero in Brazil and the Italian village of Vernazza in Cinque Terre, Italy were both named two of the worlds’ “hottest” destinations to visit in the upcoming year.
Tofino Expeditions’ kayaking tours offer a unique perspective, access to truly spectacular panoramas, and an intimate experience with the fascinating local cultures in each destination. Tofino’s Brazil Sea Kayaking Tour offers paddlers the chance to explore the lush Costa Verde, a verdant swath of Atlantic rainforest bordered by warm, aquamarine water that is protected from the open Atlantic by Ilha Grande. Steeped in history and abundant with wildlife, this area includes the UNESCO World Heritage site of Paraty and the Ecological Reserves of Juatinga and Cairucu, and begins with a visit to spectacular Rio.
The tour kicks off with an exploration of Rio de Janeiro, recently declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site and now considered one of the world’s most exciting cities. Guests will visit some of Rio’s most iconic sites while experiencing a thrilling city that’s buzzing with preparations for hosting both the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Participants also have an opportunity to visit the beautifully restored colonial town of Paraty, once the terminus of the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Road) and Saco de Mamangua, Brazil’s tropical fjord located along a stretch of tropical coastline dotted with tiny fishing villages and exquisite beaches. Tour departs May and October, 2013. $4190 per person.
Kayaking Italy—Cinque Terre and Sardinia introduces paddlers to the turquoise waters, spectacular scenery, and delectable cuisine of the Mediterranean, while offering an authentic snapshot of Italy’s marineria culture (or “life of the sea”). Starting in Genoa, the birthplace of Columbus, the tour takes paddlers along the coast of the Italian Riviera to the singular beauty of Cinque Terre National Park where guests explore the dramatic coastline of the five villages, including Vernazza, stopping to sample local cuisine like warm focaccia bread with pesto and of course vino delle Cinque Terre. Short hikes take participants through vineyards and olive groves scented with wild oregano, where they visit local food producers and enjoy farm-cooked meals.
Other highlights of the tour include exploring the crystalline waters of Sardinia and the Maddelena Archipelago, a national park and UNESCO world Heritage site (one of three on this tour), hiking to ancient ruins of a history that date back to the time of the Phoenicians, visiting small farms to sample locally produced wines and cheeses, discovering Genoa’s labyrinthine old quarter that dates back to the Middle Ages, and more. Departs May and September, 2013. $4495 pp
Founded by veteran adventurer Grant Thompson, Tofino Expeditions has guided commercial sea kayaking tours since 1988, making them one of the most experienced companies in the business. The company was the very first to provide guided paddling tours of Vancouver Island’s west coast, which is now a destination on the life list of paddlers around the world. The company guides trips along the world’s finest coasts in Baja, British Columbia, Croatia, Brazil, Vietnam, Norway, Italy, and the Galapagos Islands.
