AMAZON RIVER RACE CELEBRATES ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY

Posted on 2009-09-21

A decade ago the first international Amazon River race was held in Peru.

For three days and nights, all that stood between the four-man teams of rafters and the crocodile-infested waters of the world’s longest river were a few balsawood logs strapped together with ropes.
This year the event kicks off in Nauta on September 25th and the post-race celebrations get going three days later in Iquitos.
Competing alongside teams from all over the world in this prestigious race is something we’ve always wanted to do (honestly… we’re not scared of crocodiles in the slightest).
And, if you’re anything like us and have to live life on the very edge, then the 180km white water challenge could be the perfect adventure.

A holiday in Peru is an exciting proposition at the best of times, but belting down the Amazon on a three day tour will really push that adrenaline rush to the next level.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

  

DEMYSTIFYING THE LEGEND SURROUNDING SURFING

Posted on 2009-09-14

Surfing is an awe inspiring pastime shrouded in mystery. It has a cult-like status, and the dangers of riding big waves are promoted endlessly by its tanned practitioners.
Talk of 40 foot freak swells are the currency of modern surfing movies, and who can forget Keanu Reeves’ journey into the seedy world of surfing – which made the sport synonymous with buff bank robbers and international criminals (well… we were young and impressionable at the time).
And the mystery surrounding surfing is made even more gnarly by the lingo – something which we haven’t quite got the knack of yet.
But we’ll be honest. While we don’t know everything there is to know about the sport, we know some instructors who do. And we don’t want to shatter the dreamy status that Hollywood has afforded surfing, but with a bit of practice you could be closer to riding a zipper than you think.
And when the secrecy surrounding the sport is pulled away, you’ll realise just how exciting (and accessible) it is.
If there’s one thing we recommend doing before you die, it’s riding a few big waves. And a short stint at our surf school in Lanzarote could get you ready for the challenge.

A word of warning however, surfing can very quickly become a way of life and you’ll soon find yourself chasing breaking waves around the globe (which we don’t think is such a bad thing).
Surfs up in Lanzarote.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

  

BRAZIL BECOMES A FISHING MECCA IN SEPTEMBER

Posted on 2009-09-07

Every September Brazil becomes the centre of the universe for the global fishing community as the International Fishing Festival in Mato Grosso rolls into town.
Ever since the event landed itself in the Guinness book of records it has been growing in popularity, and it is a spectacle to behold.
Cramming around 200,000 people into the small town of Caceres turns it into one of the liveliest places in the country – albeit for just a few days.
And if fly fishing is not your thing, there are football tournaments, cocktails and firework displays to be had (a combination that we think would scare the fish away… but then we’re not fishing experts).
Anyway, as nice as it would be to find somewhere to stay in a town saturated with canal fisherman, we have a better idea.

You could have a holiday in Buzios, which is a stone’s throw from Rio, on a secluded beach in a luxury villa and set sail on the Atlantic whenever you feel like catching your own dinner.
It’s just an idea, but it is a really good one. Brazil home of the beach party

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

  

SALLY IN THE SOSSUSVLEI

Posted on 2009-05-04

It’s big, it’s wild, and pictures don’t do it justice: Namibia is an unusual African destination which surprises and amazes more than any other. From the ghostly shipwrecks of the Skeleton Coast to the roaring giant red dunes of the Namib desert, the flood plains of the Caprivi Strip and the incredible game of Etosha national park, there is far more here than first meets the eye. Where else can you encounter herds of desert elephants, zebras and giraffes, spot wildebeest, hyenas and antelopes and have the chance to watch big cats in one of the world’s best wildlife sanctuaries? How about surfing sand dunes, hiking through lunar landscapes, sinking in quick sand, sleeping out under the huge African skies, seeing cheetahs at the world’s only Cheetah Conservation Fund or tracking black rhino in rugged wilderness with expert guides

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

  

THE BLACK TOMATO INSIDER’S GUIDE TO SOUTH AMERICA

Posted on 2009-04-27

Huge lightning storms, undiscovered beaches and rolling sand dunes with crystal clear lagoons: South America is full of surprises, and with so much to see it’s hard to know where to start. Travel experts Black Tomato have some tricks up their sleeve to share with you when planning that big trip down south.

Here are a couple of Black Tomato’s South America tips to get you started:

The Lightning of the Catatumbo, Venezuela (Opposite)

For a natural (and exhilarating) phenomenon there are few experiences in Venezuela, and the rest of the world for that matter that are as exciting as the lightning of the Catatumbo. For seven hours a day, 160 days of the year lightning strikes down over Lake Maracaibo turning the sky into a pyrotechnic display like you’ve never witnessed. Flashes of red, yellow and orange engulf the sky and make this a ‘must do’ for any budding photographer….

Drinking Tannat on the Coastal Rambla, Uruguay

Sometimes it really is the simple things that help you get to the heart of understanding a destination. And sometimes it’s easy to rush around and forget the things that captivated you in the first place: the people, the culture, the vibe. Our top tip when visiting Uruguay? Swap the headless chicken act with an afternoon out, and head down to the coastal Rambia that circles the peninsula city for a glass (or two) of the local Tannat (that’s wine to you and me). Doing as the locals do here is an experience you’ll never forget… unless you carried away on the wine…

Interested? For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888. Before you know it you’ll be drinking local Tannat with the locals overlooking stunning Uruguay coastline. Salud!

  

MOTORBIKE THE ANDES TO THE AMAZON

Posted on 2009-04-20

Black Tomato’s real life motorcycle diary
We have words. We have photos. But even better, we have videos. In the spirit of bringing wonderful places to life, the folk at Black Tomato have been shooting video footage and sharing their thoughts whilst on their travels around the world.

Here’s a short (and slightly shakey) video shot by Shaun in Peru. Black Tomato’s South American expert took his on-board camera (otherwise known as a mobile phone) while cruising over the Andes Mountain range and down towards the Amazon Jungle.

Fancy it? Have a look at Black Tomato’s Peru motorcycling experience
www.blacktomato.co.uk, or call 0207 610 9008 for more information.