Eritrea

Eritrea Flag

Why visit Eritrea?

Known for architecture, beaches, culture, diving, historical sites, markets, and snorkeling.

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Basketry, leather products, pottery, and wood carvings.
• Local Cuisine to Try: Capretto (roasted goat). Injera (wheat pancake). Kitcha Fit Fit (breakfast dish). Shahan Ful (breakfast dish). Shiro (chickpea stew). Wot (spicy stew). Zighini (goat stew).
• Local Drink to Try: Mies (honey wine).

Fun Facts

• During the 4th Century (301 AD  - 400 AD) the Debre Sina (monastery) was built.
• In 1993, declared independence.
  
• In 1994, Jehovah Witnesses basic civil rights and citizenships were provoked.
• From 1955-2001, there were no elephant sightings.
• Shaped like a funnel tipped on its side.
  
• During the Ethiopian War, female equality blossomed as they fought along the side of male soldiers. 
• Italians designed over 400 buildings for them.
  
• Land is often community owned.
  
• Australian and Chinese companies are known to mine their copper and zinc.
  
• Coffee Ceremonies are common amongst visiting loved ones and special occasions in offering three rounds of coffee.
  
• Rank amongst the best cycling nations in the world.
  

Photo Credit: Silvia De Giovanni/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Holidays: New Year's Day, Orthodox Christmas, Epiphany, Birth of the Prophet, Fenkil Day, Women's Day, Good Friday, Easter, May Day, Independence Day, Eid al-Fitr, Revolution Day, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas Day.
  

Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Among the worst in the world with Human Rights.
  
• Skin infection and irritation are common amongst travelers.
  
• All local media is government owned.
  
• Surge protector is recommended for your electronics.
  
• Currency Declarations are strictly enforced.
  
• Avoid wearing shorts in public.
• Same sex relationships is illegal; punishable by ten days to three years in prison.
• There are strict restrictions about the number of electronics permitted.
  
• Receipts on purchases and foreign exchanges is required. Failure to provide may result in confiscation, fines, and imprisonment.
  
• Not all hotels have running water. 
  
• Fuel and water shortages are common.
• Travel Permits required if traveling beyond Asmara.
  
• Unmarked minefields exist along the border.
  
• Avoid walking alone at night.
• Do not display cash and valuable personal property. 
• There are no ATM's.
• Medical facilities and physicians are limited, payment is required in USD before rendering care.
  
• Diseases of dengue and malaria are prevalent.
  

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity is required and two blank pages.
• Tourist VISA required.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination required. 
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

Fiat Tagliero Building, Asmara. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

• Best Time to Visit: April - May & October - November
• Hottest Months: July - September
• Peak Season: October - March

Ready to embark on custom and personalized services, your journey begins with Louvet Travel? 

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

                              All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice. 

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea Flag

Why visit Equatorial Guinea?

For the adventurous travelers seeking a lush tropical destination to enjoy beaches, birdwatching, colonial architecture, surfing, and volcanoes.

Fun Facts

• In 1472, Fernando Pó, Portuguese Explorer arrived while in route to India (Island of Bioko).
  
• In 1474, colonized by Portugal.
  
• In 1968, became independent of Spain.
  
• In 1979, Francisco Macías Nguema (1924-1979) late President was overthrown and murdered by his own nephew.
  
• In 1996, large oil reserves were discovered.
  
• Consists of two parts: insular (Islands of Bioko and Annobón) and mainland region.
  
• Once upon a time was considered one of the most prosperous African countries.
• From Malabo on a clear day you can see Mount Cameroon.
  
• Island of Bioko has approximately 143 species of birds. Favorite being the yellow finch. 
• Approximately 20% of children die before the age of five.
  
• Country is divided into eight provinces.
• Education is free and required for ages from 6-14.
  
• Mongomo, is home to  the second largest African country Catholic Church (Basilica of the Immaculate Conception).
• Catholic is the main religion practiced throughout the country.

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (July) Africa Cup of Nations and (December) Malabo Hip Hop Festival.
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Labour Day, Feast of Corpus Christi, President's Day, Freedom Day, Constitution Day, Independence Day, Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day.

Good to Know

• Plagued by extreme poverty.
  
• Spanish, French, and Portuguese are official languages. Bubi and Fang are also spoken by locals.
  
• Not all beaches are swimmable due to pollution.
• Sanitation is often considered below our standards.
• Due to parasitic disease Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) do not stand or swim in still waters.
• Medical Care is very limited. Often considered below our standards.
• Skin infections are common.
  
• Do not accept Ekuele (Ek) currency, it's been replaced with CFA Francs.
  
• A Visitors Photography Permit is no longer required. Officials may attempt to fine or detain photographers. Never photograph airports, government buildings, harbors, military, police, ports or the Presidential Palace.
• Water supply is known to be limited and power outages are common.
  
• Human trafficking is a significant problem.
  
• Every airline Equatorial Guinea registered is banned from European Union (EU). 
  
• Public transportation is not considered reliable or safe.
  
• Avoid dark alleys, remote locations, and traveling alone.
  
• Nearly exclusively a cash economy; credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted.
  
• Prevalent diseases: Dengue Fever, Polio, Rabies, Schistosomiasis, Tuberculosis, and Yellow Fever.
• Cell phone coverage is known to be sporadic.
  
• Citizens driving while intoxicated is a widespread problem.
  
• Minor traffic violations are known to occur in hopes to extort bribes.
  

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity upon return and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 90 days.
• Yellow Fever & Polio Vaccination required. 

• Best Time to Visit: December - February
• Cool Months: July - September
• Hottest Months: January - May
• Peak Season: October - December

Ready to embark on custom and personalized services, your journey begins with Louvet Travel? 

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.

El Salvador

El Salvador Flag

"Pulgarcito de America" (Tom Thumb of the Americas) & "The Ireland of Central America"

Why visit El Salvador?

Offers travelers the opportunities to enjoy birdwatching, coastal scenery, colonial towns, culture, fishing, gray sand beaches, handicrafts, hiking, lakes, mountains, national parks, nightlife, ruins, surfing, tropical forests, villages, and volcanoes.

Lago de Coatepeque, Caldera, El Salvador. Photo Credit: ckaye/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Carvings, ceramic dolls, clay crafts, hammocks, leather goods, paintings, weavings, and woven bedspreads.
  
• Local Cuisine to Try: Chorizo (pork sausage). Gallo en Chicha (rooster soup). Loroco (edible flower). Maria Luisa (dessert). Mariscada (seafood soup). Panes Rellenos (stuffed hot sandwich). Pupusas (flatbread/griddle cake). Salpicón (minced beef). Sopa de Pata (tripe cow). Viejitas (coffee biscuits).
  
• Local Drink to Try: Cadejo (microbrew beer). Pilsener (beer). Suprema (local beer). Tamarindo Juice. Tic Tack (liquor). Vinagre de Piña (fermented pineapple).
  

Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador. Photo Credit: Andrea Santana Tellez/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• In 1524, became colonized.
  
• In 1821, became independent from Spain.
  
• In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused widespread flooding.
  
• In 2001, adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency.
• In 2001, a earthquake measured 7.7 on the Richter Magnitude Scale. 
  
• Smallest and least densely populated country in Central America.
  
• One of the world's largest coffee producers, accounting for roughly 90% of their export earnings.
  
• Approximately 70% of the countries water is from Lempa River and their only navigational body of water.
• Similar immigration is compared to China.
  
• The only Central American country with no Caribbean coastline.
  
• Has over 300 rivers.
  
• Lake Güija is their largest natural lake. 
  
• Mountain Cerro El Pital divides the country into two physiographic regions. 
• Eight species of sea turtles exists in the world, four reside on the coast (green sea turtle, leatherback turtle, hawksbill, and olive ridley).
  
• Public Schools average 50 students per classroom.
  
• Ninth grade students choose a two-year high school (college preparation) or a three-year high school (for workforce/vocational career).
• Cojutepeque (Capitol) is the birthplace of Xuc (folk dance). 
  

Surfing, El Salvador. Photo Credit: fanocetti/Pixabay 

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (May) Panchimalco Flower & Palm Festival, (July) Fiesta Julias, (August) Balls of Fire Festival, Festival of Corn, Fiestas Agostinas, (November) Festival of Hammocks, Fiestas Patronales, and San Miguel Carnival.
  
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Labour Day, Mother's Day, Father's Days, El Salvador Independence Day, All Souls Day, and Christmas Day.

Puerta del Diablo (Devil's Door), Panchimalco, El Salvador. Photo Credit: Gerson Rodriguez/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Visible exposed elements of natural disasters, poverty and war.
• Gang-related violent crime, high rates of poverty, and inequality are present.
  
• Coffee picking season is October - November.
  
• In the Gulf of Fonesca offers the best deep sea fishing.
  
• La Libertad attracts surfers from around the world.
  
• Restaurants/shops tend to close early afternoon for "siesta".
  
• Postage stamps are only sold at post offices.
  
• Access to sanitation, water supply, and water pollution pose issues of concern.
  
• Strong currents and undertows along the Pacific Coast beaches is considered dangerous even for experienced swimmers.
  
• Demonstrations and protests occur, avoid them!
  
• Shootouts between rival criminal gangs and police are common. 
  
• Avoid isolated and remote locations.
• Do not travel on public bus transportation.
  
• Credit card fraud (cloning) is common.
  
• LGBTI is prone to widespread discrimination.
  
• Private and public hospitals do not meet our standards. Most care providers only accept upfront cash payments.
  
• Prevalent diseases are: Chikungunya, Dengue, Tuberculosis, and Zika.
  
• Local drivers are often unlicensed and do not adhere to traffic rules.
• Local Law requires all parties in a vehicle accident to stay at the scene until the police respond.

Xanadu, El Salvador. Photo Credit: Oswaldo Martinez/Unsplash

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 90 days; however a entry Tourist Card is required. 
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

Subject to earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, severe flooding, and volcanic activity.

• Best Time to Visit: November - April
• Coldest Month: December
• Hottest Months: November - April
• Peak Season: August - December

El Imposible National Park (The Impossible National Park), El Salvador. Photo Credit: Gerson Rodriguez/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Joya de Cerén

Cathedral of Santa Ana, Santa Ana, El Salvador. Photo Credit: Erick Chang/Pixabay 

Ready to embark on custom and personalized services, your journey begins with Louvet Travel? 

Your one stop source: Accommodations I Air I Car Rentals I Cruises I Disney I Excursions I Tours I Transfers I Travel Insurance I Villa Rentals

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

                                               All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice. 

Egypt

Egypt Flag

Why visit Egypt?

The destination for immersion into past times while enjoying ancient temples, bazaars, birdwatching, churches, culture, desert, history, monastery, monuments, museums, monastery, mummies, nightlife, pyramids, river cruises, shopping, scuba diving, tombs, and water sports.

Great Sphinx of Giza (

Giza Plateau)

, 

Giza, Egypt. Photo Credit: Cesar Salazar/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Brassware, carpets, clothing, copper ware, leather goods, mother-of-pearl inlaid wood, paintings, rag rugs, soapstone carvings, stationery, and water pipes.
  
• Local Cuisine to Try: Duqqa (condiment). Eish Baladi (pita bread). Falafel (deep fried breakfast ball). Fateer (oven-baked pancake). Feteer Meshaltet (pastry dessert). Kofta (meatball). Kushari (street meal). Mulokhaya (soup). Offal (organ meat). Rumi Cheese. Shwarma (sandwich).
  
• Local Drink to Try: Janzabil (spicy ginger). Sobia (sweet coconut milk). Tamr Hindi (chilled tamarind).
  

Kom Ombo (Ombos), Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt. Photo Credit: DEZALB/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• During 2700–2200 BCE, many pyramids were constructed.
• During 1st Century (1 AD-100AD), Saint Mark, Evangelist brought Christianity.
• In 1517, conquered by the Ottoman Turks.
  
• In 1798, invaded by the French forces of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821).
  
• In 1854, sent their first telegram from Cairo to Alexandria. 
  
• Since 1865, Egypt Post is the country's oldest government institution.
• In 1869, the Suez Canal was completed after 10 years of building.
  
• In 1923, became independent from Britain.
  
• Largest  Arab country.
  
• Nearly 95% of the population lives within a few miles of the Nile's River.
• In ancient Egyptian, the country's name means black land suggestive to the fertile black soils of the Nile flood plains.
  
• Considered the driest and sunniest country in the world.
• Rise in sea levels due to Global Warming threaten Egypt's future coastal strip.
  
• Has the oldest continuous parliament tradition in the Arab world.
  
• United States provides them military assistance costing around  $1.3 Billion USD annually.
  
• Popular attraction, Giza Necropolis (Cairo) is only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.
• Russia is financing ($25 billion) their first nuclear power plant (El Dabaa). 
  
• Cairo Metro was the first of the metro systems in Africa and Arab world costing $12 billion EGP.
  
• EgyptAir is owned by the Egyptian government.
  
• Languages taught in school are English, French, German and Italian.
  
• Largest Christian population in the Middle East and North Africa.
  
• Considered the home of belly dancing.
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world.
  
• For thousands of years natives have celebrated the ancient Spring Festival, Sham en Nisim.
• Their teas are exclusively imported from Kenya and Sri Lanka.
• Wines are made from grapes sourced from vineyards in Alexandria and Middle Egypt.
  

Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Photo Credit: Pixabay

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (February) Abu Simbel Sun Festival, Aswan International Women's Film Festival, (March) Cairo Jazz Festival, (April) Sham al-Naseem, (June) Leylet en Nuktah, Sandbox Music Festival,
  (August) Arab Music Festival, (October) Siyaha Festival, Wafaa Al Nil, (November) Alexandria International Film Festival, (December) Cairo International Film Festival, and Sphinx Festival.
• Holidays: Christmas Day, Islamic New Year, Revolution Day, National Police Day, Sinai Liberation Day, Sham El Nessim, Labour Day, 30 June Day, Revolution Day, Armed Forces Day, Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.
   

Valley of the Queens, Luxor Governorate, Egypt. Photo Credit: DEZALB/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• U.S. citizens should maintain a high level of vigilance throughout the country due to the threat of terrorism.
  
• Do not travel to Sinai Peninsula.
• High concentrations of World War II-era unexploded landmines still exist (Eastern Desert between Cairo and the Suez Canal, West of Alexandria, and Sinai Peninsula).
  
• Harassment of women with gestures to inappropriate physical contact, indecent exposure, and lewd comments are known to occur.
  
• A tourist scam is being offered a“free gift", however once accepted they demand money. 
  
• Local police or security forces do not require probable cause to detain, stop or question individuals.
• On days of worship (Friday and Sunday) business may have restricted hours or be closed.
• Public affection is not welcomed.
• Shopkeepers often reject faded, torn or wrinkled currency bills.
  
• Alcohol-free restaurants are common amongst strict Muslims.
  
• Local customs, one's left hand should never accept goods.
  
• Beyond tourist areas women should not wear short sleeve shirts. Dress modestly in loose fitting clothing. 
• "Upper Egypt" refers to the southern and "Lower Egypt" to the north of the country.
  
• Homosexuality is illegal, up to 10 years in prison.
  
• Drones are strictly prohibited.
• Local law prohibits the unauthorized removal of archaeological property sites and antiquities.
  
• Due to parasitic disease Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) do not stand or swim in the Nile River or its canals.
• Do not drink tap water.
• Sanitation is often considered below our standards.
• Ambulance services are not widely available. Emergency and intensive care facilities are limited. 
  
• Driving is extremely hazardous with disabled vehicles, impatient drivers, lack of working traffic lights, and respect to driving rules. 
  

Aga Khan Mausoleum, Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Photo Credit: Klaus Dieter vom Wangenheim/Pixabay 

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months validity upon return and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA required.
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

Sharm El-Sheikh (Beachfront Resort Town Area), Egypt. Photo Credit: koko sdcsdc/Pixabay 

Prone to sand and dust storms (March - April).

• Best Time to Visit: October - April
• Coolest Months: November - March
• Hottest Months: April - October
• Peak Season: December - February

Sinai Desert, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Photo Credit: Sabine Kulau/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Abu Mena, Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, Historic Cairo, Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur, Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae, Saint Catherine Area, and Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley).

Nile River, Egypt. Photo Credit: Tamás Juhász/Pixabay 

Ready to embark on custom and personalized services, your journey begins with Louvet Travel? 

Your one stop source: Accommodations I Air I Car Rentals I Cruises I Disney I Excursions I Tours I Transfers I Travel Insurance I Villa Rentals

Medinet Habu Temple, Luxor, Egypt. Photo Credit: DEZALB/Pixabay 

Stay connected, find us online: Alignable Facebook  LinkedIn  Pinterest  Slack  Twitter 

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page" ~ Saint Augustine

Bazaar (Street Market), Egypt. Photo Credit: Ron Porter/Pixabay 

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.