This week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Jordan’s oldest and most beautiful cities.  Located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra was an important trading city during Biblical times, and has been inhabited for far longer than that.

Petra rose to power as the capital city of the Nabataeans. The Nabataeans traded not only goods but also water, and Petra is constructed with a system of dams, water storage and irrigation that allowed them to capture water when it rained and dispense it as needed during dry periods.

After the Romans took control of the area, trades routes shifted and Petra’s location became much less advantageous. Eventually it was all but abandoned, before locals led a Swiss explorer to the city in 1812.

The entire city is built into a mountain, carved into and constructed out of the same gorgeous red rock. According to UNESCO, Petra “is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.” It is also Jordan’s most popular tourist attraction.

Fun Fact: The last scene in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” was filmed in Petra.

To visit Petra, you need a valid passport and a tourist visa.  In most cases, you can get a visa to visit Jordan when you arrive. However, if you are crossing over the border with Israel at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crossing, you must apply for your Jordan visa in advance.

No matter how you are entering Jordan, if you’d rather have your Jordan visa paperwork taken care of before you leave the US, you do have the option of applying ahead of time.  The application process for a Jordan visa is pretty straightforward. Just submit your US passport, 1 Jordan visa application form, and 1 passport-sized photo taken within the past 6 months.

Also, keep in mind that you may need other tourist or transit visas depending on your itinerary. RushMyTravelVisa can help by reviewing your travel plans and researching visa requirements for each stop. Then, we can help you with the application process and deliver your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate to expedite processing.

Apply for your Jordan visa today!

To visit , Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves, you do need a Brazil visa. Brazil doesn’t issue visas on arrival so you must apply in advance. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to get the visa:

• A valid passport with an expiration date at least 6 months in the future. Also, check the back-you need at least 2 blank pages left for the visa.
• One Brazil visa application
• 2 passport-sized photos
• A copy of your itinerary showing the dates you plan to enter and leave Brazil.
• A  photocopy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The copy must be neat and easy to read.
• A letter from your hosts, if you are visiting friends or relatives.

To enter Brazil, you may also need a yellow fever vaccination. Vaccines are required of travelers who have been to any of the following countries in the past 3 months (90 days): Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela.

Also, keep in mind that Brazil has a “jurisdictional” visa system.  Before you apply, you need to determine which Brazilian embassy or consulate serves the city you live in, as each embassy only processes visa applications from certain regions of the country.

RushMyTravelVisa can make the process of getting your Brazil visa much quicker and easier. We’ll guide you through the application process and hand-deliver your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for expedited processing.

Apply for your Brazil visa today!

Lopé-Okanda National Park may be filled with wildlife, but it is also a place with a rich human history. Archaeological remains from this region indicate Stone Age and Iron Age settlements, and they tell the story of the migration of the Bantu people into the Congo Forests.  They left behind tools, traces of habitation and campsites, and art, gracing what is now the park with over 1,800 rock carvings.

If you’d like to visit Lopé-Okanda National Park, the first step is to ensure that you have all of the documents you need to enter Gabon. Naturally, you will need your passport, but you will also need a Gabon visa before you can enter the country.

You used to be able to get a Gabon visa at the airport when you arrived, but this is no longer the case. The US Department of State cautions travelers to apply in advance for their visas, as Americans arriving in Gabon without them have been sent directly back to US at their own expense.

For a complete list of the documents and other information that you must provide to get your visa, read Gabon Visa Requirements for Tourists.

Also, before you apply for your visa, check your passport-if it expires in 6 months or less, you need to get a passport renewal before applying for a visa.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you apply for your Gabon visa, as well as any other visas you need for your trip. We’ll even research the visa requirements for every stop on your itinerary, to help you avoid unpleasant surprises.  Then, we’ll walk you through the visa application process step by step and expedite your applications for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Gabon visa today!

Either way, it was rediscovered in 1814 by H.C. Cornelius, a Dutch engineer working for the British government in Java. Excavating the monument took decades-it was not fully unearthed until 1835.  In the 1970’s, UNESCO sponsored a major renovation and restoration of the temple, and today Indonesian Buddhists worship there once more. Vesak, a major Buddhist holiday, is celebrated by visiting all three of the region’s major Buddhist temples, walking from Mendut to Pawon and finally to Borobudur.

The base of the  temple measures approximately 403.5 feet on each side, and it took more than 72,000 cubic yards worth of stone to construct. It is decorated with statues of the Buddha, bas-reliefs and sculptures. Viewed from above, it looks like a sacred mandala.

If you want to see the temple, you’ll need an Indonesian visa.  Indonesia does issue visas on arrival at certain airports and sea ports, but you can also apply for one before your trip. Either way, here’s what you need:

• Your US passport, which must have at least 6 months left before it expires. You’ll also need one whole blank page free in the back for the visa.
• 2 completed Indonesian visa application forms
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of your most recent bank statement
• A letter from your employer verifying that you are employed or on a leave of absence. If you don’t have a job, simply include a detailed letter explaining that fact.
• An itinerary letter that explains why you are going to Indonesia.

RushMyTravelVisa can help expedite your Indonesian visa as well as any other visas you may need for your trip. When you apply with us, a trained visa specialist will answer your questions and help you with your application. Then, we’ll deliver your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Indonesian visa today!

To the Chane, El Fuerte de Samaipata was a religious site. It was destroyed when a rival group, the Guarani, conquered the Chane. The Spanish also built a settlement there, and the Incas, who allied with the Chane against the Guarani, also had a settlement nearby. So, when you visit El Fuerte de Samaipata you can actually see architectural ruins from all three cultures.

However, it’s the Chane rock art that really steals the show. On a stone hill, the Chane carved a panoply of figures, including the jaguars and snakes that are so common in Pre-Columbian art.  They also built a water tank out of stone and carved seats for participants and spectators. SacredSites.com has a great picture.

Here’s how UNESCO describes the site:

Samaipata bears outstanding witness to the existence in this Andean region of a culture with highly developed religious traditions, illustrated dramatically in the form of immense rock sculptures.

To visit these ruins, you will need your passport (of course) and a Bolivian visa.  Bolivian visas can be obtained on arrival as long as you enter the country at an official border crossing, or you can apply in advance if you would prefer to have one in hand before you leave the US. However, if you choose to apply for one arrival, make sure you have $135 cash on hand to pay for it!

For more information about how to get a Bolivian visa to explore these ruins, see Bolivian Visa Requirements for Tourists.

RushMyTravelVisa can expedite your Bolivian visa, as well as any other visas you may need for your trip. We’ll research your itinerary, help you with the paperwork and deliver your visa application to the correct embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Bolivian visa today!

There are over 6,000 engravings at the site, depicting a wide range of subjects, including people, rituals,battles,  bullfights, the sun and stars, boats, and more. In addition to the engravings, the site is full of other archaeological evidence of ancient human settlement, such as burial sites and preserved cave dwellings.

Today, Gobustan is rather dry and arid, and is sparsely populated as a result. However, in the past, the region’s climate was wetter and water more abundant, and the area supported a diverse selection of fauna that you would have to travel to Africa to see today, including goats, deer, wild horses, donkeys, wild boars, gazelles , lions, wolves, wild cats and leopards. Naturally, humans were attracted by the abundant wildlife and the natural shelter provided by the caves.

In addition to the rock art, Gobustan is also famous for mud volcanoes. Although they sometimes shoot flames in the air, mud volcanoes mainly just spew mineral-rich mud that is reputed to have medicinal properties.

To visit Azerbaijan, if you are a US citizen you will need both a valid passport and an Azerbaijan visa. You can get a single-entry Azerbaijan visa at the airport if you arrive by plane, but you will need to apply ahead of time if you are arriving by land or if you need a multiple-entry visa. Here’s what you need to get the visa:

• 1 Azerbaijan visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A tourist voucher from a  hotel in Azerbaijan with a confirmation number.

Remember, you may need other visas depending on what countries you travel through to get to Azerbaijan, even if you’re just passing through. RushMyTravelVisa  can research your itinerary and tell you exactly what documents you need. Then, we make it easy to apply by walking you through the application process and submitting your paperwork for you to expedite processing.

Apply for your Azerbaijan visa today!

Standing 71 meters high, the Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of the side of a cliff, the Buddha appears imposing but serene as he surveys the place where the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers meet.

The story of the Buddha’s creation is an interesting one. The statue was carved as an expression of faith, but the monk who came up with the idea, Haithong, also hoped that the finished statue would grant a measure of serenity to the wild, rough waters of the rivers below. By the time the statue was finally completed, years after Haithong’s death, so much rock had been deposited into the river as a result of the statue’s construction that the waters did indeed calm down, creating a safe passage for ships.

To see the Giant Buddha of Leshan, you need a Chinese visa.  Americans are required to apply for Chinese visas in advance, as China does not grant visas on arrival and will instead send you home at your own expense.  Tourists should apply for a tourist visa, also known as an “L” visa. Here are the documents that are required:

• A completed Chinese visa application
• Your US passport
• One  passport photo

If your plane leaves in the next seven days, you should also include a copy of your travel itinerary to expedite your visa.

RushMyTravelVisa can assist you in applying for your Chinese visa. We make things simple by walking you through each step of application process, helping you avoid common mistakes that can lead to delays in processing. Then, we expedite your Chinese visa application with the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest processing available.

Apply for your Chinese visa today!

Located along a cliff for maximum dramatic impact, the temple is an impressive sight for pilgrims and tourists alike.

Since the temple is located right along the border of Thailand and Cambodia, it was the source of a decades -long dispute between the two countries.  However, in 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia. If you enter Preah Vihear from Thailand as a day trip, you won’t need a Cambodian visa. However, American tourists staying in Cambodia do need Cambodian visas.

You can get a Cambodian visa on arrival if you enter at a major border crossing or fly in through Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports.  You can also apply in advance if you’d prefer to have it hand before you leave the States.  Here’s what you need to apply:

• A Cambodian visa application.
• A passport-sized photo.
• Your US passport. Check the expiration date as it needs to be valid for at least 6 months past the date you plan to enter Cambodia-if yours expires sooner than that, you’ll need to apply for a passport renewal before you can travel. Also, make sure there’s enough room in the back for your visa and add pages if necessary.

• A copy of your travel itinerary.

RushmyTravelVisa can make applying for a Cambodian visa quick and painless. We’ll walk you through the application process and deliver your visa application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Cambodian visa today!

The UNESCO World Heritage Site notes that “The park boasts an evolutionary history dating back over a billion years to the Precambrian period. An estimated 4,000 species of flora as well as over 600 bird species and viable populations of many globally endangered or threatened vertebrate species live in the park.”

Innumerable different types of animals make their home in the park, including parrots, monkeys, giant armadillos and fearsome jaguars.  The park even shelters a variety of jaguar that is solid black.

Noel Kempff Mercado National Park is accessible from Santa Cruz, although you will need to charter a small plane with one of the companies that offer tours in the park.

To visit Bolivia, you will need both a valid passport and a Bolivian visa. Here’s what it takes to get a Bolivian visa if you are traveling as a tourist:

• 1 completed application form.
• Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 more months from the day you will enter Bolivia.
• 1 passport photo
• Your hotel confirmation, if you are staying in a hotel.
• A letter of invitation
• A copy of a roundtrip airline ticket.  However, if you are planning on touring South America by bus or by car instead of flying in, you can submit a statement saying when and where you plan to enter and exit the exit the country.
• A recent bank or credit card statement showing that you have enough cash or credit to cover the cost of your trip.
• An international yellow fever vaccination certificate.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you apply for a Bolivian visa, as well as any other visas you might need for your trip. We make the visa application process quick and easy by providing you with expert assistance and guidance. Then, we deliver your application to the appropriate visa or consulate for the fastest possible service.

Apply for your Bolivian visa today!

The grove is said to be sacred to the Yoruba fertility goddess Osun. Adorned with 40 shrines, 2 palaces , sculptures and other sacred artwork, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.  Some of the artwork is by Austrian artist Suzanne Wenger, who converted to the Yoruba faith and worked with local devotees to restore the grove and ensure it remains protected.

Every year in August, the sacred grove is the site of a large festival for devotees of Osun and other Yoruba deities.

To enter Nigeria and visit the grove, you do need to apply for  a Nigerian visa in advance, before you leave the US.  Nigeria will not issue you a visa when you arrive at the airport. Here are the steps you will need to take to get your visa:

• Complete a Nigerian visa application form online. A confirmation page will appear once you have submitted the online form. Print the confirmation page.
• Pay the $112 visa application fee online, and print the confirmation form for the payment.
• Submit a copy of a recent bank statement. The statement should show that you have enough money to support yourself while traveling in Nigeria.
• Submit a copy of your round-trip plane tickets along with a hotel confirmation or letter of invitation.
• If you are staying with a private citizen instead of at a hotel, include a copy of your host’s Nigerian passport.

RushMyTravelVisa can make getting a Nigerian visa easier. We walk you through the application process, step by step, and then submit your application for you to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Nigerian visa today!

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