Episode 1: Miami, Florida and Quito, Ecuador

Episode 2: Santiago, Chile

Episode 3: Petrohue, Chile

Episode 4: Villa General Belgrande, Argentina

Episode 5: Maputo, Mozambique

Episode 6: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Episode 7: Warsaw, Poland

Episode 8: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Episode 9: Hong Kong, China

Episode 10: Macau, China

Episode 11: Fort Soledad, Guam

Episode 12: Lanai, Hawaii and San Francisco, USA

Miami, Florida

The start of The Amazing Race, Miami is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States -- more than 75 percent of the city's nearly 2.5 million residents speak Spanish as a native language. Glorious beaches and lush golf courses make it a year-round playground for jetsetters, families, and retirees alike.

Quito, Ecuador

The All-Stars arrived at their first pit stop in Quito, Ecuador, a beautiful capital city at the base of the Pichincha volcano. The city is filled with sights historic and modern and is the launching point for many Galapagos and Andes Mountain excursions.

Santiago, Chile

Santiago is Chile's capital and, when viewed as a conurbation (Greater Santiago), its largest city. It is situated at an elevation of 520 m (1700 ft) in the country's central valley. Approximately two decades of uninterrupted economic growth have transformed Santiago into one of Latin America's most sophisticated metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping malls, and impressive high-rise architecture. The city also boasts some of Latin America's most spectacular infrastructure, such as the Santiago Metro and the sparkling new Costanera Norte, a freeway system that passes below downtown and connects the Eastern and Western extremes of the city in 15 minutes. Santiago is headquarters to many important companies and is a regionally important financial center.

Petrohue, Chile

Petrohue (pronounced petro-way) is a tiny lovely town located in front of the Lago Todos los Santos and at the base of the Orsono volcano, 64 km from Puerto Varas, and 84 km from Puerto Montt, in the Chilean Lake District. Petro is the name given to the giant blood sucking mosquitoes of the area, and 'hue' means place. The journey from Puerto Montt to Petrohue is a car ride of a little over an hour. The road skirts by numerous little farms, goes through Puerto Varas, a very touristy town, and along the shores of Lago Llanquihue, going finally along the Petrohue river, with the views of Orsono (2661m), Puntiagudo (2490m) and Tronador (3460m) volcanoes ever present. There is only one hosteria there. It's a quaint 3-story building with stand-out windows on each guest room, with flowers in front of them, which make the entire hosteria look like a Swiss chalet. At Petrohue, one can hike the 6 Km to the beautiful Saltos (waterfalls) and behind the hosteria there are several trails that lead up to the top of Orsono.

Villa General Belgrano, Argentina

This mountaineous village is located 87 km away from the Provincial Capital City and 110 km away from pajas Blancas International Airport in a privileged site in the great Valley of Calamuchita. Villa General Belgrano, known as " pueblo de las culturas" ( Town of the Cultures ) is situated at 750 meters above sea level and borders on Sierras Chicas to the east, on Sierras Grandes to the west and is equidistant from Los Molinos Lake and Río Tercero Dam. The temperatures range from 10º C to 18º C with cold to cool Winters and hot Summers, being the region in a continental hot climate. Most of the inhabitants belong to native groups or descendants of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Hungary and Spain. Villa General belgrano surprises the tourist with its traditional festivals, its art, and the peculiar central european architectural style. During the month of October, thousands of people peregrinate up to this city to take part in the National Beer Festival, one of the most expected events in the year, commonly known as Oktoberfest.

Maputo, Mozambique

 Maputo (previously Lourenzo Marques) is the sprawling capital of Mozambique, with a population of about two million people and a large harbour. Several rivers meet the sea Maputo and two islands (Inhaca and Portuguese Island) lie just off the coast. In 1898 central authority for the country was transferred from Mozambique Island to Lourenzo Marques and the city quickly became established as the trade and industry centre and as a port to serve the gold fields of South Africa. In the early days transport riders made the perilous journey with ox and wagons, but when the rail link was constructed, transport became safer and more profitable. But the war in the 1970s and 1980s changed all that. When peace finally came, the once proud city was in terrible disrepair. Thousands of immigrants crowded the buildings, litter lay everywhere and major services including water and electricity were out of commission. Today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory. The rich and famous are once more hanging out at the five-star Polana Hotel, with its grand view over the harbour, its tea gardens and its old-fashioned Victorian lift.

Zanzibar, Tanzania

 Situated in the Indian Ocean, 36 km off the coastline of mainland Tanzania lies Zanzibar. Zanzibar officially refers to the archipelago that include Unguja and Pemba, surrounded by about 50 smaller ones. Covering an area of 1464 sq km, Zanzibar is a mainly low lying island, with it's highest point at 120 meters. Zanzibar is an island state within the United Republic of Tanzania, and has its own semi-autonomous government made up of a Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives. Once the trading centre of the whole of East Africa, Zanzibar attracted Sumerians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Arabs, Chinese and Malays. The great explorers, Burton, Speke, Livingstone and Krapf continued their journeys from these shores. It is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, warm clear blue waters, idyllic islands, excellent reefs for snorkelling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing and water sports activities. The historic Stone Town with its narrow winding streets, vivid markets and colourful bazaars makes for an interesting cultural visit. Commonly known as the "Spice Island"; famous for spices such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom, peper and others). Spice tours are a popular excursion.

Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and its largest city. It is located on the Vistula river roughly 370 kilometers from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of 2006 was estimated at 1,700,536, with a metropolitan area of approximately 2,900,000 to 3,000,000 people. The city area amounts to 516.9 square kilometers, with an agglomeration of 6,100.43 square kilometers. Warsaw is the 7th biggest city in the European Union.

The city, also the capital of the Masovian Voivodeship, is home to many industries, including manufacturing, steel, electrical engineering, and automotive; it features 66 institutions of higher learning, including Warsaw University, Stefan Wyszynski University, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw School of Economics, Agriculture University and a Medical Academy. Warsaw is home to over 30 theatres, including the National Theatre and Opera and the National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

More than any other spot in the country, Kuala Lumpur, or "KL" as it is commonly known, is the focal point of new Malaysia. While the city's past is still present in the evocative British colonial buildings of the Dataran Merdeka and the midnight lamps of the Petaling Street nightmarket, that past is everywhere met with insistent reminders of KL's present and future. The city's bustling streets, its shining, modern office towers, and its cosmopolitan air project an unbounded spirit of progress and symbolize Malaysia's unhesitating leap into the future. To some, this spirit seems to have been gained at the loss of ancient cultural traditions, but in many ways KL marks the continuation rather than the loss of Malaysia's rich past. Like Malacca  five hundred years before, KL's commercial centre is a grand meeting place for merchants and travelers from all over the world. In the same way, the city brings together Malaysia's past and present, its many constituent cultures, and even its remarkable natural treasures, allowing first-time visitors an invaluable opportunity to see Malaysia as a whole before setting off to explore its parts. In the botanical and bird parks of the Lake Gardens one is treated to a first glimpse of the unsurpassed beauty and variety of Malaysia's plants and animals. In the vibrant Central Market, music, crafts, and cultural practices from Kelantan to Sarawak can be explored and experienced. And in the National Museum, the dizzying multiplicity of Malaysia's cultural history comes into focus. As the entry point for most visitors and the meeting point of the country's many attractions, Kuala Lumpur is a grand gateway to a fascinating destination.

Hong Kong, China

 The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is one of the two special administrative regions (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), along with Macau. Comprising more than 260 islands, the territory is located on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east, west and south.

Hong Kong was under United Kingdom administration from 1842 until the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997. The Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that Hong Kong will operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2047, fifty years after the transfer. Under the policy of "one country, two systems", the Central People's Government is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Hong Kong maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organizations and events.

Macau, China

The Macau Special Administrative Region, commonly known as Macau or Macao, is one of the two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), along with Hong Kong. Administered by Portugal until 1999, it was the oldest European colony in China, dating back to the 16th century. The administrative power over Macau was transferred to China in 1999.

Besides historical Chinese and Portuguese world-heritage relics, Macau's biggest attraction is its gambling industry and casinos. Though many forms of gambling are legal here, the most popular game is baccarat, which generates over two thirds of the gaming industry's gross receipts.

Fort Soledad, Guam

Fort Soledad, located in the village of Umatac, is one of several Spanish Era forts where structures still stand today. Completed in 1810, just before the end of the Galleon Age in 1815, the fort was used as a signal tower and a security post to help protect Spanish trade in the area from pirates. The Acupulco-Manila galleon trade witnessed ships criss-crossing the Pacific, trading gold and silver from South America for silk, porcelain and spices from China. Spanish merchants would meet Chinese merchants in the Philippines to conduct such transactions. Guam was a strategic location, as it provided safe harbor and supplies for the crews that endured the long and dangerous trans-Pacific voyages.
 

Lanai, Hawaii

Hawaii's Lanai (lah-nigh-ee) Island, which was once the mere capital of pineapple production, is now becoming an international tropical holiday destination. Lanai's biggest selling point is that it is the perfect "getaway" location! On this little island you will find little hustle and bustle, friendly and inviting dining and accommodation options and a relaxed nightlife. The island has remained an unspoiled oasis that has a characteristic small town feel - the only exceptions to this are the two luxury resorts that were recently developed. The Lodge at Koele and The Manele Bay Hotel are exmpales of two such resorts. Lanai Hawaii is accessible by air or ferry. Both Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air provide daily services between the little island and the gateway cities of the Western USA, with a complete cargo service. Alternatively a ferry runs between the island and Maui at least five times a day. It can be found in the centre of the Pacific Ocean just below the Tropic of Cancer and is the only Hawaiian Island from which five others can be viewed. The island came into being when the volcano Palawai erupted 1½ million years ago - the Isle is therefore covered in spectacular red lava cliffs, sharp gorges, shady Cook pines and white beaches. The Island is only about 140 square miles, 13 miles wide and 18 miles long, with a coastline that extends for 47 miles. With regard to road networks - it is not expected that there is much more than 30 miles of road. The main city is "Lanai City" and is located in the middle, just north of the Lanai Airport, off Highway 440. Lanai supports a population of only about 2900 people

San Francisco, USA

The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the fourteenth-most populous in the United States, with a 2006 estimated population of 744,041. It is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and is the focal point of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the United States.

In 1776, the Spanish settled the tip of the San Francisco peninsula, establishing a fort at the Golden Gate and a mission named for Francis of Assisi. The California Gold Rush in 1848 propelled the city into a period of rapid growth. After being devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt.

San Francisco is renowned for its chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills, an eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and its peninsular location surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Famous hallmarks and landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, and Chinatown.

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