Up in the air . . .

LATAM Airlines, Latin America’s leading airline, has announced that it will commence a non-stop service to Munich (Germany) from São Paulo on 25 June 2019 with tickets now on sale. LATAM will operate four weekly flights using Boeing 767 aircraft with capacity for 191 passengers in Economy and 30 in Premium Business.

The Bavarian capital will become LATAM’s second destination in Germany after Frankfurt and its ninth European city. Located north of the Alps, Munich is a leading centre for business, art, education, sports and tourism. Home to leading multinational companies, an internationally renowned football team and the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, it attracts both tourists and business travellers from around the world.

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Saving Patagonia's legendary Torres Trail

SOUTHERN Explorations, specializing in crafting custom small-group trips and itineraries to Latin America, has partnered with the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund to help save Patagonia's legendary Torres Trail. 

Visits to the trail in world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park have rapidly increased. The trail can now receive as many as one thousand hikers a day. Such intensive use has resulted in serious deterioration of the trail and addressing these impacts is now an urgent priority.

Under its partnership agreement with the Chilean National Forest Corporation (CONAF), the Legacy Fund has joined AMA Torres del Paine to launch the "Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine" (Your best footprint for Paine) campaign.

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Colombian Celeberations

COLOMBIA is rapidly becoming one of the hot new locations in South America for international bands, music festivals and cultural events. 

Throughout the year Colombia stages a number of internationally renowned cultural events including the International Film Festival in Cartagena, and the renowned Hay literature festival. 




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Celestial flying gondolas connect in La Paz

AS part of the recent launch of the latest exclusive programs of CRILLON TOURS, the seventh line of the La Paz Cable Car will open on July 14, when the celestial flying gondolas connects with the other 6 lines, to the South & to El Alto, arriving for the first time in the heart of downtown La Paz. This new line opens a colorful range of new possibilities, complementing new and appealing combined tours to-and-from the Bolivian high plateau & Lake Titicaca.

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Picture credit: Matthew Straubmuller 51344631@N06/8309519588 La Paz, Bolivia via photopin

Support for single-use plastic ban in the Galapagos

SPECIALISING in small group trips to Latin America, Southern Explorations has announced its full support of a new ban of single-use plastics in the #Galapagos Islands.  The ban, created to protect marine and wildlife and their habitats from the detrimental affects of plastic waste, will roll out in phases over four months and affects all residents, tour operators and visitors.

New Plastic Restrictions in the Galapagos, Starting the Summer of 2018.  The Galapagos Governing Council announced the plastic ban in April 2018. Each type of single-use plastic will be banned starting on the following dates:

May 22, 2018: plastic straws
June 21, 2018: single-use plastic bags
July 21, 2018: polythene take out containers
August 21, 2018: non returnable beverage containers

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Slip sliding away in Brazil

IN the municipality of Estância Turística de Olímpia, 272 miles from the State capital of São Paulo, Brazil, you'll find Thermas dos Laranjais which is the most visited water park in Latin America, with over 2 million visitors in 2017. 

The park offers more than 50 different attractions, many of which are both exclusive and patented, from Water Slides to the Water roller-coaster, which passes 180º through the surf pool and along beaches and the slow flowing river. 

Opened in 1987 by entrepreneur Benito Benatti, the park occupies an area of 75 acres and is fed by the thermal Waters of the Guarani Aquifer – the main subterranean reserve of fresh water in South America, with temperatures ranging from 26ºC to 38ºC.

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Picture Credit: Pintrest

Flights of Fancy

AMAZING Peru is spreading its wings in Latin America, with more planes, more pilots and a new office in Brazil. They are the first Latin American company offering private jets. The Latin America-based charter jet company announced today it has increased its fleet for its private flights throughout Latin America and worldwide.The company has planes based in Lima, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Quito, Buenos Aires and Santiago.

Amazing Peru Private Jets has done business in Peru since 1975 and in the late 90's the luxury tour operator became the only Latin American private jet company. Amazing Peru pioneered the luxury adventure and private aviation in South America and today they are the world’s undisputed Latin America luxury-travel leader and the only Latin American private jet Company, offering award-winning "tours of a lifetime" by National Geographic.

Amazing Peru Private Jets primarily serves destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Europe.

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Nicaragua expects tourism to grow 10% over Easter

NICARAGUA is expecting a 10% year on year growth this Easter compared to the same period in 2017, according to new official statistics announced by the Nicaraguan Tourism Board (INTUR). 

87,894 people visited #Nicaragua during Easter Week in 2017, and 96,683 visitors are expected from 25-31 March 2018. International tourism left Nicaragua with revenues of some 700 million dollars in 2017, 9% during 2016, according to official figures. 

www.visitnicaragua.us

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Travel Trends

APL Media Limited is set to launch Travel Trends, a new portfolio of publications created to provide the travel trade with unique targeted destination and market information in April 2018. The first edition, Travel Trends Latin America, will be published in association with LATA, the Latin American Travel Association.

Combining the latest travel industry trends and analysis — written by experienced travel writers and accompanied by inspirational photography — with an A-Z travel directory highlighting the best places to explore and stay around the world, Travel Trends will be presented in a beautiful, high-quality format and sent directly to a named database of tour operators, travel agents and tourist boards.

Issue one, Travel Trends Latin America, will report on key trends and developments in the region and include analysis, new routes and itinerary ideas. Together with custom content created in partnership with hotels and operators across the region, this will give the trade the ability to sell the destination with confidence and authority. The new launch will be supported with a weekly email newsletter. 

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Ananay Hotel Group to open new boutique hotel in Arequipa in 2018

LUXURY hotel group Ananay will be opening its fifth property in Peru in 2018 – a new boutique hotel called Palacio La Merced – built in a stunning historical building in Arequipa. The hotel will have 41 rooms and will also feature one of the most important colonial art collections in the city belonging to one of the owners of the hotel. The hotel will be strategically located near the white city’s Plaza Mayor and main tourist attractions and historical sites. 

www.ananay-hotels.com

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Picture Credit: By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43285415

Rail journey through the Serra Do Mar Mountains

THE Serra Verde Express between Curitiba and Morretes in southern-eastern #Brazil offers magnificent views of mountain canyons, tropical green lowland and the Atlantic Ocean. 

The luxurious ‘litorina’ #train starts from Curitiba before travelling to the Morretes – a picturesque coastal city – where you can feast on a traditional Brazilian lunch of “barreado”, a type of slow cooked meat prepared in a clay pot. Then take a tour of Antonina – a city which was recognised as a National Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) in 2012. 

The train departs Curitiba daily at 8:15 returning at 19:15. A round trip on the train is priced from £44 per person based on travelling in standard economy.

www.serraverdeexpress.com

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Visit the Ecuadorian Amazon with explorer Benedict Allen

NEW for 2018, Steppes Travel has launched an exclusive ‘Wildlife and Communities’ experience travelling to the Ecuadorian #Amazon with British explorer Benedict Allen. The adventurer will guide guests on a ten-day holiday into the #rainforest on the luxury boat Anakonda, sharing stories of his adventures in three informal lectures. Highlights of the trip include canoeing down the Amazon River in the UNESCO listed Yasuni National Park, and meeting indigenous tribal communities to learn about local culture.  

www.steppestravel.com

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Panoramic view on the rails

TRAVELLERS venturing to Machu Picchu will have more choice of train travel from December 2017 following the inauguration of a new service by Inca Rail, the #MachuPicchu Train; Peru’s first scenic #train with dome-like panoramic windows. 

The train will boast taller and wider scenic windows stretching up into the dome of each carriage as well as an open-air observation carriage from which passengers can take photos as they pass through the Sacred Valley. Two return tickets in standard economy are priced from £238. 

www.incarail.com

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‘Ecotourism Corridor’ introduced in Argentina

THE Litoral region in #Argentina has recently launched a new tourist route called the ‘Ecotourism Corridor’. The circuit encompasses four major areas including Iguazu & Mancona, Ibera, Impenetrable and Bañado La Estrella, and features hiking routes, horse riding paths as well as offering visitors the chance to learn about native people and their culture. 

The aim of the project is to encourage the conservation of endemic species and to promote #tourism to these regions, whilst also positioning Argentina as one of Latin America’s number one tourist destinations. 

www.argentina.travel

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Picture Credit: By popejon2 from Paddington, Australia - Iguazu Falls, /commons.wikimedia.org 24659310

In the air . . . Latin America

AIR Europa introduces first direct flight to Honduras - Air Europa has launched the first ever flight from Madrid to San Pedro Sula in Honduras which will operate once a week. Return flights are priced from £405 from London via Madrid with a flight time of approximately 18 hours. www.aireuropa.com

UNITED Airlines announces new service between New York and Buenos Aires -
United Airlines has announced a new year-round daily, nonstop service between New York and Buenos Aires, Argentina, starting in October 2017. In addition, the airline is increasing its year-round, daily service to Bogota, Colombia, from New York, with an additional daily flight starting June 8 through August 14. www.united.com

AEROMEXICO increases flights between London and Mexico City to daily nonstop service - Aeromexico has increased its service from six weekly flights to one daily flight between London and Mexico City. www.aeromexico.com

LATAM Airlines launch new connections from Lima and Santiago
In September 2017, LATAM will launch a new direct flight from Lima, Peru to Tucumán, Argentina. In October, it will also start operating a direct service from Santiago, Chile to three cities in Argentina – San Juan, Neuquén and Tucumán opening up the region futher for international visitors. www.latam.com

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The Peak of Peru

FLASH Pack, the solo travel adventure specialist, offers a 12–day tour of #Peru with local Flash Pack guide & driver throughout the tour, two domestic flights to Maldonado & Cuzco, private minibus, Amazonian riverboats, mountain bikes and airport pickup.

The tour starts with exploring the rich culture of Peru’s capital before heading into the jungle on a typical Amazonian boat and trekking the epic habitat bursting with wildlife. 

Cruise down the Madre de Dios river on a night time boat through the jungle. Stroll the charming streets of Cuzco and admire the Inca heritage and artwork. Hike the kaleidoscopic Rainbow Mountain and sleep at a cosy base camp beneath the stars. Discover a lost city at Machu Picchu, a true bucket list destination. Mountain bike through the highlands of Sacred Valley and enjoy tasty Latin American cuisine washed down with potent Pisco sours.

From £2,299 per person: 11 nights’ twin-shared accommodation, including 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners.


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Gourmet Experiences in Latin America

LATIN America has continued to grow as a popular tourism destination in the first quarter of 2017. Visitor numbers to the region are looking very promising and the development of new hotels and increased air connectivity are expected to drive visitation further. Here are some offers LATA have recently written about from tour operators in Latin America. 

Luxury Hotel B located in the Lima, Peru’s Barranco district, has launched new culinary experiences touring the gastronomic capital of Latin America. Guests will visit a local coffee shop called Tostaduria Bisetti to taste a variety of coffees made from different Peruvian coffee beans and will take a tour of the Mercado Local de San Isidro, one of the capital’s biggest markets to sample local fruit. The experience also includes a cocktail making course to learn how to make pisco sours. The full day gastronomic experience is priced from £161, a half day from £61 and the cocktail class from £46. 
www.hotelb.pe

South American Tours has unveiled a 20-day gourmet journey in Argentina and Chile. The trip starts in Buenos Aires where visitors will experience a real Argentinean BBQ after a tour of the main highlights of the vibrant city. Guests will then travel to Mendoza to visit the Norton winery and enjoy a locally inspired cooking class, before heading to Bariloche to admire the spectacular landscape of Pucón and relax by the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake with the back drop of the Andes. The holiday continues to Chiloé Island located off the coast of southern Chile to visit a local market and taste cheese and oysters from the region. The price of the tour is available upon request. www.southamericantours.com

Panama Trails is offering guests a new day tour visiting a chocolate farm and botanical garden at Green Acres, an eco-farm nestled on the south shore of Dolphin Bay in Bocas Del Toro. The tour includes an introduction to the history of the property, a hike in the stunning Panamanian rainforest and a visit to a chocolate factory to learn about the different stages of chocolate production. Visitors will also be given time to discover the islands surrounding Bocas Del Toro. The tour is priced from £64 per person. www.panamatrails.com/dailytour/chocolateFarmandAndBotanicalGarden.htm

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Latin America to New Orleans

THE New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is continuing its marketing efforts in the South American tourism market through sales missions and partnerships with international airlines. 

Most recently, Maria Manzella, Director of Tourism at the #NewOrleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, organized a sales mission to Colombia March 20-23, 2017. The Convention and Visitors Bureau secured Copa Airlines as a key sponsor and partner, along with Louisiana Tax Free Shopping, to showcase travel to New Orleans. The trip included a networking lunch with a presentation on New Orleans to leisure tour operators and media in both Bogota and Medellin.

Copa Airlines will celebrate its second anniversary of a direct flight from Panama to New Orleans in June of 2017 and this sales mission reinforced travel efforts from Latin America to New Orleans.

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Culture, Travel and Latin America

FOCUSING on cultural travel to Latin America, Tia Stephanie Tours has partnered with Artesanias de Colombia, the Colombian government entity with the mission to support and promote the artisan sector of #Colombia, to design fiber arts, craft and cultural #journeys to Colombia. 

First up in 2017 is the highly anticipated "Expo Artesanias Colombia: The Crafts of Colombia: Bogota & Cartagena" tour runs December 5-13, 2017. It will feature a two-day, deep-dive immersion into the Expoartesanias handcraft fair. Entering its 27th year, the fair focuses on the finest in Colombia's diverse traditional and contemporary crafts. This special access tour offers travelers insider opportunities to "meet the artisans" and learn about their culture.

Included are one-on-ones with the Wayuu, Aruaco, Zenu, Waunaan, and Amazona people, so you can actually purchase works after engaging in meaningful interactions with the artisans themselves. Taking place at Corferias in Bogotá, travelers will explore the highlights of Bogotá, in addition to attending the craft fair. From Bogotá, the tour moves to and continues in Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, where cumbia, salsa, vallenato and other rhythms flow into the night! The price is $2585, including four star hotels, daily breakfast, five lunches, three dinners, and a cerviche crawl!

The Expo-Artesanias tour is part of a series of "Craft and Culture route" tours in Colombia organized by Tia Stephanie Tours. These experiential trips invite travelers to learn about both the culture and bio diversity of the country.

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Zika State of Emergency lifted in Brazil

THE Brazilian government has declared the end of the state of emergency related to the Zika virus.Tony Mason, CEO of the Latin American Travel Association (LATA), says:

“The Brazilian government had confirmed that cases of the Zika virus are now down by 95% in comparison to 2016. This refers specifically to the first 100 days of the year which corresponds to the hottest period of the year in #Brazil when the mosquito population is at its highest.

This announcement comes 18 months after a surge in cases of the #Zika virus drew headlines from around the world. In response to the outbreak, Brazil launched a mosquito eradication campaign which the health ministry claims has helped reduce cases of the Zika virus dramatically. 

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