Up in the air . . .

AIR Europa will launch new, three-times weekly flights to Colombia’s second city, Medellin, in June. The new route, operated by Air Europa’s state-of-the-art Dreamliner aircraft, will launch on the June 1st, with three flights per week between Madrid’s Barajas International Airport and José María Córdova International Airport, the international airport of Medellin.

British travellers are able to connect through Air Europa’s twice-daily flight from London Gatwick.

Visitor numbers to #Colombia have grown over recent years, with travellers enticed to Colombia by the South American country’s spectacular natural wonders, unspoiled Caribbean beaches, magnificent colonial architecture and lively local culture.

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The Huacachina Mermaid

HUACACHINA is a natural oasis in the desert of Ica, located at the south of Lima- Perù, famous for dune buggy rides and sandboarding. But did you know that there is a legend surrounding this beautiful oasis? 

The young Inca princess Huacay China, married a young warrior Ajall Krinaand and they were happy together, but Ajall was senT to war and he died during the battle. The princess full of sadness and tears went to the place where they met, she wept constantly, day after day, until her tears formed a small lagoon and she became a mermaid that protects it.

www.legendaryperu.com.pe

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Bio climatic architecture a new hotel for Colombia

BIO Habitat hotel is brand-new hotel in the heart of the coffee region, 40 minutes from El Edén International Airport (AXM) in Armenia, #Colombia. It is characterized by its bio-climatic architecture. 

There are 12 habitats (rooms) equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning, desk, terrace, minibar and safe. Not to forget the spa services and 15 hectares of native forest for walking and sightseeing.

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New tourism campaign for Honduras

THE Honduras Institute of Tourism (IHT) announced today its newest tourism campaign that showcases the broad diversity of the country and all it offers international tourists to discover. 

Featuring a two-minute video that takes travelers on a journey to Honduras' most beautiful treasures, the digital campaign, "You Can't Leave Honduras Without Really Knowing Honduras" intends to elevate brand awareness and educate potential travelers of the many curated experiences they can discover in the country.

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Contribute to sustainable tourism in the Ecuadorian Amazon

CEO of Advantage Travel and Anakonda Amazon Cruises, Raul Garcia, has been nominated for PURE Awards 2018’s Contribution to Experiential Travel honor. Garcia is one of five contestants shortlisted for the award. The annual trade show describes the honor as going to an “individual whose efforts have directly influenced the development of the experiential travel movement.”

Driven by a desire to conserve and explore the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, Raul Garcia has spent over 40 years promoting responsible tourism and introducing people from all over the world to the ancestral communities of the Amazon. Raul founded the first and only luxury river cruise in the Ecuadorian Amazon—the Anakonda. On the 25th anniversary of his successful travel agency, Advantage Travel, Raul unveiled a second vessel, the Manatee, in July 2017. By developing a model where the local communities of the rainforest share in the profits of the industry, Raul has helped to promote sustainable tourism in the region.


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Sao Paulo Art Biennial: A reason to explore

THE 33rd Sao Paulo’s Art Biennial opened its doors to the public on September 7 and will remain open until December 9th, 2018. It’s the second largest biennial in the world, just behind the inspirational Venetian Biennial, bringing over 500 thousand viewers per edition.

The Biennial alone would be enough reason to jump on a plane, but for art lovers, the country is an adventure to be explored. Curated by Gabriel Perez-Barreiro, Spanish director, chief-curator and Art History Master, the 33th Biennial was built on the idea of privileging the individual experience of the spectator on the appreciation of art, where the artist is not only exhibiting its work but also curating it, hoping to bring a bigger and better communication between viewer and artist.

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A challenge but not impossible

SOUTH America may seem like an unconventional choice for disabled travellers, but many countries here, including Peru have made great progress in improving their cities to be more accessible and wheelchair friendly.

Getting to Machu Picchu is difficult to reach, but especially if you need help in walking or use a wheelchair. Amazing Peru and Beyond however is not your ordinary travel company. When they launched "Amazing Peru Disability Travel," a travel program which invites disabled people filled with adrenaline to take part in (sometimes) extreme sports in Latin America, who would have thought that one of the highlights of their numerous operated disability tours would be an amazing Inca Trail Adventure with two wheelchair users and a film crew. 

Steve Gleason a former NFL football player who under the most difficult of circumstances experienced a seemless tour with many stories to tell. This documentary was televised by the NFL and shown on USA TV. With their team of expert assistants who have work experience in the Andean Mountains of Peru and the Himalayas, we made it possible to trek the 2 day Royal Inca Trail for two wheelchair-bound travellers as never before. 

This tour is an upscale adventure allowing for mobility-challenged individuals the chance to access Machu Picchu via the original Inca Trail, a truly unique journey that will empower all those who accomplish it.



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Chile solar eclipse tour

ON July 2, 2019 a total solar eclipse will cross the Pacific Ocean and peter out in Argentina before sunset. La Serena in Chile sits on the Pacific Coast just south of the centerline of the eclipse. The closer you are to the centerline, the longer totality lasts. Eclipse viewing will be slightly inland and at a small gain in elevation. Probabilities of seeing the eclipse are in 80 plus percent range according to historical weather figures.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun. Totality will last just over 2 minutes. At this time the moon will hang a black dot surrounded by the sun's corona.

A new 5-day 4-night tour is being offered by Tropical Sails Corp. It will feature the wines of Chile near Viña del Mar, the Total Solar Eclipse in La Serena and Santiago, Chile. There is an option to extend you visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Iguazu Falls for 6-days, 5 nights. The tour begins in Santiago and visits Vina del Mar, La Serena, Vina del Mar and ends in Santiago.



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Up in the air . . .

TRAVELLERS around the world recognized the quality of service and exceptional experience offered by Avianca selecting it as the “Best Airline in South America” at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the eighth time the has company received this award. Avianca also received the award for “Best Economy Class in the Region” and ranked 51st in the Top 100 ranking of best airlines in the world. www.avianca.com

Iberia’s first A350 flight from Madrid landed at London Heathrow on 20 July. It is configured with 31 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 293 economy seats and will fly between Madrid and London on selected weeks between July and August and then from Madrid to New York City. Iberia’s new planes are also good for the environment with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions 25% lower than similar aircraft. www.iberia.com

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Colombia through the lens

COLOMBIA'S leading supplier of motorcycle tours and rentals in South America, PhotoMotoColombia, is happy to announce their grand opening in Medellin, #Colombia. Guided by international photographer, world traveler, and motorcycle enthusiast Jeff Cremer, PhotoMotoColombia is unlike any other #motorcycle #touring company in Colombia.

Trips are led by professional travel and wildlife photographer Jeff Cremer. Jeff worked as a photographer in the Peruvian Amazon for six years and has had his work featured in National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Wired Magazine and the BBC. Tour the most beautiful and picture-worthy locations in the country to get an experience and the pictures of a lifetime. You will not only tour Colombia from your bike, you will focus on truly seeing, photographing and experiencing all of its beauty,culture and people.

All trips start in Medellin, Colombia, also know as the “City of Eternal Spring” pleasant warm weather all year round. The city is surrounded by mountains and it is very clean with lush trees and beautiful flowers.

Colombia motorcycle trips range from day trips to Guatape, to take in the sweeping views from the top of the famous El Peñol rock to week long trips to the Colombia’s Coffee Triangle where riders can journey into the spectacular Valle de Cocora to find eight species of hummingbirds as well as the famous wax palms — Colombia’s national tree — which regularly grow up to a height of 150 feet, or sometimes up to 200 feet.

Other tours such as the 12 day Ultimate Coffee Region motorcycle tour is perfect for riders looking for an expedition through the adventurous Andean mountain range. This route starts in Medellin and takes riders through on a full loop through Colombias staggering peaks, rugged ridgelines, and diverse elevations bringing riders full circle arriving in Medellin again at the end of the trip.

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Terranova

TURTLE Season is about to start in the Tortuguero National Park. Visit to see this natural wonder, enjoy the impressive rainforests and the abundant wildlife. 

The place is breath-taking and the turtle season enhances this magnificent place filled with exotic flora and abundant wildlife. There are several choices to stay comfortably and enjoy leisure and rest while delighting in the pure life of #CostaRica.

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Emirates lands in Chile

EMIRATES has today launched a new, five times-a-week service from Dubai (DXB) to Santiago International Airport (SCL), via the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo (GRU), marking the airline’s first arrival in Chile. On board the inaugural Boeing 777-200LR flight, which was welcomed at both Sao Paulo and Santiago airports with a water cannon salute, was a group of special guests and media.

#Chile is a popular destination for business and leisure travellers around the world, in particular from Asian destinations such as China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and India. Chile is also home to large Chinese and Middle East communities that can now take advantage of the new service.

Chile is one of the most stable and prosperous nations in South America filled with stunning landscapes, historic beauty, local charm and delectable foods. Tourism in Chile has seen a sustained growth over the last few years with 5.6 million international visitors visiting the country in 2016 compared to 4.43 million in 2015. Chile has many different adventures to offer tourists: stargazing in the driest desert in the world, millennial glaciers in the southernmost part of the planet, enchanted forests, and lakes located at the foot of massive volcanoes. Chile is also one of the top producers and exporters of wine in the world.

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More than cocktails and a sun lounger

TODAY'S travelers want to bring home more than tan lines and souvenirs. They aspire to achieve personal enrichment through life-changing experiences that create a shift in perspectives—of the world and the self. Enter transformational travel, the key to meaningful interactions, immersive encounters and genuine communion with nature and culture.

Set between Nicaragua and Panama, #CostaRica offers visitors an abundance of unique wildlife, landscapes and climates -- meaning a trip to this Central American country is anything but run-of-the-mill. The country proudly shelters approximately five percent of the known biodiversity in the world and has become a global leader in sustainable practices. Visitors to Costa Rica enjoy a highly organized tourism infrastructure offering a broad terrain of activities and accommodations.

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New Offroad Pacific Discovery Tour

WITH an already comprehensive portfolio of award-winning routes and tours, #Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental and Tours has crafted a brand-new adventure tour by connecting some of the most astoundingly scenic dirt roads in the world. The new 7-day / 6-night off-road adventure tour is now available to motorcycle and 4x4 enthusiasts who want to take the “slow route” from Quito to the white-sandy beaches of Ecuador's Pacific Coast, all while enjoying activities and experiences along the way that they wouldn't be able to do - or find - on their own.

The new Offroad Pacific Discovery Tour provides six full riding days plus a day to relax on the beach and explore the dirt roads and fishing villages on the coast. It begins in Ecuador's capital city, Quito - a UNESCO world-heritage city of timeworn colonial buildings and cobbled plazas nestled at 9,500 feet high in the Andes. 

From there it follows a mostly unpaved, 764-mile route that snakes its way through the thick, misty Mashpi Cloudforest Reserve, gives a glimpse into the ruins of the lost Pre-Colombian Yumbo people and their curious tunnels, mounds and pools, and provides miles of care-free riding on sandy stretches of the Ecuadorian coastline. Along the way, participants will meet chocolate makers, butterfly breeders, participate in an indigenous Shaman cleansing ritual, and discover the uses of the Ceibo tree's unique, waterproof cotton.

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Four Seasons announces plans for luxury resort in Belize

SCHEDULED to open in 2021, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced plans for the development of Caye Chapel, a private island in #Belize featuring magnificent oceanfront estates, private residences and overwater bungalows. 

The 280-acre (113 hectare) island is outlined by 6 miles (9.7 kilometres) of white sand beaches and turquoise waters, and is located 16 miles (26 kilometres) from Belize City, either 30 minutes by boat or 10 minutes by flight. The island’s marina and airstrip can accommodate private boats and planes for easy access by owners and guests arriving from further afield. A destination in its own right, the island also acts as a convenient base to explore the nearby cultural and natural sites of mainland Belize and surrounding cayes.

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Picture Credit: pintrest

New urban resort for Vina Del Mar

LOCATED on central Chile’s Pacific coast, Viña del Mar is within the Valparaiso region, known for its historic quarter and as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Often referred to as the ‘Garden City’, and visited for its parks, beaches, entertainment venues and close proximity to the Casablanca Valley vineyards, Viña del Mar has long been a popular weekend destination from Santiago.  Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new urban resort that is currently under development in Viña del Mar, #Chile.

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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

Chile and Argentina 2019 Solar Eclipse

SELECT Latin America has launched a new five-day ‘Chile & Argentina 2019 Eclipse’ tour which will take place during the next total solar eclipse visible in Chile in July 2019. 

The holiday includes travelling to La Serena, the Elqui valley, Limari Valley, the Cruz Sure and La Silla observatories, as well as visiting the port city of Coquimbo which boasts some of the clearest skies in Chile. The trip is priced from £3,113 per person excluding flights.

www.selectlatinamerica.com

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New for 2018 in Belize

A new resort called the Itz’ana Resort and Residences is set to open in the bustling coastal village of Placencia in #Belize. 

The resort is ideally located next to beaches, islands, rivers and the world’s second largest barrier reef, affording guests endless opportunities for adventure and exploring. 

The hotel boasts 66 luxury cottages and villas, 20 hotel ocean-view suites, a rum room, restaurant, and a salt-water pool. 

www.itzanabelize.com

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New ‘Route of Parks’ in Chile will connect 17 National Parks

THE Carretera Austral – a Chilean route which traverses 1,000 kilometres through Patagonia from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins – is being re-branded as the ‘Ruta de los Parques’ with the aim of developing adventure tourism in the region. The new route will be 1,500 miles long and will connect 17 #nationalparks in #Chile including Corcovado National Park, Patagonia National Park and the Yendegaia National Park. 

www.chile.travel

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