Escape Routes

from Audley Traveler Autumn 2018

by Audley Travel

Going Solo

ESCAPE ROUTES

TRAVEL NEWS | FLIGHT DECK | CHARITY UPDATE | CHECK IN

↘ WHAT’S NEW

Gorilla spotting: brand new trek

In recent years, a family of mountain gorillas has settled in Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. Mgahinga sits high in the clouds within the Virunga range, a chain of volcanoes that extends into Rwanda and the DRC. Here you can trek to see the Nyakagezi family, consisting of four silverbacks, three adult females, two juveniles and two infants.

Not only will you visit this endangered species among the beauty of the Virungas, but it is one of the best-value gorilla trekking opportunities available. For more information, please contact our Uganda safari specialists on 1-855-838-0575.

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FLIGHT DECK

The latest flight news

Aer Lingus has announced that next year it will begin direct flights going between Dublin to both Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Montreal. Flights from Minneapolis will launch on August 8 while flights from Montreal will launch on July 8.

Cathay Pacific will launch flights from Dulles Airport in Washington DC to Hong Kong. The route began on September 18, providing an essential stopover for passengers continuing on to Southeast Asia.

The Falkland Islands’ government has selected LATAM Airlines as the preferred operator for a second commercial flight between the Falkland Islands and South America. LATAM has proposed a weekly flight from São Paulo, with a monthly stopover in Argentina. This will be the carrier’s second commercial flight to the Falklands; they currently operate a weekly service from Punta Arenas in Chile, with a monthly stopover in Rio Gallegos in Argentine Patagonia.

Celebrating our award-winning guides

This year, we ventured to Singapore for the 2018 Audley Guide Awards to celebrate the most outstanding guides in Asia, based on your feedback. More than 50 guides came from across Asia, from India to the Philippines, to be recognized. Most had never been to Singapore, and for some this was their first trip abroad.

As well as celebrating success and exploring the city, our guides spent a day workshopping techniques and ideas. We are proud to honor some of the key people who create memories and experiences on your trips.

Watch our video from the event and hear from some of our award-winning guides at www.audleytravel.com/us/videos

Colombia in numbers

2nd Most biodiverse country in the world

18,946 ft The height of Colombia’s highest peak, located next to the Caribbean Sea

65 Amerindian languages are spoken

14.5 million bags of coffee exported annually

1988 First carnival in Baranquilla, the world’s second largest party

300 Beaches to enjoy

Go glamping in Mexico

Snorkel with sea lions and kayak through mangroves while magnificent frigatebirds circle overhead, as you enjoy an alternative way to stay in Mexico. Camp Cecil is a new glamping experience on Isla Espíritu Santo, a wildlife-rich island declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995.

While the facilities are simple, there are plenty of high-end touches: spacious tents, fine linens and some of the best food in Baja California. For more information, please contact our Mexico specialists on 1-855-838-8670.

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CHECK IN

The most exciting new stays

Santorini Mozambique, near Vilanculos, Mozambique Santorini Mozambique (pictured) overlooks Kingfisher Bay’s white sands. Activities include diving, kayaking, horse riding and dhow cruises. Better yet, the nearby town of Vilanculos can be accessed via direct flights from the Kruger.

Shinta Mani Wild, Southern Cardamon National Park, Cambodia Located in Cambodia’s last great wilderness, Shinta Mani Wild is due to open in November 2018. Perched along a remote riverside and surrounded by three national parks, each of the 15 tents infuses luxury with a touch of adventure. You can even arrive at the property by zip-line or help support ongoing community work.

The Celestine, Kyoto, Japan This modern hotel with traditional quirks recently opened its doors in the historic district of Gion. The property offers a unique blend of local culture with a contemporary style while maintaining Japanese hospitality.

Pestana Porto – A Brasileira, Porto, Portugal A local institution Café A Brasileira is believed to have served Porto’s first cup of coffee in the early 1900s. After a recent large-scale renovation, the historic building above the cafe has been converted into a hotel featuring high-end amenities and a chic interior.

Celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland

New Year’s Eve – or Hogmanay as it’s called in Scottish – is celebrated in style all across Scotland, Edinburgh in particular. The city is no stranger to creative celebration, with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe taking over the capital each August.

For Hogmanay, Edinburgh hosts street parties, a concert beneath the castle (and a candlelit one on the Royal Mile), a ceilidh in the castle grounds and several child-friendly events. Now is the perfect time to book for Hogmanay 2019, before the city’s hotels fill up. For more information, please contact our UK specialists on 1-855-593-2006.

Fighting back against plastic

As part of our responsible travel ethos, we have been focusing on initiatives across Japan and Southeast Asia. In Thailand and Cambodia, we provide reusable water bottles to cut down plastic use, and hotels are joining the effort by providing refill stations.

We have also partnered with Second Harvest Japan, a charity that has been working to end hunger there since 2002. You’ll be provided with a pre-paid envelope to return your PASMO transport card (similar to an Oyster card) at the end of your journey — the leftover balance is donated to Second Harvest and the card recycled. For more information, please contact our Japan and Southeast Asia specialists on 1-855-838-0100.

Meet the Concierge team

Not sure where to travel to next? With so many options, we understand it’s not always easy deciding. Here’s where our Concierge team can help. Having traveled extensively, our team of experts will be able to advise you, whatever your travel interests: wildlife, local culture, landscapes or historical sites.

Based on the time of year you’re looking to travel, they can make suggestions and narrow down your options. They’ll then put you in touch with a relevant country specialist to set your plans in motion. For more information, please contact our Concierge team on 1-855-838-5925.

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↘

CHARITY UPDATE

Over $25,000 raised for ShelterBox

This summer, we’ve been busy raising money for our charity of the year, ShelterBox. A cycling tour, summer party, World Cup sweepstake and a camp-out at our headquarters in England have all helped us to raise over

$25,000. With more events planned, we are confident we will hit our target of $70,000 by the end of the year.

Our fundraising team has also been learning more about the charity’s work. In July, they visited ShelterBox HQ in

Cornwall, England. As well as seeing the interactive visitors’ center, they spoke to members of the ShelterBox team to learn more about the logistics of sending aid abroad, and to see the impact their work has had.

What to READ

What to WATCH

What to SEE

What to DOWNLOAD

From tracking lion on foot to being taught how to fish by the President of Moldova, Simon Reeve has had an exciting and varied career. In his autobiography Step by Step, he tells his life story through the many journeys he has taken. Out now.

The much anticipated fifth season of Chef’s Table will highlight four more astounding chefs. Each episode explores the culinary artistry of a different chef as well as the destination and experiences that have inspired them. Available now on Netflix.

French artist Eugène Delacroix’s (1798–1863) collection will be on display this fall at The Met. Over 150 paintings, drawings, prints and manuscripts are displayed in conjunction with Musée du Louvre in Paris. Showing now through January 6th.

Make sure you never get lost in a new city again with Maps.me. The app allows you to download offline maps showing destinations all over the world, and works with your GPS tracking so you can see where you are, even without WiFi. Available on iOS and Android.

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↘ RECIPE

Ingredients

Andean pork belly

By Jenna Banks, Peru specialist

Situated next to the

terraced ruins of Moray, in Peru’s Sacred Valley, is Virgilio Martínez’s newest restaurant, Mil. Martínez is the head chef of Central in Lima, named by Forbes as this year’s sixth-best restaurant in the world, and is known as a master of avant-garde dishes inspired by his mother country.

TOP TIP “Outside of Peru, rocoto peppers may also be called manzano peppers.”

On my last trip to Peru I visited Mil, a straw-roof restaurant and former vicuña breeding hub that seats only 20. I indulged in an eight-course meal which included pairings with spirits, many created from local plants. The menu focuses on produce grown in the immediate environment,mirroring the experimental testing grounds of the Inca site of Moray. Each dish incorporates ingredients found at different altitudes. I loved the ‘Forest Bound’ course, which featured pork belly with lupini beans, rocoto peppers, avocado and cornbread (pictured).

I experimented with creating a dish with similar flavors when I returned home, and came up with this recipe. I hope it’ll bring a bit of the Peruvian Andes to your own kitchen.

½lb pork belly 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper ¾ cup lupini beans 1 small rocoto pepper 1 avocado

Preparation

1. Rub the pork belly with the salt and pepper; cover and refrigerate overnight. 2. Remove the pork and roast for 30 minutes at 400F, reduce heat to 250F and cook for an additional hour. 3. While the pork is cooking, boil the lupini beans until tender. Slice the rocoto pepper and avocado. 4. Top the tender pork with the pepper and avocado and serve alongside the beans.

Have you recreated a recipe we’ve featured in Audley Traveler? Or have you sampled a delicious local cuisine on your travels? We’d love to see your images of your favorite food and drink experiences. Tag your Instagram and Twitter posts with #TheAudleyWay and @AudleyTravel.

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@SARAHWILLICLARKAMS

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NEW EXPERIENCES IN

COSTA RICA

A wildlife-spotter’s paradise, we are always seeking out new areas to discover unusual species in Costa Rica. Specialists Alison and Rosalind share some of their latest finds from their recent research trip…

ALISON WALLINGER’S

HIGHLIGHTS:

Experiencing the Wetlands at Rancho Humo, Nicoya

"Accessed via a dirt road through lush, green fields, Rancho Humo is situated at the top of the Gulf of Nicoya. Set in four square miles of land, the remote location in the wetlands allows for fantastic birdwatching opportunities, as well as clear skies free from light pollution and ideal for stargazing – don’t forget your binoculars."

Birdspotting at Maquenque Ecolodge, San Carlos River

"Set on a lagoon, this ecolodge is one of my favorite places in Costa Rica to spot wildlife – on a short guided tour, I saw 38 different species of bird, including the green macaw that came to feast on bananas. As the sun goes down, frogs come alive in chorus and basilisk lizards sprint across the water."

ROSALIND BARNES’

HIGHLIGHTS:

Navigating the waterways of Palo Verde National Park

"For an authentic way to experience the rainforest, a boat trip down the Tempisque River is a great way to arrive at Palo Verde. Before I boarded the boat, I spotted a group of howler monkeys resting in the treetops above me. My expert naturalist guide then navigated us down the river in search of more wildlife, including crocodiles, herons, kingfishers and basilisk lizards. "

Exploring after dark at Isla Chiquita, Isla Jesuita

"For an alternative beach stay, I’d recommend glamping at Isla Chiquita – the property features just 15 safari-style tents nestled in the hillside, each including a private deck with views across the Gulf of Nicoya. Venture out by boat after sunset to see bioluminescent plankton glowing in the dark water below."