9 minute read
THE MARVELS OF LATIN AMERICA
from BLISS 2022/2023
From the magical Machu Picchu in Peru to the rich biodiversity of Colombia and the colourful towns and cities of Cuba, Daniela Formosa Mangion and Aaron Formosa tell Martina Bartolo Parnis all about their unforgettable, four-week honeymoon.
The road to boarding that long-awaited first flight that would mark the start of their month-long honeymoon was bumpy and full of setbacks, but nothing would get in the way of this couple’s South American and Caribbean trip – not even a global pandemic.
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For Aaron Formosa and Daniela Formosa Mangion, travel has always been a much-loved activity. It was during a trip to Poland in 2017 that the couple got engaged, when Aaron proposed on ice, while holidaying with friends in the village of Zakopane. And while they had originally planned to tie the knot in April 2020, COVID-19 got in the way, and forced them to postpone their nuptials twice, until they finally exchanged ‘I dos’ on 20th October 2021 at the Lija parish church, followed by a seated reception at Castello dei Baroni in Wardija.
“Our honeymoon was important to us, especially for me, and it was always part of our plans,” says Daniela, a management accounting manager in a local bank, who admits that exploring new countries is one of her passions. “We were eager to visit the destinations we had in mind, which also meant visiting a new continent and, moreover, it was our first time on holiday for a whole month.”
While the couple enjoys short city trips, they tend to prefer rural destinations, as well as meeting locals, exploring a country’s
history and culture, indulging in local cuisine and adding a little adventure to the mix.
“Initially, we were torn between Africa and Central/South America, but in the end, we agreed on visiting the latter. While we love to plan our own trips, we decided to request the services of a travel agency as we had our hands full with wedding preparations, and we wanted to leave for our honeymoon immediately after the wedding,” says Daniela. “Pierina Marston from Royal Travel listened to our interests and expectations, and prepared a super itinerary for us, which included a variety of adventures, but also a few days of relaxation.”
The couple’s original honeymoon plan included visits to Mexico, Colombia and Cuba. Daniela had been longing to visit Mexico and Cuba, “Mexico for its wonderful mangroves, dazzling beaches and ancient ruins, and Cuba to explore the colonial cities, Latin music and culture, and also American classic cars,” she says, adding that her husband, a senior technician by trade, loves restoring and driving classic and vintage cars. “Colombia was suggested to us, and after doing some research, we were so excited to visit.”
Just like their wedding, the couple’s honeymoon was postponed twice. With all the organisation surrounding their new wedding dates, Daniela says that re-planning the honeymoon as well would have been too much for them to handle, “so using the service of a travel agency was a good decision as they took care of liaising with all suppliers to change the dates, not only once, but twice,” she explains. “For the third attempt, the flights were booked very close to the wedding dates given the uncertainty during that period. In fact, two weeks before our departure date, we dropped Mexico due to travel restrictions and added Peru to the itinerary.”
It would be third time lucky for Aaron and Daniela, who finally boarded a flight on 9th November 2021 to kick off their long-awaited trip, starting with Peru, where they stayed in the city of Cusco. “Our adventure began immediately – we departed for the Sacred Valley and visited the Huaypoo Lagoon and Maras using a quad bike. During this excursion, our guide prepared a special treat for us as honeymooners, a surprise picnic with fruit, cheeses and a typical Peruvian wine. It was a perfect spot, beautiful and tranquil, where we spent hours admiring one of the many spectacular views we saw in Peru.”
Being in the land of Incas, Daniela says a visit to one of the World Wonders was a must. “Machu Picchu was always on my bucket list, but I never thought I would get to see it on my honeymoon. Words cannot describe the beauty and serenity of the place. At 2,400 metres above sea level, the feeling of being at this UNESCO World Heritage site and witnessing the historical Inca Citadel was overwhelming and a memory we would gladly re-live!”
The couple included a short city tour of Lima, the capital and Peru’s largest city, where they walked through busy streets and sampled traditional Peruvian cuisine. “Although Peru was a last-minute decision and our shortest stay, we have no regrets, and only wished we had more time to explore more of it.”
The next stop was Colombia, which Daniela and Aaron explored for two weeks, exceeding all their expectations. Their time here was marked by stunning views and exceptional interactions with nature, including a visit to Cocora Valley, famous for its towering wax palm trees, endless greenery and fresh air.
“A must-visit in Colombia is one of their coffee plantations. I don’t drink coffee, but I was interested to learn about the process and couldn’t resist a taste. We walked through the huge plantation and helped pick the coffee beans,” says Daniela. “During our two-night stay in Medellin, one of the largest cities in the country, we experienced another unforgettable day-trip to La Piedra del Penol, also known as the Big Rock, which required climbing 740 steps to get to the top. Once you get there, it’s 360 degrees of unlimited greenery, lake, mountains, little islands and country houses – simply breath-taking!”
The couple continued their way to Tayrona National Park, a protected Caribbean region within the city of Santa Marta, which is home to stunning beaches, forest trails and a rich biodiversity. Aaron and Daniela hiked their way through nature to take a dip at one of the magnificent beaches along the sparkling coast, while drinking from coconuts that were freshly picked from the palm trees.
“Colombia is vibrant and colourful, and this is clearly visible in the walled city of Cartagena, referred to as Cartagena de Indias, known for its energy and street performers, but also its history, music and art,” Daniela explains. The couple ended their time in Colombia with some thrills in the adventure capital of San Gil – they tried white water rafting, abseiling, zip-lining, caving, paragliding and a giant swing that offers incomparable views of the town’s landscapes. All in all, Colombia was a hit with the couple, who believe “this country is underrated with the Maltese community, but we would recommend it to other honeymooners as it has so much to offer and is a super destination for nature lovers.”
For the last leg of their month-long honeymoon, Daniela and Aaron visited Cuba, starting with a stay in Havana, which included a classic American car tour – a must-do for Aaron – as well as exploring the sites and streets of this colourful capital city, with plenty of architecture, plazas and remarkable monuments, including the popular Capitolio Nacional de Cuba and Gran Teatro de La Habana.
Daniela says she had been wanting to visit Havana for some time, but admits that it was a reality check for her as, while one part of the city boasts beautiful buildings that are impressive and well maintained, the other is filled with ramshackle buildings on the verge of collapse that house large and often multiple families, exposing the couple to a level of poverty that they did not expect to see.
For the rest of their trip in Cuba, the newlyweds enjoyed a scenic road trip that started via the tobacco route, a stretch of road that’s lined with tobacco farms, onto Pinar del Rio to arrive at the village of Vinales. “Here, we learned all about the process of the making of famous Cuban cigars and witnessed plenty of tobacco plantations.” For lodging, they opted for a casa particular, which is the residential home of a local family that’s offered as a bed and breakfast.
The honeymooners visited Cienfuegos, a port town characterised by French colonial architecture, known as the ‘pearl of the south’, as well as the town of Trinidad that boasts UNESCO World Heritage status. “We spent three days here, during which time we visited Parque Guanayara, where we hiked along a trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall, and also had a refreshing swim in a natural lagoon.”
Over the next few days, Daniela and Aaron were transported back in time as they drove through remote villages, often without internet access and where animaldrawn carts are still used for transport, until they arrived at the famous beach resort town of Varadero that sits along a stretch of sparkling Atlantic Ocean coastline. “We spent the last two nights at an all-inclusive five-star resort, sipping on mojitos while lounging on this incredible beach of fine, white sand and crystal-clear waters.”
Four weeks and 16 flights later, Daniela and Aaron returned to Malta with enough new memories to last a lifetime. While travelling during a pandemic certainly wasn’t what they had in mind, it was all made possible by Pierina at Royal Travel, and the couple made the most of every place they visited while exercising caution. “Thankfully, we never fell ill, as this was one of our worries. But we were well prepared – as expected, we wore masks most of the time and completed loads of health forms before entering a new country,” says Daniela. “Overall, it was a memorable honeymoon that left us wanting to revisit South America to explore other countries – and perhaps return to Peru to discover more fascinating sites, towns and attractions.”
