The LATA Guide to Latin America 2017

THE LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

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THE LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

THE LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

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INSIDE: Uniquely Latin America 26 country guides Directory of tour operators & members

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10/01/2017 17:23

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email: info@lata.org website: www.lata.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ LatinAmericanTravelAssociation Twitter: https://twitter.com/latauk All text © Latin American Travel Association.

Images supplied by LATA members unless otherwise credited. LATA is a trade organisation and we welcome membership from any company or individual who shares our aims and objectives. Whilst care is taken to ensure that our members are bona fide, prospective clients are recommended to make their own enquiries.

Designed and published by Wanderlust Travel Media www.wanderlusttravelmedia.co.uk Printing by Polestar Colchester All rights are reserved. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publishers. No responsibility for incorrect information can be accepted. The views expressed in this supplement are not necessarily those of the publishers. First published 01/2014.

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ON THE COVER: Peru, Cuzco Province, Incas sacred valley, Inca archeological site of Machu Picchu (©HUGHES Hervé / hemis.fr/Getty Images)

Welcome

…to the world’s most exciting travel destination. Latin America boasts the most vibrant and diverse emerging destinations, as well as some of the most iconic monuments on the planet.

Our Uniquely Latin article (pg 4) offers an expert’s view on the things you can only do in this remarkable, diverse continent – from UNESCO-listed ruins to rare wildlife to obscure tribes to buzzing cities – while our Calendar (pg 18) lets you know when and where you need to be to enjoy that classic Latin American experience: the festival. Elsewhere you can browse our fact-filled country guide, as well as a breakdown of our members, making it easier for you to make the best travel decision of your life.

Whatever adventure you’re seeking – wildlife, cultural or scenic – you will find it within these pages. Your Latin American journey starts right here…

BƦо S o

Byron Shirto, LATA Chairman

www.lata.org

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 1

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CONTENTS

4 UNIQUELY LATIN

From the longest river to the tallest waterfall drop, from an explosion of endemic biodiversity to a remarkable clash of European, African and Amerindian cultures, each country of this extraordinary continent offers visitors a truly unparalleled travel experience. Here we guide you through our favourites…

18 2017 CALENDAR Latin America’s home to countless carnivals and festivals. Here’s where to go – and when – to enjoy local life at its most vibrant

20 THE LATA FOUNDATION

The LATA Foundation helps travellers support worthwhile causes in Latin America – why not get involved?

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DIRECTORY 65 EMBASSIES

Are you looking for further visa or visitor information before going on your adventure?

A destination embassy can provide assistance

66 UK/EU TOUR OPERATORS

The Europe-based companies waiting to show you the very best of Latin America

68 MEMBERS BY COUNTRY

The local operators that will make your stay more memorable – and comfortable

71 MEMBERS BY CATEGORY The hotels, airlines, cruise ships or tourist boards that will help you create your Latin American trip

72 ALL LATA MEMBERS

The complete listing of all Latin American Travel Association members in one page

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L.Su peri

Bismarck

Boise Cape Mendocino

Madison

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Augusta

Ottawa n

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Cheyenne

Halifax Cape Sable

Montpelier

Concord

Toronto

Lansing

L.M ich

ip

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Pl

Salt Lake City

ss

ro

Great Salt Lake

si

Hu

Carson City

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L.

M

Pierre M

San Francisco

Montreal ADA SIERRA NEV

Sacramento

or

St. Paul

Boston

Albany

Cape Cod

Hartford

Providence

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

0

500

1000km

BERMUDA

A T L A N T I C M E X I C O

O C E A N

BAHAMAS

GULF OF MEXICO HAVANA

Puerto Vallarta

D O MI NI C A N RE P UB L I C

CUBA

Chichén Itzá

SANTO DOMINGO

HAITI

MEXICO CITY

ANTIGUA & PUERTO BARBUDA RICO ST KITTS & NEVIS DOMINICA

BELIZE JAMAICA Tikal BELMOPAN HONDURAS GUATEMALA CITY

GUATEMALA

EL SALVADOR

DUTCH ST VINCENT BARBADOS CARIBBEAN GRENADA TRINIDAD CARACAS & TOBAGO

NICARAGUA MANAGUA SAN JOSÉ

PACIFIC OCEAN

ST LUCIA

C A R I B B E A N S E A

TEGUCIGALPA

SAN SALVADOR

COSTA RICA

PANAMA PANAMA

VENEZUELA

GEORGETOWN PARAMARIBO

FRENCH GUIANA

GUYANA

Angel Falls

COLOMBIA

SURINAME

BOGOTÁ

CAYENNE

ECUADOR QUITO

azon

Galapagos Islands

River Am

Manaus

Belém

Guayaquil

Fortaleza

B

R

A

Z

I

L Recife

P E R U LIMA Machu Picchu Cusco

Salvador

B O L I V I A

BRASÍLIA

LA PAZ Santa Cruz

PACIFIC OCEAN

Salar de Uyuni Calama

PARAGUAY

Atacama Desert

São Paulo

ASUNCIÓN

Rio de Janeiro

Iguassu Falls Curitiba

CHILE Easter Island

Porto Alegre Córdoba Mendoza

MONTEVIDEO

SANTIAGO Juan Fernández Islands

BUENOS AIRES

URUGUAY

A R G E N T I N A

A T L A N T I C

Puerto Montt

Torres del Paine

Punta Arenas

O C E A N

FALKLAND ISLANDS/ ISLAS MALVINAS

Ushuaia South Georgia

Cape Horn

COUNTRY GUIDES 21 23 25 26 28 30 32

Antarctica Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia

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35 Costa Rica 36 Cuba 39 Dominican Republic 40 Ecuador & Galapagos 43 El Salvador 44 Falkland Islands 46 French Guiana

47 48 50 51 52 54 56

Guyana Guatemala Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama

57 58 61 62 63

Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

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uniquely l

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Y LATIN

The epic experiences that you can ONLY have in South America

Take a retro-ride in one of Cuba’s colourful cars

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Gaze up at the Milky Way from the Atacama Desert

Gaze at the clearest night skies in the world Where? Atacama Desert, Chile

Previous spread: Dreamstime This spread: Alamy; Dreamstime

The heavens will never feel closer than they do above the Atacama. The driest desert in the world, it is also high-altitude and lacking in light pollution. These factors give it some of the world’s clearest night skies and make it perfect for astronomy. If further proof were needed, look only to the multitude of high-end observatories built here. You don’t need fancy equipment to enjoy the stars though. You could join a nighttime tour with an expert, for added insight, stay in room with an openable roof, to gaze from bed, or simply look up and enjoy.

While you’re in Chile, try... Climbing Nevado Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcano; mulling over the mysterious moai of Easter Island.

Ride in a vintage American car Where? Havana, Cuba

There is no more iconic Cuban image than that of a 1950s Cadillac, parked on a crumbling colonial street, gleaming under the Caribbean sun. Cuba is full of these venerable old vehicles, which pre-date the 1960s US trade embargo. Some might be a little wheezy, but they remain the most atmospheric way to tour capital Havana. Hop in the back and a local guide will drive you around the city’s sights, from historic squares to Hemingway hangouts and the seafront Malécon.

While you’re in Cuba, try... Wandering amid tobacco plantations in the Viñales Valley, then learning to roll a Cuban cigar; hiking to Castro’s revolutionary HQ in the Sierra Maestra.

Dive the world’s most diverse reef Where? Belize

Spreading along the country’s Caribbean coast, the Belize Barrier Reef is second only to Australia’s Great Barrier in terms of size.

However, in terms of variety packed into a relatively small area, it’s unique. Patch, fringing, pinnacle and barrier reefs meet white-sand cayes, off-shelf atolls, mangroves, deep corals and eye-catching features such as the Blue Hole. That’s not to mention the 500 types of fish and various rarities, from West Indian manatee to sea turtles. There’s an abundance of snorkel and scuba trips on offer too, making this underwater wonderland easy to explore.

While you’re in Belize, try... Hiking into Actun Tunichil Muknal – a jungly cave inside which lie the remains of the Crystal Maiden, an adolescent sacrificed by the Maya 1,000 years ago.

Spot the Greatest number of birds Where? Colombia

Colombia has the largest bird list of any country: 1,889 species recorded. From golden orioles to blue cotingas, mountain parrots to

condors, dusky starfrontlets to velvetfronted euphonias, the mountains, shores and forests are full of avian action. Even non-twitchers will be bewitched by the multicoloured variety on offer. Some of Colombia’s best birding spots include the Amazon region (accessed via Leticia), the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (a key area of endemism) and the montane forests and páramo of the Central Andes.

While you’re in Colombia, try... Walking the Unesco-listed walls of Cartagena, one of the New World’s oldest cities; learning to salsa in Cali, world capital of salsa.

Camp amid Mayan ruins Where? Guatemala

The Maya were master builders, and left behind many marvellous cities, now in various states of repair. Today, many of them – including well-preserved Tikal – are busy with tourists during the day. So, to lose the crowds, stay overnight. It’s possible to camp at the ruins of Uaxactun (20km north of Tikal), which was occupied from 500 BC until AD 889. Tents sit beneath the pyramids, and you can climb a temple after dark to gaze at the stars. Alternatively, mount a multi-day expedition to remote El Mirador, to sleep by this site only rediscovered in 1926.

While you’re in Guatemala, try... Meeting Maximón, a heavy-drinking Mayan deity, in Santiago Atitlán; riding a chicken bus.

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The best way to beat the crowds to Tikal?

Try camping overnight

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The Pantanal is one of best places to spot Jaguars

And they are arguably best found at Karanambu, a cattle ranch turned ecotourism hub located amid the wetlands, savannahs, rivers and forests of the Rupununi region.

Karanambu is the home of Diane McTurk, a leading expert on river otters. Trips from the lodge – by riverboat, by Land Rover or on foot – explore otter country. Other highlights include spotting giant anteater, caiman and around 600 species of birds.

While you’re in Guyana, try... Driving across Demerara Bridge, the longest floating steel bridge in the world; hiking to Kaieteur Falls.

Get close to some of the rarest birds Where? Falkland Islands

What makes birding in the Falkland Islands so unique is the chance to get so close to such large colonies of such rare species. For instance, over 70% of the planet’s blackbrowed albatross breed around the islands.

The archipelago is the only place to see the endemic Falkland steamer duck and Cobb’s wren, while cormorants and terns are present in large numbers. And then there are the penguins: from stately kings, to curious gentoos, gutsy rockhoppers and bashful Magellanics. Even better, the birds are largely fearless, so intimate encounters are guaranteed.

While you’re in the Falkland Islands, try...

Taking a tour in a red Routemaster bus, 12,000km from London.

Witness a vodou ceremony Where? Haiti Spot a jaguar Where? Pantanal, Brazil

Jaguar – one of largest and most handsome of the world’s big cats – exists only in the Americas. As a reclusive beast with a penchant for dense rainforest, it can be difficult to spot.

However, if you visit Brazil’s expansive Pantanal wetland in the right months, you’re likely to catch a glimpse: it’s reckoned about a 70% chance. The drier months of JuneOctober are the best times, with the best places being along the Transpantaneira Highway (you might spy a jaguar right on the verge) and boat trips on nearby tributaries, where the cats often laze by the water’s edge.

While you’re in Brazil, try... Learning the dance/martial art of capoeira in Salvador; cruising along the Amazon, the world’s longest river.

Alamy; Dreamstime

See all the North Atlantic’s humpback whales Where? Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic

From mid-January to mid-March, Samaná Bay is THE place to be. This sheltered inlet, on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, is where the North Atlantic’s entire population of humpbacks (around 4,000 in total) comes to court, mate and calve. These charismatic cetaceans can be seen sky-rocketing, flippering, tailing and teaching survival skills to their young. Boat trips, complete with

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marine biologists and hydrophones, head out to give you a closer look.

While you’re in Dominican Republic, try...

Raising a glass of mamajuana, a local speciality (and known aphrodisiac) containing rum, red wine, honey, herbs and bark; scaling Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s highest point.

Relive history with an ex-guerrilla Where? Perquín, El Salvador

The Salvadorian Civil War ravaged the country from 1979 to 1992. Thankfully, El Salvador is now at peace, but the Muséo de la Revolución Salvadoreña in Perquín, which is housed in the former headquarters of the FMLN rebels, offers a fascinating insight into the conflict. There are many exhibits, from radio equipment to a vast bomb crater and the wreckage of a downed helicopter. Most interesting though are the guides, many of whom are ex-combatants. They can talk through the displays and give first-hand accounts of life as a guerrilla.

While you’re in El Salvador, try...

Stuffing yourself with pupusas, traditional Salvadorian tortillas; hiking in El Imposible National Park.

See giant river otters Where? Karanambu, Guyana

Giant river otters, the world’s longest mustelids, are found only in Latin America.

Vodou was brought to the Caribbean by slaves from Africa in the late 17th century. On arrival, they were immediately forbidden from practicing it, and forced to convert to Catholicism. However, in Haiti the real vodou religion (rather than the ghoulish Hollywood depiction of it) is alive and well.

Watching a ceremony is eye-opening. Drums beat, candles flicker, priestesses chant and dancers stamp in order to honour the lwa (spirits). It’s a raw, arresting experience.

While you’re in Haiti, try... Listening to live Haitian music at the historic Hotel Oloffson in Port-au-Prince.

Experience a little vodou magic in Haiti

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Wander amid a billion butterflies in Michoacan 10 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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French Guiana takes off: visit the Space Centre for a tour

See a billion butterflies Where? Michoacan, Mexico

From late October, the forests of Mexico’s central highlands turn orange – not due to any fall-colour phenomenon but the arrival of up to a billion monarch butterflies. They migrate from Canada to overwinter in the warmer climes of the Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca, clustering on the trees and cloaking the forest floor; in March they leave for the long flight back north. See them from the sanctuaries at El Rosario, Sierra Chincua, Cerro Pellon and Piedra Herrada, where viewing platforms put you amid the clouds of butterfly confetti.

While you’re in Mexico, try... Running with Tarahumara people, possibly the world’s best distance runners, in the Copper Canyon; diving into a cenote (sinkhole) in the Yucatán.

Alamy

Seek the source of the world’s longest river Where? Nevado Mismi, Peru

The mighty River Amazon is widely believed to spring from a snow-capped peak in the Peruvian Andes. Near Arequipa, on the flanks of the Colca Canyon, sits 5,597m Nevado Mismi. A glacial stream on this mountain was declared start-point of the world’s longest river in 1996, and a plaque now marks the spot. It’s possible to visit this significant spring, either on a 4WD trip or a longer hike, camping out amid the Andes en route. www.lata.org

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While you’re in Peru, try... Participating in an Inca ceremony at Machu Picchu; eating everything from guinea pig to gourmet cuisine in foodie Lima.

Watch the rituals of a distinct religion Where? Suriname

The Afro-Surinamese practice of winti is the result of centuries of cultural and religious blending, a mix of colonial Christianity and the beliefs of African slaves. Winti was long outlawed in Suriname – it was considered a dark art – but it continued to be observed in secret. Now it’s more openly acknowledged in this Dutch enclave of Latin America. If you can locate a winti ritual, be prepared: they can involve fire dancing, walking over burning coals, eating glass, chanting and trances. Dramatic stuff.

While you’re in Suriname, try... Cruising to look for pink river dolphins; meeting the Maroons (descendants of escaped slaves) in the wild interior.

Marvel at meat Where? Uruguay

There are few countries that would seek World Heritage status for an abandoned meat factory. But Uruguay is one of those countries. In 2015, the Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape – a processing plant

dating to 1859, now a museum – was inscribed onto the Unesco list, which says something about the importance of beef here. Indeed, Uruguay has one of the world’s highest consumptions of beef per capita – probably because the beef here is so good. Visit Fray Bentos, then head to a prairie ranch to ride like the gauchos then eat divine steaks every night.

While you’re in Uruguay, try... Taking a ferry between Argentina and Uruguay across the River Plate, the world’s widest river mouth.

Watch a rocket launch Where? Kourou, French Guiana

It might seem odd that the European spaceport is based in Latin America. But the coastal district of Kourou offers the ideal location. Being near the equator, near the sea and away from human habitation are all big pluses for sending rockets skywards. You can take a tour of the vast Space Centre, exploring from control rooms to launchpads. If you time your visit right, you might even catch a launch – book to watch it from the centre or head to Carapa Observation Site, 15km away.

While you’re in French Guiana, try...

Watching the Kali’na Games, a unique event contested by the indigenous Kali’na – sports include tree-climbing and spear-throwing.

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Take in a tango in its original home: the clubs of Buenos Aires

Tango at a traditional milonga Where? Buenos Aires, Argentina

Born in the backstreets of Buenos Aires, the passionate tango out-sizzles any other dance. It has even been added to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind list. There’s no better place to watch tango than in the Argentine capital; the southern districts La Boca, San Telmo and Constitución are home to the best dance clubs. Or find an old-school milonga (social club) to watch the locals in sublime action, or have a few lessons yourself.

While you’re in Argentina, try... Trekking up Aconcagua – the highest mountain outside the Himalaya; riding a steam train to the end of the world – a loco runs from Ushuaia to Tierra del Fuego.

Dreamstime

Share a beach with 250,000 penguins Where? South Georgia

It will be smelly, noisy and overwhelming. You’ll probably end up breaking the rules. But there is nothing quite like stepping ashore at Salisbury Plain, on the South Atlantic island of South Georgia, and mingling with hundreds of thousands of king penguins. A huge breeding colony of the second-largest penguin species congregates between the two glaciers here. You’re not supposed to get closer than 5m to the birds, but nobody has told them that: the curious creatures regularly flout this rule themselves.

While you’re in Antarctica, try... Camping out on the planet’s most pristine ice – some expedition cruises can organise nights under canvas on the White Continent.

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King Penguins on the run in St Andrews Bay, South Georgia

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At 979m Venezuela’s Angel Falls is the world’s highest waterfall

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Sleep in a hotel made of salt Where? Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Arriving at a salt hotel at the Salar de Uyuni

In south-west Bolivia, a handful of prehistoric lakes have, over the millennia, morphed into the world’s biggest salt flats – one of the sparkliest and most surreal places on the planet. The vast, white crust of the Salar de Uyuni messes with the mind; sense of perspective is easily lost. Stranger still, it’s possible to stay on the flats in structures made from it. There are hotels with walls, ceilings and furniture constructed from salt blocks, so you can be totally at one with the unusual surrounds.

While you’re in Bolivia, try... Sailing across the world’s highest navigable lake, ethereal Lake Titicaca.

Surf down an active volcano Where? Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s nickname is the ‘Land of Lakes and Volcanoes’. No surprise: a chain of volcanoes swings north-south right through the country, comprising both bubbling peaks and peaceful craters. Cerro Negro is one of the former, a 728m-high, youthful, active cinder cone, cloaked in volcanic ash. It’s a steep climb to the top, to see the steaming crater and magnificent views beyond. But it’s a thrilling ride down – you can slide down one of Cerro Negro’s sheer, sandy slopes on a board for the ultimate adrenalin rush.

While you’re in Nicaragua, try... Sport fishing in Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River.

See two coasts from one volcano Where? Volcán Barú, Panama

Alamy; Dreamstime

The skinniness of Panama has long been utilised, not least by the hemisphere-linking Panama Canal, which allows boats to cut across the country in around eight hours.

However, arguably more exciting than linking the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean is the prospect of beholding them both at the same time. At 3,474m, active Volcán Barú is the highest peak in Panama, located in the western highlands. Climb up on

Making Lenca pottery in Honduras

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a clear day and it’s possible to see both expanses of water from the top.

While you’re in Panama, try... Following that Canal by train, via a 19th century railway; visiting the Biodiversity Museum, architect Frank Gehry’s first building in Latin America.

Find German villages in a Latin wilderness Where? Chaco, Paraguay

Paraguay’s untamed Chaco, a vast swathe of bird-filled, semi-arid scrub, remains one of Latin America’s last great wildernesses. The average population density here is well below one person per square kilometre. However, there are people here, an unlikely mix of Amerindian groups such as the Guaraní and German-speaking Mennonites, who came to Paraguay in the 1920s. As you explore this hot hinterland, you might come across some of the 80 Mennonite villages; some have small museums explaining how these settlers found themselves so very far from home.

While you’re in Paraguay, try... Listening to the country’s distinctive harp music, accompanied by songs in the Guaraní language.

Canoe to the world’s highest waterfall Where? Canaima National Park, Venezuela

Tumbling 979m down the side of flat-topped Auyantepui, Angel Falls is the world’s highest

uninterrupted waterfall. It’s also wonderfully located, hidden deep in the wilderness of Canaima National Park, the sort of terrain that inspired Conan Doyle’s Lost World. If the water level is high enough (usually May-November) you can travel to the base of the falls in a dugout canoe, passing leafy jungle and little-visited Indian communities en route.

While you’re in Venezuela, try... Climbing Mount Roraima to see its singular wildlife; riding the world’s highest cablecar in Mérida, when it reopens in 2016.

Buy traditional Lenca pottery Where? Southern Honduras

The indigenous Lenca people have long lived in the highlands of south-west Honduras.

This mountainous region is still dotted with Lenca villages, not to mention excellent hiking opportunities. However, while here, be sure to shop. The Lenca are renowned for their distinctive pottery, which is handfashioned from clay by women, before being left to bake in the sun. Traditionally it was left bare, but is now often painted black and white. The pottery can be found countrywide, although the villages around Gracias (especially La Campa) offer some of the most authentic wares, as well as hosting demonstrations.

While you’re in Honduras, try... Watching the ‘rain of fishes’ in Yoro – this phenomenon usually occurs annually, May-July.

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Heading into the Lost World to meet a Marine Iguana

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Traversing the Monteverde Cloud Forest’s canopy

Snorkel with a marine iguana Where? Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

There are many unique things about the Galapagos Islands. So separate from the rest of the world, this remote archipelago has been allowed to evolve in splendid isolation. It even, famously, changed science as we know it. However, perhaps the most unique experience here is to snorkel with a dinosaur. At least, that’s what it feels like when you see a scaly, black marine iguana – the planet’s only water-going lizard – foraging underwater, right by your flippers.

While you’re in Ecuador, try... Buying a panama hat (which originate from Ecuador) in Cuenca; riding ‘the world’s most difficult railway’, the switchbacking Devil’s Nose train through the Andes.

Alamy; Dreamstime

Get the original bird’s eye view Where? Costa Rica

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Few places do ecotourism as well as Costa Rica. This compact nation is bursting with species – 5% of the planet’s biodiversity is crammed into just 0.3% of its surface area. It is also adept at helping visitors experience them. Indeed, Costa Rica is birthplace of the canopy tour concept – that is, exploring forest-cloaked hills by means of high platforms, aerial bridges and zip-wires. The first tour was in Monteverde Cloud Forest, where you can fly through the treetops, looking for a wealth of birds. There are also canopy adventures in Mahogany Park (where you might see howler monkeys) and Drake Bay, on pristine Osa Peninsula.

While you’re in Costa Rica, try... Scratching your head at the mysterious stone spheres of the Diquís Delta. ▪ THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 17

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Carnival of Blacks & Whites, Pasto, Colombia Pasto’s UNESCO-listed carnival dates back to the time of slavery. Expect face-painting and plenty of powder thrown around. Messy good fun.

FEB

Virgen de la Candelaria, Copacabana, Bolivia Take to the shores of Lake Titicaca to honour the Patroness of Bolivia.

Festo do Bonfim, Salvador, Brazil Bahians in traditional Yoruba costumes parade to Bonfim cathedral, followed by an all-night party celebrating Catholic saints and their candomblé counterparts.

Carnival Sunday There are many pre-Lenten Carnivals to party at. Brazil hosts huge jamboree in Rio and Salvador. In Colombia, try Barranquilla – a four-day fest with Unesco status; French Guiana’s event involves burlesque wedding gowns.

Fiestas Palmares, Costa Rica A two-week celebration of Tico culture, with rodeos, horse parades, music, carnival rides, comedy acts, sport, fireworks and beer… lots of beer.

MAY

Día del Trabajo Many Latin countries enjoy a national holiday on Labour Day There are celebrations in Guatemala City, asado cook-ups in Argentina and parties in Uruguayan capital Montevideo, in the First of May Square.

International Poetry Festival, Granada, Nicaragua Wax lyrical at the massive poetry event.

JUN

Bumba Meu Boi, São Luís, Brazil Maranhão state hosts an month-long celebration of folklore, infused with local legends, costumed dancers and unique, spirited rhythms. Heckling isn’t so much tolerated as expected.

May Ball, Falkland Islands Don a gown or dinner jacket for plenty of traditional folk dancing and tunes in the South Atlantic.

Mistura, Lima, Peru Ten days of glorious gastronomy, from top international chefs to quirky local producers.

Carnival, Belize City, Belize It’s party month in Belize, with Carnival a highlight. Watch vibrant parades, then dance, drink and be merry!

Oktoberfest, Paraguay Raise a stein to Paraguay’s German communities – a Munich-style beer festival takes place in Asunción.

Fiestas Patrias, Chile Chile’s National Day coincides with the start of spring, as buildings are draped with the Chilean flag and dancing, music and barbecues dictate the night.

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Tango Festival, Tacuarembó, Uruguay Watch some sizzling moves in the hometown of one of most celebrated sons of Latin dance – Carlos Gardel, godfather of the tango.

Inti Raymi, Cusco, Peru The Festival of the Sun celebrates winter solstice and the Inca sun god with colourful Andean parades, costumes and tunes.

Feria de San Isidro, Honduras Held in honour of the feast day of the city’s patron saint, La Ceiba’s streets fill with street vendors, floats and locals in a party mood, with the celebrations continuing long into the small hours.

SEPT

Tapati, Easter Island Celebrate the Pacific isle’s culture through its music, dance and sports.

OCT

Limon Carnival, Costa Rica A week-long bash in the port city is a uniquely spicy Caribbean gumbo of calypso tunes, local food and music.

Día de la Raza Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of the notorious navigator to the Americas in 1492 – expect public holidays and parties across the region.

Festival Internacional Cervantino, Mexico Massive music fest, bringing together a local and international cast of marimba maestros, jazz aficionados, classical choirs, Chinese acrobats and more.

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JAN

YOUR CALENDAR

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Twelve months of Latin American festivities to tempt your taste buds, feet and soul

MAR

Vendimia, Chile Celebrate the grape harvest across Chile’s wine-growing regions.

APR

Festival of Gaucho Culture, Tacuarembó, Uruguay Horses, rodeos, folk music – join the yee-haw! fun at this gaucho fiesta.

Punta Gorda Festival, Honduras Thousands gather on Roatan island to celebrate the first settlement of the Garifuna people, with traditional songs, food and drumming.

Phagwah, Guyana Don your best white gear for Guyana’s answer to Holi Festival, where local Hindus hurl red dye (abeer) and powder at each other… and everyone else, too.

Feria de San Marcos, Aguascalientes, Mexico Month-long event, with a beauty pageant, rodeos, free concerts and a state fair, culminating in St Mark’s Day.

Jazz Festival, Port-au-Prince, Haiti Artists from around the world flock to perform at this annual celebration of all things jazz, which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2017.

JUL

Fiesta Julias, Santa Ana, El Salvador The July Festival sees parades, a fun fair and cultural events take over the colonial city.

AUG

Santiago de Cuba Carnaval, Cuba A week of partying culminates with the island’s wildest carnival features costumed parades, plus congas, salsa and plenty of rum.

Day of the Dead The Mexican Día de Muertos sees families tend graves, build altars and bake bread-of-the-dead, while skeleton effigies loom everywhere.

But spooky celebrations aren’t limited to Mexico: also see Fete Gede in Haiti and Todos Santos in Bolivia.

Feria de la Chinita, Maracaibo, Venezuela Miracle-inspired mayhem: the Virgin of Chiquinquirá is honoured with parades, pipe music and rodeos.

Alamy; Dreamstime

Fiestas Patrias, Panama City, Panama Marking independence from Colombia and Flag Day, this is the quintessential Panamanian party.

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Tango Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina World-class dance envelops BA, followed by a Dancing Championship, when milongas (dance halls) sizzle with sensual performances.

Merengue & Caribbean Rhythms Festival, Dominican Republic Prepare to get your hips moving as Santo Domingo goes wild for the Afro-Latin dance, as beats pulse from open car windows and public plazas are transformed into dance floors.

Simón Bolivar Day & Foundation of Guayaquil, Ecuador The celebration of the birthday of Simón Bolivar, who helped free Ecuador from Spanish rule, and the founding of this port city merge into one – expect a carnival atmosphere with patriotic parades and festivities.

NOV

Caracas International Theatre Festival, Venezuela A two-week wonderland of national and international performances, which spill out of the arenas, halls, streets and plazas of the Venzuelan capital.

Feria de las Flores, Colombia See Medellin at its botanical best, as it’s bedecked in colourful flower displays supplemented by a horse parade, pageant and concerts.

DEC

Havana International Jazz Festival, Cuba See why jazz is more than just music to Cubans – it’s a part of their cultural make-up. Watch jazz superstars jam in theatres and intimate clubs across the capital.

Santo Tomás, Chichicastenango, Guatemala Christian and indigenous traditions combine, while the main event literally revolves around the palo volador – performers swing around this enormous pole.

Pagara Estafette, Suriname See out the year with Paramaribo’s biggest street party. Stamina required: it kicks off at 10am.

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 19

11/01/2017 12:45

A place to call home

care for a continent The LATA Foundation helps travellers support worthwhile causes in Latin America – why not get involved?

L

atin America is a region that generously rewards all who visit, and many who travel there would love to give something back. The LATA Foundation was set up in 2008 by the Latin America travel industry to support social and environmental projects throughout Latin America. Their projects are helping to transform lives, providing clean water, dental or medical support and practical training to provide people with new skills in Mexico, Central and South America.

Over the years the Foundation has aided many worthwhile projects. In Argentina, it supports a dental project providing free treatment to disadvantaged youths. In 2011 alone this project provided over 30,000 treatments to 5,000 children. “Seeing the dedication of that team and the conditions the children were living in was both inspiring and humbling,” says trustee Lucy Clark. “Some of our work truly changes – and saves – lives.”

In Peru, the Foundation supports an ambitious reforestation project aiming to plant a million trees. Other projects provide equipment and training to give people new income-generating skills, while other schemes offer underprivileged children an alternative to street crime, providing the children with the opportunity to participate in activities that would not otherwise be possible due to their economic situation. They also support turtle protection in Venezuela.

“LATA is remarkable,” says former Foundation chairman, David Gilmour. “It’s a consortium of competing airlines, tour operators, hotels, ground agents and travel publishers that are collaborating to promote Latin America. The LATA Foundation was set up by members to put something back. We strongly believe that together we can do more. It shows just what the travel industry can achieve by working together.”

In Bolivia, the LATA Foundation is helping provide a safe and nurturing environment for homeless street children in Santa Cruz.

Set up in the early 90’s, Alalay rescues vulnerable minors from the streets and offers them a loving environment together in family cabins.

Alalay also feeds, clothes and educates the children and encourages them in their future working lives. With the help of LATA member supporters, the Foundation has funded a new medical unit, a quail farm and, in 2015, supported vital refurbishment to the boys’ welcome house in Santa Cruz.

Get Involved The LATA Foundation relies on donations from individuals and organisations, and every penny donated goes directly to worthwhile projects in Latin America. The Foundation is staffed by volunteers and all administrative costs are covered by LATA itself – so 100% of donations go to where they’re needed. To help raise funds, or to make a donation yourself, visit www.latafoundation.org or our JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/lata

Reg. Charity No. 1123580

20 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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Antarctica

Sail due south for wildlife wonders on the White Continent

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eeming with rare wildlife and gigantic bergs, loomed over by vast mountain ranges that reflect in the deep-blue waters, and cloaked in a blanket of sparkling snow and ice, Antarctica is like nowhere else on earth.

South America is the most popular gateway to the White Continent – the world’s last great wilderness. Antarctica might be cold and whipped by chill winds, but for many it remains the most beautiful place on the planet.

Cruises run from Ushuaia during the austral summer (November to South Georgia

ATLANTIC O C E A3 N

mid-March) and are the main way to reach Antarctica’s unique landscapes. However, it’s possible to avoid the potentially rough waters of the Drake Passage by flying from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands, landing right amid the action.

It is the wildlife that attracts SOUTH AFRICA most visitors to Antarctica.

You’ll be taken ashore in Zodiacs (small rigid-hulled inflatables) to see some of the world’s rarest birdlife, including the wandering albatross. You’ll also likely see frolicking seals and a variety of whale species.

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Then there are the penguins.

Visit in November to see them courting; in December and January to see chicks being born; or during the last days of summer (February to March) to watch the intrepid youngsters head out for their first forays into the sea.

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Governed by an international treaty and not ‘owned’ by anyone – no capital city Population: 1,100 (winter), 4,400 (summer) – all scientific expeditions Time: Many expedition ships keep the same time as the port they left International dialling code: +672 Money: Bases generally accept US$; ships usually run a tab system – you pay at the end of the trip Visas: Not required, but UK nationals must have a permit – usually provided by the tour company for the whole vessel.

Check 1 before you depart.

When to go 1 November to mid-March,

unless you fancy total darkness and temperatures below -50°C.

top 5 experiences

1 Sail across the Antarctic Circle, to be one of the few people to make it to 66° South 2 Kayak through the glassy waters or even camp on the ice overnight – many expedition cruises offer adventurous extras 3 Make flat-footed friends on South Georgia – this archipelago is home to colossal penguin colonies, as well as Shackleton history 4 Take in views of snow-capped mountains and ice cliffs at the aptly-named Paradise Harbour, in the north of the peninsula 5 Cruise through the Lemaire Channel, flanked with calving glaciers and snowy peaks

8 For more information go to: www.lata.org/antarctica THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 21

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Go from the cosmopolitan capital to the ‘end of the world’

ne day you could be walking across the sculpted surface of a vast, creaking glacier.

The next, you might be aboard a boat, zipping towards crashing waterfalls as vivid butterflies flutter through the spray. Argentina’s contrasts never cease to amaze.

Argentina’s extraordinary natural wonders are largely untouched.

The mighty Andes form the country’s spine, their jagged peaks a trekking paradise. From Mendoza you can climb Mount Aconcagua or ski for miles, before sipping a fine malbec at a nearby bodega (winery). In the peaks around Bariloche there are lakes of navy, peppermint-green and the palest blue, surrounded by ancient forest. Nearby you can fish for huge

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rainbow trout from the Chimehuin River, or walk among monkeypuzzle trees in Villa Pehuenia.

Argentina’s history stretches back to pre-Incan cultures, whose ruined cities are perched on hillsides in cactus-strewn valleys.

Quiet adobe villages are oases in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a vast gorge of vermilion rock.

Wander through palm-filled plazas in colonial Salta to the sounds of a vibrant peña (folklore group) as crowds of locals clap and sing.

Across the sweltering savannahs of Corrientes, storks and caiman stand on islands of vegetation: a nature-watcher’s heaven. For more exotic1creatures and mighty waterfalls, head to the emerald jungle of Iguazú National Park, or follow red-earth roads to the evocative Jesuit ruins at San Ignacio in Misiones.

The capital, Buenos Aires, is another Argentina altogether, with a swift pace, chic restaurants and Parisian-style architecture.

Marvel at the intricate footwork of the tango one night and, next day, ride your horse over the pampas to a gorgeous colonial estancia (ranch) to eat sublime steaks cooked on the asado (barbecue) under the stars.

I I I

There is no experience like Patagonia: liberating, empty expanses of nothing – just sheep, llamas, wind-whipped clouds and Mount Fitz Roy’s granite turrets rising up from the steppe. All along the Atlantic coast are beautiful, wild beaches that are home to penguins and colonies

of seals, with orca (killer whales) prowling the coast.

Tierra del Fuego is the ultimate wilderness, with jagged mountains whose tree-cloaked slopes turn scarlet in autumn. Sail to the estancia (ranch) of the first pioneer and contemplate the ‘end of the world’ in magical tranquillity.

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Buenos Aires Population: 43.4 million Language: Spanish Time: GMT-3 International dialling code: +54 Money: Argentine peso (AR$), Visas: Not required by UK nationals 1

1

When to go

It’s always the right time to be somewhere in Argentina, though the south is cold in winter (May to October) and the north can be hot and humid with heavy rains during the summer months (December to February). The Argentine spring season, from September to November, is perfect just about everywhere.

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Top 5 experiences

1 Live it up in Buenos Aires – dine on fine steak, visit grand sites and watch steamy tango 2 Slurp world-class wine in the Mendoza region, home to mouth-watering vineyards, colonial villages and luxurious estancias 3 Ride across the wild, drum-flat Argentine pampas – saddle up for games of polo, drive cattle across huge estates or just soak up the gaucho (cowboy) culture 4 Find the end of the world – Tierra del Fuego is a land of wind-whipped wilderness and dramatic landscapes 5 Take in Patagonia’s show-piece attraction, the Perito Moreno Glacier – a 30km river of ice snaking through the mountains

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/argentina THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 23

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mall but perfectly formed – that’s Belize. The country nestles on the Caribbean coast between Mexico and Guatemala and contains incredible variety within its modest proportions. There are tropical rainforests with abundant wildlife; lush mountains; fertile subtropical foothills; bird-filled coastal wetlands; and cayes (small islands) with beautiful sandy beaches.

The coral and cayes form a 295km-long barrier reef sitting in crystal-clear water, perfect for fishing, diving and snorkelling.

Warm breezes encourage the laid-back attitude of the ethnically diverse population: Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the most popular. From here, take excursions to the smaller cayes and marine parks to sample spectacular diving at the renowned Blue Hole.

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National Park and a number of eco-resorts, lodges and working farms offering accommodation in idyllic settings. A side trip to the rivers, falls and caves of Mountain Pine Ridge offers excellent hiking and some spectacular places to stay, including Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge.

The whole of Belize – and especially the west – is littered with ancient Maya sites. Some of 1 plateau-top Caracol, the finest are home to a 42m-high structure (one of Belize’s tallest buildings), and the jungle-set ruins at Lamanai.

In the south, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary for jaguars is the main attraction. The coastal area around Placencia offers some spectacular sport fishing and diving, while offshore cayes reached by boat from Dangriga or Mango Creek offer seclusion, relaxation, lovely beaches and fabulous water.

I I I

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Belmopan; however, Belize City is the main hub Population: 347,369 Language: English (official), Spanish and indigenous languages Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +501 Money: Belize dollar (Bz$), Visas: Not required by UK1 nationals

1

When to go

Officially wet season runs from June to August and dry season is February to May. Realistically, you could get rained on at any time, especially in the south. Hurricane season is June to November. High season is mid-December to March.

top 5 experiences

1 Laze on, and snorkel off, the cayes in the north for a taste of island paradise 2 Stay in an eco-luxe lodge in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, an area of dense forest and cool shade, excellent for hiking an exploring local caves, rivers and waterfalls 3 Marvel at the handiwork of the ancient Maya at sites such as magnificent Caracol and rainforestnestled Lamanai 4 Head to Punta Gorda to visit cacao plantations and soak up the local Caribbean music, culture and customs 5 Visit the world-famous jaguar preserve at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/belize THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 25

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Bahia in Blanca Corrientes Co l o ra d o Potosí, complete with silver mine, Leave the modern world behind Bahia Blanca o r while a train graveyard lies on the N e gas you gaze down over the world’s edge of the Salar de Uyuni, the highest forest on the slopes of the Valdivia Viedmaor glide in silence world’s highest and largest salt flat. SajamaGolfo volcano, Pta. de la Galera San Matias Bariloche West of Santa Cruz, Amboró down the rushing Beni River with Puerto Montt Peninsula Valdés National Park Isla encompasses three only fireflies for company. de AND

top 5 experiences

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/bolivia 26 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

B R A Z I L

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When to go

Bolivian weather is quite unpredictable and varies across the country – it could rain at any time, but especially during the wet season (October to March).

August is generally the driest month and coincides with most of Bolivia’s major festivals; 6 August is Independence Day.

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in the world. Even the airport is Chimbote Nevado Huascarán 4,000m above sea level. La Paz, 500m below in a deep canyon ringed by snow-capped mountains, Comas Huancayo Callao is like a giant street market where LIMA indigenous women in bowler hats will sell you everything from cheap Pen. Paracas designer jeans to dried llamaNasca Lines Nasca foetuses. The city’s Mi Teleférico aerial cable car transit system provides a novel way to get around.

Despite this, most of the country is made up of leafy lowlands, a lush carpet stretching all the way to

Essentials Vital statistics

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reathtaking highs, tropical lows, sparkling flats and a whole range of odd-hued lakes and surrealist-sculpted rocks too, you can expect the unexpected in Bolivia. This is a land when shocking-pink flamingos wade in blood-red pools and cyclists queue up to ride one of the world’s most dangerous (but spectacular) roads.

With close to 1,000 peaks over 5,000m, it is no surprise that Bolivia has the highest capital

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Brazil

Join the perpetual party in this bold, biodiverse beauty

Dreamstime

L

seventh He created Rio de Janeiro.

Few who have been to Rio would argue, given the city’s spectacular mix of mountain, rainforest and beach – and its eclectic mix of cosmopolitan city and tropical resort. Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, Copacabana, Ipanema and Maracanã stadium are all names and images that make Rio special.

Brazil is much more than Rio, though. The north-east is growing in popularity as a destination, led by the state of Bahia, often dubbed ‘Africa in exile’. This was the heart of colonial Brazil and the best architecture of that period is found in the state capital, Salvador, where more than 800 buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries can be found in an area designated a World Heritage site by Unesco.

The north-east offers a heady blend of cultures, cuisine and ethnic groups, as well as many

et the Games begin! 2016 is set to be a big year for Brazil, with the Olympics and Paralympics taking over Rio in August and September.

But, no problem: Brazilians are used to super-size celebrations.

Whether it’s a World Cup or the annual Carnaval, this is a nation of people that fully embraces fun and fiestas; that loves to sway to Latin beats and put on the best party.

However, Brazilians have a E D S T A T E S A M E R I C A spiritual side to match their hedonistic streak. ManyBERMUDA exotic religions flourish, most notably Candomblé (based on African traditions), existing alongside BAHAMAS Catholicism.

Brazil also has a rich architectural heritage,PUERTO dating back CUBA RICO HAITI to the 16th century, when the ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA DOMINICAN JAMAICA ST. KITTS REPUBLIC BELIZE Portuguese invested in beautiful AND NEVIS DOMINICA HONDURAS ST. LUCIA baroque buildings.

MALA ST. VINCENT NICARAGUA BARBADOS EL SALVADOR Brazilians say that God created GRENADA TRINIDAD the world in six days – and on TOBAGO the & COSTA RICA L.Sup erior

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28 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA Sa

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4 Shake those hips at Brazil’s annual Carnaval – top places to join the party include Recife, Salvador, São Paulo and Rio 5 Spot wildlife, paddle canoes and stay at beautiful ecolodges in the vast Amazon Rainforest

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/brazil

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Brazil can be visited at any time of year, depending on whereabouts in the country you go. Most of Brazil is tropical but, given its size, weather patterns can vary. National holidays run mid-December to February, so it can get busy around this time.

1 Enjoy the beaches, bars and local hospitality in Rio de Janeiro – a city that has it all 2 Wander around the pastelcoloured colonial houses of Salvador, in the northern state of Bahia, a hotbed of Afro-Brazilian culture and music 3 Spot flora and fauna aplenty in the Pantanal, a vast and verdant spread of wetlands – a nature-spotter’s dream and real jaguar hotspot

Golfo San Matias

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When to go

top 5 experiences

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Vital statistics

Capital: Brasília Population: 204 million Language: Portuguese Time: GMT-2 (Brasília and coast), GMT-3 (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, western Pará, Rondônia, Roraima), GMT-4 (Acre, West Amazonas) International dialling code: +55 Money: Real (R$), Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

Bahia Blanca

Negro

Valdivia

ecosystems comprising the largest wetlands in the Americas where an immense diversity of birds and wildlife can be found.

Brazil’s southern states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná are equally full of surprises.

There are great beaches for sun and surf; crumbling colonial splendour at towns such as Paranaguá; Bavarian architecture at Blumenau; Itaimbezinho Canyon, the largest in Latin America; and the falls at Iguaçu, which stretch along the border with Argentina and Paraguay.

Essentials

O C E A N

GUYANA

Rawson

13/1/16 14:21:29

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natural wonders such as Chapada Diamantina National Park and the magnificent beaches. Other hot destinations in the north-east include the states of Alagoas, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.

The mighty Amazon river flows through northern Brazil to the Atlantic. Visitors can experience the astonishing natural variety of flora and fauna via gateways such as Belém or Manaus.

Offering a more visible display of Brazil’s varied wildlife is the Pantanal, a collection of

Comodoro Rivadavia

beyond the expected

Brazil has much more than you know.

Discover new ecotourism experiences and have the time of your life!

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14/1/16 10:27:53

Chile

Find lunar deserts and snowy peaks between the Andes and the ocean PERU BOLIVIA

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hile is a skinny sliver of a country, wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes.

And it is a land of extremes.

Along its considerable length, the terrain morphs from arid, otherworldly desert to fecund vineyards, surreal salt flats, mountain highs and wind-battered, end-of-the-world wilderness.

Santiago, Chile’s sophisticated capital, nestles beside the Andes. It’s a frenetic collision of skyscrapers, noise and nightlife. The nearby port of Valparaíso was described by Brian Keenan as a “Venice waiting to be discovered,” with warrens of streets and bright houses.

30 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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In the far north is the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, an unlikely oasis set among geysers, volcanoes and salt flats. For real stargazers, there are astronomical observatories to take advantage of the region’s clear skies.

South of capital Santiago is the popular Lake District. Much of this region is protected as national parks, with a mixture of forests, lakes and snow-capped volcanoes.

Further south lies the mysterious archipelago of Chiloé, a truly fascinating area with its own distinct identity, myths and legends, not to mention Unescolisted mission churches. Here you are almost always within sight of 1 the sea, with dolphins, and perhaps penguins, playing in the waters.

The Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) traverses a large tract of sparsely inhabited wilderness.

Drive past forests, glaciers, fjords, small islands and hidden fishing villages. There are hot springs and excellent fishing and rafting in the cold, clean waters. You can climb mountains and cross ice fields, or cruise to the breathtaking sight of Laguna San Rafael’s glacier.

In the far south lies the aweinspiring Torres del Paine National

I I I

Park, a mecca for trekkers and wildlife enthusiasts. Throughout the year, the park offers constantly changing views of the glaciers, peaks and the iconic granite towers, which overlook vividly coloured lakes and quiet green

500km

Torres Tierra del del Paine NP Fuego Punta Arenas Puerto Williams Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn)

valleys filled with carpets of wild flowers and shrubs.

For something completely different, head 3,790km west into the Pacific. Here sits Easter Island, famous for its 887 iconic and mysterious moai (stone heads).

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Santiago Population: 17.5 million Language: Spanish Time: GMT-4 (mainland), GMT-6 (Easter Island) International dialling code: +56 Money: Chilean peso (CLP) Visas: Not required by UK1 nationals

1

When to go

It’s best to explore the far south of Chile from November to April, when the weather is warmest; avoid mid-winter (June to September), when some southern areas are almost impenetrable. The middle of Chile is best visited in spring and autumn, while the northern desert can be explored year-round.

top 5 experiences

1 Explore the lunar landscapes of the Atacama Desert on foot or horseback, and gaze at the stars 2 Trek through the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, for spectacular vistas over snow-capped mountains and shimmering lakes 3 Have a head-to-head with the giant stone statues on Easter Island, remnants of a long-vanished Polynesian civilisation in the remotest Pacific 4 Tuck into seafood in the buzzing metropolis of Santiago, one of South America’s most happening urban centres 5 Drive for miles without encountering another soul on the wild Carretera Austral

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/chile www.lata.org

13/1/16 14:24:46

art of travel

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Beach laze, salsa shimmy, mountain hike – and fall in love

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The country capital of salsa music.

O F A M E R I C A Nashville Raleigh Cape Hatteras straight out of the gentle waters beats Colombia’s crown jewel is the Oklahoma City to the sound of its own Little Rock of the Caribbean. Located inland, intoxicating drum, and will have city of Cartagena, full of pretty old BERMUDA Columbia Cape Fear so high up in the mountains, lies snuck under your skin before you buildings and intriguing history, Atlanta Dallas Jackson Montgomery Ciudad Perdida, an ancient centre know it. From the cool heights of rich in emeralds and pirates.

Today Savannah Austin of the once-great Tayrona culture. capital Bogotá to the charming it’s the heart of Colombia’s Baton Rouge Tallahassee Houston ahua Jacksonville Orleans beaches, The Pacific coast meanwhile colonial towns and New balmy Caribbean: miles of unspoilt San Antonio Mississippi Delta provides fine opportunities for close there’s a lot to love. coast stretch towards Panama.

Orlando Tampa n with humpback whales.

Opportunities for trekking and To the east of Cartagena A T L lies A N T I C Oencounters C E A N Monterrey diving are excellent. There are mud Miami GULF OF MEXICO BAHAMAS volcanoes to bathe in, remote E X I C O coffee fincas high in the mountains HAVANA Varadero Tampico (where you can stay in style) and an VERACRUZ Leon Trinidad CUBA PUERTO abundance of festivals.

Mérida There is RICO Teotihuacán Vital statistics Top 5 experiences Jarabocoa Samaná Santiago de Cuba Yucatan Los Haitises NP HAITI Tulum also a bevy of breathtaking birds – MICHOACÁN MEXICO CITY Peninsula Mount SANTO PORT-AU-PRINCE Capital: Bogotá ANTIGUA AND 1 Sun-worship on the Pico Duarte DOMINGO Colombia boasts more species than BARBUDA Population: 46.7 million white-sand Caribbean beaches Acapulco KINGSTON Palenque D O M I N I C A N Cristóbelcountry.

Oaxacaany San JAMAICA other ST. KITTS Spanish de las Casas Language: around Tayrona National Park R E P U B L I C Tikal BELIZE Semuc AND NEVIS DOMINICA Bogotá stands on a plateau inIslands the The Bay Time: GMT-5 Todos Santos Champey Lívingston 2 Get a history lesson in the Quetzaltenango HONDURAS Copán eastern cordillera ofruins the Andes. The International dialling code: +57 La Mosquitia Antigua ST. LUCIA small town of San Agustín, 1 Gracias GUATEMALA GUATEMALA TEGUCIGALPA old centre, La Candelaria, boasts Money: Colombian peso (COP) Monterrico Suchitoto famed for its intricate Cerro Verde NP SAN El Imposible NP ST. VINCENT NICARAGUA SALVADORbuildings Visas:

by UK nationals Leon BARBADOS 0 200km dozens of fine colonial pre-Columbian statues dating 1 Not required EL SALVADOR Granada C A R I B B E A N S1 E A de Flores MANAGUA The Corn Islands GRENADA Volcán Masaya and a grandRutaGold Museum housing AN back more than 5,000 years Ometepe Island 4 Tayrona NP PORT OF Tobago Guanacaste Tenorio NP When to go SPAIN Volcán Arenal Ciudad one of the most remarkable Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Tortuguero TRINIDAD & Paria 1 Cartagena Trinidad 3 Get out your binoculars: Perdida Peninsula There are no real ‘seasons’ SAN JOSÉ TOBAGO COSTA RICA gold collections of pre-Hispanic Delta del Colombia offers incredible Manuel Antonio NP PANAMA Corcovado NP Orinoco in Colombia: the weather is more Osa Peninsula Azuero VENEZUELA in Latin America. birdwatching – with 1,889 species Ciudad Peninsula Ciudad dependent Guayana on altitude than time Bolivar recorded, it has the longest bird list GEORGETOWN Outside the centre, head to the Galibi Nature Reserve of year.

Heavy showers can happen Medellin Angel 5 Salut in the world GUYANA PARAMARIBO Falls town of Zipaquirá to explore the Islands Brownsberg Raleighvallen at any time, though rain is more Kourou Pereira NP Nature Reserve Mount Roraima Voltaire CAYENNE BOGOTÁ awesome cathedral carved out of Falls likely in April, May,SURINAME October and 4 Stroll the warren of streets in Saül Ibagué Central Buenaventura the walled city of Cartagena, 2 Neiva a rock-salt mine – a true wonder Awarradam Suriname November. The best time to visit Nature Reserve FRENCH GUIANA Colombia’s most impressive of this mysterious country.

Colombia is December to February, San Agustín Punta Galera colonial gem but take warm clothing for areas South-west of Bogotá, in the lush Macapá 3 BRAZIL above 2,000m. Bogotá has cool B. de Marajó the sparklingly valleys around San Agustín, lies the 5 Visit ECUADOR I. de Marajó to moderate temperatures all enlightening Gold Museum Belém country’s most impressive B. de Guayaquil São Marcos year round. Manaus in La Candelaria, Bogotá Gulf of pre-Columbian site: the Valley of Guayaquil São Luis PERU Fortaleza the Statues, where hundreds of For more information go to www.lata.org/colombia Teresina enigmatic stone figures – some Chicago

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Mérida pace slightly: visit the laid-back hangout of Jacó and enjoy the golden-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. Further south still, the Osa Peninsula offers Costa Rica’s most remote and possibly its most rewarding wilderness. Here, Corco­vado National Park offers some of the best rainforest trekking in Latin America.

On the Caribbean coast is Tortuguero, a huge national park comprising coast and junglefringed waterways that teems with bird and insect life. If you’re lucky you may see a huge leatherback turtle lumber out of the ocean to lay soft, leathery eggs in a sandy nest. You might also catch the looping flight of a toucan or the vivid flash of morpho butterflies.

The capital city, San José, perches in theCheart high1ofBthe ARIB E Acentral N lands, on aSloose E A line of volcanoes that runs the length of the country.

were not being entirely equitable when they designed Costa Rica: this compact country was given far more than its fair share of natural riches. It’s thought to have the densest biodiversity of any country on the planet, and more than 25% of it is protected by national parks and reserves. Quetzals flit through the moss-draped cloud forest, monkeys howl, hummingbirds buzz, frogs come in a spectrum of dazzling shades and leatherback turtles nest on virgin beaches. In short, it’sYojoa a nature-lover’s paradise.

Lake In the far north-west, Guanacaste has the largest remaining area of dry forest in Central America and is a Unesco Natural World Heritage site. Further south, the Nicoya Peninsula’s beaches are hidden in secluded coves, separated by rocky outcrops and fringed by palms.

The Central Pacific coast ups the

Copán ruins

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Want some more action?

Adrenaline junkies can zoom over the forests on a range of aerial bridges and zip-wires – canopy tours originated in Costa Rica. For greater heights, hike up Cerro Chirripó, the country’s tallest peak. Alternatively, investigate the enigmatic stone balls of the Diquis Delta, ancient relics up to 2m wide, which are still a mystery to archaeologists.

PORT-AU-PRINCE

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Essentials Vital statistics

Top 5 experiences

Capital: San José Population: 4.8 million Language: Spanish (English widely understood) Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +506 Money: Colón (¢) Visas: Not required by UK nationals 1

1

1 Delve into the cloud forest of Monteverde, home to the aptly named resplendent quetzal and thrilling canopy zip-wires 2 Check out the Arenal volcano by night – from a safe distance of course – to see if it spews any red-hot lava, which you can watch trickle down the mountainside

Pta. Gallinas

3 Explore the lush waterways of Tortuguero, paddling down the canals in search of caiman, monkeys and tropical birds

When to go

Costa Rica’s two coasts have different Volcánweather patterns: TenorioPacific NP the country’s coast is dry from December April, while the TortuguerotoNP Caribbean shores tend to be drier between August and October.

Costa Rica has long periods of sunshine and, due to its proximity to the equator, doesn’t really have a winter season.

8 Gulf of Panama

Tayrona NP

Arub

Gulf of Venezuel

Barranquilla 4 Venture to the pristine Osa Peninsula, one of the most Cartagenabiologically dense and dramatic Marac places on the planet Perdida Ciudad an adrenaline fix 5 Get (The Lost B San Blás whitewater rafting onCity) the Reventazón and Pacuare rivers Islands PANAMA Lake For more information go to www.lata.org/costarica Darién

Maracaibo

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 35

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Dividing the Caribbean from the Pacific, the Central, Tilarán and Guanacaste mountain ranges contain six active volcanoes including mighty Arenal, which sometimes spews red-hot lava, illuminating the night sky. For something less explosive, Rincón de la Vieja and Volcán Tenorio National Parks have spluttering mud baths and steaming thermal pools in which you can wallow.

JAMAICA

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site and strenuous efforts are being on the here is nowhere quite Charleston Jeffersonand Citycigars being rolled LouisAnd then made to restore the colonial centre maidens. like Cuba. While change thighs of dusky St. to itsFrankfort former glory. AroundRichmond the there are the revolutionaries: José might be afoot on this island, Trinidad is the most Martí, Castro, Che Guevara. These heady isle, it remains Canadian precious colonial town, where little men perhaps conjure the island’s a place apart: Caribbean, yes, yet has changed for at least 100 years. distinctly Latin, distinctly different. most powerful image: Cuba freeing Nashville Raleigh Cape Hatteras Cuba is blessed with a pristine Cuba is a tropical Oklahoma City paradise, with itself from its colonial past and then Little Rock reef around most of its shores, standing up to the US, the world’s dazzling-white beaches and with walls and wrecks hosting swaying palms. But it is also a land most powerful country.

Red kaleidoscopic underwaterColumbia life. The Cuba’s old towns remain of past decadence: stories abound Cape Fear coral is in excellent condition and of Ernest Hemingway and Graham remarkably unspoilt and intact. turtles, dolphins, grouper, Havana is a Unesco World Heritage there areAtlanta Greene, cheap rum, wild dances whale sharks, moray eels, rays, Dallas Jackson Colora do barracuda and other large creatures Montgomery to make your heart miss a Savannah beat.

Austin Deep-sea fishing has long been Rouge Tallahassee popular, with tournaments made Houston BatonTop Vital statistics 5 experiences famous by Ernest Hemingway.

Jacksonville Capital: Havana Hike into the spectacular 1 New Orleans Remote Baracoa, Columbus’ first Out of the water, Varadero San 11 million Population: limestone peaks and pine landing site in 1492 and Cuba’s is a sandy spit of land that Antonio Language: Spanish forests of Viñales former capital, is hard to reach and stretches for kilometres Orlando along Time: GMT-5 Mississippi Delta 2 Head to Trinidad, a laid-back International dialling code: +53 harder to leave – you’ll fall for its the north coast and has attracted city full of gently dilapidated Tampa Money: The Cuban peso (CU$) is unique, tropical atmosphere. tourists since the beginning of the colonial beauty, where the main only used by Cubans. Visitors use industry remains tobacco But wherever you go, you’ll find 20th century. Or head to the locals’ pesos convertibles (CUC$). US processing from nearby fields music. Every town has a casa de la favourite hangouts: Guanabo, near Monterrey dollars are not accepted, and you’ll trova where you can enjoy the Havana, or the beaches east of 3 Drive around Havana, be charged 10% commission to USA the Cuban capital, in a different styles of Cuban music Santiago de Cuba, the country’s ATLANTIC exchange them, so take euros clapped-out vintage car soaking OCEAN for the price of a rum or two. second city.

Visas: UK nationals need a 30-day Al

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Cuba’s dry season is November to April – it can be as cool as 15ºC in January and February. The wet and windy season lasts May to October.

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up the atmosphere and spotting Che Guevara murals

4 Dive the deep-blue sea and take advantage of the excellent beaches, from sandy Varadero to far-west María la Gorda 5 Visit the casa de la trova in Santiago, one of the best Mérida spots for seeing live music

ForCITY more information go to www.lata.org/cuba MEXICO 36 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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San Cristóbel de las Casas

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13/1/16 14:33:38

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14/1/16 10:34:54

DOMINICAN REPUBLICA PARADISE FOR NATURE LOVERS The Dominican Republic is home to great geographical diversity with a variety of different landscapes. This makes the country a true paradise for tourism close to nature, and for visitors who wish to experience nature far away from the usual tourist resorts.

In the Dominican Republic there is a wide array of possibilities on offer and even in the case of accommodation in the heart of nature, you are spoiled for choice. If you have chosen somewhere to stay close to nature you will be able to discover the range of species surrounding you. You will come across numerous local bird and animal species in their spectacular habitat and take unforgettable experiences back home with you.

The Dominican Republic boasts the highest mountains of the Antilles and the largest lake. The landscape is highly diverse and the source of extreme contrasts: lush, tropical forest and almost desert -like locations; the rugged Atlantic coast and peaceful, Caribbean coves. The turquoise, green water along the coast is just as spellbinding as the emerald green waters of the interior.

Call: 020 7242 7778 uk@godominicanrepublic.com www.godominicanrepublic.com Like us on Go Dominican Republic

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14/1/16 10:36:34

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Combine beach heaven with colonial history and active adventures

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he Dominican Republic the rugged Pico Duarte – which Cabarete 1 towers over the Cordillera Central has a bit of something 5 at 3,175m. Nearby Jarabacoa is for everyone. You can Samaná Playa Limón Jarabacoa CUBA the centre for most adventure laze on a beach under 3 HAITI Los Haïtises NP 2 Pico Duarte sports, from white-water rafting swaying palm trees, the blue sea SANTO to canyoning. lapping at your toes while you sip DOMINGO 4 PUERTO Further east, head to Samaná rum cocktails and catch up on your RICO CARIBBEAN SEA Bay to watch humpback whales reading. Or, if the novelty of 0 200km frolicking in the ocean. Los a Bounty-style paradise wears Haitises National Park is a 1,200 off, don a wetsuit and tackle the sq km park of coastal wetlands, rapids, leap off a waterfall, hike up lush, grassy knolls and a series of a mountain and then tear back limestone caves with Amerindian down it on a mountain bike. cave drawings. When you tire of Santo Domingo is the wellIslands nature-watching, sign up for preserved colonial capital, Vital statistics Top 5 experiences a horse-riding trek to El Limón a Unesco World Heritage site Capital: Santo Domingo 1 Sail out into Samaná Bay to bathe in the cool pool at the which showcases the conquistadors’ Population: 10.5 million to spot humpback whales bottom of its 150m waterfall. Or first cathedral, first paved street Language: Spanish courting and calving try your hand at kiteboarding at and first court in the New World.

Time: GMT-4 2 Go wild for nature at Lake Cabarete, one of the world’s top International dialling code: +1 809 Men cluster around tables at the Enriquillo, located in a huge Money: Dominican Republic destinations roadside, deliberating over their valley that’s the lowest point in the 1 for the sport. peso (RD$) next domino move; raucous L E S S E Caribbean – excellent for spotting Visas: crocs and iguanas baseball fans spill out of Estadio 1 Not required by UK nationals R Aflamingoes, NTI Quisqueya to celebrate their teams’ VisitLthe Netherlands 3 L Ecapital Santo to go Pta. Gallinas1 When victories and bemoan their losses; S– a blueprint for Domingo Aruba Antilles The Dominican Republic Corn Islands Nicaragua The Spanish colonial town-building people dance, sip sweet coffee and stays atGulf a constant, balmy 28-31°C pe Island bet on the next cockfight.

Tayrona NP – and see the conquistadors’ first Curaçao of Venezuela throughout the year. However, rain Henri cathedral and first paved street Every night the seafront drive – is most likely between May and Pittier Morrocoy an intrepid hiker olcán Arenalthe Malecón – becomes a huge, November. The north coast can NP4 Become NP and tackle Pico Duarte, the Paria be wet. You might want to avoid multicoloured disco. The most Tortuguero Caribbean’s highest peak, set Panama are during the August and September, which riotous celebrations Peninsula Canal among rugged terrain is the hurricane season in the month-long Carnaval, when street San Blás Caribbean region. The least humid parties erupt all over the island, Islands 5 Hit the rapids, white-water time – and the high season – runs P rafting on three rivers around culminating in a colourful parade Lake November to April. the town of Jarabacoa Maracaibo la through the capital.

Azuero Gulf of Darién o Sierra The DominicanPanama Republic has Orinoc For more information go to www.lata.org/dominicanrepublic Peninsula Nevada NP the Caribbean’s highest peak –

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 39

Angel Falls

13/1/16 14:51:12

P A C I F I C O C E A N

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Dreamstime

Ecuador & the Galapagos

Straddle the equator and set sail around a wildlife wonderland

B

y South American standards, Ecuador is tiny. But, remember, often the best things come in small packages. Into its compact, easily explorable confines, Ecuador squeezes a little bit of everything: swathes of virgin jungle heaving with wildlife, snow-sprinkled Andean summits and active volcanoes, Inca ruins and traditional villages, sweeping altiplano and the crashing Pacific Ocean. And, offshore, the matchless Galapagos Islands.

The capital city, Quito, is the perfect base from which to explore. Although it stands a mere 23km south of the equator, Quito’s mountain setting means it enjoys a pleasant, spring-like climate all year round. The city has enough to satisfy the culture vulture and hedonistic night owl, and you don’t have to be an architecture buff to appreciate its beautifully preserved colonial heart, a Unesco World Heritage Site. There is characterful accommodation here too.

South of Quito lies fine mountain scenery. The early 19th-century explorer Alexander von Humboldt dubbed this part of the country the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’. An impressive roll call 40 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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of towering peaks lines the route south. The area attracts trekkers and climbers, while the less active can browse through the many colourful Indian markets and colonial towns, or board the Tren Crucero, an epic rail-ride between Quito and Guayaquil, through the highlands.

On the western side of the Andes lies Ecuador’s coast, so different in atmosphere from the highlands that you could almost be in another country. If your idea of a good time is to lie on a beach all day soaking up rays and partying into the small hours of the morning, then Ecuador’s popular beach resorts are for you.

Those who 1prefer their activity during daylight hours can swim, surf, scuba dive or watch humpback whales cruising through the warm waters off the shores of Manabí province.

Beautiful woven textiles are produced throughout the northern highlands, often using techniques unchanged for centuries. A few hours north of Quito, the market town of Otavalo is one of Ecuador’s main weaving centres.

No visit to Ecuador would be complete without venturing into its steamy jungles. Only a few

I I I

hours away from Quito, it’s home to all manner of strange and exotic flora and fauna.

A trip to the Galapagos Islands, 1,000km west of mainland Ecuador, is an unforgettable experience. The islands are world-renowned for their fearless wildlife – but no amount of hype

can prepare the visitor for such close encounters. Snorkel with penguins and sea lions, watch giant tortoises lumbering through cactus forests, go gooey-eyed over your first glimpse of a seal pup and enjoy the courtship displays of the blue-footed booby and frigatebird.

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Quito Population: 15.9 million Language: Spanish and Quechua Time: GMT-5 (mainland), GMT-6 (Galapagos) International dialling code: +593 Money: US dollar (US$) Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

1

When to go

Sitting on the equator, Ecuador is considered a year-round destination; conditions vary more with altitude and time of day than time of year. The bulk of travellers arrive between June and September when conditions are drier and cooler with occasional fog. Quito and the mountains can be much cooler than the rest of the country due to their position.

Top 5 experiences

1 Enter the Amazon – stay at pioneering community-run ecolodges and spot rare wildlife 2 Travel down the Avenue of the Volcanoes, south of Quito, to gaze at perfectly conical Mount Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world 3 Fly out to the Galapagos Islands, the premier spot in Latin America to see all sorts of weird and wonderful species of animal in startling close-up 4 Find great bars, excellent cuisine and a wealth of museums in volcano-surrounded capital Quito 5 Haggle for traditional crafts, and sleep at local homestays, in the market town of Otavalo

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/ecuador www.lata.org

13/1/16 14:57:13

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Palenque

CristóbelEl Salvador as Casas Tikal Semuc Champey Lívingsto odos Santos zaltenango Lake Atitlán Antigua GUATEMALA E Discover the untamed delights of this Latin secret

BELIZ Dreamstime

l Salvador is perhaps Central America’s ideal one-stop destination. It is packed with volcanoes, craggy mountains and wildliferich forest. The coast is frilled by golden beaches and the surf waves are world-class. The general vibe is lively, friendly and warmly welcoming.

Most people have a love-hate relationship with the capital, San Salvador. It retains the charm of the Spanish era – it was one of the first European cities of the New World – but the pollution and modern structures of this crumbling metropolis aren’t to everybody’s taste.

But beyond the city there are many compelling reasons for a visit. The northern hills around

El Poy and Perquín are a haven for trekkers. Cerro Verde National Park offers dramatic landscapes filled with hot springs and countless waterfalls; a challenging scrabble across the smoking cinder cone of Izalco volcano is rewarded by beautiful views over Lago de Coatepeque. And who could resist the draw of a national park called El Imposible?

To the south, long, sandy beaches prized by surfers for decades stretch along the Costa del Sol to the Gulf of Fonseca, dotted with islets and bays to explore. In the west, wander through coffee plantations, soak up the beauty of the Ruta de las Flores valley or simply laze around, watching the daily display of glorious Pacific sunsets.

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Top 5 experiences

Capital: San Salvador Population: 6.1 million Language: Spanish, Náhua Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +503 Money: US dollar ($) Visas: Not required by UK nationals 1

1

1 Follow the Ruta de las Flores, which links highland villages and verdant coffee country 2 Go volcano spotting in the Cerro Verde National Park, near the capital, where you’ll be able to see the peaks of Izalco and Santa Ana 3 Don’t be put off by the name – El Imposible, with its tropical forest and plentiful wildlife, is a national park well worth fitting into the itinerary

When to go

El Salvador’s temperature is a consistent and comfortable 28°C throughout the year. The rainy season lasts from May to October, although light rain is possible year round. The coast and lowland areas can feel hot and humid, especially between March and May. Take warmer clothes if you intend to spend any time at altitude.

Tenorio NP G Nicoya Penins 4 Get away from it all in the Gulf of Fonseca – here you’ll find scores of secluded beaches and laid-back living

5 Visit the charming colonial town of Suchitoto – the ‘place of birds and flowers’

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/elsalvador www.lata.org

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 43

13/1/16 15:00:13

Golfo de San Jorge C. Tres Puntas

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Find pubs and penguins in the remote South Atlantic

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ore than 778 islands make up the Falkland Islands, a distant outpost of Britishness in the South Atlantic Ocean, just 480km east of Patagonia. Here, there are red letterboxes and pint-serving pubs.

But there are also white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters beloved of an abundance of native and migratory wildlife: over 200 species of bird and 14 species of marine mammal.

Stanley is the Falkland Islands’ colourful seaside capital, home to 85% of the country’s entire population. Visitors can spend an enjoyable day exploring the town and its many monuments, gaining an insight into the territory’s rich military and maritime history.

Locally produced goods can be easily purchased along the waterfront and its adjoining streets.

Sheep farming is still the primary way of life for those living outside Stanley and visitors can take a light

SOUTH ATLANTIC 1 OCEAN 2 East 3 Hill Cove Falkland 4 West Stanley Falkland Darwin Mt Pleasant Goose Airport Fox Bay Green 5 Port Stephens

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aircraft to reach these outlying islands and settlements – many of which (like Saunders and Carcass islands) are also rich in waterfowl and small bird species as well as the iconic penguins. Meanwhile, if you venture out to the likes of Sea Lion Island in spring, you’ll see crowded beaches of breeding elephant seals and sea lions, 1 with orca and dolphins patrolling the shallows.

Your pilot should fly in to give you an adrenaline-filled closer peek.

Popular excursions include guided 4WD treks, round-robin flights and boat excursions. All will enable you to spot endangered species such as the black-browed albatross, as well as endemic species like Cobb’s wren and up to five breeding species of penguin. Most major points of interest are accessible by air or road, with a ferry service also available between East and West Falkland.

100km

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Stanley Population: 3,361 Language: English Time: GMT-4 (September-April; GMT-3 for the rest of the year) International dialling code: +500 Money: Falkland Island pound (£), equal to the UK£, also legal tender Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

Top 5 experiences

1 Try island hopping via the Government Air Service – the best way to take in the full scope of the area’s extraordinary wildlife

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When to go

The Falkland’s climate is comparable to parts of the UK: cool and oceanic with persistent winds. October to April is the best time to visit, when the weather is settled, and migratory birds and mammals return to the islands to give birth. The average maximum temperature in summer (December to February) is 15°C.

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2 From the capital, head out to Volunteer Point and experience the most accessible king penguin colony in the world 3 Enjoy a pint of beer in a Stanley pub – a slice of British life in the South Atlantic 4 Enjoy the outstanding, scenic fishing opportunities by casting your line for mullet around Goose Green and Darwin 5 Observe the wildlife on Sea Lion Island, a tiny outcrop that’s home to huge species diversity, including penguins and cantankerous elephant seals

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/falklands www.lata.org

13/1/16 15:04:37

ST HELENA SECRET OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC

Explore the history, culture and nature of the extraordinary Atlantic island of St Helena

T

he eastern border of Latin America is marked by a string of British possessions in the Atlantic and situated in the heart of the South Atlantic Ocean, at latitude 15° 56’ South and longitude 5° 45’ West, the island of St Helena has played a vital role as a staging post for ships and travellers for hundreds of years. In the 1800s as many as 1,000 ships a year visited the island.

St Helena continues to be a natural bridge between Africa and South America, sitting 1,200 miles (1,950 kilometres) off the coast of Angola and Namibia, and 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometres) off the coast of Brazil.

Unlike Brazil, St Helena is one of the world’s smallest territories measuring just six miles by ten. Yet there is a huge amount packed in. The natural environment runs from arid desert to cloud forest, which host many species unique to St Helena. The historical legacy touches many aspects of world history, including the expansion and height of the British Empire, the Boer War, the Anglo-Zulu Wars, South American slavery and its abolition, and Napoleon who was exiled on St Helena from 1815 until his death in 1821.

The island’s home to over 1,000 species of which over 400 are endemic to St Helena, including the Wirebird, giant

tree ferns and desert-dwelling nocturnal spiders. Marine life is equally outstanding, with ten species of endemic fish and visits from dolphins, whales and whale sharks. This biodiversity has long fascinated scientists and explorers for many years,

with visitors including Charles Darwin, Edmund Halley and Captain James Cook.

Today this British Overseas Territory offers its visitors a tale of history, nature and culture.

St Helena is a place of unique character and unspoilt beauty.

find the real Latin America

The longest established tour operator in the Falklands

Tailor-made itineraries Wildlife, Walking, Photography, Fishing, Battlefield and General Interest.

Individual and group travel Internal flights, transfers, accommodation, guided tours and excursions.

Offering a wealth of local knowledge of the Falkland Islands along with a personal, professional and friendly service, every step of the journey.

For more information T: (00500) 22622 - F: (00500) 22623 E: info@falklandislandsholidays.com W: falklandislandsholidays.com Photographs by Allan White and Joe Lange

Carefully-crafted trips to Central and South America for the more free-spirited traveller

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11/01/2017 12:59

BARBUDA ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

DOMINICA ST. LUCIA

ST. VINCENT

BARBADOS GRENADA

PORT OF SPAIN Paria Trinidad Peninsula

French Guiana Delta del Orinoco

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1

When to go

Due to its equatorial position, French Guiana is humid, with an average temperature of 28°C, changing little throughout the year. The rainy season runs from December to June, while it’s dry and less humid between July and November (the driest month of the year is September). As French Guiana is in the tropics expect rain at any time.

1 Sail out to Devil’s Island, site of a former penal colony.

Henri Charrière claimed to have escaped from here in the 1940s, and went on to write Papillon

B. de Marajó

I. de Marajó

2 Dream about launching into orbit at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, an important space centre in Kourou, around 60km from the capital

3 Marvel at virgin rainforest and the impressive Voltaire Falls near the Surinamese border 4 Take in the awe-inspiring tropical scenery by kayaking or canoeing down the Maroni river, near the village of Terre Rouge 5 Enjoy excellent cuisine and fine wines in cosmopolitan capital Cayenne

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/frenchguiana

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However, hungry visitors taking a short drive south out of Cayenne can grab a genuine taste of Laos courtesy of Cacao’s Sunday market – the whole town was established

by Hmong refugees in the 1970s.

St-Laurent du Maroni, near the western border with Suriname, is Central AhomeNto theDVoltaire Falls. Further S Suriname south is the Amerindian village of Terre Rouge – hireReserve a canoe for day Nature trips up the Maroni River.

Expect a reasonable crowd at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, a space centre in Kourou, 60km northwest of the capital. Here you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about rockets at the Space Museum, and maybe even catch a dramatic launch.

Offshore are the Îles du Salut, site of a notorious former penal settlement, 1closed in the 1950s.

Today, monkeys, turtles, macaws and coconut palms are the only inhabitants. Devil’s Island was considered to be the most secure and inaccessible islet of the settlement: the only prisoner to escape (at least according to himself ) was Henri Charrière – aka Papillon – who in 1944 floated all the way to Venezuela on asraft of jó coconuts. Charrière’saalleged route took him further aupp the coast to Awala-YalimopoTwhere now you might catch a glimpse of giant leatherbacks laying their eggs in the moonlight.

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by French traders in the H I travellers who 17th century. Most G H visit now hail from the Gallic L motherland, yet – although tourism is in its infancy here – nature-lovers and culture buffs can find adventure all over the country.

There are blankets of thick, lush, undisturbed rainforests where myriad species lurk; there are also towns of colonial splendour and Amerindian and Maroon groups livingNtraditional lives. e CapitalgCayenne sits on ro a peninsula at the mouth of a river of the same name, and takes its name from an Amerindian prince.

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Guyana

Find a lively coast, and a totally wild interior

T

he coastal fringe of Guyana is a lively mix of coconut palms, calypso music, Dutch drainage systems, Hindu temples, rice and Demerara sugar. However, leave the Atlantic Ocean behind and things take a turn for the wild – an inland expanse where there are few roads, but pristine forests, waterfalls, wildlife-rich savannahs, isolated ranches and ecotourism opportunities aplenty.

The capital, Georgetown, is known as the ‘Garden City’ of the Caribbean, despite actually being

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on the Atlantic. Its wide, tree-lined avenues and canals follow the layout of the old sugar estates.

White-painted, wooden 19thcentury houses are raised up on stilts and flowering trees line the streets. At dusk, the sea wall is crowded with strollers, while at Easter the area becomes a mass of colourful kites.

The thinly populated interior is almost untouched and rivers are often the only way to get around.

Highlights include Kaieteur Falls – almost five times the height of Niagara, with a single sheer drop

Bartica

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Kaieteur NP

Kaieteur Falls Iwokrama Reserve

Orinduik Falls

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of 228m – and Orinduik Falls, where the river pours over steps and terraces of jasper. Here, the backdrop of the grass-covered Pakaraima Mountains stretches westwards to the highest peak in Guyana – Mount Roraima – shared with Venezuela and Brazil.

For the ultimate wilderness experience, visit the remote Amerindian community of Rewa.

Take the three-hour journey from Annai to the Rewa ecolodge, and enjoy some beautiful scenery and wildlife along the way.

Essentials Vital statistics

Capital: Georgetown Population: 735,000 Language: English, Creole, Hindi and Urdu Time: GMT-4 International dialling code: +592 Money: Guyanese dollar (G$) Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

1

When to go

Guyana – a country roughly the size of Great Britain – has temperatures that stay a fairly consistent 24-31ºC year-round. It’s warm, without being unbearable, throughout the year. The two wet seasons extend from May to August and from December to January.

Expect around eight hours of sunshine a day in the dry season.

Top 5 experiences

1 Visit a rum distillery in Georgetown before trying your hand at playing the steel pans with Roy Geddes at his dedicated school and museum 2 Delve deep into the interior to spot giant river otters, massive water lilies and other amazing wildlife in the savannahs of the Rupununi 3 Watch the swifts dart in and out of the thundering waters of Kaieteur Falls and gaze down the mighty gorge 4 Visit local villages (by road or boat) to meet members of the local Amerindian community 5 Travel to Rewa to wave goodbye to civilization and say hello to pristine rainforests, mountains and wildlife-rich oxbow lakes

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/guyana THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 47

13/1/16 15:16:10

nde Gra Rio

Chihuahua

Austin Houston

Baton Rouge

Guatemala

opper anyon

New Orleans

San Antonio

Mississippi Delta

Be dazzled by the birds, beaches and Maya magic

Torreón Monterrey

Tampico

ajara

VERACRUZ Mérida

Teotihuacán

H

Acapulco

MEXICO CITY GULF OF MEXICO believed to lead into a mysterious underworld. You might also hear howler monkeys or catch a glimpse of the rare scarlet macaw. Further south, white sand coats the Caribbean coast near Livingston, while on the black-sand Pacific coast, turtles and fabulous orange sunsets are an unforgettable feature at Monterrico.

Oaxaca

4

Tikal

MEXICO

Capital: Guatemala City Population: 14.9 million Language: Spanish Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +502 Money: Quetzal (Q), Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

1

When to go

Guatemala’s climate varies with altitude, but the driest time is November to April. The coast is, by and large, hot all year round.

The country’s average year-round temperature is 20°C, but maximums can easily be in the high 30°Cs. The highlands have pleasantly warm days and cool nights – in December and January there may even be frost in the early morning at the highest elevations.

Top 5 experiences

1 Find adventure on the shores of Lake Atitlán – kayaking, biking, trekking and high-altitude scuba diving are possible here 2 Barter your way around buzzing Chichicastenango market, which sells everything from pottery to handicrafts 3 Contemplate the power of nature when wandering around the earthquake-prone colonial ruins of Antigua, a breathtaking setting for a Unesco-recognised city 4 Head to the northern jungle lowlands around Tikal to experience the country’s best Maya archaeological sites 5 Keep an eye out for toucans and howler monkeys as you float down the lush Rio Dulce

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/guatemala 48 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

048_Guatemala__SO.indd 48

BELIZE

Flores 5

CARIBBEAN SEA

2

Essentials Vital statistics

etén

ow to sum up Guatemala in a word?

Colour. Everywhere.

Red lava oozes down ashen volcanoes, Maya markets are a-bustle with rainbow-hued dresses, forests blaze with every shade of green and iridescent birds.

There’s so much to see. The Petén region is riddled with caves,

Tulum istockphoto

MICHOACÁN

El P

I I I

Leon

PACIFIC OCEAN 0

Livingston Quetzaltenango 1 Lake 3 GUATEMALA CITY Atitlán Antigua HONDURAS Monterrico 200km

Completing this work of art are incredible fiestas: cultural celebrations with vibrant costumes, elaborate masks and carpets of brightly coloured flowers. At Easter, cities are shrouded in incense as centuriesold rituals take place in the streets.

Antigua, a cultural sideshow to the capital, lies in the shadow of three volcanoes. It’s a colonial treasure whose architecture graphically demonstrates the legacy of an 18th-century earthquake, and its cobbled streets are lined with pastel-coloured homes.

The majestic cities of the Maya, such as Tikal, lie buried deep in

EL SALVADOR the northern jungles. NICARAGUA Huge stelae – stone monuments carved with inscriptions – reveal clues about the ancient Maya inhabitants.

Venture further into the Western Highlands to explore markets and traditional villages.

The Tz’utujil Maya live on the shore of Lake Atitlán, which they believe to be the birthplace of creation. Numerous other Maya villages, all named after Catholic saints, nestle around Atitlán’s shore – explore them on foot or by mountain bike.

The Guatemalan altiplano and Cuchumatanes Mountains offer great horse-riding too.

Ruta de Flores

Granad

MANAGUA

Volcán Masaya

Lak

Omet Guanacaste

Tenorio NP Nicoya Peninsula Jacó

SAN COSTA RICA Manuel Antonio NP

Corcovado N Osa Penins

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13/1/16 15:21:30

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Miami

ULF OF MEXICO

Haiti

HAVANA

Varadero BAHAMAS

Visit the spellbinding island that’s on the up Trinidad

Mérida Yucatan Peninsula

4 Citadelle Laferrière

Santiago de Cuba

Tulum

CUBA

PORT-AUPRINCE Jacmel

Port-Salut

KINGSTON

Palenque Tikal

JAMAICA

BELIZE

3

0

Semuc The Bay Islands os Champey Lívingston o Lake Atitlán Copán La Mosquitia ua ruins Lake Yojoa Gracias MALA TEGUCIGALPA terrico Suchitoto Verde NP SAN osible NP SALVADOR Leon Granada uta de Flores MANAGUA

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Parc National la Visite

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Netherla Antille

Neil S Price

Lake Nicaragua The Corn Islands Gulf Ometepe Island Tayrona NP Curaça of Venezuela Guanacaste Barranquilla Tenorio NP Morrocoy Volcán Arenal Macaya National Park, home to isten up: the Caribbean’s a big stone ship, it offers From here youCartagena can hike the trails NP Portobello Tortuguero Nicoya Peninsula Jacó commanding Maracaibo views of the the Hispaniolan lizard cuckoo, least-known destination of Parc National La Visite, with its

Volcán Masaya

L

COSTA RICA

SAN JOSÉ

Ciudad Perdida (The Lost City)

Panamá Viejo

Panama

Plaine-du-Nord. Other smaller,Canal fascinating rock formations and the endangered Mozart’s frog and is ready to show off Sanwest Blás colonial-era forts, isolated coves 100 species of orchid. its box of quite unique mountains, or head to explore Manuel NP the The white-sand beaches of delights.Antonio Haiti, occupying the labyrinthine Islands caves of the Grotte Corcovadoand NPcoral reefs popular with Lake snorkellers, are dotted along the among the western side of Hispaniola island, Marie-Jeanne. Brave the back roads nearby Port-Salut are Maracaibo Osa Peninsula Azuero Gulf of Darién island’s north coast. most beautiful in the Caribbean Sierra is rich in history, culture, to Jérémie, ‘the city of poets’, on Peninsula Panama Deep in Haiti’s interior, the and the ideal place to relax at white-sand beaches, colonial Haiti’s remote west tip or venture Nevada NP sacred waterfalls of Saut-d’Eau the end of a trip. forts, cloud forests full of birds into the cloud forests of the Pic offer an insight into the religious and colourful festivals. practices of Haiti, a far cry from The capital, Port-au-Prince, the sinister world of ‘voodoo dolls’ is a sometimes gritty but always and black magic pedalled by fascinating and frenetic place, Cabo Corrientes a Vital statistics top 5 experiences Hollywood. Every year, on 16 July, home to a thriving arts scene and et Capital: Port-au-Prince Immerse yourself in the M 1 hundreds of pilgrims come to a host of museums and galleries.

Population: 10.1 del million atmosphere of fascinating Nevado Tolima Here, you can dance to the rhythms celebrate Catholic mass in Language: French, Creole Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s cultural nearby Ville-Bonheur. The falls of traditional mizik rasin (roots Time: GMT-5 hub – don’t miss the restored Iron iare themselves are the site of vodou music), a blend of American rock Gauv International dialling code: +509 Market, which sells everything baptisms and offerings to the ’n’ roll and Haiti’s own, AfricanMoney: Gourde (HTG) from pigeons to vodou items 1 spirit Damballah, the bringer influenced folk. You can also Visas: Notdel required

by UK Nevado Huila 2 Move to the rhythms of of happiness and order. admire the ornate lattice-work nationals 1 Carnival in Jacmel, home to Just a few hours south of the and balconies of the ‘gingerbread’ Haiti’s exuberant national Carnival to go capital is Jacmel, a beautiful mansions, built by Haitian celebrations 1 When Temperatures in lowland former coffee town famed for architects educated in Paris in the 3 Venture just off the Port-Salut Haiti average 24ºC in winter and and colonial 19th and early 20th centuries. Don’t its handicraftsPunta Galera peninsula to Île-à-Vaches, 30ºC in July and August, although miss the colourful markets, such as architecture. In February, Jacmel which is developing a range of the island’s humid, tropical climate hosts the most spectacular the Marché de Fer (Iron Market), boutique, eco-friendly lodges can make it feel hotter than that.

Carnival celebrations in the where traders sell everything from Expect cooler temperatures in the 4 Marvel at the towering country. Marching bands and mangos to handicrafts. ramparts of 19th-century, mountains, particularly at night.

Ca revellers wearing elaborate papier Citadelle Laferrière is the q Laferrière Unesco-listed Citadelle Most rain falls April-May and uet á mâché masks fill the streets. Look largest fort in the Americas and a September-November. Hurricane 5 Walk the mountain trails and out for lwa (vodou spirits), hornedChimborazo season runs from August to early monument to the early days of the drink in the magnificent views November. men stripped to the waist and Haitian republic, born out of the of Parc National La Visite daubed in soot and molasses, and only successful slave revolt in For more information go to www.lata.org/haiti Gulfpast. of characters from Haiti’s history. Likened to the prow of

Cauca

VEN

Magda

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PANAMA PANAMA

Barquisime

Armenia Buenaventura Cali

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BOGOTÁ Ibagué

A

L

Manizales

L

Pereira

N

EssentialsMedellin

COLOMBIA Neiva

San Agustín

QUITO

ECUADOR

Guayaquil

50 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

8

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AND

050_Haiti__SO.indd 50

Guayaquil

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pi

A M E R I C A

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Nashville

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Oklahoma City

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Little Rock

Mi

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Austin Houston

Jackson

Atlanta

Montgomery

Baton Rouge

Tallahassee New Orleans

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San Antonio

Alamy; Dreamstime

Mississippi Delta

Tampa

Honduras

Monterrey

GULF OF MEXICO

Discover divine diving and untrampled hills in an adventurer’s heaven

O

isn’t that much bigger than that of tiny, neighbouring El Salvador.

That means there are vast expanses of quiet hillsides, empty trails and village-dotted wilderness to investigate.

The capital, Tegucigalpa, is a chaotic celebration of colonial architecture. The mountainous

ne of Latin America’s best-kept secrets, Honduras gives travellers the ideal opportunity to indulge their adventurous spirit while relaxing in style at the same time. The country is the second-largest in Central America but its population

Tampico

VERACRUZ

Leon

Teotihuacán

HOACÁN Essentials MEXICO CITY Vital statistics

pulco

I I I

Capital: Tegucigalpa Population: 8.7 million Language: Spanish and English Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +504 Money: Lempira (L) Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

Oaxaca

1

When to go

The temperatures is the capital, Tegucigalpa, hover between highs of around 25°C and 33°C, although in winter it can fall to as low as 4°C, due to the altitude. The lowlands areas of Honduras range from 20°C to 37°C. Rain falls year round inland and on the Caribbean side. The dry season runs from February to June, while August to December sees the heaviest rains.

Top 5 experiences

1 Wander the lesser-trodden path in the steamy, wildliferich rainforests of La Moskitia

Palenque San Cristóbel de las Casas

2 Explore Pico Bonito National Park at dawn, to roam the thick cloud forest, looking out for birds and noisy howler monkeys 3 Explore the turquoise waters around the Bay Islands, which are teeming with life. Be sure to go diving here – it’s still one of the cheapest places in the world to learn 4

Todos Santos Quetzaltenango Relax by Lagoa de Yojoa, Antigua

the country’s largest lake, which is surrounded by forest, hot springs and Lencan ruins

5 Unearth historic Mayan treasures at Copán – they’re still discovering new pieces

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/honduras

interior, meanwhile, is firmly off the beaten track – a haven for hiking and birdwatching.

Hillsides are dotted with tiny communities and, close to the Guatemalan border, the Copán ruins mark the southernmost tip of the Maya empire.

Resting off the Caribbean coast, the Bay Islands bask under sunny skies and are one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive.

Unwind to Caribbean rhythms on endless beaches, snorkel in the pristine waters or hop over to the mainland to explore the thriving market towns of the northern coast orMthe cloud forests of Pico EX ICO Bonito National Park.

Tr

Mérida

Yucatan Peninsula

Tulum

CARIBBEAN SEA

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San Pedro Sula

La Ceiba 1

4

5

Copán Gracias

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La Moskitia

EL SALVADOR

PACIFIC OCEAN

www.lata.org 051_Honduras__SO.indd 51

HAVANA

NICARAGUA 0

200km

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 51

Tenorio NP

Ometepe Island Guanacaste 13/1/16 15:31:17

Dreamstime

L.Sup erior

Bismarck

Boise Cape Mendocino

Montreal is

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Madison

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Cape Cod

Providence

New York Trenton

WASHINGTON

Dover

Indianapolis Charleston

St. Louis

Richmond

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

Raleigh

Hermosillo Chihuahua

Jacksonville

d ran

Orlando

e A T L A N

CUBA

Santiago de Cuba Teotihuacán

KINGSTON

JAMAICA

TEGUCIGALPA Suchitoto SAN SALVADOR Leon Granada MANAGUA

NICARAGUA Pta. Gallinas

Lake Nicaragua The Corn Islands Volcán Masaya Ometepe Island Tenorio NP Guanacaste Volcán Arenal Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Tortuguero Portobello

PANAMA

Azuero Gulf of Darién Peninsula Panama

Cabo Corrientes

Sierra Nevada NP

Ciudad Ciudad Guayana Bolivar

Orinoco

O

GEORGETOWN

N

Pereira

a et

Top 5 experiences COLOMBIA Nevado del Tolima

Armenia Buenaventura Cali

M

BOGOTÁ Ibagué

PARAMARIBO Angel Falls Brownsb Raleighvallen NP Nature Reserve U I Mount Roraima Volt A N Fa A H I G H Central L A N Orin D S Suriname Awarrada oco Nature Reserve

GUYANA

G

SURINAME

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1 Hug the friendly grey whales that visit the shores of Baja ECUADOR California each year Nevado del Huila

Neiva

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San Agustín

Br

Punta Galera

QUITO

Ca

Guayaquil

Tobago

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Delta del Orinoco

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gr

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Chimborazo

Am

S

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L

E

a

M

TA

IN

r Pu

S

RA

DO

SP AR

Z

s

ré

ECI

S

Noel Kempff Mercado NP

Cuiabá

Sorata

Nevado Ancohume

Volcán El Misti

PLANAL MATO G

Corioco LA PAZ Cochabamba

Santa Cruz

Sucre

C N

R G

Corrientes

S

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IN

do

A OB

A DE COR D

Concordia

SIERR

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URUGUAY

Paraná

Colonia del Sacramento S BUENOS AIRES R i o d MONTEVID e L a P La Plata Punta d lata

Rosario

R G E N T I N A

Pta. Norte

Cabo San Antoni

Sa la

Mar del Plata

do

Bahia Blanca

Cabo Corrientes

Co l o ra d o

Bahia Blanca

y a

Viedma Golfo San Matias

Bariloche

Puerto Montt

Peninsula Valdés Ch

Rawson

ub ut

Isla de Chiloé

Pelo Neg

Santa Fe

Negro

Valdivia Pta. de la Galera

Santa Maria

Lag

Cordoba

PAMPAS

Pta. Lavapié

San Ignacio Guazú

Mar Chiquito

San Rafael

Chillán Concepción

Itaipú

ASUNCIÓN

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Formosa

Mendoza City

C. Carranza

Reprêsa Ilha Grande

PARAGUAY

m

la

San Juan

Cerro Aconcagua

Valparaiso SANTIAGO

Be r

Sa

5 Visit the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula, from well-preserved Chichén Itzá to A beach-side Tulum Pta. Lengua de Vaca

Concepción Esteros de Iberá

San Miguel de Tucumán

Nevado Ojos del Salado

Copiapó

The Chaco

Par

MA DESERT

Salta City

Volcán Llullaillaco

Camp

C

Potosí

Salar de Uyuni NP

4 Ride the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico for a cross-country rail-journey through the rugged CHILE Copper Canyon Coquimbo

O

Lake Poopó

A

ATA C A

O A N P L T I A L

Oruro

Arica

8 For more information go to www.lata.org/mexico

re

a

apo

moré

Lake Titicaca

Antofagasta

A Pi

Ma

Arequipa

s

es

3 Dive headfirst into the B O L I V I A colourful chaos of Mexico City, one of Latin America’s most vibrant PACIFIC OCEAN and delicious cities Pen. Paracas

Nevado Ampato

jó

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ER

Gu

Machu Picchu Cusco

Colca Canyon

a

in

SI

Riberalta

Huancayo

Nasca Lines Nasca

p

Ar

Manu Biosphere Reserve

Ta

R

Porto Velho

Nevado Huascarán

Sacred Valley

ra

l

Cordillera Blanca

Comas Callao LIMA

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Trujillo

Chimbote

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B

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2 Explore the wild highlands of Chiapas – the Zapatista heartland – and the beautiful colonial town of San P E Cristóbal R U de las Casas

az

Manaus

Gulf of Guayaquil

UN

Easter Island

Maracaibo

Medellin Manizales

S

Mexico sees virtually no rain between October and April.

August is busy, as is the Day of the Dead (early November). Mexico City can be cool in winter while weather patterns differ on the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Watch out for hurricane season between June and November.

BARBADOS GRENADA

PORT OF SPAIN Paria Trinidad Peninsula

VENEZUELA

ANDE

1

When to go

ST. VINCENT

Curaçao Henri

AND

Vital statistics

Capital: Mexico City Population: 121.7 million Languages: Spanish Time: GMT-6 (early April-late October GMT-5); some states GMT-7 or GMT-8 International dialling code: +52 Money: Mexican peso (MX$) Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

LESSE R AN TIL Netherlands LE S Antilles

Aruba Gulf of Venezuela

Barranquilla Pittier Morrocoy NP CARACAS NP Cartagena Ciudad Perdida Maracaibo Panamá Viejo Valencia (The Lost City) Barquisimeto San Blás PANAMA Islands Lake

gu ay

Corcovado NP Osa Peninsula

ST. LUCIA

Pa ra

COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ

Manuel Antonio NP

Panama Canal

Tayrona NP

DOMINICA

S E A

m

Essentials

C A R I B B E A N

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

A

Ruta de Flores

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

D O M IN IC A N R E P U B L IC

L

Monterrico

Cerro Verde NP El Imposible NP

PUERTO RICO

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP SANTO DOMINGO

Mount Pico Duarte

S

BELIZE

GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR

HAITI

PORT-AU-PRINCE

Li

MEXICO CITY Taxco Oaxaca Acapulco San Cristóbal de las Casas

Trinidad

Ju ru á

200km

Varadero

Mérida Chichén Itzá Tulum 2 Palenque

L

0

5

Tampico

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P A CI F I C OCE A N

3

BAHAMAS

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Guadalajara León

Miami

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G U LF OF M E X I CO

Cauca

Monterrey

Magda

Torreón

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Cape Fear

Savannah

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Cape Hatteras

Columbia

Ciudad Juárez

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a sterling reputation for refined silverwork. Further afield, there are excellent markets in Oaxaca and around beautiful San Cristóbal de las Casas in the Chiapas highlands.

Adventurers flock to Mexico to climb the volcanic peaks, to descend into the deepest potholes or to spill down the white waters of the Antigua and Pescado rivers.

The Caribbean offers superb diving off the Quintana Roo coastline, while on the west coast surfers ride the giant rollers beside the beautiful beaches of the wild Pacific and Baja California. Inland, in northern Mexico, the Copper Canyon attracts hardy climbers and is the start of the famous Chihuahua to the Pacific Railway, one of the world’s great train rides.

In the far north-west, the Sea of Cortéz is one 1 of the planet’s richest marine feeding grounds, where you might spot hammerhead sharks, dolphins and California grey whales.

In the far south is the Sian Ka’an Ecological Reserve – a savannah, mangrove and marine habitat hosting hundreds of species including big cats, crocodiles, monkeys and manatees.

Then there’s the wonderfully diverse – and ludicrously spicy – food. And surely no one in their right mind could resist a well-mixed margarita?

Boston

Hartford Harrisburg

Columbus Ark

Los Angeles

Cape Sable

Concord

Albany

Detroit

Chicago

Lincoln

Denver

Halifax

Augusta Montpelier

Toronto

Lansing

Des Moines

Las Vegas

Pt. Arguello

L.M ichi

te

Mt. Whitney

n

pi

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Cheyenne

at

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Salt Lake City

ip

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Pl

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M

Great Salt Lake

DA

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exico is an invigorating cocktail of culture and landscapes, as potent and intoxicating as its trademark tequila. It is rich in archaeological sites – from the vivid wall paintings at Bonampak to the mighty temples of Chichén Itzá, and from the bizarre Olmec heads in Veracruz to the heart of jungle-swathed Palenque. But it’s also a natural beauty too, blessed with bright Caribbean coast, deep canyons, dense jungles and plenty more besides.

Mexico City is among the world’s largest metropolises. Gloriously manic, the capital was originally founded by the Aztecs; the remains of the Templo Mayor pyramid at the heart of their city, Tenochtitlán – ‘place of the prickly pear cactus’ – today lies beside a colonial plaza, lit by the glow of neon lights.

Beyond the capital, the pace slows. Colonial cities, founded on the wealth of silver mines, rest assuredly on their architectural laurels. Within easy striking distance of Mexico City, the lakes and volcanic hills of Michoacán are another world. People quietly go about their business as they always have: fishing, farming and producing crafts for sale at the local markets. Two hours south of the capital, the town of Taxco has

San Francisco

Carson City

ro

Spice up your life among Aztec ruins, friendly whales and deep canyons Sacramento

Ottawa

L.

SIERRA NEVA

St. Paul M

Pierre

Hu

Mexico

C. Quilán

Archipelago de Los chonos

PACIFIC OCEAN

Golfo de Penas

P A T A G O N I A

www.lata.org

52 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

Chi

Isla Wellington

052_Mexico__SO.indd 52

Comodoro Rivadavia

Lago Buenos Aires Desea

do

Golfo de San Jorge C. Tres Puntas

Puerto Deseado

co

Puerto Santa Cruz Bahia Grande

Archipelago Reina adelaide

West Sparrow Falkland Cove Kidney Cove

Goose Green

13/1/16Rio Gallegos 15:37:00 Strait of Magellan

Stanley

East Falkland Sea Lion Island

FALKLAND/MAL

belmond: for an iconic experience B

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elmond’s iconic hotels, trains and river cruisers are part of a diverse portfolio that embraces some of the globe’s most thrilling destinations. These include some truly remarkable locations including the entrance to Machu Picchu, Iguassu National Park, Rio’s Copacabana beach and many Unesco-listed heritage sites.

At the heart of all our luxury experiences is a great journey, whether that’s travelling between our collection of Peruvian hotels or escorting our guests on exciting excursions along Mexico’s Mayan peninsula.

Belmond in Peru offers six luxury products in spectacular locations

Belmond in Brazil & Mexico features a range of stunning hotels

Begin in Lima at Belmond Miraflores Park before heading to the Andes, where Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado awaits in the Sacred Valley. Take the Belmond Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu and stay at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, right at the gates to the Inca citadel. In Cusco, choose from two hotels: Belmond Hotel Monasterio, a centuries-old monastery and Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, Cusco’s most chic retreat.

Belmond Copacabana Palace, South America’s most famous hotel, and Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, the only hotel within the Iguassu National Park, just seconds from Iguassu Falls.

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 53

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espite being the largest country in Central America, Nicaragua sees relatively few visitors. Which is great for those who do visit: they find a friendly and peaceful country that has a turbulent but fascinating history; a place that has managed to preserve its authenticity, and that is brimful of natural and cultural gems that aren’t overrun with other tourists.

On Nicaragua’s Pacific side, where most of the population now live, the major colonial influence was Spanish, while the Caribbean coast was dominated by the British.

With its volcanoes and the massive inland Lake Nicaragua,

Yucatan Peninsula

MEXICO CITY

Acapulco

Tikal BELIZE

Todos Santos GUATEMALA Quetzaltenango Lake Atitlán the Pacific lowlands are simply Antigua beautiful. Ometepe Island, which GUATEMALA lies in the lake, is the largest Monterrico freshwater island in the world, dominated by the twin volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas.

Regular ferries head to this largely unspoilt jewel.

Elsewhere, in the city of León you’ll find old colonial buildings, while the beaches along the Pacific coast are quiet and perfect for watersports and swimming. Off the Caribbean coast, the Corn Islands were once a base for British buccaneers, but idyllic beaches and clear blue seas now make them an ideal destination for snorkelling, diving and walking barefoot on the sand.

1

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Cerro Verde NP El Imposible NP

HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR León

MANAGUA Bluefields

P A C I F I C Granada OCEAN 4 0

Essentials Vital statistics

1

When to go

November and December are good months to pay a visit to Nicaragua. The dry season lasts from December to May, although temperatures can get very hot in April and May. June to October are the wettest months of the year. Due to the country’s tropical climate, there are no huge temperature fluctuations and it remains warm year-round.

1

Corn Islands

Ometepe Island Lake Nicaragua

5

3 COSTA RICA

200km

SAN JOSÉ

Manuel Antonio NP

Capital: Managua Population: 5.9 million Language: Spanish and English Time: GMT-6 (mid-April to early October GMT-5) International dialling code: +505 Money: Córdoba (C$) Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals

CARIBBEAN SEA

Matagalpa

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Corcovado NP Osa Peninsula

Panama Canal

Portobell Panam

PANAMA PANAMA

Top 5 experiences

Azuero Gulf of Darié Peninsula Panama

1 Take in the awesome views of Lake Nicaragua from the colonial splendour of Granada, the oldest continually inhabited mainland town in the Americas

Cabo Corrientes

Pick out some locally-made handicrafts to take home in the artisanal town of Masaya

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San Agust

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Chimborazo

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www.lata.org

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8 For more information go to www.lata.org/nicaragua 54 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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Jacksonville Orlando Tampa

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BAHAMAS

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CUBA

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Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mountwonderland SANTO So much more than a canal: find rich history and a wildlife PORT-AU-PRINCE Pico Duarte DOMINGO Santiago de Cuba

border and is inhabited by indigenous Kuna Indians. Spend a few nights here enjoying the simpler things in life.

Further east still, the Darien Gap was, until recently, almost completely impenetrable but parts of the rainforest wilderness are now opening up to the most adventurous travellers.

On the Pacific, the Azuero Peninsula is dotted with old

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On the Caribbean coast, Portobelo hosted flamboyant 16thand 17th-century markets, where fortified warehouses filled with Peruvian gold and silver were guarded against pirate raids – though today you’ll only find quiet, beautiful beaches.

The archipelago of San Blas 1 – containing nearly 400 islands – stretches towards the Colombian 2

4 Portobelo

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Bocas del Toro

Baru Volcano 1

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Essentials Vital statistics

Top 5 experiences

Capital: Panama City 1 Go white-water rafting in Population: 3.6 million Chiriquí for a boulder-strewn Languages: Spanish, English adventure down the rapids; look and 14 local languages out for birds here too Time: GMT-5 2 Retreat to one of the gorgeous International dialling code: +507 San Blas Islands, to enjoy the Money: Balboa (B), equivalent to sublime Gulf Caribbean beaches and to the US dollar of Venezuela meet the local Kuna people Visas: 1 Not required by UK nationals 3 Visit the ‘Big Ditch’ itself – the Panama Canal is When to go 1 Temperatures in Panama stay surprisingly beautiful and a mean feat of engineering prowess. Hop around 30°C all year, dropping to on a boat and sail through the low 20°Cs at night. Rainfall, however, varies. Rain is scarce on 4 Head to the historic town of Portobelo, rich in ruined ports, the Pacific side from December to April – and this tends to be the Lakesunken ships and pirate legends most popular time that people 5 Share beautiful stretches Maracaibo visit – but short, heavy afternoon of sand with diverse wildlife downpours occur daily on the on the offshore archipelago of Caribbean side.

Bocas del Toro

Pta. Gallinas

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Curaçao Henri Pittier Morrocoy NP CAR NP

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colonial towns, surfing beaches and nature reserves hosting wetland birds and nesting turtles.

Head inland to the Chiriquí Highlands to hike up Baru volcano, explore coffee fincas or laze away days fishing or riding.

The virgin rainforests and reefs of the Bocas del Toro have been called the new Galapagos – a fragile paradise rapidly becoming an iconic travel destination.

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itting at the crossroads of the Americas, Panama has seen plenty of action over the years, not to mention being incised by the ‘Big Ditch’ (the Panama Canal). However, the country has plenty more to offer than its world-famous waterway, from unexplored coral reefs to the intriguing San Blas archipelago, cool highlands and thundering white rivers.

Panama City is a blend of old Spain and modern America. The ruins of Panamá Viejo (the old centre) lie to the east – the tale of its sacking in 1671 by Henry Morgan is the stuff of pirate legend. Spreading inland from the Gulf of Panama, the modern centre lies at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal, surrounded by beaches and rolling hills. The canal is both an engineering marvel and the world’s greatest short cut, raising ocean-going liners 26m to

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by Pedro de Mendoza into their Ca ADOR qu etá I. de Marajó under one arm, mate gourd in Wherever you roam in Paraguay, Indians who followed the culture, creating a hybrid society. n Belém B. de azo zo Am São Marcos hand, pouring as he rides. you are guaranteed to develop missions are scattered around This mysterious, little-known Manaus São Luis the towns of Trinidad and Jesús, pocket of South America – Fortaleza a country of farmland, forest A m a z o n where a Jesuit mission – its work s ó a by the expulsion of its j and folklore – went its own way. r S curtailed a Teresina A ei p Ponta do Calcanhar V d L S Ta a M missionaries in 1767 – has been Its music, too,E marks it apart Natal almost fully reconstructed. The from its neighbours. Instead of s Vital statistics Top 5 experiences u Joao Pessoa ur Jesuit Museum at San Ignacio the grinding rhythms of salsa Por jillo G A S a live performance of Capital: Asunción Catch es T1 I N Cordillera Blanca A A Pto Guazú is a testament their tango, Paraguay prefers to sway C i re o Fra Porto Velho Population: 6.8 million unique music nc S áParaguay’s s Nevado Huascarán Recife style is co work, arguably one of the most to sentimental love songs and Juazeiro Languages: Spanish and Guaraní in an Asunción bar Maceió significant social experiments European dances accompanied P E R U Time: GMT-4 (mid-October to midBarragem de Wander tropical rainforest, S Sobradinho 2 Riberalta Manu Biosphere by virtuoso harp players, guitar I E R R A on the continent.

March GMT-3) Reserve swim in waterfalls and watch Aracaju Comas DO S PIn the north and west of Paraguay, International dialling code: +595Chapada the sun set on a boat cruise down Huancayo strummers and accordions.

AR Callao LIMA Gu 1 ECI a Diamantina NP por S Machu Picchu é Money: Guaraní (Gs) the countryside is decidedly less the differences Sacred ValleyNow, though, Cusco the Paraná river, along the border Salvador Visas: Not required by UK nationals populated. between Paraguay and the rest with Argentina Noel Kempff The Chaco – a vast, 1 Pen. Paracas Carinhanha Mercado NP Lake Nasca Lines Cuiabá into Colca Canyon Titicacaare becoming cross-border plain extending of South America BRAZILIAN Sorata B A H I3 A Meet the local people, from BRASÍLIA Nasca I G Hgo LANDS WhenHto Nevadothe Ancohume LANALTO DE Nevado Argentina and Bolivia – is MPinhabited less Ampato distinctVolcán – politically, 1 The best time to visit Paraguay communities of Guaraní ATO GROSSO Corioco El Misti Montes Claros Goiânia Arequipa LA PAZ by a handful of Mennonite country is part of the Mercosur Indians to the High Germanis during the southern hemisphere speaking Mennonites, whose economic bloc linking the region, winter (May to September) Caravelas M I N –A the S Oruro settlements dot the Chaco Arica with well-established trade routes G E R A I S rest of the year can be unbearably Lake Paraguay’s Jesuit to Argentina and Brazil.Poopó Belo Horizonte hot (35°C). You’re also likely to 4Pta. deExplore Baleia Defensores Grande de Uyuni history in towns like Trinidad 5del Chaco NP 3 Moreover, theSalar road to NP Bolivia encounter more rain at the hottest BRAZIL Vitória and the Jesuit Museum at San The Chaco time of year, when storms Juiz are is becoming increasingly de Fora Campos Ignacio Guazú frequent (the wettest month of the navigable – well, in the dry season, Concepción Campinas year is January). The hottest part of Cabo de São Tomé at least.Antofagasta The Trans-Chaco is now Tinfunqué NP 5 Come face-to-face with jaguar, São Paulo Río de Janeiro Cabo Frio the country isA the north, which lies R leopard and tapir in the considered one of South America’s 1 Ciudad Santos ARGENTINA Volcán M tropics. del Este entirely in the sizeable Chaco region Llullaillaco very greatest road trips – the going Curitiba ASUNCION 0 200km Trinidad might be bumpy but it’s always 2 For more information go to www.lata.org/paraguay San Ignacio Guazú 4 Nevado Ojos a fascinatingCopiapó drive. del Salado Florianópolis L

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 57

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New Orleans a massive 60% of Peru is jungle.

2,500-year-old fortress temple of rise over the mountains and fill ‘lost’, mist-swirled Mississippi Delta Orlando Experience the best of it in either Chavín de Huántar, one of Peru’s the citadel with light. Exploring Inca citadel and a Tampa Torreón T L A N T I CManu O C or E Tambopata, A N two of the most important ancientAsites.

Machu Picchu with a guide adds certain little bear with a Monterrey largest protected areas of rainforest However, this region is better penchant for marmalade extra insight.

Miami GULF OF MEXICO BAHAMAS and arguably the most pristine known as a Mecca for hikers from Head north to the elegant M E X I C tend O to be the two headline acts HAVANA Varadero conservation units in the world. all over the world – there are colonial city of Trujillo, on Peru’s of Peru.

Tampico Yet there is far more to ajara VERACRUZ Or fly to riverside Iquitos, the incredible trails here.

If that’s not northern coast, and Chan Chan, the vast and varied country than Leon Trinidad CUBA PUERTO Mérida only place in Peru where you can your cup of mate de coca, then try the largest adobe city in the world.

Machu RICO Teotihuacán Picchu and Paddington.

Samaná Jarabocoa Santiago de Cuba Yucatan Los Haitises NP HAITI Tulum MICHOACÁN MEXICO CITY Peninsula SANTO see pink river dolphins in the white-water rafting or mountain The crumbling ruins of thePicoMount For a start, Peru boasts more PORT-AU-PRINCE ANTIGUA AND Duarte DOMINGO morning and experience the biking through BARBUDA the peaks. imperial city consist ancient archaeological Acapulco KINGSTON of nine great Palenque sites than D O M I N I C A N San Cristóbel Oaxaca JAMAICA ST. KITTS las Casas R E P U B L I C bustle of a frenetic Amazon port But it’s not all mountains.

Most compounds built by successive BELIZE any otherdecountry in South Tikal Semuc AND NEVIS DOMINICA The Bay Islands Lívingston Todos Santos Champey in the afternoon. people are surprised to hear that dynasties that ruled this part of America.Quetzaltenango Its large green carpet HONDURAS C A R I B B E A N S E A Copán La Mosquitia Antigua ruins ST. LUCIA the country before the arrival of of jungle is GUATEMALA home to the greatest Gracias GUATEMALA TEGUCIGALPA Monterrico Suchitoto Cerro Verde NP the Incas. A few kilometres fromL E S S E R diversity of plants andSAN wildlife El Imposible NP ST. VINCENT SALVADOR Leon NICARAGUA BARBADOS ANT ILL EL SALVADOR Netherlands Pta. Gallinas ES Granada MANAGUA the city are the massive adobe on the planet. Peru is also the Aruba Antilles Ruta de Flores The Corn Islands GRENADA Volcán Masaya O C E A N Ometepe Island Tayrona NP Curaçao Henri PORT OF Tobago pyramids of Barranquilla Huaca del Sol andMorrocoy Pittier birthplace of surfing, Tenorio its rivers NP Guanacaste SPAIN Volcán Arenal NP CARACAS NP Cartagena Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Tortuguero Portobello TRINIDAD & Paria Trinidad Ciudad Perdida Maracaibo Panamá Viejo Peninsula Valencia Huaca de laSanLuna.

Elsewhere in offer some of the scariest SAN JOSÉ TOBAGO (The Lost City) COSTA RICA Blás Barquisimeto Vital statistics Top 5 experiences Delta del Manuel Antonio NP PANAMA Islands NP PANAMA Orinoco VENEZUELA theAzuero region are the pre-Columbian white-water rafting anywhereCorcovado Osa Peninsula Gulf of Darién Sierra Capital: Ciudad Lima Peninsula Panama 1 Delve into the Amazon Nevada NP Ciudad Guayana pyramid tombs of Sipán and the and the Peruvian Andes are Bolivar GEORGETOWN Population: 30.5 million Rainforest from Iquitos, Galibi Nature Reserve PARAMARIBO Angel Medellin even Cabo older remains at Caral, dating riddled with hiking potential Salut Corrientes Languages: and Quechua GUYANA Falls Spanish Islands jumping-off point for river trips Manizales Brownsberg Raleighvallen Pereira Kourou NP G Nature Reserve U I Mount Roraima back overNevado 4,000 years. but largely unexplored.

BOGOTÁ del Tolima Voltaire Time: GMT-5 and wildlife-watching A N CAYENNE Armenia A Ibagué SURINAME Falls Saül H I G H Buenaventura Central L In the Cordillera Blanca, deep And that’s only scratching the International dialling A N D code: +592 Cali S Suriname Awarradam Sample Peru’s flavour-intense 1 Nevado del Huila 2 GUIANA Neiva FRENCH Money: Nuevo sol (S/) Nature Reserve in the San northern Andes, is the surface. Practically everyone who cuisine in Lima – the foodie Agustín Visas: Punta Galera architectural splendour of the visits Peru goes to Cusco, one of hub of Latin America 1 Not required by UK nationals Macapá COLOMBIA the most fascinating cities in the ECUADOR Marajó toB. dethe iconic Inca ruins 3 I. deVisit When to go Marajó world. The Spanish built their Belém Picchu – B.one 1 The sierra and jungle of of Machu of the de São Marcos Manaus colonial churches and houses 1 world’s great wonders; São reach Luis them Peru are hot and dry from April to on top of the original Inca via scenic train ride or multi-day Fortaleza Iquitos October. November to April is the hike along ancient trails Teresina foundations, and this startling Ponta do Calcan wet season. The opposite is true for 4 Chachapoyas mix of architectural styles is Chiclayo Natal Experience the adobe the coast – hot and dry from 4 Chan Joao Pesso Chan Cajamarca splendour of Chan Chan, still in evidence.

BRAZIL December to April with cooler G A S T I N Trujillo Cordillera a wonderfully well-preservedC A A Porto Velho Cusco is also the ideal base for conditions May to November.

June Recife Chimbote Blanca pre-Columbian city near TrujilloJuazeiro to September are the best months exploring the Urubamba Valley, Manu Maceió 3 Biosphere S 2 IE Riberalta for trekkers.

Peruvians like their RR which runs west all the way to A Reserve Aracaju 5 Take in the majesty of Lake DO Machu LIMA AR fiestas, soS Pcoincide a trip with ECI Titicaca – the highestChapada Picchu Machu Picchu and beyond. Peru’s Diamantina NP S Tambopata Huancayo PACIFIC celebrations such as Virgen de Salvador navigable lake in the world and 5 best-known archaeological site is Cusco Noel Kempff OCEAN Carinhanha Mercado NP la Candelaria.

Cuiabá the largest in South America Nasca Lines B R A Z I L I A N Colca the main attraction for visitors, B A H I A BRASÍLIA B O L I V I A HIGHLANDS Canyon Puno PLANALTO DE MATO GROSSO Corioco and rightly so. Set your alarm Arequipa 0 200km Montes Claros Goiânia LA PAZ For more information go to www.lata.org/peru Cochabamba and get up early to watch the sun Lake Titicaca Santa Cruz Caravelas M I N A S Oruro San Antonio

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Peru, land of hidden treasures www.peru.travel

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Suriname

BAHAMAS

Discover a little Latin lovely with a distinctly Dutch vibe

A

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ST. LUCIA

Gulf of Venezuela

ST. VINCENT

BARBADOS GRENADA

Curaçao Henri

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ATLANTIC Raleighvallen,Bolivar with its dramatic 2 200km OCEAN 0 geological formations, is Angel Galibi 3 a rainforest park south-west GUYANA Falls of PARAMARIBO NR Paramaribo on the Coppename Brownsberg 4Raleighvallen NP F R E N C H River and part of the Central NR 1 Central GUIANA Suriname Nature Reserve, also Suriname NR Awarradam recognised

by Unesco as a World Orin oco Heritage site. Here, several types 5 of primeval rainforest, rivers and BRAZIL steep granite rocks are home to jaguar, giant armadillo, giant river otter, tapir, sloth, eight species of Macapá Ne primates and 400 bird species such gr B. de Marajó as harpy eagle, Guiana ocock-of-theI. de Marajó rock and scarlet macaw.

Vital statistics z o n top 5 experiencesBelém In the far south of the country, a m Capital: Paramaribo A 1 Visit the remote Maroon a grand row of granite mountains Population: 580,000 Manaus village of Awarradam, where rises out of a green duvet of forest.

Language: Dutch you can dance with the locals Notable among these is Mount Time: GMT-3 and eat delicious peanut soup A m near Kasikasima, International dialling code: +597 a z o the Trio and n 2 Soak up New World and Old Money: Suriname dollar (S$) Wajana Amerindian village of s World influences in Suriname’s ó a j r Visas: Notarequired by UK nationals PalumeuA– a goodS base for trekking ei p capital city Paramaribo while V d a arriving at the international airport T a and exploring the nooks Mand walking around the historic old town in Paramaribo; a single-entry crannies of 1the area. tourist card can be obtained (for 3 Watch out for endangered sea Two enticing nature reserves – turtles lumbering up from the s a fee) on arrival u 1 r Wia WiaP uand Galibi – hug the sea to lay their eggs on the beach north-east coast of Suriname, both in the Galibi National Reserve – When to go e 1 The drys seasons Pi famous in turtle circles as primary July is the best time to visit (February re Porto Velho s nesting sites. Five species, to late April and August to early 4 Delve into the Central including the huge leatherback December) are the best times to Suriname Nature Reserve to visit Suriname. The major rainy turtle, come ashore to lay eggs at look for jaguar, sloth, primates and season is April to July; however, 400 species of colourful birds these spots S–I Ehead there between Riberalta RR that’s also when the turtles come April and July to Asee most nesting 5 Tackle the striking granite DO ashore to nest and worth a visit for S Pmonth – activity. July is the best form of Mount Kasikasima A R that alone.

ECI uap you can see adultsG coming S o r é ashore to lay eggs and hatchlings rushing For more information go to www.lata.org/suriname out to the sea at high tide.

uriname is an intriguing combination of Dutch, Medellin Manizales Asian andt aAfrican roots, e reira which Minfluences the BOGOTÁ Tolima culture, festivals, food and street enia Ibagué life. For a minuscule country, iare Gauv there’s an awful lot going on. a Neiva In Paramaribo, the capital and a Unesco World Heritage site, you could almost be in old Amsterdam as you stroll along the waterfront past beautiful wooden buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Dutch.

The 19th-century Ca qu e t á St Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the largest wooden buildings in the Americas, and you can also pass one of the Caribbean’s greatest mosques – head to Keizerstraat at sunset for the best photo opportunities.

But inland, you enter a world S E well asL of Amazon rainforest, as Amerindian and Maroon villages.

COLOMBIA

Delta del Orinoco

o

Orinoc

S

Sierra Nevada NP

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Ju ru á

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Lake Maracaibo

O

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Paria Trinidad Peninsula

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Dreamstime; Shutterstock Cauca

Tayrona NP

S E A

LESSE R AN TIL Netherlands LE S Aruba Antilles

Pta. Gallinas

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C A R I B B E A N

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PORT-AU-PRINCE

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mount SANTO Pico Duarte DOMINGO

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PUERTO RICO

Cuiabá

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA B R A Z I 61 LIAN BRASÍLIA HIGHLANDS

PLANALTO DE MATO GROSSO

Goiânia

13/1/16 16:15:31 Montes Claros

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Isla de Chiloé

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Golfo de 062_Uruguay__SO.indd

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C. Tres Puntas

San

Florianópolis

remnants of colonial architecture 0 200 km Mar Chiquito in this part of the continent – a well-preserved historical gem BRAZIL Salto Cordoba on a small peninsula jutting into the Río de la Plata.

In the capital, Montevideo, things 4 Melo are a little more multicultural.

Buildings in a riot of architectural Fray Bentos Durazno Santa styles – Spanish, French, Italian, Teresa 2 Colonia del 1 5 NP English and Art Deco – line the Laguna Negra 3 R í Sacramento od streets.

The Mercado del Puerto, MONTEVIDEO PAMPAS e la ATLANTIC Plat the 19th-century market building a Punta OCEAN near the docks, is a carnivore’s del Este dream – dozens of restaurants sizzle and steam with tray after tray Pta. Norte of succulent and delicious parrilla (grilled meat), the staple diet of Cabo San Antonio most Uruguayans.

Vital statistics top 5 experiences Escape the cities and the giant Capital: Montevideo 1 Sip a medio y medio (wine Mar del Plata barbecue andBahia drive along the Blanca Population: 3.3 million cocktail) in Montevideo’s Cabo Corrientes a r o spectacular stretching east C o l o dcoast Language: Spanish indoor Mercado del Puerto of Montevideo. This is a conveyor Time: GMT-2 (GMT-3 October 2 Visit the museums and amble and Blancato March) around the cobbled colonial obelt of small bays, beachesBahia International dialling code: +598 promontories streets of Colonia del Sacramento, 1 backed by hills and Money: Uruguay peso (UYU) woods. Stop off at the resort of one of the best-preserved towns in Visas: Punta del Este – a favourite 1 Not required by UK nationals the Southern Cone sun-and-sea spot with the Viedma 3 Hang out with the stars in the When to go international elite. Further east 1 Sun-seeking visitors tend to trendy beach resort of Punta Golfo San Matias still, the population dwindles and del Este, where Hollywood A-listers head to Uruguay in the southern and rich Brazilians and Argentines you’ll find quiet lagoons where you Peninsula Valdés hemisphere’s summer months head in summer can kayak through still waters to (December to March), when a soundtrack of chirruping birds. the coast is very hot but the 4 Live like a Uruguayan cowboy Rawson – stay at a characterful For a classic road adventure, interior slightly cooler, especially estancia to ride horses across the in the hills. Temperatures are choose Route 7 towards Melo, heart plains and eat the finest steak calmed in summer by the cool of the cattle-ranching country.

Atlantic breeze while the winter For most of its length, the road 5 Visit a Uruguayan vineyard months, especially July and August, and sample the famous runs through the Cuchilla Grande can get quite cold. tannat grape variety – a range of soft, curving hills – Comodoro Rivadavia and past vineyards and orchards For more information go to www.lata.org/uruguay Golfo de San Jorge up to the Brazilian border.

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Tuck into this tasty slice of South America

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ruguay is a land of rolling hills and de Vaca seemingly endless verdant pastures San Juan largely devoted to agriculture.

Indeed, the green countryside is dotted with sheep and cows; as far Cerro Aconcagua back as 1868 – when the British the City Mendoza alparaiso built a railway connecting capital, Montevideo, with the SANTIAGO countryside – Hereford and shorthorn cattle have been reared here. As such, Uruguay San Rafael is best explored on horseback like a true gaucho (cowboy), or by arranza staying at one of the many colonial estancias (working ranches) that Chillán have opened their doors to visitors. pción Relax and adopt the lifestyle of the countryside or take part in apié the daily work of the estate at your own pace.

You’ll taste the colonial flavour asg r Ne soon as you set foot in the country.

Colonia del Sacramento, a short Valdivia ferry ride from Buenos Aires, was founded by Portuguese settlers a Galera in 1680. It has some of the finest

Parana

ê

PARAGUAY Itaipú

San Miguel de Tucumán

Nevado Ojos del Salado

Reprêsa Ilha Grande

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D O

Concepción Esteros de Iberá

agu

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The Chaco

Be r

R

A

Salta City

Ti

Grande

S E R R A

H

MA DESERT

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á

Campo Grande

C

Potosí

Volcán Llullaillaco

Copiapó

Pa ra n

O

Lake Poopó

Sucre

C

ATA C A

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O A N P L T I A L

Oruro

Arica

Mon

Goiânia

S

Corioco LA PAZ Cochabamba

BRAZ HIGH

BRASÍLIA

A

Volcán El Misti

quimbo

Cuiabá

B O L I V I A Nevado Ancohume

Sorata

C

Lake Titicaca

www.lata.org

Puerto Deseado 13/1/16 16:20:14

Lansing

Boston

Cape Cod

Chicago

New York

Harrisburg

Trenton

WASHINGTON

Springfield

Topeka

as

Jefferson City

Dover

Indianapolis

Charleston

St. Louis

Mix Amazon jungle, Andean highs and Caribbean waters in one go Frankfort

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Raleigh

Cape Hatteras

Mi

ss

Little Rock

Richmond

Nashville

iss

Oklahoma City

Providence

Hartford

Columbus

ans

Concord

Albany

Detroit

Des Moines Lincoln Ark

Cape Sable

Montpelier Toronto

Venezuela Madison

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Pl

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Halifax

Augusta

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Ottawa

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Pierre M

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BERMUDA

Cape Fear

Al

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Red

Dallas

Colora

do

G Rio

Austin Houston

Jackson

Atlanta

Montgomery

Baton Rouge

Savannah

Tallahassee Jacksonville

New Orleans

de ran

San Antonio

Mississippi Delta

Orlando Tampa

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

Monterrey Miami

GULF OF MEXICO

BAHAMAS

I C O

CUBA

Trinidad Mérida

Teotihuacán

Yucatan Peninsula

MEXICO CITY

Oaxaca

Varadero

San Cristóbel de las Casas

Santiago de Cuba

Tulum

Palenque Tikal

HAITI

PORT-AU-PRINCE

JAMAICA

BELIZE

Semuc The Bay Islands Todos Santos Champey Lívingston Quetzaltenango Lake Atitlán Copán La Mosquitia Lake Yojoa Antigua ruins Gracias GUATEMALA TEGUCIGALPA Monterrico Suchitoto Cerro Verde NP SAN El Imposible NP SALVADOR Leon Granada Ruta de Flores MANAGUA

HONDURAS

KINGSTON

PUERTO RICO

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mount SANTO Pico Duarte DOMINGO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

C A R I B B E A N

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

S E A

ST. LUCIA

GUATEMALA

M

EL SALVADOR

DOMINICA

NICARAGUA Los Roques

Volcán Masaya 2 the highland pastures studded any people reckonOmetepe Island Tenorio NP Guanacaste Volcán Arenalwild flowers. with that Venezuela Maracaibo CARACAS Tortuguero Portobello Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Panama Panamá Viejo and The verdant rainforest might just be the SAN JOSÉ Canal 4 Mochima COSTA RICA San Blás Manuel Antonio NP Islands NP PANAMA Corcovado NP savannahs of the south-east are PANAMA ideal introduction Osa Peninsula Mérida Ciudad Azuero Gulf of Darién co o n ri a wild Peninsula and untamed environment to South America. The country O Panama Guayana Los 3 that remains much as it was sits where the frosted peaks of the 5 Llanos Angel Galibi Nature Reserve 1 when the country received its first Andes mountains meet the idyllic Salut Falls Cabo Corrientes GUYANA Brownsberg Islands COLOMBIA Kourou foreign visitor way back in 1498. white-sand beaches of the gently NP Gran Sabana Voltaire CAYENNE Armenia So overwhelmed was Christopher lapping Caribbean; where the Falls Saül Buenaventura 0 200km Orino Columbus by what he Orinoco River separates the vast Cali saw that he Awarradam co Nevado del Huila BRAZIL described it as “paradise on earth”; plains from the tabletop FRENCH GUIANA San Agustín Here, Angel Falls tumbles in mountains of the Gran Sabana; Punta Galera spectacular style from the plateau where Latin America turns into Macapá QUITO B. de Marajó of a tabletop mountain. The Amazon rainforest. The result is Ca ECUADOR q I. de Marajó highest falls in the world, its waters u e t á a land of astonishing variety. n Belém VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES azo Chimborazo Guayaquil Am cascade through the air for almost Despite all the geographical Capital: Caracas Climb Mount Roraima, 1Manaus Gulf of a kilometre before meeting the obstacles, Venezuela has one of the Guayaquil Population: 29.2 million the 2,810m tepui (tabletop rainforest floor. It’s an adventure best-developed road networks in Language: Spanish A m a z o n mountain) whose mist-shrouded s to clamber through the jungle to South America, thanks to its Time: GMT-4.5 The Lost World jó r a heights inspired S a A ei p V d a M L S E T a get to the base; to reach the top lucrative oil reserves. In the west is International dialling code: +58 M O Visit the turquoise waters 1 Punta Aguja 2 Money: Bolívar fuerte (Bs) requires a multi-day trekking Los Llanos, the great plain of the and coral reef isles of Chiclayo B R A Z the I L s Visas: expedition, butTrujillo the views are worth Orinoco, where local flora and 1 Not required byP u r uUK nationals Los Roques archipelago, perfect Cordillera Blanca s the effort. Alternatively, climb up for kayaking e and relaxing fauna – such as scarlet ibis and Pi re Porto Velho s Nevado Huascarán WHEN TO GO Chimbote (or fly over) Mount Roraima, Orinoco crocodile – share their 1 Venezuela is generally Ride a horse through Los 3 which inspired Arthur P Conan territory with cattle and the llanero Llanos, the vast area of E R U considered Riberalta to be a year-round SI ER wetlands near the border with Doyle to write The Lost World. Manu Biosphere cowboys. For the ultimate ranch Reserve destination. The dry seasonR A D O Comas SP Colombia, rich in fauna and flora Mochima National sitsHuancayo on experience stay in one of the hatos, A Callao Park R (December to April) is more G u a p o E C I S LIMA Machu Picchu ré the north coast.

Here you can hire where you can enjoy a bit of luxury Sacred Valley Cusco pleasant for travelling (and 4 Relax in the cool climes of Mérida, a cultured university a boat and chug round while getting to grips with a lasso.

Noel Kempff particularly trekking); however, the Pen. Paracasthe clusters Mercado NP Lake Nasca Lines town dating backCuiabá to the 16th Colca Canyonmighty Titicacawaterfalls in the Gran of islands until you find a deserted Further west, at Mérida, you can BRAZIL Sorata BRASÍLIA B O L I V I A century and set in striking Nasca HIGHLA Nevado Ancohume south-east, PLANALTO DE Nevado Ampato Sabana, in the country’s cove where you can drop anchor be whisked off your feet by the Volcán ATO GROSSO Corioco El Misti surroundings highM up in the AndesGoiânia Montes LA PAZ during the and spend a day padding across Arequipa look more impressive highest cable car in the world (due Cochabamba wet season, when they are in full your own beach. Or perhaps head to reopen in 2016) as it glides up Santa Cruz 5 Marvel at Angel Falls, the M Oruro á flow. world’s highest waterfall – Sucre get Arica The Andes zone doesn’t to the spectacular Los Roques through the mist-swirled peaks G Lake as hot as coastal areas. canoe to its base or hike to the top Poopó with miles of pristine of the Andes. Pull on Pyour Belo Horizo Potosí A Chiking I F I C O Carchipelago, EAN Campo Grande Grande Salar de Uyuni NP white-sand beaches and crystalboots and march out onto the For more information go to www.lata.org/venezuela Ti et ê clear water. grassy trails of the páramo and The Chaco d Lake Nicaragua

The Corn Islands

SURINAME

Essentials

Tocantins

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São Paulo

Itaipú

ASUNCIÓN y

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AMERICA 63

San Ignacio Guazú

M

Iguazú NP Rio

Igu U

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Concepción Ilha Grande Esteros de Iberá THE GUIDE TO LATIN

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063_Venezuela2017_thv1.indd 63

Salta City

A

Volcán Llullaillaco

O

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moré

MA DESERT

Antofagasta

ATA C A

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O A N P L T I A L

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VERACRUZ

Dreamstime

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ABERCROMBIE & KENT TRAVEL

BEST AT TRAVEL

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Use this table to find out who goes where. Contact details for each tour operator can be found overleaf

Antarctica

GETTING THERE FROM EUROPE

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64 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 2008 064-065_Getting there & Embassies2017_thv5.indd 64

www.lata.org 12/01/2017 14:59

EMBASSIES

BY COUNTRY

If you require travel and visa advice for a Latin American destination, visit its UK embassy – or its website – for the most up-to-date information…

ARGENTINA

ECUADOR

PANAMA

65 Brook Street, W1K 4AH 020 7318 1300 info@argentine-embassy-uk.org www.argentine-embassy-uk.org

Flat 3b, 3 Hans Crescent, SW1X 0LS 020 7584 1367 / 020 7590 2501 / 020 7590 2507 eecugranbretania@mmrree.gob.ec http://reinounido.embajada.gob.ec/

40 Hertford Street, W1J 7SH 020 7493 4646 panama1@btconnect.com

Embassy of the Argentine Republic

BELIZE

Belize High Commission

3rd Floor, 45 Crawford Place, W1H 4LP 020 7723 3603 info@belizehighcommission.co.uk www.belizehighcommission.co.uk

BOLIVIA

Embassy of Bolivia

106 Eaton Square, SW1W 9AD 020 7235 4248 Ext 100 embol@bolivianembassy.co.uk www.bolivianembassy.co.uk

BRAZIL

Embassy of Brazil

14/16 Cockspur Street, SW1Y 5BL 020 7747 4500 www.brazil.org.uk

CHILE

Embassy of Chile

37-41 Old Queen Street, SW1H 9JA 020 7222 2361 embachile@embachile.co.uk http://chileabroad.gov.cl/reino-unido

COLOMBIA

Embassy of Colombia

3 Hans Crescent, SW1X 0LN 020 7589 9177 / 020 7589 5037 egranbretana@cancilleria.gov.co www.colombianembassy.co.uk

COSTA RICA

Embassy of Costa Rica

14 Lancaster Gate, W2 3LH 020 7706 8844 info@costaricanembassy.co.uk

CUBA

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba 167 High Holborn, WC1V 6PA 020 7240 2488 secembajador@uk.embacuba.cu www.cubadiplomatica.cu

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Embassy of the Dominican Republic 8, Gloucester Square, London, W2 2TJ 020 9839 3585 consulate@dominicanembassy.org.uk www.dominicanembassy.org.uk

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Embassy of Ecuador

EL SALVADOR

Embassy of El Salvador

8 Dorset Square, 1st & 2nd Floors, NW1 6PU 020 7224 9800 embajadalondres@rree.gob.sv elsalvador.embassy@gmail.com

Embassy of Panama

PARAGUAY

Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay

3rd Floor, 344 Kensington High Street, W14 8NS 020 7610 4180 embaparuk@paraguayembassy.co.uk www.paraguayembassy.co.uk

FALKLAND ISLANDS

PERU

Falkland House, 14 Broadway, SW1H 0BH 020 7222 2542 representative@falklands.gov.fk www.falklands.gov.fk

52 Sloane Street, SW1X 9SP 020 7235 1917/8340/3802 postmaster@peruembassy-uk.com www.peruembassy-uk.com

Falkland Islands Government Office

Embassy of Peru

GUATEMALA

ST HELENA

1st Floor & Suite1, 2nd Floor 105a Westbourne Grove, W2 4UW 020 7221 1525 info@guatemalanembassy.co.uk www.reinounido.minex.gob.gt

Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street, SW1H 0QS 0203 8187610 shgukrep@sthelenagov.com

Embassy of Guatemala

GUYANA

High Commission for Guyana

3 Palace Court, Bayswater Road, W2 4LP 020 7229 7684 guyanahc1@btconnect.com www.guyanahclondon.co.uk

HAITI

Embassy of the Republic of Haiti 21 Bloomsbury Way, Marylebone, London, WC1A 2TH 020 3771 1427 info@haitianembassy.org

HONDURAS

Embassy of Honduras

4th Floor, 136 Baker Street, W1U 6UD 020 7486 4880 hondurasuk@lineone.net

MEXICO

Embassy of Mexico

16 St. George Street, W1S 1FD 020 7499 8586 mexuk@sre.gob.mx https://embamex2.sre.gob.mx/ reinounido/index.php/en/

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

Government of St Helena

Air Europa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC Audley Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Belmond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Best in Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Bradt Travel Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Chimu Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Crillon Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Dominican Republic Tourist Board.38 EMBRATUR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Explora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Falkland Islands Holidays. . . . . . . . 45 Geodyssey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 HighLives Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Inkaterra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

SURINAME

Journey Latin America . . . . . . . . . . 59

127 Pier House, 31 Cheyne Walk, London SW3 5HN 07768 196 326 ajethu@honoraryconsul.info

LATA Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Suriname

URUGUAY

Embassy of Uruguay

150 Brompton Road, SW3 1HX 020 7937 4170 emburuguay@emburuguay.org.uk

KE Adventure Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 LATA Website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 laterallife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Llama Travel Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Metropolitan Touring. . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Metropolitan Touring. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Peru Tourist Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Pura Aventura. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

VENEZUELA

Rainbow Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

1 Cromwell Road, SW7 2HW 020 7584 4206 or 020 7581 2776 despacho.londres@mppre.gob.ve http://reinounido.embajada.gob.ve/

Silversea Expeditions. . . . . . . . . . . 09

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Revealed Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 St Helena Tourist Board . . . . . . . . . 45 St Helena Tourist Board . . . . . . . . . IBC Sunvil Traveller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Tropical Sky. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Viaventure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Wanderlust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Windows on the Wild . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

NICARAGUA

Embassy of Nicaragua

Suite 31, Vicarage House, 58-60 Kensington Church Street, W8 4DB 020 7938 2373 embaniclondon@btconnect.com

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UK/EU TOUR OPERATORS Travelling to Latin America from Europe? Then these are the experienced travel experts to guide you there…

BONDING Each country operates its own rules to ensure consumer protection. In the UK any company or individual offering travel arrangements available for sale in the UK that involve a flight as part of the arrangements has to hold an Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL).

Similarly, under European regulations, any company that sells a ‘package’ (a combination of flights, hotels, car hire, or other ground arrangements such as transfers) must be bonded through an approved body.

For your own financial security you should always check that the company you are booking with has either an ATOL (if there are flights involved), or some other recognised bonding arrangement. If not, or if you make direct bookings for hotels or services, then you will almost certainly not be covered if the company with whom you have booked goes out of business after you have paid them.

All UK Tour Operators listed in this section are ATOL holders. You can check an ATOL on the CAA’s website at www.atol.org.uk.

A

Abercrombie & Kent Travel

01242 547760 info@abercrombiekent.co.uk www.abercrombiekent.co.uk The UK’s leading bespoke tour operator offering quality tailored holidays and escorted journeys to Latin America, the Caribbean and Antarctica. A&K is unique in having their own A&K offices in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

Andean Trails

0131 467 7086 kathy@andeantrails.co.uk www.andeantrails.co.uk Independent tour operator offering a personalised service. Adventure travel and holidays in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Guyana, Cuba and Namibia. Treks, trekking peaks, mountaineering, biking, Amazon, kayaking, rafting. Tailor-made or group tours.

E Exodus

0845 863 9606 sales@exodus.co.uk www.exodus.co.uk Exodus Travels have been operating since 1974 and are the UK’s original adventure and activity holiday company specialising in walking, cycling, winter activities, photographic and wildlife holidays in over 90 countries across the globe.

Explore Worldwide

B

Exsus Travel

01993 838 600 latina@audleytravel.com www.audleytravel.com An in-depth knowledge and infectious enthusiasm for all things Latin American, combined with a dedication to personalised service means Audley Latin America can create the perfect tailor-made journey.

Best at Travel

020 7849 4000 gareth.mason@bestattravel.co.uk www.bestattravel.co.uk With over 25 years’ experience, we bring together the world’s most fascinating destinations. We specialise in luxury, tailor-made holidays around the world, with a focus on creating bespoke tours and providing competitive pricing and excellent service.

Brightsun Travel

020 8819 1212 www.brightsun.co.uk Brightsun Travel has been operating for 30 years. The UK office has dedicated Portuguese and Spanish-speaking agents ready to take your call and allows you to pay for your ticket in instalments. They contract with over 60 airlines for competitive fare to both Brazil and the rest of the world.

C cazenove + loyd

020 7384 2332 latin@cazloyd.com www.cazloyd.com cazenove + loyd was the winner of the Favourite Specialist Tour Operator category at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2007 and in the top 5 from 2008 2012. They offer the finest private travel in South and Central America.

020 7403 8265 uk@chimuadventures.com www.chimuadventures.com Specialist Tour Operator in tailor-made travel to Central and South America and expedition cruises to Antarctica. Chimu Adventures have their own operations in Latin America allowing them to offer optimum service and competitive prices.

Contact us today!

Cox & Kings

020 7873 5000 cox.kings@coxandkings.co.uk www.coxandkings.co.uk Cox & Kings, the world’s longest established travel company, offers tailor-made private travel and escorted small-group tours throughout Central and South America for both groups and individual travellers.

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01273 921655 info@discoversouthamerica.co.uk www.discoversouthamerica.co.uk Discover South America is an independent UK based tour operator specialising in custom tours to Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Enjoy flexibility, expert local knowledge, ATOL protection, value for money & 24/7 support.

Audley Latin America

Chimu Adventures

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D Discover South America Ltd

01252 884 723 res@explore.co.uk www.explore.co.uk Explore has been offering off-the-beatentrack small group adventure holidays for over 35 years. Explore offer over 550 trips in more than 120 countries – including many in Latin America.

020 7337 9000 escape@exsus.com www.exsus.com Exsus Travel is a creative luxury tour operator offering tailor-made trips for couples, individuals and families. We use our extensive first-hand knowledge of Central & South America to personalise every itinerary and ensure it goes beyond expectation.

G

Geodyssey

020 7281 7788 enquiries@geodyssey.co.uk www.geodyssey.co.uk Geodyssey offers unique, in-depth, small group and tailor-made itineraries designed to showcase the best in each destination.

Trips include sightseeing, walking, wildlife, birdwatching, diving, adventurous treks and expeditions, beaches and self-drive.

Go Fishing/Windows on the Wild

020 8742 1556 maggi@gofishingworldwide.co.uk www.gofishingworldwide.co.uk Go Fishing Worldwide - fly fishing and game fishing holidays. Windows on the Wild wildlife, touring and soft adventure holidays.

H

HighLives Travel

020 8144 2629 info@highlives.co.uk www.highlives.co.uk HighLives Travel are Bolivia & Latin America specialists with in-depth local know-how. We develop unique tours that offer true insight and discovery in to your chosen country; its culture, communities and natural world.

I

Imagine Latin America

020 7622 1116 info@imaginelatinamerica.co.uk www.imaginelatinamerica.co.uk To try and encapsulate the essence of Latin America through just words and pictures is a feat, but this is what we strive for & hope it fires your imagination. We are here to pass on experiences and help you to have a memorable holiday.

Into Latin America

0117 214 0247 info@intolatinamerica.com www.intolatinamerica.com A small dedicated team creating tailor-made holidays to South and Central America. We enjoy getting to know our clients. This coupled with our extensive, in-depth knowledge of the region enables us to create unforgettable, personalised trips.

J

Jacada Travel Ltd

020 7619 1380 enquiries@jacadatravel.com www.jacadatravel.com Leading specialists in luxury, bespoke travel to Latin America. Every one of our experts has spent time living and working in the region to gain a real in depth understanding of what Latin America has to offer you.

Journey Latin America

020 8747 8315 tours@journeylatinamerica.co.uk www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk As the UK’s No.1 specialists in travel to Latin America we’ve been creating award-winning tailormade holidays and escorted group tours to every corner of the region for over 36 years.

Journey Latin America - we know the places you’ll love.

K

KE Adventure Travel

01768 773 966 sales@keadventure.com www.keadventure.com We love to travel and since 1984, KE has been the number one choice for trekking, walking, climbing, cycling, family and discovery holidays in Latin America and worldwide.

Kuoni Travel Ltd

0800 540 4724 holidays@kuoni.co.uk www.kuoni.co.uk Since 1906, Kuoni has been creating incredible escorted tours, authentic independent itineraries and unique tailor-made holidays. Many of our Personal Travel Experts have travelled across Latin America and we also have a network of local experts.

L

Last Frontiers

01296 653000 info@lastfrontiers.com www.lastfrontiers.com Whether it’s Chile or Costa Rica, Last Frontiers can help plan your perfect trip.

We design tailor-made itineraries throughout Latin America (and Antarctica) and our knowledge, combined with sensible advice and real attention to detail, is second to none.

Laterallife

020 7607 1943 info@laterallife.com www.laterallife.com We are an exclusive travel planning company, specialising in life-enriching sabbatical and experiential travel. We have detailed knowledge of Latin America and recommend destinations that we have personally vetted.

Please do contact us for inspiration.

Latin Odyssey

01491 420492 info@latinodyssey.com www.latinodyssey.com Latin Odyssey specialises in personalised itineraries throughout South America, creating holidays around your interests and budget. Our team has travelled extensively within each destination, giving you first-hand knowledge.

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Latin Routes

020 8546 6222 www.latinroutes.co.uk Latin Routes specialises in Truly Individual, tailor-made holidays to South America. This means our knowledge is second to none and based on our own first hand travel experience. It also means we are able to offer a wide range of products, often not available anywhere else.

Llama Travel Limited

020 7263 3000 mail@llamatravel.com www.llamatravel.com Llama Travel offers high quality, excellent value holidays to Latin America. All our staff have either lived there or know the countries well. Choose from 40 featured holidays, or you can design your own holiday to visit the areas you want to see.

M

MotMot Travel Ltd

01327 359622 mail@motmottravel.com www.motmottravel.com MotMot Travel offers tailor-made holidays and small group tours throughout the Caribbean area and the surrounding Latin American countries for nature lovers, bird watchers and for those seeking an authentic travel experience..

N

Naturally Belize

020 8274 8510 info@naturallybelize.co.uk www.naturallybelize.co.uk Specialising in tailor-made holidays to Belize.

We offer custom itineraries for couples, groups, individuals and families looking to experience the reefs, rainforest, wildlife and mayan ruins within Belize and neighbouring countries.

O

Optimundo Limited

01670 772 349 info@optimundo.com www.optimundo.com Specialising in the Southern Cone of South America, we draw on a wealth of travel experience and local knowledge to arrange exceptional tailor-made holidays.

Original Travel

020 7978 7333 will@originaltravel.co.uk www.originaltravel.co.uk Award winning Original Travel specialises in tailor-made itineraries across the globe.

Latin America is its fastest growing area with trips ranging from Mexico’s tropical coastline southwards to the monumental icebergs of Antarctica.

P

Preston Reid

01347 889 332 info@prestonreid.com www.prestonreid.com Tailor-made itineraries throughout South America, individually created using our up to date first hand knowledge of the region and paying great attention to the finer details.

Specialities include Honeymoons, Fishing, Riding, Cruises and Sports Tours.

Pura Aventura

01273 676 712 info@pura-aventura.com www.pura-aventura.com We specialise in thoughtfully tailored holidays in the great outdoors of Spain and Latin America. We believe in adventure, the kind you can’t just buy off the peg. For people who want to return from their travels feeling more alive than when they left.

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R

Rainbow Tours

020 7666 1260 latinamerica@rainbowtours.co.uk www.rainbowtours.co.uk Latin America offers beach holidays, multi-country tours, classic cruises and exotic adventure. Rainbow Tours Latin America offers a selection of high-quality tailor-made holidays across the continent. ATOL 2786.

Reef And Rainforest Tours Ltd

01803 866 965 mail@reefandrainforest.co.uk www.reefandrainforest.co.uk Reef & Rainforest is a specialist natural history tour operator founded in 1989. We organise Tailor-Made Itineraries, Family Adventures and Escorted Group Departures.

Our itineraries appeal to those with a general interest in wildlife, nature and wilderness.

Revealed Travel

01932 424252 enquiries@revealedtravel.co.uk www.revealedtravel.co.uk Central America Revealed & South America Revealed are part of the Revealed Travel group providing tailor-made travel arrangements, quality of customer service and competitive prices, to Latin America and beyond. ATOL: 10528. ABTA: Y488X.

S

Scott Dunn

020 8682 5030 latin@scottdunn.com www.scottdunn.com Scott Dunn has been creating luxury holidays and honeymoons to Latin America and other worldwide destinations since 1986. We cover nearly every country in Latin America, as well as Antarctica, and can also arrange add-on stays in the States.

Select Latin America

020 7407 1478 info@selectlatinamerica.co.uk www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk Our specialist knowledge of Latin America enables us to offer high-quality tours, both tailor-made and escorted small groups. We offer culture, nature and adventure itineraries.

Galapagos, Amazon and Antarctica are our specialities. 30 years experience.

Steamond Travel

020 7730 8646 info@steamondtravel.com www.steamondtravel.com Steamond Travel, with a background of 37 years in organising trips to Latin America offers you first-hand knowledge with flights, accommodation, air passes and bespoke tours at unbeatable prices.

Steppes Travel

01285 885 333 enquiry@steppestravel.co.uk www.steppestravel.co.uk Steppes Travel specialise in tailor-made travel to all of Latin America. Our team have travelled extensively resulting in holidays which incorporate culture and wildlife while minimising your environmental impact through careful choice of hotels.

Sunvil Traveller

020 8758 4774 latinamerica@sunvil.co.uk www.sunvil.co.uk Carefully-crafted adventure trips with a particular emphasis on wildlife and culture.

Our expert team has explored Latin America for well over 40 years. 11 countries across Central and South America. Sensible and honest advice.

Swoop Patagonia, Antarctica & Arctic

0117 369 0196 advice@swooptravel.co.uk www.swoop-patagonia.co.uk, www.swoop-antarctica.com, www.swoop-artic.com Our exclusive focus on Patagonia & the polar regions means that whatever kind of adventure you’re looking for, we can help. We’ve got the knowledge, relationships & experience to help you plan a trip that matches your dreams, budget & appetite for adventure.

T Tango Tours Ltd

01970 631737 info@tangotours.co.uk http://tangotours.co.uk At Tango Tours we specialise in creating the best tailor-made tours for our customers. We arrange both bespoke and scheduled departures for individual and groups throughout Latin America, and we are committed to making every tour an experience of a lifetime.

The Explorations Company

01367 850566 info@explorationscompany.com www.explorationscompany.com A highly personalised service for welltravelled individuals looking for something different. Holidays tailor-made to a client’s individuality. Our experts have a decade and a half of experience in travelling and working with this colourful continent.

The South America Specialists

01525 306 555 info@thesouthamericaspecialists.com www.thesouthamericaspecialists.com Specialist tour operator for planning luxury South America travel with particular focus on Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Antarctica. Featuring independent lodge reviews, photos, HD videos and rates.

We charge the same rate as going direct.

Tucan Travel

020 8896 1600 adventures@tucantravel.com www.tucantravel.com Tucan Travel has long been the experts in adventure travel to Latin America. Our award winning reputation for quality of service, value for money & responsible travel has made us leaders in this field. Take the adventure of a lifetime with Tucan Travel.

W

WEXAS

020 7589 3315 travel@wexas.com www.wexas.com Wexas is one of the UK’s most respected travel companies, specialising in luxury tailor-made holidays to all seven continents.

As a family-owned business with 45 years of experience, Wexas provides the highest level of service and unbiased travel advice.

Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel

020 8741 7390 info@wildfrontiers.co.uk www.wildfrontierstravel.com Adventure tour operator specialising in small group tours and tailor-made holidays to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

World Odyssey

01905 731373 info@world-odyssey.com www.world-odyssey.com World Odyssey specialises in tailor-made holidays throughout Latin America. We offer first-hand and in-depth knowledge and whether a honeymoon or a family holiday, we design the finest itineraries to fit the precise requirements of our clients.

The Ultimate Travel Company

020 7386 4646 enquiry@theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk The Ultimate Travel Company offers a wide range of tours throughout South America specialising in tailor-made itineraries for groups, individuals and families based on our extensive personal knowledge of Latin America.

Trailfinders

020 7368 1500 www.trailfinders.com Experts in tailor-making itineraries worldwide, Trailfinders offers unbeatable value and exceptional service. Whether you’re looking for budget or luxury, adventure or city breaks, cruising or touring, our prices are amongst the lowest you will find.

Tribes Travel Ltd

01473 890 499 info@tribes.co.uk www.tribes.co.uk TRIBES is an award-winning independent travel company founded in 1998. We provide high quality tailor made holidays throughout Brazil, Ecuador, The Galapagos and Peru. We share our expert knowledge with you so that you get the experience you really want.

Tropical Sky

01342 887 933 info@tropicalsky.co.uk www.tropicalsky.co.uk Tropical Sky a leading long haul operator specialises in high quality tailor-made/ packaged holidays. The program to Latin America includes all major countries and destinations offering a comprehensive choice and variety of accommodations and sightseeing.

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MEMBERS

BY COUNTRY ANTARCTICA Antarctica XXI

Get the inside knowledge: these are the local tour operators in each destination that will help transform your visit into the trip of a lifetime

National Institute of Tourism Promotion Argentina

+56-61-61 4100 sales@antarcticaxxi.com www.antarcticaxxi.com ANTARCTICA XXI offers exclusive fly & cruise expeditions to Antarctica - a unique opportunity to fly over the ‘infamous’ Drake Passage in 2 hours, and to join an expedition cruise visiting the best wildlife sites along the Antarctic Peninsula.

+54-11-4850 1600 www.argentina.travel The creation of the INPROTUR (National Institute of Tourism Promotion) links the public and private sectors as regards international tourism promotion. The mission of INPROTUR is to position Argentina as an international tourist destination in the markets of origin.

Antarpply Expeditions

BELIZE

+54-2901-433 636 / 436 747 info@antarpply.com www.antarpply.com ANTARPPLY EXPEDITIONS specialises in expedition cruises to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. Comfortably accommodating a maximum of 88 passengers, the USHUAIA is one of the few small ships ensuring longer and more frequent landings.

ARGENTINA Aliwen Incoming

+54-11-5032 3073 quote@aliwenincoming.com www.aliwenincoming.com Aliwen Incoming was created to provide truly tailor made trips for individuals or small groups who desire the highest standards.

Our team is comprised of experts who have extensive experience in planning and operating itineraries within Argentina. We take pride in giving full attention to detail!

Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa

+54-2901-44 2900 info@arakur.com www.arakur.com Located in a privileged location, on a natural balcony inside a nature Reserve, Arakur is more than a luxury hotel – it is an experience that will be etched in the memory of its visitors. At the mythical Tierra del Fuego.

Argentina Travel Partners DMC

+54-11-4315 9222 info@atpdmc.com www.atpdmc.com ARGENTINA TRAVEL PARTNERS (ATP DMC) is an independent destination management company that specialises in opening up the range of unique travel experiences for new and returning visits to Argentina, whatever their age and interests.

Estancia Los Potreros

+54-11-6091 2692 bookings@estancialospotreros.com www.estancialospotreros.com Estancia Los Potreros is an exclusive working cattle farm in the wild and scenic Cordoba hills. It dates from 1574 and sets the highest standards of accommodation and is unrivalled in its fabulous horses. The top estancia to experience Argentina.

Mai10

+54-11-4314 3390 mai10@mai10.com.ar www.mai10.com.ar Mai10 and our Founder/Owner Maita Barrenechea are recognized by the leading luxury experiential travel curators Virtuoso, Conde Nast Traveler and Travel+Leisure as the top travel specialists of our region.

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Belize Tourism Board

+501-227-2420 info@travelbelize.org www.travelbelize.org Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a peaceful English-speaking country in Central America. Belize offers a unique mix of culture and adventure, with tropical forests, Maya temples, and the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

Absolute Belize

US Toll Free +1 800 640 2182 rachael@absolutebelize.com www.absolutebelize.com At Absolute Belize, we curate the adventure and re-define the luxury, drawing on years of first hand experience on Belizean soil.

Every itinerary is hand crafted with precision, love and nurture based on our clients' tastes, desires and wildest dreams.

BOLIVIA

Bolivia Milenaria

+591-2-241 4753 info@boliviamilenaria.com www.boliviamilenaria.com Bolivia Milenaria is a Bolivian DMC specialising in tailor-made tours for small groups or lone travellers. Our services focus on quality by paying attention to every little detail to make our trips the experience of a lifetime.

Crillon Tours-Titicaca Hydrofoils

+591-2-233 7533 titicaca@entelnet.bo www.titicaca.com Tourism pioneers creating unique travel conditions for 58 years; our appealing products, programs, own operation and infrastructure on Lake Titicaca & Uyuni Salt Flats plus a growing offer of flights and hotels, Bolivia with CRILLON TOURS is unbeatable!

BRAZIL

Amazon Nature Tours

+1-401-423 3377 www.amazon-nature-tours.com reservations@amazon-nature-tours.com Amazon cruises on the M/Y Tucano venture far into the rainforest, deep into a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With small groups, experienced guides, and a comfortable vessel, we unlock the secrets of the Amazon's magnificent flora and fauna. Our cruises are sophisticated, active, and above all, authentic.

Belmond Copacabana Palace

+55-21-2548 7070 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com Situated on the promenade facing Copacabana Beach, Belmond Copacabana Palace is an iconic city-centre hotel legendary for its sumptuous style, fine cuisine and impeccable service. Highlights include a magnificent pool and Michelin Star restaurant.

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

explora SA

+55-45-2102 7000 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com The only hotel within Brazil's Iguassu National Park, this luxury colonial-style residence is located just seconds from the thundering action of Iguassu Falls. Guests have exclusive access to the natural wonder outside of park opening hours.

+56-2-206 6060 reservexplora@explora.com www.explora.com The purpose of explora is to provide its guests with the unforgettable experience of exploring the natural and cultural environments of South America's remote regions. Our hotels are sophisticated to ensure a real enjoyment of life's pleasures.

Brazilian Tourist Board - Embratur

+56-2-2241 1941 ghorney@latitud90.com www.latitud90.com/incoming The Sense of Discovery. Traveling is a learning experience that transforms people. This is why each program has been developed with the aim of revealing places, people and history in the most profound and comfortable way.

020 3727 2630 lilas.embratur@cunhavaz.com www.visitbrasil.com The Brazilian Tourist Board - Embratur's representative for the UK Travel Trade.

TurisRio

+21 2334 6150 www.cidadesmaravilhosas.rj.gov.br TurisRio, the State of Rio de Janeiro Tourism Authority, linked to the Tourism State Secretariat, invites you to enjoy the charm of our wonderful cities. Nowhere in the world, you will find such fascinating places - so diverse and so close to each other.

CHILE

Turismo Chile

+56-2-2959 5500 cpt@turismochile.travel www.turismochile.travel Turismo Chile is a private non-profit entity, whose mission is to promote Chilean travel industry internationally. The institution combines public and private efforts to finance promotion around the world.

Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa

+56-2-2912 3911 recepcion@altoatacama.com www.altoatacama.com Alto Atacama is a tribute to the Atacama Desert and its culture, and an example of stunning sustainable architecture. To explore the desert Alto offers over 30 adventurous, contemplative or cultural activities and a telescope, to relax six pools and a spa.

Awasi Atacama

+56-2-2233 9641 gororke@awasi.cl www.awasi.com Awasi Atacama and Awasi Patagonia are both members of the Relais & Chateaux collection.

They are the only hotels in South America where each room is assigned a 4WD vehicle & private guide, allowing each experience to be moulded to the interests & preferences of each guest.

Balloons Over Atacama

020 3286 0207 info@balloonsoveratacama.com www.easternsafaris.com Taking off each morning just before sunrise, we offer a choice of Premium or Classic service flights. All our balloon flights offer the same unrivalled views over the spectacular dessert landscape of the Valley of the Moon in complete comfort style and safety.

EcoCamp Patagonia/ Cascada Expediciones

+56-2-2923 5896 info@cascada.travel www.cascada.travel Cascada Expediciones specialises in adventure travel and nature tours throughout Chile. We are the owners of sustainable geodesic dome hotel EcoCamp Patagonia in Torres del Paine and operate unique hiking tours in the national park.

Latitud90- Chile

Tierra Hotels

+56-2-2207 8807 info@tierrahotels.com www.tierrahotels.com Discover the iconic Chilean destinations of Patagonia, Atacama and Chiloé Island in award winning Tierra Hotels. With bold architecture and inspiring views, Tierra Hotels offers seamless vacations in far-away places that feel like home.

COLOMBIA ProColombia

020 7491 3535 www.colombia.travel PROCOLOMBIA is the entity that promotes international tourism, foreign investment and non-traditional exports in Colombia. It offers support and integral consultancy to clients through services or instruments aimed at facilitating design and the execution of it.

Colombia57

+57-6-886 8050 info@colombia57.com www.colombia57.com Colombia57 is a European owned local DMC & Receptive Tour Operator providing FIT, group tours MICE and cruise logistics to Colombia with a strong focus on quality, innovative ideas & product, value for money, excellent service and attention to detail.

COSTA RICA

Best Tour Operator & DMC – Costa Rica

+506-2-290 1302 info@bestcostaricadmc.com www.bestcostaricadmc.com/en We offer personalised services and professional standards in organising travel options, be it for individuals, for pleasure or business, groups, incentives, meetings or events. We are a company with fresh ideas and a renewed focus on quality and service.

Costa Rican Trails

+506-2-527 6700 info@costaricantrails.com www.costaricantrails.com Costa Rican Trails targets to a very specific clientele, tailor made itineraries with special needs and interests. All of our services and products have been carefully selected to meet our high standards of quality, value and character.

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Hacienda AltaGracia

Ecoventura/Galapagos Network

Sacha Lodge, Casa Suizo & Aliso

Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada

Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

Enchanted Expeditions

Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours

Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

Tip Top Travel

Catherwood Travels

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Los Cabos Tourism Board

+954-218 5384 www.altagracia.aubergeresorts.com The finest of country living in Costa Rica.

Deluxe suites, private casitas, world-class dining, a magnificent spa with indoor/ outdoor treatment spaces, superb equestrian centre, private airstrip, curated experiences to bring you closer to nature & each other. +506-2-282 4898 info@swisstravelcr.com www.swisstravelcr.com Swiss Travel is a Destination Management Company (DMC) in Costa Rica. We offer a personalized service for individuals, groups, meetings & incentives including hotel reservations, transportation, tours, private services and organization of events.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Dominican Republic Tourist Board

020 7242 7778 uk@godominicanrepublic.com www.godominicanrepublic.com The Dominican Republic Tourist Board, part of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, is a support and information center for travel industry professionals, journalists and members of the public.

ECUADOR/GALAPAGOS Quito Tourist Board

+593-2-299 3300-30 ext. 1042 ccardenas@quito-turismo.gob.ec www.quito-turismo.gob.ec Quito Turismo is in charge of promoting Ecuador's capital Quito as a tourism destination. Quito entices its visitors with the largest colonial city center in the Americas and its natural, cultural and gastronomic offer. www.quito.com.ec

Advantage Travel

+593-2-336 0888 info@advantagecuador.com www.advantagecuador.com Advantage Travel DMC, with more than 20 years experience, offers a different way to explore the fascinating diversity of Ecuador with 2 Amazon cruises and a wonderful lodge: The Manatee Amazon Explorer, the Anakonda Amazon Cruise, and the Mantaraya Lodge.

Andean Travel Company

+593-2-222 8385 info@andeantc.com www.andeantc.com We operate on Ecuador's mainland and The Galapagos Islands. Having our own yachts and more than 15 years of experience serving the market, we are truly committed to deliver the best quality services with the greatest flexibility in the market.

Casa Gangotena / Mashpi Lodge

+593-2-400 8000 info@casagangotena.com www.casagangotena.com; www.mashpilodge.com Casa Gangotena, luxury boutique hotel with 31 rooms is located in the heart of Quito’s Colonial Quarter. Mashpi Lodge, awardwinning luxurious lodge is located three hours from Quito in the mega-biodiverse world of its private cloudforest reserve.

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+1-305-262 6264 info@galapagosnetwork.com www.ecoventura.com Ecoventura offers life-enriching experiences in Galapagos for active adults, families and scuba divers aboard a fleet of expedition yachts; Eric, Letty, Galapagos Sky. MV ORIGIN joined the fleet in 2016 as the most comfortable fuel efficient luxury vessel. +593-2-334 0525 headoffice@enchantedexpeditions.com www.enchantedexpeditions.com Enchanted Expeditions are a longestablished and reliable ground operator in Quito. Among our specialist tours - culture, archaeology, birding, adventure, trekking.

Beluga and Cachalote on Galapagos.

EQ Touring

020 3372 4723 eqtouring@eqtouring.info www.eqtouring.com Boutique Company designing customized itineraries in Ecuador and Galapagos, we use the most reliable boats in Galapagos, the best hotels in Ecuador and the Amazon and the most experienced Tour Guides; this guarantees a pleasant exploration in our country.

Go Galapagos - Kleintours

+593-2-226 7000 sales@gogalapagos.com.ec www.kleintours.com Go Galapagos - Kleintours continues improving in our 34 years, creating lifetime experiences in Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands as owners of m/v Galapagos Legend and m/y Corals I&II with regular weekly departures.

Hilton Quito

+593-2-382 8350 sales.quito@hiltoncolon.com www.quito.hilton.com Prime location and views to experience the city, the closest 5* to the Colonial Town.

Inviting rooms and an exclusive all-suite tower for full comfort under Hilton’s standards. The best of the national and international cuisine for fine or casual dining.

Metropolitan Touring

+593-2-298 8300 info@metropolitan-touring.com www.metropolitan-touring.com Metropolitan Touring is a top DMC/ground handler, established in 1953, with operations in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In Ecuador, pioneered tourism to Galapagos in the sixties and today owns and operates Santa Cruz II, La Pinta and Isabela II, and Finch Bay Hotel.

Ocean Adventures

+593-2-246 6301 info@oagalapagos.com www.oagalapagos.com Discover the Galapagos on board the finest adventure cruise ships available. Owned and operated by Ocean Adventures, the expedition vessel, M/V Eclipse and M/C Athala II, allows travelers to experience one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.

Quasar Expeditions

+593-2-244 6996 info@quasarex.com www.quasarex.com Galapagos up-scale motor yacht operators since 1986. Capacity from 18 to 32 passengers. Land tour packages in Ecuador, Patagonia overland safaris and Peru tours for discerning travellers.

+593-2-256 6090 guillermoz@sachalodge.com www.sachalodge.com SACHA LODGE, 26 rooms. Amazon basin, 300 meters canopy walkway / CASA DEL SUIZO, 75 rooms Hotel. Amazon Basin. Culture nature & adventure. CASA ALISO, Quito 10 rooms individually designed & decorated. Petit Menu, until 10:00 PM, 24 hour front desk. +593-2-250 0540 info@surtrek.com www.surtrek.com Specialist for tailor-made tours and sustainable travel in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, and South America. We offer customized first-class and luxury tours for individual travelers and small groups around Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

+593-2-250 9983 enrique@rwittmer.com www.lcc-tiptoptravel.com TIP TOP TRAVEL is the representative of Tip Top Fleet in the Galapagos Islands. We offer all types of trips around Ecuador, we specialize in tailor made tours for FIT´s and groups looking always to meet all our clients’ needs and budget.

Falkland Islands Tourist Board

07968 962 882 Tony@falklandislands.com www.falklandislands.com Leading the tourism industry of this unrivalled wildlife destination, the Falkland Islands Tourist Board provides a wide range of information and services to visitors, agents and tour operators alike.

Falkland Islands Holidays

+500-22122 info@falklandislandsholidays.com www.falklandislandsholidays.com Longest established travel operator in the Falkland Islands, over 20 years experience in tailor-made holidays to suit all travel requirements, photograpy, wildlife, battle, hiking or general interest. Group and Independent travel arranged.

International Tours & Travel Ltd

+500-22041 se.itt@horizon.co.fk www.falklandislands.travel The most comprehensive travel agent and tour operator in the Falkland Islands with over 10 years experience and passion in selling this niche destination. As LAN GSA we also offer competitive prices for international flights to the South American cone.

MEXICO

Mexico Tourism Board

00800-1111 2266 info@mexicotravel.co.uk www.visitmexico.com A fully comprehensive information service on all aspects of travel to Mexico, including literature on the country's many attractions, for the individual traveller and the tour wholesaler.

+52-415-152 7040 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com A cluster of historic buildings at the heart of San Miguel de Allende, this charming luxury hotel offers the ultimate Mexican experience. Cool leafy gardens and stone arches surround pretty courtyards. Features include a renowned cookery school and spa. +52-998-872 8200 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa is a luxurious boutique retreat on Mexico's Riviera Maya, known for its spectacular white-sand beach, award-winning spa and innovative refined Mexican cuisine, holds an irresistible allure for guests from around the world. +52-999-920 2632 reservations@catherwoodtravels.com www.catherwoodtravels.com Catherwood Travels takes adventurers deep into the heart of Mexico's mesmerizing culture on unforgettable bespoke tours.

Travelers enjoy exclusive dining, adventures in seldom-visited Mayan sites immersing them in the wonders of the Maya World.

07584 430 314 www.visitloscabos.travel Los Cabos Tourism Board is London is responsible for promoting Los Cabos as one of the most upscale multi-destinations in Mexico. Located in Baja California, nestled between two seas, Los Cabos has an unique biodiversity affording visitors one of the most amazing whale watching experiences.

Velas Resorts

07734 359 566 salesuk@velasresorts.com www.grandvelas.com Velas Resorts features four spectacular luxury resorts with 1,170 luxury rooms and suites, including Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, Velas Vallarta Suites Resort, Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta and Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Viajes Meca

+52-55-5203 4155 mecauk@viajesmeca.com www.viajesmeca.com With over 30 years of experience, Viajes Meca has now become one of the leading DMC in Mexico, with a reliable and efficient service. Viajes Meca provides tailormade itineraries, personalizes all incentive travels, organizes conferences, seminars.

PANAMA Ecocircuitos

+507-315-1488 annie@ecocircuitos.com www.ecocircuitos.com EcoCircuitos is a locally owned tour operator and DMC committed to the development of sustainable tourism, providing distinct responsible and unique travel adventures throughout Panama since 1999. Adventure and conservation is our main focus.

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MEMBERS

BY COUNTRY Panama Trails

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas

PERU

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

+507-836-6093 info@panamatrails.com www.panamatrails.com Panama Trails is a Panama based tour operator committed to provide unique, innovative & sustainable travel services at a great value. We offer travel experiences for families, honeymooners, nature lovers, adrenaline junkies and tailor made itineraries.

PromPerú

+51-1-616 7300 ehakim@promperu.gob.pe www.peru.travel PromPerú, the Commission for Exports and Tourism in Peru, is responsible for the promotion of investments and tourism.

Being rich in history, colonial tradition, adventure, gastronomy and biodiversity, makes Peru an attractive destination.

Amazonas Explorer

+51-84-25 2846 info@amazonas-explorer.com www.amazonas-explorer.com Amazonas Explorer has been putting the adventure into adventure travel for over 30 years. Choose from Peru's most comprehensive high quality fixed departure selection, with ten trips each week. Or take a well crafted custom made itinerary, or family itinerary.

Belmond Hiram Bingham

+51-84-58 1414 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com The Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train links Cusco and Machu Picchu via the dramatic Urubamba River valley. The journey includes appetisers, brunch, live music and a gourmet dinner of local specialities.

Belmond Hotel Monasterio

+51-84-60 4000 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com A former monastery, Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a tranquil retreat located in the heart of Cusco. 16th-century paintings decorate magnificent interiors, while many guestrooms are enriched with oxygen to combat the effects of altitude.

Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado

+51-84-20 1631 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com Set by the Urubamba River between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado is a tranquil retreat.

Spacious riverfront terraces offer vist as over the river and hills, while facilities include the Sacred Valley's first outdoor solar-heated pool.

Belmond Miraflores Park

+51-1-610 4000 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com This chic hotel in stylish Miraflores enjoys a sensational location beside the Pacific Ocean. The hotel’s restaurant is one of Lima’s top places to dine, serving international dishes with a focus on Asian, Mediterranean and Peruvian flavours.

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+51-84-582 222 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com This restored former palace and convent blends original Inca features with 21st–century indulgence. Oxygenenriched suites have butler service and facilities include Cusco’s first outdoor heated swimming pool and the world's only fully-oxygenated spa. +51-84-211 038 sales.uk@belmond.com www.belmond.com The only hotel adjacent to Machu Picchu, guests at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge enjoy exclusive access to the citadel in the early morning and late afternoon. Set in fragrant gardens, the intimate hotel offers stunning views of the surrounding mountainside.

Condor Travel SA

+51-1-615 3000 incoming@condortravel.com www.condortravel.com Condor Travel offers 37 years of experience in tourism, and major competitive advantages that make us into South America's leading tour operator: ISO 9001:2008 certified, 24/7 operation, innovative products, a highly skilled team, and sustainable tourism.

Delfin Amazon Cruises SAC

+51 719 0999 info@delfinamazoncruises.com www.delfinamazoncruises.com Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, Delfin Amazon Cruises will take you into one of the world’s largest protected flooded forests, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.

Hotel B

Kuoda Tours

Rainforest Expeditions

Libertador Hotels Resorts & Spas

Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

+51-84-221 773 info@kuodatravel.com www.kuodatravel.com BESPOKE TOURS IN SOUTH AMERICA: private itinerary tailored to requirements, personality, interests • Accommodations • Activities, entrance tickets • Private guides • Private transportation • Key meals • 24/7 Help • Unforgettable, meaningful experiences! +51-1-712 7000 avillarroel@libertador.com.pe www.libertador.com.pe A collection of hotels known for the quality of their service and the friendliness of their staff. Located in most attractive destinations such as Arequipa, Puno,Trujillo and Lima, our Libertador Hotel’s are considered one of the most important in Peru.

Mountain Lodges of Peru

Titilaka

Palacio del Inka a Luxury Collection Hotel

Viajes Pacifico

+51-84-231 961 avillarroel@libertador.com.pe www.libertador.com.pe A storied mansion dating back nearly five centuries, Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Koricancha, it is a 5-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets, and more.

Peru Empire Co.

Inkaterra Peru

6126700 www.perurail.com PeruRail is a Peruvian-British company, part of the Belmond Group. Since 1999 we have been operating rail services along the south and south-east routes offering tourist services and making every journey an unforgettable experience.

Kichwa Peru

+51-84-261 369 juanjose@kichwaperu.com.pe www.kichwaperu.com.pe Kichwa creates unique and memorable experiences for travellers in Peru & Bolivia.

Whether travelling independently or in a small group, Kichwa is the epitome of expertise and efficiency, offering over 20 years of combined experience.

+51-84-581-777 avillarroel@libertador.com.pe www.libertador.com.pe The only hotel in Urubamba with a private train station to Machu Picchu, we go to every length to ensure an indelible stay, offering refined dining, a therapeutic spa, and premier fitness center, along with an emerald lagoon and blooming riverside gardens.

+51-84-243 636 elisabeth.lr@mountainlodgesofperu.com www.mountainlodgesofperu.com Mountain Lodges of Peru is a Peruvian company dedicated to operating unique travel experiences with an orientation to soft adventures and social responsibility.

We offer a spirited, authentic and thrilling take on adventure travel to Machu Picchu.

+51-1-206 0800 marketing@hotelb.pe www.hotelb.pe Hotel B will cater to a variety of clientele, from guests looking for a historic atmosphere to the ones interested in the city’s contemporary art and cultural scene.

Heritage, traditions and culinary fusion attract the world’s savviest travelers to Lima. +51-1-610 0400 liza.masias@inkaterra.com www.inkaterra.com Inkaterra is Peru's leader in sustainable tourism with five Inkaterra hotels and one hotel byInkaterra, a sub brand. The company also offers bespoke tailor-made trips and in Tambopata, Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

+51-1-719 6422 sales@rainforest.com.pe www.perunature.com Rainforest Expeditions operates award winning EcoLodges: Posada Amazonas, Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata Research Center and the new exclusive Amazon Villa.

We're passionate about nature and committed to its people.

+51-1-700 5100 michelle@pec.pe www.pec.pe Peru Empire Co. offers tailor-made itineraries designed to match each traveller's personal interests, style and preferences to create ideal Peru trips.

PeruRail

Q'INTI (formerly known as SouthWild Peru)

+51-1-444-2092 peru@southwild.com www.q-inti.com Boutique tour operator with offices in Lima and Cusco. Excellent service, with fair prices. Inca Trail & Treks, roundtrips, educational and birdwatching tours, photo safaris, and overland expeditions. New rainforest destination near Puerto Maldonado.

olga.cervantes@titilaka.pe www.titilaka.pe Titilaka is an Experience Lodge located on a private peninsula on the shores of Lake Titicaca, providing sophisticated travelers a luxurious refuge to explore the treasured natural, cultural and historical resources of this remote mystical region. +51-1-610 1900 www.viajespacifico.com.pe VIPAC Peru is one of the most prestigious tour companies in Peru. It was established more than 37 years ago with the mission of creating memorable experiences such as regular departures, private journeys, incentive programs, among others.

ST HELENA

St Helena Tourism

+290 22158 enquiries@tourism.co.sh www.sthelenatourism.com St Helena Tourism is the official tourist office and DMC of the island of St Helena, which is located in the South Atlantic almost half way between Latin America and Africa. A 47-square mile island, it is one of the remotest settled islands in the world.

URUGUAY

Buemes Travel DMC

+598-2902 1050 incoming@buemes.com.uy www.buemesdmc.com Our organization has the experience, means, materials and committed professionals for receiving FIT’s and groups. Our excellent group of professional bilingual staff, tour guides and our innovative tours, have made us a leader in the field.

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MEMBERS

BY CATEGORY AIRLINES Air Europa

0871 423 0717 uksales@air-europa.com www.aireuropa.com Air Europa offers twice-daily flights from Gatwick to Madrid with quick connections to: Asuncion, Buenos Aires, Lima, Salvador de Bahia, Caracas, Havana, Santo Domingo, Montevideo, Santa Cruz, Sao Paulo, Cancun & Punta Cana. New for 2017: new 787 dreamliners on our Buenos Aires, Lima, Montevideo and Havana routes plus a new once a week flight to Honduras from April 2017.

Air France/KLM

uksales@air-europa.com www.airfrance.com www.klm.com AIR FRANCE and KLM offer flights from 18 UK departure points to over 20 destinations in Latin America via its award winning hubs Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. New twice-weekly flight to San Jose for the winter schedule with Air France.

The hotels, airlines, cruise ships, tourist boards and service providers that will help enable you to get the most out of Latin America from six U.S hubs. You'll arrive refreshed, thanks to United's superior levels of comfort and personal service.

CRUISE SHIPS Aqua Expeditions

+51-1-434 5544 www.aquaexpeditions.com Aqua Expeditions’ luxury small ships explore the world’s greatest rivers, from Peru’s Amazon to the Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam with an exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, extending these adventures deeper by kayak and bicycle.

Australis

+34-93-497 0484 europe@australis.com www.australis.com Expedition cruise company specialised in navigating through the southernmost channels of Patagonia. 3 and 4 night itineraries.

Explore the most attractive spots of Tierra del Fuego, sailing through the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn.

One Ocean Expeditions

0800 031 4206 info.uk@avianca.com www.avianca.com Avianca offers travelers the widest network of destinations operating on a daily flight between London Heathrow to Bogota on a modern 787 Dreamliner, and connecting to over 100 destinations. Star Alliance Member.

+351-962-721 836 carlas@oneoceanexpeditions.com www.oneoceanexpeditions.com Expedition cruise company One Ocean Expeditions operates two small ships designed for polar exploration. Offering a range of innovative Antarctic itineraries the company has developed a reputation for exceptional quality, customer service & great value.

BA/Iberia Airlines

Silversea Cruises (UK) Ltd

Avianca

020 8738 3355 consumer.support@ba.com www.ba.com Iberia and British Airways offer both direct and indirect flights to Latin America. BA fly to RIO, SAO, BUE, MEX, CUN, SJO, LIM & SCL nonstop from London. IB , via Madrid , fly to BUE, RIO ,SAO, MVD, SCL, BGO, SJO, UIO, GYE, SJO, SAL, GUA, PTY, LIM, CCS, HAV.

Delta Airlines

020 8237 4600 www.delta.com With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 319 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft.

LATAM AIRLINES GROUP

0800 026 0728 www.flytap.com LATAM Airlines is Latin America’s largest airline with the region’s most complete network. Created through the coming together of legacy airlines LAN and TAM, we fly to 115 destinations within the continent.

TAP Portugal

0208 222 7520 www.latam.com TAP is the leading airline to Portugal from the UK, travelling to numerous destinations within Europe and beyond. In operation since 1945, the company’s network now comprises 76 destinations in 29 countries worldwide and currently operates approx 2,500 weekly flights.

United Airlines

0845 607 6760 www.united.com United Airlines has Latin America covered.

Services from 5 UK airports to over 50 Latin American destinations via connections

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0844 770 9030 salesuk@silversea.com www.silversea.com/expeditions Explore awe-inspiring destinations to the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Central and South America in luxury on our small-sized Expedition ships with a team of knowledgeable experts. Every voyage includes butler service, complimentary beverages and fine dining.

Skorpios Cruises

+56-2-477 1900 michel@skorpios.cl www.skorpios.cl Skorpios Cruises has 40 years of experience offering clients the unforgettable experience of cruising the spectacular coastline of Northern and Southern Chilean Patagonia.

GUIDE BOOKS/MEDIA Bradt Travel Guides

01753 893 444 info@bradtguides.com www.bradtguides.com Pioneering publisher of guidebooks since 1974. Bradt has 200+ titles on its list, and is best known for 'getting there first' with guides to new/emerging destinations.

'Grand slam' winner of all travel industry's major guidebook awards in 2016.

Footprint Handbooks

01225 469 141 contactus@morriscontentalliance.com www.footprinttravelguides.com With over 40 guides to the region, including the iconic, annually updated South American Handbook, we have been voted

by LATA as 'the most informative guides to Latin America on the market'.

Wanderlust Travel Media 01753 620 426 info@wanderlust.co.uk www.wanderlust.co.uk

Wanderlust is the UK's leading magazine covering adventurous and cultural travel. As Michael Palin says: "the most discerning travel magazine this side of Nanga Parbat!" Subscribe to the magazine, visit www.wanderlust.co.uk or follow us on @wanderlustmag.

HOTEL GROUPS Belmond (UK) Limited

020 3117 1300 kate.dicks@belmond.com www.belmond.com The Belmond collection in Latin America includes properties in Brazil, Mexico and five luxury hotels in Peru including the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas and Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, as well as the Belmond Hiram Bingham train.

Bop - Best Of South America

+54-11-5254 -0193 mariana@bop.travel www.bop.travel BOP is the marketing alliance that groups together some of the most exclusive hotels and cruises of South America. Each member has distinguished qualities and outstanding features that make them unique and unrepeatable. www.bop.travel

Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts

020 3598 8030 www.fiestamericana.com Posadas is Mexico’s largest hotel operator, with over 20,000 hotel rooms in beach and city destinations throughout the country.

NH Hotel Group

020 3499 8271 www.nh-hotels.com NH Hotel Group operates with over 60 hotels and around 10,000 rooms in 10 countries across Latin America. NH stands out in quality both as regards to services and facilities, with carefully thought out decoration, intended to please all tastes and making the guest feel comfortable.

LOCAL OPERATORS CAST Central America

+506-2-228 1470 info@castcr.com www.castcr.com CAST is a DMC with its own offices in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, which has given thousands of travelers incredible and unforgettable experiences since 1999. Recognized as a sustainable company with personalized attention and high quality services.

Esteros Viajes

+54-11-4328 7594 www.esterosviajes.com.ar Boutique Tour Operator since 2006 Proposal: Specialized in customized trips; always offer new products in Argentina – be different! 24hrs or less for any quote on request any request. More than trips, we offer experiences.

Fremen Tours

+591-2-242 1258 info@andes-amazonia.com www.andes-amazonia.com BOLIVIA, Andes & Amazonia. We take the headaches out of your business.

Hover Tours International

reveal the destinations to our guests as a true insider, providing a unique perspective on the local people, places and culture.

South American Tours

+49-69-405 8970 sales@southamericantours.com www.southamericantours.com SAT is your leading DMC in South America, with company owned local offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. For over 40 years, we have been designing unique travel experiences, exclusively to the travel trade.

REPRESENTATION COMPANIES Americas

020 7223 4330 americas@americas.co.uk www.americas.co.uk We connect Tour Operators with DMCs and help plan your product range. We initiate relationships and continue to offer advice and knowledge to help maintain and grow sales.

We offer support with materials, product selection, product training and fam-trips.

AMG Representation

020 8487 9881 david@amgltd.biz www.amgrepresentation.com AMG is one of the UK’s leading sales representation, tourism marketing and PR agencies. Our unique blend of in-house skills, expertise, products and services provides our clients with an array of ideas and opportunities not offered by our competitors.

Kurtz-Ahlers & Associates

01733 602460 www.kurtzahlers.com Kurtz-Ahlers UK provides representation, marketing and consulting for a range of exceptional hotels, yachts and destinations who offer some of the most exciting products in the market today.

ROOM 701

+33-3-25-733 379 www.room701.com/en Room701 offers to assist you in your sales and marketing strategy so as to best promote your product in Europe, through regular promotional actions and its knowledge of the markets. References: Fasano, Insolito Boutique Hotel, Pousada Literaria & Tutabe.

Talking Stick Marketing

07828 199 600 byron@talkingstickmktg.co.uk www.talkingstickmktg.com Talking Stick Marketing & PR Communications is an innovative and dynamic Representation, Marketing and PR Company that specializes in providing complete Marketing solutions for the Travel Industry.

CHARITIES & NGOS The LATA Foundation

020 8715 2913 info@latafoundation.org www.latafoundation.org The LATA Foundation is a registered charity, committed to poverty relief, sustainable development and conservation projects throughout Latin America.

+58-295-263 9541 07445 302 405 daniel@inspiringdestination.com www.hovertours.com A leading Destination Management Company for Panama and Venezuela. We have the local knowledge and expertise to THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 71

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ALL LATA MEMBERS AIRLINES

Air Europa Air France/KLM Avianca Airlines British Airways / Iberia Airlines Copa Airlines Delta Airlines LATAM Airlines TAP Portugal United Airlines

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Sanderson Phillips tranquilico.com

BUSINESS SUPPORT Elman Wall Travel Accountants Global Reach Partners

CHARITIES/NGOS

Galapagos Conservation Trust Just a Drop The Crees Foundation The LATA Foundation The Travel Foundation

CRUISE SHIPS

Amazon Nature Tours ANTARCTICA XXI ANTARPPLY EXPEDITIONS Aqua Expeditions Australis Delfin Amazon Cruises SAC Ecoventura/Galapagos Network One Ocean Expeditions Silversea Expeditions Skorpios Cruises

GUIDE BOOKS/MEDIA Bradt Travel Guides Footprint Travel Guides Selling Travel Wanderlust Publications

HOTELS

Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa Awasi Atacama Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada Belmond Copacabana Palace Belmond Hotel das Cataratas Belmond Hotel Monasterio Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa Belmond Miraflores Park Belmond Palacio Nazarenas Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Casa Gangotena / Mashpi Lodge Estancia Los Potreros SA FAENA HOTEL BUENOS AIRES Grupo Islita Hacienda AltaGracia Hacienda Zuleta Zuturismo Cia. Ltd. Hilton Quito Hotel B Hotel Oro Verde Hotel Rapa Nui Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa Experiences Napo Wildlife Center Pacuare Lodge Palacio del Inka A Luxury Collection Hotel Remota Sacha Lodge, Casa Suizo & Aliso Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena Sol & Luna Lodge & Spa Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa Tierra Hotels Titilaka Via Natura & Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge Vira Vira Hacienda Hotel Zorah Beach Hotel

HOTEL GROUPS

Belmond (UK) Limited BOP - Best of South America

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Casa Andina explora SA Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts Francis Ford Coppola Blancaneaux Resorts Hard Rock Hotels All Inclusive Collection Libertador Hotels Resorts & Spas NH Hotel Group The Singular Hotels Velas Resorts

LEGAL & INSURANCE Mayo Wynne Baxter Travel Risk Professionals

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Matuete

LOCAL OPERATORS

Absolute Belize ADSMUNDO Advantage Travel Aliwen Incoming Agora Brasil Viagens Albee Adventures Amazonas Explorer Andando Tours Andean Travel Company Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists SAC Argentina Travel Partners DMC Asuire Travel Auroraeco Brazil Best Tour Operator & DMC - Costa Rica Blumar Tour Operator B.I.T. Brazilian Incentives & Tourism Bolivia Milenaria Buemes Travel DMC CAST Central America Catherwood Travels Colombia57 Tours Travel & Logistics Ltda Colombian Journeys SAS Coltur Peru Condor Verde Condor Travel S.A. Costa Rican Trails Costa Rica Reps Costa Rica Sun Tours Creter Tours Crillon Tours SA - Titicaca Hydrofoils Cynsa Tour Operator Darah Travel Ltd Del Bianco Travel Experience Delfino Tours C.A Designer Trips Argentina Ecuadorian Tours EcoCamp Patagonia / Cascada Expediciones EcoCircuitos S.A Elements Enchanted Expeditions Enigma Adventure Tour Operator EQ Touring Esencia Experiences Esteros Viajes Eurotur SRL Falkland Islands Holidays Fremen Tours Bolivia, Andes & Amazonia Gentian Trails Geo Reisen Go Galapagos - Kleintours H&T Argentina Haugan Cruises / La Selva Jungle Lodge Havas Creative Tours Horizontes Nature Tours Hover Tours International Inkanatura Travel Inkaterra Peru S.A.C. International Tours & Travel Ltd. Island Expeditions Belize Journey Mexico Kallpa Tour Operator Kichwa Peru KonTour Travel Kuoda Travel Lares Uruguay Latin Trails Latincoming Latitud90 - Chile LimaTours

Machu Travel Peru Mai 10 Magri Turismo Ltda Manu Expeditions Mava Travel Peru METROPOLITAN TOURING Metropolitan Touring Peru Metropolitan Touring Colombia Mountain Lodges of Peru Native Trails GmBH & Co. KG Natoura Travel & Adventure Tours Nature Style SA Ocean Adventures SA Panama Trails Panamericana de Viajes Passion Brazil Peru Empire Co. Protours Chile Pure Brasil Q'INTI (formerly known as SouthWild Peru) Quality Travel Quasar Expeditions Rainforest Expeditions Royal Galapagos Saint Germain Tours Say Hueque Patagonia Setours S.A. Singular Luxury Travel Designers SOCOMPA South American Tours DMC South Expeditions Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours Swiss Travel, Costa Rica Tangol Tip Top Travel Top Dest Tours Unlimited Trails of Chile Ltda Travel Excellence travelArt Chile Tropic Journeys in Nature Turavion Upscape Vapues Tours Viajes Meca Viajes Pacifico Viaventure Central America Walpax Brazil Travel Partners Wilderness Explorers

MARKETING/TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT Critical Divide

REPRESENTATION COMPANIES

Americas AMG Representation AVIAREPS UK Branding Latin America Group Cara Hotel Marketing Hemisphere Marketing Inspiring Destination Kellie Worldwide Kurtz-Ahlers & Associates ROOM 701 Saspo Tourism Services Limited Senderos Talking Stick Marketing The BigBlue Collection The Destination Marketing Group

TOUR OPERATORS

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Andean Trails Ltd Audley Latin America Best at Travel Brightsun Travel cazenove + loyd Chimu Adventures Ltd Cox & Kings Travel Discover South America Ltd Exodus Travels Explore Worldwide Exsus Geodyssey Go Fishing Worldwide/Windows on the Wild

HighLives Travel Imagine Latin America Into Latin America Jacada Travel Ltd Journey Latin America KE Adventure Travel Kuoni Travel Ltd Last Frontiers laterallife Latin Odyssey Latin Routes Llama Travel Limited MotMot Travel Ltd Naturally Belize Optimundo Limited Original Travel Preston Reid Pura Aventura Rainbow Tours Reef and Rainforest Tours Ltd. Revealed Travel Salvadorean Tours Scott Dunn Select Latin America (formerly Galapagos Adventure Tours) Steamond Travel Steppes Travel Sunvil Latin America Swoop Patagonia, Antarctica & Arctic Tango Tours Ltd The Explorations Company The South America Specialists The Ultimate Travel Company Trailfinders Tribes Travel Tropical Sky Tucan Travel Wexas Travel Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel World Odyssey

TOURIST BOARD

Belize Tourism Board Brazilian Tourist Board – Embratur UK Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK Chapter Dominican Republic Tourist Board Embassy of Brazil Tourist Office Embassy of Uruguay Falkland Islands Tourist Board Los Cabos Tourism Board Mexico Tourism Board National Institute of Tourism Promotion Argentina PROMPERU ProColombia Quito Tourist Board St Helena Tourism TurisRio Turismo Chile

TRADE BODIES & CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS Brazilian Chamber of Commerce British Argentine Chamber of Commerce Canning House Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau VBRATA Visit Brazil Travel Association

TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES Balloons Over Atacama Belmond Hiram Bingham Inca Rail PeruRail TrenEcuador | Tren Crucero

TRAVEL SHOWS

Reed Exhibitions Ltd The Times Presents Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show William H Coleman Inc.

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IC T N A L T A H SOUT

St Helena Island’s unique character lies in contrasting and spectacular scenery, a rich cultural heritage and an environment exceptionally rich in biodiversity. These are just a few of the reasons why this remote jewel in the South Atlantic Ocean is the perfect destination for active exploration and discovery.

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