The Guide to Latin America 2018

THE LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA INSIDE: Your guide to the best festivals 26 country guides Directory of tour operators & members

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Welcome‌

THE LATIN AMERICAN TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

‌to the LATA Guide to Latin America.

ON THE COVER: Public Square in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Š Lukas Bischoff/Dreamstime)

email: info@lata.travel website: www.lata.travel Facebook: www.facebook.com/ LatinAmericanTravelAssociation Twitter: @latauk All text Š 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.

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Latin America is one of the most undiscovered regions in the world. This diverse, distinctive destination offers so much more than you can imagine – a veritable treasure trove of spectacular scenery, lush rainforest, iconic cities, fascinating culture and mile upon mile of incredible beaches.

The people are incredibly friendly and cannot wait to help you explore all that Latin America has to offer. More easily accessed than ever, with more flight connections, including a plethora of new direct flights, your next adventure to Latin America is closer than it’s ever been.

This Guide to Latin America offers you a detailed summary of each and every Latin American country, together with their top essential highlights.

The directory at the back is a comprehensive list of LATA members, comprising a first-rate group of experts with unrivalled knowledge of the region.

Whether you are seeking a palm-fringed beach, a wildlife adventure or a cultural experience, Latin America has it all and much, much more.

Let us take you on a journey you will never forget‌

COLIN STEWART LATA CHAIRMAN

Co n S www.lata.travel

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

1

CONTENTS

4 2018 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

32 THE LATA FOUNDATION

LATA supports worthwhile causes across Latin America – why not get involved?

45 EMBASSIES

Are you looking for further visa or visitor information? A destination embassy can provide assistance

46 UK/EU TOUR OPERATORS

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

48 MEMBERS BY COUNTRY

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

51 MEMBERS BY CATEGORY

The hotels, airlines, cruise ships or tourist boards that will help you create your trip

52 ALL LATA MEMBERS

The complete listing of all Latin American Travel Association members 2 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

www.lata.travel

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BELIZE JAMAICA BELMOPAN HONDURAS GUATEMALA Tikal

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ANTIGUA & PUERTO BARBUDA RICO ST KITTS & NEVIS DOMINICA ST LUCIA

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BARBADOS GRENADA TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

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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

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Torres del Paine

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Ushuaia South Georgia

Cape Horn

COUNTRY GUIDES 08 Antarctica 09 Argentina 11 Belize 12 Bolivia 13 Brazil 14 Chile 15 Colombia www.lata.travel

16 Costa Rica 17 Cuba 19 Dominican Republic 20 Ecuador & Galapagos 23 El Salvador 24 Falkland Islands 26 French Guiana

27 Guatemala 28 Guyana 29 Haiti 30 Honduras 31 Mexico 34 Nicaragua 36 Panama

37 Paraguay 38 Peru 41 Suriname 42 Uruguay 43 Venezuela

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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Your calendar

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

JAN

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.

Liberation Day, Cuba Post-Castro, this island still has a unique way of celebrating historic dates. For Liberation Day (Jan 1), street parties, concerts and flags take over the streets.

Reyes, Ecuador Reyes (‘Kings’), or Epiphany (Jan 6), is a public holiday in the Hispanic world. Across Ecuador, carols are sung, masses are said and processions liven up town plazas.

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

Cosquín Folk Festival, Córdoba province, Argentina The biggest folk music event in Latin America. It remains an important showcase for emerging artists.

FEB

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

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

Carnival, across Latin America.

Rio de Janeiro’ is the best known, but there are less glitzy rivals across the continent; Haiti’s Mardi Gras lasts several weeks.

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

4 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

MAR

Vendimia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay These three big producing nations celebrate the grape harvest with street parties Festival of Gaucho Culture, Tacuarembó, Uruguay Horses, rodeos, folk music – join the yee-haw fun at this gaucho fiesta.

Phagwah, Guyana Guyana’s answer to Holi, where local Hindus hurl red dye (abeer) and powder at everyone in sight.

Jazz Festival, Haiti Stars flock to Port-au-Prince for this celebration of all things jazz.

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APR

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.

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

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.

JUN

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.

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

May Ball, Falkland Islands Don a gown or dinner jacket for plenty of traditional folk dancing.

Tango Festival, Tacuarembó, Uruguay See dazzling dance and vital vocalists in the oft-alleged hometown of the godfather of tango canción, Carlos Gardel.

Bumba Meu Boi, São Luís, Brazil Maranhão state hosts a monthlong celebration of folklore, infused with unique, spirited rhythms. Heckling isn’t so much tolerated as expected.

Fiesta del Gran Poder, La Paz, Bolivia This full-day procession is both a celebration of street vendors and traders and a retaking of the main streets and squares by the indigenous Aymara. The costumes and brass bands are sensational.

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

We Tripantu, Chile The Mapuche mark their new year around the Winter Solstice (dates fall between June 20-24) with dances, drumming, rituals and cups of muday, made with fermented maize. The best public events are in the lake districts, but there’s also a ceremony in Santiago’s Lastarria district.

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Espiritu Santo, Dominican Republic Conga drums and other African instruments ring out seven weeks after Easter – usually June. The biggest event is in Villa Mella, near Santo Domingo.

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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JUL

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

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.

Simón Bolívar Day & Foundation of Guayaquil, Ecuador The celebration of the birthday of freedom-fighter Simón Bolívar, and the founding of this port city merge into one – expect a carnival atmosphere with patriotic parades and festivities.

SEPT

AUG

Tango Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina World-class performance and music envelop BA, followed by a Dancing Championship with sizzling showcases at local milongas (dance halls).

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

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

Grito de Dolores, Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico Mexicans celebrate their Independence on the evening of 15 September with particular fervour. Patriotic celebrations take place in the main plazas of all cities, but the epicentre is Dolores Hidalgo where the first cry (“Grito”) was made on September 16, 1810.

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.

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

Viña del Mar Film Festival, Chile The biggest regional showcase for celluloid, usually featuring premieres of films made by Chilean and other Latin American producers and directors.

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

Exaltación de la Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Bolivia One of the biggest of the Andean city’s annual events, featuring folk music concerts, masses, open-air dancing, and processions in the name of the Holy Cross.

6 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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OCT

Cirio de Nazaré, Belém, Brazil Two weeks of celebrations culminate on the 2nd Sunday of October when a million-plus from this coastal city turn out to follow a tiny statue of the Virgin Mary, also the patron saint of Pará state.

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.

El Señor de los Milagros, Lima, Peru The city turns purple on the first Saturday of October for this massive procession, which has its roots in Peru African slaves.

The route is from the Nazarenas monastery to the main cathedral; on the Sunday, the procession is in the opposite direction.

Oktoberfest, Blumenau, Brazil Smaller – and sunnier – than Munich, this town in the southern state of Santa Catarina honours its German settlers with a lot of beer drinking, thigh-slapping and costumed parades.

NOV

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

Keep an eye out for the spooky celebrations of Fete Gede,Haiti, and Todos Santos, Bolivia.

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

Dreamstime

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

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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

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Antarctica

One Ocean, Boomer Jerritt

Sail due south for wildlife wonders on the White Continent

ATLANTIC O C E A3N

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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8 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

200km

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.

One Ocean, Paul Zizka

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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 chilly winds, but for many it remains the most beautiful place on the planet.

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

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 Lorem ipsum at the end of the trip Visas: Not required, but UK nationals must have a permit – usually provided by the1tour company for the whole vessel.

1 WHEN TO GO November to mid-March, unless you fancy total darkness and temperatures below -50°C.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 1 On land or at sea, marvel at the birdlife – from storm petrels to wandering albatrosses 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.travel/antarctica www.lata.travel

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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.

The 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 rainbow trout from the Chimehuin

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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 savannahs of Corrientes, storks and caiman stand on islands of vegetation.

For more exotic creatures and mighty waterfalls, head to the jungle of Iguazú 1 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, Parisian-style architecture and chic restaurants that showcase the country’s gastronomic wonders, the result of the country’s colonial roots. Marvel at the intricate footwork of the tango one night and, next day, ride your horse over the pampas to a colonial estancia (ranch) to eat sublime steaks cooked on the asado (barbecue) under the stars.

I I I

There’s no experience like Patagonia: liberating, 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 beaches that are home to penguins and colonies of

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Tierra del Fuego S C O TI A S EA

South Georgia

seals, with orca (killer whales) prowling the coast. Tierra del Fuego is the ultimate wilderness, with 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 Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-3 International dialling code: +54 Money: Argentine peso (AR$), 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

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.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 1 Pontoon through the wetlands of Iberá, looking out for caiman, capybara and maguari stork 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 the Perito Moreno Glacier – a 30km river of ice snaking through the mountains

 For more information, go to www.lata.travel/argentina THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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Belize

Dive delicious waters, marvel at Maya sites 0

100km

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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 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.

Back on the mainland, in the west you can visit Guanacaste www.lata.travel

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.

The whole of Belize – and especially the west – is littered with ancient Maya sites. Some of the finest1 are plateau-top Caracol, 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 Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +501 Money: Belize dollar (Bz$), 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

1 WHEN TO GO Officially, the wet season runs from June to August while the dry season is February to May. The south of country is generally more rainy. Hurricane season is June to November. High season is mid-December to March. Early spring (February-May) is the time to spot migrant birds.

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 and exploring local caves, rivers and waterfalls 3 Marvel at the handiwork of the ancient Maya at sites such as Caracol and rainforest-nestled Lamanai 4 Sway to the raw Afro-Latin beats of Garifuna drumming in the epicentre of this distinct culture at Hopkins, near Dangriga 5 Visit the world-famous jaguar preserve at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/belize THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 11

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PORT OF SPAIN

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Be CityAndes and the – roads thread their way down from Salta Volcán rthe Chaco plain ASUNCIÓN m Iguazú NP Llullaillaco ej Curi o Rio and is home to thousands of the high Andes to steamy jungles, Igu aç Formosa San Ignacio u species of insects, birds andGuazú plants. providing great mountain biking.

Ur ug Nevado Ojos San Miguel de Tucumán u The park contains more butterflies The route fromCopiapó La Paz to Coroico a del Saladois i Corrientes than anywhere else on earth. like sliding down a giant helterIn the remote eastern corner, Santa skelter – without the safety barrier.

Maria Pôrto Noel Kempff Mercado National In the north, Lake Titicaca is one Alegre Mar Chiquito Coquimbo Lagôa dos Patos Park is said to be one inspiration of thePta.highest navigable lakes in Lengua de Vaca Cordoba Concordia Pelotas behind Conan Doyle’s The Lost the world, while nearby Sorata is San Juan ro Neg Rio Gran World. Madidi, north, is a surrounded by mountains that Santa Fe in the far URUGUAY Paraná Cerro Aconcagua Lagôa Mirim pristine Amazonian watershed. locals insist are the site of the Colonia del Rosario Mendoza City Valparaiso Sacramento Santa Teresa NP And what’sBUENOS more, AIRES the lodges in Garden of Eden.

In the south is Ri SANTIAGO MONTEVIDEO o PAMPAS de L a this region provide some of the the old colonial town of Potosí, La Plata Punta del Este Plat a San Rafael best examples of indigenous complete with silver mine, while a Pta. Norte C. Carranza ecotourism in all of Latin America. train graveyard lies on the edge of Cabo San Antonio Chillán Leave the modern world behind the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s Concepción Maron delthe Plata in theloraworld’s highest forest highest Pta. and largest salt flat.

Bahia Blanca Lavapié Cabo Corrientes do Co slopes of the Sajama volcano, or West of Santa Cruz, Amboró Bahia Blanca ro National Park encompasses three N e g glide in silence down the Beni River with only fireflies for company. ecosystems Valdivia – the Amazon basin, Sa

1 Take in the deep blue hues of Lake Titicaca, one of the highest in the world 2 Built around the silver mine that funded the Spanish empire, colonial Potosí allows visitors insights into the pre-Columbian history of the region 3 Cross the sparkling-white Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flats in the world – for an other-worldly experience; you can even stay in a salt hotel 4 Delve into Bolivia’s Amazon Basin to look for a wealth of wildlife and learn the customs of the indigenous communities 5 Soak up the sights and sounds of colourful La Paz, and ride its extensive cable car network

8 For more information go to www.lata.travel/bolivia

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1 WHEN TO GO

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Cordillera Blanca

With close to Chimbote 1,000 peaks over Nevado Huascarán 5,000m, it is no surprise that Bolivia has the highest capital in the world. Even the airport isComas 4,000m Huancayo Callao above sea level. La Paz sits 500m LIMA below in a deep canyon ringed by Paracas snow-capped mountains.Pen. The city’s Nasca Lines Mi Teleférico aerial cable car transit Nasca system is a novel way to get around.

Despite this, most of the country’s made up of leafy lowlands. Twisting

Essentials

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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Capital: Sucre (judicial), La Paz (political) Population: 10.8 million Language: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-4 International dialling code: +591 Money: Boliviano (Bs) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

FRENCH

an

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VITAL STATISTICS

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B

Galibi Natu Salut Brownsberg Islands Kourou NP Voltaire CAYEN Falls

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Raleighvallen G U Nature Reserve Mount Roraima I A N A H I G H Central L A N Orin D S Suriname Awarradam oco Nature Reserve

San Agustín

reathtaking highs, tropical lows, sparkling flats and a whole range of odd-hued lakes and surrealistsculpted 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.

GEORGETOWN

GUYANA

Angel Falls

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Medellin Manizales

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Cabo Corrientes

Tobago

Paria Trinidad Peninsula

VENEZUELA

Maracaibo

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Gulf of Venezuela

Cauca

Corcovado NP Osa Peninsula

Panama Canal

BARBADOS GRENADA

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

COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ

Manuel Antonio NP

Tayrona NP

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Have your breath stolenNICARAGUA by dizzying adventures and truly wild life

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Brazil

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Join the perpetual party in this bold, biodiverse beauty

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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

razilians love an excuse to celebrate. Pour a caipirinha, put on your best dancing shoes and be prepared to party the night away. Whether it’s a family get-together 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 spiritual side to match their E D S T A T E S A M E R I C A hedonistic streak. Many exotic BERMUDA religions flourish, most notably Candomblé (based on African traditions), existing alongside Catholicism. Brazil also has a rich BAHAMAS architectural heritage, dating back UBA PUERTO to the C16th century, when the RICO HAITI ANTIGUA AND Portuguese invested in beautiful BARBUDA DOMINICAN JAMAICA ST. KITTS REPUBLIC BELIZE baroque buildings.

AND NEVIS DOMINICA HONDURAS ST. LUCIA Brazilians say that God created MALA ST. VINCENT NICARAGUA BARBADOS EL SALVADOR the world in six days – and onGRENADA the TRINIDAD & seventh He created Rio de Janeiro.

TOBAGO COSTA RICA L.Sup erior

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C A R I B B E A N

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

Volcán Masaya

Panama Canal

SAN JOSÉ

Corcovado NP Osa Peninsula

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Curaçao Henri Pittier Morrocoy NP CARACAS NP

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Barranquilla Cartagena Ciudad Perdida Maracaibo Panamá Viejo Valencia (The Lost City) San Blás Barquisimeto

PANAMA PANAMA Islands Azuero Gulf of Darién Peninsula Panama

Lake Maracaibo

Sierra Nevada NP

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Ciudad Guayana

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VENEZUELA

SURINAME FRENCH GUIANA

GUYANA

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Amazon

Manaus

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Essentials 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), Lorem ipsum GMT-4 (Acre, West Amazonas) International dialling code: +55 Money: Real (R$), 1 Not Natal Visas: required by UK nationals

1 WHEN TO GO 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.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 1 Take in exciting Rio, likeable Santos and pristine islands on a road trip along the Costa Verde 2 Wander around the pastel-coloured 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 Shake those hips at Brazil’s annual 4 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.travel/brazil

MONTEVIDEO

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Punta del Este

Cabo San Antonio

Pta. Lavapié

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ecosystems comprising the largest wetlands in the Americas wherean 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 fine 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.

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C. Carranza

Chillán Concepción

Rawson

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Manuel Antonio NP

Tayrona NP

Cauca

San Cristóbel de las Casas

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mount SANTO Pico Duarte DOMINGO

Santiago de Cuba

Tulum

O C E A N

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

Mar del Plata

Cabo Corrientes

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 13

Chile

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

Arica Iquique

1

PARAGUAY

San Pedro de Atacama Atacama Desert

La Serena

Valparaíso

PA C I F I C OCEAN

4 ARGENTINA SANTIAGO

Chillán

Valdivia

Pucón Lake District

Puerto Montt Chiloé

Coyhaique

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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 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.

14 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

Villa O’Higgins

2

Hanga Roa Easter Island (Rapa Nui) 0

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

500km

Pata gon ia

5

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

green 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 Lorem ipsum Island) International dialling code: +56 Money: Chilean peso (CLP) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

1 WHEN TO GO Chile’s even easier to get to now thanks to new direct flights from the UK. It’s best to explore the far south of Chile from November to April, when the weather is warmest. 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 metropolis of Santiago, one of South America’s most happening urban centres 5 Drive along the Carretera Austral to visit the new Parque Patagonia, which protects guanaco-filled prairies and Andean foothills

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/chile www.lata.travel

Colombia

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

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where Colombia’s crown jewel is the city capped Sierra Nevada de Santa Richmond hundreds of enigmatic stone Marta rises straight out of the figures – some over 5,000 years of Cartagena, full of pretty old Nashville Raleigh Cape Hatteras Oklahoma City vibrant, old – adorn an ancient ceremonial buildings and intriguing history, rich gentle waters of the Caribbean.

Little Rock vivacious BERMUDA ColumbiaAlso Located inland, high up in the Colombia. The country site. south-west is Cali, in emeralds and pirates. Today it’s Cape Fear Atlanta mountains, lies Ciudad Perdida, an beats to the sound of its own party-loving capital of salsa music. the heart of Colombia’s Caribbean: Dallas Jackson ancient centre of the once-great intoxicating drum, and willMontgomery have miles of unspoilt coast stretch Savannah Austin Baton Rouge Tayrona culture. snuck your skin beforeTallahassee you towards Panama. To the east of Houstonunder ua Jacksonville Orleans San know it. From theNew The Pacific coast provides fine cool heights of Cartagena lies Tayrona National Antonio Delta opportunities for close encounters capital BogotáMississippi to the charmingTampa Orlando Park, where visitors share beaches T LsnowA N T I C Owith C Ehumpback A N whales, too. colonial towns and balmy beaches, with pelicans. Here,Athe Monterrey there’s a lot to love.

Miami GULF OF MEXICO BAHAMAS Opportunities for trekking and X I C O diving are excellent. There areHAVANA Varadero Tampico VERACRUZmud volcanoes to bathe in, coffee Trinidad Leon CUBA PUERTO Mérida fincas (farms) high in the mounRICO Teotihuacán Jarabocoa Samaná Santiago de Cuba Yucatan Los Haitises NP HAITI Tulum CHOACÁN MEXICO CITY tains (where youPeninsula can stay in style) VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Mount SANTO PORT-AU-PRINCE ANTIGUA AND Pico Duarte DOMINGO and an abundance of festivals.

Capital: Bogotá BARBUDA 1 Sun-worship on the white-sand apulco KINGSTON Palenque DOMINICAN San Cristóbel Oaxaca JAMAICA There is also a bevy of breathtakPopulation: Caribbean beaches around ST. KITTS 46.7 million de las Casas R E P U B L I C Tikal BELIZE DOMINICA Semuc AND NEVIS Spanish ing birds – Colombia boasts more Language: Tayrona National Park The Bay Islands Champey Lívingston Todos Santos Quetzaltenango HONDURAS Lorem ipsum species than anyCopán other country.

Time: GMT-5 Get a history lesson in the small La Mosquitia 2 Antigua ruins ST. LUCIA Gracias GUATEMALA GUATEMALA TEGUCIGALPAin the Monterrico Bogotá stands onSuchitoto a plateau International dialling code: +57 town of San Agustín, famed for its 1 Cerro Verde NP SAN El Imposible NP ST. VINCENT NICARAGUA Leon BARBADOS 0 200km eastern cordilleraSALVADOR of the Andes.

Money: Colombian peso (COP) intricate pre-Columbian statues dating EL SALVADOR Granada 1 C A R I B B E A N S E A Ruta de Flores MANAGUA The Corn Islands 1 NotGRENADA Masaya The old centre, LaVolcán Candelaria, Visas: required by UK nationals back more than 5,000 years N Ometepe Island 4 Tayrona NP PORT OF Tobago NP Guanacaste SPAIN Volcán Arenal Ciudad boasts dozens ofTenorio fine colonial Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Tortuguero TRINIDAD & Paria 3 Get out your binoculars: Colombia Cartagena Trinidad Perdida Peninsula TOBAGO 1 WHEN COSTA RICA SAN JOSÉ buildings and a grand Gold offers incredible birdwatching TO GO Delta del Manuel Antonio NP PANAMA Corcovado NP Orinoco Peninsula Azuero VENEZUELA Museum housing one of Osa the mostPeninsula – with 1,889 species recorded, it has There Ciudad are no real ‘seasons’ in Colombia: the Ciudad Guayana Bolivar remarkable collections of prelongest bird list in the world weather is more dependent on altitude Galibi Nature the GEORGETOWN Reserve Medellin PARAMARIBO Angel Salut 5 Hispanic gold in Latin America.

Stroll the warren of streets in the than time year. Heavy showers can Falls ofGUYANA Islands 4 Brownsberg Raleighvallen Kourou Pereira NP Reserve Mount Roraima Voltaire Outside the centre, head to the walled city of Cartagena, happen at any time, Nature though rain is more CAYENNE BOGOTÁ Falls SURINAME Saül Ibagué Central Buenaventura town of Zipaquirá to explore the arguably Colombia’s most impressive likely in April, May, October and Awarradam November.

2 Neiva Suriname Nature Reserve FRENCH GUIANA awesome cathedral carved out of colonial gem The best time to visit Colombia is December San Agustín Punta Galera a rock-salt mine – a true wonder to February, but take warm clothing for 5 Visit Armenia, Pereira and Macapá 3 BRAZIL of this mysterious country.

Manizales, the 3 points of the areas above 2,000m. Bogotá has cool to B. de Marajó ECUADOR I. de Marajó South-west of Bogotá, in the lush verdantBelém Unesco-listedB. deCoffee Triangle moderate temperatures all year round.

Guayaquil São Marcos Manaus valleys around San Agustín, lies the Gulf of São Luis Guayaquil PERU country’s impressive pre-Columbian For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/colombia Fortaleza site: the Valley of the Statues, Teresina U N I T E D She T intrepid A T E Straveller will O F A M E quickly R I C Afall for varied, pi

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16 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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Puerto Limón Panama Canal

PANAMA Osa Peninsula

PORT-AU-PRINCE

KINGSTON

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Moun Pico Dua

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Gracias TEGUCIGALPA ADOR Suchitoto

HAITI

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.

VITAL STATISTICS

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES

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

1 WHEN TO GO Costa Rica is now easier than ever to get to thanks toVolcán new direct flights from the UK. Its two coastsNPhave different weather Tenorio patterns:Tortuguero the country’s NPPacific coast is dry December to April; the Caribbean shores is 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.

1 Delve into the cloud forest of Monteverde, home to the aptly named resplendent quetzal and thrilling canopy zip-wires Head to Arenal for hiking, cycling, 2 hot pools and a dramatically beautiful – currently dormant – volcano 3 Explore the lush waterways of Tortuguero, paddling down the canals in search of caiman, monkeys and tropical birds Venture to the pristine Osa 4 Peninsula, one of the most biologically dense and dramatic places on the planet 5 Saddle up for a ride across the slopes of a volcano at the Rincón de la Vieja national park

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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.

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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 the 1 heart of the central highlands, C A R Ion B BaEloose A N line of volcanoes Sthat E A runs the length of the country.

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he higher powers 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, a nature-lover’s paradise.

Lakeit’sYojoa 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 pace

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beaches east of Santiago de being rolled on here is nowhere quite like Havana is a Unesco Charleston World Jeffersondances City and cigars St. Louis Cuba, the country’s second city. the thighs of dusky maidens. And Cuba. While change might Heritage site and strenuous Frankfort Remote Baracoa, Columbus’ first be afoot on this heady isle, then there are the revolutionaries: efforts are being made to Richmond restore landing site in 1492 and Cuba’s José Martí, Castro, Che Guevara. it remains a place apart: the colonial centre to its former Canadian former capital, is hard to reach and Caribbean, yes, yet distinctly Latin, These men perhaps conjure the glory. Around the island, Trinidad island’s most powerful image: distinctly different. is the most precious colonial town, harder to leave – you’ll fall for its Nashville Raleigh unique, tropicalCape Hatteras atmosphere.

Cuba is a tropical where little has changed for at Oklahoma City paradise, with Cuba freeing itself from its Little Rock But wherever you go, you’ll find colonial past and then standing dazzling-white beaches and least 100 years. music. Every town has a casa de up to the US, the world’s most swaying palms. But it is also a Cuba is blessed with a pristine Red Columbia la trova powerful country. land of past decadence: stories reef around most of its shores, with Cape where Fear you can enjoy the different styles of Cuban music Cuba’s old towns remain abound of Ernest Hemingway and walls and wrecks hosting kaleidofor the price of a rum or two. remarkably unspoilt and intact.

Graham Greene, cheap rum, wild scopic underwater Atlanta life. The coral is in excellent condition and there are Dallas Jackson Colora do turtles, dolphins, grouper, whale Montgomery Savannah sharks, moray eels, rays, barracuda Austin and other large creatures to make Tallahassee your heart miss a beat. Deep-sea Houston Baton Rouge fishing has long been popular, with VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Jacksonville New Orleans tournaments made famous by Capital: Havana limestone 1 Hike into the spectacular San Ernest Hemingway.

Population: 11 million peaks and pine forests of Viñales Antonio Out of the water, Varadero Language: Spanish Head to central Cuba by road Mississippi Delta 2 Orlando is a sandy spit of land that Time: GMT-5 to visit pretty Trinidad, the Tampa stretches for kilometres along International dialling code: +53 epoch-making Bay of Pigs, and to see the north coast and has attracted Money: The Cuban peso (CU$) is only used the massive Che Guevara mausoleum in tourists since the beginning of the

by Cubans. Visitors use pesos convertibles Santa Clara Monterrey 20th century. Or head to the (CUC$). US dollars are not accepted, and 3 Drive around Havana, the Cuban USA locals’ favourite hangouts: you’ll be charged 10% commission to capital, in a clapped-out vintage car ATLANTIC Lorem ipsum OCEAN Guanabo, near Havana, or the exchange them, so take euros soaking up the atmosphere and spotting Visas: UK nationals need a 30-day Che Guevara murals tourist card. Contact the Cuban GULF OF 3 4 Dive the deep-blue sea and take BAHAMAS MEXICO 1 Embassy or your tour operator advantage of the excellent beaches, 1 from sandy Varadero to far-west HAVANA 2 Tampico Viñales 1 WHEN TO GO María la Gorda 4 Cuba’s dry season is November to April 5 Visit the casa de la trova in Leon Trinidad Santiago, one of the best spots – it can be as cool in January/February.

5 Sierra del Rosario Mérida for seeing live music Wet and windy season lasts May-October.

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 17

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DOMINGO 4 5 PUERTO cocktails and catch up on your Further east, head to Samaná RICO CARIBBEAN SEA reading. Or, if the novelty of Bay to watch humpback whales 0 200km a Bounty Bar-style paradise wears frolicking in the ocean. Los off, don a wetsuit and tackle the Haitises National Park is a 1,200 rapids, leap off a waterfall, hike up sq km park of coastal wetlands, a mountain and then tear back lush, grassy knolls and a series of down it on a mountain bike. limestone caves with Amerindian Santo Domingo is the wellcave drawings. When you tire of y Islands preserved colonial capital, nature-watching, sign up for a Unesco World Heritage site that a horse-riding trek to El Limón VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES showcases the conquistadors’ first to bathe in the cool pool at the Capital: Santo Domingo 1 Sail out into Samaná Bay to spot cathedral, first paved street and bottom of its 150m waterfall. Or Population: 10.5 million humpback whales calving first court in the New World. Men try your hand at kiteboarding at Language: Spanish 2 Go wild for nature at Lake Lorem ipsum cluster around tables at the Cabarete, one of the world’s top Time: GMT-4 Enriquillo, located in a huge valley roadside, deliberating over their destinations1 for the sport.

International dialling code: +1 809 that’s the lowest point in the Caribbean next domino move; raucous Money: Dominican Republic – excellent for spotting flamingos, crocs L peso E S (RD$) S E R and iguanas 1 Not required by UK nationals baseball fans spill out of Estadio Visas: AN Quisqueya to celebrate their capital Santo Domingo I Lthe Netherlands 3 TVisit L E for Spanish colonial Pta. Gallinas 1 WHEN teams’ victories and bemoan their – a blueprint TO GO Antilles S Aruba Corn Islands Nicaragua The losses; people dance, sip coffee town-buildings – and see the The Dominican Republicstays at a Gulf pe Island and bet on the next cockfight.

Tayrona NP Curaçao conquistadors’ first cathedral constant, balmy 28-31°C throughout Henri of Venezuela Every night the seafront drive – the year. However, rain is most likely Pittier 4 Become an intrepid hiker and tackle Morrocoy between May and November. The north NP Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s olcán Arenalthe Malecón – becomes a huge, NP multicoloured disco. The most highest peak, set among rugged terrain coast can be wet. You might want to Tortuguero Paria Panama are during the riotous celebrations Del Este avoid August and September, which 5 Head to Bayahibe and thePeninsula month-longCanal Carnaval, when street San Blás National Park, to explore caves, is the hurricane season in the Caribbean parties erupt all over the island, Islands kayak through mangroves and see region. The least humid time – and the P Lakeseason – runs November to April. culminating in a colourful parade incredible marine life, including turtles high Maracaibo la through the capital.

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

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 19

Angel Falls

Ecuador & the Galápagos Straddle the equator and set sail around a wildlife wonderland

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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 20 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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impressive roll call 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. If your idea of a good time is to lie on a beach all day soaking up rays and partying into the small hours, then its popular resorts are for you.

Swim, surf, scuba dive or watch humpback whales cruising 1 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 hours away from Quito, it’s home to all manner of strange and exotic flora and fauna.

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A trip to the Galapagos Islands, 1,000km west of the mainland, is an unforgettable experience. The islands are world-renowned for their 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 Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-5 (mainland), GMT-6 (Galapagos) International dialling code: +593 Money: US dollar (US$) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

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 Galápagos 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 Visit the World Heritage city of Cuenca, a romantic town known for its crafts and flower-filled balconies

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/ecuador www.lata.travel

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Palenque

CristóbelEl Salvador as Casas Tikal Semuc odos Santos Champey Lívingsto zaltenango Lake Atitlán Antigua GUATEMALA E

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l Salvador is perhaps Central America’s ideal one-stop destination. It is packed with volcanoes, craggy mountains and wildlife-rich 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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Essentials VITAL STATISTICS Capital: San Salvador Population: 6.1 million Language: Spanish, Náhua Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-6 International dialling code: +503 Money: US dollar ($) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

1 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.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 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 4 Get away from it all in the Gulf of Fonseca – here you’ll find scores of secluded beaches and laid-back living 5 Spend a day at Joya de Ceren, the country’s best-preserved Mayan site, dubbed the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’

Tenorio NP Gu Nicoya Penins

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/elsalvador www.lata.travel

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 23

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Falkland Islands Find pubs and penguins in the remote South Atlantic

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ore than 778 islands make up the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), 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 military and maritime history. Locally made goods can be 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 aircraft to reach these

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

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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, with orca and dolphins patrolling the 1 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.

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

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 1 Take an inter-island flight to Pebble Island, a vital breeding site for three species of penguin 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 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 remarkably huge diversity of species, including playful penguins and cantankerous elephant seals

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The Falkland’s climate is comparable to parts of the UK. 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.

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/falklands www.lata.travel

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French Guiana

Find space stations and opportunities for adventure in this Gallic enclave

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iscover a little bit of France, with added Latin flavours. French Guiana, or Guyane (‘gwee-ahn’), is an overseas department of France and was first occupied by French traders in the 17th century. Today, 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 living traditional lives.

Capital Cayenne sits on a peninsula at the mouth of a river, taking its name from an Amerindian prince. However, hungry visitors taking a short drive south out of Cayenne can grab a taste of Laos courtesy of Cacao’s Sunday market – the whole town was established

by Hmong refugees in the 1970s.

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St-Laurent du Maroni, near the western border with Suriname, is home to the Voltaire Falls. Further south is the Amerindian village of Terre Rouge – hire a canoe for day trips up the Maroni River.

Expect a reasonable crowd at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, a space centre in Kourou, 60km north-west 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, closed in the 1950s.

Today, monkeys, turtles and palms are the only inhabitants. Devil’s Island was reputedly inescapable: 1 the only prisoner to get away (at

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least according to himself) was Henri Charrière – aka Papillon – who in 1944 floated all the way to Venezuela on a raft of coconuts.

Charrière’s alleged route took him further up the coast to AwalaYalimopo, where now you might catch a glimpse of leatherbacks laying their eggs in the moonlight.

Essentials VITAL STATISTICS Capital: Cayenne Population: 251,000 Language: French Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-3 International dialling code: +594 Money: Euro (€) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

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.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 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 Dream about launching into orbit at the 2 Centre Spatial Guyanais, an important space centre in Kourou, around 60km from the capital 3 Fly inland to the gold-panning town of Saül to do intrepid treks through primary forest 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.travel/frenchguiana www.lata.travel

Chihuahua

Austin Houston

Baton Rouge

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Guatemala

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New Orleans

San Antonio

Mississippi Delta

Be dazzled by the birds, beaches and Maya magic

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Teotihuacán

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Acapulco

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

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

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 be in the high 30°Cs. The highlands have 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 To meet the indigenous residents of Lake Atitlán, combine a homestay experience with biking, kayaking and hikes through the coffee plantations 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 low-lands 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.travel/guatemala www.lata.travel

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ow to sum up Guatemala in a word? Vibrant 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,

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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 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 the

EL SALVADOR

NICARAGUA northern jungles. 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

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Volcán Masaya

Lak

Omet Guanacaste

Tenorio NP Nicoya Peninsula Jacó

SAN COSTA RICA Manuel Antonio NP

Corcovado N Osa Penins

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 27

Guyana

Dreamstime; Shutterstock

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 19th-century 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 of 228m – and Orinduik Falls,

300km

28 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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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 Lorem ipsum Time: GMT-4 International dialling code: +592 Money: Guyanese dollar (G$) 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

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 Observe myriad butterflies and teeming birdlife in the Iwokrama Reserve in the species-rich Guiana Shield 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.travel/guyana www.lata.travel

Haiti

BAHAMAS

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PORT OF SPAIN

ranquilla isten up: the Caribbean’s agena Maracaibo of a big stone ship, it offers is Ciudadleast-known Perdidadestination jo commanding viewsValencia of the ready to show off (The Lost City) ás Plaine-du-Nord. Other smaller, its box of quite unique Barquisimeto

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From here you can hike the trails venture into the cloud forests Paria La Visite, of Parc National with its of the Pic Macaya National Park, Trinidad Peninsula fascinating rock formations and home to the Hispaniolan lizard mountains, or head west to explore cuckoo and 100 species of orchid.

DeltaThe delwhite-sand beaches of colonial-era forts, isolated coves delights. Haiti, occupying the the labyrinthine caves of the Grotte Lake Orinoco and coral reefs popular with western side of Hispaniola island, Marie-Jeanne. Brave the back nearby Port-Salut are among the Maracaibo snorkellers, are dotted along is rich in history, culture, white- Sierra roads to Jérémie, ‘the city of poets’ , finest in the Caribbean and an ideal o c Orino on Haiti’s remote western tip or the island’s sand beaches, colonial place to relax at the end of a trip.

Nevada NP north coast.

Deep in the interior, the sacred forts, cloud forests full of birds waterfalls of Saut-d’Eau offer an and colourful festivals. insight into the religious practices The capital, Port-au-Prince, of Haiti, a far cry from the sinister is a sometimes gritty but always Angel world of ‘voodoo dolls’ and black fascinating and frenetic place, Falls a Brownsb magic pedalled by Hollywood. home to a thriving arts scene VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Raleighvallen e tand NP M Every year, on 16 July, hundreds a host of museums and galleries.

Capital: Port-au-Prince yourself in the atmosG U of 1 Immerse Nature Reserve Mount Roraima Volt pilgrims come to celebrate Catholic Here, you can dance to the phere of fascinating Port-auI A Population: 10.1 million N A French, Creole mass in nearby Ville-Bonheur. The rhythms of traditional mizik rasin Language: Prince, Haiti’s cultural hub – don’t miss Fa viare H I Lorem ipsum falls are the site of (roots music), a blend of American Time: GMT-5 the restored Iron Market, which sells a uthemselves G G H Central L everything vodou baptisms rock ’n’ roll and Haiti’s own, International dialling code: +509 items 1 and offeringsOto A NfromDpigeons to vodou rino S Suriname the spirit Damballah, the bringer co African-influenced folk. You Money: Gourde (HTG) Move to the rhythms of Carnival in 2 Reserve 1 Not required by UK nationals of happiness and order. can also admire the ornate Visas: Jacmel, home toNature Haiti’s exuberant Just a few hours south of the latticework and balconies of the national Carnival celebrations 1 WHEN TO GO capital is Jacmel, a beautiful ‘gingerbread’ mansions, built by 3 Rich in history, Cap Haitien is an former coffee town famed for Haitian architects educated in ideal base for trips to the beach Temperatures in lowland Haiti average its handicrafts and colonial Paris in the 19th and early 20th and the fort at Citadelle Laferrière 24ºC in winter and 30ºC in July and architecture. In February, Jacmel centuries. Don’t miss the colourful August, although the island’s humid, 4 Marvel at the towering ramparts hosts the most spectacular markets, such as the Marché de of 19th-century, Unesco-listed tropical climate can make it feel hotter N e cooler temperatures Carnival celebrations in the Fer (Iron Market), where traders Citadelle Laferrière than that. Expect g country. Marching bands and sell everything from mangos in the mountains,rparticularly at night. o 5 Walk the mountain trails and drink Ca revellers wearing elaborate papier to handicrafts. in the magnificent views of Parc Most rain falls April-May and Septemberqu etá mâché masks fill the streets. Look Citadelle Laferrière is the National La Visite November. Hurricane season runs from out for lwa (vodou spirits), horned largest fort in the Americas and a August to early November. az Am men stripped to the waist and monument to the early days of the daubed in soot and molasses, Haitian republic, born out of the For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/haiti and characters from Haiti’s past. only successful slave revolt in

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

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OVERACRUZ 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 secondlargest in Central America but its

population 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

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

Oaxaca

1 WHEN TO GO Temperatures in the capital, Tegucigalpa, hover between highs of around 25°C and 33°C; in winter it can fall to as low as 4°C, due to the altitude. The lowland 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; August to December sees the heaviest rains.

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES 1 Wander the lesser-trodden path in the steamy, wildlife-rich rainforests of La Moskitia 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 Paddle on Lago de Yoyoa – set amid forest and Lencan ruins –and visit the country’s best craft-beer bar 5 Unearth some historic Mayan treasures at Copán – they’re still discovering new pieces

Palenque San Cristóbel de las Casas

Todos Santos Quetzaltenango Antigua

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

architecture. The mountainous interior, meanwhile, is firmly off the beaten track – a haven for hiking and birdwatching. Hillsides are dotted with communities, and near the Guatemalan border, the Copán ruins mark the southern tip of the old 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 the beaches, snorkel in pristine waters or hop over to the mainland to explore the market towns of the northern M coast E X I CorOthe cloud forests of Pico Bonito National Park.

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Tenorio NP

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Mexico

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

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grey whales 1 Hug theE Cfriendly UADOR that visit the shores of Baja California each year 2 Explore the wild highlands B of Chiapas – the Zapatista heartland – and theP beautiful colonial E R U town of San Cristóbal de las Casas 3 Dive headfirst into the colourful B O L I V I A chaos of Mexico City, one of Latin 1 WHEN TO GO America’s most vibrant cities PACIFIC OCEAN Mexico sees virtually no rain between 4 Ride the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico for a cross-country October and April. August is busy, as is rail-journey through the rugged the Day of the Dead (early November).

Copper Canyon Mexico City can be cool in winter while CHILE weather patterns differ on the Gulf of 5 Escape the Yucatán Peninsula’s honeypots and explore the Mexico, Caribbean and Pacific coasts. magnificent but mellow Mayan ruins Watch out for hurricane season between of Calakmul, Ex Balam and Uxmal A R G E N T I June and November.

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8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/mexico

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

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

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of C i a Sea o r n l i f C a

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 is1one of the planet’s richest marine feeding grounds, where you might spot a school of hammerhead sharks, pods of 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?

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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

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P A T A G O N I A

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 31 Archipelago de Los chonos

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FALKLAND/MALV

The Lata Foundation

CHANGING LIVES IN LATIN AMERICA

The LATA Foundation helps travellers support worthwhile causes – 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 members of LATA and the Latin America travel industry in the UK to support grassroots projects throughout Latin America, helping to transform lives, supply clean water, dental or medical support and offer practical training and skills to empower local communities.

Since it was formed, The LATA Foundation has donated in excess of £223,000 to a wide range of projects in Latin America.

In 2017, the LATA Foundation donated £50,000 to a range of grassroots social and environmental initiatives in Latin America, making it the most successful donor year to date for the charity. We were able to support 13 different initiatives in 2017, some of which are showcased here.

Abriendo Mentes, Costa Rica Abriendo Mentes, which means ‘opening minds’ in Spanish, is a small communitybased project founded in 2009 that aims to empower individuals from two rural coastal communities in Costa Rica through innovative education programmes and activities including English and computer lessons, zumba classes and lacrosse.

Throughout 2017, the LATA Foundation worked with Abriendo Mentes to help

deliver their Youth Development Program focused on basic education, Englishlanguage and computing skills. These skills are critical in obtaining employment, particularly in the tourism industry, which dominates the local job market.

The funding also goes towards classroom rental, internet access, classroom supplies and running and transportation costs for the youth club.

Tiempo de Juego, Colombia Tiempo de Juego, a Colombian NGO, supports children and young people who are at risk of forced recruitment and violence in their communities. Through innovative arts, drama and music activities, the project encourages the children to explore the challenges they face in their daily lives and helps them develop the skills to overcome these. In this way, Tiempo de Juego hopes to equip children with the

tools needed to create a safer community and forge a brighter future for themselves.

The LATA Foundation is helping to fund professional training for young ‘Tiempo de Juego’ members who can become mentors or provide peer support, inspiring them to adopt and pass on essential values and skills and act as role models for other members of their community.

SINCE IT WAS FORMED THE LATA FOUNDATION HAS DONATED IN EXCESS OF £223,000 TO A WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS IN LATIN AMERICA 32 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

www.lata.travel

The Condor Trust, Ecuador The Condor Trust is an educational initiative enabling young Ecuadorians from low income families to attend secondary school and/or have access to higher education.

The LATA Foundation has provided funds for the provision of uniforms, books and school materials. Now some of the first students taken on during the early years of the project have graduated from university and flourish in professional jobs, demonstrating how successful the whole cycle of support can be.

Vidarte Space, Brazil Vidarte Space has several projects to help underprivileged children from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

Their main project, the Vidancar Dance School, is located in the Complexo do Alemao favela. It began in 2009 as an initiative to offer children from the favelas the opportunity to express themselves through the art of ballet.

Three of the children have now been selected to attend the Teatro Municipal,

the Brazilian equivalent of the National Ballet school, developing and growing as great dancers. The project also provides other activities that the children wouldn’t normally have access to, including football training.

The LATA Foundation has been supporting the project for several years, particularly the dance school where it has helped install a new dance floor, mirrors and ballet barres.

IN 2017, THE LATA FOUNDATION DONATED £50,000 TO A RANGE OF GRASSROOTS SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

REG CHARITY NO. 1123580

The LATA Foundation relies on donations from individuals and organisations, is staffed by volunteers and all administrative costs are covered by LATA itself, ensuring that the donations received go to where they’re most needed.

For information visit www.latafoundation.org or donate at www.justgiving.com/lata

Konojel Community Centre, Guatemala Konojel means ‘All together’ in Kaqchikel, the Mayan dialect spoken in the lakeside town of San Marcos La Laguna. The charity it lends its name to was established to address the chronic malnutrition in the community. Every day, 60 of www.lata.travel

those considered most at risk are fed a hearty vegetarian lunch at the community centre.

In 2016, the LATA Foundation purchased kitchen equipment and furniture needed by the Konojel comedor (tourist café) which was

opened to help fund Konojel’s daily lunch programme.

In 2017, the Foundation funded a bathroom at the restaurant and is covering the running costs while they trial an evening service. Money that is made by selling papusas,

pizzas and the local dish-of-the-day to tourists goes back into the daily lunch programme and also provides the women’s cooperative with employment, business acumen and a steady source of income for them and their families.

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 33

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Cabo Corrientes

Mérida

Teotihuacán

MICHOACÁN Acapulco

Yucatan Peninsula

MEXICO CITY

Oaxaca

San Cristóbel de las Casas

Santia

Tulum

Palenque

JAMAIC

Tikal BELIZE

D

espite being the largest country in Central America, Nicaragua sees few visitors. Which is great for those who visit: they find a friendly and peaceful country with a turbulent and fascinating history; a place that has managed to preserve its authenticity, and is full of natural and cultural gems.

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

With its volcanoes and the massive inland Lake Nicaragua, the Pacific lowlands are simply beautiful. Ometepe Island, which

Todos Santos GUATEMALA Quetzaltenango Lake Atitlán lies in the lake, is the largest Antigua freshwater island in the world, GUATEMALA dominated by the twin volcanoes Monterrico

of Concepción and Maderas, the latter home to a collective and village that has won awards for its sustainability. 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

I I I

Cerro Verde NP El Imposible NP

HONDURAS

EL SALVADOR

CARIBBEAN SEA

Matagalpa

1 MANAGUA Bluefields P A C I F I C Granada 2 Ometepe Island OCEAN 4 Lake Nicaragua León

0

SAN JOSÉ

Manuel Antonio NP

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

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. But there are no huge temperature fluctuations and it remains warm year-round.

5

3 COSTA RICA

200km

Essentials

Corn Islands

Corcovado NP Osa Peninsula

Panama Canal

Portobel Panam

PANAMA PANAMA

Azuero Gulf of Dari Peninsula Panama

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES

1 Take in the views at Lake Nicaragua from the colonial splendour of Cabo Corrientes Granada, the oldest continually inhabited mainland town in the Americas Nevad A 2 Look for monkeys and quetzals at the Mombacho Cloud Forest Buenaventu Reserve, straddling its namesake Nevado de volcano, close to Granada 3 Hop on a boat over to Ometepe San Agust Island to hike on its twin volcanoes and bask by the Punta shores Galera of Lake Nicaragua 4 Watch the sun make its slow descent from the perfect beaches of San Juan del Sur – turtles nest nearby isolated 5 Take advantage of theGuayaquil Caribbean coastline of the Gulf of idyllic Corn Islands Guayaquil

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8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/nicaragua 34 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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San Blas Islands

Darien Gap

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COLOMBIA

VITAL STATISTICS Capital: Panama City Population: 3.6 million Languages: Spanish, English and 14 local languages Time: GMT-5 Lorem ipsum International dialling code: +507 Money: Balboa (B), equivalent to the US dollars 1 Not required by UK nationals Visas:

TOP 5 EXPERIENCES

LESS

1 Go white-water rafting in Chiriquí for a boulder-strewn adventure down the rapids; look out for birds here too 2 Retreat to one of the gorgeous San Blas Islands, to enjoy the sublime Gulf Caribbean beaches and to of Venezuela meet the local Kuna people 3 Visit the ‘Big Ditch’ itself – the Panama Canal is surprisingly beautiful and a mean feat of 1 WHEN TO GO engineering prowess Temperatures in Panama stay around 4 Hop on board the old Gold Rush train that rattles across 30°C all year, dropping to the low 20°Cs the isthmus from Colón on the at night. Rainfall, however, varies. Rain is scarce on the Pacific side from December Lake Caribbean to Panama Citys to April – high season – but short,Maracaibo 5 Share beautiful stretches of sand with diverse wildlife on the heavy afternoon downpours occur offshore archipelago of Bocas del Toro daily on the Caribbean side.

Pta. Gallinas

ER A NT ILL Netherlands E Aruba Antilles

Tayrona NP

Curaçao Henri Pittier Morrocoy NP CARA NP

Barranquilla Cartagena Ciudad Perdida Maracaibo Valenci (The Lost City) Barquisimeto

VENEZU

Sierra Nevada NP

8 For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/panama

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36 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

Cabo Corrientes

Medellin Manizales

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

The archipelago of San Blas – containing nearly 400 islands – stretches towards the Colombian border and is 1 inhabited by indigenous Kuna Indians. Spend

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 Galápagos – a fragile paradise rapidly becoming an iconic travel destination.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

simpler things in life. Further east still, the Darien Gap was, until recently, almost 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 colonial towns, surfing beaches and nature

Cauca

S

KINGSTON a few nights here enjoying the

JAMAICA

itting at the crossroads of the Americas, Panama has more to offer than its famous ‘Big Ditch’ (the Panama Canal), 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. 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 Lake Gatun on the 80km voyage between Caribbean and Pacific.

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M G U Naturesettlements Reserve Mount Roraima of mission military outpost. But where the eople often assume that taste for mate (a tea-like drink also remains I Athe N A SURINAME are Saül H I by the Jesuits people are few, the wildlife is SpanishGand popular in Argentina, Uruguay and built in the 18th a u v i Portuguese G H Central L A N Orin C O L O Mconquered BIA D S Suriname Awarradam oco plentiful – cross the marshes and all of South southern Brazil) – the locals love it century lie among lush, tropical ado del Huila Nature Reserve Neiva GUIANA the thorny wilderness where America. Yet, in Paraguay, even more than the British love a forest near the banks of the Río FRENCH gustín jaguar, puma and tapir prowl and events took a strange turn when cuppa. It’s such a way of life here Paraná. Vestiges of the fine Macapá the trees are filled with a wealth of the Guaraní Indians absorbed a that it is not unusual to see a biker craftsmanship of the Guaraní Ne gr B. de Marajó o twittering, glittering birdlife.

Spanish speeding on his mean machine, Indians who followed the missions C a expedition led by Pedro de ADOR qu etá I. de Marajó Wherever you roam in Paraguay, Mendoza into their culture, creating are scattered around the townsa zof Thermos under one arm, mate on Belém B. de zo Am São Marcos you are guaranteed to develop a a hybrid society. This mysterious, gourd in hand, pouring as he rides.

Trinidad and Jesús, where a Jesuit Manaus São Luis pocket of South America – a mission – its work curtailed by the Fortaleza country of farmland, forest and A m a z o n expulsion of its missionaries in s ó S a j folklore – went its own way.

1767e i –r has been almost fully a Teresina A p Ponta do Calcanhar V d L E S Ta a O M Its music, too, marks it apart reconstructed.

The Jesuit Museum Natal from its neighbours. Instead of the at San Ignacio Guazú is a s ru Joao Pessoa Pu grinding rhythms of salsa or tango, testament to their work, arguably VITAL STATISTICS TOPN5G EXPERIENCES ujillo A S es A T I Cordillera Blanca A C P Paraguay prefers to sway to one of the most significant social Capital: Asunción a live performance of ire 1 S áCatch o Fra Porto Velho nc s Nevado Huascarán Recife is co sentimental love songs and experiments on the continent.

Population: 6.8 million Paraguay’s unique music style in an Juazeiro Maceió dances accompanied In the north and west of Languages: Spanish and Guaraní Asunción bar P E European R U Barragem de SI Sobradinho Riberalta Manu Biosphere ER by virtuoso harp players, guitar Paraguay, the countryside is Time: GMT-4 (mid-October to mid-March Wander tropical rainforest, swim in R 2 AD Reserve Aracaju Comas OS Lorem ipsum Huancayo PA R strummers and accordions. decidedly less populated. The GMT-3) waterfalls and watch the sun set on Chapada Callao LIMA Gu E CIS apo Diamantina NP Machu Picchu ré Now, the differences between Chaco – a vast,cross-border plain International dialling code: +595 a boat cruise down the Paraná river, 1 Sacred Valley Cusco Salvador Paraguay and the rest of South extending Money: Guaraní (Gs) along the border with Argentina Noel Kempff into Argentina and Pen. Paracas Carinhanha Mercado NP Lake Nasca Lines Cuiabá 1 Colca Canyon Titicaca America are becoming less distinct Bolivia – is inhabited by a handful Visas: Not required nationals B A H I3A Meet the local people, from B R A Zby I LUK IAN Sorata BRASÍLIA Nasca HIGHLANDS Nevado PLANALTO DE Nevado Ampato – politically, the country is Ancohume part of of Mennonite communities, communities of Guaraní Indians to Volcán MATO GROSSO Corioco El Misti Montes Goiânia TO 1 WHEN LAbloc PAZ linking the Arequipa Mercosur economic indigenous peoples and the odd the High German-speaking Mennonites, GO Claros the region with established trade whose settlements dot the Chaco The best time to visit Paraguay Caravelas M I N isAduring S Oruro Arica routes to Argentina and Brazil.

Explore Paraguay’s Jesuit history in the southern hemisphere winter (May to 5 4 G E R A I S Lake Moreover, the road to Poopó Bolivia towns like Trinidad and the Jesuit September) – Belo the rest of the year can be Horizonte Pta. de Baleia Defensores Grande Salar de Uyuni NPnavigable is becoming increasingly Museum at San Ignacio Guazú unbearably hot (35°C). You’re also likely to del Chaco NP 3 B RAZI L The Chaco – well, in the dry season, at least. encounter more rain at the Juiz hottest time of Vitória 5 Go wild in the country sweeping de Fora The Trans-Chaco is considered one wetlands, looking out for jaguar, year, when storms are frequent (JanuaryCampos is Concepción Campinas Cabo de São Tomé of South America’s greatest road tapir and anteaters in the rarely visited the wettest month). TheRío hottest part of the Antofagasta Tinfunqué NP Cabo Frio São Paulo de Janeiro R A trips – the going might be bumpy Paraguayan Pantanal country is theMnorth, which is in the tropics.

1Ciudad Santos ARGE N TIN A Volcán del Este Llullaillaco but it’s always a fascinating drive.

Curitiba ASUNCION 0 200km Outside the capital of Asunción, For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/paraguay 2 Trinidad San Ignacio Guazú 4 Nevado Ojos head to the south del Salado the Copiapó where Florianópolis

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THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 37

Peru

Now with direct flights from the UK – there’s more to Peru than Machu Picchu

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T L A N T I CManu O CorE Tambopata, A N Machu Picchu with a guide adds two large most important ancientAsites. ‘lost’, mist-swirled Inca protected areas of rainforest, However, this region is better citadel and a certain little extra insight.

Miami GULF OF MEXICO BAHAMAS Head north to the elegant and arguably the most pristine known as a mecca for hikers. If bear with a penchant for M E X I C O HAVANA Varadero colonial city of Trujillo, on Peru’s conservation units in the world. that’s not your cup of mate, then marmalade tend to be Tampico ajara VERACRUZ northern try white-water rafting or mountain Or fly to riverside Iquitos, the the two headline acts of Peru. Yet Leon Trinidad Ccoast, U B A and Chan Chan, PUERTO Mérida the largest adobe city in the world; only place in Peru where you can there is more to this vast land than RICO through the peaks.

Teotihuacán Samaná biking Jarabocoa Santiago de Cuba Yucatan Los Haitises NP HAITI Tulum MICHOACÁN MEXICO CITY Peninsula SANTO its crumbling imperial ruinsPicoMount consist see pink river dolphins in the But it’s not all mountains.

Most Machu Picchu and Paddington.

PORT-AU-PRINCE ANTIGUA AND Duarte DOMINGO BARBUDA of nine great compounds built by morning and experience the people are surprised to hear that For a start, Peru boasts more Acapulco KINGSTON Palenque DOMINICAN San Cristóbel Oaxaca JAMAICA ST. KITTS de las Casas R E P U B L I C a massive successive dynasties that ruled BELIZE bustle of a frenetic Amazon 60% DOMINICA of Peru is jungle. ancient archaeological Tikal sites Semuc AND NEVIS The Bay Islands Champey Lívingston Todos Santos before the port in the afternoon.

Experience the best of it in either than anyQuetzaltenango other country in South HONDURASthis part of the country C A R I B B E A N S E A Copán La Mosquitia Antigua ruins ST. LUCIA arrival of the Incas.

Not far from Gracias America.

Its large green carpet GUATEMALA GUATEMALA Monterrico TEGUCIGALPA Suchitoto Cerro Verde NP SANgreatest the city are the massive adobe L E S S E of jungle is home to El Imposible NP the ST. VINCENT SALVADOR Leon NICARAGUA R A BARBADOS NTI Netherlands LL Pta. Gallinas Granada ES pyramids of Huaca del Sol and diversity EL ofSALVADOR plants wildlife Aruba Antilles Ruta de and Flores MANAGUA The Corn Islands GRENADA Volcán Masaya O C E A N Ometepe Island Tayrona NP Curaçao Henri PORT OF Tobago Guanacaste Huaca de la Barranquilla Luna. Elsewhere in on the planet. Peru is Tenorio alsoNP the Pittier Morrocoy SPAIN Volcán Arenal NP CARACAS NP Cartagena Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Tortuguero Portobello TRINIDAD & Paria Trinidad Perdida Maracaibo Panamá Viejothe Ciudad Peninsula Valencia the region are pre-Columbian birthplace of surfing COSTA while its rivers SAN JOSÉ TOBAGO (The Lost City) RICA San Blás Barquisimeto Delta del Manuel Antonio NP PANAMA Islands Corcovado NP PANAMA Orinoco V E N E Z U E L AVITAL STATISTICS pyramid tombs of Sipán and the offer some of the best white-water TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Osa Peninsula Azuero Gulf of Darién Sierra Ciudad Peninsula Panama Ciudad Guayana even older remains at Caral, Nevada NP rafting anywhere, and the Andes Capital: Lima 1 Delve into the Amazon Rainforest Bolivar GEORGETOWN Galibi Nature Reserve PARAMARIBO Angel dating back over Medellin 4,000 years. are riddled with hiking potential Population: 30.5GUYANA million from Iquitos, jumping-off point Salut Cabo Corrientes Falls Islands Manizales Brownsberg Raleighvallen Pereira Kourou NP G U Nature Reserve Mount Roraima In the Cordillera Blanca, deep but largely unexplored.

Languages: Spanish and Quechua for river trips and wildlife-watching BOGOTÁ Nevado del Tolima Voltaire I A CAYENNE N A Armenia Ibagué SURINAME Falls Saül H I Lorem ipsum G H Central in theBuenaventura northern Andes, is the Practically everyone who visits Time: GMT-5 Sample Peru’s flavour-intense L A N Cali D S Suriname Awarradam 2 Nevado del Huila Nature Reserve Neiva FRENCH GUIANA architectural of the Peru goes to Cusco, one of the International dialling code: +592 cuisine in Lima – the foodie hub 1 splendour San Agustín Punta Galera 2,500-year-old fortress temple of most fascinating cities in the Money: Nuevo sol (S/) of Latin America Macapá 1 Not required by UK nationals Chavín de Huántar,COLOMBIA one of Peru’s world. The Spanish built their Visas: iconic Inca ruins ECUADOR de Marajó 3 Visit toB. the I. de Marajó colonial churches and houses of Machu of the BelémPicchu – one B. de São Marcos 1 WHEN TO GO Manaus on top of the Inca foundations, and world’s great wonders; reach 1 São Luisthem via this startling mix of architectural scenic train ride or multi-day hike along Fortaleza The sierra and jungle of Peru are hot and Iquitos 4 styles is still in evidence. ancient trails dry from April to October. November to Teresina Ponta do Calcanh Chachapoyas Cusco is also the ideal baseChiclayo for Climb on to the new cable car to April is the wet season. The opposite is true Natal 4 Chan Joao Pesso Chan Cajamarca exploring the Urubamba Valley, visit Kuélap, the mind-blowing, G A S for the coast – hot and dry from December BRAZIL N A T I Trujillo Cordillera C A Porto Velho which runs west all the way to mist-shrouded pre-Inca site in Peru’s to April with cooler conditions May to Recife Chimbote Blanca Juazeiro Machu Picchu and beyond. Peru’s Amazonas region November. June to September are the best Manu Maceió 3 SI 2 Biosphere Riberalta ER best-known archaeological site is months R A for trekkers. Peruvians like their Reserve Aracaju 5 Take in the glory of Lake Titicaca DO Machu SP LIMA AR ECI Picchu the main attraction for visitors, – the highest navigableChapada lake inNP the fiestas, so coincide a trip with celebrations Diamantina S Tambopata Huancayo PACIFIC and rightly so. Set your alarm world and the largest in South America Salvador such as Virgen de la Candelaria.

Cusco 5 Noel Kempff OCEAN Carinhanha Mercado NP Cuiabá Nasca Lines BRAZILIAN Colca Puno and get up early to watch the sun B A H I A BRASÍLIA B O L I V I A HIGHLANDS Canyon PLANALTO DE ATO GROSSO Corioco rise over the mountains and fill Arequipa 0 200km For more information go toMwww.lata.travel/peru Montes Claros Goiânia LA PAZ Cochabamba the citadel with light. Exploring Lake Titicaca Santa Cruz Caravelas M I N A S Oruro Sucre G E R A I S CHILE Monterrey

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PORT-AU-PRINCE KINGSTON

PUERTO RICO

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mount SANTO Pico Duarte DOMINGO

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

C A R I B B E A N

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

DOMINICA

S E A

ST. LUCIA ST. VINCENT

Gulf of Venezuela

Curaçao Henri

PORT OF SPAIN

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uriname is an intriguing combination of Dutch, Medellin Asian anda African roots, Manizales et reira whichMinfluences the BOGOTÁ l Tolima culture, festivals, food and street enia Ibagué life. For a minuscule country, iare Gauv there’s an awful lot going on. la 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 centuriesC by the Dutch. The aq uet á 19th-century Roman Catholic St Peter and Paul Cathedral is one of the largest wooden buildings in the Americas, and you can also pass one of the region’s finest mosques – head to Keizerstraat at sunset for the best photo opportunities.

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

COLOMBIA

Ciudad VENEZUELA Raleighvallen,Bolivar with its dramatic

ATLANTIC 200km OCEAN 0 2 geological formations, is a Angel Galibi 3 rainforest park south-west GUYANA Falls of PARAMARIBO NR Paramaribo on the Coppename Brownsberg NP 4 Raleighvallen River and part of the Central FRENCH NR Central GUIANA 1 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 primates and 400Nbird e g species B. de Marajó ro such as harpy eagle, Guiana cockI. de Marajó of-the-rock and scarlet macaw.

In the far south of the country, VITAL STATISTICS A m a z o n TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Belém a grand row of granite mountains Capital: Paramaribo 1 Visit the remote Maroon village of Manaus rises out of a green duvet of forest.

Population: 580,000 Awarradam, where you can dance with Notable among these is Mount Language: Dutch the locals and eat delicious peanut soup A mnear the Trio and Kasikasima, Time: GMT-3 2 The best preserved of the Guiana a z o n Wajana Amerindian village of International dialling code: +597 capitals, Paramaribo’s old town is s S a jó Palumeu – a Agood base for trekking Money: Suriname dollar (S$) full of handsome Dutch-colonial ir a e p V d Lorem ipsum T a required by UK nationals a and exploring the nooks and Visas: Not mansions and civic buildings M crannies of 1 the area. arriving at the international airport in 3 Watch out for endangered sea Two enticing nature reserves – Paramaribo; a single-entry tourist card turtles lumbering up from the sea to s r u Galibi – hug the Wia WiaP uand can1 be obtained (for a fee) on arrival lay their eggs on the beach in the Galibi north-east coast of Suriname, both National Reserve – July is the best time 1 WHENe sTO P i GO famous in turtle circles as primary to visit re Porto Velho s nesting sites. Five species, The dry seasons (February to late April 4 Delve into the Central Suriname including the huge leatherback Nature Reserve to look for jaguar, and August to early December) are the turtle, come ashore to lay eggs at sloth, primates and 400 species of best times to visit Suriname. The major these spotsS –I E head there between colourful birds rainy season is April to July; however, Riberalta R April and July toR Asee most nesting that’s also when the turtles come ashore 5 Tackle the striking granite form of DO S P month – activity. July is the best Mount Kasikasima to nest and worth a visit for that alone.

A REC G apo you can see adultsucoming ashore I S ré to lay eggs and hatchlings rushing For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/suriname out to the sea at high tide.

Noel Kempff Mercado NP Cuiabá R A Z I 41 LIAN THE GUIDE TO LATIN B AMERICA Sorata BRASÍLIA HIGHLANDS Nevado Ancohume PLANALTO DE MATO GROSSO Corioco

Essentials

Tocantins

Ju ru á

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Delta del Orinoco

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Sierra Nevada NP

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

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Lake Maracaibo

Paria Trinidad Peninsula

Tobago

Br

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Dreamstime Cauca

arranquilla Pittier Morrocoy NP CARACAS NP tagena Ciudad Perdida Maracaibo ejo Valencia (The Lost City) Blás Barquisimeto

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Colca Canyon www.lata.travel

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Manu Biosphere Reserve Huancayo LIMA Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Cusco

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B. São M

Parnaí

Pta. Gallinas Tayrona NP

BARBADOS GRENADA

LESS ER A NTI Netherlands LL ES Aruba Antilles

Goiânia

Montes Claros

Carin

S O P

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San Ignacio Guazú

Corrientes

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São Paulo

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colonial architecture in this part of 0 200 km the continent – a well-preserved Salto Cordoba historical gem on a small peninsula BRAZIL 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, 2 Colonia del 1 5 Teresa NP English and Art Deco – line the Laguna Negra R í oSacramento streets.

The Mercado del Puerto, d PAMPAS e l a MONTEVIDEO ATLANTIC Plat the 19th-century market building a Punta 3 OCEAN near the docks, is a carnivore’s del Este dream – dozens of restaurants sizzle and steam with tray after Pta. Norte tray of succulent and delicious parrilla (grilled meat), the staple Cabo San Antonio diet of most Uruguayans.

Escape the cities and the giant VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCES Mar del Plata barbecue and drive along the Capital: Montevideo 1 Sip a medio y medio (wine cocktail) Bahia Blanca Cabo spectacular Population: 3.3Corrientes million in Montevideo’s indoor Mercado C o l o r a d ocoast stretching east of Montevideo. This is a conveyor Language: Spanish del Puerto Lorem ipsum and Blanca Time: GMT-2 (GMT-3 October to March) Bahia 2 Visit the museums and amble the obelt of small bays, beaches promontories International dialling code: +598 cobbled colonial streets of Colonia 1 backed by hills and woods. Stop off at the resort of Money: Uruguay peso (UYU) del Sacramento, one of the best1 Not required by UK nationals Punta del Este – a favourite Visas: preserved towns in the Southern Cone sun-and-sea spot with the 3 Just north of pullulating Punta del Viedma 1 WHEN TO GO international elite. Further east Este, José Ignacio is a smaller, Golfo San Matias still, the population dwindles and prettier and more glamorous beach Sun-seeking visitors tend to head to you’ll find quiet lagoons where you haven – feast here before exploring the Peninsula Valdés Uruguay in the southern hemisphere’s can kayak through still waters to wilder northern coasts summer months (December to March), a soundtrack of chirruping birds. when the coast is very hot but the 4 Live like a Uruguayan cowboy Rawson For a classic road adventure, – stay at a characterful estancia interior slightly cooler, especially choose Route 7 towards Melo, to ride horses across the plains and eat in the hills. Temperatures are calmed in heart of the cattle-ranching the finest steak summer by the cool Atlantic breeze country. For most of its length, the while the winter months, especially July 5 Visit a vineyard and sample the road runs through the Cuchilla famous tannat grape variety and August, can get quite cold.

Grande – a range of soft, curving Comodoro Rivadavia hills – and past vineyards and For more information, go to: www.lata.travel/uruguay Golfo de San orchards up to the Jorge Brazilian border.

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hipelago de os chonos

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C. Quilán

Lago Buenos Aires Desea 42 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA do

Golfo de

San

Cabo Sta. Marta Gr

SIERR

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erto Montt

R

Florianópolis

A R G E N T I N A Essentials

Bariloche

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Iguazú NP

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Campinas

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Dreamstime

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Formosa

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ruguay is a land de Vaca of rolling hills and seemingly endless San Juan verdant pastures largely devoted to agriculture. Indeed, the green countryside is dotted with Cerro Aconcagua sheep and cows; as far back as British built aCity alparaiso 1868 – when theMendoza railway connecting the capital, SANTIAGO Montevideo, with the countryside – Hereford and shorthorn cattle have been reared here. As such, San Rafael Uruguay is best explored on horseback like a true gaucho arranza (cowboy), or by staying at one of the many colonial estancias Chillán (working ranches) that have pción opened their doors to visitors.

Relax and adopt the lifestyle of the apié countryside or take part in the daily working day of estate.

You’ll taste the colonial flavour as r Neg soon as you arrive. Colonia del Sacramento, a short ferry ride Valdivia from Buenos Aires, was founded

by Portuguese settlers in 1680. It a Galera has some of the finest remnants of

pan

S E R R A

ASUNCIÓN

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San Miguel de Tucumán

Nevado Ojos del Salado

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PARAGUAY Itaipú agu

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fagasta

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Sucreof South America Tuck into Lake this tasty slice Poopó

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Santa Cruz

Oruro

O A N P L T I A L

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Uruguay

BRAZ HIGHL

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PLANALTO DE MATO GROSSO

Corioco LA PAZ Cochabamba

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Cuiabá

B O L I V I A Nevado Ancohume

Sorata

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Des Moines

Lansing

Boston

Albany

Cape Cod

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New York

Harrisburg

Trenton

WASHINGTON

Springfield

Topeka

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Dover

Indianapolis

Charleston

St. Louis

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

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Mississippi Delta

Orlando Tampa

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GULF OF MEXICO

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CUBA

Trinidad Mérida

Teotihuacán

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MEXICO CITY

San Cristóbel de las Casas

Tulum

HAITI

PORT-AU-PRINCE

Palenque Tikal

Santiago de Cuba

JAMAICA

BELIZE

KINGSTON

Semuc The Bay Islands Todos Santos Champey Lívingston Quetzaltenango C A R Lake Atitlán Copán La Mosquitia Antigua ruins Lake Yojoa Gracias GUATEMALA TEGUCIGALPA Monterrico Suchitoto Cerro Verde NP SAN El Imposible NP SALVADOR Leon any people reckon Granada the highland pastures studded Ruta de Flores MANAGUA

HONDURAS

PUERTO RICO

Jarabocoa Samaná Los Haitises NP Mount SANTO Pico Duarte DOMINGO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC I B B E A N

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

DOMINICA

S E A

ST. LUCIA

GUATEMALA

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NICARAGUA

SURINAME

Lake Nicaragua The Corn Islands Volcán Masaya 2 Los Roques that Venezuela mightOmetepe Island with wild flowers.

Guanacaste Tenorio NP just be the ideal The verdant rainforest and Volcán Arenal Maracaibo CARACAS Tortuguero Portobello Nicoya Peninsula Jacó Panama Panamá Viejo introduction to South savannahs SAN JOSÉ Canalof the south-east are 4 Mochima COSTA RICA San Blás Manuel Antonio NP NP PANAMA Islands America. The country sits where and untamed environment Corcovado NP a wild PANAMA Osa Peninsula Mérida Ciudad Azuero Gulf of Darién o c o n the frosted peaks of the Andes that remains much as it was Peninsula Panama Ori Guayana Los 3 mountains meet the idyllic when the country received its first 5 Llanos Angel Galibi Nature Reserve 1 white-sand beaches of the gently foreign visitor way back in 1498.

Salut Falls Cabo Corrientes GUYANA Brownsberg Islands COLOMBIA lapping Caribbean; where the So overwhelmed was Christopher Kourou NP Gran Sabana Voltaire CAYENNE Orinoco River separates the vast Columbus by whatArmenia he saw that he Falls Saül Buenaventura 0 200km Orino plains from the tabletop described it as “paradise on earth”; Cali Awarradam co Nevado del Huila BRAZIL mountains of the Gran Sabana; Here, Angel Falls tumbles in FRENCH GUIANA San Agustín where Latin America turns into spectacular style from the plateau Punta Galera Amazon rainforest. The result is of a tabletop mountain. The Macapá QUITO a land of astonishing variety. highest falls in the world, its B. de Marajó C aq ECUADOR uet I. de Marajó á Despite all the geographical waters cascade through the air Belém zon Guayaquil Chimborazo obstacles, Venezuela has one of for almost a kilometre before VITAL STATISTICS TOP 5 EXPERIENCESA m a Manaus Gulf of the best-developed road networks meeting Capital: Caracas Guayaquil the rainforest floor. It’s 1 Climb Mount Roraima, the 2,810m in South America, thanks to its an adventure to clamber through Population: 29.2 million A m a tepui (tabletop mountain) whose z o n s heights inspired The lucrative oil reserves. In the west the jungle to get to the base; to Language: Spanish mist-shrouded S a jó r a A ei p V d L M E S a is Los Llanos, the great plain of the reach the top requires a multi-day Lorem ipsumTime: GMT-4.5 Lost WorldT a O M Punta Aguja Orinoco, where local flora and trekking expedition, but the International dialling code: +58 Snorkel in the blue-green seas off 1 2 R Chiclayo B A Z I L s ru fauna – such as scarlet ibis and views are worth the effort.

Money: Bolívar fuerte (Bs) the Los Roques archipelago on the Pu Trujillo es 1 Not required by UK nationals Orinoco crocodile – share their Alternatively, climbCordillera up (or Blanca fly over) Visas: lookout for turtles, barracuda, nurse Pi re Porto Velho s Nevado Huascarán ChimboteMount territory with cattle and the the incredible Roraima, sharks and rays 1 WHEN TO GO llanero cowboys. For the ultimate which inspired Arthur Conan 3 Ride a horse through Los Llanos, the P E R U SI ER ranch experience stay in one of Doyle to write The Lost World.Manu Biosphere vast area of wetlands near the border Venezuela is Riberalta generally considered to be a RA Reserve Comas DO SP the hatos, where you can enjoy a Mochima National Park sits on with Colombia, rich in fauna and flora year-round destination.

The dry season Huancayo AR Callao LIMA Gu ECI ap Machu Picchu bit of luxury while getting to grips the north coast. Here youSacred canValley hire (December to April) is more pleasanto r éfor S 4 Relax in the cool climes of Mérida, a Cusco with a lasso. a boat and chugPen. round cultured university town dating back travelling (and particularly trekking);Noel Kempff Paracasthe clusters Mercado NP Lake NascaaLines Colca Canyonhowever, Further west, at Mérida, you can of islands until you find deserted to the 16th centuryCuiabá and set in striking Titicacathe mighty waterfalls in the Gran BRAZILI Sorata BRASÍLIA B O L I V I A Nasca HIGHLAN Nevado Ancohume P in L Athe N A Andes LTO DE Nevado Ampato Sabana, be whisked off your feet by the cove where you can drop anchor surroundings high up in the country’s south-east, Volcán MATO GROSSO Corioco El Misti Montes C LA PAZ during the wet highest cable car in the world (due and spend a day padding across Arequipa look more impressive 5 Marvel at Angel Falls, the world’sGoiânia Cochabamba to reopen in 2016) as it glides up your own beach. Or perhaps head highest waterfall – canoe to its season, when they are in full flow. TheSanta Andes Cruz M Oruro á Sucre areas.

Aricadoesn’t get as hot as coastal through the mist-swirled peaks to the spectacular Los Roques base or hike to the top zone G Lake Poopó of the Andes. Pull on Pyour with miles of pristine Belo Horizon Potosí A Chiking I F I C O Carchipelago, EAN Campo Grande Grande Salar de Uyuni NP boots and march out onto the white-sand beaches and crystalFor more information, go to: www.lata.travel/venezuela Ti et ê grassy trails of the páramo and clear water.

The Chaco

Essentials

Tocantins

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nap ane Concepción Ilha Grande Campinas ma Esteros de Iberá THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 43 São Paulo

San Ignacio Guazú

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Igu

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O A N P L T I A L

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Oaxaca

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

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GETTING THERE FROM EUROPE

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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

www.lata.travel

044-045_Getting there & Embassies2018_thv6.indd 45

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

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

Government of St Helena

Air Europa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Belize Tourist Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chimu Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Crillon Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Dominican Republic Tourist Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Falkland Islands Holidays. . . . . . . . 25 Iberia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC Inkaterra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Island Expeditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 LATA Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Llama Travel Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Mountain Lodges of Peru. . . . . . . . 35 Moxley & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

SURINAME

Napo Wildlife Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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

Silversea Expeditions. . . . . . . . . . . 25

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Suriname

URUGUAY

Embassy of Uruguay

Setour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 St Helena Tourist Board . . . . . . . . . IBC Sunvil Traveller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Vira Vira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Wanderlust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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

VENEZUELA

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

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

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/

NICARAGUA

Embassy of Nicaragua

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

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 45

15/01/2018 16:58

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.

Audley Latin America

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.

B

Best at Travel

0906 948 4737 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.

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.

Chimu Adventures

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.

D Discover South America Ltd

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.

46 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

E Exodus

020 3553 0727 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

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.

Exsus Travel

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 3553 9198 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 specialist in travel to Latin America we’ve been creating award-winning holidays to every corner of the region for nearly 40 years: we pride ourselves on our knowledge of travelling in Central and South America – and are passionate about it too. From Mexico to Antarctica, every one of our staff have lived, worked or travelled in this spectacular region and their unrivalled knowledge and passion for sharing it means that we’re able to show you the places you’ll love in a style that suits you. Journey Latin America – Specialists in Tailormade Holidays and Escorted Group Tours.

K

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

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.

Latin Routes

020 8546 6222 info@latinroutes.co.uk 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.

www.lata.travel

Llama Travel Limited

Preston Reid

M

Pura Aventura

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.

Martin Randall Travel

020 8742 3355 info@martinrandall.co.uk www.martinrandall.com Martin Randall Travel is the UK’s leading cultural tour operator. We offer an unequalled range of tours and events focusing on art, architecture, music, archaeology, history, gardens and gastronomy, all accompanied by an expert lecturer.

Miraviva Travel

020 7186 1111 info@miravivatravel.com https://www.miravivatravel.com/ Miraviva is a boutique travel designer offering high-end exclusive travel experiences throughout Central and South America. We provide tailored itineraries and first-hand, in-depth knowledge of the region to families, couples and independent travellers.

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.

01273 676 712 info@pura-aventura.com www.pura-aventura.com Pura Aventura is an Anglo-Spanish company, founded in 1999 by three guides who met in Chilean Patagonia. Our vision is simple: to share the places in Latin America and Spain that have moved us. By working directly with partners across this beautiful region, we offer genuinely different holidays.

R

Rainbow Tours

020 7666 1260 latinamerica@rainbowtours.co.uk www.rainbowtours.co.uk Rainbow Tours Latin America offers a selection of high-quality tailor-made holidays across the continent. Specialists in wildlife, private touring, multi-country itineraries, expedition cruises and family adventure. ATOL 2786.

MotMot Travel Ltd

Reef And Rainforest Tours Ltd

Moxley &Co

Revealed Travel

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.

020 3409 3724 bmoxley@moxleyandco.travel www.moxleyandco.travel Moxley & Co know and love Latin America.

Our experienced and knowledgeable team create tailor-made, luxury itineraries for those seeking to discover the secrets and delights of this great continent. During your travels our selected local staff are always on hand to assist and ensure all is well.

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

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 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

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.

Plan South America

020 7993 6930 venetia@plansouthamerica.com http://www.plansouthamerica.com/ Plan South America are a specialist travel company based in London and Buenos Aires who craft one-of-a-kind, tailor-made experiences across Latin America and Antarctica, from honeymoons, sabbaticals and family holidays to adventure holidays and expeditions. www.lata.travel

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.

South America Odyssey

020 8704 1216 marc@southamericaodyssey.com https://www.southamericaodyssey.com We are experts in the luxurious, tailor-made South American experience. We put our clients’ individual needs at the heart of every trip, making the whole experience from initial enquiry to returning home an unforgettable and truly personal one.

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 Latin America

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

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.

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.

Tropical Sky

T Tango Tours Ltd

Tucan Travel

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 Latin America Travel Company

020 8191 7772 info@thelatinamericatravelcompany.com www.thelatinamericatravelcompany.com A friendly family run company with a passion for Latin America, we use our in depth and first hand knowledge to create tailor made tours and holidays for the independent traveller. With our personal service we’ll create the perfect itinerary to match your particular tastes and requirements.

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.

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.

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 GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 47

MEMBERS

BY COUNTRY ANTARCTICA Antarctica XXI

+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.

Antarpply Expeditions

+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.

One Ocean Expeditions

+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 and great value.

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.

48 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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

Mai10

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa

National Institute of Tourism Promotion Argentina

Brazilian Tourist Board - Embratur

Latitud90- Chile

+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.

+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.

BELIZE

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.

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.

+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.

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.

+56 2 957 0323 oantigua@transoceanica.cl http://www.hangaroa.cl Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa enjoys a privileged location on Chile's mythical Easter Island overlooking a stunning bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond. A superb base with excellent facilities and within walking distance of the main village of Hanga Roa. +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.

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

Costa Rica Tourist Board

020 3697 4200 info@visitcostarica.com www.costaricantrails.com Here, visitors enjoy lovely tropical beaches, grand adventures, the wonders of nature, and scintillating culture; all the necessary components of an ideal holiday. No wonder, thousands have made Costa Rica their top travel choice!

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.

www.lata.travel

Hacienda AltaGracia

+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.

Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

+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.

The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal

+506-2-654 3562 yira.salas@westin.com http://www.westinplayaconchal.com/ Located on Costa Rica's magnificent North-Pacific Riviera, Westin Hotels first Costa Rica all-inclusive resort, The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal is set on 2,400 acres and offers everything you need to revitalize and thrive.

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

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.

Ecoventura/Galapagos Network

+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.

Enchanted Expeditions

+593-2-334 0525 headoffice@enchantedexpeditions.com www.enchantedexpeditions.com Enchanted Expeditions is a wellestablished, reliable and sustainable ground operator based in Quito. We offer tailor-made tours on mainland Ecuador, cruises and island hopping around the Galapagos Islands and have recently opened a lodge in the Highlands on Santa Cruz Island.

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

+593-2-299 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

+593-2-226 7000 sales@gogalapagos.com.ec www.kleintours.com Throughout the years, Go Galapagos has adapted to the necessities and changes of the tourism industry and this is why, nowadays, it is one of the top tour operators in Ecuador. It has focused to maintain high service standards, as well as, a sense of protection in the complex environment.

Advantage Travel

Hilton Quito

Quito Tourist Board

+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.

www.lata.travel

+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.

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.

Sacha Lodge, Casa Suizo & Aliso

+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.

Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours +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.

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada

+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.

Belmond Maroma Resort & 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.

Catherwood Travels

+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.

Los Cabos Tourism 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.

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.

Falkland Islands Holidays

Viajes Meca

International Tours & Travel Ltd

NICARAGUA

Falkland Islands Tourist Board

+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. +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.

+52-55-5203 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.

Nicaragua Tourism Board (Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo – INTUR) +505-2254 5191 / +44 (0) 207 650 1840 www.visitnicaragua.us/ The Nicaragua Tourism Board promotes the Sustainable Development of the Nicaraguan tourism sector, strengthening the potential of Nicaragua as a tourist destination.

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.

THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA 49

MEMBERS

BY COUNTRY Panama Trails

+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.

PERU

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 We believe the landscape of Peru is as much a wonder of the world as Machu Picchu. We create adventures that allow you to experience its beauty and uniqueness firsthand and to benefit from time spent in nature. We hope this in turn will inspire more people to love and protect our wild places.

Amazon River Expeditions

+51-1-421 9195 aacosta@amazonrex.com www.amazonriverexpeditions.com/en/ Amazon River Expeditions (AMAZONREX) is the tour operator in the Amazon River Jungle with the widest and most-varied quality tourism programs for individual and organized groups who are looking for a real Amazon experience. Hotels, lodges and cruises.

Atemporal boutique hotel

+51-96-779 0938 enrique@aeco.pe https://www.atemporal.pe Housed in a grand 1940’s converted mansion, Atemporal is that unique combination of antique and modern luxury.

Located in the chic district of Miraflores, this characterful home is open to guests who seek an ultra-stylish boutique hotel ambiance fused with impeccable service.

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.

50 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

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.

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas

+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.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

+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

+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.

Inkaterra Peru

+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.

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.

Libertador Hotels Resorts & Spas

+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

+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.

Palacio del Inka a Luxury Collection Hotel

+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.

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.

Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

+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.

Titilaka

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.

Viajes Pacifico

+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.

+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

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.

www.lata.travel

MEMBERS

BY CATEGORY

The hotels, airlines, cruise ships, tourist boards and service providers that will help enable you to get the most out of Latin America

AIRLINES

CRUISE SHIPS

0871 423 0717 uksales@air-europa.com www.aireuropa.com Air Europa, a Skyteam member, offers twice-daily flights from Gatwick to Madrid with quick connections to: Asuncion, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Lima, Salvador da Bahia, Caracas, Havana, Santo Domingo, Montevideo, Santa Cruz, Sao Paulo, Cancun & Punta Cana. New for 2018: Quito.

+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.

Air Europa

Aqua Expeditions

Australis

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.

+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.

Avianca

Ocean Adventures

Air France/KLM

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.

British Airways/Iberia Airlines

020 8738 3355 consumer.support@ba.com www.ba.com British Airways and IBERIA are the leading carriers from Europe to Latin America, offering flights to more than 20 destinations either direct from London or via IBERIA’s hub in Madrid T4. British Airways’ latest new route is Santiago in Chile, while IBERIA’s is San Juan in Puerto Rico.

LATAM AIRLINES GROUP

(+44) 208 600 6700 www.latam.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.

Norwegian Airlines

01293 804 787 customerservice@norwegian.com https://www.norwegian.com/ Operating just Boeing 787s on longhaul from London Gatwick, Norwegian carries more than 5 million UK passengers each year from 4 UK airports, to over 50 global destinations. The airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world with an average age of 3.6 years.

TAP Portugal

0800 0260728 www.flytap.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 from six U.S hubs. You'll arrive refreshed, thanks to United's superior levels of comfort and personal service. www.lata.travel

+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 travellers to experience one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.

Silversea Cruises (UK) Ltd

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

Fremen Tours

HOTEL GROUPS

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

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.

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

explora SA

+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.

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.

+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

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, it pioneered tourism to Galapagos in the 1960s and today it owns and operates Santa Cruz II, La Pinta and Isabela II, and Finch Bay Hotel.

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.

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.

Wendy McNeill Representation

07947 227 204 wendy@wendyrepresents.com http://wendyrepresents.com/ Wendy represents a selection of suppliers chosen for their exceptional and highly personalised service. Driven by passion for product and relationship building. Meetings and training sessions are filled with in-depth knowledge and irrepressible enthusiasm of her destinations.

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.

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ALL LATA MEMBERS AIRLINES

Aerolineas Argentinas Air Europa Air France / KLM Avianca Airlines British Airways / Iberia Copa Airlines LATAM Airlines Network GSA Norwegian Airlines TAP Portugal United Airlines

The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal Tierra Hotels Titilaka Via Natura & Casa Natura Galapagos Lodge Vira Vira Hacienda Hotel Zorah Beach Hotel

HOTEL GROUPS

Sanderson Phillips tranquilico.com

Belmond (UK) Limited BOP – Best of South America Casa Andina explora SA Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts Francis Ford Coppola's Blancaneaux Resorts Libertador Hotels Resorts & Spas NH Hotel Group The Singular Hotels

BUSINESS SUPPORT

LEGAL & INSURANCE

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Elman Wall Travel Accountants Faremine Feefo Holdings Ltd 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 Jungle Experiences 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 Atemporal Awasi Atacama & Awasi Patagonia 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 La Bamba de Areco Estancia Los Potreros SA Faena Hotel Buenos Aires Grupo Islita Hacienda Alta Gracia Hacienda Zuleta - Zuturismo Cia. Ltda.

Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa Hilton Quito Hotel B Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge Hotel Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge Hotel Oro Verde Hotel Rapa Nui Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa + Experiences Napo Wildlife Center Oasis Pacuare Lodge Palacio del Inka A Luxury Collection Hotel Remota Sacha Lodge , Casa Suizo & Aliso Sol y Luna Tambo del Inka a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa 52 THE GUIDE TO LATIN AMERICA

Mayo Wynne Baxter Travel Risk Professionals

LOCAL OPERATORS

Adsmundo Advantage Travel Adventure & Landscape Albee Adventures Aliwen Incoming Amazon River Expeditions Amazonas Explorer Andando Tours Andean Travel Company Ann&Palm Travel Management / Uniting Cultures Argentina Travel Partners DMC Auroraeco Brazil Blumar Tour Operator Bolivia Milenaria Buemes Travel DMC Caiman Ecological Refuge Careli Tours Nicaragua CAST Central America Catherwood Travels Colombia57 Tours Travel & Logistics Ltda Colombian Journeys SAS Coltur Peru Condor Travel S.A.C. Condor Verde Costa Rica Reps Costa Rican Trails Creter Tours Crillon Tours Cuba Private Travel Cynsa Tour Operator Darah Travel Ltd Del Bianco Travel Experience Designer Trips Argentina Domiruth Peru Travel EcoAndes Travel EcoCamp Patagonia / Cascada Expediciones EcoCircuitos S.A ECS Travel Ecuadorian Tours Elements Enchanted Expeditions EQ Touring Esencia Experiences Esteros Viajes Eurotur SRL Explorandes 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 Ideia Tours INCA/Inca Floats Inc. Inkanatura Travel Inkaterra Peru S.A.C. Inspira Travel & Incentives International Tours & Travel Ltd. Island Expeditions Belize Journey Mexico Kallpa Tour Operator

Kichwa Peru KMS Travel Chile KonTour Travel Lares Uruguay Las Catalinas Latin Trails Latinconnect Latitud90- Chile LimaTours Magri Turismo Ltda Mai 10 Manu Expeditions Matuete Mava Travel Peru Maya Trails Metropolitan Touring Metropolitan Touring Colombia Metropolitan Touring Peru Mountain Lodges of Peru Native Trails GmbH & Co. KG Ocean Adventures SA Panama Trails Panamericana de Viajes Passion Brazil Peru Best Tours Peru Empire Co. Protours Chile Pure Brasil PURE Central America Q’inti Quality Travel Quasar Expeditions Quimbaya Latin America Royal Galapagos Salvadorean Tours Say Hueque Patagonia Setours Handcrafted Journeys Silvana Tours Singular Luxury Travel Designers Socompa South American Tours DMC Surtrek Ecuador & Galapagos Tours Swiss Travel, Costa Rica Tangol Terra Explorer Tours Unlimited Trails of Chile Ltda Travel Excellence Travel Pioneers travelArt Chile Tropic Ecuador DMC & Ecolodges Truecolors Travel Cia Ltda Tucano Corporation SAC 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 Branding Latin America Group Cara Hotel Marketing Hemisphere Marketing Inspiring Destination Kellie Worldwide Kurtz-Ahlers & Associates Lotus Saspo Tourism Services Limited Senderos Talking Stick Marketing The BigBlue Collection Wendy McNeill Representation

TOUR OPERATORS Abercrombie & Kent Travel Andean Trails Ltd Audley Latin America Best at 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 Kuoni Travel Ltd laterallife Latin Odyssey Latin Routes Llama Travel Limited Martin Randall Travel Miraviva Travel MotMot Travel Ltd Moxley & Co Naturally Belize / Naturally Costa Rica Original Travel Plan South America Preston Reid Pura Aventura Rainbow Tours Reef and Rainforest Tours Ltd. Revealed Travel Scott Dunn Select Latin America (& Galapagos Adventure Tours) South America Odyssey Steamond Travel Steppes Travel Sunvil Latin America Swoop Patagonia, Antarctica & Arctic Tango Tours Ltd The Explorations Company The Latin America Travel 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

Argentina – National Institute of Tourism Promotion Belize Tourism Board Brazilian Tourist Board Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chile Tourism Board Costa Rica Tourist Board Dominican Republic Tourist Board Embassy of Brazil Tourist Office Embassy of Uruguay Falkland Islands Tourist Board Los Cabos Tourism Board Mexico Tourism Board Nicaragua Tourism Board ProColombia PROMPERÚ Quito Tourist Board St Helena Tourism TurisRio

TRADE BODIES & CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS

Brazilian Chamber of Commerce British Argentine Chamber of Commerce Canning House Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau USTOA – United States Tour Operators Association VBRATA – Visit Brazil Travel Association

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

TRAVEL SHOWS

Reed Exhibitions Ltd PURE Life Experiences The Times Presents Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show William H Coleman Inc. www.lata.travel

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