Jetsettersblog

Goway Travel added to its Classic itineraries for Latin America, independent packages for Central and South America. The programs holidays are flexible, pre-planned packages that can be modified according to time and interest.

“The growth in sales of our Latin programs has enabled us to assess the trends of the most popular destinations in order to create new product with now nine Classic itineraries on offer,” said Don Forster, product manager for Goway’s Latin America. Goway’s new Latin Classics include Chile and Argentina Classic, nine days from $1,690, including travel to Santiago, the wine town of Mendoza and the Argentinean capital of Buenos Aires; Lost Civilizations of South America, nine days from $2,150, combining Easter Island and Machu Picchu; and Mountains, Rivers and Waterfalls, eight days from $2,595, with Iguassu Falls and Machu Picchu.

Since 1970, Goway has been providing travel programs for Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and island destinations. Goway’s 2012-13 Latin America Travel Planner is available by calling 888-469 2955 or emailing info@goway.com

On A Spring Break Family Vacation

WATERTOWN, Mass.—Take your family to experience the rich culture of the Andes in Ecuador and the natural history of the Galapagos on this incredible family “Islands And Inca Ruins” spring break adventure by Thomson Family Adventures. The journey begins in the rolling highlands of the Ecuadorian Andes with visits to local villages and artisans, optional horseback riding, rock climbing at Cojitambo Mountain, a hike through Aguarongo Forest, and more.

The journey continues west into the Pacific for a four-night cruise through the Galapagos Islands, one of the planet’s most fascinating ecosystems. Highlights of this portion of the trip include two shore expeditions per day, wildlife viewing, tours led by professional naturalist guides, accommodation aboard the 293 foot Galapagos Explorer II, and much more.Each day we disembark on a different island to explore, swim and view the almost tame wildlife.

Optional extensions to Peru are available. Prices start at $4540. Dates available Feb-December.

Spring break departures are available in March and April.

www.familyadventures.com

in 2013

SeaDream Yacht Club is offering a seven-day voyage on the Upper Amazon River in 2013. The voyage sails roundtrip from Iquitos, Peru, March 16 to 23. The ports visited will include Leticia, Colombia; Panelas, Jutai, Santo Antonio do Ica and Amatura, Brazil; Monkey Island, Colombia; and Pebas, Peru.

Local experts will sail along, including naturalists, a botanist, a historian and an expedition leader. This “expedition team” will take guests on complimentary Zodiac safaris, village walks and jungle treks. The team will also provide daily lectures and presentations. A land program to Machu Picchu can be added before or after the cruise.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ St. Regis brand will expand its partnership with Sentebale by joining the charitable polo match played in Sao Paolo, Brazil, for the first time this March. The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup aims to raise support for the improved health care and education of the children of Lesotho, and will have HRH Prince Harry, playing for the Sentebale team, against St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras, who will captain the St. Regis team.

In 2010, Prince Harry attended an Evening to Honor Sentebale at The St. Regis New York, celebrating the St. Regis brand’s and the charity’s connection with New York City and polo. This March will mark the third Sentebale Polo Cup and the continuation of the charity’s relationship with the St. Regis brand. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho launched the event in Barbados in 2010 to raise awareness and funds for Sentebale, the charity they founded to continue the legacy of their late mothers’ charitable work with children.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened the 573-room Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota in Colombia.

The 30-story, 271-suite property is located at the International Center Tequendama, a mixed-use complex of meetings facilities, offices and apartments. The property is minutes from downtown Bogota and 20 minutes from El Dorado International Airport.

The hotel underwent an extensive renovation and now features two suite options (deluxe and executive club), ranging from 580 square feet to 1,000 square feet. All suites have views of the city’s skyline and include a living room with a sofa-bed, a dining room table, a fully-equipped kitchenette and a highly functional work station with wireless Internet access.

Public amenities include a spa facility, a health and fitness center, a business center, four restaurants and an indoor pool. The property also features three meeting rooms accommodating up to 700 people.

The Crowne Plaza Suites Tequendama Bogota is owned and managed by Sociedad Hotelera Tequendama under a license agreement with an IHG company. IHG currently has eight hotels in Colombia, including two InterContinental Hotels, two Crowne Plaza hotels, two Holiday Inn properties and two Holiday Inn Express properties.

The InterContinental Cartagena is currently under development and slated to open in 2013.

NEW DESTINATIONS AND TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2012

Gecko’s Adventures are all about providing the best authentic experiences for passengers on a budget and in 2012 those experiences will include three fantastic new tours to the Galapagos, which will satisfy even the most insatiable wildlife enthusiast.

Galapagos Panorama – 10 Days
Highlights:
Isla Mosquera Island
Isla San Cristobal: Punta Pitt
Isla San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo and Leon Dormido
Isla Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station, Lonesome George and the Highlands
Isla Isabela: Tintoreras
Northern Island of Rabida and Cerro Dragon
Black Turtle Cove and Sombrero Chino

Galapagos Escapade – 7 Days
Highlights:
Isla Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station, Lonesome George and the Highlands
Isla Isabela: Tintoreras
Northern Island of Rabida and Cerro Dragon
Black Turtle Cove and Sombrero Chino

Glimpse of Galapagos – 6 Days
Highlights:
Isla Mosquera Island
Isla San Cristobal: Punta Pitt
Isla San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo and Leon Dormido
Isla Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station, Lonesome George and the Highlands
-ENDS-

For full details on all Gecko’s Adventures destinations please visit: http://www.geckosadventures.com

PlanetWildlife.com, a leading provider of diverse wildlife travel and tours around the world, presents Wildlife’s Hot Spots for 2012 – a month-by-month directory of what’s happening and when – and itinerary suggestions to inspire nature lovers to experience some of the seminal seasonal events of the natural world. To explore all the ideas and options available, visit PlanetWildlife’s Calendar presented on the website under ‘Travel’…..itineraries are all-inclusive from point of departure but do not include international flights.

January – India
January is the breeding season for the green sea turtles around the Galapagos Islands – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour – is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594 per person (pp)
This is also an excellent time of year to go tiger spotting in India when the clement weather facilitates close study of these rare and endangered big cats – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-kanha-and-bandhavagarh – a six day safari itinerary including elephant rides in Central India priced at £756/US$1,180pp

February – Nepal
February is a good time to go trekking in Nepal with better than usual odds of spotting the famed Bengal Tiger – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/chitwan-explorer  is a nine-day itinerary in Chitwan National Park priced at £1,465/US$2,287pp. This is also an ideal month for tracking the rare and beautiful snow
leopard in nearby Ladakh, India – visit www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/snow-leopard-experience  for a 13-day trekking adventure priced at £2,163/US$3,377pp.

February also sees the gathering of hundreds of thousands of spectacular pink flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya, Africa – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp.

March – the Arctic
When the days start to lengthen and become milder in the Arctic region, this is an ideal time to spot Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights – and a cruise is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience this natural wonder – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/lofoten-aurora-borealis through Norway is an eight-day journey on the schooner ‘Noorderlicht’ priced at £1,979/US$3,090pp.

April – Galapagos
April presents another excellent opportunity to go bird-watching in Galapagos where enthusiasts can spot blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gullies, frigate birds and red-billed tropic birds amongst others. www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/galapagos-island-hopping-tour is a five-day itinerary priced at £1,661/US$2,594pp).

May – India – Ladhak and Karnataka
In India, the weather is perfect for an extensive trek around Ladhak in the Himalayas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/amazing-leh-community-service-trek – presents an unusual 13-day itinerary and the opportunity to become involved in local community service in the villages of Spango Valley while learning about and tracking the elusive snow leopard – priced at just £569/US$888pp.

This is also an opportune month to visit Karnataka in India and the Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, the natural habitat of Bengal tigers, leopards, elephants and hyenas – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/classic-explorer-karnataka  is a five-day itinerary including the fascinating cities of Bangalore and Mysore and priced at £1,330/US$2,076pp.

June – Rwanda
Head to Rwanda this month to witness a unique baby gorilla naming ceremony, “KwitaIzina” – an annual ceremony attended by hundreds of local villagers but international visitors are also welcome – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/gorillas-wildlife-and-chimpanzees is a comprehensive seven-day adventure through some of Uganda’s best national parks of Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi and is priced at £4,457/US$6,958pp.

July – Costa Rica and Brazil
Latin America is the destination to head for this month to spot the endangered green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beautiful Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The park is also home to manatees, crocodiles, tropical gar, jaguars, sloths and basilisks, amongst other exotic wildlife – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/forests-and-volcanoes-costa-rica  is a 15-day excursion round Costa Rica and the Caribbean priced at £3,662/US$5,717pp.

Alternatively, in Brazil’s Pantanal area this is the best time of year for jaguar sightings and for close study of many other endangered species including the hyacinth macaw and the maned wolf – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/voyage-heart-amazon  is an eight-day voyage to the heart of the Amazon and is priced at £2,940/US$4,590pp

August – Kenya
Head to Kenya this month to be amongst the first to witness one of nature’s greatest shows – the annual Great Migration sees thousands of wildebeest, gazelles and zebras make a dash across the Mara River risking death from predators such as the crocodile – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/simba-safari  is a seven-day safari priced at £2,027/US$3,164pp

September – Botswana
This is an ideal time to ravel to Botswana and explore the wilderness of Chobe National Park and the Okavango delta and take in the full majesty of the famed Victoria Falls – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/best-botswana-chobe-and-okavango  is an eight-day itinerary commencing in Maun and finishing at the Victoria Falls prices at £2,664/US$4,159pp

October – Madagascar
During this dry month off the coast of Africa, lemurs are particularly active and playful on the island of Madagascar – www.planetwildlife.in/travel/itineraries/magical-madagascar  is an exciting eight-day adventure combining lemurs and bird-watching as well as interaction with tribal villagers and is priced at £1,713/US$2,674pp.

November – the Falkland Islands

Head to the bottom of the world to the Falkland Islands (classified under the Antarctic zone) to watch five different species of penguins breed at this special time: the King, Rockhopper, Gentoo, Magallanic and Macaroni penguins – the islands also present a chance to spot the rare black-browed albatross – www.planetwildlife.com/travel/itineraries/antarctic-peninsula-weddell-see-falkland-islands  is a 14-day cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina to the Falklands priced at £8,995/US$14,041pp

December – Sri Lanka
In southern Sri Lanka, this is the best time of year to spot one of the natural wonders of the world – the Blue Whale….nowhere else do they come as close to the land as they do near the coast of Sri Lanka. The www.planetwildlife.com/trave/itineraries/blue-whale-and-leopard-experience  is a nine-day itinerary commencing in Colombo which combines blue whale and dolphin spotting with safaris in Yala, home to elephants and leopards – priced at £2,520/US$3,934pp.

For further information, please visit www.planetwildlife.com  or contact a PlanetWildlife office (listed on the website). PlanetWildlife is as a leading international provider of diverse wildlife and safari tours with over 300 creative itineraries in 26 countries around the world catering to a wide range of interests and budgets.

About PlanetWildlife:

PlanetWildlife is an international travel company based in India with sales offices in UK, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden. It is backed by highly successful entrepreneurs and managed by a professional team who are passionate about wildlife and have been involved in a variety of nature conservation activities over the years. The www.PlanetWildlife.com website features over 300 itineraries to Africa, India, and South America comprising a diverse range of photography safaris, hiking expeditions and bird-watching adventures, including ocean cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Most tours offer daily departure dates and each is well-organised, competitively priced, environmentally responsible and tailored to suit the requirements of group or individual travellers. In all instances they are led by highly qualified and experienced leaders. Respected travel industry professionals and wildlife experts work in consultation with PlanetWildlife and are instrumental in designing each themed itinerary Via the website, a comprehensive and continuously expanding reference library on species and destinations is readily accessible and is regularly updated to ensure its usefulness to travellers, students, wildlife enthusiasts and bloggers.

PlanetWildlife is committed to responsible tourism, and in particular: minimising negative environmental impact; contributing to the conservation of natural and cultural heritages and embracing diversity; providing rewarding experiences for visitors through meaningful interaction with local communities to the economic benefit of those communities; and promoting a greater understanding and respect for local cultural, social and environmental issues. It is part of PlanetWildlife’s corporate policy to fund selected awareness drives and wildlife conservation programmes and welcomes suggestions from the public in this regard.

Experiential tour operator Myths and Mountains is proud to announce a host of new tours for 2012, which will give travelers a chance to experience remote cultures across the globe in a way rarely available through commercial tours.

Rooted in the ethics of adventure and exploration, Myths and Mountains staff work closely with the communities and cultures of the countries they operate within. This local connection allows them to create tours that veer far off the beaten path, leaving clients with memories of places few tourists ever get to experience.

Openings are available on each of these tours for writers or editors interested in a story featuring Myths and Mountains

Eat your heart out on a culinary tour of India

Throughout this 20-day whirlwind tour, travelers will visit bustling cities like Calcutta, Chennai, and will tour cultural and historical sites like the towering Sri Meenakshi Temple, which is one of the most impressive in Asia. They will tour the spice plantations of Thekkady, and explore the region’s transportation waterways by houseboat. In Cochin, they will experience the foods and traditions of India’s Jewish and Christian minorities.

Each night’s meals are prepared by some of the best chefs in India, many of whom are the descendants of the very chefs that first discovered the country’s best flavors generations ago.

Experience the beauty of Patagonia

This 13-day tour gives travelers a chance to experience one of the world’s last great wild places in every way imaginable. Over the course of the tour, clients will soak in the scenery of the Southern Andes from canoes, four wheel drive vehicles, motor boats, and on foot. The tour explores some of the best sights in Argentina and Chile, and will spend full days exploring Torres Del Paine National Park, Tierra Del Fuego, Perito Moreno Glacier, and the many fjords that dot the Austral coasts.

Travelers will stay each night in the very best accommodations available and, while in Buenos Aires, will even be treated to a “tango dinner,” where they can watch and even learn the region’s most famous dance.

Learn the crafts of Lao culture

On this nine-day tour of Southeast Asia, travelers will have the opportunity to learn the arts and crafts locals have spent centuries perfecting. Clients will be taught skills like papermaking, dying, weaving, and cooking local dishes from local experts in their villages.
Travelers will hunt of orchids and learn the medicinal value of local plants in Pha Xay, explore the museums and temples of Bangkok, and practice traditional Lao meditation in Wat Nakhoun.

BRAZIL – Oregon-based sea kayaking company Tofino Expeditions hopes to establish Brazil as one of the sport’s top new destinations. The company has organized a new kayaking trip along the country’s southern coast, or Costa Verde, which founder Grant Thompson has described as “perfect” for paddling.

This move comes as Brazil emerges as a travel destination. The combination of a booming economy and the coming 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have created a new buzz for the country, and a new market for tour operators of all kinds.

Tofino’s 10-day Costa Verde sea kayaking adventure gives travelers a chance to sample many aspects of southern Brazil’s culture. The tour begins with a cultural tour of Rio de Janeiro, and also includes a night’s stay in a coastal fishing village and a gourmet dinner with one of the country’s top chefs in the colonial town of Paraty, a UNESCO world heritage site.

To ensure the authenticity of the tour and promote the growing Brazilian economy, Tofino has used every opportunity to partner with true locals. The cultural tour is conducted by a local art professor and lifelong local, the dinner is hosted by Brazilian celebrity chef Yaro Castro, and designed so diners will come away with an intimate knowledge of the processes and ingredients involved in the country’s cuisine.

About Tofino Expeditions
Founded by veteran adventurer Grant Thompson, Tofino Expeditions has guided commercial sea kayaking expeditions since 1988, making them one of the oldest companies of the business. The company was the very first to provide guided paddling tours of Vancouver Island’s west coast, which is now a destination on the life list of paddlers around the world. The company guides trips along the world’s finest coasts in Baja, British Columbia, Croatia, Brazil,

Vietnam, Norway, and the Galapagos Islands.

“…what does not allow me to sleep well is, not the strength of our enemy army, but crossing these immense mountains”.

An opportunity has arisen for a journalist to take part in this epic adventure 12-20 February 2012. This historic route is taken on horseback and suitable for bold novice riders with a sense of adventure.

Follow in the footsteps of San Martin as he crossed the Andes to free the people of Chile in 1816.

For more information please visit www.unicorntrails.com/latinamerica/chile/chiletoargentina-acrosstheandes/

If you are a staff journalist on a quality, national print newspaper or relevant magazine, or a freelance journalist who has already secured a commission from one and are interested in the trip then please contact: Gemma Johnson on 01767 600606.

If you think you can help with the above query please reply to the author direct. You’ll find contact details below. Simply click on the email address or phone the number given.