Jetsettersblog

MSC Cruises expanded its cruise program in South America for the 2009-10 season. MSC Cruises offers more than 140 cruises, including three-, four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight- and nine-night itineraries from Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Buenos Aries from October through mid-May.

Port calls, depending upon itinerary and cruise length, will include Ilhéus, Macei, Ilhabela, Ilha Grande, Punta Del Este, Búzios, Ubatuba, Recife, Fortaleza, Cabedelo and Montevidéo. MSC Lirica will open the season, its first in Brazilian waters, sailing from Santos on Oct. 23 and calling at Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Ubatuba and Santos.

It will be joined by MSC Musica, MSC Opera, MSC Melody, MSC Armonia and MSC Orchestra.

In addition, MSC Cruises plans 20 themed sailings. Dance themes are planned for the MSC Musica’s Nov. 22 cruise; MSC Opera, Feb. 7; MSC Armonia, Feb. 11; and MSC Orchestra, March 13. Music cruises are planned for MSC Musica on Dec. 6 and MSC Armonia on March 10. Fitness cruises are set for Dec. 12 on MSC Armonia, Feb. 6 on MSC Orchestra and Feb. 21 on MSC Opera. MSC Orchestra’s Jan. 23 departure will be a “Fantastic World” cruise, described as “a dream world and magic for children and adults.”

An arts and crafts theme cruise is Feb. 20 on MSC Orchestra and March 18 on MSC Armonia. Other theme cruises are circus, MSC Armonia, Jan. 24; fashion, MSC Orchestra, Jan. 30; wellness, MSC Musica, Jan. 31; beauty, MSC Musica, Feb. 7, food and drink, MSC Armonia, Feb. 20; bossa nova, MSC Musica, March 1; “Dolce Vita” for physical, mental and spiritual balance, MSC Orchestra, March 6; and humor, MSC Orchestra, March 31.

Featuring 16 Countries

Kuoni has launched its first ever Latin America brochure featuring 76 holiday itineraries from 16 countries

Travel specialist Kuoni has launched a brand new Latin America holiday brochure, valid until December 2010. The brochure which is available from Kuoni’s website, high street stores and travel agents across the country, includes 76 holiday itineraries and Kuoni Authentic Experiences, which allow travellers to do as the locals do, or learn from experts in their field.

Latin America 2009-2010 features 16 countries and over 20 destinations, covering Antarctica, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Easter Island, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Robinson Crusoe Island, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Latin American aficionados can design their own luxury holidays, relying on Kuoni’s Personal Travel Experts to tailor-make inspired itineraries for the ultimate flexible adventure. Alternatively, there are private or escorted tours accompanied by local experts.

“There has never been a better time to experience South America,” commented Angelo Davino, Latin America Product Manager. “South America is undergoing a travel renaissance and it is now offering a wider choice of quality accommodation, entertainment and better air access and connections on reputable scheduled carriers. We can combine luxury with a myriad of hardly discovered places.”

Some of the Kuoni Authentic Experiences include: become a cowboy gaucho for three days at Estancio El Rocio – cattle herd on horseback, cheer on the rodeo, bird watch at the local lagoon and play polo, or cook a Peruvian feast, mix a ‘pisco sour’ and become a Llama farmer for a day.

Regular itineraries also include; fishing for piranhas in the Amazon; trekking the ancient trails of the Incas and taking in coffee plantations, marvelling at the volcanoes peppering the Atacaman plains in Chile or hiking the Avenue of Volcanoes in Ecuador.

About Kuoni

Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe’s first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries.

For 103 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as:

‘The World’s Leading Tour Operator’ for the past 11 years at the World Travel Awards; The Daily Telegraph’s Ultratravel, Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Daily Mail readers all voted Kuoni ‘Britain’s favourite’. Kuoni has been ‘Britain’s Best Longhaul Tour Operator’ for the past 26 years as voted by Travel Agents. Kuoni offers luxury breaks in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of Thailand holidays, Maldives holidays, and weddings abroad.

FORT COLLINS, Colo.—ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours offers a holiday escape to Central and South America with three tours: Coasting Costa Rica, or the extended version: Coasting Costa Rica Plus! Sabaneros and Beaches, and for the more adventurous, Pedaling the Andes from Argentina to Chile.

There is no better way to spend the holidays with family or friends than by bicycling through Costa Rica’s cloud forests, rain forests, tropical beaches all while experiencing its tremendous diverse wildlife. On Coasting Costa Rica, cyclists will enjoy leisurely rides around spectacular Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake and will explore the easygoing lifestyle of rural villages on the San Carlos plains.

The extended bicycle tour, Coasting Costa Rica Plus! Sabaneros and Beaches, adds more excitement with a canopy tour through the treetops and a wildlife float trip. Dates: Coasting Costa Rica Plus! Sabaneros and Beaches, November 21-30, 2009, $2895 all-inclusive. Coasting Costa Rica, December 26-January 1, 2010, $2365 all-inclusive.

Intermediate-advanced bicyclists can challenge themselves by Pedaling the Andes from Argentina to Chile.

This 8-day bicycle tour winds from Patagonia’s San Carlos de Bariloche, along Andean lakes, down through the valleys of the border region and into Chile’s Patagonian Lake District.

Cyclists will ride past conical volcanoes and snow capped Andean peaks, enjoy a half-day of river rafting on one of Chile’s famous rushing rivers, and relax in the tranquil settings of lovely hotels.

Dates: November 21-28, 2009, December 26-January 4, 2010, $3395 all-inclusive.

www.experienceplus.com

Tailor Made Travel, the leader in luxury holidays to Australia, New Zealand and Canada has increased its portfolio with the introduction of a brochure of holidays to South America, for the first time.

Covering Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and The Galapagos, this comprehensive programme of bespoke holidays explores the continent from its cosmopolitan golden beaches to its bleak ice plains and from its high mountains to its dense lush rainforest, transporting travellers to the heart of the continent to experience its rich and diverse ancient cultures, natural phenomena and varied landscapes.

With a broad range of suggestions for many different styles of holidays the 56 page brochure is packed with a range of carefully chosen experiences, each one gathered from firsthand knowledge, to inspire its clients. So whether it’s a foot tapping Samba show in Rio or the last tango in Buenos Aires, taking to the saddle with the Gauchos on a 6000 acre working farm in Cordoba, or unwinding over a glass of wine in the foothills of the Andes, Tailor Made Travel’s expert staff ensure that every aspiration becomes reality when they design a bespoke itinerary for their customers.

The brochure is divided into a range of sample tours giving inspiration to a choice of holiday options in each country and is supplemented with a range of ‘Discover More’ sections to provide additional options. These start from £296 per person for a 4 day taste of the beaches in Natal, in North East Brazil, where the area is known as the ‘City of Dunes’ thanks to the immense quantity of sand dunes that line the clear warm waters of its lagoons and beaches.

The brochure also highlights the variety of options available for walkers to discover the Inca Trail to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, one of South America’s the best-know hikes. There are three choices. For experienced walkers the most arduous four day route hikes the 26 miles of breathtaking mountain scenery interlaced with Inca ruins, temples and paving. A shorter two day option is also available with a 13 km hike and full day at the famous Inca citadel. This option costs £539 per person, based on two sharing. Or for those who like a more relaxed pace for their travels the third alternative is to take the Hiram Bingham train, which is named after the explorer who discovered the ancient Inca city.

The train winds through the spectacular scenery from Cusco to Machu Picchu and passengers can sit back in the comfortable elegance of its restored wooden carriages. After a guided tour of the citadel during the day a gourmet dinner is served on the return to Cusco. The train costs £518 per person.

For more inquisitive travellers or second time visitors to the region the lesser known ruins in Northern Peru provide another fascinating insight into the early cultures of this country.

A 4 day tour of the region includes a visit to the ancient capital of the Chimu Empire with an afternoon at Chan Chan, as well as a visit to the archaeological complex of El Brujo and a day at Tucume or ’Valley of Pyramids’. The tour costs £573 per person based on two sharing, including tours and all meals.

The continent’s wildlife can be explored in a number of different ways. For those who want to experience the Galapagos islands in true style an eight day cruise on board the luxurious catamaran Galapagos I (formerly known as Anahi), one of the most beautiful yachts in the Galapagos, provides an intimate view of the unique wildlife of these Islands. With days spent exploring the islands and their wildlife, there is also time for diving with sea lions, floating eye-to-eye with penguins or standing beside a blue footed booby as it feeds its young.

The cruise costs £2,930 per person based on two sharing a cabin, including return flights from Quito and all meals and tours.

A five day adventure into the Brazilian Amazon takes travellers into the heart of this dense tropical forest and offers a rich and varied exploration with hikes and canoe trips, travelling from Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, to a jungle lodge in the heart of the Amazon, in the company of expert guides. It costs from £618 per person including accommodation, meals and tours.

Alternatively, the Peruvian Amazon reveals its treasures on a four day tour to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Travellers can take a canopy walk through the trees and a boat trip to Gamitana Creek, home to piranha, caiman and turtles, as well as a twilight river excursion. It costs from £580 per person including accommodation, meals and tours.

Cities also feature with a number of options that can be added to any style of holiday. Great care has been taken to source a range of individual hotels and these include the 11 room boutique hotel Legado Mitico in Buenos Aires, which is located in the Bohemian neighbourhood of Palermo Viejo.

Throughout the hotel great attention has been paid to its furniture and small design touches that define the Argentinean identity. A one night stay costs from £115 per person, based on two sharing with breakfast.

Cities can be combined with a longer tour of each country. For example, Brazil and Argentina are suggested as an 18 day tour across both countries, taking in the vibrant city highlights of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, starkly contrasted with Iguazu Falls and the serene wetlands, lakes and forest of the Pantanal and the glaciers of Andean Patagonia. This epic 18 day adventure costs from £3,103 per person based on two sharing and includes all accommodation, meals, transfers and tours.

The contrasts of South America are probably most dramatically exposed on a journey though Chile. Travellers can experienced this on a fascinating 14 day journey from Santiago, taking in the ancient inland sea of the Atacama Salt Lake and the Atacama desert with the El Tatio Geysers before journeying south to the vibrant city of Punta Arenas.

The city exudes a European character and provides a gateway on to one of the most spectacular scenic regions in the world – the Torres del Paine National Park, with its shimmering lakes, jagged spires of snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls.

Accommodation here is in Chile’s first luxury camp, with just 15 yurts it provides the perfect base from which to explore the spectacular wilderness and is only 20 minutes south of the national park entrance. In the evening sit back with a glass of Chilean wine on the private terrace and watch the sun set over the Cuernos de Paine. The tour costs £3,336 per person based on two sharing and includes superior accommodation, meals and all tours.

For the ultimate adventure to one of the last remaining wildernesses on earth a 14 day cruise to Antarctica provides a fascinating journey of exploration through a magical landscape of giant glaciers on board the luxurious Antarctic Dream, a first class expedition boat comprising 5 decks hosting 40 outside double staterooms. The vessel also carries six zodiac boats for use on excursions and is led by five expedition crew. With time to visit the Tierra del Fuego National park, this sparsely populated mountainous island at the tip of Argentina, before the ship leaves Ushuaia and set sail for the White Continent across the famous Drake Passage.

The exact route of the programme varies but would include the South Shetland Islands, King George Island and Deception Island, which is the largest active volcano in the area. Each day there are opportunities to view the extraordinary wildlife and at Pendulum Cove on Deception Island there is the unique opportunity to swim in its waters. This exceptional journey costs £5,350 per person based on two sharing a cabin, including all meals and tours during the cruise.

For further details or to request a copy of the brochure call Tailor Made Travel on
0845 456 8050 or visit www.tailor-made.co.uk

Adventure Life, an operator of small group cultural and multi-sport adventures, unveiled a new series of packages for South America.

The Andean Multisport is an eight-day adventure travel trip to Peru, priced at $1,795. The mountain bike trek uses newly pioneered routes southwest of Cusco for two days before hiking on a less-traveled section of the Inca Trail, descending almost 3,000 feet to the Apurimac River.

The boats are waiting alongside an ancient Inca bridge to begin three days of Class III-IV whitewater.

A two- day extension is available for visiting Machu Picchu.

For more information, visit

www.adventure-life.com/tours/andean-multisport-1551

The Festival Series includes three- to nine-day programs in Peru and Bolivia priced from $970 to $2,025.

Starting in 2010, the company will offer the Oruro Carnaval in Bolivia and the Candelaria Festival in Puno, Peru, which will offer a glimpse of pre-Columbian and Christian customs, traditional dance, costumes, music, and story-telling.

Departures for 2010 are led by expert guides whose local knowledge and community connections provide cultural immersion.

There is an option to participate in a homestay on Lake Titicaca during the Candelaria Festival.

The Nicaragua Multisport is an eight-day package for Nicaragua priced from $1,575, with biking, hiking, horseback riding, sea kayaking and canopy ziplining while exploring the culture.

The 10-day Cachiccata Group Service Project with Machu Picchu is priced from $1,920.

It combines a group service project in the Cachiccata community with visits to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Participants, side-by-side with the family members, will work on cleaning, repairing, and restoring homes, planting native trees, and visiting school and supporting a healthy breakfast project. Travelers stay in the community campground each night to immerse in the village life.

From its inception in 1999, Adventure Life’s philosophy has centered on small groups, handpicked native guides, and locally owned accommodations.

For more information, visit www.adventure-life.com

International Expeditions, the world leader in nature travel, added a Sept. 18 Amazon Voyage departure to meet the overflow demands of its fast-filling summer and early fall tours.

Guests of the 10-day tour will save $300 per person with a free in-country airfare offer.

The tour was named one of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” in the magazine’s May/June 2009 issue.

With 29 years of Peruvian rainforest exploration to its credit, the company offers intrepid travelers rare access to the most diverse ecosystem on Earth.

Guests have the opportunity to search for more than 100 kinds of birds, pink and gray Amazon River dolphins, 15 species of monkeys, sloths, giant otters and nocturnal animals such as caimans and capybaras.

In addition to hikes, daily outings through the nature reserves include explorations on small excursion boats, for access even further into the heart of the vast wetlands.

A highly experiential program, a highlight of the voyage is visiting with ribereños in their remote river villages, handing out school supplies to the children, and meeting with a local shaman.

Sharp-eyed local expert naturalists enhance each day of the journey through enlightening and vivid commentary.

Guests cruise aboard the 28-passenger La Amatista, specifically designed to sail the upper Amazon Basin.

When not in their spacious air-conditioned cabins, guests can relax in the dining parlor which has floor-to-ceiling windows, stargaze on the open-air top deck, or sip a cocktail while enjoying the low-key evening entertainment, courtesy of the ship’s local staff.

Per person prices for the Sept. 18 Amazon Voyage start at $3,048, including free in-country airfare (a value of $300 per person), accommodations, most meals, local transportation, guides and group transfers. Founded in 1980, International Expeditions is a world leader in nature travel, specializing in small group and independent journeys to the most exhilarating destinations around the globe. A pioneer of environmentally responsible travel,

International Expeditions is committed to preserving natural habitats and improving the welfare of the people and communities it visits.

For more information, call 800-633-4734, email nature@ietravel.com  or visit www.IEtravel.com

The South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) has confirmed that the First South American Beach Games will be held from December 3 to 13 in Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay and Surfing is going to be an official sport in this historic occasion.

Recently, Surfing has taken big strides on the long path towards Olympic Games participacion, something first requested by multi Olympic gold medallist Duke Kahanamoku in 1920. In October 2008 Surfing debuted in the first ever International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized Beach Games that were held in Bali, Indonesia. Surfing was the most popular sport according to visitors’ votes on the official event webpage.

Now, in the first ever South American Beach Games, the Olympic Movement has invited Surfing once again in its newest and more and very promising event.

Fernando Aguerre, ISA President, said about the upcoming event: “The ISA is proud and honored to accept to organize the surfing competitions on this Beach Games.

This time aided by the Pan American Surfing Association (PASA) our organization will show the world that Surfing is a key sport for today’s youth.

Surfing and its attractive lifestyle are at the centre of beach culture around the world.

The inclusion of surfing in these inaugural Beach Games is a very wise move by ODESUR. Millions of surfers in South America are going to be very supportive of these Games.”

Dates are set. The famous Punta del Este will witness the best surfing of South America from December 9 to 13, 2009 in the waves of Montoya.
www.surfshelter.com

www.isasurf.org

The Globus family of brands is offering special prices on more than 20 vacations ranging from seven to 23 days to Central and South America. Until June 2 clients can receive $200 per person off the air-inclusive price of any 2009 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South American vacation.

Some examples include the following: New Amazonia Voyage with Rio & Iguassu (10 days) – After arriving in Rio de Janeiro, clients will take a ride along the Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to the Sugar Loaf Mountains where they’ll ascend by cable car and take in the spectacular city.

They’ll also visit the statute of Christ the Redeemer crowning Corcovao Mountain and experience a Samba show. In Iguassu Falls, clients will experience the falls and take an ecological jungle train before boarding a flight to Brazil’s Amazon.

After exploring many sites of Manaus, clients will take a three-night, all-inclusive Amazon Cruise with excursions into the Amazon jungle, tributaries and local communities.

Those wanting more time in the Amazon can extend their journey four nights.

Priced from $4,056 (includes air from Miami and intra-tour flights).

Ecuador & The Galápagos (11 days) – This vacation lets clients sample the natural wonders of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, including guided sightseeing in Quito, their photo taken at the “center of the world” and leisure time in Guayaquil. After flying over the Pacific to Baltra Island, clients will embark on an eight-day cruise of the Galápagos Islands.

Priced from $5,719 (land and intra-tour flights). Regional Discovery Tour: Natural Wonders of Costa Rica (nine days) – The tour begins in San José with a visit the National Theater and National Museum, then a tour of a banana plantation before reaching Tortuguero National Park, where clients will cruise through the canals, view amazing flora and fauna and enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest.

Next, they’ll transfer by boat to Sarapiqui and tour the Corsicana Pineapple Farm and travel through Tilajari Rainforest Reserve en route to Tilajari Resort, where they’ll experience Butterfly Garden, relax in the pools of Ecotermales Hot Springs and view Arenal Volcano.

Clients then go on to Poas Volcano National Park to see the magnificent La Paz Waterfall and Poas Volcano. Priced from $1,669 (land-only).

Independent Package:

Peru Highlights (seven days) – This Monograms vacation begins in Lima where clients will enjoy a guided tour of the city. Next they fly to Cuzco for city sightseeing and an introduction to various ancient sites.

They can enjoy an excursion to the town of Pisac to visit with locals and buy native wares before visiting the Incan fortress of Ollantaytambo.

They also will ride a train through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu where they can walk up to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. The visit at Machu Picchu is followed by more free time in Cuzco and Lima. Priced from $1,749 land- and intra-tour flights-only.

For information on Globus, visit www.globusjourneys.com  For information on Monograms, visit www.monogramstravel.com.

South America summons the most intrepid of travellers. Visitors can scale the Andes, explore the immense Amazonian jungle, experience the world’s highest waterfall, driest desert, southernmost town or largest river.

The new Rough Guide to South America on a Budget is written by Rough Guide authors and eager bargain-hunters [students] and suggests lively itineraries, tips on crossing borders, outdoor activities, nightlife, history and even a pre-warning for your pallet – anyone for caldo de patas*?

Whether you want to saddle up with gauchos in Argentina, bargain at a Bolivian witches market, hitch a ride on a dune buggy across the Brazilian sands or follow in the footsteps of Darwin to the Galapagos, you’ll find everything you need in this new Rough Guide.

• Complete listings for hotels, hostels and restaurants

• Details of special events and festivals

• “Treat Yourself” boxes that feature great places and things worth splashing out on

• Be inspired with a full-colour introduction with highlights for every country.

Things not to miss…

Rio Carnaval, Brazil: Get ready for some serious partying at this legendary bacchanalia Otavalo Crafts Market, Ecuador: Shop for indigenous ceramics, musical instruments, and loom-woven sweaters at this colourful market.

Easter Island, Chile: Explore the mysterious, remote island known for its enigmatic moai statues.

Machu Picchu, Peru: Hike the ancient Inca Trail to this precipice-surrounded, awe-inspiring citadel.

Amazon Basin: Jungle trek and canoe through the largest rainforest on the planet

Paraguay: Spot spectacular birdlife in the wilderness of the Chaco.

Make the most of southern Brazil with one of Rough Guides tailored itineraries…

Rio – The beaches, the samba, the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio has it all.

Ouro Preto – Towns don’t come much more attractive with cobblestone streets and colonial buildings. Belo Horizonte – A big city that doesn’t always feel like one thanks to its parks and European feel.

Brasilia – Experience a vision of the future, circa 1960, courtesy of Niemeyer’s modernist architecture.

The Pantanal – Check out the huge array of wildlife in these vast wetlands.

Ilha de Santa Catarina – Some of the best beaches in the country can be found near Florianopolis.

Serra Gaucha – Canela and Gramada serve two nearby parks with crashing waterfalls, climbs and hikes.

“Jam-packed with essential information for the budget-conscious traveller”
The Daily Express, on The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget

“Essential reading for anyone planning a trip to South-East Asia”
The Sunday Telegraph on The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget

Celebrity Cruises will mark its 11th season sailing in South American in December 2010.

The season will include visits to 30 ports in 13 countries. Celebrity opened its winter 2010-11 Panama Canal and South America cruises and cruise-tours for sale on April 30.

Celebrity Infinity will sail four 14-night Panama Canal cruises between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.

The Panama Canal cruises in the 2010-11 season also include two 14-night “South America and Canal” voyages, two 14-night canal cruises between Fort Lauderdale and San Diego, and a 16-night repositioning cruise to Seattle on April 24.

Between the Panama Canal portions of the season, Infinity will sail six 14-night cruises throughout South America. These voyages, taking place from mid-December 2010 through February 2011, include sailings through the Straits of Magellan between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Valparaiso, Chile, most of which feature an overnight stay in Buenos Aires.

There will also be two Antarctica cruises roundtrip from Buenos Aires that will sail through the region, past several Antarctica islands.

Each of these cruises features a visit to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, as well as cruising by Elephant Island, Paradise Bay, and Gerlache Strait in Antarctica.

Celebrity also offers escorted land tours in combination with cruises departing from or arriving in Buenos Aires and Valparaiso.

The land packages include hotel accommodations, ground transfers, some meals, and time for independent shopping, dining and sightseeing.

The four-night “Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls” package includes visits to a gaucho estancia, Buenos Aires’ old San Telmo region, and the trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood.

The package also includes a short inland flight to Iguazu Falls, where guests spend two days exploring during included tours and a Zodiac ride along the lower Iguazu River. The five-night “Machu Picchu Adventure” land package includes train travel to and from Machu Picchu and four hours at the site. Also included is a tour of Cuzco, as well as a city tour of Lima. Several inland flights are included.