Jetsettersblog

Cruz del Sur new routes from Peru

Arrival of foreign tourists increased by 12.3% in first quarter

In the first quarter of this year, Peru registered 502,942 arrivals of foreign tourists through the country’s borders, according to information provided by the General Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization (DIGEMIN) and analyzed by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

Inti Raymi will be translated into English, French and Spanish

For the first time, the Inti Raymi ceremony will be simultaneously translated into English, French and Spanish. Participants will receive translation equipment so that it will be easier for them understand this festivity, which is celebrated each June 24th. EMUFEC S.A., Cusco’s municipal company for festivities has placed 3,800 seats on sale to attend Inti Raymi in the esplanade of Sacsahuaman.

Historian maintains that Machu Picchu was discovered by a German in 1867

According to a study carried out by the historian Paolo Greer, the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was discovered by the German Augusto Berns 44 years before the North American explorer Hiram Bingham arrived in the area (in 1911).

LAN Peru will increase flights from Trujillo to the city of Tumbes

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) informed that the airline Lan Peru announced its decision to operate flights to Tumbes. The flights will begin next June 25th and will be carried out as an extension of the flight that Lan Peru’s aircraft currently make to Trujillo.

Cruz del Sur new routes

Cruz del Sur will reopen the service Lima – Paracas – Ica – Nasca at 4.30 am (full day) and Nasca – Arequipa at 3 p.m. With these new frequencies, tourists and the general public will have more travel options besides those already existing to visit the circuit known as “the magical route of the south.”

Hotel Libertador Paracas will open at the beginning of 2009 after an investment of US$23 million

The inauguration of the new Hotel Libertador Paracas is scheduled for the first quarter of 2009 and will require an investment of US$23,055,752. It will have a constructed area of 17,197.88 m2 and 34,136.29 m2, with a new structure that will comply with the highest international standards.

Travel Impressions Offers Free Golf, Spa Treatments

Travel Impressions is offering a special promotion for golf and spa aficionados with its Back Nine & Spa Time package available at participating hotels and resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Arizona, California, and Central and South America.

Clients who book four nights or longer at a participating resort, such as the Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos, receive amenities that may include (depending upon hotel selected): a free round of golf; free golf equipment rental; a complimentary massage; 50 percent off spa treatments; free use of spa facilities.

The promotion is offered in addition to standard packages which feature roundtrip airport and hotel transfers, hotel accommodations, hotel tax and service. Clients who book an all-inclusive property will also enjoy all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, non-motorized watersports, daily activities and nightly entertainment.

For more information, call 800-284-0044/631-845-8000, or visit www.travelimpressions.com

Ecoventura Partners with World Wildlife Fund

Ecoventura announced a new partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce the detrimental effects of growing tourism in the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands.

The new collaboration, called The Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF), will target environmental education and marine conservation by strengthening the local communities’ ability to manage natural resources. GMBF funds support the refit, maintenance and deployment of the Tiburon Martillo, a permanent floating surveillance and patrolling station within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

It’s from here that park patrol boats will target, among other things, illegal industrial shark finning and long-line fishing.

Funds are also allocated to refurbish and maintain a speed boat that patrols the Bolivar channel between the western Islands of Fernandina and Isabela. The GMBF has also allocated funds to benefit families of local fishermen by supporting a microenterprise for the fisherman’s wives to manage.

This will provide an alternate means of income and also set an example to create other tourism related businesses and reduce the need to fish in waters already impacted by over-harvesting. A scholarship component for local children of fishermen from San Cristobal Island grants scholarships for two years to study Tourism, Environmental Science or Natural Resource Management at the University of San Francisco campus in the Galapagos.

To fund the GMBF, Ecoventura has pledged to raise close to $250,000 over the next three years. Passengers on its seven-day Galapagos cruises are also encouraged to donate to the fund during their trip. During each Ecoventura cruise, a local representative from WWF meets with passengers and gives a brief educational talk followed by questions and answers. Welsh said that while serving the interests of the environment, the partnership also empowers local residents through employment, education and related opportunities.

In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports more than 3,000 passengers annually aboard a fleet of four expedition vessels that have been purposefully retrofitted to highest possible environmental standards. In recognition of these pacesetting efforts, in 2005 the Rainforest Alliance presented Ecoventura President Santiago Dunn with its prestigious Individual Sustainable Standard-Setter award for making a significant contribution to environmental conservation and sustainability.

In 2006, Santiago was awarded the first annual Sustainable Travel Award from the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA). In 2006, Ecoventura also became the first Carbon Neutral operation in the Galapagos (and Ecuador). Carbon emissions from the company’s four yachts (and offices including business travel) are reduced, and then offset by contributions to a portfolio of projects through the US-based company NativeEnergy.

To receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2008 catalog as well as information on tours to the Galapagos Islands, call 800-644-7972 or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com  To access current rates, schedules and itineraries, visit www.ecoventura.com

Saving The Amazon Top 6 Responsible Journeys

With WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (05 June), the issue of saving the Amazon rainforest is more topical than ever. Last week, Peru announced the creation of its first Environment Ministry, dedicated to protecting the nation’s Amazon rainforest; while the Brazilian government stepped up its “Arc of fire” operation against illegal logging and deforestation.

All good stuff, on paper, but the resignation of Brazil’s Amazon Minister (Marina Silva) citing “difficulties in implementing the government’s environmental agenda”, reminds us that striking a balance between economic development and environmental protection continues to be a struggle. But responsible tourism and community-led conservation initiatives do offer some hope for the future.

“Top 6” RESPONSIBLE JOURNEYS in Latin America

1) POSADA AMAZONAS, Puerto Maldonado – PERU

A collaborative project set up by local operator Rainforest Expeditions, together with the Ese-Eja Amerindian community. After 20 years the lodge will be given over completely to the community; having been fully trained to run the lodge in guiding, cooking, accounts, finance and marketing. 60% of all income goes back to the community to fund education, health-care initiatives and protect the surrounding rainforest (10,000 hectares achieved) and its wildlife.

- Visit and support it: 3 nights from £191 pp + flights.

- Combine with: the Inca highlights of Cusco and Machu Picchu.

2) HUAORANI LODGE, Napo River - ECUADOR

A fantastic lodge with both community and conservation benefit, in a region which was threatened by oil companies. Similar in principle to the pioneering Kapawi lodge (also in Ecuador), it’s a 10-year collaborative project, set up by local operator Tropic, with the region’s Huaorani community. 5 comfortable palm-thatched cabins with private bathrooms, a hammock house and guided jungle excursions. Biodegradable products, solar power and a bio-filter for organic waste disposal.

- Visit and support it: 3 nights from £398 pp + flights.

- Combine with: colonial Quito and Andean markets, or a cruise in the Galapagos Islands.

3) SURAMA VILLAGE, Pacaraima savannah – GUYANA

The blueprint for community-led tourism and conservation in Guyana, and now being followed by other Amerindian communities. In an attempt to stem the exodus of villagers to the capital (Georgetown), Surama’s “Macushi” villagers, backed by local operator Wilderness Explorers, built a rustic lodge and hammock camp to offer hiking and dug-out canoe tours in the surrounding jungle. Provides a source of employment and income, aswell as an outlet for local produce and handicrafts.

- Visit it & support it: 12 night “Highlights of Guyana” (includes Surama) from £2235 pp + flights.

- Combine with: a visit to the Space Centre and Papillon’s Devil’s Island in French Guiana.

4) PUNTA ISLITA, Nicoya Peninsula – COSTA RICA

Proof that “Luxury” can also still be sustainable. An award-winning Pacific-coast hideaway, famed for its stunning natural setting, strong eco-credentials and impeccable service. Set in the middle of a 50-acre private tropical dry forest reserve, all produce is locally sourced and over 85% of staff are from the local villages. There are 32 luxurious rooms, suites and villas; and with a range of activities from horse riding and mountain biking, to enjoying the spa and amazing infinity pool.

- Visit it & support it: 7 nights from £688 pp + flights to San José.
- Combine with: a jungle lodge in Tortuguero or Corcovado, or the active Arenal volcano.

5) “VOLUNTARY ADVENTURES” – PERU, BRAZIL & PANAMA

New for 2008, Journey Latin America offers a range of short, tailor-made conservation projects. These projects give travellers the chance to volunteer their time as a much-needed “extra pair of hands” - assisting local conservation NGO’s with field studies and lab research. Offered as an “extension” to any of our holidays to the country - thus giving our clients the rare opportunity to support, and learn more about, the amazing eco-systems they’ve just visited on holiday.

- Visit it & support it: 4-night “Panama Adventure Project” from £500 pp + flights to Panama City. Help local NGO workers with data collection and field studies, and in their training of local farmers on forest preservation and alternative farming techniques.

- Combine with: the idyllic San Blas islands, the home of the semi-autonomous Kuna indians.

6) “COMMUNITY JOURNEYS” – PERU & CHILE

Two unique, new group tours from Journey Latin America, which aim to show the key highlights of the country, but with the emphasis on the communities you’re visiting. Where possible, you stay with local communities (in family homestays) rather than hotels, and are invited to participate in their daily lives - learning how they weave, cook, farm etc and helping out with their daily tasks. Offers an economic benefit to the communities and a valuable cultural exchange for both parties.

- Visit it & support it: 14-night “Chile Community Journey” from £1428 pp + flights to Santiago. Includes homestay on Isla Chiloe; ancient traditions, dunes and lagoons in the Atacama; and trekking in the awesome Torres del Paine national park in Patagonia.

- Combine with: a chance to see the mysterious moai statues on Easter Island.

JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA

Tel: 020 8747 8315 (London) and 0161 832 1441 (Manchester) or 1800 818 126 (Eire). www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk

NOTE – prices are based on double occupancy and include accommodation with some meals, land transfers, guided excursions and domestic flights where relevant. International flights are not included (unless stated otherwise), but can be provided if necessary.

Orinoco Flow in Venezuela

As part of an ongoing conservation programme in Venezuela, some 250 Orinoco Caimans and 5,000 Arrau Turtles have just been released back into the wild. The mighty Orinoco River cutting through the heart of Los Llanos, Venezuela’s vast savannah, is a recognised habitat for several flagship species including the critically endangered Orinoco Caiman.

Los Llanos is just one of the regions visited on Trips Worldwide’s 16-day Venezuelan Highlights tour, departing London daily.

Every year conservationists in Venezuela breed large numbers of Orinoco Caiman and Arrau Turtles, raising them in captivity, then releasing them into the wild to boost numbers. Reaching between 5 and 6 metres in length, the endangered Orinoco Caiman is one of the larger crocodile species. Similarly, the Arrau or Giant Amazonian Side-necked Turtle is another colossus in its group with a length exceeding 80 centimetres, making it one of the world’s largest freshwater turtles.

Wildlife is a major component of Trips Worldwide’s itinerary which includes visits to the savannah lands of Los Llanos, the Orinoco River, habitat of the eponymous Orinoco Caiman, and Gran Sabana in Canaima National Park, home of the stunning table top mountain – Auyan Tepuy, site of Angel Falls, the highest waterfall on Earth. Travellers also get to ride on the world’s biggest cable car, in Merida, and spend a couple of nights’ relaxation on Los Roques, a beautiful collection of white sand islands lapped by the Caribbean.

The holiday costs from £2,745 p/p including flights, transfers, hotel, ranch and jungle lodge accommodation, some meals and excursions as per itinerary.

Trips Worldwide
0117 311 4400
14 Frederick Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1AS
info@tripsworldwide.co.uk
www.tripsworldwide.co.uk

Grupo Posadas to Open 15 New Properties

With a portfolio of 104 hotels and 19,042 guestrooms in fifty beach and city destinations throughout Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, Grupo Posadas has well established its positioning as one of Latin America’s leading hotel operators.

After successfully launching seven new hotels in 2007, including the debut of its lifestyle brand Aqua at Aqua Cancun, Posadas looks forward to the opening of fifteen new properties in 2008. Scheduled to debut this spring is the Caesar Park Buenos Aires Obelisco, named for its location in front of the 220-foot monument standing in Buenos Aires.

Following in the footsteps of its sister property, Aqua Cancun, which debuted late last year, Aqua Bosques will open its doors in Mexico City. In the business and economy categories, Posadas’ Fiesta Inn and One Hotels look forward to thirteen openings this year. Fiesta Inn will expand its portfolio from 58 to 66 offerings.

For additional information, visit www.posadas.com

Air Europa new Latin American Flights

Spanish airline Air Europa has opened a UK sales office to support new scheduled services from Gatwick.

The carrier is to run double daily flights to Madrid, with connections onto an expanding long haul network to South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Air Europa is already well known in the UK market for its European charter services and is expanding its long haul scheduled service network.

Destinations available this summer include Buenos Aires, Salvador De Bahia, Caracas, Santo Domingo, Punto Cana, Cancun and Havana.

Tickets are also available on the connecting flights between Gatwick and Madrid which are operated on an Air Comet Airbus 320.

The scheduled departure times from Gatwick are 10.10 and 17.40 each day of the week.

Air Europa head of international sales María del Mar Ayudarte, said: “The UK market to Latin America is booming and the specialist UK tour operators here are amongst the best in the world.

“Air Europa is well known as a holiday airline to the Mediterranean and our challenge is to make it equally well known as the best way to Latin America, We believe we can do this by working closely with the travel trade here in the UK.”

Spirit Of Adventure Wildlife Cruises

Spirit of Adventure will invite passengers to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth on a spectacular voyage around the natural wonders of central and southern America next year.

The 352-passenger ship will visit the rich habitats once trodden by Britain’s greatest naturalist – born in 1809 - throughout the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica and the Amazon Rainforest during its 2009 cruise schedule.

Each itinerary within the collection combines a superb mix of exploration, discovery, lifelong learning and fascinating ports of call which are often too small for many of the larger ships to access.

After exploring Antarctica, the High Andes and Galapagos Adventure cruise will follow the footsteps of Darwin during his research on the diverse Galapagos Islands, which helped formulate his theory of evolution. Departing February 21 2009 and starting in Chile, Spirit of Adventure sails north to Peru and Ecuador before passengers join a memorable three-night cruise aboard MV Galapagos Explorer II – during which they will visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre. Prices start from £4,354 per person for the 18 might adventure.

For passengers wanting to uncover the rich and exotic flora and fauna of the Amazon, Secrets of the River Sea will discover the fascinating habitat along South America’s longest river. Charting a course along the Amazon, the 22-night voyage will give people the chance to enjoy expeditions into the surrounding jungle - home to one of Brazil’s most endangered primates, the Pied Tamarin – and visit the town of Santarem, which was once home to the Tapajos Indians. Prices for the cruise, which departs on March 24 2009, start from £3814 per person.

More nature-spotting is on offer on the Tropical Wildlife and Wonders cruise, a 15-night journey from Costa Rica to the eastern Caribbean. Passengers will be invited to take an eco-jungle river adventure along the canals of Tortuguero or go swimming with dolphins in Tortola. Other highlights include cruising the Panama Canal, a visit to Port Antonio, Jamaica, and an unforgettable rainforest aerial tram joinery through the Dominican rainforest. Departing March 10 2009, prices start from £2939 per person.

All Spirit of Adventure cruises include a series of meticulously planned shore excursions, which delve deeper into the historical, cultural and architectural surroundings of each destination visited. In addition, each day of exploration is further enhanced by a comprehensive programme of lectures led by expert guest speakers on board. The topics covered include archaeology, history, local traditions and food and wine.

For further information on Spirit of Adventure cruises, visit our web site and book online at www.spiritofadventure.co.uk
or call 0800 300 432 to request a brochure.

Lost World’s & Jungles by Overland

Through the actions of a humourless neighbour, a David Waterman is facing prosecution for hoisting the Jolly Roger outside his home in Surrey for his daughter’s pirate-themed 8th birthday party. The father of four was ordered to lower his colours after complaints from a neighbour, since the skull and cross bones breaches advertising regulations. Escape meddling neighbours – exchange a galleon for a big orange truck, fearsome crew for like-minded travellers and head out on the open road - keeping the flag flying for real adventure! Dragoman Overland’s 22-night Lost World’s & Jungles overland explores the stunning beaches of Venezuela’s Caribbean coast (keep watch for pirates) then heads upriver to the jungle town of Manaus, departing Caracas 12th June and 17th July 2008.

From the bustling city of Caracas, begin the journey at Playa Colorado relaxing on the Caribbean’s stunning beaches, trying out numerous watersports, exploring the surrounding landscape, and sampling great seafood.

At Caripe, situated in a mountain valley surrounded by spectacular scenery, enjoy a tour to nearby Cueva del Guacharo, the country’s largest cave where a 10½km crystal clear stream supports an abundance of wildlife, including Guacharos (Oil Birds). Continuing to Tucupita, one of the hottest places in Venezuela, head by boat into the Orinoco Delta for two nights, exploring the region’s 40,000 sq. kms of jungle, mangrove swamp and tropical forest.

The area is still inhabited by the Warao people (meaning ‘people of the boat’), who still maintain their ancient tribal lifestyle. Next, the Spanish colonial city of Ciudad Bolivar (originally named Angostura - Angostura bitters were invented here!) on the banks of the Orinoco River is the base for three nights.

From here travellers can explore the national park or take a canoe trip to the base of the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. Continue through the Amazon basin and across Southern Venezuela, to Gran Sabana, where the surrounding area dominated by the tabletop mountains of the Gran Sabana Plateau. The largest is Mount Roraima (2,810m), inspiration for Conan Doyle’s classic adventure,

The Lost World. Today, there is no evidence of dinosaurs, fossils or traces of prehistoric life on the top of the tepui, as described by Doyle, but instead a fantastic world of crystal valleys, gorges, sandy beaches, fissures, rock formations and waterfalls. At the unique jungle town of Manaus, there is time to explore its colourful markets before the journey ends.

The overland costs £695 p/p plus kitty of US$420 (~£214) including travel aboard Dragoman Overland’s customised Mercedes Benz truck, camp, hammock and hostel/hotel accommodation (65%/35%) all camp meals, many activities, entry fees and the expertise of Dragoman’s two person crew and a local guide.

Flights are not included but are available through Dragoman Overland.

Dragoman Overland
01728 861 133
info@dragoman.co.uk
www.dragoman.com

IsramWorld Spanish-Speaking Tours

IsramWorld is proceeding with its earlier reported plans to offer a widening selection of Spanish-speaking tours in response to increasing demand. The seven-night Tierra Santa tour is presented in the 2008 IsramWorld brochure entirely in Spanish. Its fully escorted Holy Land itinerary is tailored particularly to the Roman Catholic traveler, with stays in a choice of superior or deluxe hotels in Jerusalem, the Galilee and Tel Aviv.

In addition to the Spanish-speaking Tierra Santa tour, specially designed tours for individuals and groups may be arranged with Spanish-speaking guides to all 66 IsramWorld destinations. Established in 1967, IsramWorld is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year.

For more information, call 800-223-7460 or email info@isram.com  or visit www.isram.com