Destination news
Rio de Janeiro announced as World Capital of Architecture
UNESCO has announced that Rio de Janeiro will be the 2020 World Capital of Architecture. This title carries with it the responsibility of hosting a series of events under the theme “All the worlds. Just one world”. One such event will be the 27th edition of the World Congress of Architects promoted by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and organised by the Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB). The 2020 title will allow Rio to demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable development as well as giving the Brazilian city the opportunity to put some of its architecture on display. www.embratur.gov.br
The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) celebrates 60th anniversary
The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) celebrates its Diamond Anniversary this year having been created in 1959. It has since produced thousands of scientific research results for the conservation of the archipelago and now in 2019 there are numerous activities planned to commemorate the huge strides the CDF has made. One such activity is the erection of a statue made of plastic collected in coastal cleanups with the help of local communities. In July 2019 a Sciences Symposium together with the Galapagos National Park will be held in Puerto Ayora and in November the launch of a Galapagos film produced especially for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Foundation will be released. www.darwinfoundation.org/en
Argentina celebrates 100 years since the birth of Eva Perón
2019 marks the 100th anniversary since the birth of one of Argentina’s most influential women in history, Eva Perón. In order to commemorate the centenary, a number events have been planned throughout the year including a gathering of prominent women in Ibero-America, a temporary exhibition in homage to the Eva Perón Foundation, seminars and talks with keynote speakers. The Museo Evita in Buenos Aires has created a virtual platform to provide information on these events which will be realised through a unique QR code designed in the form of Perón herself. www.web.museoevita.org.ar
St Helena Government announces midweek peak season flights to St Helena
The St Helena Government and SA Airlink have confirmed that bookings are now open for midweek flights to St Helena Island from December 2019 – March 2020. The scheduled weekly flight that operates on a Saturday, will continue as normal from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, with the midweek flight operating on a Tuesday, from Cape Town International. Passengers are now able to make bookings up until late February 2020. www.sthelenatourism.com
Los Cabos Tourism Board launches new campaign
The Los Cabos Tourism Board in Mexico has launched a new campaign centred around ten new experiences in the northwest region of Mexico. These experiences are a series of short trips (between 12 and 18 hours) where tourists will be part of a chorus of humpback whales, sleep under the stars in Rancho Cachilas, organise a local produce picnic, meet artists on art tours and explore some of the most historical sites in Los Cabos. www.visitloscabos.travel
Nicaragua back on sale following relax of FCO travel advice
Many of the LATA members have put Nicaragua back on sale following the recent change in travel FCO travel advice; no longer advising against all but essential travel to the country.
In 2017, Nicaragua welcomed a 19% increase in international travellers, attracting visitors seeking an alluring mix of nature, exotic beaches and Spanish & British colonial heritage. In 2018 however, tourism to Nicaragua slowed down due to unrest and a change in FCO guidelines. As the situation improves, the FCO relaxed its guidelines in February 2019 enabling tour operators and travellers to return to the country and paving a way towards tourism recovery for the Central American nation. www.visitnicaragua.us
Tour Operator News
One Ocean Expeditions welcomes world-class wildlife presenter Nick Baker on board
In April 2019, One Ocean Expeditions (OOE) will launch its inaugural warm water voyages to Central America with world-class wildlife presenter Nick Baker. New destinations such as Costa Rica and Panama, teaming with extraordinary wildlife, are on the itinerary and Nick will be able to share his wealth of natural-world knowledge. Nick will join OOE’s ten-day Central America Adventure tour (23 April – 2 May 2019) as well as the Central America Explorer expedition (2 – 11 May 2019). The tours are priced from £4,005 per person based on two adults sharing a twin private cabin. www.oneoceanexpeditions.com/
Reef and Rainforest announces Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago tour
Reef and Rainforest has announced the launch of a tour visiting Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The itinerary begins with arrival at Georgetown before heading off to Karanambu where guests will have the opportunity to learn about the work underway reintegrating orphaned giant otters back into the wild. Guests will then have the opportunity to admire Kaieteur Falls and its unique microclimate with Golden frogs and the renowned Guiana Cock-of-the-rock before heading to Trinidad and Tobago. The 15-day tour is priced from £4658 per person and includes international flights. www.reefandrainforest.co.uk/tours/the-natural-highlights-of-guyana-trinidad-and-tobago
Travel The Unknown launches new Bolivia tour
Travel The Unknown has launched an exciting new tour of Bolivia, with a guaranteed departure in September 2019. The itinerary takes in many of the country’s highlights including the spectacular Uyuni Salt Flats and the vast Lake Titicaca as well as some of its more off-the-beaten track locations such as the high-altitude Uvairenda winery and otherworldly Solohi Desert. The 15-day Classic Bolivia tour will depart on 8 September 2019 and operates with a maximum of 12 passengers and is priced from £2,095 per person, excluding international flights. www.traveltheunknown.com/tour/bolivia/cblv/classic%20bolivia
The Latin America Travel Company launches digital detox tour
The Latin America Travel Company has launched a new digital detoxing tour to the Costa Rican wilderness with the aim of giving guests an escape from technology and get off the grid. The tour visits remote locations, including the El Tesorito Creek and the Osa Peninsular, staying in luxury eco-lodges. The El Silencio Lodge is completely free of TVs, phone signal and Wi-Fi, making it the idyllic place to fully immerse in the natural world. Activities include canyoning, zip lining, river rafting, cloud forest trekking and wildlife observation. The 11-day Hidden Corners of Costa Rica tour is priced from £2,901 per person and includes accommodation, internal transport, meals, tours and excluding international flights. www.thelatinamericatravelcompany.com/our-tours/costa-rica-tours/hidden-corners-of-costa-rica/
Condor Travel introduces new foodie experiences
Leading South American tour operator Condor Travel has launched a series of new foodie experiences in one of the culinary capitals of Latin America, Peru. The new ‘FOODIES’ features a range of activities from dining at one of the top restaurants in Latin America (Central, Maido, among others), learning about sustainable farm-to-table gastronomy experiences, and embarking on a local culinary adventure visiting markets, trying exotic fruits and finishing with a pisco sour making lesson. www.condortravel.com/en
Andean Travel Company makes two additions to its fleet
Andean Travel Company (ATC) has recently added two new vessels to its Galapagos Islands cruise fleet, the Motor Yacht Solaris and the Motor Yacht Aqua. The ships have been specially designed as completely new, modern and elegant yachts to fit every passenger’s comforts and needs. Passion for marine life has been brought to the fore in a new live-aboard diving cruise. The eight-day diving only itinerary allows guests to discover the magic of the Galapagos under the waves and is priced from £3,243 per person. www.andeantc.com
New brand for Metropolitan Touring
Metropolitan Touring Peru has launched a new adventure brand called ‘ESCAPE’. From kayaking in lagoons surrounded by snow-capped mountains, to riding bikes in the Sacred Valley and cruising the Amazon River, the brand will bring together a series of experiences perfect for adventure travellers. www.metropolitan-touring.com
Hotel News
Nayara Tented Camp opening November 2019
Award winning Nayara Resorts is adding a third property in the Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica. The Nayara Tented Camp will open in November 2019 featuring 21 tents, each with its own plunge pool fed by mineral springs from the volcano; 12 will be interconnecting. In the second phase of opening in 2020, an Asian restaurant, new pool, and spa will be added to the resort. Alongside the camp, an on-property sloth sanctuary will grow 1,000 Cecropia trees, offering the sedentary creatures a safe haven from human encroachment. www.nayaratentedcamp.com/
Hotel Hangaroa offers exclusive private programme to guests
Hotel Hangaroa on remote Easter Island has introduced an exclusive offer for guests staying at the resort. The hotel is now offering an exclusive private programme at no additional cost for all guests that stay in the Maunga Suite and book the Full Experience programme. Guests will have a private transfer from the airport, two half daily private excursions, and daily sunset cocktails for no added cost. A one-night stay in the Maunga Suite on the Full Experience programme is priced from £420 per person based on a double occupancy. Includes all meals, open bar, transfers, and excursions. Valid from April 2019 until March 2020. www.hangaroa.cl/en
Social and Environmental Initiatives
Metropolitan touring devises formula to calculate carbon footprint
On the 50th anniversary since its first ship set sail for the Galapagos, Metropolitan Touring has begun using a formula to calculate its guests’ carbon footprint. The operator will then quote guests the value to offset their trip depending on type and length. For instance, an average two-week tour clocks in around $30USD (including air travel to/from the Galapagos). All funds raised through the scheme will be directed towards restoring biological corridors and regenerating forestlands in and around the Choco Bioregion – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.www.metropolitan-touring.com
Amazonas Explorer runs first-ever gender equality workshop in Peru
Amazonas Explorer held the first-ever gender equality workshop in Peru during which experts educated employees on the importance of gender equality during a week-long training course. The session included a number of activities, questionnaires, and case study analyses that aimed to better employees understanding of social equality which is currently, for the most part, an entirely foreign concept. www.amazonas-explorer.com
Three students from LATA Foundation project Vidançar selected to join Rio’s Teatro Municipal
The LATA Foundation sponsors a range of grassroots social and environmental initiatives throughout Latin America. One of its initiatives, Vidarte Space, has several projects to help underprivileged children from the favelas of Rio de Janerio. Their main project, the Vidançar Dance School, supported by the LATA Foundation and restaurant chain Las Iguanas, 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. Recently three students from Vidançar Dance School have been selected to join the ballet school of Rio’s Teatro Municipal. www.latafoundation.org
Other News
Newest developments in Santiago International Airport
In June 2019, Santiago de Chile International Airport (SCL) will unveil 14 new boarding gates that have been constructed with the aim of improving the efficiency of the airport operation and reduce waiting times for passengers. Latitud 90 operates a VIP service at the terminal which allows clients to fast track through immigrations, reducing the waiting times by up to 50%. www.latitud90.com
Costa Rica set to host annual Ultra Trail
Costa Rica is set to host one of the most popular mountain races in the region through the Arenal Volcano National Park. Five different races will take place on 6 and 7 April 2019, they are 80k, 45k, 21k, 10k, and 5k making the event accessible for a range of abilities. Nature lovers will love this particular event as racers career through landscapes that include rainforests, tropical forests, volcanoes and lakes as their backdrops. www.costaricarace.com/race
Images are available here.
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Editorial notes:
The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) is represented by LOTUS. For more information a/o images, please contact Kate McWilliams, Lucy Keenan or George Leonard (latapr@wearelotus.co.uk / 0207 953 7470). For more information on LATA, please visit www.lata.travel