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Welcome Travel has been my life for 20 years. St Augustine’s famous quote remains as true to me today as it was when I first set up 2by2 Holidays – “the world is a book and those who do not travel, read only one page”. My first love was Africa, the place of my birth. Its remarkable wildlife and cultures continue to captivate me today. A recent visit to the gorillas of Uganda has starkly reminded me just how fragile the survival of so many endangered species remains. And reinforced my belief that travel must always have conservation at its heart. In recent years I have discovered the joys of travel in the Indian subcontinent and Latin America. The iconic sites and cultures here are no less enthralling. And everywhere wildlife adapts and survives, from harsh barren deserts to cool mountain cloud forests and tropical wetlands. My enthusiasm burns as brightly as ever and I continue to be as involved in every aspect of the business as I always have been, backed up by our superb travel team. I’m particularly thrilled that so many of our customers return time after time. I do hope you find our latest brochure inspiring and we all look forward to hearing from you. Hambe Kahle – Travel Safely Claire Farley Managing Director Telephone 01582 766 122 Email [email protected] www.2by2holidays.co.uk Peru, Cusco Province 1 Most visitors stay in San Pedro de Atacama, which is ideally located for excursions to the Salar de Atacama salt flats and Chaxa Lagoon in Los Flamencos National Reserve, with its vast flocks of pink flamingos. Moon Valley and Death Valley offer dramatic clay and salt landscapes, shaped over millennia by the wind. The dramatic El Tatio geysers, the largest geothermal fields in the southern hemisphere, are another must-see. Viewing their fumaroles at dawn against a backdrop of the Andes Mountains is simply unforgettable. You may see vicuña, fox and cavy on the Altiplano, the immense high plateau that Moon Valley, Atacama Desert stretches from the Atacama into Bolivia and Peru. A 4x4 journey from San Pedro through these remote rugged landscapes to the To the east, near the border with Argentina, foremost educational and cultural centre, incredible salt flats of Bolivia is one of the Portillo is the country’s best-known ski with numerous universities, festivals, world’s great adventures. resort and a premier wine growing area. street musicians and artists. A five-hour flight west from Santiago, There is a huge range of outdoor activities In the far north of the country, the across the Pacific, takes you to fascinating on offer in the Central Valley and walkers vast Atacama is one of the driest and Easter Island, where the main attractions are will enjoy La Campana National Park, a oldest deserts on earth. For centuries the the hundreds of centuries old Moai statues, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Aymara people have lived here and there mysteriously carved and erected on this tiny On the central coast the two main are both Inca and pre-Inca remains, such island. Known locally as Rapa Nui, most of tourist hotspots are the historic port as the mysterious Giant of the Atacama. the 6,000 inhabitants are descendants of of Valparaiso, Chile’s third largest city, This is the largest human-like geoglyph the original Polynesian settlers. and the popular beach resort of Viña in the world and is thought to be an del Mar. Established in 1544, Valparaiso ancient astronomical calendar. The desert is today a laid-back city with a great extends for almost a third of the country maritime tradition, wonderful hilltop and includes some of the world’s most neighbourhoods, an attractive maze spectacular landscapes and geological of cobbled streets and brilliant multi- phenomena. Its clear night skies also offer coloured buildings. It is also Chile’s world-class star gazing. Torres del Paine National Park When to go Chile can be visited all year round, as it is a very long country with different regional weather patterns. Santiago and central Chile are best from October to March (the warm, Classic Chile dry summer months), but the Lake District is also lovely in spring and autumn, and offers Chile winter sports in July and August. Patagonia is best visited from November to February, DAY 1 Arrive in Santiago & city tour but being so far south the weather is changeable and most facilities are closed from DAYS 2/4 Fly to San Pedro to view From the dramatic landscapes of the Atacama in the north to the vineyards, lakes June to August. The Atacama Desert can be visited all year round, although the summer the dramatic landscapes of and spectacular mountains and glaciers of Patagonia in the south – Chile is a natural heat can be very intense from January to March. Easter Island can also be visited all year Atacama, including Salt Flats, round, with December to March being the most pleasant months. El Tatio Geysers & Moon Valley beauty giant! DAY 5 Fly back to Santiago DAYS 6/8 Fly to Patagonia. Visit Torres Santiago Del Paine National Park & amous for its wonderful wines and museums, parks, galleries, theatres, the Mercado Central. Barrio Lastarria, the 30 300 enjoy a boat ride to view the great cuisine, Chile is one of the traditional bars and cafes. Surrounded by Bohemian Quarter, is another must-see E F 25 250 Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers smallest countries in South America and the snow-capped Andes Mountains and and on San Cristóbal Hill you will find UR DAYS 9/11 Relax in the historic port city of 20 200 Valparaiso one of its most prosperous. Averaging the beautiful Chilean Coastal Range, it’s the amazing Chilean Museum of Pre- AT DAY 12 Depart from Santiago only 110 miles wide, it stretches an one of the less hectic South American Columbian Art. 15 150 From £3,795 per person sharing including astonishing 2,650 miles in length, with capitals. The Gabriela Mistral Cultural Santiago is the starting point for 10 100 RAINFALL flights, mid season a remarkable contrast in scenery, as you Centre, named after Latin America’s first exploring the famous Chilean Winelands. EMPER 5 T 50 travel from the salt flats, geysers and female Nobel laureate for literature, is a Maipo Valley, known for its exceptional barren moon landscapes of Atacama in brilliant example of the city’s rejuvenation, Cabernets, is the closest wine producing 0 0 the north to the breathtaking fjords and complete with amazing multi-coloured region to the capital and some of the JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC This is an example itinerary – see page 5 glaciers of Patagonia in the south. glass roof. Check out Santiago’s oldest and best wineries are found here, AVERAGE RAINFALL (mm) MAXIMUM AV. TEMP ˚C MINIMUM AV. TEMP ˚C for key. For more ideas, information and Most visitors arrive in the capital of downtown with its colonial architecture, but there are many other regions to explore. prices please call us on 01582 766 122 Santiago de Chile, a modern city with famous fish market and the restaurants of or visit www.2by2holidays.co.uk Latin America 101 oving south from Santiago, the scenery raft, fish, climb volcanoes and horse ride The Chiloe Archipelago is made up of Mchanges and you reach the beautiful before soaking in warm thermal springs or hundreds of tiny islands, which were Lake District, where there are no less than sun bathing on one of the lake beaches. isolated for many years. These islands are twelve major lakes. Dairy cattle graze in Pucón is a mecca for adventure sports known for their quaint wooden houses lush fields against a picturesque backdrop and from Puerto Varas, the main port on built over the water on stilts and their of snow-capped volcanoes, waterfalls and Lago Llanquihue, you can take the boat wooden churches. Rugged and wet, the ancient forests. Stretching 200 miles south crossing to Bariloche in Argentina. This is area is rich in bird and marine life with from Temuco to Puerto Montt, the Lake the heartland of the indigenous Malpuche whale watching from late January to April. District is an outdoor adventure playground. Indians, known for their intricate silver This is the only place in the world where Here you can walk, hike, bike, white-water jewellery. Blue whales gather to feed. Tucker Islets, Patagonia The best way of exploring the dramatic landscapes of Patagonia is on a thrilling expedition cruise, travelling through Glacier Alley to Cape Horn. ven in a continent of scenic wonders, are fortunate to see them ‘calving’, as large EChile’s share of Patagonia stands chunks of ice break off and thunder into out with some of the finest and most the waters below. unforgettable spectacles in the world. Patagonia’s fjords are simply stunning Patagonia Cruise First among these is Torres del Paine and, if your budget allows, are best DAYS 1/2 Arrive in Santiago, & city tour National Park, with its iconic granite peaks explored on an Expedition Cruise, DAYS 3/5 Visit Torres del Paine & and astonishing turquoise glacial lakes. travelling from Punta Arenas in Chile to Balmaceda & Serrano glaciers Most visitors to Patagonia fly to the Ushuaia in Argentina (or vice versa). Sail DAYS 6/10 Travel to Punt Arenas, for small town of Punta Arenas then travel across the Straits of Magellan and through thrilling Patagonia Expedition by road to Puerto Natales – the gateway Ainsworth Bay to Tuckets Islets, home to Cruise to Ushuaia, via Cape to Torres del Paine National Park.