J O U R N E Y THE SPECIALIST’S GUIDELATIN A MTOERICA LATIN AMERICA
2020 EDITION WAYS TO CONTENTS TRAVEL 08
THE JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA DIFFERENCE 04
OUR LATIN AMERICA TRAVEL EXPERTS 06
HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS OF STYLES 10 LATIN AMERICA 20
CUBA 22 MEXICO 26 GUATEMALA 30 MEXICO 08
EL SALVADOR 34 HONDURAS 36
BELIZE 32
NICARAGUA 38 COSTA RICA 40 PANAMA 44 COLOMBIA 46
GUYANA, FRENCH GUIANA AND SURINAME 50
PERU 56 BOLIVIA 60
ECUADOR AND THE GALAPÁGOS ISLANDS 52
BRAZIL 62
CHILE 66
ARGENTINA 70 URUGUAY 74
PARAGUAY 76
ANTARCTICA AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 78
JOURNEY SUSTAINABLY 80
SO MUCH AIRLINES 82 BOOK WITH MORE 81 CONFIDENCE 83 THE JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA DIFFERENCE
As our name suggests, we are single-minded Leading the way about Latin America. This is what sets us In 1980 we were one of the first to offer Tailor-made Holidays to Latin America. Our first-hand experience means we’ve apart from other travel companies as we explored the length and breadth of this ever-changing tailor extraordinary experiences and continent. We are often the first to blaze new trails and offer exciting new activities into emerging regions. inspiring journeys throughout Mexico, Central and South America. Knowledge and expertise Some of our staff have been with us for over 30 years When you travel with us, you gain access and all of us have lived and worked or travelled extensively to 40 years of experience and expertise, in Latin America – you won’t find more committed and enthusiastic travel specialists. knowledge and know-how, offered by a friendly team of travel experts with Trusted partners a passion for sharing it all. We understand how important good relations with our partners are, and always seek the best services from proactive local suppliers. This dedicated support team includes our highly valued, top-rated local guides, who make the travel experience unique through their local knowledge and passion.
97% of clients rated their experience Unrivalled portfolio with Journey Latin America as We can confidently say that no other operator can offer such a wide range of hand-picked accommodation, excursions, Excellent or Good. activities and experiences in Latin America.
Authentic experiences Our approach to creating unforgettable holidays is practical and hands-on. We travel to each country in Latin America at least once a year, revisiting existing experiences and activities, checking out new ones, devising our own.
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No company has more first-hand“ knowledge of its subject than “ Journey Latin America.
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Tayrona National Park, Colombia Chivay, Peru
Exclusive travel app Award winners Our exclusive Journey Latin America Our commitment to what we do has been recognised time app makes travel easy, by providing and time again – our brochures, holidays, customer service, you with your personalised tour leaders, local guides and sustainable initiatives have all day-by-day itinerary, pre-departure won travel trade and public awards over the years. info, recommended insider tips on restaurants, bars, offline maps and much more straight to your smart phone or tablet.
With you all the way Winner: British Travel Awards, Best Tour Operator While you’re away you’ll always have access to our to Central & South America 2019 24/7 UK emergency support line. Plus all our local partners offer you contact both during and outside Winner: Agents Choice Award Tour Operator their office hours should you need it. to Latin America & the Caribbean, Selling Travel 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Full financial protection Gold Trusted Service: We are a fully bonded tour operator, registered with Feefo 2018 ATOL, ABTA and AITO. Book with confidence, knowing Top Ten Specialist Tour Operator: every penny is secure. Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2017, 2018, 2019 No-obligation quote Winner: CIM Travel Marketing Award for Call one of our travel experts on 020 8747 8315 today Best Website 2017 to start planning your unique Tailor-made Holiday. Winner: We’ll send you a bespoke travel proposal completely Food and Travel Magazine Readers’ Award for free of charge, with no need to pay until you feel 100% Tour Operator of the Year 2017 satisfied with your personalised itinerary.
5 “ Chris was very personable, listened to what we wanted and acted accordingly. At no time did I feel under pressure. He put together an ideal itinerary for us. JT, Orpington
“ Hannah D was excellent, she organised our previous trip and we requested her service this time as well as we were so pleased.” RN, Highgate
“ Caroline understood exactly what we wanted, came up OUR LATIN AMERICA with excellent proposals and responded to any queries very quickly.” TRAVEL EXPERTS PG, Oxford Our expert consultants are friendly, articulate, educated and experienced travel specialists. Many are Latin American nationals, others have lived or travelled extensively across the continent and most hold an academic qualification relating to the region’s history, geography and languages, meaning that you will receive unrivalled advice based on unique personal experiences.
“ Sophie was very helpful, knowledgeable, had some excellent suggestions and organised a holiday that was perfect for our needs.” PE, Bromley “ Natalie was the first consultant we found who actually listened to our request and designed an itinerary that matched what we wanted.” HH, Bristol
“ Evie was extremely helpful in every respect, friendly, understanding and knowledgeable. VB, Bakewell
“ This is our second year using Konrad’s services. He’s just great – always helpful, efficient and super friendly. He seems like an old friend now!” DT, Carnforth
6 “ Nicola is extremely helpful and professional. Answered all my queries in a very timely fashion.” AMN, Liverpool “ Margot was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and put together a perfect itinerary.” JT, St Albans
“ Kathryn was fantastic! So helpful, friendly, quick to respond and “ Paul understood totally what knowledgeable. Couldn’t ask for more!” we hoped for and his suggestions for our itinerary were perfect.” JK, Hampstead CH, London
“ Mary couldn’t have been more helpful. She is a star!” “ From the very first IT, Settle communication with regard to our possible once-in- a-lifetime trip Hannah was extremely efficient, knowledgeable, helpful and approachable. ” VH, Bristol
“ Very helpful. We were extremely “ Lina was extremely helpful, pleased from start to finish perceptive and understanding with the service, Annerys was of our needs.” always there to help and answer HM, Henfield questions!” SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: GC, Welshpool Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to a travel expert on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected]
7 WAYS TO TRAVEL
With an increasing number of travel options available, seeking guidance from an experienced tour operator on the best way to travel can save you time and add value to your holiday. Whether it’s a Tailor-made Holiday crafted from scratch, a pre-designed Private Journey or an Escorted Group Tour, our experts will listen to your requirements to make sure we provide an incredible holiday experience based on your personal preferences.
Tailor-made Journeys YOUR UNIQUE HOLIDAY Speak to one of our travel experts to design your holiday exactly as you want it - creating truly personalised itineraries is what we excel at. We are happy to make changes as your holiday plans take shape and are always available throughout the process for any queries you might have.
OUR UNRIVALLED PORTFOLIO With 40 years’ experience in travel to Latin America we have an unrivalled portfolio of accommodation and activities to choose from. We also regularly inspect the Lina Fuller products that we offer meaning you can book safe in the knowledge that we’ve done all the hard work for you.
WHAT YOU SAY OUR SERVICE This is my first trip with Journey Latin America and From the first time you contact us to the moment you “they were brilliant customising everything to my return, we strive for every part of the service we provide needs and made the perfect holiday and more to be exceptional. importantly a totally stress free experience. HOW IT WORKS LR, Nottingham Typically we assign you one specialist consultant throughout the planning and booking process. Speak to them in the office, on the phone, by email, via LiveChat or on our website – whatever suits you best.
8 Shutterstock.com Sacred Valley, Peru
Private Journeys We have almost 200 exclusive private holidays to choose from on our website where you can check prices and explore day-by-day itineraries. If you like what you see, you can also book direct online. All our Private Journeys are expertly designed by us and are completely flexible. Our travel experts will be happy to modify them to ensure they are exactly the right for you. Shutterstock.com
Group Tours If you’d prefer to travel with other like-minded people in a sociable atmosphere, we offer two innovative styles of fixed-date escorted group tours with award winning tour leaders: adventurous, trail-blazing Discovery Journeys; and Classic Journeys, featuring comfort and exclusivity. For more details about our Group Tours visit our website to request a brochure via post or to download a digital version. Shutterstock.com
9 HOLIDAY STYLES
To guide you to the holiday which best suits you, we’ve created a range of contrasting styles. Try exhilarating adventure sports on a Walking and Active Holiday, spot rare, colourful birds on a Wildlife Holiday, or if you are travelling with children, head for our Family Holidays. For a full list of holiday styles visit our website, and browse suggested itineraries which our travel specialists can tailor to your specific needs.
To enjoy
Sacred10 Valley, Peru iStock.com HOLIDAY STYLES WALKING AND ACTIVE
Shutterstock.com Mount Fitz Roy, Argentina
Immerse yourself in the landscape with an active holiday through some of Latin America’s most impressive wilderness scenery. The icy peaks of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia, the traditional highlands of Guatemala, the glaciers of Patagonia, the volcanoes of Ecuador: just a few of the stunning locations with an array of activities to suit all abilities. Turismo Chile Turismo Our top walking and active experiences
Climb Sierra Negra volcano and peer into the depths of the Galápagos’ largest crater. Whizz through the luscious jungle canopy on 12 To enjoy exhilarating zip-lines at Boquete, Panama. Raft the frothing white-water of the Chilean lake district’s exhilarating Petrohué river. Explore the exquisite deserted coastline of Baja’s Espiritú Santo island by sea kayak. Glorious day walks reveal the ice-spiked pinnacles of Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. Take to Peru’s Salkantay Inca Trail on horseback, riding past towering snow-drenched peaks.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
To enjoy mountain-biking the Mindo cloud forest trails Kayaking around the mangroves in the Damas Estuary in Andean Ecuador you don’t need off-road experience “(Costa Rica) was good fun and we saw lots of different – the scenic dirt roads are safe – and the scenery is wildlife – including a boa imperator in the trees. remarkably unspoilt given how close it is to Quito. Our guide was very knowledgeable. David Nichols KF, Aldershot
11 HOLIDAY STYLES SELF-DRIVE
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Break away from the crowds with the freedom and flexibility of your own car. Ever-improving roads in Latin America are opening up extraordinary landscapes to explore at your own pace, knowing you have accommodation booked at the end of the day. We offer self-drive car hire in twelve Latin American countries, and counting... Tom Parrott Tom
Our top self-drive experiences
Take a lonely road winding past Patagonia’s volcanoes, turquoise lakes, glaciers and skeletal peaks. On a leisurely drive in Mexico’s Yucatán, stop off at Mayan temples, colonial haciendas and sunny beaches. Explore rural roads through exquisite coffee-blanketed hills in Colombia’s heartland. Delight in the empty roads of tiny Uruguay’s unspoilt coastline and vineyard-sprinkled interior. It’s a stunning and varied drive from the Caribbean to the Pacific through Costa Rica’s wildlife mountains. explora Descend a pioneering road from Ecuador’s chilly uplands through cloud forest to the steamy Amazon.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
Driving in Colombia is a real adventure. It’s a great The self-drive in the Salta and Jujuy province was experience if you relish the chance to drive up steep “excellent. The GPS worked well, the car was good winding mountain roads, with a stunning view around and the mountains are out-of-this-world. every corner. The scenery is stupendous. NHC, Kuala Lumpur Mary Anne Nelson
12 HOLIDAY STYLES FAMILY HOLIDAYS
Tom Parrott Tom Caribbean coast, Belize
We understand the joys and challenges of travelling with children and teenagers, and we’re the experts when it comes to designing flexible trips built specially around a family. We can suggest good value or luxurious family- friendly resorts and cruises, safe beaches for swimming, adventurous but accessible hikes and memorable wildlife encounters. We make sure it’s all entertaining and educational for parents and children alike. Shutterstock.com
Our top family experiences
Older children feel an explorer’s excitement hiking the waterfalls of the remote Brazilian table top mountains of Chapada Diamantina. Roaming among jungle-throttled Mexican pyramids as parrots screech above delights all the family. A homestay at Lake Titicaca means you can all engage with a family across the generations. Spotting wildlife always thrills – especially the lovable turtles and dolphins of Panama. Slow-paced Cuba can be explored in many adventurous Shutterstock.com ways; by bike, jeep, and vintage car. Glamp it up in Patagonia in a family yurt – wilderness explorations leave from the front door – or flap.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
Our young son was thrilled to rise to the top of Sugar We were travelling with kids, aged 10 and 15, and Sophie did Loaf Mountain in a cable car. In Rio they give priority to “a great job of tailoring our plans to take into account their families and we were whisked to the front of the queue. needs. She had a very detailed knowledge of the region and therefore was able to make some helpful suggestions. Chris Rendell-Dunn ME, Hong Kong
13 HOLIDAY STYLES HONEYMOON AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Atacama Desert, Chile explora
Getting married? Special anniversary or birthday? Perhaps your dream is of palm-studded beaches, a Patagonian glacier, a Galápagos cruise, Peru’s Machu Picchu, or the romance of Havana. We know how to make your dream holiday even more special. We have identified charming places to stay to ensure your special moments are delivered with an unforgettable level of service. Shutterstock.com
Our top honeymoon and special occasion experiences
Rise early from first class Belmond Das Cataratas to be the first to view tumultuous Iguazú Falls. Glamp at Glover’s Reef on a coral atoll off Belize’s coast; kayak during an apricot sunset. From Lake Titicaca to Cuzco on luxury train Andean Explorer: sleep on board in a sumptuous suite. An exclusive adults-only boutique hotel near Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano, Nayara Springs is a treat. Mashpi Lodge is an award-winning retreat in magical, Shutterstock.com bird-filled Ecuadorian cloud forest. Enjoy the pampas hospitality of romantic La Bamba, Argentina’s premier estancia welcoming visitors.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
A real treat was when our guide on Easter Island took us by The Iguazú Falls are sensational – definitely the most surprise one morning to Anakena beach. There waiting for “memorable day especially with such a great guide! us was a bottle of bubbly and a private picnic fit for a king But the Hiram Bingham train journey to Machu Picchu (and queen!) was also a very special event for us. Laura Rendell Dunn GC, Horsham
14 HOLIDAY STYLES WILDLIFE ADVENTURES
Shutterstock.com Jaguar, Belize
Expert guides will take you to the region’s most astounding natural habitats to observe extraordinary creatures first-hand. Choose between an eco-lodge deep in the rainforest or the wide open wetlands, a tropical wildlife cruise, a bird-watching trail, a visit to a monkey refuge, a whale-spotting expedition, photographing penguins in the South Atlantic or condors in the Andes... there’s a huge choice. iStock.com
Top wildlife experiences
Spying a jaguar is the climax of a stay in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands. The comical dance of the blue-footed booby in the Galápagos raises a smile. Hummingbirds are abundant and easily spotted in the Andean cloud forest. Gasp as hundreds of scarlet macaws nibble a clay lick in Peru’s Manú reserve. Look out for pumas searching for guanacos in the Patagonian steppe. Shutterstock.com Wake up to the mournful lament of howler monkeys in Nicaragua’s tropical forests.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
Snorkelling with Galápagos hammerhead sharks is my The trip to Harberton from Ushuaia to see penguins was most memorable underwater experience but my most “amazing. We saw four whales and other wildlife including exciting wildlife encounter was the sighting of a jaguar a king penguin. I was impressed by the knowledge of the prowling in Peru’s Manu National Park guide and her commitment to conservation. Ben Line DF, Malvern
15 HOLIDAY STYLES OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK
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There are still many places where a rare visitor is warmly welcomed, and where you can view jaw-dropping panoramas without a hint of a crowd. The wilderness Guianas, the indian communities of the Colombian Amazon, the Jesuit mission churches of Bolivia’s tropical Oriente, isolated eco-lodges in the highlands of Costa Rica, the penguin colonies of South Georgia – we have pushed back the horizons to offer you marvellous remote holidays. Turismo Chile Turismo
Our top off-the-beaten-track experiences
Discover a wild, far-flung corner of Patagonia’s glaciated landscapes on Chile’s Austral road. Cowboys help you spot anteaters in the cattle prairies of the traditional Llanos wetlands of Colombia. Visit a surreal landscape of rippling sand dunes pitted with jade lagoons in Brazil’s northeast. Hike from ice-giant Mount Ausangate to the rainbow mountain in Peru without seeing a soul. Abundant wildlife awaits you in Bolivian Amazon’s little- visited Madidi National Park – tapirs, ocelots, capybaras. Shutterstock.com In the puna of Atacama, you’re alone in rarefied, high altitude scenery as alien as Mars.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
The Weaver’s Trail (Peru) not only covers spectacular I was surprised and delighted about everything I saw and scenery but gives you a great glimpse of local life. “experienced, it was well worth getting off-the-beaten- I didn’t see another tourist for two days and was track. In Trinidad (Cuba) I looked through an archway to greeted by groups of curious children. a courtyard with about 100 locals having a tea dance. Hannah Donaldson PW, Norwich
16 HOLIDAY STYLES FOOD AND DRINK
Shutterstock.com Colourful Mexican gastronomy
Latin American gastronomy – traditional, innovative or fusion – embraces distinct, always succulent, regional cuisines. We can arrange all sorts of foodie experiences from traditional snacks to gourmet – either as the main focus of your holiday or a special highlight. Sip maize beer in a Bolivian market, learn how to cook ceviche in Peru, savour luscious lobster with a convivial Cuban family. Jenny Powels Jenny
Our top food and drink experiences
A hands-on cookery class involves all aspects of creating a tasty Mexican meal. Savour the flavours of various pisco brandies at a traditional Peruvian distillery. Feast on a juicy asado in the open air on a ranch in the Argentine pampas. Visit a Guatemalan tropical plantation to sample avocadoes, cocoa and coffee at source. Sip premium wines in a delightful rural setting at Chile’s historic Santa Rita winery. iStock.com In south Brazil, sample oysters straight from the ocean, washed down with a caipirinha.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
One of my best foodie memories is of exploring Uruguay was a fantastic surprise as we were not sure Oaxaca’s markets... stalls piled high with chillies and “what to expect. The food and wine was excellent and more interestingly dried crickets which, consumed with it was really relaxed which was great. a sprinkle of salt and a squeeze of lime, are delicious! AE, Hope Valley Konrad Mludzinski
17 HOLIDAY STYLES EXPLORE AND RELAX
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Discovery and repose come together in an ideal holiday combination, whatever your budget. Clamber among pre-Columbian ruins or walk the streets of colonial cities, then spend a few days relaxing at a countryside hacienda or on sugary beaches. Or follow a challenging mountain trek with pampering in a luxury spa – the compatibility of different experiences is limitless... IStock.com
Our top explore and relax experiences
Discover Peru’s mountainous Inca heartland; sunbathe on Mancora’s wild Pacific beaches. Join the party at Rio’s riotous Carnival; sit back on the sands at fashionable Buzios. Delve into vast Mexico City’s multi-layered culture then head to luxurious Pacific coast resorts. Dance to the salsa beat in Cuba’s crumbly colonial cities; enjoy the tranquillity of Cayo Santa Maria. Venture onto the jungle trails of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula; unwind at a luxury beach resort. Tierra Hotel Tierra
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
We explored by car the Chilean lake district’s remote This was an amazing trip and fully met our expectations. country roads, sweated up to a volcano’s summit, then “We were new to South America and it had so much to relaxed at a luxurious vineyard with a choice of top offer – we will be returning. The planning was excellent quality wines. and the pace of the trip exactly met our requirements. Mary Anne Nelson SB, King’s Langley
18 HOLIDAY STYLES EXPEDITION CRUISES
Peruvian Amazon Expeditions Aqua
To discover Latin America’s islands, coasts, rivers and remote reaches, travelling by water can often be the best (or only) way. Our expedition cruises are adventurous in spirit, with expert guides and land excursions. Among them are wildlife trips on the Amazon, voyages in the Galápagos Islands and Antarctica, and cruises from the Caribbean to Cape Horn via the Pacific coast and the Patagonian archipelagos of the far south. Shutterstock.com
Our top expedition cruise experiences
Float down the remote Amazon like the Brazilians do, on the traditional wooden riverboat, MV Tucano. Beagle Channel, Cape Horn – cruise historic glacial waterways on MV Australis. Rise and fall through the jungly Panama Canal’s massive locks with MV Discovery. Explore Antarctic kayaking, camping on the ice and snow-shoeing from MV Ortelius. In the jade Sea of Cortez, paddle or snorkel from MV Safari Endeavour to spot whales and sea-lions. Lina Fuller Discover Galápagos iguanas and albatrosses from MV Evolution’s 1920s nostalgic, nautical elegance.
WHAT WE LOVE WHAT YOU SAY
My coastal expedition passed only too quickly. There The staff of MV Legend were very helpful and pleasant. just wasn’t enough time to fit in all the landings, food, “The team have everything sorted, in a very professional way, cocktails, lectures and relaxation that tempted me! with no shortage of activities. A great experience. Sarah Bradley JC, Littlehampton
19 MEXICO CUBA 2 BELIZE HONDURAS 1 CARIBBEAN GUATEMALA SEA NICARAGUA EL SALVADOR
GUYANA COSTA RICA VENEZUELA SURINAME PANAMA FRENCH GUIANA COLOMBIA
4 3 ECUADOR 4 GALAPAGOS 4 ISLANDS PERU
BRAZIL
SOUTH PACIFIC 5 OCEAN 4 6 BOLIVIA
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7 CHILE PARAGUAY 8 EASTER ISLAND 11
URUGUAY
ARGENTINA SOUTH WHAT YOU SAY ATLANTIC We had a fantastic trip and a wonderful OCEAN “experience. Journey Latin America’s knowledge and experience of South America shone through in the organisation of the trip as a whole. We would whole-heartedly recommend them 10 to anyone contemplating a holiday to Latin FALKLAND America and we will definitely be booking ISLANDS another tour with Journey Latin America in the future. DL, Twickenham
12 ANTARCTICA
20 HIGHLIGHTS OF LATIN AMERICA Latin America has too many highlights to include all of them here, but below are a few of our favourites to get you started:
1 2 3 CARIBBEAN COAST CHICHEN ITZA GALAPAGOS ISLANDS Idyllic beaches and aquamarine An astonishing Mayan city of Get up close to curious sea-lions, languid waters fringe Latin America’s pyramids and temples basking in the iguanas and giant tortoises on a once- Caribbean coast. Yucatán sunshine. in-a-lifetime trip to the Galápagos.
4 5 6 AMAZON MACHU PICCHU LAKE TITICACA Delve into the rainforest on a variety Peru’s legendary ‘Lost City of the The world’s highest navigable lake of explorations from a comfortable Incas’, reached by train or by walking supports a melting pot of Peruvian lodge in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, the Inca Trail, lives up to the highest and Bolivian cultures. Colombia or Ecuador. expectations.
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RIO CARNIVAL IGUAZU FALLS ATACAMA DESERT The world’s biggest party, held Straddling the Brazil / Argentina The world’s driest desert is a haunting in what could well be its most border, these vast and powerful landscape of arid sands, geysers and beautiful city. waterfalls crash through dense unearthly wind-eroded rock sculptures. subtropical jungle.
10 11 12 PATAGONIA EASTER ISLAND ANTARCTICA A dramatically beautiful wilderness Tiny Easter Island is famed for its The world’s last true wilderness; offering unrivalled adventures into groups of enigmatic Moai: the huge Antarctica’s towering icebergs, the great outdoors. stone heads that watch over jagged mountain peaks and vast this remote island. glaciers are alive with wildlife.
21 DESTINATIONS CUBA
Havana22 iStock.com Steamy dance floors, the clink of rum glasses, feet tapping to a salsa beat. Vintage bikes, shiny Cadillacs, ox-driven carts carving a lonely path through tobacco fields. You’ll be utterly beguiled by Cuba – beautiful, crumbling colonial towns lying among vivid natural landscapes, from sugary beaches to forest-shrouded mountains. Cuba is unique from so many angles: a fusion of the joyously Caribbean with a Latin rhythm. Dive into its intoxicating blend of living art,
revolutionary history, and sizzling creole cuisine. Shutterstock.com
Gulf of Mexico The Bahamas 2 1
3 4 Cuba Caribbean Sea 6 iStock.com 5 Cuba highlights Haiti
Jamaica 1 Viñales Fairyland-pretty countryside 4 Trinidad Cuba’s musical heart is a is ploughed by ox-cart, and tobacco baroque masterpiece – cobbled lanes leaves are hand-picked in a timeless with pastel-washed houses, ornate bucolic idyll. churches and palm-studded squares.
2 Havana A spontaneous city alive 5 Santiago de Cuba Cuba’s anarchic with music and chatter, a chaos of Heroic City is a jumbled, feel-good restoration sitting alongside forgotten place whose history gives rise to a decaying mansions. laid-back African feel.
3 Cienfuegos A port with a history of 6 Baracoa A remote, tropical, piracy. A stylish French art deco legacy hill-fringed town, this quaint little shelters animated Afro-Cuban clubs. settlement is a base for hiking.
WHAT YOU SAY Really enjoyed all of it, especially Havana and “Trinidad. Loved the music, the atmosphere and the people. GG, Diss
WHAT WE LOVE Cuban beaches have it all. The northern Cayes are an excellent choice with tropical vegetation, exotic birds, coral reefs, white sands and turquoise waters with shallow areas great for kids. Annerys Hockley Shutterstock.com 23 Signature Cuba 18 days from £2,828pp
DAYS 1-4 Stroll along the cobbles of Old Havana, music seeps out of every doorway and the narrow pastel-hued streets are clogged with bikes. Turn west to eco-friendly Las Terrazas and the Viñales valley, where farmers sit relaxing under shady trees smoking cigars.
DAYS 5-12 Shutterstock.com Eastwards, the crumbly cities each have a story to tell. Wander the elegant French boulevards of Cienfuegos; WHAT YOU SAY in colonial Trinidad dancing and music continues into the early hours, while Camaguey is renowned for poetry and ballet In Havana we spent hours walking round both the old town and Vedado, which and Santiago is a melting pot of Haitian and African motifs. “ was totally fascinating. We saw groups DAYS 13-17 of horsemen riding the wrong way down the Autopista! Drive east to the island’s tip, call in at lazy Baracoa, and Gibara, a pretty port set among sugar fields on the craggy northeast RF, Henley-on-Thames coast, before departing from Holguin or add an extension, spending time in sun-kissed Guardalavaca.
WHAT WE LOVE The highlights were definitely riding in a convertible Cadillac and hitching a ride on a tractor in the hills. Jim Ashworth Paul Winrow-Giffin Paul
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24 Shutterstock.com Havana
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Sizzling salsa Hike to Fidel’s hideaway Home-cooking supreme Immerse yourself in the tropical An evocative hike in the wild, Dine in a friendly Caribbean-style rhythm of salsa, the seductive music remote Sierra Maestra leads you family home to savour the tasty and dance of the Latin Caribbean: in the footsteps of a youthful Fidel Cuban take on creole cuisine and watch extravagant tropical shows Castro to his secret hideout. juicy lobster dishes. or even take a lesson. Stalk Hemingway Havana by bike Drive old Cuba Discover the intoxicating minty Cycle along the sun-streaked seaside Glide through city streets encased flavour of Cuban mojitos on a bar malecón to its iconic, decaying in the leather and chrome of a crawl round the fabled old-city fortress, cruising at the locals’ gleaming 1950s classic car for a haunts of the grizzled US author. own leisurely pace. nostalgic ride into the decadent, pre-revolutionary past.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 25 DESTINATIONS MEXICO
26Tulum iStock.com Mexico highlights cuisine andcutting-edgehotels. flamboyant fiestas, world-renowned country bustleswithindianmarkets, world’s greatest citiesbut the whole Present day Mexico’s capitalisoneof the lapped by azure seas. while the inviting white-sandcoastline is colonial towns dot the craggy mountainsides centuries to agreedy rainforest. Ornate Spanish sculpted pyramids and temples abandonedfor Aztec andMayan empires, withmagnificently cultural diversity. On display are the traces of the Mexico’s vast size promises stunningnatural and 3 2 1 dazzling marinelife. beaches andaquamarineseasburstingwith scorched desertisfringedbychalk-white an age-oldindianlifestyle. rebellious Mayanvillagesgiveaninsightinto and livemusic,whilethesurrounding Casas isamagnetfor loversof littlebars Baja California Chiapas Mexico City Spanish cathedral andworld-classmuseums. mesmerising withAztecpyramids,anornate glamorous, extravagant, modestandalways Bohemian SanCristóbaldelas The energetic capitalis This peninsulaof rugged,
iStock.com Pacific Ocean 4 6 5 promises luxuryhotels,whalesandboat trips. a backdrop of pre-Columbian ruins;thePacific coast Mayan Rivieraoffers sunnybeaches,water-sports and mansions, collegesandfrequent festivals. filled plazas,ornate churches, pastel-washed Spanish silvertownsattracts artistswiththeirflower- and limestonepools,allembracedbytangledjungle. heartland hasmanyawe-inspiringabandonedtemples Caribbean andPacific coasts The Yucatán Peninsula Centralcolonial towns 3
Shutterstock.com “ HW, Sheffield Mexican people we metduring the week. friends withSoniaour guideandall the museum; the Rivera murals. Alsomaking Our highlights were: visiting Frida Kahlo’s Konrad Mludzinski across an impromptu fiesta! family. There’s nothing quitelike stumbling music, dance or share storieswith friends and eat andwatch the peoplearound me play I love to visit the square, grab something to Mexico
WHAT YOU SAY WHAT LOVE WE This steamyMayan A scattering of affluent 6 1 The shimmering USA 4 Gulf of Mexico 2 Guatemala Belize 5 6 27 Cuba iStock.com Signature Mexico 14 days from £2,439pp
DAYS 1-3 Visit the teeming plazas of the capital, Mexico City. Everything is on a huge scale: the ornate palace, monumental cathedral, huge Diego Rivera murals, Frenchified boulevards and lazy parks – plus the sprawling Aztec ruins at Teotihuacán. You’ll be awestruck.
DAYS 4-7 Shutterstock.com Beyond the vertiginous landscapes of wild Sumidero canyon, you’ll explore the galleries and leisurely cafés of mountain-set WHAT YOU SAY San Cristóbal, centre for the arts and innovation, but surrounded We loved the city of Merida and had a by fascinating, firmly traditional indian villages. “Sunday at leisure. Everything was very well planned by Sophie and we walked DAYS 8-13 the Paseo de Montejo, visited the Turn back to the past to discover some of the Mayan Empire’s Museum of Anthropology, and had most extraordinary ruined cities, where you can scramble amongst a late lunch in Santa Lucia Park sculpted temples and towering pyramids which are engulfed by watching the locals dancing. rainforest. Explore Palenque and the most spectacular AF, Merriot sites in the Yucatán Peninsula. Wind down on the Riviera’s palm-studded Caribbean beaches.
WHAT WE LOVE Pacific Puerto Vallarta makes a lovely change from the more touristy Caribbean coast. Explore the dramatic, jungle-clad coastline’s sandy coves and beautiful beaches or wander around the colonial centre and experience traditional Mexican life. Jamie Swan Shutterstock.com
Campeche Shutterstock.com
28 Shutterstock.com Mexico City
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Live the Day of the Dead The Copper Canyon railway Watch the whales The photogenic Day of the Dead calls Take in astounding views rising and Take to a small boat from Baja out ghoulish masked processions descending on a train journey through California or the Pacific coast to and animated music, while Mexicans the dramatic, fathomless canyon where view up close these massive, hit the streets to remember their mountain scenery is clad in snow- benign and curious creatures. deceased loved ones. You’re invited tipped pines, and stifling valleys are to join in. heaving with tropical fruits.
Savour the street food Balloon above the ruins Lucha Libre wrestling Sample Mexico’s ubiquitous tasty Get a bird’s eye view over the great Masked wrestlers show off amazing tacos and tamales at market stalls or pre-Columbian abandoned city acrobatic skills to hold or throw their take a cookery course to learn how Teotihuacán from a hot air balloon, opponents. Get involved as the crowd to make them yourself. gliding over palaces, pyramids and cheers the heroes and boos the villains. ball courts.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 29 DESTINATIONS GUATEMALA
Antigua Parrott Tom
Guatemala highlights
Picturesque Guatemala lies at the heart of the Mayan world. Frequent exotic, colour-soaked festivals intertwine Christian motifs with the mysticism of old beliefs, and proud villagers lead an unchanging traditional lifestyle on pocket-sized farmsteads. Highland markets selling everything from incense to wooden masks are a kaleidoscope 1 Belize of colour, while gentle marimba music fills the colonial courtyards. Mexico
1 Tikal Lofty pyramids punch 4 Antigua A colonial gem 2 through the jungle canopy dotted with shady plazas in the vast, long-abandoned and courtyards bursting with 3 Mayan city. bougainvillea, surrounded 6 by smoking volcanoes. Guatemala 2 Caribbean coast Steamy Honduras tropical lowlands, overlooked 5 The deep blue 5 Atitlán 4 by a vast Spanish fort, pulsate waters of Lake Atitlán are to an Afro-Caribbean beat. circled by towering volcanoes and its shoreline is pitted with 3 Lanquín Base for exploring ancient Mayan villages. El Salvador coffee plantations, limestone caves and the cascading 6 Western highlands A wild, turquoise pools surrounded isolated region pervaded by Pacific Ocean by lush jungle at Semuc ancestral customs such as a Champey. drink-fuelled, day-long horse-race.
30 designs. Askushowyoucanhelp. painting theirhousesintraditional together tocreate sustainabletourism, Atitlán, where acommunityworks Pintando elCambioproject, Lake Journey Latin Americasupportsthe Support acommunity project Some of our favourite experiences Annerys Hockley of the jungleandlagoon. tallest temple, Iwas stunnedby the views quietly enjoy the wildlife. Climbing the unexcavated Mayan site,enablingme to I stoppedatYaxha, anisolatedandlargely DAYS 9-11 DAYS 4-8 DAYS 1-3 12 da Signature Guatemala WHAT LOVE WE ys ys ancient skyscrapers are unforgettable. rainforest. The views from oneof these Tikal, itspyramids shrouded inmonkey-filled Explore the vast complex of temples atMayan farmers congregating to swap villagegossip. life, their stallsare heaving withproduce traded by of remote communities. Aliving tableau of rural indigenous markets of the highlands; the lifeblood Continuemountainstextiles.into tothe the Santiago, anexcellent place to buy authentic on the silvery waters. Take aboat trip to lakeside gardens andemerald volcanoes castingshadows Atmospheric Lake Atitlán isfringedby kitchen one of the cosy cafés. Browse the boutiquesandgalleries,drop in to the power of the volcanoes brooding over the city. ruined churches, convents andmonasteriesattest Wander the arty cobbled lanesof Antigua. The from
£2,263 pp
Konrad Mludzinksi for jaw-dropping viewsintoElSalvador. flows andglowingblood-red embers of a fizzing volcano,climbingoverlava Rise from pine-forests tothesummit Climb anactive volcano
Shutterstock.com “ KG, London of the sunsetsandvolcanoes inAtitlán. I would never have tired of the views even more interesting andcolourful. the Feria delasFlores made the city Being inAntigua when they were having and Catholic influences. flowers inamedley of mysticalMayan hued textiles,pottery, leather beltsand Stalls are piled highwithrainbow- Guatemala’s largest open-air market. when Chichicastenangohosts Streets come alivewithcommerce Browse anopen-air market
WHAT YOU SAY
31 Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com DESTINATIONS BELIZE
Lamanai ruins Shutterstock.com
Belize highlights
Awaiting exploration in this English-speaking corner of Central America are jungle rivers, mysterious caves, and bird- Mexico filled trails. Wildlife is rife throughout, with watchful jaguars inhabiting the forest. There are numerous jungle-caressed Mayan archaeological sites, now the home of iguanas and 1 monkeys.
1 Caribbean Coast Turquoise seas lap idyllic beaches, with coral reefs and wrecks harbouring a wealth of underwater life. The astonishing Blue Hole is a Belize Caribbean world-class dive site. Sea
The unspoilt interior has 2 Mountains and jungle Guatemala intricate, little-visited Mayan ceremonial sites; Wildlife 2 sanctuaries sit beside sugar cane fields; leafy Mountain Pine Ridge offers active eco-adventures.
3 Toledo and the south Dense rainforest canopies conceal caves and creeks, clear natural pools and waterfalls. On the coast the fishing port Punta Gorda 3 is the launch pad for explorations.
Honduras 32 Signature Belize 12 days from £3,166pp
DAYS 1-5 Head for the emerald hills of the interior, enveloped by tropical foliage. Visit the spooky ATM Mayan ceremonial caves, and consider a trip over the border to Tikal in Guatemala, where monkeys scurry around the towering pyramids of the abandoned city. Back in Belize, at Lamanai you can spot toucans at dawn, Shutterstock.com and enjoy sunset cocktails on the river.
DAYS 6-8 Belize is famous for its eco-tourism and you’ll stay at a lodge in the less-visited south where you can WHAT WE LOVE go kayaking, snorkelling, caving, and hiking. While glamping and kayaking in a really To meet local people, visit a welcoming Mayan wild setting on a desert island, Glover’s or Garifuna community. Reef, we felt as though we not only had our idyllic, palm-shaded, isolated camp to DAYS 9-11 The wooden houses of Caribbean village Placencia are ourselves but the entire protected atoll built on stilts among swaying palms rooted in powder- in front of it. white sands. Indulge in a variety of water sports or Rafe Stone go on a boat trip to seek out the elephantine West-Indian manatee.
WHAT YOU SAY On an early morning drive at Chan Chich, “going round a bend we found a jaguar standing in the road ahead - a classic case of being in the right place at the right time. CG, Poulton-le-Fylde Belize Tourist Board Tourist Belize
Some of our favourite experiences Belize Tourist Board Tourist Belize Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Explore subterranean caves The ultimate dawn chorus Island glamping and snorkelling Hike into the shadowy caverns, cross The mind-boggling plethora of birds Many of Belize’s attractions are water- underground rivers and enter a giant sheltering in the fertile greenery of focussed, unsurprising given the huge chamber. Once the setting for Mayan Belize’s pristine landscapes attracts coral reef offshore. Snorkel, dive or religious ceremonies, it’s stuffed with bird lovers from all over the world. kayak in the clear aquamarine waters in relics including ceramics and, 605 species are on view, from tiny the company of whale-sharks or rays. gruesomely, skeletons. hummingbirds to majestic eagles.
33 DESTINATIONS EL SALVADOR
Ataco CATA
El Salvador highlights
It’s a tiny country of wild beauty with a bucolic rhythm 1 Suchitoto This exquisite, flower- and among the most welcoming people in Latin America. laden centre for arts and culture hosts That’s why, for some of us, it is our favourite. The gorgeous internationally-renowned fiestas. floral Ruta de las Flores splices a coffee-growing heartland 2 Parque El Imposible This coastal and is home to peaceful colonial towns and cobbled lanes. range, the haunt of puma and eagles, has delightful walking trails.
3 San Salvador The busy historic Honduras capital tells a tale of upheaval Guatemala alongside artistic renovation.
4 Perquin Once a hotbed of 1 4 2 revolution it’s now a peaceful town with an evocative war museum. 3 El Salvador 5 El Sunzal A sweep of volcanic sand 5 is thumped by Pacific waves beloved 6 of surfers.
6 Gulf of Fonseca Whales and Pacific Ocean Nicaragua dolphins play in this mangrove- fringed waterway peppered with picturesque islands.
34 Signature El Salvador 11 days from £1,990pp
DAYS 1-3 Peer into the crater of extinct El Boquerón volcano. Explore the fine pyramids of Mayan ceremonial centre El Tazumal, set among coffee and sugar cane plantations. Linger in a coffee shop at Ataco, a renovated cobbled town on the Ruta del las Flores, a road which isn’t just scenically beautiful - dip into a cultural heaven Shutterstock.com of museums, crafts, floral displays and food fairs.
DAYS 4-8 By kayak or bike, discover Jiquilisco Bay’s creeks and WHAT YOU SAY mangroves a haven for birds and turtles. Sip from a coconut as the sun sets over a serene watery land. The people were amazing and I found Boat over the Gulf de Fonseca and continue to “the civil war history very moving. Perquín to learn about the now resolved civil war, The celebrations for the festive and visit Joya de Cerén, the Pompeii of the Americas. season were like nothing I have ever experienced. I can still hear those DAYS 9-10 Delight in the arty workshops of Suchitoto, the fireworks now! country’s colonial gem. Return for a visit of FL, Brierley Hill San Salvador’s historic centre.
WHAT WE LOVE On the Pacific coast I helped with the release of some new-born turtles into the sea. It was very emotional to see them take their first steps to reach the water. Lina Fuller Shutterstock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com iStock.com Shutterstock.com
Make your own pupusas Summit a volcano Coffee from bean to cup In pretty colonial Conchagua, on Views of three volcanoes appear On a coffee plantation on the Ruta the flanks of a volcano, a local cook through gaps in the foliage: trek de las Flores, discover how coffee will help you prepare, cook and through the clouds to enjoy heady is produced by age-old traditional devour El Salvador’s national dish, views from the summit of Santa Ana, methods and enjoy a delicious cup of the pupusa, or cheese-filled tortilla. the highest of the coastal range. the aromatic finished product.
35 DESTINATIONS HONDURAS
Macaw Shutterstock.com
Honduras highlights
Considered by many as the ultimate banana republic, 1 Copán The craftsmanship of the Honduras also has beautiful national parks protecting lavishly sculptured Mayan ruins here flowering, bird-rich rainforest, deep river canyons and has survived the assaults of time and the tentacles of a rapacious jungle. waterfalls. Discover prolific marine life in the Bay Islands off the mainland’s palm-whispered Caribbean coast, and 2 Roatán An idyllic Caribbean island fringed by white beaches and lapped explore ruined Mayan cities in the heart of the jungle. by warm, glass-clear waters, with coral reefs teeming with marine life. Belize Caribbean Sea 2 3 Pico Bonito This tropical national park, criss-crossed by walking trails shelters rainforest, creeks and 3 canyons cut through by sparkling rivers and waterfalls. Guatemala 1 Honduras
Nicaragua El Salvador
36 Signature Honduras 10 days from £2,253pp
DAYS 1-4 Travel through coffee and tobacco plantations to Copán ruins, a quaint colonial town hosting some of the most elaborately embellished pre-Columbian ruins in the Americas. The intricate carvings narrate the battles fought, and the fate of the enemy. In the jungle nearby you’ll be dazzled by the bright flash of a macaw’s wings. Shutterstock.com
DAYS 5-7 Inland from the coast, at Pico Bonito National Park, hundreds of tropical bird species are protected. WHAT YOU SAY From your eco-lodge you can explore sun-dappled trails at dawn or dusk with a soundtrack of birdsong, Copán is a marvellous site with carved or go white-water rafting on a wild river. “stone in good condition. There’s also stunning birdlife, including macaws DAYS 8-10 By boat to Caribbean Roatán island, where world- and parrots. We were also taken to renowned dive and snorkelling sites dot the surrounding the less visited Sepulchre site to the azure waters. Spy out the hammerhead sharks, rays, south of the main site. turtles and tiny seahorses which frequent the coral reef. RT, Westbury You can kick back on powdery sands, and enjoy the laid-back Afro-Caribbean culture of lobster and calypso.
WHAT WE LOVE The day I discovered the beauty of our oceans is the day when I entered the blue waters in Roatán. There I learned to dive and discover how fascinating the coral reef really is. Lina Fuller iStock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Live a timeless idyll Life with the Mayans Beachcombing the Caribbean In the rugged, warmly forested hills Copán will wake you up to the All along the sultry Caribbean coast around Pico Bonito, isolated rural lifestyle of the Mayan Empire, which you can discover divine palm-fringed communities lead a slow-paced way seems eager to tell its story. Marvel beaches, and meet small communities of life – watch horse-and-carts ply the at the hieroglyphic stairway and the of Garifuna (descendants of African gravel roads, and tiny farmsteads where ball courts where ritual sports sealed slaves and indigenous tribes) along with families are oblivious to the goings-on the fate of sacrificial victims. a swashbuckling history of piracy. of the outside world.
37 DESTINATIONS NICARAGUA
Granada iStock.com
Nicaragua highlights
The fuming volcanoes mirror the political upheavals which have kept Nicaragua a little known destination. But that’s what makes it so alluring – the lyrical, unchanging rural lifestyle of the coffee hills; the primitive art of Lake Nicaragua’s rebellious Solentiname Honduras islands; the most bird-prolific nature reserves in Central America.
1 Granada Explore the 4 Leon Crumbly churches Caribbean romantic and beautifully- and walls adorned with Sea restored lakeside colonial revolutionary murals, offset city, by horse-drawn carriage. by the city’s lively nightlife. Nicaragua
2 Ometepe Island A scenic 5 Pacific CoastSan Juan 6 laid-back island formed of del Sur is a surfers’ paradise, 4 twin volcanic peaks that rise where turtles nest undisturbed from the vast metallic-blue on golden sands. 1 waters of Lake Nicaragua. 5 2 3 6 Corn Islands The mellow, 3 Rio San Juan The wildlife- English-speaking Afro- rich jungle borders this Caribbean islands offer Pacific Ocean Costa Rica river which flows from a relaxed, homely beach Lake Nicaragua to the scene and fresh lobster. Caribbean Sea.
38 bird callstointerruptthesilence. this serene dusksettingwithonly of crimsons andgolds.Kayakthrough are transformed at sunsetintoapalette The metallicwaters of Lake Nicaragua Sunset kayaking Some of our favourite experiences Ileen Baiden thriving there. over 40outof the 389bird species a delight. On the boatridewe identified refuges, trails andcanopy walkways were The butterfly farm, caimanand turtle Vida Silvestre Los Guatuzos was heaven. For me,abird-lover, the Refugio de DAYS 4-7 DAYS 1-3 DAYS 8-10 10 da Signature Nicaragua WHAT LOVE WE ys ys Go caiman-spotting in the surrounding rainforest. Spanish hilltopfort once captured by Nelson. and quirky waterside villagedwarfed by the huge watch at the city’ssocialhub,Parque Central. Take mansions inSpanish Granada, andpause to people- Explore the magicalregion: stroll past the aristocratic You’ll travel by road andriver to ElCastillo,aremote very littlefor centuries. and relish the peaceful rural lifestyle that haschanged the howler monkeys; discover pre-Columbian petroglyphs a ferry-ride to the remote Ometepe Island. Listen to a smallboatandsnake between watery islets,before boisterous bar scene. join the artists,poetsandstudents for drinksin the abundance. Climbabell tower for arooftop view or Rebellious butstately Leon’s colonial churches are in from
£2,245 pp
Shutterstock.com speedily downtheash-strewn slopes. fiery crater. You mightalsosandboard venture toitspeakandpeerintothe but for aheart-pumpingexperience Volcanoes are impressive from afar, Peer into avolcanic crater
“
Shutterstock.com IM, Andover hell –anabsolutely amazingsight. fire was like staringinto thegates of of Volcan Masaya atnight. The red Our highlight was seeing the crater understand thecomplexities. past 30years.Your guideshelpyou story totellaboutthetumults of the Many peopleyoucomeacross have a Meet arevolutionary
WHAT YOU SAY
39 iStock.com
Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com DESTINATIONS COSTA RICA
Monteverde40 cloud forest Shutterstock.com Costa Rica is a treasure trove for nature-lovers and an adventurer’s playground. Known for their professionally-run national parks, they proudly protect their precious landscapes of volcanoes, mountain cloud forests, rainforests, savannahs and wild jungle-fringed beaches, all of which are teeming with bird and animal-life. Plantations of its world-famous coffee blanket the sunny slopes while trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals, trogons and hummingbirds. Costa Ricans are open and charismatic, with iStock.com a cheerful Latin personality – meaning you are sure to make new friends here. Nicaragua
Caribbean Sea
3 6 2 Costa Rica
1
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Pacific Ocean Costa Rica highlights 5 Panama 1 San José In the modern capital there are 4 Pacific coastOcean rollers good museums, parks and restaurants. pound beaches fit for surfing, while Smouldering volcanoes are close by. sheltered bays chatter with the rainforest’s creatures. 2 Monteverde cloud forest Hummingbirds and exotic tree frogs 5 Osa Peninsula Prolific wildlife in shallow thrive among mossy trees and misty ferns, lagoons, mangrove swamps, rivers, fluttering over colour-splashed orchids. rainforest and untouched stretches of pristine beaches. 3 Arenal volcano region Surrounded by lakes, rivers and waterfalls, it’s popular 6 Caribbean and Tortuguero among adventure enthusiasts, with zip- The Afro-Caribbean southern beaches are lining and water-rafting. folksy and laid-back. Tortuguero National Park is a sanctuary for nesting turtles.
WHAT YOU SAY
So hard to pick out a single highlight, but the two “river wildlife trips and the friendly nature of everyone was unique. Also having the wildlife right on our doorstep at each accommodation was very special. SY, Solihull
WHAT WE LOVE In Sarapiquí we saw loads of birds, including a yellow- throated toucan eating a snake and an owlet jump out of its nest! Always plenty of drama in the forest... Hannah Waterhouse Shutterstock.com 41 Signature Costa Rica 13 days from £3,344pp
DAYS 1-4 Plunge in to a vibrant natural world at Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula’s wild Pacific coast. Look out for scarlet macaws, howler monkeys and toucans while on a guided walk, waterfall rappelling or zip-lining through the jungle canopy.
DAY 5-8 Shutterstock.com Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve lies over rolling hills cloaked in mist-soaked tropical foliage where you can spot sloths, monkeys WHAT YOU SAY and tropical birds – with luck, the bright iridescent red and green The whole trip was really enjoyable, the plumage of the country’s iconic quetzal. Take a boat trip across “amount of wildlife (turtles, crocodiles, sparkling Lake Arenal, reflecting its colossal ash-mantled volcano armadillo, anteater, monkeys) and – explore, and relax in steaming thermal pools. scenery we saw met all expectations. All well organised. DAY 9-13 On the Caribbean coast, turtle sanctuary Tortuguero National HT, Cardiff Park’s sinuous creeks are explored from the water – you’ll be taken aback by the myriad creatures in the mangroves. End your adventure further south on a sugary-palm beach.
WHAT WE LOVE Take your car and get away from the sometimes busy tourist hubs, where you can still find hidden gems to enjoy the authenticity of Costa Rica. I found this the perfect way to visit beaches, wildlife and adventure in easy striking distance. Paul Winrow-Giffin Shutterstock.com
Arenal Shutterstock.com
42 Shutterstock.com
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Board Tourist Rican Costa Shutterstock.com
Canopy adventures See nesting turtles Quetzal spotting In a conservation-friendly country well Whether you watch giant female Shady, dripping cloud forest is the set up for active adventures, choose turtles crowding the beach to lay their habitat of the resplendent quetzal, between flitting over the canopy on eggs or palm-sized babies emerging whose brightly coloured plumage a zipline eye-to-eye with tree-top and courageously dashing into the will leave you in awe. Worshipped by wildlife or swaying over a bubbling sea it’s an extraordinary moment. Aztecs and Mayans, it’s justifiably the creek on a hanging bridge. country’s best-loved bird.
River raft to your hotel Kayak through the mangroves Soak in volcanic hot springs Pass waterfalls cascading into the Glide over silent waters among the In a natural river gorge, free-flowing river from steep rock faces above spindly, grasping roots of twisted pools connected by rippling waterfalls while spotting birds flying overhead mangroves and spot white-faced are encircled by overhanging trees, – before a rushing sound preludes the monkeys, anteaters, sloths, tree iguanas vines and ferns: an idyllic setting for rapids ahead, as you approach your and caiman, whilst colourful tropical a dip in undisturbed tranquillity. riverside lodge. birds fly overhead.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] iStock.com 43 DESTINATIONS PANAMA
San Blas Islands iStock.com
Panama highlights
Panama, the bridge between the Americas, is home to the 1 San Blas This archipelago of 400 vast Panama Canal which links the oceans. You can visit white-sand coral islands is home to some of nature’s richest forests which teem with wildlife the autonomous Guna Yala indians. and luscious plants. The capital city is one of the world’s 2 Panama Canal A colossal project most cosmopolitan, while the pearl-white beaches remain with its formidable locks and museum is a must-see for all visitors. undeveloped. 3 Panama City Casco Viejo’s colour- There are plenty of remnants of a wild history of piracy: splashed Spanish colonial streets are colonial forts, shipwrecks, cannons and towering city walls alive with cocktail bars and live music. tell a colourful story. 4 The Pacific coast The beach- fringed Azuero Peninsula is dotted with sleepy country towns and Caribbean Sea cattle ranches. 1 5 Boquete Rugged mist-shrouded 2 3 volcanoes, cloud forest and boulder- Costa Rica 6 strewn rivers create a dramatic landscape. 5 Panama 6 Bocas del Toro Isolated, pristine 4 Colombia Afro-Caribbean islands of mangroves and coral reefs burst with marine life.
Pacific Ocean
44 monkeys gather infrenzied numbers. Gatún where rainforest birds and giant locks andpassthrough Lake From yourvessel,negotiate theCanal’s Transit the Panama Canal Some of our favourite experiences Paul Winrow-Giffin volcano.of the effort toappreciate themagnificent views microclimates, was definitely worth the to 280speciesof bird andsixdifferent the Parque Nacional Volcan-Baru, home Hiking the Ruta delaQuetzales through DAYS 1-3 DAYS 6-10 DAYS 4-5 10 da Signature Panama WHAT LOVE WE ys ys
Explore Panama City, where soaringskyscrapers are National Park close to the capital. Spot more rainforest creatures backatSoberania and butterflies–are blessedwithgoldensunsets. The islandsshelter profuse wildlife – tropical birds, frogs diving, Bocas del Toro isamarvellously laid-backhang-out. With rocky outcrops andreefs idealfor snorkelling and by zip-lineor hangingbridge. verdant coffee plantations, dipinto anactive adventure different feel. Go quetzal-spotting, stroll through The cloudforests in the Chiriquíhighlandshave a of the jungle-fringed Panama Canal. Then it’sallaboard to riseandfall through the locks are heaving, the harbour-side fishmarket buzzing. The bubbly populationloves afiesta,pavement cafés French-style mansions,reminders of itscolonial heyday. the backdrop to forts, Spanish convents andsumptuous from
£1,997
pp
iStock.com their basket weaving. indians of RioChagres are famedfor from fishingandfarming.TheEmberá bamboo, palm-thatched homes,living leading acommunallifestyle from their Visit theGunaindigenouscommunities Indian encounters
Shutterstock.com “ MM, Haverhill the CanalZone. that there ismore to Panama than just surrounding area. Iwas surprised to find Canal to explore Panama City and the My highlight was going through the dignified creatures up close. trip youcanobservethesehuge and here tobreed andgivebirth.Onaboat whale watching –theycongregate The PearlIslandsare aprimesitefor Watchwhales the
WHAT YOU SAY
45 Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com Ancon Expedition DESTINATIONS COLOMBIA
Fruit46 seller, Cartagena Parrott Tom Colombia has the most dramatic scenery, the greatest variety of flora and fauna, and the friendliest people in Latin America. Andean peaks rake the skies above an apron of coffee plantations, giving way to virgin rainforests. Caribbean waters lap white sand beaches, pre-Conquest ruins and exquisite colonial cities dot the landscape and whales breach off the Pacific coast. The atmospheric towns and cities resonate with Shutterstock.com joyful salsa. Cocktail bars, impromptu bands and extravagant street art are symptomatic of the country’s new-found peace. Caribbean Sea
2 Costa Rica Venezuela
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1 5 3 Colombia iStock.com Shutterstock.com
Ecuador Brazil Colombia highlights 6
Peru 1 Bogotá A historic capital with 4 Highlands Dissected by rivers excellent museums, colourful colonial they host delightful colonial towns centre and trendy neighbourhoods such as Villa de Leyva, and the newly dotted with glamorous restaurants, transformed city of Medellín. bars and boutiques. 5 The llanos Tropical prairies, which 2 Cartagena and Caribbean The morph into shimmering wetlands romantic walled city of flower-decked after rain, seethe with a breath-taking balconies sits beside jungle-blanketed profusion of wildlife. Tayrona National Park’s golden palm- shaded beaches. 6 Colombian Amazon River port Leticia and nearby indian settlements 3 Coffee region Lush, green are isolated but super friendly. View mountains envelop coffee plantations pink dolphins here. and brightly-painted villages. Savour the delicious products on a traditional estate.
WHAT YOU SAY Medellín was amazing. Everything about it. Overall the “meals were excellent. The people are very friendly and helpful everywhere. MC, Purley
WHAT WE LOVE Seeing first-hand the remote jungle community of Puerto Nariño’s conservation efforts was inspiring. With no cars and minimal light pollution, the Amazonian night skies burst with stars above the rainforest canopy.
Shutterstock.com Annabel Kemp 47 Signature Colombia 11 days from £2,426 pp
DAYS 1-4 Having explored the lanes around Bogotá’s vast Plaza de Armas head out of town via Ziparquirá’s spell-binding underground salt cathedral to the charming colonial town Villa de Leyva, with whitewashed houses draped with flowers. Go horse-riding in the hilly countryside or visit the site of an extraordinary giant fossil. iStock.com
DAYS 5-8 Travel to the exquisite coffee-blanketed slopes of the western WHAT YOU SAY Andes, and take to the walking trails or whizz through the Visiting the coffee region we found canopy on a zip line. Butterflies and orchids are plentiful here. “relaxing and enjoyable, especially The play-box coloured houses of cobbled towns Salento and learning about coffee and cocoa Filandia will enchant. production. Also, seeing all the beautiful birds and flowers. DAYS 9-10 Move on to Caribbean Cartagena, which dances to a different CTR, London beat – the Afro-influence is paramount here. Walk the city ramparts, built to repel pirates. Take a boat trip out to the sun-kissed Rosario Islands.
WHAT WE LOVE Visiting Comuna 13 in Medellín is a must – once controlled by narcos, it’s now regenerated and has some of the best street art I’ve seen, each one with its own story of the turbulent past. Sophie Barber Shutterstock.com
Bogota Tom Parrott Tom
48 Islas de Rosario Shutterstock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Maber Caroline Shutterstock.com
A big welcome Wildlife safari by horse A transforming city The friendliness of the people is epic. From the saddle of a horse and with a Medellín is fast becoming a centre for Meet hipsters in Bogotá, cowboys cowboy guide, you could see monkeys gastronomy, sculpture and social in the savannah, artistic Amazonian squabble in the canopy, alligators regeneration. Explore its arty indians and smiling coffee farmers. sprawl on watery beaches, giant neighbourhoods by cable car, and capybara roaming the paddy fields. discover how the city is reinventing itself through the eyes of its charismatic people.
Three nations of the Amazon Bean to brew – coffee zone Charismatic towns Set foot in three countries where On a guided tour of a traditional estate Visit historic colonial ports on the mighty Colombia meets Peru and Brazil. you’ll learn how coffee is produced in river Magdalena, notably colour-washed From Leticia’s endearing port take a Colombia’s green hills adorned with Honda and Mompox. Buried in the boat ride down a Peruvian creek, finish lofty wax palms. mountains are cobbled Barichara and Villa with a sunset caipirinha cocktail. de Leyva.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 49 DESTINATIONS GUYANA, FRENCH GUIANA AND SURINAME
Kaieteur Falls Shutterstock.com
Highlights These outposts of British, French and Dutch colonisation have a medley of personalities you can revel in – Caribbean, Amerindian, even Chinese. All have untouched Amazonian rainforest and savannah hinterlands with rivers sheltering giant otters and bird-flecked waterfalls.
1 Kaieteur Falls A massive drop of foaming water Caribbean Sea five times higher than Niagara thundering through Venezuela tropical rainforest.
2 Iwokrama rainforest This huge area of rainforest Guyana 4 is a haven for wildlife including tapirs, harpy eagles, 1 reptiles, exotic birds, monkeys and jaguars. 2 Suriname 5 3 Rupununi savannah Bird-rich prairies inhabited by anteaters and storks are cut through by rivers French teeming with caiman and otters. 3 Guiana
4 Paramaribo Suriname’s capital is a cultural mélange with mosques, churches and synagogues and is renowned for its ornate wooden Dutch colonial buildings. Brazil 5 Kourou The French space centre on the Caribbean coast launches several rockets per year.
50 into space. the Ariane-5rockets liftsasatellite if you’re around whenoneof launch centre. You’ll beultra-lucky futuristic European SpaceAgency Be amazed byaguidedtourof the Visit space centre Kourou Some of our favourite experiences Konrad Mludzinski couple of loops to helpus take photos. Falls, thundering away. The pilot dida greenery and there was the Kaieteur emerged throughopening the An DAYS 9-14 DAYS 6-8 DAYS 1-5 15 da Discovering the hiddenGuianas WHAT LOVE WE ys ys to spot birdlife, andseekoutcuriousotters on with the howler monkeys. ClimbSurama mountain rainforest canopy wildlife from ahigh-level walkway is areal thrill, whileinIwokrama you’ll view the hills andgrasslands: flyingover giant Kaieteur Falls is agem.Head into the wildinterior of jungle-clad In Guyana, the plantation-style capitalGeorgetown the cells reclaimed by voracious vegetation. which hosted the notorious penalcolony; wander Guiana then move on to discover Devil’s Island, Visit the space station’smammoth facility inFrench Maroons; descendants of African slaves. fringed Danpaati river andvisitavillageinhabitedby and street life. Head inlandby canoe to jungle- fusion of Dutch/indigenous/African architecture soaking upasmall-town atmosphere withitsvibrant Explore Dutch Suriname’s capitalParamaribo, Burro Burro river. from
£5,217 pp
Shutterstock.com over 150yearsago. discovered bytheoutsideworld beauty, unchangedsinceitwas view isoneof untarnishednatural by thelackof humanimpact–the An incredible experience,powered Fly over Kaieteur Falls
Konrad Mludzinski “ AB, Cardiff was anunexpectedhighlight. Chinese celebrations inParamaribo independently. Stumbling across there was enough free time to explore Assomeonewholikes to wander, equally stunning. of-the-rock, pompadourcotinga– you’ll findothervividspecies – cock- crown of feathers isaprivilege,but Spotting theharpyeagle’sdistinctive Guyana isabirdwatcher’s dream. Seek outaharpy eagle
WHAT YOU SAY Place
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Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com DESTINATIONS ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
View of Cotopaxi from Quito, Ecuador Shutterstock.com 52 Ecuador embraces a battalion of snow- smothered Andean volcanic peaks, luscious Amazon rain and cloud forests and wild golden-sand Pacific beaches. Everywhere feels remote but is easily accessible. Embedded in the velvety landscapes are colonial towns, historic haciendas and quaint indigenous villages where you can soak up a traditional atmosphere. Shutterstock.com 1,000km off the mainland coast the lava-strewn Galápagos Islands are home to an extraordinary array of impressive creatures – get up close Colombia to giant tortoises, albatrosses, sea-lions, boobies and more. Pacific Ocean 2 1 Galápagos 5 Islands 3
6 Ecuador Distance to mainland: 1,000km
4
Shutterstock.com Peru
Ecuador and the Galápagos highlights
1 Quito The Andean capital’s historic 4 Cuenca This stately colonial city centre is crammed with cobbled lanes, is an artisan craft centre famed for whitewashed façades and scrubbed up the Panama hat, which originated here. baroque churches. 5 Amazon Highland moors fall away to 2 Mindo and northern Andes exuberant Amazonian jungle speckled The cloud forests of Mindo are a bird- with remote indian communities. watcher’s dream; craft villages dot the countryside around Otavalo market. 6 The Galápagos Islands The clutch of volcanic islands hosts a phenomenal 3 Avenue of volcanoes A chain of array of diverse bird, reptile and snow-capped cones frame colonial marine life. estates where cattle graze, and cobbled trails are shaded by eucalyptus.
WHAT YOU SAY Snorkelling with penguins, turtles, sea lions “and marine iguanas was unbeatable. DJ, Saltash
WHAT WE LOVE One of my favourite Ecuadorian treks is the Quilotoa Loop, a spectacular walk at almost 4,000m around the entire rim of a volcano. The views into the caldera lake were stunning. Jamie Swan Shutterstock.com 53 Signature Ecuador and Galápagos 16 days from £6,611pp
DAYS 1-4 Explore the renovated cobbled centre of the 16th century capital and hit the road north to the indian mountain market town Otavalo, where stalls are laden with tapestries. From your hacienda, climb to a cobalt blue crater lake.
DAYS 5-9 Crucero Tren Travel down the Avenue of Volcanoes to marvel at the perfect cone-shaped Cotopaxi volcano, capped with shimmering ice and WHAT YOU SAY surrounded by flowery highland moors. Drop in at indian villages and board a train to chug down the precipitous Everything about our Galápagos cruise Devil’s Nose towards Cuenca. “was brilliant. The cabin was spacious, staff were excellent and the guide DAYS 10-15 was superb. The little touches were On a small motor yacht, cruise around the Galápagos Islands, really appreciated. Food was very to view up close the unique wildlife which thrives among the good and very plentiful. lava fields: giant tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, frigate CD, Ilkley birds, waved albatross and blue-footed boobies stand out.
WHAT WE LOVE My favourite island is Isabela with five active volcanoes, the most extensive wetlands of the archipelago, and a glorious beach. I walked past giant tortoises, snorkelled with turtles and kayaked alongside rays. Sophie Barber Shutterstock.com
South Plaza, Galápagos Island Shutterstock.com
54 Cotopaxi iStock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Tropic
Self-drive to the Amazon Walk the volcanoes Watch the wildlife You don’t have to fly – you can The Andean volcanoes have From snorkelling with a whale shark in descend by a quiet road from the spiky remarkable hiking trails, from modest the Galápagos to bear-sleuthing in the high Andes through hummingbird- strolls around crater lakes to crampon- Andes and cock-of-the-rock spotting filled cloud forest to the succulent clad ascents of the highest peaks – in the cloud forest, you’ll be elated by jungles of the Amazon. frosty landscapes are soothed by the the theatre of wildlife on display. golden rays of the sun.
Explore Galápagos Jungle immersion Learn an artisan craft From a motor yacht, hotel or tented Explore from a rainforest lodge, take Andean craft villages have kept their camp, discover the Galápagos a river cruise, go rafting, or camp: all ancient skills going over the centuries. National Park’s untouched beauty. great ways to discover the secrets Learn from the masters how to weave Climb an ashy volcano, rub shoulders of the Amazon and visit its remote a colourful carpet, polish a leather with giant tortoises, spot playful sea- indigenous communities. bag or bake a bread figurine.
lions in limpid seas. Journey Latin America provided us with“ an itinerary JwhichO U completelyR N E Y fulfi lled our requirements. J O U R N E Y “ LATIN AMERICA LAA superbTIN AM EandRIC memorableA holiday. THE GALAPAGOS JS, London ISLANDS
GALAPAGOS HOLIDAYS - YOUR PEACE OF MIND FINANCIAL SECURITY An AITO member is required to arrange fi nancial protection for all ATOL holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) All the fl ights and fl ight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This fi nancially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be fi nancial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK supplied with an ATOL Certifi cate. Please ask for it and check to ensure at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have that everything you booked (fl ights, hotels and other services) is listed booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must on it. Please see our website for our booking conditions for further comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to information or for more information about fi nancial protection and submit details of their fi nancial protection arrangements to AITO the ATOL Certifi cate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertifi cate on a regular basis.
ACCURATE BROCHURES AND WEBSITES ABTA All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and Journey Latin America Ltd is a Member of ABTA with membership other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe number V2522. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the the holidays and services off ered. most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL ABTA’s Code of Conduct. IMPROVEMENTS All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ. Tel: 020 3117 0500 or always welcome suggestions for improving standards. www.abta.com For full details For more information about our Privacy Policy please visit MONITORING STANDARDS www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/information/privacy-policy AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association. THE AITO QUALITY CHARTER OUR CONSUMER PROMISE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday AITO members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of CUSTOMER RELATIONS tour operating. All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s on our low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, fi nance and quality which must be satisfi ed before new companies are admitted to membership. All upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which conclusion. encourages high operational standards and conduct. Journey Latin America is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.
JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA 401 King Street • London • W6 9NJ Tel 020 8747 8315 Email [email protected] BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE GalápagosRegistered in the UK number 1474705and JOURNEYLATINAMERICA.CO.UK 2019 EDITION EcuadorImages courtesyholidays of individual cruise operators, Tropic, Metropolitan Touring, Shutterstock and iStock. Published May 2019. request a brochure online: www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/ brochure Tropic 55 DESTINATIONS PERU
Machu56 Picchu Shutterstock.com Sublime ice-carved mountains, prolific wildlife from condors to jaguars, Inca temples and fortresses perched above fruitful valleys, a desert coastline etched with the symbols of mysterious civilisations, cities of Spanish colonial grace – Peru has more than its fair share of treasures. But modern day culture is thriving too. Don’t miss a pisco sour in one of Lima’s stylish bars or a locally-inspired meal in a world-class
restaurant. The markets, joyous music and Shutterstock.com fiestas just add to the colour.
Colombia Ecuador
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Shutterstock.com Brazil 2 Peru highlights Peru 1 Peruvian Amazon 4 Paracas and Nazca Discover the rainforest’s magic, Sea-lions and pelicans flock to its abundance of exotic birds, the desert peninsula; inland the monkeys, alligators and Nazca Lines are huge pre-Inca flowering tropical plants. geometric figures. 3 1 Bolivia 4 2 Northern Peru Colonial Trujillo 5 Colca Canyon and Arequipa sits beside the adobe pyramids At the foot of a volcano sits the of Chan Chan. Venture up to pearl-stone city Arequipa, whilst 6 5 mountain-top temple Kuelap and condors glide overhead in thundering Gocta Falls. Colca canyon. 3 Cusco and Machu Picchu 6 Lake Titicaca Sapphire waters Baroque façades jostle with Inca shelter the floating Uros reed Chile walls in Andean Cusco. Inca citadel islands, pre-Inca funeral towers Machu Picchu embellishes a are perched at Sillustani above rainforest-clad mountain. timeless shoreline villages.
WHAT YOU SAY It was all very well constructed. Favourite parts were “the floating islands, the nocturnal canoe trip and the trek to Machu Picchu. Organisation was brilliant and it all hung together very well. Thanks! AMW, Letchworth
WHAT WE LOVE Ayacucho, a little-visited but divine colonial city with over thirty churches, took me back to the Peru of my youth, a pre-internet era of gentle exploration on unpaved roads. Isabelle Mazille Ben Line Ben 57 Signature Peru 14 days from £3,656pp
DAYS 1-5 Explore imperial Lima, its regal palaces and colossal churches, sculptured parks and pulsating Pacific-side nightlife. Arequipa, with its flowery plazas, secretive convents and shady lanes has a mellower vibe. A volcanic Andean drive delivers you to Colca Canyon, with its elaborate terracing and traditional communities. iStock.com
DAYS 6-8 By road to the shores of shimmering Lake Titicaca, where you WHAT YOU SAY stay with Andean villagers for a taste of rural life, and visit the reed-built Uros islands. I really liked the variety on this trip – “amazing culture, history, nature all in DAYS 9-13 one holiday. Machu Picchu tour was Cross the llama-flecked Altiplano and grain-laden Urubamba valley great; excursions in rainforest were to Cusco, Latin America’s crown jewel, crammed with baroque very memorable. churches, monumental Inca walls, fruit-laden markets and cocktail MG, Hampton bars. Beyond, meet the skilled weavers of the Sacred Valley and continue to the pinnacle of Inca achievement, evocative Machu Picchu, bedecked with terraces and temples.
WHAT WE LOVE The golden sands of Mancora are more than just a relaxing surf-friendly Pacific beach – we saw whales, crocodiles lazing in the mangroves, horse-riders and turtles, while there are plenty of bars and entertainment in the small town. Konrad Mludzinski Shutterstock.com
Lake Titicaca Shutterstock.com
58 Paracas Shutterstock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
More than Machu Picchu... Sleep on a floating island A foodie paradise The pre-Columbian heritage is an A village of reed structures floats upon Peru’s gastronomy is a sensual embarrassment of riches, and there Lake Titicaca, with a church, a school, delight. From sophisticated top- are multiple ways to discover them. simple restaurants and a football pitch. class restaurants to ceviche bars and Trek to a lost fortress at Choquequirao, Set foot on the spongy surface and chocolate, coffee and pisco tasting clamber among Inca aqueducts, drive overnight there to witness the islanders’ you can savour the best of Latin to the Moche mummies at Sipán. unique way of life. American cuisine.
Outdoor adventures Peruse a traditional market Wildlife wonderland Exhilarating day walks, longer treks Haggle for handicrafts at Chinchero’s Seek out a spectacled bear, fish for with camping under the stars or Sunday market, a busy hive of piranhas from a canoe, spot pink comfortable fire-lit lodges, breath- commerce and local colour. It’s not dolphins on a luxurious Amazon cruise, taking white-water rafting, gentle just for the tourists – indians barter watch condors soar above vertiginous horse-riding and cycling are thrilling upland potatoes with tomatoes from canyons, admire the cock-of-the-rock ways to explore the Andes. the warmer valley below. performing its mating ritual.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 59 DESTINATIONS BOLIVIA
Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia Shutterstock.com
Bolivia highlights
Dramatic lunar landscapes, subtropical valleys and florid costumes make Bolivia a captivating land of variety. Age-old communities live at a pace dictated by the harmonies of the Brazil pan pipe, watchful llamas stride mountain-fringed plains and colour-soaked markets resonate with enchantment. Peru
1 1 Amazon The lush bio-diverse 4 Bolivian Oriente Eastern rainforest shelters ancient Bolivia is home to prosperous tribes and spectacular wildlife Santa Cruz, restored Jesuit 2 Bolivia spotting. missions and the Che 3 Guevara Trail. 4 2 Lake Titicaca A spectacular mountain backdrop offsets the 5 Sucre and Potosí Graceful 5 sublime deep-blue lake; home Sucre contrasts with formerly 6 to highland cultures. grandiose Potosí on the chilly altiplano. Paraguay 3 La Paz A jumble of brick homesteads, elegant colonial 6 Uyuni A surreal lunar houses and glittering landscape of sun-blistered skyscrapers stride down salt flats, steaming geysers the canyon beneath an and emerald lagoons. Argentina ice-capped cordillera.
60 from theair! mansions alike, it’salevel playingfield into simpleadobehomesand luxurious air –gaze overleafy plazas andlook gondola suspendedintheice-clear Zip overthemaze of streets in a La Paz by cablecar Some of our favourite experiences DAYS 1-5 DAYS 10-13 DAYS 6-9 Kathryn Rhodes myself withanice cold Paceña beer. After aday of souvenir shoppingIrevived talismans and trinkets at the witches’market. La Paz’s markets, especially the unique I was fascinated by the variety of goodsat 14 da Signature Bolivia WHAT LOVE WE ys ys
sunny, cloistered Sucre. Among the sedatechurches along the canyon-fringed Ruta delCheandon to Samaipata, then follow in the footsteps of Guevara from oiland trade. Head into the hills to summer-cool Explore prosperous Santa Cruz, adynamiccity forged by four-wheel drive. view the treasuresformerof the Mint.Imperial of Potosí, surrounded by mine-burrowed hills,you’ll mystical Lake Titicaca anditssunny islands. by ascenic drive framed by icy peaksleading to with itswarren of overladen street markets, followed Experience the contrast of traffic-stifled LaPaz, reflect the vast domeof anicy sky. Glide over them salt flats,scoured by bitter gales,where cut-glass lakes An ethereal atmosphere pervades the dazzlingUyuni from
£3,872 pp
Shutterstock.com and acongregation of alligators. to gangsof monkeys, prehistoric birds chattering rainforest introduces you waters of Lake Chalaláninthe parrot- A sunsetcanoerideontheserene Amazon surprise
Shutterstock.com “ ND, London the only people. Truly magical. we stoppedat.At someplaces we were hardly any other peopleat the attractions the longdrive was somethingelse.We saw At the saltflats, thelack of touristsduring views of thelake’s sapphire surface. Sun God.Quietpaths offer panoramic Island of theSun,birthplaceof theInca Feel themagiconvehicle-free Stay on a Titicaca island
WHAT YOU SAY
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Shutterstock.com Sutterstock.com DESTINATIONS BRAZIL
Rio62 de Janeiro Shutterstock.com Brazil highlights port of SãoLuis in the north. blue Portuguese tiles in the unreconstructed dramatic canyons of the southandexquisite Lesser-known highlights delight aswell: the and carnivals of the vivacious cities. rainforests and the samba,football Takeof thetropicalmagic absorb the timeto Opera House inManaus, Brazil will amaze you. dusk in the Pantanal or the ornate,dusky pink of Ouro Preto, alanguidanaconda spotted at atop Rio’s Sugar Loaf, hilltopbaroque churches Whether it’s the tribe of chatteringmonkeys 3 2 1 aquamarine lagoons. rippling sanddunes,pittedwith a surreal, shiftinglandscapeof Maranhenses National Parkhas rosy spoonbills. caimans, macaws,giantstorks and support amultitudeof anteaters, paradise, thesevastwetlands Brazilian Amazon The far north Pantanal Amazonian communities. dolphins andsecretive toothed piranhas,pinkriver heart of Brazilshelterssharp- A wildlife lover’s Lençóis The green
Shutterstock.com 4 6 5 of tropical rainforest. over alofty cliffthrough atangle foaming veilsof water crash of dreamy beaches. hinterland andanapron culture hasahiker’s rugged Salvador, theheartof Afro-Brazilian Bahia de JaneiroRio Iguazú Falls world-famous views. parks, stately architecture and golden beaches,palm-studded city mesmeriseswithitssporty Exuberant andexotic Hundreds of The effervescent Ecuador
Shutterstock.com Colombia “ GHS, Iver so many lovely memories. We saw andexperienced great things andhave loved the stays in the Amazon and the Pantanal. fantastic adventure in four parts.We absolutely The whole trip was memorable becauseitwas one Laura Rendell-Dunn – itwas unforgettable. otters whojoinedus to celebrate the sunrise Pantanal to begreeted by a family of giant river We took adawn canoe trip from our lodge In the
WHAT YOU SAY WHAT LOVE WE Venezuela Bolivia Argentina 5 Guyana Paraguay 2 Suriname Uruguay 3 4 French Guiana Brazil 5 63 6 1 Shutterstock.com Signature Brazil 12 days from £3,172pp
DAYS 1-3 Dive in to joyous Rio de Janeiro, where glamorous apartments fringe the glossy beaches, a lively colonial centre hosts baroque churches and street art, and Sugar Loaf mountain overlooks a boat-speckled cobalt bay. Survey it all from the cable car, and from the Christ statue atop Corcovado. On a golden evening, Shutterstock.com sip a caipirinha and relax to the rhythm of a sultry bossa nova.
DAYS 4-8 WHAT YOU SAY At Iguazú Falls you’ll explore the thunderous veils of water from Every day was special and we have above and below, while toucans and parrots flit drunkenly aloft. “many happy memories but probably Turn north to the Amazon jungle to walk rainforest trails, or the highlights were the views from the glide through hidden creeks by canoe, your guide’s expert eye top of Sugar Loaf, getting up close to revealing shy wildlife. waterfalls, swimming in the Rio Negro and whale-watching. DAYS 9-12 LL, Tonbridge Revel in the port atmosphere of Salvador, with capoeira martial dances and spicy cuisine, where Afro-Brazilian fusion music takes to the air.
WHAT WE LOVE I had trails to myself and took panoramic photos without a soul in sight. South Brazil’s Serra Geral is really off the beaten track; on tabletop mountains thick cloud gives way to views of impressive waterfalls. Paul Winrow-Giffin Tom Parrott Tom
Chapada Diamantina National Park Shutterstock.com
Chapada64 Diamantina National Park, Bahia Rio de Janeiro Ben Line Ben
Some of our favourite experiences Amazonian Tours Amazonian Nature Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Kayak the Amazon Discover untouched beaches Spot jaguars in the wild Propel yourself along the tranquil tea- Explore remote vehicle-free bays and With luck, you may spot one of these coloured waters of Amazonia, viewing islands, swim or snorkel from old- watchful, regal creatures leap upon and listening to wildlife – look out for a school schooners at anchor in the its prey in the wildlife wonderland of family of hyacinth macaws screeching hidden bays of the scalloped coast line. the Pantanal. across the setting sun.
Hike tabletop mountains Feel the force of Iguazú Falls Dance to a carnival beat In the heart of Brazil is a plateau of Get close by boat to where a foaming Surrender to the intoxicating beat of Lost World table mountains, defined by tumult of water plunges into the the samba drum as gaudy percussion steep canyons and rock-strewn rivers. agitated river. You may get soaked, groups prepare for the flamboyant From quaint colonial Lençóis, follow but it is totally exhilarating. carnival extravaganza all over Brazil. hiking trails to panoramic summits.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 65 DESTINATIONS CHILE
Atacama66 Desert Shutterstock.com Chile highlights outdoors, witharange of activities to match. fine-dining: butit’smostly a country of thegreat a history narrated invividstreet artalongwith The great citiesof Santiago andValparaiso offer wilderness spliced by enormousglaciers. a forested landof lakes to aPatagonian from scorched volcano-dotted desert through stagger you most:wildlife-filled countryside But it’s the mesmerisingscenery whichwill famous poetsandauthors, itslyricalwineries. Chile isproud of itsartsandculture: itsworld- 3 2 1 ancient monkey puzzleforests. volcanoes, crystalclearriversand surrounded bysnow-throttled Lake district Central valley Santiago area port of Valparaíso. Nearby isthebohemianPacific skyscrapers andleafy boulevards. busy colonialcentre isoffset by accommodation. many offering charmingrural with prestigious wineries, region of sunnyslopesisdotted Royal bluelakes The capital’s The fertile
Shutterstock.com 4 6 5 ruins andquaintadobevillages. multicoloured lagoons,ancient geysers, volcanoes,saltflats, weather-sculpted landscapeof Easter Island Atacama desert Patagonia green lakes, remote forested fjords. glaciers, granitemassifs,blue- wilderness issculptedbyruthless a uniquePolynesianculture. gigantic stoneheadcarvings,has South Pacificisland,famed for its
This wildlife-rich iStock.com 6 This remote rural “ Distance tomainland:3,500km KH, London very well and the guideswere great. The tours of Santiago andValparaiso worked Puerto Varas provided arelaxing contrast. Torres delPaine was amazing.In between, The wholeexperience of Atacama and A primeval
WHAT YOU SAY
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iStock.comShutterstock.com Signature Chile 13 days from £4,214pp
DAYS 1-4 After exploring Santiago fly to the Atacama desert where tiny oasis villages are surrounded by volcanoes and geysers steaming and hissing into life, and where pink flamingos dot the dazzling chalk-white salt flats.
DAYS 5-7
Travel south to the gorgeous lake district. Here, pine-whispered iStock.com parks sit beside the snowy flanks of sky-grazing volcanoes. Explore by bike, on foot, white-water raft or kayak. Chiloé Island beckons with its quaint wooden churches, fishermen’s homes WHAT YOU SAY on stilts, oysters and lazy-paced rural traditions. All parts were memorable, but probably the sunrise excursion DAYS 8-12 “ on Easter Island took top spot. Continue further south to Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Stunning trails will lead you to rivers ridden by icebergs, mint-green JW, Bedford lagoons, sapphire lakes, ice-tipped granite spires and grassy plains with huddles of grazing Guanacos. Watch condors soar high above you and, with luck, you may even spot a Puma.
WHAT WE LOVE On my last trip to Torres del Paine I was astonished to round a bend and see a family of pumas feasting on an unlucky guanaco. They were annoyed by our interruption and reluctantly sloped off. Kathryn Rhodes Shutterstock.com
Death Valley Shutterstock.com
68 Torres Del Paine Shutterstock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Torres del Paine hiking Valley of the Moon, Atacama Self-drive in Patagonia The Patagonian scenery is humblingly Explore wind-eroded tunnels and Vast frost-bitten landscapes are wonderful huge: the trek to the French Valley caverns; climb the tallest dune to see to explore in your own car – discover gravel reaches an extraordinary three- the valley at the height of its magic, roads winding alongside shadowy forests, pronged amphitheatre of vertical painted by the fiery tones of the sunset. passing isolated farmsteads as the icy form glacier-mantled peaks. of an Andean peak looms into view.
Wander among the Cruise glacial fjords Microbreweries by bike Easter Island Moai Sail through southernmost Patagonia’s Artisan beer is all the rage: Cycle along Moai (the island’s famous carved stone shattered landscape of forested fjords the pretty shores of Lake Llanquihue heads), gaze inwards to the grassy and deserted islets, marvelling at popping into cute Bavarian-style towns landscapes of the faraway island. hanging glaciers, colonies of chattering for liquid refreshment. Discover them sitting on rocky plinths penguins and playful sea lions as you above the sparkling Pacific shores. journey all the way to Cape Horn.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 69 DESTINATIONS ARGENTINA
Iguazú70 Falls Shutterstock.com Argentina highlights Aires, isoneof LatinAmerica’smoststylish. wines andjuicy grass-fed beef. Its capital,Buenos cradle of the tango andapremier producer of fine and horizon-bending pampas,Argentina is the But beyond the infinite skies,shimmeringglaciers Patagonian coast. rainforest, andyawning pampasalong the blustery mammals, reptiles andbirds aboundinmarshes, peaks. The profusion of wildlife isastonishing– adventures inlofty desertsandamongice-stifled This isacountry which tempts withopen-air 3 2 1 in SanTelmo. Recoleta, tangoandfleamarkets arty LaBoca,fine-dininginglitzy clapboard housesaboundin necklet of baroque colonialtowns. lonely lime-washedchapelsanda canyons, pre-Columbian ruins, Buenos Aires Iguazú Falls andIberá Northwest Andes Esteros delIberá. wildlife inhabitsthewetlandsof through therainforest. Abundant At Iguazú275waterfalls crash Colourful Rust red
Shutterstock.com 4 6 5 succulent beef-cattle pastures. of wide-openrancheswith the gauchos,it’saregion Patagonia the photogeniclandscape. forested national parks festoon snowy volcanicconesandpine- Sapphire-hued glaciallakes, Andean lake district The pampas peninsula isareal highlighthere. Whale-watching intheValdés and ancientmossyforests. granite towers,colossalglaciers A wildernessof The homeof
Shutterstock.com “ AC, Bristol and we hadplenty of time to stop for photos. English-speaking guidewho really knewhisstuff Salta to CachiandCafayate withour fantastic I was wonderfully surprisedby the drives from Caroline Maber I firstdiscovered the delights of Torrontes wine. stretching out to the far off horizon andwhere vineyards… amazingwines, views over the vines Piatelli winery inCafayate was oneof my favourite
Shutterstock.com WHAT YOU SAY WHAT LOVE WE Chile 5 6 1 Argentina Bolivia 4 Paraguay 2 3 Uruguay Brazil 71 2 iStock.com Signature Argentina 13 days from £2,734pp
DAYS 1-3 Explore Buenos Aires, an effervescent city which never sleeps, its stately boulevards, sculptured parks and plazas swarming with life. The Teatro Colón is homage to opulence, while a tango show will have you tapping your feet.
DAYS 4-6 Shutterstock.com Head to Patagonia and the Perito Moreno glacier, where the thundering shards of falling ice are a breathtaking spectacle. WHAT YOU SAY Travel by boat through iceberg-choked waters to a pioneering ranch. Each day gave us stunning scenery, amazing sights and the friendliness DAYS 7-9 “ of the Argentinian people. Although Delight at the chocolate-box pretty pastoral landscapes of the lake one particular highlight was seeing an district, with a couple of trips to survey craggy Andean mountain armadillo crossing the road in peaks brooding over a tightly wooded landscape pitted with lakes. El Calafate. DAYS 10-12 YGG, Wirral You have plenty of time to explore subtropical Iguazú Falls on a wild boat ride, by helicopter or on foot.
WHAT WE LOVE Crossing by four-wheel-drive the uninhabited salt pans, mountainous sand dunes and other-worldly sculptured pumice fields of the high-altitude Puna was extraordinary – our picnic beside abandoned mining villages was so evocative. Claire Milner Shutterstock.com
Mt Fitz Roy Shutterstock.com
72 Perito Moreno Glacier Shutterstock.com
Some of our favourite experiences Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com
Steak and wine Ice-trekking Traverse the Andes by road Argentina’s hearty cuisine is as Explore the jutting blue pinnacles of or water tantalising as anything in this sensual a glacier. Dazzling turquoise pools Journey past the glossy glacial lakes country. Savour oozing steaks, buttery gather where the ice melts, creating and over the sinuous passes of empanadas and aromatic Malbecs at a landscape of wintry wonders on the Patagonia or the Atacama desert. street stalls, fine restaurants, wineries top of the glacier. and on gourmet cruises.
The Porteño’s Buenos Aires Whales, seals and water-birds Hike at the end of the world Bring this epic city down to human At the Patagonian Valdéz peninsula, View the unnamed spiky peaks of scale with a leisurely bike tour, seat at spot whales breaching in the ocean remote island Tierra del Fuego on a a football match, night tour, tango or and gaggles of penguins or harems short day walk or longer hike with cookery lesson. of lumbering elephant seals on a camping under the stars. deserted beach.
SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: Visit our website journeylatinamerica.co.uk Speak to an expert consultant on 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected] Shutterstock.com 73 DESTINATIONS URUGUAY
Colonia Shutterstock.com
Uruguay highlights
Mingle with celebrities on Punta del Este’s golden beaches, plunge into the art scene on Montevideo’s waterfront, get up at dawn to watch birds on one of the sprawling cattle Brazil ranches. Uruguay’s laid-back vibe and superb places to stay make it a firm favourite of those in the know.
1 Colonia A timeless little Portuguese port with vintage cars resting in narrow cobbled streets Argentina shaded by sycamores.
2 Montevideo The capital, on the shores of the Uruguay River Plate, has a monumental historic core and lively port area.
3 Atlantic beaches A sunny coastline of unspoiled stretches of sandy beach. Trendy José 1 Ignacio offers cutting-edge boutique hotels and 2 3 gourmet dining.
74 or ranchindusk’s goldenlight. at a cosy pre-booked lodge,winery Revel inyourindependence,arriving perfect for exploring by hire car. of intriguing littlecornersmakingit Uruguay issafe, slow-pacedand full Explore by car Some of our favourite experiences Paul Winrow-Giffin Narbona andEstanciaVik. cheeses at top estanciasandwinelodges – Ienjoyed succulent beefandlocal a popular destination for food andwine concept, Uruguay is fast becoming Enthusiasticallyembracing the farm totable DAYS 11-13 DAYS 8-10 DAYS 1-7 14 da Signature Uruguay WHAT LOVE WE ys ys water-sports andgourmetdining. del Este,achicresort onapeninsulawithexcellent You’re backon the beachatsophisticatedPunta also oneof the country’s bestbirding spots. walk or wander along the coast to asea-lioncolony, surrounded withmeadows, forest andstreams. Ride, Drive inland to apeacock-dotted cattleestate putting Uruguay on the wine-lover’s map. classic car to tour oneof the vineyards whichare by road to stately Montevideo, andsetoutinashiny yacht cluboverlooking the sparklingwater. Journey the lazy colonial atmosphere or have adrinkin the estuary to fortressed Colonia, where you cansoakup the pace slows whenyou cross the silvery River Plate Following afew days incosmopolitan Buenos Aires, from
£4,599 pp
iStock.com on ashadyveranda. over aVictorian-styleafternoon tea with thegauchos,windingdown farm activities,rounding upcattle working ranch,participating inthe Get closetoUruguay’shearton a Estancia stay
Shutterstock.com “ KB, Leeds to takehome. leaving uswithlots of fond memories wine lodge. This event was brilliant which took place whilewe were at the Our highlight was the Vendimia festival the eucalyptus trees. the birdsong andsniffthescent of Savour thedeliciouswines,listento visitors, hiddeninpretty countryside. some attractive winerieswelcoming Close tothedozy portCarmeloare Relax on a wineestate
WHAT YOU SAY
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iStock.com Shutterstock.com DESTINATIONS PARAGUAY
Asunción Shutterstock.com
Paraguay highlights
Subtropical, land-locked Paraguay, with its welcoming people entices adventure-seekers: wild, uncrowded, often unusual and always Bolivia authentic. Beyond its vast wilderness and evocative ruined missions, 41 modern Paraguay is a fascinating cultural mélange, where almost Brazil everyone speaks indigenous Guaraní and where its unique melodious harp music, bottle dance and dainty lace sets it apart.
1 The Chaco The sweltering 3 Itaipu Dam The massive dam Paraguay undeveloped savannahs straddles the Brazilian frontier support huge cattle ranches close to Iguazú Falls. House-sized and wildlife thrives undisturbed. turbines sit in vast concrete walls. 3 Argentina 2 2 Asuncion The sultry riverside 4 Jesuit missions Southern capital’s eventful history is Paraguay’s countryside is dotted revealed in crumbling public with the evocative ruins of the 4 buildings. Spanish Jesuit Reductions.
76 and colourfulaquatic birds. spottable ostriches,deer, caimans trees andsaltypoolsattract easily wildernesses, where roaming cattle, Chaco isoneof thecontinent’svast Off gridin the Chaco Some of our favourite experiences DAYS 9-12 DAYS 6-8 DAYS 1-5 David Nichols Latin America. known history of the religious order in evocative of extraordinary times in the little the night-time walking tour was magical, I had the Trinidad missionruins to myself: 12 da Signature Paraguay WHAT LOVE WE ys ys
plant life. discover the vividrainforest bird and San Ignacio Miní (1610) enroute. From your lodge, with Argentina visitingoneof the oldestruinedmissions, Head to the gigantic tropical Iguazú Falls over the border Guaraní indians. church and the humblehousesof the converted the vast colonnaded plazahostsanelaborate carved Visit the abandoned Jesuit missionat Trinidad where identify the myriad birds populating the savannah. – High German isstillspoken here. Take asafari to to reach the curiousMennonite town Filadelfia egrets andstorksinhabit the lagoonsandbush, Travel by road to the scorched Chaco plains,where – Paraguay’s railway was oneof LatinAmerica’sfirst. countryside cemetery for oldrustingsteamengines Following astroll round the sleepy capital,visita from
£8,250
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David Nichols heritage visibletothisday. and architecture, leaving aunique to whomtheyalsotaughtart, music convert theindigenousGuaraní people, established grandiosemissions to In the17thcenturyJesuitmissionaries Delve into
Jesuit Missions
Shutterstock.com “ ME, Hove Itaipu Dam; itismindblowing. special tripto Wehighlight the would Paraguay isanexcellent destination... in aquirkyoutdoormuseum. steam locomotivesthat nowcongregate line, whichwaslittered withdefunct down apioneeringlong-abandoned Recall abygoneera,asyouwander Lost railways
WHAT YOU SAY
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Shutterstock.com Shutterstock.com DESTINATIONS ANTARCTICA
Antarctic Peninsula iStock.com
Antarctica highlights
Antarctica’s icebergs, glaciated mountains and abundant wildlife colonies populate the remote south Atlantic promising you a once-in-a-lifetime experience following in the footsteps of the great explorers. The rugged Falkland Islands are home to an astonishing variety of wildlife. Mountainous South Georgia’s spectacular glacial beaches see elephant seals tussle with vast king penguin colonies for space.
2 1 1 South Georgia The jagged island’s history reveals abandoned whaling stations and Shackleton’s grave. 3
2 Falkland Islands Craggy islands speckled with sheep co-existing beside a multitude of wild seabirds and wildlife, including five penguin species. 5 4 3 Antarctic Circle Undisturbed wildlife and seldom trodden landings: hallmarks of this remote imaginary line. Antarctica 4 Weddell Sea The giant pack-ice of the hard-to-reach Weddell Sea hosts rare emperor penguin colonies.
5 Antarctic Peninsula Penguins perch 6 on blue, sculpted ice-walls framed by mountains in the vast white wilderness.
6 Ross Ice Shelf Far away in the shadow of Mount Erebus it has a 600km long colossal Southern Ocean ice-wall: about as remote as 21st century travel can take you.
78 plaintive whistle of penguins. at playful whales,andlistentothe into thedolefuleyesof seals,marvel have nofear of humans–youcangaze The creatures of thesouthAtlantic Wildlife encounters Some of our favourite experiences DAYS 1-4 DAYS 7-13 DAYS 5-6 13 da Signature Antarctica ys ys
del Fuego, launch-padfor voyages to Antarctica. port Ushuaia, crouching on the chilly shores of Tierra of energetic Buenos Aires before headingsouth to the Spend acouple of days experiencing the hecticlifestyle and albatrosses. abundance of marinebirds suchaspetrels crossing to the Antarctic Peninsula alongwithan Whales anddolphinscanoften beseenon the Atlantic It’s a truly exciting moment whenyou board your ship. utter majesty of itall. watch leopard sealsdivingfor lunch:awestruck by the pebbles, hear the boomandcrack of acalvingglacier, Peninsula –you’ll seenoisy penguinssquabblingover circling the glisteningicebergs andmountains of the Your shipedgesher way through the fractured seaice from
£3,974 pp
Shutterstock.com in theopen. to penguinsorspendanightcamping climb afrosty mountain,snow-shoeup freezing waters, kayak uptoicebergs, Get off yourshipandjumpintothe Active inAntarctica
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brochure www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/ holidays request abrochure online: For fulldetailsonour Antarctica “ JH, Bedford hard to improve it.... with excellent accommodation. It would be outstanding experience. Very well organised The whole trip (to Antarctica) was an Caroline Maber icebergs withcrabeater seals. humpback whales,someincouples, and zodiacs for aland-huggingcruise– we saw over Paradise Harbour, then backon the We climbedasteephill for stunningviews Shutterstock.com
WHAT YOU SAY
Stephen Gourlay Photography Shutterstock andiStock. Cover Image Getty. Elke Lindner, Dietmar Denge, Leica Akademie, David Sinclair, Ben Haggar, Nicky Souness, Jonathan Brown, David Merron (Quark), Jason Ransom, Stephen Gourlay (Silversea), Images courtesy of Journey LatinAmericasta, featured cruiseoperators, felicityaston.co.uk, Bruce Raymond (National Science Foundation), Turismo Chile,Richard Wadley, Registered intheUKnumber1474705 Email [email protected] Tel 0208747 8315 401 KingStreet •LondonW69NJ 2019/2020EDITION which encourageshighoperational standards andconduct. All membersare required toadhere toaCodeof BusinessPractice must besatisfied before newcompaniesare admittedtomembership. AITO setscriteriaregarding ownership,finance andqualitywhich tour operating. encourages thehigheststandards inallaspectsof a shared concernfor qualityandpersonalservice.TheAssociation to create overseasholidayswithhighlevelsof professionalism and companies. Ourmembercompanies,usuallyowner-managed, strive AITO istheAssociation for independentandspecialistholiday www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/information/privacy-policy For more information aboutourPrivacyPolicypleasevisit arrangements. Formore information seewww.abta.com. to giveyouconfidence andpeaceof mindwhenbookingyourtravel helpline andapproved ADRschemetoresolve complaintsare allthere ABTA’s strictjoiningcriteriafor Members,codeof conduct,customer high servicestandards, fairtermsof tradingandaccurate information. number V2522.WhenyoubookwithanABTA Memberyoucanexpect Journey Latin AmericaLtd isaMemberof ABTA withmembership the ATOL Certificate goto:www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertifi cate information orfor more information aboutfinancial protection and on it.Pleaseseeourwebsitefor ourbookingconditionsfor further that everythingyoubooked (flights, hotels andotherservices)islisted supplied withanATOL Certificate. Pleaseaskfor itandchecktoensure financially protected bytheATOL scheme.Whenyoupaywillbe All theflights andfl ight-inclusive holidaysinthisbrochure are
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP OUR CONSUMER PROMISE THE AITO QUALITY CHARTER ABTA ATOL
ANTARCTICA HOLIDAYS YOUR PEACE OF MIND JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA LTD
JOURNEYLATINAMERICA.CO.UK mission inSouth Georgia. Shackleton tookonhisepicrescue provisioned, orwalkpartof thetrail explorers’ huts,frozen intimeandstill Peer intotheintrepid Victorian In Explorer’s footsteps
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This was a trip of alifetime. The scaleof the natural beauty of
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CUSTOMER RELATIONS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MONITORING STANDARDS PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS ACCURATE HOLIDAY DESCRIPTIONS FINANCIAL SECURITY
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the breathtaking Antarctic continent. hiking or kayaking on the snow, ice andseasof expedition cruiseandperhaps try outcamping, Watch the drama unfold from the comfort of an whales andmajesticseabirds live, breed and feed here. entertaining wildlife: penguinsin their thousands, seals, beautiful icebergs andglaciers thrives abundant and of sounds.Along the shores andamong the hauntingly landscapes, akaleidoscope of colours andasymphony Antarctica isawildernessof larger-than-life glacial JOURNEY SUSTAINABLY
At Journey Latin America we strive to operate responsibly in everything we do. By creating authentic, sustainable holidays which have a positive impact on the people, places and wildlife that we promote, we truly believe everyone can benefit from responsible travel. We love the continent we send our travellers to, and work closely with local communities to support a range of charitable projects. Find out more by visiting our website.
Mt80 Fitz Roy, Argentina Shutterstock.com Valladolid Shutterstock.com
SO MUCH MORE AT JOURNEYLATINAMERICA.CO.UK This guide to our services and holidays is just a sample of what we offer. For full details of our trips and more holiday inspiration visit our website. Here you’ll find in-depth suggestions of exciting things to do, places to stay and captivating destinations to visit.
Papagaio Sign Up For Share Your Travel You can also browse our online Our Newsletter Experiences with Us magazine, Papagaio, for an exciting Our colourful newsletters are We love to hear about your range of articles on all things Latin bursting with ideas for your next unforgettable experiences in Latin America. Researched and written by Latin American adventure. We’ll keep America, so follow us on our social our knowledgeable travel specialists, you up-to-date with exclusive offers channels and share your photos and you’ll discover blogs about iconic and competitions, and guide you stories with us: #JLAinspired. You can destinations, lesser-known cultural through the continent’s most vibrant also keep in the know with our latest gems, delicious recipes and much destinations and festivals. Sign up on news, incredible offers and inspired more. You’ll also find exclusive tips our website or give us a call today. holidays. from our expert staff, first-hand client reviews, and get your personal questions answered by one of our experienced sales team.
YOU’LL FIND US ON: @journeylatinamerica @JLA_UK @journeylatinamerica @journeylatinamerica
81 AIRLINES
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, alone or with family, to Buenos Aires or Bogotá, choosing which airline to travel with will depend on what you are offered in the way of price, service, route and flexibility.
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Shutterstock.com
Call one of our travel experts today to start planning SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: your unique Tailor-made Holiday. We’ll send you Visit our website a bespoke travel proposal completely free of charge, journeylatinamerica.co.uk with no need to pay until you feel 100% satisfied Speak to an expert consultant on with your personalised itinerary. 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected]
82 BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
THE AITO QUALITY CHARTER CUSTOMER RELATIONS AITO is the Association for independent and specialist All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with holiday companies. Our member companies, usually any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely owner managed, strive to create overseas holidays with event that a dispute between an AITO member and a high levels of professionalism and a shared concern customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost for quality and personal service. The Association Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called encourages the highest standards in all aspects of upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and tour operating. acceptable conclusion.
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP Journey Latin America is a member of the Association AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the quality which must be satisfied before new companies Association visit www.aito.co.uk or call 020 8744 9280. are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which CONSUMER PROTECTION – IMPORTANT encourages high operational standards and conduct. The air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL
Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL FINANCIAL SECURITY number is ATOL 2828. An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by the ATOL customer with the member under the AITO logo. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this This financial protection applies to customers who are brochure are financially protected by the ATOL resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an overseas customers who have booked directly ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure with the member. In doing so, the member must that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other comply with the UK government regulations. Members services) are listed on it. Please see our website are required to submit details of their financial for our booking conditions for further information or protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis. for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.caa.co.uk ACCURATE BROCHURES AND WEBSITES All members do their utmost to ensure that all their ABTA brochures and other publications, print or electronic, Journey Latin America Ltd is a Member of ABTA with clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered. membership number V2522. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of IMPROVEMENTS service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of For further information about ABTA, the Code of employees. Members continually seek to review and Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you improve their holidays. They listen to their customers if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, and always welcome suggestions for improving London SE1 9EQ. Tel: 020 3117 0500 or www.abta.com standards.
MONITORING STANDARDS For more information about our Privacy Policy please visit www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/ AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. information/privacy-policy All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Members acknowledge the importance of AITO’s Sustainable Tourism ethos, which recognises the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating.
Journey Latin America 401 King Street • London • W6 9NJ Registered in the UK number 1474705
83 J O U R N E Y LATIN AMERICA J O U R N E Y LATIN AMERICA
Thank you. A most wonderful holiday, totally stress “ free owing to your superb organisation and great support from local representatives... there is nothing that we can think of that would have improved our experience. ” CC, Bristol
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JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA 401 King Street • London • W6 9NJ Email [email protected] Registered in the UK number 1474705 BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
JOURNEYLATINAMERICA.CO.UK84 AIRLINES
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, alone or with family, to Buenos Aires or Bogotá, choosing which airline to travel with will depend on what you are offered in the way of price, service, route and flexibility.
YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Shutterstock.com
Call one of our travel experts today to start planning SPEAK WITH AN EXPERT: your unique Tailor-made Holiday. We’ll send you Visit our website a bespoke travel proposal completely free of charge, journeylatinamerica.co.uk with no need to pay until you feel 100% satisfied Speak to an expert consultant on with your personalised itinerary. 020 8747 8315 Or email us at [email protected]
85 PANAMA 44 COLOMBIA 46
GUYANA, FRENCH GUIANA AND SURINAME 50
PERU 56 BOLIVIA 60
ECUADOR AND THE GALAPÁGOS ISLANDS 52
BRAZIL 62
CHILE 66
ARGENTINA 70 URUGUAY 74
PARAGUAY 76
ANTARCTICA AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 78
JOURNEY SUSTAINABLY 80
SO MUCH AIRLINES 82 BOOK WITH MORE 81 CONFIDENCE 83