Dreaming of South America with A&K November 2020 RECOMMENDED BY A&K With 2021 just around the corner, we are happy to announce that Chile is opening its borders, joining Brazil, Ecuador and Peru as destinations to enjoy during the holidays and our Summer season in the south. Here we are already living a tangible “new better” thanks to the opening of borders, resumption of businesses and local consciousness to follow all the health & safety recommendations. Big hugs from Lima, Dalia Gibu Regional Sales & Marketing Director [email protected] Our Recommendation of the Month Chile Chile is open for travel! We are thrilled about this news, and for that, Chile had to be this month’s recommendation! On November 23rd, Chile reopened its borders, with the SCL airport as the only entry point. During the first 2 weeks, quarantine will be compulsory, but from December 7th, it will be lifted if guests comply with a series of mandatory requirements, which include: 1. Filling out and completing this form, 48 hours prior to trip. 2. Presenting a PCR-negative test result, taken at least 72 hours prior to trip by a certified laboratory. 3. Presenting proof of health insurance with coverage in case of COVID-19. Tip: Take advantage of the 50% discount for the first holidays booking at Explora Atacama and Explora Sacred Valley. Our Recommendation of the Month Sunset Sail in Rio de Janeiro Enjoy a memorable experience in Rio de Janeiro, a vibrant city where the Carioca spirit and the dreamy backdrops bring to life a magical destination. This is an excellent opportunity for you to enjoy one of our favorite experiences in Rio, as you take in a moment with nothing but the whispering of the breeze, the views of the city waving the sun goodnight and a refreshing mimosa in hand, pampering the senses. Without a doubt, enjoying the sunset in Rio de Janeiro is an experience itself. However, doing it with A&K, from your own private boat, as you sip a mimosa or (and) caipirinha, and get ready for a swim that will be the cherry on top, will be an experience like no other. Not to mention how versatile it may be, making it suitable for pretty much any occasion. WHAT’S NEW IN SOUTH AMERICA Trains in Peru Resume Operations Buenos Aires and Santiago Reopen Borders Good news! We are thrilled to see that three of Peru’s trains have shared their operation We are happy to announce that the capitals of two of our destinations in the region, plans, for your clients to start dreaming of visiting us soon! Please keep in mind: Buenos Aires and Santiago will be officially reopening international borders for travel. Earlier this month Buenos Aires reopened borders to/from neighboring countries *Inca Rail -the First-Class train service will operate through 2021. (Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) with -hopefully- more openings coming soon for the Eclipse, for which we will keep you posted. Entry requirements to Buenos *Belmond Hiram Bingham - during 2021’s quarters, the train will operate as follows: Aires, include a 48-hour PCR-negative test result, proof of medical insurance with -Q1: Wednesdays -Q3 and Q4: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, coverage for COVID-19 and submission of an online form. -Q2: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Thursdays and Sundays On the other hand, Santiago has announced the reopening of air borders, effective 23rd November, meaning that the city’s international airport will be the only entry access into Chile, while land and maritime borders will remain closed until further notice. *Belmond Andean Explorer -operation for 2021 will be as follows: Slot 16 (Cusco-Puno) -Apr 6, 20 and 27 -Sep 14 and 28 -May 4, 11, 18 and 25 -Oct 12 and 26 -Jun 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 -Nov 9 and 23 -Jul 6 and 20 -Dec 7 and 21 -Aug 3, 17 and 31 Slot 15 (Puno-Cusco) -Apr 7, 21 and 28 -Sep 1, 15 and 29 -May 5, 12, 19 and 26 -Oct 13 and 27 -Jun 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 -Nov 10 and 24 -Jul 7 and 21 -Dec 8 and 22 The &Beyond Vira Vira is Ready to Welcome Guests -Aug 4 and 18 For years now, the &Beyond Vira Vira has been a strategic partner and one of our Slot 14 (Puno-Arequipa) Slot 13 (Arequipa-Puno-Cusco) favorite choices in the Chilean Lake District, thanks to their great talent at providing a nice stay and heavenly food in the company of some of the world’s best views. For this -Jul 1, 15 and 29 -Oct 7 and 21 -Jul 3, 17 and 31 -Oct 9 and 23 we are thrilled to announce that they will be officially reopening on the 11th December -Aug 12 and 26 -Nov 4 and 18 -Aug 14 and 28 -Nov 6 and 20 2020, just in time to enjoy the long-awaited eclipse (depending on the local protocols) -Sep 9 and 23 -Dec 2, 16 and 30 -Sep 11 and 25 -Dec 4 and 18 and to welcome the new year in the best possible way! WHAT’S HOT IN SOUTH AMERICA Book with Confidence - Policy Extension Specials: The 3rd Night is Complimentary at Vik Chile At A&K, we understand the current global pandemic and aim to help travelers to plan We are all very happy about Chile reopening for travel, and our hotel partner, their journeys with more flexible terms and conditions, knowing that their safety and Vik Chile, has decided to celebrate the news by offering a complimentary 3rd peace of mind are key to genuinely enjoying a holiday. For this, we have decided to night, when booking 2 consecutive nights through us in double occupancy. extend our Book with Confidence policy, thus allowing more flexibility for your clients This is surely a special you don’t want to miss out! to enjoy their dream holiday, making it easier to plan, postpone or even cancel their trip more easily, if a COVID-related reason takes place. Let us invite you to read in more *Subject to availability detail our updated policy, by clicking here. *Valid for stays between Dec 1st, 2020 - May 31st, 2021 *Not valid for stays between Dec 23rd, 2020 - Jan 3rd, 2021, Feb 13th-17th, 2021 and Apr 2nd - 4th, 2021 *Contact us for details: [email protected] Galapagos Departures Because it is always a good time to visit the Enchanted Islands, today we would like to remind you of some of our recommended departures, available for the Holidays, charter and 2021’s Q1 (some of them with specials that we have especially for you). USD 500 Off Your Patagonian Cruise And just in case you need help deciding which property to book, you may want to take a look of our Ecuador Quick Start Guide and our Private Galapagos e-magazine. If you’ve been dreaming of a cruise experience to mythic Patagonia, you are Contact our Ecuador team at [email protected] and they will let you know going to love this special by Australis Cruises. When making a reservation by all the benefits your clients may take advantage of, depending on the departure. December 31st, 2020, for an Australis departure through us, you will get a M/Y Stella Maris M/C Cormorant USD 500 discount valid for programs from September, 2021 to April, 2022. Dec 21 – 28, 2020 Dec 19 – 26, 2020 Dec 28, 2020 – Jan 4, 2021 *Subject to availability M/C Petrel *Contact us for details: [email protected] M/Y Infinity Dec 25, 2020 – Jan 1, 2021 Dec 22 – 29, 2020 Dec 29, 2020 – Jan 5, 2021 M/Y Natural Paradise Dec 22 – 29, 2020 M/Y Integrity Dec 29, 2020 – Jan 5, 2021 Dec 21 – 28, 2020 Dec 28, 2020 – Jan 4, 2021 M/Y Grand Majestic Dec 21 – 28, 2020 CERTIFIED EXPERTS BY A&K SOUTH AMERICA Have You Become Certified Yet? At A&K South America we are happy to see how our expert community keeps on growing and how every day we have more travel experts with a living passion and interest for South America. In fact, we are so happy and proud of our fellow experts, that we would like to share with you some of their impressions and thoughts after becoming certified. Remember that you can still obtain your certificate. All you have to do is listen to our webinars and click on links below to pass our 5 quizzes, and then we will contact you. Meet the experts “The greatest plus is having access to all the videos at any “Thank you for contacting me. I truly enjoyed time – they are great information and most helpful if one listening to the webinars and taking the hasn’t yet visited the destination.“ quizzes. It was something different, from the regular webinars over the past few months. Freda Anderson - A Touch of Class Travel I loved that Dalia hosted each webinar, as Photograph taken at Futangue Lodge, in Chile. March, 2020 she knows the destinations so well. She was always sure that the host brought up important points (bearing in mind the USA discerning clientele), and always asked the questions that even we may have forgotten but really needed to know. The webinar series were well paced.. and easy to catch up on when you missed one due to scheduling conflicts, etc. I always thought that I was well-informed about the basics of travel to South America, but each webinar I found that I learned something new (and in many cases I learned LOTS of new things – such as in the case of the Pantanal in Brazil, an area that I don’t sell often and am not as familiar with).