PICTURE: REX REATURES
DESTINATIONS LATIN AMERICA
✈
programmes, and as an
extension on seven further
itineraries. South American Experience
is off ering walking tours of the
Galapagos for the fi rst time, Journey
Latin America has a new 14-day
programme around the islands and
Collette Worldwide Holidays and
Travel 2 twin the destination with
Peru for new luxury escorted tours.
The Ecuador Tourist board plans
to promote not only the islands, but
also the Andean, Amazon and coastal
regions of the mainland. Investment
is being channelled into two new
tourist routes. The Spondylus Route
runs down the Pacifi c coast and
visitors can enjoy beaches, water
sports and whale watching here.
The Qapac Nian is the northern
extent of the Inca Trail, with archaeological
sites and hot springs. The
Train to the Middle of the World
runs across the country from sea
level to 3,000 metres. It is currently
being rebuilt after years of neglect.
The fi rst rejuvenated section opens
next month.
Daniel Craig seems to get around
a lot as James Bond, with many Latin
American destinations trumpeting
their connections to the English spy.
Quantum of Solace viewers will have
been stunned by landscapes and
cities in Panama, Chile and
Mexico. Journey Latin America
has launched three Bond
itineraries, one covering each
country and taking visitors to
sights they’ll recognise from the
movie and hotels that were used
as locations in the fi lm.
TV adventurer Bruce
Parry travelled the length
of the Amazon river to fi lm
his most recent documentary
for BBC Two. As a
result, many operators
are now predicting a
renewed interest in
tours exploring the
jungle river basin.
Colombia is
earmarked as one
to watch by Travel 2,
Explore and Exodus, all of
which are launching new
tours to the country. TW
44 | Travel Weekly | November 21 2008
FACTS
The giant
tortoise probably
gave the
archipelago its
name as
galapago means
tortoise in
Spanish.
Galapagos giant
tortoises can
weigh up to
250kg and live
for more than
100 years
Quantum of
Solace, starring
Daniel Craig (left)
was shot with
Panana. Chile and
Mexico as a
backdrop
Giant tortoises on the
Galapagos Islands
NEW FOR 2009
Journey Latin America has new
tours to up-and-coming destinations
such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica and
Guyana, plus new itineraries in Peru,
Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
South American Experience
has just launched a new brochure
including river fl oating in the Bonito
region of Brazil, mustering cattle in
Patagonia, alligator spotting in the
Amazon jungle and fl ying over Angel
Falls in Venezuela.
Footloose is off ering a number
of new ‘In Depth’ tours in Latin
America, including trekking in
Patagonia, and the Oaxaca Pacifi c
trek and the Baja-Copper Canyon
trek in Mexico.
Travel 2 has enhanced its Central
America programme with tours to
take in the Mayan highlights of the
region, and has added a new 12-day
Colombian programme.
Sunvil Latin America introduces
the unspoilt Yungas region of Bolivia,
features new lodges and safari camps
in Costa Rica, Peru and Galapagos.
The Adventure Company has
added a new style of trip for 2009: the
‘Hands On’ adventure. It is off ering a
turtle conservation trip in Costa Rica
and Panama, and a Jungles and
Jaguars programme in Guyana.
Cox and Kings is featuring
Venezuela for the fi rst time in 2009,
and adding new itineraries in Mexico
and Peru, plus a Grand Tour of Central
America, through Panama, Costa Rica,
Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Iberostar is opening its third hotel
in Brazil, the fi ve-star Praia do Forte.
Thomas Cook features new
properties in Costa Rica and Mexico,
new cruising tours in Antarctica and
South America, and a voyage down
the Panama Canal.
www.travelweekly.co.uk
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