TOUR OPERATOR NEWS

Cascada Expediciones launches new tours

Cascada Expediciones has launched two new tours in Chilean Patagonia and northern Argentina. The 'Dientes Circuit' is a six day hike through the Dientes Navarino massif on the southern tip of South America and includes walking through forests, valleys and rivers. From the summit of the massif, visitors can take in the incredible views that stretch out to the Beagle Channel, the towns of Puerto Williams in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina and the mythical archipelago of Cape Horn. Cascada Expediciones new 'Ultimate Northern Argentina Adventure' explores the charming historical city of Salta and includes visits to Argentina's greatest vineyards, hikes through canyons and a day in the hills of the Humahuaca Gorge. The 'Dientes Circuit' holiday is priced from £2,225 per person and The 'Ultimate Northern Argentina' tour is priced from £2,123 per person. Both itineraries include domestic flights, accommodation and a guide. www.cascada.travel/en

Journey Latin America introduces new self-drive holiday in Chile

Specialist tour operator Journey Latin America has introduced a new 14 day self-drive holiday in Chile: 'Lake District and southern Patagonia' perfect for independent, adventurous travellers. A new feature of the tour includes driving along the spectacular road between Pucon and Puerto Varas which passes beneath the Osorno Volcano and travels along the eastern shore of Lake Llanquihue. Other highlights of the holiday include driving to Punta Arenas in southern Patagonia, a visit to Puerto Natales and an unforgettable couple of days staying in Torres del Paine National Park. The tour is priced from £3,409 per person. www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Hike Machu Picchu with Tucan Travel

New for 2017, Tucan Travel is offering guests the chance to take a one day trek to Machu Picchu as part of the tour operator's 'Jungle to Andes' tour. As well as spending two nights in the Amazon Jungle, travelling through the magnificent Sacred Valley of the Incas and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lake Titicaca, guests will now also be able to add a one day trek to Machu Picchu to their itinerary. The trek is an alternative to the popular Inca trail and is ideal for travellers who wish to enjoy a shorter route to the ruins. The tour is priced from £1,699. www.tucantravel.com

Sociocultural Panama City experience with EcoCircuitos Panama

EcoCircuitos Panama has launched a new sociocultural tour in Panama City's Casco Antiguo, the historic district of the city. Travellers can gain valuable insight into Casco Antiguo's community from one of its past gang members and learn how “Casco” has become the popular tourist destination it is today. The tour is perfect for socially conscious travellers looking for the undiscovered side of the gentrified Casco Antiguo. www.ecocircuitos.com

Last Frontiers introduces new 'foodie' tours in Santiago, Chile

Last Frontiers is now offering new gourmet tours in Santiago, Chile. The 'Taste of Chile' tour takes guests to one of the city's typical Chilean colonial neighbourhood's where they will be welcomed into a local family home and prepare a traditional Chilean meal. The tour is priced from £125 per person based on two people sharing. The 'Chilean Flavours' tour delves into Chile's markets and street corners to taste typical local dishes such as “mote con huesillos” (a sweet dish with syrup, peaches and barley), or “sopaipillas” (a deep fried pastry). The tour will then continue to the food market of La Vega Central to taste “ceviche” and “empanadas”. The tour is priced from £75 per person based on two people sharing. www.lastfrontiers.com/chile

Australis launches new expedition cruise ship

Cruise specialist Australis has confirmed that its new expedition cruise vessel will take to the water in January 2018. Named Ventus Australis the new state-of-the-art Australis expedition vessel will explore the remoteness of Patagonia encompassing the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. The new luxury 210 passenger ship will offer spacious cabins with Nobel beds and floor ceiling windows to capture the stunning scenery of fjords and glacial channels, a stylish sky lounge and a gourmet restaurant. A four night cruise costs from £1,471 per person on an all-inclusive basis based on two sharing a cabin and include all excursions and meals. www.australis.com

Aqua Expeditions hosts gourmet river cruise

Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, executive chef at luxury boutique cruise company Aqua Expeditions, will spend a week on the Aria Amazon from 9-16 December cruising down the Amazon River from Iquitos to Nauta City in Peru. The 'Gourmet Journey' will feature a hands on Masterclass hosted by Chef Schiaffino with insight into recipe planning, preparation and execution as well as customised tours of the local Peruvian markets, where guests can learn about the locally grown ingredients. A three day cruise is priced from £2,844 based on two people sharing a cabin. www.aquaexpeditions.com

Geodyssey launches new Peru brochure with 17 new Peru tours

Leading travel specialist to Latin America, Geodyssey has introduced a new in-depth Peru brochure which combines excellent affordable travel options and high-end treats. For example the 'Peru for Families', is a fun filled 14 day holiday perfect for active families which includes adventures in the Sacred Valley such as bike riding and hiking, and visiting Machu Picchu before heading to Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon. Another new tour is the 'Active Peru' holidays which offers a number of routes to hike to Macchu Picchu suitable for any type of traveller such as: the traditional four day, three night 'Inca Trail' or the 'Royal Inca Trail', a shortened route that reaches the ruins in one day and does not include camping. For the online version visit: www.geodyssey.co.uk/_downloads/Peru%20brochure/Geodyssey%20-%20Peru%20brochure.pdf

HOTEL NEWS

Historic Bertrand's Cottage scheduled to open in St Helena 

In December 2016, Bertrand's Cottage on St Helena's Island will welcome guests for the first time. The cottage used to belong to Grand Marshal Bertrand and his family – made famous for working in Napoleon's service in 1816. The hotel features three en-suite bedrooms and the main public areas will include a lounge and restaurant surrounded by large gardens. www.sthelenatourism.com

Fasano Punta Del Este scheduled to re-open in Uruguay

From December, the Fasano Punta Del Este hotel located in Uruguay is scheduled to reopen following its expansion after the construction of the “Locanda Fasano”. The “Locanda” will feature ten spectacular new rooms built to accommodate guests all year round including two superior room, seven deluxe rooms and one en-suite. The property is conveniently situated minutes away from the beach offering a unique setting reminiscent of Tuscan landscapes and British country gardens, as well as a luxury spa and restaurant serving local delicacies.The hotel is five miles from La Barra, a town known as the South American hotspot for international high society, with a dazzling nightlife and a range of bars and restaurants. Prices are available upon request. www.fasano.com

Explora Atacama re-opens in the Atacama Desert

In January 2017, The Explora Atacama hotel located in the heart of the stunning Atacama Desert in Chile will re-open after the communal areas in the hotel were refurbished and a number of fresh excursions have been launched for its guests. New routes have been created such as a bike ride over 13,000 feet above sea level and new hikes around the Chilean – Argentinean border. The hotel is offering the first night free for stays of three nights or more between 15 January and 30 April 2017 (and booked by 30 March 2017). www.lastfrontiers.com/hotels/chile/the-atacama-desert/exploraatacama

AIRLINE NEWS

British Airways launches new direct flight to Santiago de Chile, Chile and increases long haul flights from Gatwick to the Dominican Republic

From January 2017, British Airways will fly four times a week to Santiago, Chile from London Heathrow. The new service further improves the airline's connections to South America after recently launching direct flights to San Jose, Costa Rica and Lima, Peru and showcases the growing appetite for travel in the Latin American region from the UK. Return flights to Santiago will be priced from £745.From March 2017, British Airways will offer an increased number of long-haul flights from Gatwick, offering three direct flights a week to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Return flights from Gatwick to Punta Cana are priced from £601, including taxes. www.britishairways.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Geodyssey appoints new director of marketing

Bibiana Tellez-Garside, founder of HighLives Travel, has joined Geodyssey as its director of marketing. Gillian Howe, Geodyssey's managing director, said “Bibiana brings to us a wealth of knowledge of Bolivia, and the whole Andes region. Bolivia is starting to be recognised for its great diversity – from high salt flats to the deep Amazon – and for its rich cultures.  It is also becoming much easier to reach, with direct flights on British Airways to Peru and soon to Chile – both easily linked with Bolivia.  We have re-focused the HighLives brand as the leading country specialist for Bolivia, offering the widest range of travel experiences currently available from the UK.  This will be a very important addition to Geodyssey's destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and very much in Geodyssey's in-depth style.” www.geodyssey.com 

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The Latin America Travel Association (LATA) – is represented by Lotus.  For editorial and marketing enquiries, please contact Jules Ugo, Kate McWilliams or Lucy Keenan at Lotus– LATAPR@wearelotus.co.uk  0207 953 7470