Travel Explorer Magazine (AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 EDITION)

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CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA Written by Oliver Broad & Sam Cooper Photographs by Sam Cooper There is a lot of news from Central & South America including new flights, hotel openings and a changing political climate. Here is our quick round-up from this colourful part of the Americas. Up until this year, Peru had always lacked a decent direct service from the UK but now British Airways offer just that from London twice a week in winter and three times in summer. This means you can avoid a change of plane in Amsterdam or Madrid. BA’s tie up with the South American airline LAN means regional connections are convenient and offer good value for money. Also in Peru we have noticed an increased demand to see sites away from the main highlights of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and the Sacred Valley. For example, in the North (and at sea level) is Trujillo, home to pre-Inca Pyramids - a perfect first stop before venturing onto the Inca sites further south. Belmond have announced they will begin running the former Andean Explorer railway route from Cusco to Puno to visit Lake Titicaca. Work is already underway to create unique sleeper trains reminiscent of the Orient-Express history of the more recent Belmond brand. Twinned perfectly with Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands have also welcomed some changes with a new direct flight from the UK to Guayaquil with Avianca five times a week, commencing 16th December 2016. There is also the fairly new Tran Curacao service connecting Quito and Guayaquil which offers a number of different duration tours sleeping in local Haciendas and characterful accommodations along the way. An increase in demand for Galapagos cruises has meant booking early is essential. Boats range from small 16 berth exploration ships up to the luxury of Silversea’s Silver Galapagos, ask for details. Further north, it is proving difficult to confirm availability in Cuba which is to be expected following the opening up of the island to US trade and tourism. Many are rushing to visit before major changes occur and so early booking is essential. New flights to Columbia, Peru, Costa Rica and Santiago are putting Central & South America firmly back on the tourist map. Costa Rica now has its own direct flight with British Airways from London twice a week in the winter with an extra service in the summer. Experience superb wildlife opportunities, beautiful scenery, history, culture and beach resorts it is a great option for families, especially those with older children in need of some adventurous pursuits. Further south, all eyes have been on Rio and Brazil this summer with the Olympic games. Such a vast country warrants a specific trip, but you can also touch on the highlights of Rio, San Paolo and Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian / Argentinian border and combine this with a visit to the west of South America for Chile, Peru and the Galapagos. One for the more adventurous, Columbia has opened up in recent years and is back on the tourist trail. Direct daily flights now operate from London to Bogota with Avianca. And finally, there is an exciting development for Chile as Santiago will receive its first direct service with British Airways from London in January four times a week. 20 | TRAVEL EXPLORER | AUTUMN / WINTER 2016
Costa Rica Sam Cooper Costa Rica offers a huge variety of holiday options and whilst you could hit the main spots and get a taste of the country in a general tour, I would encourage you to think about your own interests and hobbies before deciding on where to visit and what to do. The first words spoken to me on arrival by our trusty guide was PURA VIDA! Which you hear Costa Rican people say all the time which means “I’m great, life is good, no worries!” While on my arrival transfer we saw various wildlife including Toucans, Crocodiles, lizards and even a spider monkey! Whichever way you turn your head in Costa Rica you will notice stunning scenery and various green colours from the types of trees in the natural landscape. This was the general theme for the trip; always expect to see something exciting around the next corner! Other highlights included Tortuguero, San Jose, the Bajos Del Toro Waterfall, Arenal (hanging bridges tour) and Manuel Antonio National Park. The latter is home to over 100 species of mammals and over 180 different types of birds. On our walk through the National park we came across a beautiful sloth moving in the trees. It was a fantastic, refreshing trip and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys nature and wildlife. Read Sam’s report in full at rbcollection.com/costarica. Photographs: Sam Cooper AUTUMN / WINTER 2016 | TRAVEL EXPLORER | 21
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Travel Explorer Magazine (AUTUMN/WINTER 2016 EDITION)

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