Summer news from Senderos
Welcome to our latest newsletter with news, special offers and developments from across South America.
In September Simon travels to Casa Higueras in Valparaiso, Estancia Huechahue for the Aparte Campero gaucho horsegames, and Travel Mart in Puerto Varas. Many of our partners are attending the travel show including the Antarctic Dream, Awasi, Casa Higueras, Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, Quincho Country Home, Experience Patagonia, Casa Andina, Rainforest Expeditions, Tropic and Ecoventura.
After the show Puyuhuapi Lodge are involved in offering a superb Aysén fam trip. Contact us for more details.
Saludos! Simon and Gareth
Senderos Partners are:
Antarctic Dream www.antarctic.cl
Argentina - Estancia Huechahue www.huechahue.com
Argentina - Experience Patagonia www.experiencepatagonia.com
Brazilian Beach House Company www.brazilianbeachhouse.com
Brazil - Pousada Picinguaba, Costa Verde www.picinguaba.com
Brazil - Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Praia do Rosa www.vidasolemar.com.br
Chile - Awasi, Atacama Desert www.awasi.cl
Chile - Casa Higueras, Valparaiso www.casahigueras.cl
Chile - Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa, Aysén www.patagonia-connection.com
Chile - Quincho Country Home, Lake District www.quinchocountryhome.cl
Colombia - Hotel La Passion, Cartagena www.lapassionhotel.com
Ecuador - Huaorani Ecolodge www.huaorani.com
Ecuador - Galapagos Walking Tours www.walkingalapagos.com
Ecuador and Galapagos - Ecoventura www.ecoventura.com
Peru - Rainforest Expeditions, Tambopata www.perunature.com
Peru - Casa Andina Private Collection Suasi Island, Lake Titicaca
Antarctic Dream www.antarctic.cl
We are delighted to announce our new website www.antarctic.cl packed full of information and resources. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful, do let us know your comments. To access the tour operator area of the site its User: antarctic2009 / Password: dream2009.
During the 2009-10 Antarctic season Cristian Donoso and Mario Sepúlveda will be returning to Antarctica with us - kayaking, skiing and climbing around and on the Peninsula. The approximate distances will be - in kayak, 850 km, on land/snow 750 km; total, 1600 km. Estimated time for the expedition is 80 – 110 days.
For more information check out
www.thepoles.com/news.php?id=18550
http://rolexawards.com/en/the-laureates/cristiandonoso-mission-accomplished.jsp
AT Magazine in the UK covered Cristian's exploits including his first ascent of a peak - http://www.atmagazine.co.uk/component/option,com_fireboard/func,view/id,2313/catid,44/Itemid,26/
Argentina - Estancia Huechahue www.huechahue.com
Everything is set for a weekend of Aparte Campero horse games prior to the TMLA in Puerto Varas. Thanks to our friend Isaias Maciu for his fantastic images (see right) from last years event also hosted at Estancia Huechahue. To coincide with it we have a program running 17 to 21 September for good riders keen to participate and have a real gaucho experience!
We have renovated and restocked the tack room with all new halters and bridles.
A special Estancia to Estancia ride is running from 11th to 20th November, 2009. This trip will be accompanied by Franklin Levinson (www.BeyondNaturalHorsemanship.com) who will be giving a one-day advanced horsemanship seminar before the trip begins to “get folks connected to and engaged with their horses”. The price is US$ 4,460.
We have pack trips planned for 20, 21, 22 January and 4, 5, 6 March.
American Jet (www.americanjet.com.ar) now offer daily flights from Neuquen to San Martin (40 mins). Cost is US$55 one way. Both LAN and Aerolineas fly into Neuquen.
LAN is part of One World so passengers who have flown internationally with a One World airline (British, Iberia..) can continue with their luggage without paying excess on the internal flight.
Quite simply there is nowhere like Huechahue. A 15,000 acre cattle ranch set where the Patagonian landscape sweeps up to meet the Andean Lake District, it offers an unforgettable taste of frontier living. Accommodation is cosy and cuisine is traditional, meaning there’ll be no shortage of excellent home-reared beef and red wine. Best of all though is the surrounding countryside and there’s no better way to explore it than in the saddle. Huechahue is unbeatable for the quality of its horses and riding. Regardless of your experience you’ll soon be taking off with the gauchos, trekking past ancient Indian burial caves, condors nests, volcanoes and trout streams. Irish Tatler, July 09
Argentina - Experience Patagonia www.experiencepatagonia.com
Absolutely fabulous. I couldn't say a single negative about this hotel. The staff, food, guides, room service were all in incredible!
Hotel Los Cerros will open from the 1st November 2009 to 5th April 2010 (Easter included).
Additionally there are some changes for this coming season. We are not going to have the all inclusive programmes any more (except bookings already confirmed). Guests will stay on a bed and breakfast basis, and then locally be able to book excursions with local agencies guides.
A quick summary of our current special offers:-
Los Notros – open 1 Oct 09 to 5 Apr 10
New full board rates / Book 4 - Pay 3 nights / Early booking discount
Los Cerros – open 1 Nov to 5 Apr 10
No more All Inclusive / Rates Lodging + Breakfast / Book 4 - Pay 3 nights / Early booking discount
For combinations: 2 nights in Los Notros and 2 nights in Los Cerros your clients receive 1 night FREE
More information at www.experiencepatagonia.com/en/webbenefits
Lelia will be in Puerto Varas in September for TMLA and looks forward to seeing you there! Look for S-175.
This small hotel is a gem. Located in a very convinient location for all the hikes in the area. Excellent guides with education and experience, friendly and helpful. For outdoor lovers this is a `must` location to visit and `The place` to stay.
Brazilian Beach House Company www.brazilianbeachhouse.com
HOUSE versus HOTEL Fully staffed private houses for the price of a hotel! What could be better than to arrive at the end of a long journey to find smiling staff waiting for you, a meal ready to be served and wine to opened. No check-in, no queue, no credit card slip to be signed… We take great care pre-stocking the houses with cold drinks, snacks waiting on arrival and the barbecue ready to be lit leaving clients free to explore their new home-from-home while the staff help them settle in.
At the Brazilian Beach House Company we have been working hard all year to fine-tune our portfolio of unique beach houses and villas (we constantly review new properties and take on any real gems) and the service we provide on the ground. As a result we have come up with the following initiatives to help you sell the idea of renting a fantastic fully staffed private house in Brazil...
A large number of the properties are now available for min 3 nights with rates per night that compare favourably with the best of the local hotel in Paraty, Trancoso and Rio.
In response to the rise in enquiries we have been receiving for longer term and sabbatical bookings for clients looking to spend a month or more in one of our properties we have fantastic DISCOUNTED RATES available for longer rentals.
NEW DISCOVERIES include:
- A brand-new fabulously LUXURIOUS 12 BEDROOM house on a secluded beach in Buzios, the like of which we haven’t seen before…
- The perfect 2 bedroom island bolt-hole in a converted fisherman’s house near Paraty for as little as US$250 per night
- A vast beachfront property that has played home to Hollywood stars with 6 bedrooms in Trancoso at an excellent price
- THE BEST PENTHOUSE APARTMENT in Rio with views over Ipanema and Copacabana from the roof garden and swimming pool and a greater selection of 3 and 4 bedroom apartments in IPANEMA
- A unique classic sailing yacht from which to explore Angra dos Reis and ILHA GRANDE.
Our partner photographer Tuca Reines, (Taschen’s Great Escapes – South America and the new Living in Bahia which featured many of the properties we offer) has now shot nearly all of the houses in our portfolio and we are constantly updating our photography.
Gareth has just visited some of the Trancoso properties and Simon knows the Paraty houses. It would be a pleasure to show any of our portfolio for those planning a trip to Brazil this year. Contact Steven Chew info@brazilianbeachhouse.com to arrange a visit, discuss a specific portfolio with special offers unique to your company, or for the latest Christmas availability.
Brazil - Pousada Picinguaba, Costa Verde www.picinguaba.com
We have some important new additions to the team!
Carina spent 5 years at the Fasano, one of the most recognized luxury hotels in Brazil, learning all sides of the business. She is now Executive Manager of Pousada Picinguaba and Fazenda Santa Helena and runs the new office based in Sao Paulo, which oversees all operations. She brings tremendous experience from the luxury hotel business to Pousada Picinguaba. When choosing Tourism for university, I thought of a future where my love for culture could combine with the hospitality industry. Sustainability was then the watchword. Later I worked for a variety of businesses, including hotels and a wonderful year in Bristol in the UK. All good but I was beginning to think that my early career aspirations were merely naive dreams. Then I met Emmanuel. After a three hours interview, that became more like an enthusiastic chat, I couldn't wait to join the team! I'm now very proud to promote extraordinary and authentic experiences in Brazil, alongside people who share an achievable vision of responsible tourism, from the owner and local staff to partners and clients. My visits to beautiful Picinguaba and peaceful Fazenda Santa Helena are pleasant (and much envied!) escapes from Sao Paulo's 'wild' life – I couldn't ask for more!
Raphaela is our Senior Host, and coordinates International sales, teaming up with Oseias, our Commercial and Guests Relations Manager. She is fluent in French and English as well as Portuguese. She comes to reinforce our permanent hosting team, dedicated to receive guests, with Luciana (reception), Oseias, and Fausto. I am from the countryside in the far south of Brazil. Since I was young I knew I loved meeting people from different cultures, and languages, to receive them in my home and show them my country. Having had the opportunity to travel abroad I found out how much I love Brazil and being Brazilian, as well as living by the sea and peaceful places rather than big cities. I studied tourism and languages in University, then worked in pousadas all over Brazil. Now I am so glad to be a part of this extraordinary, young team, in this amazing natural place.
The picture right shows the whole team at the annual meeting this year at our Fazenda Santa Helena, on June 7th 2009. It was an inspiring meeting allowing all the team – from coast and serra - to meet each other in many cases for the first time!
What a wonderful, wonderful place. We stayed here on our honeymoon and had a magical time. Hard to say what was best…Being serenaded by Oseias with his sonorous guitar songs, Luciana’s smile, surfing lessons with Fernando, football with the local (thanks Fausto) or just great food and wine with our new friends by the fire. This place is jewel in every respect, it has captured our hearts. June 09
Wow, this is a trip that will forever remain in our memories. I don’t know where to begin: we experienced trips to remote beaches on the boat, explored the rainforest, bathed in magnificent waterfalls, kayaked up a river and all in views beyond description. Thank you host and staff for your wonderful hospitality. You left us speechless! May 09
Brazil - Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Praia do Rosa www.vidasolemar.com.br
The Jones family enjoyed their stay at Vida Sol e Mar! Saw whales from the shore yesterday and went on the trip also which was brilliant! We stayed out until we saw the whales - there was no time limit. Absolutely great. Lovely place - the villas are very comfortable. August 2009
The experience at the pousada was amazing, we saw the whales mom and baby. Good food and the crew is very kind. Thanks for everything! Jun 2009
This year’s whale watching season opened officially on the 12th July. The first Right Whales were actually spotted a month before by fisherman between the Islands of dos Corais and do Siriu.
Surfing News - Santa Catarina Hang Loose Pro, event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, took place in nearby Imbituba between the 27th June and the 3rd July. A number of journalists and most of the Australian team stayed with us, always great fun.
The Hang Loose culminated in a dramatic finale with perennial ASP World Title threats all pushing one other towards the finish line. In the end it was the familiar face of 9 times World Champion Kelly Slater who took the number 1 slot, just beating Brazilian Adriano de Souza.
In May we were honoured that Florianopolis played host to this years Global Travel and Tourism Summit www.globaltraveltourism.com
Chile - Awasi, Atacama Desert www.awasi.cl
All I can say is keep doing what you are doing. Awasi was one of the best hotels I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. The excursions were great. Our guide was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly. The food was equivalent to that of a Michelin star restaurant. The staff was friendly, always helpful.
Awasi is committed to the environment in a very concrete way: it is the only carbon neutral hotel in Chile. After assessing its carbon emissions for a year - carbon footprint – these are offset by voluntarily buying carbon credits. Fully committed to sustainable tourism from the start, Awasi signed an agreement with the British company EcoSecurities to start as of September 09 offsetting 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions.
In Awasi, we offer tailor-made experiences, taking care of everything down to the last detail. In addition to our usual personalised service (each room has an expert guide and a 4WD vehicle), we've developed four new memorable travel experiences, suggestions for our visitors to be adapted and combined. These range from a superb 5 day active itinerary culminating in a summiting of Volcano Zairecabur, to learning about the unique history and reality of the region from local indigenous communities, and from family educational programs to Romance and Relax.
Our Special Offer with the new W Hotel Santiago continues. For any 3, 4 or 5 night programs until 30 September 09 we include a free night at the spectacular W Hotel.
We stayed a long weekend recently and loved every minute of it. Our room was private, tranquil and perfect in every way. The outdoor shower seems sort of silly until you use it and realize how good it feels to shower in the sun and then recline in privacy to sun dry on a soft white chaise. The food service was way beyond our expectations. The chef is up to date, inventive and really competent. A nice selection of Chilean wines is perfect for each meal and there are a couple of good Chilean beers. The perfect thing after a day in the desert. I could go on and on about the food and the table settings, the gracious dining room, the hip music at the right volume, the shawls at each table in the evening for your warming comfort and the many fire places to relax in front of after the meal. It is all just right. The most essential thing amongst all of the nice things about Awasi is that your guide takes you on private excursions to some amazing places that you would be hard pressed to find on your own.
Chile - Casa Higueras, Valparaiso www.casahigueras.cl
My friend and I just returned from Chile, and our stay at Hotel Casa Higueras in Valparaiso was a tremendous highlight in our week-long stay. The property is an attentively restored 1920s mansion--gorgeous. The staff was gracious, attentive, and terrifically helpful. I do not have enough kind words to share about this hotel and its staff.
We are delighted to be receiving lots of European tour operators here in Valpariaso before and after Travel Mart in September.
Enrique Papic the hotel’s general manager will attend the travel fair, and also WTM in London in November. He is looking forward to meeting many of you over these 2 important events.
If you've got the bucks and are looking for a luxurious and intimate hideaway, look no further than this boutique hotel. Casa Higueras is without a doubt one of the finest hotels in Chile, one I could recommend over and over to anyone with an eye for style and a desire to relax and be pampered. One of Chile's star interior designers took a more masculine, 1930s-era approach with the renovation of this former mansion, using lots of dark wood flooring and panelling, and minimal, but well-placed, designer furniture - a crystal chandelier here, a velvet pin-tuck couch there. The guest rooms have panoramic windows, and they feature only a touch of colour from heavy yellow or rose-colored curtains and photos of Valparaíso life, plus 300-thread count sheets on heavenly soft beds, plasma TV screens, and balconies, and the mosaic-tiled bathrooms are splendidly appointed with fluffy robes
and walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads. Outside, the three-story hotel descends over a rectangular pool that is attractively landscaped into the hillside. There is also a mini spa for unwinding after a day tromping up and down Valparaiso’s hills. If you bore of your balcony, and it's hard to imagine you would, you can kick back on their rooftop terrace, or the hotel restaurant's patio.
The Frommer review of Casa Higueras
Chile - Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa, Aysén www.patagonia-connection.com
I have never been in such a beautiful place before. [The lodge] is located in a hidden bay in the Chilean fjords of Patagonia, in one of the most picturesque spots that you can imagine: native woodland, clear waters, hills & natural hot springs. The service was extremely personalised and the navigation to San Rafael glacier is something not to be missed - being so close to the ice walls in a zodiac is an unforgettable experience.
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa are involved in supporting a fantastic Aysén fam trip this September designed to coincide with Travel Mart Latin America being held in Puerto Varas. The 6 day trip covers much of this stunning, pristine region of lakes, rivers, forests, glaciers and fjords. The final 2 nights are being hosted at Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, time to explore a bit of the amazing natural surroundings, as well as relax in our thermal pools and spa.
We have special rates for our first trip to San Rafael this year (per person sharing double superior room)
PC1, 10-15 Oct USD 1490
PC4 , 11-15 Oct USD 1400
PC3, 12-15 Oct USD 1345
Our 6 month Early Booking offer is still in place, please contact us for more details.
We were happy and proud to receive staff from the Chilean Vineyard ‘Ventisquero’ during a winter incentive trip to Puyuhuapi, see the picture right! Afterwards they wrote… We thank you for all the help in organizing an incredible trip and a unique experience for our group!
Chile - Quincho Country Home, Lake District www.quinchocountryhome.cl
This is a superb place to stay in the southern Chilean Lake District - only 7.5 kilometres from Puerto Varas. There are four rooms only, all have a great view of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno volcano. Sightseeing is included in the rate as well as all meals and all drinks including alcoholic drinks. The rooms are lovely and of generous proportions with large beds. A chef and staff pander to your every need (without being overly suffocating) - you choose when you'd like to eat and drinks are served (Pisco Sours are excellent along with a great selection of wines) before dinner in front of a roaring log fire (depending on weather!). The manager, Silja, runs the place brilliantly and there are a wide selection of full and half day trips. These include Chiloe Island, Petrohue Falls, Osorno volcano among others. Horse riding is also a possibility (even for beginners). Our guide for these trips was superb and very informative. The food was excellent and everything was home made (including bread, jams etc). It is certainly not cheap, but I have to say this was one of the best places my wife and I have ever stayed.
Silja is looking forward to TMLA coming to her very own Puerto Varas, to seeing many old friends and making new acqaintances!
We stayed here towards the end of a touring trip of Chile and it was a lovely place to combine sightseeing with relaxation. Food was plentiful and first class. Staff were helpful, friendly and knowledgable. And the pisco sours are great!
Colombia - Hotel La Passion, Cartagena www.lapassionhotel.com
We are very proud to get picked by Lonely Planet as their favourite top end hotel in Cartagena! In their brand new guide on Colombia, Lonely Planet write:- Perhaps what is the most discreet hotel entrance in town leads to this hidden gem, run by a French movie producer and his Colombian wife. The republican-style home dating to the early 17th century features 8 uniquely decorated rooms and a potpourri of international design touches offset by modern indigenous photographs. Some rooms feature roman baths and outdoor showers, but the true gem here is the Santorini-reminiscent pool and rooftop terrace with front row views of the cathedral.
We also feature in July’s Irish Tatler where journalist and South American travel connoisseur Malachy O’Neill wrote:- Wandering around the Colombian city of Cartagena you could easily imagine yourself in a Gabriel García Marquéz novel. It’s also the city in which you’ll find a greater concentration of high quality boutique hotels than anywhere else in Latin America. The best of them is Hotel La Passion. Set in an 18th century Spanish villa, it exudes effortless sophistication and understated personal service. High ceilings and large windows ensure an abundance of light and space. Other positives include the rooftop infinity pool with its panoramic views over the city, and the roomy bedrooms…
We received an Award too from the French magazine Hotel & Lodge as best in the category, Charming Hotels of South America.
French guide Le Petit Futte called us "Cartagena’s most authentic and original hotel…”
The owner’s and their staff’s attitude is, what else can we do to make your stay better than wonderful? They are Passionate about the level of service they provide. Their adorable toddler is passionate about her singing; their cat is passionate about napping while making you jealous of a cat’s life. Passion is in everything they do. This is a very romantic place to stay!
Ecuador - Huaorani Ecolodge www.huaorani.com
Huaorani Lodge was a life-changing experience. It re-defined luxury for me, the luxury was to be able to get to know the Huaorani people, how they live, what they think, to admire their strength; all in all, to share those few days in their forest. I came back with a sense of being privileged with the experience.
After the awards last year we had a very busy first semester at the Huaorani Ecolodge. Thank you all for your support.
We are moving forward with plans shared with you all during 2008. The handicrafts´ shop in Quehueri’ono is almost ready as well as the laundry. Our new fleet of kayaks (yes, kayaks!) is ready and will be great for the journey downriver for our clients expecting to be more active during their stay.
With the experiences gained during the first year of operations we are now moving towards green certification to formalize operations and continue improving the quality of our services.
Conservation: as you all know the main reason why we built the Huaorani Ecolodge was to protect the Huaorani territory and thanks to your support we are now looking at the first Huaorani Conservation Area. Our foundation Conservation in Action is working with the United Nations through its small grant programme with UNDP and the World Tourism Organization in establishing this reserve that undoubtedly will empower the Huaorani Association as improve our client’s experiences.
Finally, we are almost ready to launch our new community programme with the Secoya community establishing the other end of our Amazon Conservation and Tourism Corridor.
Details will be provided in Chile during TMLA - Please request a meeting with us (S-003)
Ecuador - Galapagos Walking Tours www.walkingalapagos.com
This year has been challenging and productive for our community programme on the island of Isabela. We are proud of all the achievements and are working hard on new programmes for the coming year.
The island enters a new era with the incoming administration, and new policies supporting tourism and sustainable practices are expected. Counting on stronger governmental support, at Tropic we are preparing to launch an improved community-involved, sustainable programme with local, trained guides, eco friendly locally-owned hotels, high quality local food and restaurants, and environmentally aware excursions and activities.
Last but not least, we are delighted to announce that 153 giant tortoises were returned to their natural habitat in the Cerro Azul volcano on Isabela. 31 original individuals of the species Geochelone vicina arrived at the Campo Duro Centre in 2004, and thanks to their wonderful care and support, and to the Galapagos National Park authorities, these emblematic animals of the islands are recovered and now back in their natural habitat.
Ecuador and Galapagos - Ecoventura www.ecoventura.com
I wanted to let you know that we are back from our Galapagos trip and had a FANTASTIC time. The places were not only spectacular but everyone we dealt with was warm, knowledgeable, and helpful. The crew of the Flamingo in particular were like a family. Everything about the trip was pretty much ideal from start to finish - definitely the experience of a lifetime. Thanks for very much for your help.
Dive promotion on Sky Dancer - Ecoventura is offering FREE domestic Airfare on three departures in 2010: Feb 7-14, March 7-14 and April 18-25 on the Sky Dancer, when confirmed with a deposit by September 11, 2009. Increased commission on Sky Dancer is now available to tour operators.
Ecoventura has consolidated promotional departures in 2009 and is now offering a 10% discount + additional 5% commission + fuel tax ($125) is waived + low season airfares apply on these departures:
Aug 23-30, Aug 30-06 Sep, Sep 6-13, Sep 13-20, Sep 20-27, Sep 27-04 Oct, Oct 4-11, Oct 11-18, Oct 25-01 Nov, Nov 1-8, Nov 8-15, Nov 15-22, Nov 29-06 Dec, Dec 6-13.
New for 2010 - In addition to our popular family and teen family departures, Ecoventura has designated three teen family departures for graduating to celebrate the occasion together in Galapagos. They are scheduled for the weeks of May 30-06 June, June 6-13 and June 13-20 2010. A 15% discount is offered on the cruise rate for all teenagers from age 12 to 17 including the recent graduate (even if they have already turned 18). Note: we are offering the 15% discount on family teen departures in 2010 up to age 17.
Join us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and see videos on YouTube.
Also find presentations, brochures and images at: http://www.slideshare.net/ecoventura. You can see photos from our recent trip on Slideshare - a great tool for sales training.
Everything was better than we had expected - the boat in Galapagos islands and the staff were 1st class.
Peru - Rainforest Expeditions, Tambopata www.perunature.com
An experience of a lifetime - a first class expedition! Rainforest Expeditions far exceeded my expectations for our four night five day Tambopata Research Center trip. First - from our exceptional guide Jorge meeting us at the airport to delivering us back - we had personalized one on one treatment. I have never been treated with more hospitality anywhere in the world. The busy schedule optimized our rainforest exploration and we got to see macaws, monkeys, and a host of other wildlife and flora and fauna. All the guides were well educated, friendly, and fun. The lodges are cozy and quaint and the food excellent. You can't go wrong unless you want air conditioning, limo service, and sleeping in. You can have it, I'll go back to the rainforest. Aug 09
In the news :-
- Refugio Amazonas has 8 new rooms, now 32 rooms total
- TRC has opened its massage room. Aromatherapies, massages, energy cleansing and others offered at lodge
- We have bought 4 stroke engines for the lodge boats. These save in fuel, are quieter, and cleaner
- 75% of our motor fleet for the boats that travel between the lodges are new. This will save up to 50% of fuel consumption and emissions. This is part of our certification process with Rainforest Alliance
- The Puerto Maldonado Office has opened a store to sell things such as flashlights, raincoats, water, candies, etc in case guests have forgotten anything they need for the trip
- We no longer sell alkaline batteries at the lodges, only rechargeable flashlights
- We now sell ice cream at both Posada and Refugio - 4 delicious flavours: Copoazu, Chocolate, Brazil Nut and Passion Fruit
- We have a new Palm Swamp Trail for our 7-day programme.
Finally some wildlife news from the field:-
Herpailurus yaguarondi (Jaguarundi) has been seen several times on different trails at Refugio in July. This is a small cat and is among one of the most difficult animals to spot.
Also usually secretive is the Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), spotted several times on Refugio Trails in July.
Peru - Casa Andina Private Collection Suasi Island, Lake Titicaca
Casa Andina Suasi Island is an overlooked-gem of a place! The food is wonderful (GREAT barbecue on the beach for lunch!), the staff is very friendly and accommodating, and the rooms are very nice and they all have views of Lake Titicaca. It's easy to while away two days here canoeing around the island, taking a trip by zodiac with a guide, hiking to the little peak for a stunning sunset, watching the stars, looking for the vicunas, watching the birds, etc.. I can't recommend this highly enough as a great way to end a trip to Peru. I can't understand why the place is not fully booked all the time!
Casa Andina’s brand new fibreglass boat with capacity for 16 pax with reclining airline seats, onboard toilet and equipped with the highest technology communication and security devices will be ready to start with our daily departures to Casa Andina Private Collection – Isla Suasi from Puno on the 15th of October!
The boat will enable us to work new packages for Isla Suasi with discounts up to 35% from current rates.
Check out the great 360 degree virtual tour of Suasi at www.casa-andina.com/capc-s/360
Mariano Agramunt is the Casa Andina's brand new Incoming Manager for English and German-speaking countries. He's been working at the hotel chain since mid June. I spent the last two years of my life in Brighton in the UK – it was a brilliant experience and I met great people I will never forget but after 4 years living outside Peru, it was time to go back home and be close to my family. Now I consider myself a lucky person, not only because I have achieved my dream to go back home, also because I am proud to say that I work for the biggest hotel chain in Peru and I will be travelling around the world selling my beautiful country.
I will be in Puerto Varas for TMLA and London for WTM so really look forward to meeting many of you soon!
Also in the news-
• Casa Andina will soon have a 4th hotel in Miraflores, Lima.
• Launching the new brand of restaurants: Alma, Cocina Viva (Soul, live Cuisine) - the chefs in charge of the new chain of restaurants are Teddy Bouroncle and Coque Ossio, who were inspired by a Novo-local concept for both the making of the menu and the decoration of the restaurant.
• Make yourself a fan of the Casa Andina page on Facebook and catch up on the latest news, photos, videos, links of interest, events and all the information about us, as well as our most recent promotions. To access the page, click here. www.casa-andina.com/facebook
Email info@senderos.co.uk for more information.
