welcome to our monthly newsletter! Before starting with our updates on the latest South America products and awe-inspiring SAT journeys, we would like to give you some information on the new VAT refund law for foreign tourists in Argentina!

The VAT refund (for accommodation services) is aiming at improving the competitiveness of Argentina as touristic destination on an international level, following the model of other South American countries.  The refund works technically as exemption which means that the corresponding % of VAT will not be invoiced by the corresponding hotel, providing that the following criteria are met:  

-   The guest has its residency in a foreign country

-   The booking is made via an official travel agency, or directly with the hotel

-   Payment is done by foreign debit or credit card or international wire transfer

 

The resolution was published without establishing a transition period, which is why hotels are still adapting their systems and booking processes in order to be able to issue invoices considering the refund. We are in close contact with all our accommodation providers in order to organize a smooth booking and invoicing process in the future.

For any questions, our team is at your entire disposal. We hope this measure will fulfill all expectations and boost sales to Argentina!

Now, lean back, enjoy reading - and let us know in case you need further information on the mentioned itineraries and suggestions!

Also check out our Website, Facebook & Instagram for latest updates! We are looking forward to hearing back from you!

All the best,
Your SAT Team

Fancy authentic estancia stays in the middle of rough Patagonian landscapes? SAT recommends two very special and charming historical farms, located close to vast ice fields, majestic mountains and lakes of unique natural beauty. Both Estancia Nibepo Aike and Estancia Cristina offer great settings for activities like hiking, horseback riding or fly fishing! Guests may also see and live the typical farm life, including sheep shearing, cattle herding or milking. Majestic glaciers can be found nearby and are best explored by jeep or on horseback! Curious? Contact us for more details on our recommended farmstays in Southern Argentina!

Discover a marvellous Ecuadorian train journey aboard the Tren del Cacao (“Cocoa train”)! SAT offers a wonderful experience for travellers who are keen on exploring the production sites of some of the world’s best cocoa. The day trip takes you to Hacienda La Danesa, a property that dates back to 1870 and is dedicated to preparing artisan chocolate with cocoa harvested from various plantations. A demonstration on how to prepare delicious chocolate is included, as well as a lunch made with fresh vegetables directly from the farm. The train leaves Durán each Thursday and Friday, plus every second Saturday and Sunday. Fancy a piece of chocolate? Contact us for more details on this beautiful journey!

If its about trekking in Peru, most people probably think of the Inka Trail. Less known but not less spectacular for hiking enthusiasts is the Huayhuash mountain range. Possibly one of the most beautiful trekking spots of the country, Huayhuash offers blue lagoons, green valleys, grey mountain massifs and white glaciers, rugged rocks and soft grassland steppes. The route is challenging, but the feeling of remoteness is fantastic. The whole Huayhuash circuit takes from 8 to 14 days depending on the route, several options are available with SAT. Also recommendable and well doable in only 4 days is the nearby Santa Cruz Trek. Ready to accept the challenge? Contact us!

The NY Times lists the Sacred Valley of Peru among the 52 places to go in 2017! Listed as number 46, the Andean region’s food culture is highlighted, and the soon to operate Andean Explorer luxury train from Belmond Hotels. A few more South American spots were included on the list: Chile found itself as the runner up to the top spot, with NYTimes highlighting the Atacama Desert. High up on the list was also Ecuador, landing at number 13 thanks to the natural beauty of the El Pedregal valley. Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands, the second-largest wetlands in the world, are listed as number 40.

During the last 5 years, 120 new hotels have started operation in Colombia, many of those in Bogotá. International hotel chains such as Hilton, Marriot, Hyatt, Radisson, Starwood, Four Seasons and Sofitel have opened their doors to the public. Also during the same period the air connectivity has shown an average annual growth of 9.5% in new seats. Bogotá might not immediately seduce like Cartagena or Cusco. But it does have its very own charme! In La Candelaria the streets are cobblestoned and buildings brightly colored, both from colonial tradition and from a growing street art scene. The city is also home to the Museo del Oro, which houses the world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts, and Museo Botero, devoted to the beloved native artist’s full-bodied work. Colombia, sitting at number two on the 2017's Lonely Planet hottest destinations list, was lauded for its 'rich tapestry of vibrant culture, nature and hospitality'. SAT would love to show you around -  contact us now!

On April 19th 1917, almost one hundred years ago, La Cumparsita Tango had its official debut. It was composed by the Uruguayan musician Gerardo Hernan Matos Rodriguez in Montevideo and was played for the first time in the old “ Confiteria La Giralda”, on Plaza Independencia. La Giralda then disappeared and in its place the Palacio Salvo was erected. The exact place where that orchestra played what would later be the Tango of all Tangos, was lost in time and memory. Now, that historic place has been recovered. The " Tango Museum - La Cumparsita" is located in the exact place where this famous tango was born! It is an impressive thematic space, where one travels in time to the beginning of the 20th century. SAT also offers private dinners in that fine location, exclusively under reservation, including an excellent theatrical and musical Tango show. A new must-visit in Montevideo!  Contact us for more information!

Although Carnival is celebrated throughout Brazil, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the Carnival capital of the world. SAT invites you to enjoy the most popular party of the Marvelous City. From Feb 24th to Mar 1st, the city will be more vibrant than ever with lots of parties and street bands. The 5-day event officially starts on Friday and finishes on the Ash Wednesday - the Winner's Parade follows on March 4th, allowing further celebrations throughout the week.  Consult us for hotel packages with 4, 3 or 2 OV, optional tours and tickets to the Carnival Parade at the Sambodromo.

The Tivoli Ecoresort at Praia do Forte, Brazil, presents the Tivoli Dream Night project with the singer Dionne Warwick, who will perform exclusively at the resort on March 18, 2017. Owner of a single Grammy Award-winning voice, Dionne Warwick is one of the pillars of American pop culture and music. With more than 50 years of career, she has sold more than 100 million records. The concert, restricted to guests during the period, will be held after a special dinner served in the hotel garden. Minimum of 3 OV requested from March 16 to 19, 2017! Availability and rates upon request!

Discover Santiago de Chile's latest tourist attraction: the aerial tramway at San Cristóbal Hill. The unique, colorful trams, which first appeared in 1980, are a part of the collective memory of all city residents. Today, following the reinauguration of this Santiago icon, a new version with 46 blue, red and green trams circulates along the tramway, which covers more than two kilometers in around 15 minutes. Its three stations meet universal design standards with ramps and access elevators. During the trip, one can see and enjoy a lot of Santiago and the vastness of the Andes Mountains. The teleferico is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Please  contact us for further information on this trip and further Santiago city packages including the iconic Teleferico!

For the second year running Chile has won the prestigious award of South America's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination (World Travel Awards). Adrenaline seekers are offered a wide range of great sceneries for all kinds of activities: from snowy mountains to sand dunes, from cold lakes to deep forests, from the rough landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park to the moon-like Atacama desert. Contact us for suggestions on some of the best adventure trips in the country!

Carla dreamed of traveling since she was little and always had a great interest in nature. She decided to study tourism and soon became a specialist in the industry. She knows Ecuador by heart, and loves the country's cultural diversity as well as its unique flora and fauna! After spending several years working on the mainland, she decided to accept the challenge of managing the SAT office in the Galapagos Islands. She has been with the SAT family for 2 years now, and just loves her work, as she is always in contact with nature. For any travel suggestions around Ecuador and Galapagos, don’t hesitate to send Carla an e-mail!

The Peruvian Casa Andina chain is further expanding. A new 4* hotel has opened its doors in Tacna, featuring 150 guest rooms, a restaurant, spa and gym. Another property is planned to follow in 2017 in Iquitos.

The 4* Hotel Lago Grey inside the Torres del Paine National Park will remain open during the Chilean winter season 2017 and can be booked throughout the whole year accordingly.

The 5* Santa Teresa Hotel Mgallery by Sofitel in the city of Rio de Janeiro was indicated in the Gold List 2017 of the Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best hotels in the world.

Yet another (quite special) hotel popped up in the Santa Teresa neighborhood: Mama Shelter Rio de Janeiro defines itself as a crossroad for people, a living and meeting place, cultural meltingpot, a place to sleep, eat, sing and dream! The boutique hotel offers 55 rooms.

The new 5* Hotel del Parque, member of the Oro Verde Hotels group, just opened its doors in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The restored 19th century property features 44 guest rooms and is set inside an emblematic park.

The 5* Country Club Lima Hotel (Peru) just finished the overall renovation & remodeling of its guest rooms and now provides even more luxury and comfort to travelers. 

The new Emiliano Rio de Janeiro opened in December 2016 right in front of Copacabana beach! The design hotel features 90 exclusive and cozy guest rooms, a restaurant with contemporary Italian cuisine, Spa and rooftop infinity pool, plus breathtaking views of the entire Copacabana!

Starting 28 March 2017, KLM will no longer include Cali in its circular service to Bogotá. Instead, KLM will fly via Bogotá to Cartagena on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

LATAM inaugurated a direct flight between Lima and Barcelona! The three flights per week are operated with a Boeing 767.

LATAM will introduce a new flight route between Santiago de Chile and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) as of the 28th of March 2017. The route will be served three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

LATAM will operate a new non-stop flight between Santiago de Chile and Melbourne, Australia, as of October 2017. The 15 hour flight will be served 3 times a week.

TAM now offers direct flights between Sao Paulo and Punta del Este! The route is served twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.

LATAM just started flying directly from Lima to Cartagena. The route is served 4 times a week (Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays).

Star Perú will offer new daily flights between Pisco and Cusco, starting 1st of April 2017!

The Belmond Hiram Bingham at the Sacred Valley of Peru now also operates on Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month).

As of this year, the entrance fee for Easter Island (Chile) is $83 per person (priorly $60).

Mendoza Airport (Argentina) has re-opened in December 2016 and is operating normally. It is no longer necessary to use alternative airports.