All the best,
Your SAT Team

From July 15th to 16th, the 27th edition of Arte de Portas Abertas (Open Door Art) will be celebrated in the Santa Teresa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. Over this weekend, local artists will open up their ateliers and studios to the public, events and exhibitions will be hosted in the area and even the restaurants join in! A wide range of different art media and styles will be featured, demonstrating the great variety of Brazilian contemporary art. Visitors can enjoy prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, folk art and much more all the while discovering the local cuisine in participating restaurants.  Contact us for more information and packages!

How about a horseback riding tour in the beautiful South of Brazil? The 7 night-package explores the Brazilian historical paths of 18th century, including visits to local farms and riding along old tropeiro routes (the Brazilian version of cowboys), immersion into the local culture, regional music and typical food. The program includes 2 nights in Florianopolis, 4 nights in Lages and surrounding towns as well as 1 night in Santo Amaro da Imperatriz. Departures are available in September 2017, for groups with minimum of 10 participants. Departures for individual travelers upon request. Contact us for more information and rates!

For many, Uruguay is still a blank spot on the map so it´s about time to shine a much deserved light on this little gem nestled between Argentina and Brazil. Did you know that the small country has around 660km coastline along the River Plate, the world´s biggest estuary? In its bustling capital  Montevideo one can enjoy a stroll through the lovely old town and dine in fine restaurants. Just a few hours away, Uruguay´s oldest city, Colonia del Sacramento, was founded in 1680 and awaits its visitors with a charming colonial flair and original buildings from the late 1700's. Jose Ignacio, a small coastal town, evolved into an international jet-setter destination and  Punta del Este is the must-see for beach lovers.  Contact us for travel ideas and programs!

URUGUAY: CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR IN CARMELO

Even in the midst of summer it is never too early to plan ahead for the winter holidays! With Christmas and New Year being 6 months away, the Hyatt hotel Carmelo Resort & Spa on the banks of Rio de la Plata just published its holiday packages, including yoga lessons, unlimited access to the Chandra Spa, bikes for adults and kids, use of the two tennis courts and daily activities at the kid´s club! The packages are subject to a minimum of 3 (Christmas) or 4 (New Year) consecutive nights; vacancies are limited. More information and rates on request!

Besides featuring some of the world´s most impressive landscapes, Patagonia is also home to the third biggest mass of ice - the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. What better way is there to explore this grand and isolated area than a trekking experience? Depending on the weather conditions, the "Southern Patagonian Ice Expedition" in El Chalten lasts between 8 and 10 days. Each day offers new adventures and challenges with 6-10 hour hikes over different terrains; even snow, ice and rock climbing might be required! The lodging is in tents or mountain huts. Participants will be rewarded with a unique discovery of Patagonia and beautiful views of world-famous mountains such as the Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Viedma Glacier.  Contact us for more information and itineraries!

The full day train journey between Cusco and Puno was discontinued with the successful launch of the Belmond Andean Explorer sleeper train. Now, PeruRail decided to get the popular train back on track! On May 31st, the re-branded "PeruRail Titicaca Train" started its traditional journey of approximately 10 hours and 33 minutes through the incredible landscapes of the Andean highlands. Six coaches with a capacity of 132 passengers, including an observatory and bar coach, will travel 6 times per week between the Inca capital and Lake Titicaca. A gourmet lunch with local ingredients as well as on-board entertainment with music and dances are included. Cusco-Puno: Wed, Fri and Sun / Puno-Cusco: Mon, Thu and Sat. No departures on Tuesdays.  Contact us for more information and schedules!

NEW COMPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR MACHU PICCHU VISIT

Peru's Ministry of Culture released an addendum regarding the new guidelines for visits to Machu Picchu:

As previously announced, visits to Machu Picchu without guide are no longer possible. With the new rules, it will be 1 guide per each 20 passengers (before it was 1 guide for 16 passengers). Guides will be staying with the group from beginning to end, and will be controlled via a control sheet they have to fill in with passenger details and leave at the beginning and end of the visit with the authorities.

Exceptions for visits without a guide:

For the second visit on two consecutive days, a guide is not needed. Passengers have to present the entrance fee cards of both days as well as the name of the guide who attended them on the first day.

Hikes on Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain are possible without a guide. Nevertheless, for the consecutive visit to the Machu Picchu site a guide is needed.

The two turns are (1) 6am to 12noon and (2) 12noon to 5:30pm.

The first turn permits up to 3267 visitors, including the guests buying the differentiated entrance fees that permit hiking at Machu Picchu Mountain (800 tickets), Huayna Picchu (400 tickets), or the Inca Trail (500 tickets). Guests hiking the Inca Trail can also arrive to Machu Picchu during the second turn.  

The second turn permits up to 2673 visitors. In case visitors get to the entrance gates early, they are allowed in from 11am onwards.

In order to buy your clients' entrance fee tickets in advance, please remember that we need passport information including full names, passport number and nationality 30 days prior to the trip. In case of delays in sending these, especially in high season, problems can occur as entrance fees for the desired turn might not be available.

The reduced entrance fee of USD 35.00 per person (normal rate is USD 54.00 per person) for the afternoon applies from 1pm onwards.

Guests are allowed 4 hours of permanence in the ruin city from the time they entered Machu Picchu. Leaving the ruin city and entering again is not permitted, with exception of “force majeure” cases according to the document (important to mention that the only bathroom is outside the premises).

Entrance fees for hikes to Huayna Picchu allow for a visit of 6 hours total including the hike and visit to Machu Picchu ruin site. Entrance fees for hikes to Machu Picchu Mountain (recommended for experienced hikers only) allow for a visit of 7 hours total including the hike and visit to Machu Picchu ruin site. 

Please contact us for further informations and updates on the new regulations!

On May 13th, more than 20,100 bird watchers from 150 countries all over the world joined together for the international  "Global Big Day 2017" to document a record number of bird sightings in the event´s history. 6,631 types of birds were sighted which makes 60% of the world´s species. Colombia spearheaded the list with an incredible 1,486 species - nearly 15% of the world´s birds! Peru, Ecuador and Brazil followed close behind on places 2, 3 and 4 respectively, Argentina on place 8, Bolivia on place 14, Chile on place 24 and Uruguay on place 38; all of them helping to bring South America to an impressive total of 2,804 species. No wonder that more and more bird watchers discover South America as an exciting destination for their vacation and of course we have lots of ideas prepared that will make every birder´s dreams come true! Our birding tour though Colombia explores the best spots in the Cauca Valley, the Nature Reserve of Rio Blanco, the Otún Quimbaya Reserve and many others! Contact us for more information and travel ideas!

The Galapagos Archipelago is widely known for its beautiful landscapes and unique opportunities to spot animals, many of them endemic to specific islands. But did you know that its volcanic origin also makes this natural paradise perfect for hiking and trekking? Join us on our brand-new hiking program in Galapagos, conquering the highest hill of Santa Cruz, the  Cerro Crocker, which offers great views on neighboring hills and extinct volcanoes. One of the longest hikes is waiting on Floreana Island and leads to the  Post Office Bay. Before heading to Isabela Island, our guests will hike to Cerro Allieri, one of Floreana´s highest points. The program ends with a rewarding hike to the  volcanoes Sierra Negra and Chico. And of course, there will be lots of opportunities to spot giant tortoises, sea turtles, boobies, sea lions and many more of the animals that made Galapagos famous! Contact us for further details about our new trekking program! 

From August 9-13, visitors will find the historic center of Ecuador´s capital illuminated by the second edition of the Festival of Lights during which 10 important buildings will be used to project light, color and music shows. A daytime program with lots of activities will complete the experience. Quito partnered up with the city of Lyon again after the big success of the first festival in 2016 which received approximately 1.5 million visitors from around the world. It was also the first time the festival had been hosted in South America.  Contact us to learn more about the festival.

After the earthquake in 2016, the Ecuadorian government decided to temporarily increase the VAT to help fund the restoration works. The deadline for this 1-year measure passed which means that as of June 1st, the VAT decreased again to its former 12%. Please contact us with any questions!

The expedition cruise company  Australis just launched their new Patagonia cruise ship  Ventus Australis, a state-of-the-art vessel with 100 cabins and a capacity for up to 210 passengers. Same as its famous sister ship Stella Australis, the Ventus Australis is being built by Asenav, an acclaimed Chilean shipyard and will be outfitted with the latest technologies for safety at sea and environmental protection. The Ventus Australis will first depart on January 2nd, 2018. Besides the disembarkation at  Cape Horn, the routing will also include Australis´ new destination, the Condor Glacier. The expedition will give guests the opportunity to marvel at the beautiful Patagonian landscapes and observe the wildlife. The two Australis cruise ships are the only passenger ships to currently navigate the fjords of Tierra del Fuego. Interested? Then contact us for details!

Jutta has been a staple in the SAT family for years and celebrated her 25th anniversary this month! As the Marketing & Sales Director, Jutta is in charge of our Global Sales Office in Frankfurt, coordinating our strategies and activities in Europe and worldwide markets except North America. Her love for Latin America started 26 years ago during a 2-months stay in Bolivia which she considers the heart of South America. The saltlake of Uyuni is her personal highlight, as are hiking in the Atacama desert and animal watching in the Pacaya Samiria National Park in the Peruvian Amazon. Back home, you can find Jutta hiking the "Rheinsteig" or at festivals and concerts. For more tips and ideas about South America, feel free to contact her!

After its inauguration in May 2017, the new Essenza Dune Hotel in Jericoacoara is now in the soft opening season. The hotel located just 2 minutes from the beach and guests can also enjoy the facilties of the nearby Essenza Hotel (100m away), including a pool, spa and gym.

The Grand Hyatt Santiago in Santiago de Chile has been bought by the Mandarin Oriental chain and will operate as "Hotel Santiago" during a 1-year transition period for remodelation from August 1, 2017 on. The hotel will be re-branded as "Mandarin Oriental Santiago" starting on August 1, 2018.

A holistic experience awaits guests at the My SachaJi Wellness Ecolodge in Ecuador´s Otavalo region. It was created to leave the least environmental impact possible and focusses on well-being through organic food, meditation, yoga and traditional healing ceremonies amidst the Andean highlands.

Colca Lodge (Colca Canyon, Peru) presents its new private villa "Casa de Dueños" with a capacity of 6 people. Families and groups of friends can feel right at home with a fully equipped kitchen, terrace with grill, private gardens and jacuzzi.

The winners of the 2017 World Airline Awards have been announced and Avianca was rewarded as both the Best Airline in South America and the Best Regional Airline in South America. Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras won the categories of Best Low-Cost Airline in South America and Best Airline Staff in South America. 

The low cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle launched the sales for its new direct flight between London and Buenos Aires with rates starting from £299 per way. Four weekly departures are planned, with the first one on February 14th, 2018. 

Air Europa announced its plans for a new connection between Madrid and Puerto Iguazu, Argentina starting May 2018. Three weekly departures are planned, with a stop in Rio de Janeiro, in order to strengthen Argentina´s position as an international destination.

Alitalia signed a new codeshare agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas. From September 2017, Alitalia will operate 3 out of the 7 weekly Aerolineas flights between Rome and Buenos Aires. Additionally, Alitalia will code-share Aerolineas flights in South America, such as Iguazú and Ushuaia, Santiago de Chile, Montevideo, Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Lima.