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April 30th: Argentina, Ecuador
May 01st: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Frankfurt 
May 10th: Frankfurt
May 14th: Colombia
May 21st: Frankfurt
May 25th: Argentina, Ecuador
May 31st: Brazil, Frankfurt

Did you know that South America is great for winter sports? That´s right, while our side of the world is looking forward to summer time, the ski season is approaching in the Southern Hemisphere! And since Chile has fantastic ski slopes and resorts, we created a  brand-new Ski Manual! It includes helpful general information, hotel suggestions and rates. Please  contact us to learn more and to request our Chile Ski Manual!

From April 27 to 29, the fifth edition of the Atacama Challenger Bike Race takes place in the Atacama Desert. Since bike excursions are a lovely way to explore a country, we felt inspired to tell you more about the many beautiful destinations in Chile that are perfect for cycling. Naturally, the first one is Atacama. You can bike around the city, visit the Pucara de Quitor or head to the Moon Valley. This is especially recommended in the afternoon to watch the sunset in the valley! When you are in Santiago, a day trip to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar is a popular option. How about once you get there you exchange the bus for a bike and explore the coastal road? The many vineyards around Santiago also offer lovely views while biking through the grapevines. Finally, there is no talking about mountainbiking and breathtaking landscapes without mentioning Patagonia. Torres del Paine has countless remote corners so why not take a few days and discover them by bike? Available packages last up to 7 days! Another favourite is the Carretera Austral which, depending on where you start, takes you along rolling green plains and forests, rivers and lakes, always with the impressive panorama of the Andean mountains. Please contact us if you are curious to hear more!
                                         Picture credit: Sernatur

Nazca, a small town in the desert of the province Ica south of Lima, is famous for its mysterious geoglyphs known as "Nazca Lines" that attract tourists from all over the world. More geoglyphs are located close to the town Palpa. Their design and creation continues to fascinate professionals and visitors alike and this month, worldwide news lit up with reports of the discovery of new geoglyphs in Palpa! The find was rather accidental during an aerial mapping project of the already known drawings. The new figures consist of  more than 50 straight lines many of which are suspected to have been carved between 500 B.C. and 200 A.D., leaving them almost indiscernible to the human eye. Contrary to the known lines, that form designs like the famous colibri or astronaut, the new geoglyphs have no recognizable forms. A flight over the area is the best way to explore the Nazca Lines since their sheer size makes it impossible to admire them in their entirety. A visit to the geoglyphs is a highlight of every Peru tour and should not be missed! For more information about visits to the Nazca lines, please contact us!

Delfin Amazon Cruises, the renowned luxury cruise company operating from Iquitos, was recently admitted into the Relais & Chateaux association as the first and only cruise operator. Their vessels Delfin I, II and III cruise the Pacaya Samiria National Park in the Peruvian Amazon region. True to Relais & Chateaux's mission statement, guests can expect a "feeling of total immersion in a place and its culture, allowing them to be discovered from up close with all that they have to offer."

Uruguay is known as the small gem wedged between Argentina and Brazil but really, it is so much more! The country offers a captivating mix of rich culture, excellent cuisine and wine as well as impressive landscapes. One of its natural treasures can be found in Flores, just 2 hours from Montevideo - the Palace Caves. They are part of the Geopark Grutas del Palacio, one of only two UNESCO Global Geoparks in South America. It covers an area of approximately 3.600sq km and some of its formations are almost 2,500 million years old, dating back to the Proterozoic Eon! With the help of specialized guides visitors can follow earth's evolution during millions of years and complete their experience with a visit to the park's interpretation center and museum. The geopark also collaborates with the communities to promote geological and historical heritage by welcoming students from primary schools up to universities for their field trips and project works. Grutas del Palacio is definitely worth a visit and makes for a very special experience. If you want to learn more, please  contact us!
Picture credit: Geoparque Grutas del Palacio, Gabriela Rufener

The  National Park Lençóis Maranhenses is a beautiful and contradictory natural spectacle close to Sao Luis on the northern coast of Brazil. Surrounded by tropical forest on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, these white sandy dunes are piled up to a height of around 40 meters to form the only desert-like region in Brazil. Heavy rainfalls between the months of January and July result in a most fascinating phenomenon: turquoise pools nestled in the valleys of the dunes, some of which are deep enough to swim! Even in the dry season, when the smaller pools dry out, three bigger lagoons remain and the stark contrast between the dunes and the water creates a sight that is unique in the world. The best travel season is between May and August. Day excursions are possible by jeep or boat and there are even hiking paths to small communities within the dunes (overnight required). The full panoramic view can be enjoyed during an overflight. The gateways to Lençóis Maranhenses are Sao Luis and Fortaleza. For more information and packages to explore the national park, please contact us.

If our article inspired you to visit Lençóis Maranhenses, June should be on your short list for possible travel dates. Not only is it among the best months to visit the area, it is also when one of the most important folkloristic festivals takes place in Sao Luis: Bumba meu boi do Maranhão. Between June 13 and 30, the city's streets host many colorful parties with traditional music, dance and costumes to tell a story that revolves around the death and resurrection of a bull. The festival offers a lovely view into Brazilian folklore and visitors will have the chance to join in the singing and dancing. 

South America is famous for its culinary delights and Ecuador is no exception. With award-winning coffee and chocolate, countless farmer's markets and local specialties from the Andean mountains to the coast and jungle, gourmets from all over the world marvel at the country's gastronomic diversity. This month, a new culinary initiative was inaugurated in the town Azogues, located just 40 minutes north of Cuenca in a region that cultivates grains, potatoes, greens, vegetables and legumes. Several gastronomic establishments joined together for a complete experience of both traditional and fusion cuisine with products from the area. The project "Azogues a la Carta" seeks to not only promote rural tourism but also  support farmers and small businesses in the area. The artisan brewery Kuritambo Cervecería serves excellent beer while the restaurant Contradicción re-invents typical dishes with a modern twist in order to preserve the "Cañari" cuisine. Visitors with a sweet tooth are welcome at the ice cream parlor Fiore Gelato or the store La Golosina de Antaño for more traditional treats.  Contact us for more information! 

Since big parts of the iconic San Francisco square in the colonial centre of Quito were closed down for the construction of the new metro station, it was finally re-opened by the end of March. The works are not finished yet but will continue mainly underground except for two small areas that are still sectioned off.

Although Bariloche is located in one of the most beautiful landscapes of Argentina, it is very much underrated as a destination. Time to change that! Its picturesque setting at the shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi and the foot of the Andean mountains has made Bariloche a hotspot for outdoor and adventure activities. First off, it is South America's favorite ski-resort in the winter. But throughout the year, the lake and river are perfect for rafting, stand-up paddling, kayaking and fishing whereas the mountains and forests are ready to be explored during long hikes, trekkings, on a mountainbike or horse or even ziplining through the treetops! After a busy day, participating at a chocolate workshop will replenish your strength. Did you know that Bariloche has one of the best chocolates in the world? The area also produces excellent wines and its gastronomic offers leave nothing to be desired. Bariloche is famous for smoked delicacies like meat, fish or cheese and BBQ lovers will appreciate a Patagonian lamb or juicy steak cooked over an open fire. The region is best known for its Patagonia trout that may come prepared in various ways but whether grilled, cooked or smoked, it's always delicious! If you want to know more about Bariloche, please contact us!

On April 7th, the city of Barranquilla located at the Caribbean coast of Colombia, celebrated its 205th anniversary. Although it has formidable nicknames such as "Colombia's Golden Gate", Barranquilla is often overlooked by tourists in favor of its more famous neighbors like Cartagena and Santa Marta. However, it has lots to offer! The Carnival of Barranquilla is one of the most important festivals of Colombia and was even recognized as an intangible heritage by UNESCO. The delicious cuisine indulges visitors with fried carimañolas (meat- or cheese-stuffed yucca dough), exotic fruit like lulo, corozo or sapodilla and exquisite sea food. At night, you can dance away the calories in one of the many clubs that play salsa, cumbia and vallenato, a typical music of the north coast. If you need proof of Barranquilla's musical abilities: famous singer Shakira was born here! Barranquilla is also home to Colombia's first regional museum, the "Museo del Caribe". The adjacent Magdalena River is perfect for boat excursions to explore the beautiful landscape surrounding the city.  Contact us for more ideas and itinerary suggestions!

Our colleague Nadine is originally from Germany and joined the SAT team in Santiago de Chile in 2016. She has been part of the SAT Chile team as an intern in 2014 already and her colleagues were more than happy to welcome her back as an account executive after she finished her tourism studies in Germany.
Nadine has travelled to several countries in South America, including Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. But it was the Chilean culture and nature she fell in love with and this passion shows in the programs she creates for her clients every day. Nadine also loves Chilean wines and recommends to visit at least one winery when in Chile. During a trip to the Atacama desert, she enjoyed a flight in a hot air balloon – a once in a lifetime experience!  Contact Nadine so she can help you plan your dream journey to Chile!

In December LATAM will launch a new flight between Tel Aviv and Santiago de Chile via Sao Paulo with 3 weekly departures (SCL-TLV: Mon, Wed, Sat / TLV-SCL: Tue, Thu, Sun).

Air Europa announced that they plan direct flights between Puerto Iguazu and Madrid. The connection will be launched by the end of this year with 2 weekly departures.

The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards rates Brazilian airline Azul Linhas Aéreas the ninth best in the world and the first in Latin America.

LATAM will increase the flight frequency between Rome and Sao Paulo from 3 weekly departures since March 2018 to 1 departure per day starting August 01st.

Avianca will connect Bogota and Munich starting November 16th with 5 weekly departures (BOG-MUC: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat / MUC-BOG: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun).

The airport Arturo Merino Benítez in Santiago de Chile plans to nearly triple passenger capacities to 45 million in the next 4 years. A new terminal will increase the number of gates from 18 to 64.