All the best,
Your SAT Team

P.S.: We hope you enjoy reading our monthly newsletter! Still we want to remind you that you can unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of this e-mail.


*** The following SAT offices will be closed for the upcoming national holidays ***

September 07: Brazil
September 17: Chile
September 18: Chile
September 19: Chile

You think that museums are boring? Then this is where we prove you wrong! A trip to Peru guarantees the full package and this diversity is also represented in its numerous museums, be it food, textiles or even erotic ceramics. Since there are so many choices we are going to show you some of our top picks. An all-time favorite is Museo Larco Herrera in Lima with its incredible collection of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles as well as gold and silver pieces. And yes, it also houses the aforementioned erotic ceramics. Next is the Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa which not only highlights a 400-year history of nuns living sequestered from the outside world but also offers art galleries with temporary exhibitions. If you want to learn more about Peru´s colorful textiles, the "Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco" is a must. Famous Quechua weaver Nilda Callañaupa, founder and director of the center, shares the rich history of Peruvian ancestral textiles through demonstrations, classes and a stunning exhibition. Finally, the north of the country offers a plethora of fascinating museums that present the findings of famous local excavations, like the Museo Tumbas Reales del Señor de Sipan in Chiclayo, the Museo Cao in Trujillo or the Museum of Leymebamba - complete with an actual mummy room! If you want to know more about Peru's captivating museums, please contact us!

The Amazon cruise operator Aqua Expeditions announced a special promotion on selected departures of their "Adventure Cruises" for single travelers. They will waive the single supplement for reservations on the followings dates: September 03rd/04th, October 12th and November 02nd/09th/16th. Please contact us for terms and conditions as well as reservation requests. 

On August 25th, Uruguay celebrates its Independence Day. In 1978, a rather unusual tradition was created the night before which just happened to fit the nostalgic mood of the coming holiday perfectly - "La Noche de la Nostalgia" (the night of nostalgia). It all started when a famous radio station in Uruguay decided to play nothing but oldies at an original party to attract people the night before Independence Day. The night was a huge success and since then, the event has rapidly grown all over the country. Due to its popularity, there was even a law passed in 2004 to officially declare August 24th La Noche de la Nostalgia. Every broadcasting station dusts off their records from the 60s to 90s and you can find themed events at clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc. People wear bell-bottoms and flashy accessories, poof up their hair and revive old dance moves. If you happen to be in Uruguay during that time, we strongly suggest that you pack the pair of platforms still hidden away in your closet! To learn more about Uruguay`s night of nostalgia, please contact us!
Photo credit: Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel, "Mes de los Recuerdos"

Some people prefer to travel with seasoned guides, others like to take matters into their own hands and explore a country with a rental car. If you are looking for open roads, a varied scenery and lots of experiences along the route, Argentina is just the destination for you. The Northwestern region of the country offers up an incredible mountain setting, complete with  spectacular canyons, picturesque villages and salt flats. To round up the experience, there are countless  wineries, handicraft markets and excellent restaurants with typical Andean cuisine. The famous gorge "Quebrada de Humahuaca" and the Calchaquí Valley will provide some of the best time ever spent in a car. As a stark contrast to the colors and liveliness of the Northwest, the highways in the South highlight the ruggedness and solitude of the Argentine Patagonia region. The vast countryside offers breathtaking glaciers and lakes. Stop in El Chalten to go hiking and visit one of the secluded estancias to learn more about the lives of modern gauchos. And of course you can´t miss the Perito Moreno glacier as one of the region´s highlights! We have many travel ideas for self-drivers prepared, so please  contact us for more information!

September 14th, 2019 will be the 250th anniversary of Alexander von Humboldt´s birth. We have decided to celebrate his accomplishments in Ecuador by creating a journey visiting all the places he and his party ventured to. After having left Colombia, he arrived in Quito in January 1802. He was reportedly fascinated by Ecuador and its people, calling them "strange and unique beings". Today, the national library of Quito exhibits some of Humboldt`s original documents, including its passport. You will also have the chance to visit the original refuge at an altitude of 4,000m that Humboldt used as a base when climbing the Antisana before heading to the  Hacienda San Agustin de Callo where he worked on his illustrations of Inca ruins. After following his footsteps on a hike to Morourco in the Cotopaxi National Park, you can listen to the reading of an excerpt from Humboldt`s expedition. He famously set a world record climbing the Chimborazo up to 5,878m and you will have the chance to follow a part of his journey up the mountain to the second refuge at 5,000m. Via Alausi, you will travel to Cuenca to, just like Humboldt, relax after your adventures in the mountains before finally making your way to Guayaquil from where Humboldt continued to Mexico after a short stay in Peru. Want to know more about this exciting journey? Feel free to contact us!

The Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism finally announced that an insurance will not be required for the entry to the main land of Ecuador.

However, starting November 01st, 2018, all international travelers will need to buy a health insurance for the Galapagos Islands. This health insurance will be sold locally and the companies that will be responsible of this service still have to be reconfirmed by the government of the Galapagos Islands. A list of all the authorized insurance companies is to be published soon.

It has been a busy month for Chile`s Easter Island! An international team of researchers was able to analyze the production process of a recently discovered prehistorical color pigment workshop on the island, dating it back to the 15th-17th century. Apparently, a complex process of alternating phases of filling in minerals and short fires was used to create the pigments. Although it is known that the color red was once sacred, representing spiritual and physical strength and fertility, it is still uncertain what the Rapa Nui people used the red pigments for.
Furthermore, the Chilean government announced that it has taken steps to accelerate the process of reverting the island`s name back to its original "Rapa Nui" in compliance with the demands of the island's inhabitants. A delegation of the Dutch West India Company had named it after their arrival date on the island, Easter Sunday of 1722.
The rich mixture of history, mythology and culture of the island attracts visitors despite the distance from the mainland. It is most famous for its stone works, including the large moai statues, stone platforms (ahus) and petroglyphs. Rugged volcanoes and beautiful beaches complete the picture. For more information about visiting Easter Island, please contact us!
                                                                  Photo credit: SERNATUR

Since Wednesday, August 01st, new regulations apply for all visitors travelling to Easter Island. The Chilean Government announced that the maximum stay for tourists is now limited to 30 days. Additionally, all visitors have to fill out a "Unique Entry Form" (FUI) as well as present a valid ID/passport, a return flight ticket and a copy of the reservation at an accommodation authorized by the National Tourism Service SERNATUR or an invitation by an authorized island resident/member of the Rapa Nui people. If you have any doubts or would like more information, feel free to contact us!

In the south of Colombia, close to the borders of Peru and Brazil, the Tarapoto Lakes are located. Earlier this year, the area has been added to the wetlands list of the Ramsar Convention, which seeks to protect and preserve threatened ecosystems around the world. This makes it the first protected wetlands in Colombia's Amazon region. The efforts to add the Tarapoto lakes to the list were initiated by local indiginous groups, the WWF as well as other supporting organizations. The 45 lakes and the area surrounding them cover approximately 40,000 hectares, within which an extraordinary biodiversity exists. Not only black caimans can be found here but also manatees, river dolphins, jaguars, around 300 types of birds and 900 different plants. To visit the Tarapoto wetlands, you first head towards Leticia (direct flights are avaialable from Bogota) and then travel by boat up the Amazon River to the small village Puerto Nariño, the gateway for excursions to the lakes. This beautiful piece of the earth can be explored by boat or on walks - always keep your eyes open for animals that can be spotted along the river or in the trees! For more information and tour packages, please contact us!

On September 07th, the 33rd Bienal de São Paulo, Affective Affinities, opens its doors in the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion in the Ibirapuera Park until December 9th. The entry is free and it’s definitely worth a visit. Initiated in 1951, the art biennial of São Paulo is the second oldest in the world, after Venice. With its introduction, contemporary art was becoming accessible in Brazil and São Paulo established itself as an international art center. On this year’s biennial twelve individual projects and seven group projects of international artists will be presented, that aim to strengthen the image of art as an individual experience, that create a personal “affective affinity” for each. Visitors will have the possibility to stroll through the pavilion on their own lost in their thoughts, or to join a guided tour to get more details about the spectacular artworks and featured artists. It will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and holidays from 9am - 7pm and on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am - 10pm, last entry one hour before closing time. Please  contact us to learn more about the event and ways to incorporate a visit while staying in Sao Paulo.

Our colleague Susanne Siebrecht, born in Germany, has been part of the SAT Uruguay team since August 2012 - she celebrated her 6-year anniversary just last week! As an Account Executive, many might know her from handling some of our Seat-in-Coach tours but Susanne also loves getting creative when putting together individual programs.
She is an avid traveller, her favorite destinations being Patagonia, especially the Torres del Paine National park, as well as the Chilean lake region. Of course she also enjoys travelling Uruguay, her top destination being the East Coast, including La Paloma and Valizas. 
Susanne is a passionate equestrian and even has her own horse named Yogui she loves to explore the outdoors with. She also likes studying foreign languages and just took up learning Russian a year ago. But you can also find her reading a good book while sipping on some mate tea, an iconic and very traditional drink in Uruguay. 
Feel free to contact Susanne for some travel tips in South America!

In November 2018, the Aloft hotel chain will open a new boutique-style hotel in Miraflores, Lima. Its urban-styled rooms will cater to both leisure and business travelers.

The Casa Andina chain recently opened their new Standard Trujillo Plaza Hotel in Trujillo, Peru after a 4-month remodeling of the previous Los Conquistadores Hotel. It now features 46 comfortable and functional rooms.

Palacio Tangara in Sao Paulo was named one of the "Best new Hotels in 2018" by Condé Nast Traveller, among other factors for its charming architecture and design that is inspired by the Atlantic rainforest.

Sercotel opened the new Casa Gaitán Cortés Hotel in Bogota, Colombia. The 4* boutique hotel offers 9 rooms, an Italian restaurant and a bar.

The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires, currently operated by AccorHotels under the MGallery brand, will become part of the Sofitel Hotels & Resorts family from October 01st and operate under the name of “Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta”.

The Chilean low-cost carrier SKY just announced their plans to operate domestic routes in Peru starting in the first half of 2019 although no destinations have been specified yet.

The Swiss Lufthansa brand Edelweiss Air will launch a new direct connection between Zurich and Buenos Aires starting November 2018 with two weekly departures.