All the best,
Your SAT Team


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

November 01: Chile, Ecuador, Peru
November 02: Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay
November 05: Colombia
November 12: Colombia

Please visit us at the World Tavel Market in London at ExCeL, from November 05th – 07th. You will find us at our SAT booth no. CA207. Please contact us to set up an appointment or just stop by for a chat. We will be delighted to see you next week at WTM!

Thanks to a recent governmental initiative, you now have the opportunity to enjoy Colombia's diversity, authenticity and charm on two wheels. A total of 38 routes leads across mountains, savannas and vast plains through 18 departments. Pedal through national parks and heritage towns, cruise along the coast, taste the delicious food and merge with the local culture. There is so much to explore! Why not set off for a visit to the neighboring municipalities of Bogotá or head towards Cartagena to enjoy its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, colonial architecture and rich culture. You can also explore the paramo ecosystems with the many plum and apple fields along a 36km route. Also make sure to try the famous Boyacá cheese arepas to power up for the next part of your journey. Get to know the San Lorenzo dam, visit the famous Peñol stone of Guatapé east of Medellin or discover the Tatacoa Desert and spend a night under a star-filled sky. The possibilities are endless! If you want to learn more about the bike routes and head off to pedal through Colombia, feel free to contact us! Photo Credit: Bike Tours Northern Colombia

On September 26th, the „Ruta de los Parques“, a route leading through the pristine and breathtaking landscape of Patagonia, was introduced in Chile. With a length of 2800km it connects the Lake Region, the Aysén Region and the Region of Magallanes, crossing 17 national parks between Puerto Montt and  Cape Horn. These 17 national parks cover 11.5 million hectares of land, which is nearly 3 times the size of Switzerland! They are home to various ecosystems, with 7 types of native forests and a diverse flora and fauna. The route was initiated by the Tompkins Conservation foundation in order to create a balance between natural protection and economic development. On a long term perspective, the foundation aims to establish Chile as a leading destination for nature tourism at an international level by expanding its conservational actions, creating awareness for the importance of environmental protection, and improving the local economic development. Trips along the "Ruta de los Parques" are easily customizable to personal preferences, thanks to the great connectivity, an excellent road network and diverse landscapes. If you want to plan your unforgettable journey through the Route of Parks in Patagonia, do not hesitate to contact us!

Uruguay surprises many with its delicious cuisine and full-bodied wines. But there is another secret to the culinary achievements of South America's smallest country! The production of aromatic olive oil has a long tradition in Uruguay. While in the 60's olive plantations were mostly located in the northwestern regions, the production rapidly expanded to the rest of the country in the last decade. Due to the ideal conditions for olive trees, Maldonado in particular became a region of interest for the flavorful fruit. Over time, the plantation owners started to share the production process of the "liquid gold" with visitors. Besides taste-testing the different varieties of olives, guests can get to know the facilities, explore the plantation on horseback or take a stroll between the gnarled and twisted olive trees - what better way to spend a day in the Uruguayan countryside? The best  way to experience the production of Uruguay`s high-quality olive oil is the "Olive Route" in Maldonado. From Punta del Este and Sierra de los Caracoles along the routes 9, 12 and 39, you will find the largest number of producers, such as O’33, Colinas de Garzón and Finca Babieca. For more information and itinerary suggestions, please contact us! Photo credit: Finca Babieca

All over the world, Brazil is famous for its legendary carnival celebrations with costumes and floats in vibrant colors, Samba rhythms and huge street festivals. Why not use the festival's joy, vitality and cheerful atmosphere as an ideal opportunity to grow together as a work team - all year round? Spectacular events  and incentives can be organized right in the City of Samba! Based in the warehouse of the Grande Rio Samba School, your funtion will include a gala dinner as well as different activities that will bring your team closer together. Discover the rhythm of carnival during samba and percussion lessons, get creative in workshops for costumes and makeup, work together to organize your very own carnival parade, and compete in quizzes and contests - all the while enjoying a backstage view into the organization of Rio`s biggest event. After a day of fun activities, the team will relaxe with a refreshing cocktail followed by the delicious gala dinner. A Bossa Nova band or presentation about the history of samba and carnival will accompany the dinner. Your event will end with the Grande Rio Samba School Grand Finale! If you want to plan your own vibrant carnival team building event, please contact us! Photo credit: Carnaval Experience

The Chez Georges Hotel is a private villa, located on a hilltop in Rio's beautiful Santa Teresa district. The villa is a wonderful representation of transcontinental modernism and listed as an urban heritage. The 900m² villa provides space for 14 guests in 7 suites, it has a spacious pool and its own soundproof recording studio. It can be rented in its entirety and is the perfect accommodation for musicians, bands, families, design lovers, and groups. If you are interested in staying at this unique place to experience the carioca lifestyle, please contact us.

On October 10th, Ecuador's president Lenín Moreno announced the construction of the Tren Playero, a 400km long railroad line along the Pacific coast. The route for the line section is planned to lead from Daule, via Nobol to Guayaquil. From there it will continue along the coast via Posorja, Playas, Engabao, Chanduy, Ancón, Salina, Punta Blanca, Ayangue, Montañita, Puerto López and San Lorenzo to its final station in Manta. The project will be realized in two stages, and the first 100km, between Posorja, Guayaquil and Daule will take approximately 26 months to be constructed. Once the line section is completed it will transport passengers and help promote the tourism development in the region. Additionally, it will be used for cargo transportation to decongest the Ecuadorian roads. This means that besides making an exciting contribution to Ecuador's touristic offer, the project will also support the overall national economy. For more information about the Tren Playero project, do not hesitate to contact us!

The Government Council of the Galapagos Special Regime continues with the evaluation of the documentation presented by the insurance companies. Therefore the private health insurance will not be required yet to enter Galapagos. Once the review process is completed the government will inform the starting date of the requirement of a private health insurance in due time. The requirements that currently must be presented at the migratory control of the Galápagos Government Council are a transit control card, a round trip ticket and a reservation in one or more accommodations or legally authorized tourist establishments.

From October 6th to October 12th, the 2018 Summer Youth Games took place in Buenos Aires. Talented young athletes from all over the world between the ages of 15 and 18 proudly represented their countries in 185 competitions in 28 sports and 31 disciplines. The competitions were held in five big venues in Buenos Aires: the Green Park, the Urban Park, the Youth Olympic Park, the Técnopolis Park and the Paseo de la Costa. Additionally, there were three smaller stand-alone venues: the Club Náutico San Isidro, the Club Atlético de San Isidro and the Hurlingham Club. The Opening Ceremony was held at the Obelisco de Buenos Aires, one of the city's most famous landmarks. The Closing ceremony took place in the Youth Olympic Village within the Roca Park. During the whole event, the mascot Pandi, a gender-neutral Jaguar, accompanied the athletes. Besides creating awareness for the endangered species, the mascot also simbolizes gender equality. The best ranked nations of the this year's games are Russia with 59 total medals and 29 gold, China with 36 total medals and 18 gold, and Japan 39 total medals and 15 gold. Photo credit: Turismo Buenos Aires

The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International, is offering a new culinary delight: the "Be Epicurean" program. The pilot project took place in the hotels Tambo del Inca (Sacred Valley) and Palacio del Inca (Cusco) and we ourselves had the privilege of joining it! On the 4-night-experience, guests will enjoy the finest dishes of the Peruvian cuisine as well as extraordinary accommodation. Upon arrival at the Tambo del Inca, a refreshing lunch is served next to the hotel's biological garden and later on, the guests have the opportunity to visit a local brewery. The next day, the "Cinco Fuegos" barbecue is held in the hotel`s garden and we can tell you that it is as impressive and delicious as it sounds! In the evening, an interesting mixology class is offered and guests will be pampered with an Andean tasting dinner. On day three, the guests move on to the Palacio del Inca to participate in a variety of activities, such as a visit to the local market, an indigenous cooking event, a pisco class and a wine and cheese tasting. The last full day is dedicated to relaxation, including a delicious Andean tasting lunch and second chance of joining a mixology class. Be sure to check out the Be Epicurean Video and for more information on the gastronomic event, please contact us!

Sabrina joined the SAT family in our office in Rio de Janeiro in March 2015 as a specialist for Supplier & Relations Data. As such, she is in charge of the maintenance of our system as well as updating data of hotels and other suppliers. Born and raised in Angra dos Reis, a coastal city west of Rio de Janeiro, her dedication to the tourism industry led Sabrina to Rio in 2002 to pursue her career. 
Sabrina has a real passion for travel and takes every opportunity to improve her knowledge about new destinations, learn about different cultures and meet people from all over the world. She has travelled most of Brazil, including Buzios, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Salvador, Praia do Forte, São Paulo, Foz do Iguassu, Minas Gerais, Manaus, Amazon, Pantanal and Chapada dos Guimarães. But her favorite place for sure is Rio de Janeiro. If you want to know what she loves about this vibrant city and get some insider travel tips, feel free to contact Sabrina! She will be more than happy to share her expertise about all the beautiful destinations Brazil has to offer.

"W Hotels Worldwide", part of Marriott International, will open its first luxury hotel in Brazil. The "W São Paulo" will be located in the business district Vila Olímpia near the luxury shopping district JK Iguatemi. The opening is planned for 2021.

Currently 13 hotel projects are under construction in Lima. Some of them will open within 2018, but most of them plan to open within 2019.

This year's results of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards were published this month. The Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Colombia was voted as the best hotel in South America. Followed by Peru, in particular Cusco, that ranked place 2 to 5 with the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, the Inkaterra La Casona, the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco and the Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel.

On November 4th, the airline Gol Linhas Aéreas will start operating direct flights between Brazil and the USA. The flights to Miami and Orlando will be operated with 4 daily flights from Brasília and Fortaleza airport.

On October 17th, Norwegian Air Shuttle operated its first domestic flights in Argentina. Until the end of the year 6 routes are planned that will connect Buenos Aires with Córdoba, Mendoza, Iguazú, Neuquén, Bariloche and Salta.

Since October 27th, Lufthansa is operating the daily flight on the route BOG-FRA with an Airbus A340-600. Due to its higher number of seats, the Airbus provides capacity for 37% more passengers.

The aeronautical authorities of Finland and Peru reached an agreement that will allow airlines from both countries to operate flights between the two nations. Finland already announced that Finnair will be the first airline to start operating this route soon.

Since October 20th, LATAM is offering four fare options for international flights. The Promo, Light, Plus and Top fares were already implemented for domestic flights. The Promo and Light option do not include hold luggage, while de Plus fare includes one piece of 23 kg and the Top fare includes two pieces. The seat reservation will be purchased separately as well.