All the best,
Your SAT Team


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

April 02: Argentina
April 18: Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay
April 19: all offices
April 22: Frankfurt
April 23: Brazil

In recent years, Colombia has become a rising star in the culinary world thanks to its stunning variety of ingredients and cultures resulting in an interesting mix of local cuisines. A visit to Bogotá's famous market Paloquemao will easily prove this point: fruit from the Amazon, seafood from the Caribbean and Pacific coast, coffee and cacao from the green valleys and ready-to-devour snacks from all over the country. Bogotá is also home to restaurant jewels such as Leo and Misia, both run by Latin America’s Best Female Chef of 2017, Leonor Espinosa. After a delicious meal, it is time for a cup of aromatic, strong coffee and where better to go than the country's coffee triangle? Numerous coffee farms in the Cocora Valley introduce visitors to the cultivation and processing of coffee beans - a freshly brewed cup is of course included. Finally, could you have guessed Colombia's second culinary hotspot? Medellín is famous for its restaurant scene, including La Chagra which focusses on Amazonian cuisine. One of chef Juan Santiago Gallego's specialties is mojojoy, a white worm. But no worries, less adventurous eaters will also be in for a delightful treat! Hungry for more culinary delights in Colombia? Then contact us now for more information! 

Today we want to show you why Uruguay is the perfect destination for a ladies' tour. You start in Montevideo: full of culture, stunning architecture, lovely promenades and culinary temptations. Soak up its beautiful sights during a city tour, ending with a delightful wine tasting at the boutique winery Artesana. Then you get a glimpse of Uruguay's rich carnival traditions during a workshop with the all-women drummer group "La Melaza" which was initially founded to participate at the International Women's Day celebrations in 2005. There is no better way to share the joy of music and dance! Afterwards, you make your way to La Paloma, a small coastal town where you will meet members of APALCO, a group of female entrepreneurs. The women got together to support their families by fishing and preparing their catch at their restaurant La Cocina de La Barra. Next on the list is Punta del Este, where you will explore the facets of olive oil production before heading to a typical ranch for the full gaucho experience - saddle up! After a stop in Cerro Chato, where women first exercised their right to vote, the tour ends at the hotel Cerro Místico in Minas to relax and recharge in the beautiful nature with wetlands, native forest and canyons. Curious for more? Then contact us now for the complete program!

Are you looking for new things to explore in beautiful Quito? Then we have just the thing for you! The city recently launched a collection of six new routes in La Mariscal, the place to go for shopping, coffee, great food or a drink at night. But the neighborhood has so much more to offer! The new walking tours take about 2,5-3 hours and follow a specific theme: palaces, creativity, words, architecture, museums or art and Jewish history. The route of creativity for example includes a visit to the socio-cultural center El Útero which promotes sculpture, music, drama and other forms of art as well as a stroll through the Artisan Market. The route of words takes you to the "Patio de Comedias", an independent theater founded and run by the Guarderas family, as well as the residence of writer Benjamín Carrión which today serves as a cultural center. The route of architecture takes participants on a journey through time by visiting buildings constructed between 1900 and 1970, like the Neo-Baroque Manuela Cañizares School or the Academy of National History with its Arabic influence. If you would like to incorporate these routes into your programs, please contact us for more information!

Remote areas, in-depth explorations and luxury of the essential - these are the keystones of the explora philosophy. Their beautiful property in the Sacred Valley is no exception and the perfect lodging for everyone who wants to experience a different side of Peru's most popular attraction. Guests can chose from more than 30 explorations in the surrounding valley, plateau and mountain. You can hike, bike or travel by van to discover natural or cultural treasures of the area. The Tastayoc hike for example leads through isolated pastureland along turquoise and clear lagoons providing the perfect opportunity to learn about high-mountain water ecosystems. Or how about a bike ride through the Andean pampas, local communities, old haciendas and manors while enjoying spectacular views? Explora also announced a collaboration with acclaimed Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez who remodeled the hotel's gastronomic concept. The best news: for stays of three or more nights until October 31, explora offers a free guided tour to Machu Picchu as well as discounts for the accommodation (50-100% for the last night)! For more information and reservation requests, please contact us!
Picture credit: This image belongs to explora (r)

Everybody wants to enjoy authentic and nature based encounters in the country they travel to but how about combining that with minimizing the negative and maximizing the positive impacts of tourism? Join us on a tour through Argentina that does exactly that! To start off, you gain an insight into the ancient Gaucho traditions by visiting the small town San Antonio de Areco. Here, silversmiths work on elaborate knives, adornments, jewelry and other pieces that are part of a Gaucho's equipment. Not to leave culinary pleasures behind, you head to Mendoza to visit a sustainable, organic winery including a wine tasting. Before travelling to Cordoba, you visit the Huarpe community to learn about their native culture. Once in Cordoba, you visit the area's largest Jesuit estancia Santa Catalina to learn about the rich Jesuit history. The following days will focus on local agriculture and nutrition while you stay at Posada La Matilde amidst the rolling valleys of Cordoba. The tour ends at Yacutinga Lodge in the jungle near Iguazu which is dedicated to ecotourism, including nature walks and wildlife observation. There are even more highlights to discover during the tour so contact us now for details!

Autumn is coming to Chile and with it the annual grape harvest, „Vendimia“. This season shouldn't be missed, especially if you are a wine aficionado! It goes hand in hand with a variety of jolly festivals to commemorate the luscious juice of the grape. Almost each weekend from March to April you can enjoy a different festival in a different location in the viticulture valleys from Limarí to Itata. This weekend for example the great wine festival Casablanca is celebrated in its stadium with opportunities to try the region's world famous white wine accompanied by folkloric shows and concerts. A week later you may want to visit the Plaza the Armas in Chillan to get a taste of the southern wines, while enjoying attractions such as a competition of old-fashioned wine pressing. And at the last weekend of April the place to be is Las Majadas in Pirque, where you can pick between wines from more than 20 vineyards of the Valle del Maipo. No matter which of the numerous festivals you choose to visit, you will definitely relish delicious wines, savory food and good music. If we have whetted your appetite for Chilean wine, feel free to contact us to plan your visit to Chile’s wine region!
Picture credit: Sernatur

Back in December 2018, UNESCO launched the brand-new initiative "World Capital of Architecture" with the International Union of Architects (UIA) which "underscores the common commitment of UNESCO and the UIA to preserve architectural heritage in the urban context", as explained by Ernesto Ottone R, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture. In January, Rio de Janeiro was awarded the great honor of being appointed the very first "World Capital of Architecture" for 2020! Ottone R. stated that "Rio de Janeiro will demonstrate the crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development.” Besides organizing projects under the theme "All the worlds. Just one world" to support the initiative's goal, Rio will also host the triennial World Congress of Architects in 2020.
Brazil's capital boasts an eclectic mix of modern architecture and historic landmarks. Visitors can stroll along the modern Olympic Boulevard with its flashy Museum of Tomorrow and afterwards head to the historic center to marvel at the imposing Municipal Theater built in 1909 and the countless colonial buildings in the area. Contact us to incorporate Rio's architectural highlights in your programs!

BRAZIL ENDS VISA REQUIREMENT FOR AMERICANS, AUSTRALIANS, CANADIANS, AND JAPANESE

Earlier this month, the Brazilian government issued a decree stating that as of June 17th, citizens from the United States, Australia, Canada and Japan will be exempt from visas when travelling to Brazil for tourism or business. Provided that visitors have a valid passport, the stay can last up to 90 days and is extendable for the same period as long as it does not exceed 180 days. The measure was taken to increase the number of visitors to Brazil and involved a successful pilot program for electronic visa for the mentioned countries in 2017 which resulted in a 35.23% increase in visa emissions (electronic and traditional). Brazil's Ministry of Tourism has set a goal of 12 million foreign visitors by 2022 (currently 6.6 million).

Born in Germany, Julia discovered her passion for South America in general and Chile in particular and decided to move to this beautiful country. She joined our SAT team in Santiago de Chile back in January 2018 as an Account Executive and is in charge of our clients from Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. With her 24 years she is one of our youngest team members.
Among Julia's favorite travel destinations is definitely Patagonia with the Torres del Paine National Park and cities like Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. What fascinates her most about this marvelous region is the beautiful landscape and the warm-hearted people.
In her free time, Julia likes to explore the surroundings of Santiago that have a lot to offer for a day excursion or a weekend getaway. She also doesn't say no to a glass of delicious Chilean wine and likes to get active whenever possible.
If you would like to get Julia's recommendations for your travel adventures in Chile, please do not hesitate to contact her!

Hotel del Parque, Guayaquil's first luxury boutique hotel, is now part of the collection of luxury travel network Virtuoso. The hotel offers 44 rooms in a 125-year old historic building and features a gourmet restaurant, a massage room as well as lush gardens and patios.

After a 2-month remodeling following a storm in February, Sheraton Grand Rio Hotel in Rio de Janeiro will reopen its doors on April 1st. This week, the hotel will host a group of 400 European visitors in soft reopening.

Starting May 2019, Posada Amazonas Lodge in Puerto Maldonado (Peru) will switch their operation system to offer a la carte activities where guests can assemble their itinerary from a selection of more than 20 options. 

Norwegian has been granted 7 weekly frequencies between Spain and Peru although it is still open when the connection will be launched and which Spanish airport will be used, Madrid or Barcelona.

From April 1st, the airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) in Buenos Aires will exclusively operate domestic flights. All international flights will be handled at the international airport in Ezeiza, Ministro Pistarini (EZE).

The Brazilian airline Gol announced a new direct connection between Recife and Santiago de Chile, starting on July 06th with 1 weekly flight (Saturdays).

Avianca announced the cancellation of 11 international routes, among those flights between Bogotá and Boston/Chicago as well as Cartagena and New York starting May 01st.