All the best,
Your SAT Team


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

July 01: Colombia
July 08: Argentina
July 09: Argentina
July 16: Chile
July 18: Uruguay
July 26: Peru (from 13:00h local time)
July 29: Peru

Patagonia offers its visitors some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes in the world. But it is also rough, solitary and the climate is harsh; you can walk or drive for hours without meeting another soul. Did you ever imagine how the first settlers might have built their lives here? If so, plan a visit to the Madsen House Museum in El Chaltén. A roughly 30-minute walk takes you from the village to the former home of the Danish pioneer Andreas Madsen, the first settler to build a house in El Chaltén in 1905. He chose the perfect spot, with an incredible view of the Chaltén Mountain. The house was constructed with trunks of lenga trees, re-used wooden crates, burlap and newspapers (as insulator). Inside, visitors can observe original furniture, tools and family artefacts, like black and white photos. Take a seat in the living room to relax with a cup of tea or coffee and restore your strength with delicious pastries while your guide shares histories of the Madsen family and El Chaltén. Afterwards, you walk back to the town. The tour can be done from September to May. Please contact us if you would like to know more!

As a pioneer in ecotourism, the Peruvian hotel chain Inkaterra is passionate about protection the unique culture and nature that Peru has to offer. For example, their commitment helped make Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of the famous Machu Picchu ruin site, the first Latin American city to manage 100% of its solid waste. Together with the Protected Natural Areas National Service (SERNANP), they also manage the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Spectacled Bear Project which recovers Spectacled Bears from captivity and reintroduces them into the wild. The Spectacled Bear is the only bear species in South America and unfortunately critically endangered. The project has caught the attention of Dr. Evan Antin, a veterinarian and host of the Animal Planet show "Evan Goes Wild". He visited the Machu Picchu Cloud Forest to learn more about the project's efforts and interact with one of the bears of the habitat. Check out the wonderful video here! When staying at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, guests can organize a visit to the project in advance and learn more about the great work the team does. For more information about Inkaterra and their Machu Picchu packages, please contact us!
Photo credit: INKATERRA

On June 15th, new regulations for visits to the Maras Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley of Peru went into effect. During the production season (approx. May-October), visitors are not allowed to access the salt terraces anymore due to previous issues with litter pollution, including cigarette butts and plastic left by visitors. In order to protect the quality of the salt, the terraces can only be observed from view points during the months the salt is harvested.

After a trial period in May, the tourism officials of Cusco have announced a permanent limitation of visiting hours for the following sights inside Machu Picchu for preservation purposes:

While the Northern Hemisphere is basking in the summer sun, winter has arrived to South America. About time to take a look at all the great things you can do in Chile during the colder months! If you are looking for an icy break in your summer vacation, why not go skiing at one of Chile´s many resorts? The Corralco Ski Resort just opened a new ski lift for this season and Valle Nevado, South America's highest ski resort at 3,500m, introduced new snowshoeing and ski touring programs to explore the surroundings. El Colorado Ski Resort offers tracks for every level on its 1,200 hectares of skiable territory. There are also several options within a 1-hour drive from Santiago. If you are looking for experiences for the whole family, visit Chile's only mountain amusement park, Parques de Farellones. It features a Ski and Snowboard School for beginners, a two-circuit canopy with five simultaneous lines of up to 540 meters as well as fatbikes and sleighs to conquer the wide tracks. The Maipo Canyon offers snowshoeing adventures for trekking fans and there are even horseback riding tours in the mountains outside the city. Curious for more? Then contact us now! 
Photo credit: Valle Nevado by SERNATUR

The highlands of Ecuador are home to stunning colonial haciendas; one of them is the family-owned, 17th century Hacienda Zuleta. Besides being a hotel and working-farm, Hacienda Zuleta is also very proactive when it comes to sustainability and conservation. In 1995, they established the Galo Plaza Lasso Foundation to make a difference in the community by focusing on three pillars: education, conservation and development. Their projects include the Condor House, a sanctuary and reintroduction program for Andean Condors, embroidery workshops/shops to conserve the cultural heritage of the Zuleta embroidery techniques and support local families, a library and scholarships to support education in the community as well as a community tourism project. The foundation also works towards the protection of the Spectacled Bears that can be found on the property. In 2009, the hacienda started identifying and tracking the bears and has counted 31 since then that frequently visit the property. The hacienda even has a resident wildlife expert and biologist who supports their efforts. So how about a trip to Ecuador with a stay at Hacienda Zuleta to explore their property and projects? Contact us for travel ideas!
Photo credit: Hacienda Zuleta

Just 30 minutes from Uruguay's capital, the family-owned working ranch La Macarena offers a great full-day experience in the wetlands of Rincon de Melilla. Depending on the time of year, visitors can help harvest fruits that are cultivated on the ranch, like apples, nectarines, blueberries, pears and plums. There are also hundreds of species of plants and animals to explore. You start off slow, with a walk through a native forest for a first impression of the beautiful landscape. There is also a lovely walk along the plantation with views on the fruit trees and surrounding nature. Next is a tour in a tractor-pulled wagon to the streams of the wetlands where, among others, birds, otters, capybaras and foxes can be found. A boat ride along the channels will bring you even closer to discovering the treasures this area has to offer. In order to replenish your strength, enjoy a delicious parrillada (BBQ) for lunch that will be topped off with homemade dessert made from fruit fresh from the ranch. After a day of soaking in the countryside, it is time to return to Montevideo. Contact us for details and rates!

For every woman planning a tour with girlfriends, mother, daughter or sister - we have just the inspiration you need! Brazil is a paradise for culture, nature and food. Throw in a relaxing beach stay and that's it, the perfect vacation. After your arrival, start off with a tour through the bustling metropolis that is Rio de Janeiro. The historic center is gorgeous, the long beaches give you the perfect holiday vibes and the iconic Sugar Loaf and Corcovado are everything they claim to be! You will meet a group of female textile artisans and learn more about their social business COOPA-ROCA. Chat with Simone Almeida, a Brazilian chef, about her job and life in Rio while preparing some delicious local dishes. In the evening, stroll along the Copacabana with a Caipirinha. After the lively city, the nature of Iguazu and its famous waterfalls are the perfect contrast. The next stop is Salvador, the center of Afro-Brazilian culture. The city itself is beautiful but the highlight of your stay is a Capoeira lesson at one of the local Capoeira schools as well as an amazing night-time show that presents Afro-Brazilian traditions through music and dance. Then it is time to relax and soak up some sun at a beach hotel in Praia do Forte. Contact us to get the full program and rates!

This month, the first of the three new trains for the Corcovado Railroad, one of the most famous tourist attractions in the country, has arrived. The other two will arrive in August, and the inaugural trip is scheduled for October 09 to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Corcovado Railroad.

To provide more comfort to the passengers, the new trains will have capacity for 600 pax per hour, a panoramic roof, space for bicycles and wheelchairs and more speed. The new trains will also be much more energy efficient, reducing the consumption by 75%.

Cartagena is one of the favorite destinations for travelers in Colombia and deservedly so! The beautiful city has something to offer for everyone and surprises visitors with lots of unexpected gems. No matter if you are interested in photography, literature, architecture or graffiti - Cartagena has a perfectly themed city tour for you. Want to get active? Then hop on a bike and let us take you on a cycling tour through the city center or a mountain-bike adventure in the outskirts - including a volcano mud bath! People who are interested in cultural exchange and handicrafts, have the opportunity to participate in a coconut workshop by the DAMARTES project and learn about the impressive women who are part of the project. If you want to feel the literal rhythm of Colombia, join a champeta dance class and get into the history of this traditional music. There are also Salsa or percussion workshops. Not to forget the delicious local cuisine! Cartagena offers amazing street food tours to explore local treats like arepa (maize patty), cocada (coconut candy) and carimañola (meat-stuffed yucca fritter). For further details and more tour ideas in Cartagena, please contact us!

Ana Cecilia was born and raised in Quito and first joined the team of SAT Ecuador in 2004. After 8 years with us, she took a break to finish her Bachelor studies and work as a tourist guide. In January 2019, she returned to SAT as an Account Executive.

Ana Cecilia discovered her passion for traveling as a child so it was a natural decision to study Tourism Management and she worked as a tour guide for 15 years afterwards. What she enjoyed most about this job was meeting people from different countries and getting to know Ecuador inside out, experiencing the incredible things her country has to offer.

Wanting to see more of South America, Ana Cecilia moved to Argentina to work as a Spanish teacher for volunteers for 4 years.

All this experience helps her understand her client's needs and, paired with her love for Ecuador, results in amazing journeys to explore this diverse country. If you would like Ana Cecilia to share her knowledge with you, please contact her!

This month, Relais & Chateaux has welcomed two new member hotels from Ecuador: Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil and Casa Gangotena in Quito.

On July 07, the Vogal Luxury Beach Hotel & SPA officially opened at the beach of Ponta Negra in Natal, Brazil. It features 84 rooms & suites, 2 restaurants, an outdoor area with 5 pools and the Vogal Spa by L’Occitane.

Pullman Hotels and Resorts, a premium brand of AccorHotels Group, took over operations of three Atton properties (also a brand of AccorHotels) in Chile and one in Peru:  Pullman Santiago Vitacura (Atton Vitacura), Pullman Santiago El Bosque (Atton El Bosque), Pullman Viña del Mar San Martin (Atton San Martín Viña del Mar) and Pullman Lima San Isidro (Atton Lima San Isidro).

Intercontinental Buenos Aires now offers an exclusive Dinner Shuttle Service with previous reservation for their guests between 19:00 and 23:00. The daily shuttle drives along an established route to the best restaurants in the area.

On August 31, the operating license of Ecohabs Tayrona in Colombia's Tayrona National Park will run out and it is unclear who will take over operations. Any reservations after that point will expire. 

The Hilton Bogotá announced renovations of the public areas in 2020 (including restaurants and bars), followed by the rooms in 2021.