All the best,
Your SAT Team


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

August 7: Colombia
August 9: Ecuador
August 15: Chile
August 19: Argentina, Colombia
August 30: Peru

Viñedo de los Vientos is a piece of culinary heaven located near the town of Atlántida, 55km east of Montevideo. If you are looking for an authentic winery experience, this family-run winery is just the place for you! It was founded 1998 by Pablo Fallabrino and has charmed visitors with the typical Uruguayan hospitality ever since. Having grown up in a family of winemakers, Pablo decided to continue the tradition and practices sustainable farming. His specialty is blending and he experiments with old winemaking techniques. 

Once you arrive at the winery, you will be welcomed with a glass of wine while the program of the day is outlined. Your experience starts with a brief tour of the winery and its vineyards that span over 17ha. Then you will move to the kitchen for a cooking class with the hosts, using a mix of local and international ingredients. You are rewarded with a delicious homemade lunch paired with the winery's exquisite wines, all the while listening to the fascinating stories of your hosts. For more information about the culinary experience at Viñedo de los Vientos, please contact us!

Colombia is among the fastest growing destinations in South America. And no wonder, it has something to offer for everybody: tropical beaches, lush forests, rough mountains, diverse wildlife, an intriguing culture and a mouth-watering cuisine. Today, we want to introduce you to some of the gems Colombia has to offer for the premium market. Our journey starts in Bogotá, at the iconic Four Seasons Casa Medina where guests can dine on tapas at the Castanyoles restaurant or relax at the Spa with coffee & coconut treatments. After an extensive exploration of Colombia`s capital, we travel to Armenia in the coffee triangle. Here we stay at the Hacienda Bambusa, a delightful hideaway with a rustic charm and the perfect base for hikes through the Cocora Valley or visits to local coffee farms. The next stop is Cartagena where the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara welcomes us with a perfect mix of colonial architecture and French luxury. A quick exploration of the historic center and we are on to the final destination: the Peninsula Barú. The sophisticated Hotel Las Islas provides exotic bungalows and a beachfront spa & wellness center. What better way to end our journey? If you are curious for more, please contact us for tour suggestions!

We are currently in the middle of the low-water season in the Peruvian Amazon which generally lasts from June to October and thought this was the perfect time to talk about the perks of visiting the Amazon during this time of the year. One of the main advantages of the lower water-level is that you can access trails that are flooded during the rest of the year and delve deeper into the forest by foot. If you are a keen fisherman, this is also the perfect time for you since the receding water increases the chances of a big catch. Avid animal observers will also get their money's worth since there are lots of possibilities to spot migratory birds in flight and pink river dolphins. The high-water season (November to May) on the other hand, allows traveler's to explore the depth of the forest on flooded waterways and smaller tributaries which increases the chances to see animals that live farther away from the main course of the rivers. Now that you know which is your ideal season to travel to the Amazon, the next questions is: lodge or cruise? You can check out a helpful article from a previous SAT Newsletter here. For more information about your Peruvian Amazon adventure, please contact us!

This month, the new show of British chef Gordon Ramsay, "Gordon Ramsay: Unchartered", premiered on National Geographic. The first episode took Ramsay to Peru where he teamed up with renowned local chef Virgilio Martinez to explore the secrets of Andean cuisine. Click here for more information on the show's Peru episode!
In other news, Peruvian chef Pia León opened her own restaurant in Lima: Kjolle. Pia León has won the award of Latin America's Best Female Chef in 2018 and ran the kitchen at "Central Restaurant" with her husband and the restaurant's founder, Virgilio Martinez. Kjolle's concept focusses on the mix of ingredients from the Andes, the Amazon and the sea. If you want to know more about Pia León's new restaurant, click here.

Brazil is home to 21 UNESCO sites and as of this month can celebrate a 22nd: "Paraty and Ilha Grande - Culture and Biodiversity". The newly created property consists of six elements covering a total of 204,634ha: the Serra da Bocaina National Park, the Environmental Protected Area of Cairuçu, the Ilha Grande State Park, the Praia do Sul Biological Reserve, the Paraty Historic Centre and the Morro da Vila Velha. The area attracted UNESCO's interest due to its testimony of human interaction with the environment since pre-historic times as well as a high biodiversity as a result of a unique diversity of landscapes. Paraty is located approximately 4h from Rio de Janeiro and is the perfect destination for a getaway from the big city. Visitors can explore one of Brazil's best-preserved colonial coastal towns, the archaeological remains of Defensor Perpétuo Fort on Morro da Vila Velha and the beautiful landscapes of the Atlantic Rainforest. The beaches of Ilha Grande are among the most beautiful and exotic of Brazil and there are numerous lovely hotels to relax in. For travel ideas and hotel suggestions in Paraty, please contact us!

As of this month, plastic straws are banned in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo which means that they will no longer be offered in establishments like hotels, restaurants, night clubs or at musical events. Instead, only straws made of recyclable paper or edible/biodegradable materials will be allowed.

The small town of Esquel in the Chubut Province offers visitors a new way to discover the Argentine Patagonia region. Huemules Reserva de Montaña is an all-inclusive experience that consists of lodging in extraordinary, luxurious domes, four meals per day as well as 2 half day or 1 full day excursion for every overnight. The domes are can accommodate up to 3 guests in box spring beds with down duvets. Besides an en suite bathroom with biodegradable amenities, the domes also provide a breathtaking view from a private deck. The food combines local flavors, regional products and typical Patagonian cooking techniques. Dinners are accompanied by Patagonian and international wines. The 6200ha reserve is the perfect playground for outdoor fans: trekking, horseback riding or mountain biking in the summer and snow trekking or ski touring in the winter. The mountain reserve also operates under sustainable guidelines to limit the impact on the surrounding nature. If you would like to learn more about this unique experience, please contact us!
Photo credit: Huemules Reserva de Montaña

Hamadryade Lodge is the perfect base for explorations of the High Amazon region. Its special location on an old gold mine close to Puerto Misahualli represents the opportunity to repair what was broken since the area was almost bare of trees and other plants. It also inspired the lodge's name: Hamadryades are tree spirits from Greek mythology. Today, the lodge is surrounded by a variety of plants, flowers and trees which attract birds, butterflies and small animals. The lodge features 5 bungalows, a lounge with pool and a wellness area for health treatments and yoga. The lodge also has high sustainability standards: it recycles waste, uses rainwater and recycled water, 90% of used products are natural and the entire staff is from indigenous communities. Furthermore, they do community education programs through workshops and exchanges with volunteers. During their stay, visitors can explore the surrounding forest during hikes, boat excursions, kayaking, canoeing and rafting. There are even lagoons and waterfalls to discover! It is also possible to visit local communities and the Amazoonico Animal Reserve. Contact us for more details about packages at Hamadryade Lodge!
Photo credit: Hamadryade Lodge

This month marks the 60th anniversary of both the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation that operates in the archipelago. The Galapagos National Park was officially created on July 04, 1959 and just a couple of weeks later, on July 23, the Charles Darwin Foundation was born. That same year important projects to repatriate land iguanas and giant tortoises were founded and still exist to this day. In order to learn more about the impact that the national park and foundation have on the Galapagos Islands as well as their flora and fauna, you can find an overview of their most important milestones here. 

If you want to put a sustainable spin on your explorations in Chile, we have collected some exciting places to visit. In Santiago, we start by leaving the car behind and instead explore the city by foot on a food & culture walking tour to learn about its rich history while enjoying delicious local food and wine. From the capital we travel to the Atacama desert to join an ancestral medicine and caravan tour that introduces you to the secrets of natural healing and the old caravan circuits of local communities. We then make our way to Pucón in the central lake region where we join the Curarrehue community. We visit local handicraftsmen and farmers, discover the region's organic produce and explore its stunning landscapes. We will also learn how to prepare tortillas in the traditional way and get to know the rules of the ancient Palín game. We continue to Puerto Varas and make an excursion to the famous Petrohue waterfalls, the Todos Los Santos Lake and Peulla. Our final destination is the peninsula Chiloé where we visit the picturesque towns of Castro and Dalcahue. If you are interested in the full itinerary, please contact us!

Millions of people in South America witnessed the moment when the moon blocked out the sun on July 02. The total solar eclipse lasted for approximately 4 minutes and could be observed in small parts of Chile and Argentina. In the rest of both countries as well as in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and in parts of Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and Panama observers were able to see a partial solar eclipse.

Diana joined the SAT family in 2007, first as an intern in our Ecuadorian office and then as an Account Executive in Peru. In January 2012 she became the General Manager of SAT Peru.
Having grown up in a small rural village in the South of Germany, Diana discovered her passion for travelling and other countries which lead her to spend a year doing Work & Travel in Australia and New Zealand. She completed her degree in European Studies with a major in politics and finally decided to move to South America where she fell in love with Peru.
Diana has explored every corner of Peru but her favorite destinations are the Sacred Valley, Colca Canyon, the Pacaya Samiria Reserve in Iquitos and Chachapoyas/Kuelap.
When she is not at the office, Diana spends time with her little family of three and loves to read, swim and play Cello. Fun fact: Although she loves Peruvian food in general, she doesn't like Ceviche.

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts announced the construction of a 131-room luxury hotel and 16 private residences in the historic center of Cartagena, Colombia. The opening date is yet to be informed.

The new Radisson Resort Paracas opened its doors this month in the coastal town of Paracas, Peru. The hotel features 150 rooms and suites, an infinity pool, the restaurant "Candelabro", a lobby and a pool bar as well as a fitness center.

Meliá Hotels International opened a new luxury resort in Cartagena, Colombia. The „Meliá Cartagena Karmairí“ is located in Manzanillo del Mar and features 147 rooms, 3 restaurants, Spa and gym.

Iberia launched several new flights for the summer season and beyond. On July 01, they added 3 additional flights to Bogotá (10 per week), 1 additional flight to Quito (now daily) and 2 additional flights to Montevideo (now daily).

Earlier this month, LATAM launched their new flight between Lima (Peru) and Calama (Chile) with three weekly connections on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays (Lim-CJC: 9:44-13:14 / CJC-LIM: 14:04-15:34).

Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL Linhas Aereas announced that they will offer 2300 additional flights between July and August due to high demand. The airline operates domestic routes in Brazil and international routes to Bariloche (Argentina) and Santiago de Chile.

Last month, Air Europa launched a direct flight between Madrid and Medellin (Colombia) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (MAD-MDE: 15:05-18:15 / MDE-MAD: 20:15-12:55).