Each year on the 20th of November, Brazil celebrates its black communities, who ever since colonial times have been subjected to severe racism and inequality. The whole month, also called Black November, is a time of several cultural, sociopolitical, academic activities and public protest against racism, discrimination, inequality, as well as the political claim for racial justice. Most of all the Black Awareness Day allows people to honour the unique aspects of Afro-Brazilian culture. On the occasion of this special day, we are happy to share a peek on the paintings and murals from world renowned Brazilian artist Ananda Nahu who uses her art as a medium to communicate the powerful impact that black Brazilians have in the country's society and economy! Also check out her website !

The Colombian town of La Macarena and its beautiful surroundings (including the famous Caño Cristales river) have been certified as a “sustainable tourism destination” by ACERT S.A. The area meets a package of requirements that help to minimize negative impact on the communities and environment. La Macarena joins 21 other municipalities with the designation, including the old walled city of Cartagena, La Candelaria (Bogotá’s historic center) and Villa de Leyva (Boyacá).

Lovely Finca Casa Frajares is located in Nanegalito, about 1 hour from Quito and inmidst the breathtaking natural wonders of the Ecuadorian highlands. Here, at an altitude of 1.700 meters, the special climatic conditions allow for surprising coffee flavours and aromas! The SAT Ecuador team recently visited the finca and was very enthusiastic about the experience! You are taken through the entire process, from harvesting all the way down to roasting the coffee beans, and guests are invited to actively join in the work. The organic lunch, followed by a delicious coffee tasting, is another highlight of the tour! We especially liked the friendly working atmosphere and sustainable growing practices at the farm. A visit to Frajares is a fascinating cultural experience for both coffee and nature lovers, and can be booked here! 

According to the Lonely Planet, the small country of Uruguay is among the best travel destinations for 2020! And we agree - if Uruguay isn’t already on your South American bucket list, you should definitely add it. With its untamed Atlantic coast, colonial towns, a burgeoning wine industry and endless rolling rangelands where South America’s grandeur feels seductively tangible, Uruguay has something for everyone. The country has also proudly championed a progressive social agenda in recent years – from marijuana legalisation and the open embrace of LGBTQ+ rights to the promotion of sustainable tourism. But what visitors remember most are Uruguay’s laid-back, welcoming and down-to-earth people and the subtle but profound beauty of the country’s landscape. For more information and travel packages, please contact our SAT Uruguay team! 

The Route of Emotions is without doubt one of the most spectacular road trips of this world. The tour combines the beautiful beaches of Ceará, the wildlife boosting Delta of Parnaíba, and the sand dunes and water pools of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. SAT recommends to travel the area for at least 4-5 days to fully appreciate the natural wonders along the way. Please contact us for more information and travel packages.

Bogotá recently claimed the 12th place in the Copenhagenize Index, the most comprehensive ranking of bicycle-friendly cities across the world. As a leader for bicycle-focused initiatives in South America, Bogotá has become world famous for popularizing the Ciclovía – a weekly Sunday activity that sees over a hundred kilometres of city streets closed to cars for citizens to romp around on foot or by bike. With already an impressive 540 kilometres of bike lanes and another 200 kilometres funded for 2020, Bogotá embraces biking also to beat air pollution. (Picture credit: Maddy Z, Flickr)

In cooperation with Mountain Lodges, SAT offers several new journeys to Machu Picchu! WELLNESS & YOGA is a 8-day journey that combines scenic hikes, wellness workshops and meditative yoga sessions with unique cultural insights. The 7-day MULTI-SPORTS ADVENTURE offers active travelers the possibility to hike, bike, horseback ride and zipline their way through the Andean highlands. The 7-day ARCHAEOASTRONOMY JOURNEY will focus on Cusco's unique archaeological sites, ancient Andean civilizations and the primordial connection to the cosmos that shaped their collective history, belief systems, and architectural legacy. All journeys start and end in Cusco and include a visit to Machu Picchu. For more information please contact us! (Picture credit: Mountain Lodges)

María del Mar Silva joined our office in Uruguay in July 2018 as an Account Executive. She is a native Uruguayan and has been working in tourism for 8 years. Maria loves to explore her country! Some of her favorite places are Montevideo (and she luckily lives here) Colonia del Sacramento, and the wineries around Carmelo and Cabo Polonio. Her favorite place outside Uruguay is Berlin, and she calls it the second-best city in the world after Montevideo! When Maria is not travelling she likes to read, cross-stitch, cook and hang out with friends, family and her cat (Fitzy). She is also taking some drums lessons - watch out for a SAT rockstar! Maria very much enjoys arranging tailor made programs, including newly discovered locations and products. Click here if you would like Maria to share her experiences with you!

Prestigious Condé Nast Traveler recently named Peru's Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel the No. 1 hotel in South America, immediately followed by the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness.

The Wyndham Garden Ushuaia is a new 4* option at Argentina's southernmost tip. The hotel features 99 rooms for both corporate and leisure travellers, meeting spaces and free Wi-Fi.

Curio Collection by Hilton inaugurates its first property in Uruguay: the SORO Montevideo! Located in the charming Pocitos neighbourhood, the boutique hotel features 40 cozy guest rooms.

Peru's Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, located in the heart of the South-Eastern Peruvian Amazon, announced that its newest addition, the holistic Nua Spa, is now open.

Sky Perú will start connecting Cusco and Arequipa in January 2020. The airline will operate 3 flights per week. Tickets are already on sale.

Avianca announces to resume its direct flight service between Bogotá (Colombia) and Montevideo (Uruguay). Operations will start this December with 4 flights per week.

LATAM Airlines will operate 3 non-stop flights per week from Concepción (Chile) to its hub in Lima (Peru) beginning May 2, 2020. The airline will also increase its operations on the routes to Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Calí and Medellin (Colombia) with daily flights from Lima.

American Airlines increases its flight services from Miami to Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile) and Sao Paulo (Brazil), starting in April 2020.

JetSMART will operate direct flights from Santiago de Chile to Puerto Natales during the Patagonian high season (December - March). The airline operates 3 flights per week.

VivaAir increases its flight frequency between Lima (Peru) and Medellin (Colombia) to 5 flights per week, starting this December.