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SAT NEWS - DECEMBER 2019



Dear Travel Partner,

it's almost Christmas and soon - hopefully - we all turn off our computers, tablets and mobiles to spend some quality time with our families and friends, or to travel around our favorite places in South America and the world.

Before we leave you to that, we send you the last SAT News of the year! Which include notes on lovely South American Christmas traditions, latest travel recommendations and a few thoughts on sustainable tourism. So lean back, take a break and enjoy reading!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Your SAT Team



*** Click here for latest updates on the social protests in Chile, Bolivia and Colombia.


*** Upcoming public holidays with closed SAT offices: 
All SAT Offices: December 25th (Christmas Day), January 1st
SAT Frankfurt: December 24th-26th, December 31st

SAT Ecuador: December 30th-31st
SAT Colombia & SAT Uruguay: January 6th

SAT TAKES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
We recognize our responsibility in contributing to a change towards sustainable and fair tourism. The planet we live in is full of natural and cultural treasures and as a DMC we invite people to explore these treasures. It is our responsibility to act sustainably in every way in order to ensure the protection of the local nature and culture and to support the economy of local communities. In 2019 we purchased the amount of 293 carbon credits to rebalance the impact of our journeys on the climate, help protecting critical rainforests and support the communities that live and work in them. This purchase covers the emissions of 293 tons of CO2-equivalents, compensating e.g. the use of 33.000 gallons of patrol per year or the electric consumption of 51 households in a year. It is also equivalent to the amount of saved energy when changing 11.129 light bulbs to LED technology. We invite you to take part and make your travel Climate+! Click here for more information!

Picture below: SAT Ecuador & the Cotopaxi reforestation iniciative (November 2019)
We aim to offer an authentic insight into the South American culture and at the same time try to give a better understanding of local traditions and manners. By offering tours with purpose and educational programs we would like to create a stronger awareness for the environment and for acting sustainably. We aim to create journeys that seek not only to enrich the lives of any traveller to South America, but also those of the local communities and our team.
THE DAY OF THE LITTLE CANDLES: A COLOMBIAN PRE-CHRISTMAS TRADITION
This lovely tradition marks the start of the Christmas season in Colombia. Each year on December 7th, all across the country, people illuminate their private homes, but also gardens, streets and public parks with small candles and paper lanterns. The lights are beautifully arranged to honor Virgin Mary, celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and to give a grand welcome to the holiday season! A wish is made for each candle lit. The candles are extinguished the next day at sunrise. Many people rise early to take in the special atmosphere of the lit candles just before they all go out and the new day begins. The 8th of December is a public holiday, and numerous events are held, ranging from instrumental events to firework displays. Honestly? This is one of the most beautiful Christmas traditions of South America! Contact us for more information and wonderful Colombia journeys!
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS: PERU IS THE BEST CULINARY DESTINATION IN THE WORLD
It is not really a surprise: Peru has again been voted the World’s Leading Culinary Destination. Shortly after, we could learn at the World Chocolate Awards that the best chocolate is made from Peruvian cacao! Well, every passionate foodie long knows that this country features a unique variety of flavors! Lima is home to two innovative restaurants that can be found in the Top 10 list of the best restaurants in the world (Central & Maido), and Cusco’s gastro scene is catching up fast. But it’s not only about the food: The country has also been voted the World’s Leading Cultural Destination! To sum it up: Peru itself is a perfect recipe for world-class gastro-tourism. For more information, journeys and culinary gems, please contact us! Picture: Peruvian Ceviche!
LONG AWAITED INAUGURATION: A FERRIS WHEEL FOR RIO DE JANEIRO!
Rio de Janeiro has inaugurated its newest landmark: With its 88 metres of height, the Rio Star Ferris wheel is the largest in Latin America. The complete tour will last 18 minutes. Guests will be accommodated in 54 gondolas with capacity for up to eight passengers each. The Ferris wheel is located downtown in Porto Maravilha, will be open every day from 10am to 6pm, and offers privileged views of Christ the Redeemer, the Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay. Please contact us for more information and tours! Picture credit: @Riostar
FIESTAS DE QUITO: PARTY MOOD IN ECUADOR
December 6th is the official foundation date of Quito, and the day has been celebrated dearly since the 1960’s! During the week leading up to that date the city is traditionally celebrating its Fiestas de Quito! Streets, squares and parks all over the city are temporary venues for numerous celebrations, open-air concerts, food gatherings, dancing shows and competitions of all sorts. Whole neighborhoods gather in the streets, share their favorite food and drinks, and play traditional games, including the “40”. Our SAT team in Ecuador has its very own 40 celebrations! Each year staff and guides sit together, enjoy traditional cuisine and play the cards! Keen on seeing the Fiestas de Quito or a “40” session for yourself? Then please contact us to arrange your journey for 2020 ;). Picture credit: @Marcelo Jaramillo Cisneros
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS: CHILE IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ADVENTURE DESTINATION
There is yet another South American country among the big winners of this year’s World Travel Awards! Chile was voted the World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, outdoing countries like Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand! Well, actually, it was about time ;). Chile has also been declared the Best Nature Destination in South America, now being an official must-see for everybody addicted to nature and adventure tourism. The country features an incredible variety of natural landscapes: deserts in the north, glaciers in the south, ocean in the west, snowy mountains in the East, lots of forests and lakes in between. Sounds like the perfect background for your hiking, mountaineering, horseback riding, kayaking or fly fishing adventure? Well, wait until you hear about the penguins, the wine and the star gazing! Please contact us to get started with your individual journey to Chile!
TOURS WITH PURPOSE IN ARGENTINA: THE DARAVI EXPERIENCE
We actively support sustainable efforts all over South America by offering tours with purpose. In Argentina we have long been taking our guests to the Iguazu falls, complementing the tour with an educational visit to the forest and a local native village. We have also been supporting the Apropdis project in San Antonio de Areco, an association of people with different disabilities who produce the typical Alpargatas (gaucho shoes), thus being able to make a living on their own. New is the visit to Daravi, a triple impact company, when touring the Tigre Delta! Daravi creates products from discarded materials thus creating new jobs and value. Most job opportunities generated in Daravi are meant for women in vulnerable areas nearby the factory. For more details on this new experience, please contact us!
SUMMER HEAT AND CHRISTMAS MOOD IN URUGUAY: ASADO, MATE, BEACH!
Spending the 24th of December in Uruguay is different. And most inviting. The whole day is spent at the beach, always with a fresh Mate tea on hand. And at night people gather with family and friends to enjoy a traditional Asado, a rich barbecue feast! Uruguay is one of the most carnivorous countries in the world. So it’s no surprise that here, despite the summer heat of the Southern Hemisphere, people celebrate the Christmas season with loads of grilled meat. For dessert people have the Spanish “turron”, and the Italian “panettone”, both pointing on the immigrant roots of many Uruguayan’s. Many families have their own fireworks at midnight, others snuggle up and watch the fireworks from their homes. The summer night is then inviting the younger generation to go out dancing, returning at sunrise to open their Christmas gifts ;). Please contact us to plan your festive Uruguay journey!
MEET THE SAT TEAM: CLARISSA PERES, SAT BRAZIL
This is a special month for Clarissa. She is celebrating 12 years with SAT! And she was born on Christmas Eve, 37 years ago in Rio de Janeiro. Which makes her the perfect candidate for this newsletter's team section ;). Clarissa has a lovely 3 year-old son at home and (when not at work) she loves to take him to the beach. She has travelled most of Brazil and is especially in love with Fernando de Noronha, the Pantanal, Salvador da Bahia, Foz do Iguazu, Buzios, Ilha Grande and Curitiba! She has also travelled to many other places around the world, and if she had to chose just one, she'd say her favorite is California! In her free time she loves to practice martial arts: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay thai among others. Congratulations Clarissa, and have a wonderful birthday :)! Contact Clarissa!
HOTEL & CRUISE NEWS
The Cirqa Relais & Chateaux is now open for bookings in Arequipa (Peru). The luxury hotel features 11 rooms. Guests can opt to book either half board or an all inclusive stay.

The 4* Novotel Rio de Janeiro Leme has been fully renovated and opens its doors this December! Located only 2 blocks from the Copacabana beach, the hotel features 275 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, rooftop terrace, fitness center and meeting rooms.
The Gran Meliá Iguazu (Argentina) has opened its cozy rooftop bar! The Alter Bar offers spectacular sunset views of the falls and expertly mixed cocktails.

Aqua Expeditions has inaugurated its latest addition to their river cruise ship fleet: the Aqua Nera. Passengers are accommodated in 20 Design Suites and may opt for 7-night, 4-night or 3-night cruise itineraries. The Aqua Nera is also available for private charter.
FLIGHT NEWS
Delta and LATAM will begin codesharing in the first quarter of 2020, leading to increased connectivity between the US and South America. The first agreements are now confirmed between Delta and LATAM’s operating subsidiaries in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

GOL has inaugurated its new direct flight service between Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Lima (Peru). The flight takes approximately 5h20 and is operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
LATAM is offering new direct flight services between Lima and Montego Bay (Jamaica) and between Lima and Porto Alegre (Brazil), starting this December. The airline also recently launched direct flights between Santiago de Chile and Trujillo at the Peruvian coast.

SKY PERÚ will start direct flights between Lima (Peru) and Cancún (Mexico) as of April 2020. Tickets are already on sale.
South American Tours - Global Sales Office
South American Tours GmbH | Kaiserstr. 23 | 60311 Frankfurt am Main | Germany 
Phone: +49 (0) 69 4058970 | Fax: +49 (0) 69 40589799
Mail: sales@southamericantours.com | www.southamericantours.com

South American Tours - Sales Office North America
Phone: 1844 7288460 (toll free from the US)
Mail: sales-america@southamericantours.com

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South American Tours de Uruguay Agencia de Viajes S.A. | Buenos Aires 618, Piso 2, Oficina 201 | 11000 Montevideo | Uruguay
Tel.: +59 82 91 60 050 | Fax.: +59 82 91 55 406 | E-mail: info@southamericantours.com 
Managing Director: Federico Büker | Registered Office: Montevideo | Local Court: Montevideo | Commercial Register: 1194 (Ministry of Tourism) | VAT identification no.: 215224020014 


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SAT TAKES ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
THE DAY OF THE LITTLE CANDLES COLOMBIA
PERU IS THE WORLD'S BEST CULINARY DESTINATION
INAUGURATION: A FERRIS WHEEL FOR RIO DE JANEIRO
FIESTAS DE QUITO - PARTY MOOD IN ECUADOR
CHILE IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ADVENTURE DESTINATION
TOURS WITH PURPOSE IN ARGENTINA: DARAVI
CHRISTMAS IN URUGUAY: ASADO, MATE, BEACH!
MEET THE TEAM: CLARISSA PERES, SAT BRAZIL
HOTEL & CRUISE NEWS
FLIGHT NEWS