Península Valdés in northern Patagonia is world-renowned for its rich diversity of marine wildlife. Within its protected area, 160 km from Puerto Madryn, lies the Estancia San Lorenzo Nature Reserve, home to the largest and most spectacular Magellan penguin colony. Explore traditional trails or opt for a mini-trek with a park ranger and experience the bustling life of some 600,000 Continental Penguins during the breeding season. Visitors can now extend their stay with an overnight stay in the rustic guesthouse for up to 5 guests, experiencing the lifestyle of a typical Patagonian ranch, and enjoying two exclusive visits to the penguin rookery at sunset and sunrise, when the penguins are most active.

For those with less time in the region, the new Peninsula Valdés Experience day excursion includes the San Lorenzo Penguin Trek, a BBQ lamb lunch, a visit to Punta Norte Reserve, famous for killer whale sightings from land, and a 1.5 hour whale watching boat adventure in Puerto Pirámides to spot Southern Right Whales. To further enhance your exploration of Valdés, consider the El Doradillo tour - a half-day coastal whale watching trip that offers an intimate encounter with whales just metres from the shore. Our colleagues Josefina and María Silvina experienced this first hand on a recent FAM trip.

Contact SAT Argentina for more info.

Recommended season: September to March; whale watching only mid-June to early December.

Join us on a Wildlife Experience Deluxe through Brazil's 3 unique biomes. Stay in truly exceptional wildlife sanctuaries that offer a unique chance to spot endemic species and engage in science-based conservation projects. We start with Pousada Trijunção (5 hours by car or 45 minutes by private flight from Brasilia). Situated on a working farm, it is the perfect place to explore the world's richest savannah, the Cerrado. With over 12,140 plant species, 864 bird species, and 199 mammals, it's a hotspot for biodiversity, with a good chance of spotting the iconic maned wolves. Cristalino Lodge (1.5 hours by car & boat from Alta Floresta) is set in a private reserve within the world's largest primary rainforest, with six different vegetation types at varying altitudes. Explore the southern Amazon on excursions including trekking, boat, and canoe rides. The Pantanal Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a prime wildlife destination, especially for jaguar sightings. At Caiman (4 hours by car or 50 minutes by small plane from Campo Grande), guests can join river safaris, canoe trips, and night drives to spot pumas, ocelots, and jaguars, and support important conservation initiatives such as Oncafari's jaguar research and the Hyacinth Macaw Project. Get ready to experience the best of Brazil's wildlife - contact SAT Brazil for more details.

Explore the Desierto Florido National Park, a 141,000-hectare sanctuary in the Atacama Desert, established in 2023 after a rare superbloom event. This biodiverse park is home to nearly 200 flower species and scientific wonders, transforming the world's driest non-polar desert into a vibrant display of red, magenta, and marigold wildflowers during spring in northern Chile. Located 20 miles south of Copiapó, the park serves as a gateway to the lesser-explored wonders of the southern Atacama. Known for its proximity to the Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces and Ojos del Salado, Copiapó invites adventurers to salt flats, volcanoes, and high Andean lagoons. Stargazing, mountaineering, and the beautiful beaches of Bahía Inglesa complete the experience. As climate change brings more rain to Atacama's southern edge, the flowering desert is no longer a rare event, and it's now possible to see at least some flowers almost every year in the Llanos and Chañarcillo sectors. Stay in one of the 9 private boutique villas at Wara Hotel & Experience. For more Atacama adventures, take a road trip from Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama with some great stops in Antofagasta, Puerto Viejo, Playa Chorrillos, or Playa La Virgen. Contact our local SAT Chile experts for more info.

Recommended season: All year round, flowering desert from September to October

Discover the charm of Rocha on the Atlantic coast with a stay at the quaint Posada Valizas. Experience the rich diversity and simplicity of life and connect with nature and local culture as you explore the beautiful beaches, local cuisine, and picturesque streets of fishing villages. The region offers a variety of outdoor adventures including trekking, cycling, canoeing, whale and bird watching, (kite-) surfing and horseback riding.
Explore the Cabo Polonio National Park, known for its large seal colony. Visit the UNESCO Laguna de Rocha Nature Reserve, home to over 200 species of birds, including the Chilean Flamingo. Stop for lunch at a local fishing community and enjoy fresh dishes based on the daily catch from the lagoon. Surrounding the Laguna de Castillos and accessible by boat, Monte de Ombues is the largest forest of centuries-old ombu trees in the Del Plata region, covering 20 square kilometres. Hundreds of bird species live among the giants, as well as foxes, wild cats, skunks, wild boar and rodents. For us, Rocha is one of the most beautiful places in Uruguay. Contact SAT Uruguay for further tips.

Recommended season: November - mid-April

The Sacred Valley near Cusco is one of the most beautiful regions in Peru for relaxation and hiking.
Among the many attractive routes here, we have picked 4 hikes to showcase the many possibilities:
Chinchero – Urquillos (5km, 4h, moderate): Start close to the ruins of the town of Chinchero. The hike goes mostly downhill (approx. 750 meters in altitude), over one of the ancient Inca trails. Bird watchers may spot parakeets, parrots, and hummingbirds.
Cusco Ruins (7km, 3h, medium): After visiting Sacsayhuaman, your hike starts at Tambomachay and goes downhill passing Puca Pucará onto Quenqo ruins. If you still have energy left, hike back to San Blas in Cusco, a 3h walk downhill. Due to some tough spots during the hike, don’t forget your hiking poles.
Moray & Maras (8km, 4h, moderate): combine a visit to the Moray complex, pre-Inca concentric agricultural terraces, with a hike through the beautiful Andean landscape to the village of Maras, have lunch at the house of a local family. After the hike, visit the historic salt pans. Hiking back to Urubamba is optional!
Huchuy Quosquo trail (12km, 6-8h, hard): It leads from a small community near Cuzco towards the archaeological site of Huchuycosco, ending in the Sacred Valley. You will get amazing views of the cordillera Vilcanota, hike along creeks and agricultural terraces, cross the famous Inka Trail, and explore archaeological remains in between a breath-taking nature. For more hiking options contact SAT Peru.

Discover Ecuador's northern Andes with a visit to the Angel Ecological Reserve, just 3 hours from Quito.
This 16,000-hectare protected area is home to the endemic frailejones – plants with fuzzy leaves and thick trunks that thrive in harsh weather. Known as "bunny ears", this iconic flora adapts to cold temperatures and repels water with its velvety texture. The moors of El Angel are home to diverse wildlife, including deer, condors, and curiquingues. Nestled in this pristine reserve is Polylepis Lodge, an ecotourism refuge that protects the largest native forest of Polylepis trees in Ecuador. With views of the jungle, rivers, and waterfalls, the hotel’s architecture blends in perfectly with the surrounding nature. Enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, biking, and horseback riding, or take ecological tours to learn more about the vulnerable ecosystem. After a refreshing dip in the river, enjoy a luxurious spa treatment that combines the most revolutionary ancient techniques with modern aesthetic medicine to truly 'connect with the earth'. Our GM, Andrea, visited a few months ago and was captivated by the experience and the property - a true oasis in nature.
Contact SAT Ecuador for more details.

Recommended season: All year round, dry season from June to October.

Experience the rugged and unexplored Pacific coast of Bahia Solano, a unique place to witness 4 annual migrations: Sea turtles, humpback whales, migratory birds, and the arrival of the herring. Stay at El Almejal Ecolodge and Nature Reserve, surrounded by 2km of beach where the tropical rainforest merges. With 10 bungalows and 2 superior rooms, each with stunning views of the private reserve and the ocean, El Almejal offers seasonal packages. Embark on coastal adventures, rainforest treks and discover the unique flora and fauna of the nearby Utría National Park. Explore unspoiled landscapes, waterfalls, and paradise spots on guided canoe tours along the Tundó River. Go birdwatching with a local ornithological guide among 800 species of birds, including the unique Baudó oriole. Or unwind on a 4-day renewal and yoga retreat, immersing yourself in nature with yoga sessions, waterfall massages, and meditation. Don't miss the annual humpback whale migration, with an expert whale-watching program that includes a live whale courtship concert through the ship's hydrophone.

Our SAT insider tip is a very unique experience, though only available for 6 weeks at the end of the year: help protect sea turtles and witness the release of hatchlings into the sea.

Contact SAT Colombia for more information. 

Recommended season: Whale watching 14 June to 20 October, sea turtle release 20 October to 26 December.

Montevideo airport is now served directly from 16 international cities, including Lima, Santiago, Florianopolis and Salvador. A new direct AR flight connects the capital with Bariloche in Argentina.

LATAM announces a new flight to the recently renovated Anta (Huaraz) airport, three times a week (Mon, Fri, Sun), starting July 1st. The flight will be offered daily from August 1st.

JetSMART comes to Colombia, offering 7 routes: Bogota to Medellín, Cartagena, Pereira, S.Marta, Medellín to S.Marta & Cartagena, and Cartagena to Pereira. The low-cost airline also offers direct flights to Chile, Peru, and Argentina.