NEW OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TOURS

DRIVE ACROSS THE ANDES IN PERU

Journey Latin America has launched a brand new thrill enhancing 4WD self-drive holiday through some of Peru's most famous highlights such as; the Nazca lines, Paracas, Cusco and Machu Picchu, as well as emerging less well known destinations such as the stunning colonial city of Ayacucho located to the south of Lima.

The 16 day 'Drive across the Andes' adventure starts in Lima and travels south to the highest city in the world in the heart of the Peruvian Andes; Cusco, where travellers will have time to discover the surrounding area and trek along some of the best trails in the country. The holiday then heads further into the country towards the Amazon basin to the Pampas Hermosa Reserve; a fantastic place to spot some of Peru's wildlife and learn about the diversity of the flora and fauna in the area. The adventure ends in Tarma, a city that lies at the point of nexus between the central coast and the Andean provinces, where visitors will be able to experience a real Peruvian celebration, complete with feast and dances.

The holiday is priced from £2,980 per person and includes a variety of accommodation, breakfast, and vehicle. The price excludes international flights. www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk/destinations/peru/holidays/peru-drive-across-the-andes

TRAVEL TO PERU WITH ANDEAN TRAILS NEW MOON TEMPLE TREK

Andean Trails has launched a new 'Moon Temple Trek', a five day trek to Machu Picchu that offers a great alternative to the ever popular Inca Trail.

The Moon Temple trek takes in some of Peru's most remote Inca ruins such as the traditional village of Chincheros, the rich farming plain of Anta and the beautiful Inca temple - Quillarumiyox whilst traversing mountain peaks and crossing high passes with scenic views of glaciers and valleys.  

The trip is available as a tailor-made holiday from April to November with prices starting from around £467. The price includes all camping material, transport to and from the trail, food, guides and a day tour in Machu Picchu. The price excludes international flights. www.andeantrails.co.uk/peru-moon-temple-alternative-to-machu-picchu-trek

BRAND NEW HIKING AND KAYAKING EXPERIENCE IN COSTA RICA  

Highlives Travel is offering a brand new 18 day 'Hiking and Adventure' holiday featuring some of Costa Rica's best extreme adventure challenges such as; hiking, rafting, kayaking and birdwatching.

Travellers will spend two days climbing to the summit of the country's highest peak; Mount Chirripo, followed by two days hiking through the jungle in the Osa Peninsula with an overnight camp in the rainforest, before heading to the active Poas Volcano located an hour to the north of San Jose. The holiday will finish on a high with snorkelling in the stunning Cano Island Biological Reserve, a remote island off the western coast of Costa Rica.

The holiday is priced from £3,200 per person based on two sharing double accommodation, excluding international flights. www.highlives.co.uk/activity/costa-rica-hiking-and-adventure

ECOCAMP PATAGONIA INTRODUCES A WILD HORSE TRACKING TOUR IN ARGENTINA

Ecocamp Patagonia has launched a new 'Wild Horse Tracking' excursion in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile during which, travellers will discover Patagonia's last herds of untamed horses and trek through pristine landscapes surrounded by mountains, plains and lakes.

The excursion is available as a part of Eco Camp Patagonia's 'Wildlife Safari' holiday which combines trekking, cycling and encounters with Torres del Paine's flora and fauna. The whole 'Wildlife Safari' holiday including the 'Wild Horse Tracking' excursion is priced from £1,100 per person for a seven day stay in a standard double suite. The price includes accommodation at Eco Camp's Standard Domes, meals, ground transport, guide and bus tickets to El Calafate. The price excludes international flights.www.cascada.travel/Tour/Patagonia-Wild-Horse-Tracking-EcoCamp-Extension?sku=PAT055PDH

KAYAKING AND RAFTING ON THE RIO DE LA VUELTA IN ARGENTINA

Experts on Argentina, Aliwen Incoming, has launched two new exciting adventure tours near the village of El Chaltén in the province of Santa Cruz, at the base of the Cerro del Torre National Park in the south of the country. 

Both the kayaking and the rafting venture down the Rio de las Vueltas from which travellers can admire the best views of the majestic Mount Fitz Roy. The kayaking tour is open to all levels of kayakers and offers a peaceful trip down the river, allowing guests to spot wildlife along the shore.

The rafting tour transports its guests down the rapid waters of the Rio and over the waves. It is slightly more demanding than the kayak tours and does require good navigation technique. Prices of the tours are available on request.  www.aliwenincoming.com/index.php/en

WALKING ABOVE THE CLOUDS IN PANAMA

EcoCirucuitos Panama is offering a brand new skywalk tour in the Chiriqui Highlands, the furthest most western province of Panama bordering Costa Rica adorned with rainforests, volcanic peaks, coffee plantations, orchid farms and flower filled towns.

This brand new tour takes guests high up above the treetops of the cloud forest onto five newly built sky bridges from which travellers can spot some of Panama's most exotic bird species, admire the scenery and learn about the country's ecosystem from an expert guide. The three to four hour tour is a five km loop over skywalk bridges that range from 1,600 – 1,800 meters over sea level. Prices of the tour are available upon request. www.ecocircuitos.com

EXPLORING THE SACRED VALLEY IN URUBAMBA IN PERU

Luxury Resort and Spa Tambo del Inka located in the heart of the Sacred Valley high up in the Peruvian Andes is offering a new multi-day experience to its guests.

The day starts off with the opportunity to kayak in an Andean lagoon, eating an all organic lunch made from fresh home-grown local produce from the hotel's garden and trekking along some of Peru's most impressive trails, and visiting a llama breeder community. The experience is priced from £652 per person excluding international flights. www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3285&language=en_US

HOTEL EXPLORA IN PERU'S SACRED VALLEY RELEASES DETAILS OF ITS EXCLUSIVE EXCURSIONS

Luxury Hotel Explora, due to open in the heart of the Sacred Valley on 1 July 2016, has released the details of the 20 excursions on offer to its guests. The activities will cover the classic sites and attractions in the area such as Machu Picchu, trips to Ollantaytambo and also hikes and bike rides to remote sites like Amaru and Incanana, where guests will experience incredible views of the Chicon glacier in the distance.

Three nights in a standard double room at the Hotel Explora are priced from £3,278 based on two people sharing. The price includes all of the 20 excursions, meals, pick up and drop off from Ollantaytambo train station and entrance fees to the national parks in the area. www.explora.com/hotels-and-travesias/sacred-valley-peru

OTHER NEWS

FOOTPRINT LAUNCHES NEW BRAZIL GUIDES

In May 2016, Footprint Travel Guides is due to publish two brand new travel guides; Western Brazil: Iguacu-Amazon-Pantanal, and Recife & Northeast Brazil the only travel guides on the market dedicated to two untrodden and undiscovered regions in Brazil.

Western Brazil: Iguacu-Amazon-Pantanal gives tourists the best travel tips on the ever-popular Iguacu Falls in the south, whilst also covers Brazil's wild interior: the wildlife filled wetlands of the Pantanal and north to the incredible rainforests and rivers of the Amazon region. The guide will also include information on Sao Paulo, the gateway city for onward travel to Iguacu and the Pantanal.

Recife & Northeast Brazil is an enlightening guide for travellers wanting to spend time in the North-eastern region of Brazil discovering the hidden secrets of this vibrant and cultural part of Brazil. www.footprinttravelguides.com

PERU RAIL REOPENS SERVICES FROM CUSCO TO MACHU PICCHU   

On 1 May, Peru Rail will reopen the service from Poroy station in Cusco to Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway to the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Travellers can chose between three different services; the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham service; modelled on the Pullman cars of the 1920s, a return trip on the service is priced from £544, The Vistadome service; comprised of panoramic windows which offer fantastic views onto the scenic landscape on the way to Macchu Picchu, priced from £132 per person and, Expedition; a train steeped in the designs of Incan culture, a return trip on the Expedition service is priced from £112 per person. Poroy station is located 20 minutes outside of the city of Cusco and is easily accessible by bus from the city. Travel time to Machu Picchu Pueblo is approximately three and a half hours.www.perurail.com

INKATERRA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, pioneers of eco-tourism, Inkaterra, will launch a '40th Celebration Package' itinerary, including forty celebrated activities, across four of their luxury lodges. The nine-day adventure will take travellers from the heart of the Amazon rainforest, to the majestic Machu Picchu, from the cobbled street of Cusco, to the rolling hills of the Sacred Valley.

Inkaterra's 40th anniversary 'Celebration Package' is priced from £3,665 per person, based on two people sharing on a full board basis, excluding international flights. The price includes all 'Celebration Package' excursions and spa treatments. www.inkaterra.com

-Ends-

The Latin America Travel Association (LATA) – is represented by Lotus.  For editorial and marketing enquiries, please contact Jules Ugo, Kate McWilliams or Lucy Keenan at Lotus– LATAPR@wearelotus.co.uk  0207 953 7470