AIRLINE NEWS

BRITISH AIRWAYS LAUNCHES NEW DIRECT FLIGHT TO SANTIAGO DE CHILE, CHILE

From January 2017, British Airways will fly four times a week to Santiago, Chile from London Heathrow. The new service further improves the airline's connections to South America after recently launching direct flights to San Jose, Costa Rica and Lima, Peru and showcases the growing appetite for travel in the Latin American region from the UK. Return flights to Santiago will be priced from £745. www.britishairways.com

AIREUROPA EXPANDS ITS SERVICES TO LATIN AMERICA

Air Europa has increased flight operations to Latin America with new direct routes from Madrid to Bogota and Guayaquil with multiple connections from London, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Rome, Lisbon and Prague. The airline will also launch a new flight to Argentina's historic city of Cordoba from December 18th 2016 from Asuncion four times a week with connections via Madrid. Air Europa has also launched an on board Wi-Fi service allowing passengers to stay connected whilst travelling on flights to Havana, Bogota and Sao Paulo. In due course all long distance routes will have this on board service. www.aireuropa.com

COPA AIRLINES

Copa Airlines will begin nonstop flights four times per week to Rosario, Argentina, from its hub of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, on July 1.Located in the eastern central part of the country, Santa Fe Province is known for its tourist attractions including guided river tours of Rosario, beautiful beaches, lush green areas, cuisine and culture, as well as a wide range of leisure activities in the city. Rosario will be Copa's third destination in Argentina; the airline also flies to Cordoba and Buenos Aires. www.copaair.com

LATAM AIRLINES

LATAM has additional new routes planned in 2016 including a São Paulo – Johannesburg flight scheduled to launch on 2nd October 2016. In June 2016, the airline will increase flight frequencies from Sao Paulo to Barcelona with a daily service and will launch the first nonstop flight between Washington DC and Lima, Peru with four flights per week between the capital cities. In 2017, LATAM will be launching a Lima - Mendoza route scheduled to begin in February.  www.latamairlinesgroup.net

TOUR OPERATOR NEWS

ALL LEISURE HOLIDAYS LTD INTRODUCES A NEW PAN-AMERICAN ODYSSEY HOLIDAY

All Leisure Holidays LTD has launched a new 'Pan-American Odyssey' package, a 33-day escorted tour travelling through ten countries in Central and South America: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil. This one-of-a-kind holiday begins with a tour of Central America, offering travellers the chance to peer into smouldering volcanoes, trek through rainforests to discover wildlife and learn about the history of the Mayan civilisation in world famous archaeological sites such as the Copan ruins and the ancient city of Tikal. The tour then travels on to South America, a destination alive with rich cultures and stunning sites. From Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires to the 'lost city' of Machu Picchu, the cascading Iguacu Falls and serene Lake Titicaca, the holiday takes in all the major highlights of the continent. The holiday is priced from £6,999.  www.travelsphere.co.uk/en-gb/tours/pan-american-odyssey

NEW RIO CARNIVAL 2017 TOUR WITH TUCAN TRAVEL

Tucan Travel has launched two new Rio de Janeiro city breaks designed to experience the Rio Carnival like a local. The “Rio Carnival Beach Experience” offers travellers a more relaxed option away from the hustle and bustle of city but still allowing guests to take in the electric atmosphere of the Carnival. Guests will stay near the infamous Copacabana Beach from which travellers can watch the Rio Carnival parade. The five day experience is priced from £1,039 per person and includes tickets to the sought after Sector 11 at the Sambadrome, an orientation walk and dinner and four nights in a beach side hotel with breakfast. Alternatively, the “Rio Carnival City Experience” takes guests to the heart of the Rio Carnival buzz, a stone's throw away from the best street parties. The tour includes four nights stay in a central hotel in Rio including breakfasts, sector 11 Sambadrome ticket, an orientation walk and dinner priced from £789 per person.  www.tucantravel.com

AUSTRALIS STARTS WORK ON NEW EXPEDITION VESSEL

Construction has begun on a new Australis expedition vessel at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile. The new ship will be launched in the last quarter of 2017 and will boast all the facilities and world-class service that Australis already brings to the waters of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. The new 210 passenger ship will replace Via Australis which has a capacity of 136 passengers and which was handed over to Lindblad Expeditions to explore the Galapagos at the end of April 2016. As the new vessel takes shape in Valdivia, Stella Australis will operate solo in the southern seas during the 2016/2017 season. A three night cruise costs from £820.53 per person and a four night cruise costs from £994.00 per person on an all-inclusive basis. Prices are based on the 2016 / 2017 season running from September 2016 to April 2017. www.australis.com

LLAMA TRAVEL ADDS MEXICO TO ITS PORTFOLIO OF DESTINATIONS

Llama Travel has added a 12 day holiday package in Mexico featuring key cultural aspects of the country.The tour travels to Mexico City where travellers can admire the historic colonial architecture, San Cristobal de las Casas located in the pine-forested highlands, and trekking through the jungle to the archaeological site of Palenque. The tour ends with a visit to the pyramids of Chichen Itza, one of the seven new wonders of the world. All Llama Travel tours are tailor made and prices are available upon request. www.llamatravel.com/destinations/mexico/holidays#/holidays

NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA AND PANAMA WITH KE ADVENTURES

KE Adventures has introduced a brand new 15 day easy-paced holiday starting in Costa Rica and travelling south to Panama. The holiday includes turtle spotting in Tortuguero National Park a protected area on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast and a famous nesting ground for sea turtles, including endangered green turtles. Guests can also experience a glimpse into the way of life of the indigenous Bribri tribe of Costa Rica who live in Talamanca in the Limon Province of the country. The holiday ends on a high with dolphin spotting in Panama and visiting a sloth sanctuary and a green iguana project.  The tour is priced from £2,745 including international flights, airport transfers, meals, entrance fees and all tours and excursions described. www.keadventure.com/holidays/costa-rica-and-panama

TREKKING IN TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE AND ARGENTINIAN PATAGONIA WITH ECOCAMP PATAGONIA

Leaders in ecotourism EcoCamp Patagonia are offering guests the chance to discover the best of Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia and the chance to visit Argentinian Patagonia on complementary trekking programmes in Los Glaciares National Park, one of the most famous landmarks of Patagonia. The trekking itineraries range from one day treks to eight day treks surrounded by the stunning scenery of Patagonia. EcoCamp Patagonia is also offering a Patagonia United program, staying in four star accommodation and combining the highlights of Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Park in an eight day trip. The holiday is priced from £2,920 and includes three nights' accommodation at EcoCamp's suite domes, three nights at Hotel Los Cerros in a standard room and one night at Hotel Kau Yatun in a superior room, national park fees, meals and all ground transportation. www.cascada.travel/es/Tour/Patagonia-United-8-Day-Premium-Tour?sku=PAT033PDH

ECOCIRCUITOS LAUNCHES A NEW FAMILY TOUR OF PANAMA

EcoCircuitos has launched a new Panama Family tour, showcasing all the best Panama has to offer. The tour starts with a cycling tour of Panama City before heading to the rainforest and enjoying a boat ride to spot monkeys and crocodiles. The tour takes travellers to the highlands of Chiriqui, where guests can take to the trees on the skywalks in the cloud forest and zip line through the leaves. The experience ends on the Bocas Del Toro archipelago to visit indigenous communities and learn how to make chocolate. Prices are available upon request and include private transportation, private guided tours, entrance fees, breakfast and meals. www.ecocircuitos.com

TRAVEL TO MACHU PICCHU WITH AMAZONAS EXPLORER

“Machu Picchu Done Well”, is a new five day Peru tour from Amazonas Explorer. The tour is designed to help travellers who are short on time but still want an exclusive experience visiting the ancient archaeological site. The holiday is carefully crafted to avoid the tourist crowds and will see guests hiking to the Sun Gate before taking a tour of Machu Picchu in the afternoon. The tour also includes a visit to the colourful town of Pisac to enjoy a traditional Pachamanca lunch and learn about the history of coffee. The five day holiday is priced from £730 per person. www.amazonas-explorer.com

ABSOLUTE BELIZE PARTNERS WITH LAS TERRAZAS, BELIZE

Belizean tour operator, Absolute Belize has partnered with luxury resort Las Terrazas located close to San Pedro Town on the southern part of the Island of Ambergris, offering customers a new accommodation option when travelling with Absolute Belize. The hotel is located on a beautiful white sand beach and boasts Mediterranean aesthetics, amenities whilst also reflects the island charm of Belize. One night in the resort is priced from £209 per night based on two people sharing. www.absolutebelize.com/places-to-stay/the-cayes/las-terrasas

OCEAN ADVENTURES LAUNCH NEW GALAPAGOS TOUR

Cruise specialists Ocean Adventures has introduced new departures for cruises around the Galapagos Islands starting in June, July and August 2016. The Ocean Adventures cruises, operated by MV Eclipse include plenty of activities for families to choose from such as kayaking and snorkelling to zip lining and biking, along with wildlife-filled forests, llama farms and beaches. Prices of the cruises are available upon request and all tours can be adapted to travellers requests. www.oagalapagos.com.

LOS CAUQUENES RESORT & SPA SCHEDULES REFURBISHMENTS

From June 2016, Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa hotel in Ushuaia will begin refurbishments to welcome guests in a freshly renovated atmosphere. The hotel is planning to redecorate the spa with additional Moroccan lamps to create an ambiance of relaxation. The Reinomara restaurant will be refurbished with fur covered chairs, ambient lighting and aubergine coloured walls enhancing the magnificent views during the day. One night in a standard double room is priced from £112 per night based on two people sharing and includes breakfast, airport transfer, and shuttle service to Ushuaia City. This rate is available until June 30th 2016. One night stay in August and September 2016 is priced from £171 per person based on two people sharing. www.loscauquenes.com

OTHER NEWS

FOOTPRINT RELEASES TWO KEY NEW EDITIONS

Spring 2016 has seen Footprint publish two key new editions. Footprint's acclaimed Brazil Handbook is now available in its 9th edition. This comprehensive guide by Brazil experts Alex and Gardenia Robinson covers everything from wild jungle and stunning beaches to incredible metropolises and quaint colonial towns. For travellers taking shorter trips to Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro & Minas Gerais Handbook and Sao Paulo Handbook are perfectly pocket-sized. Also available is the revised and updated 6th edition Cuba Handbook, written by Caribbean expert Sarah Cameron. Times are shifting quickly in Cuba and this title explores and embraces the changes, giving travellers all they need to get off the beaten track and discover the real Cuba. www.footprinttravelguides.com/footprint/latest-releases

INCA RAILS LAUNCHES NEW ROUTE TO MACHU PICCHU

Inca Rail has inaugurated a new route from Poroy train station in the city of Cusco to Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes. The new service has improved access to Machu Picchu from the city of Cusco by offering a direct train service. Previously travellers would be required to stay overnight in Ollantaytambo in the sacred valley or Macchu Picchu Pueblo located at the base of the site. Premium economy tickets on Inca Rail are priced from £50 for adults and £20 for children and include snacks and drinks. www.incarail.com 

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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