Tour Operator News

Cox & Kings launches new tours for 2017

Cox & Kings has introduced a number of fresh and exciting tours in Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica and Panama due to launch in 2017. The revamped “Peru in Luxury” tour offers guests the chance to explore Peru travelling to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca with an itinerary designed to combine the country's ancient, colonial and scenic highlights. The 11 day, nine night tour is priced from £3,895 per person based on two people sharing. The “Brazil, Wildlife and Waterfalls” holiday includes a focus on the spectacular and diverse natural wonders of Brazil by exploring the Pantanal region to spot monkeys, capybaras and giant anteaters before experiencing the thundering waters of Iguacu Falls. The tour is priced from £2,695 per person based on two people sharing. The specialist tour operator has also launched a new “Natural Wonders of Panama and Costa Rica” that marries the best of both countries including a stay in the Panamanian rainforest and a cruise on the Panama Canal, with a visit to the coffee country and the rainforest and volcanoes of Costa Rica. The 14 day, 12 night holiday is priced from £3,195 per person and includes a welcome and farewell dinner and group activities. www.coxandkings.co.uk

Metropolitan Touring introduces a new way of exploring the Galapagos Islands

Metropolitan Touring has introduced a new luxury one week Island-2-Island package. The holiday combines stays at two of the top hotels in the archipelago: the Scalesia Lodge, hidden away in Isabela's highland and made up of 16 luxurious safari-like tents and The Finch Bay Hotel on Santa Cruz Island, one of the only beachfront properties and the leading hotel in the Galapagos. Led by expert guides, guests will be taken on a host of unforgettable expeditions including traversing the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano, walking amongst gatherings of Galapagos penguins and marvelling at shoals of white tipped reed sharks at the Tintoreras Islands. The tour is priced from £3,633 per person in a double room, including accommodation, guided excursions, inter-island flights, domestic Galapagos transfers. www.finchbayhotel.com/isabela-santa-cruz-8-days-7-nights-finch-bay

Families Worldwide adds three new family tours to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama

Families Worldwide has launched its new 2017-18 brochure which includes three new group tours in Latin America: “Mayan Mexico”, “Costa Rica in Style” and “Jungles and the Canals and Coral Reeds” in Panama. The tour in Mexico includes visits to the Yucatan Peninsula, travelling to Mayan ruins and swimming in magnificent cenotes. The Costa Rica holiday travels to areas still untouched by tourism such the Osa Peninsula a world premier rainforest destination located in south western Costa Rica and San Gerardo de Dota, a national park nestled in the remote mountains south of San Jose. The Panama trip takes in the highlights of the famous canal, rainforests and a trip to the stunning island of Bocas del Toro. The Mayan Mexico holiday is priced from £2,349 per adult and £2,109 per child including flights and seven nights' accommodation, breakfast and one dinner. The Costa Rica holiday is priced from £3,549 per adult and £3,239 per child including flights, ten nights' accommodation, breakfast and one lunch. The Jungles, Canals and Coral Reefs holiday is priced from £2,995 per adult and £2,790 per child including flights, accommodation, breakfasts and lunches. www.chameleonworldwide.com

Kids go for free over Christmas with expedition cruise Australis

Expedition cruise company, Australis, runs exclusive cruises through the glacial channels of southern Patagonia and onto Cape Horn. The three or four day all-inclusive cruises allow guests to experience incredible landscapes and untouched wildlife, perfect for adventurous families. Throughout December each travelling adult can take up to one child free of charge on board the cruises - including Christmas departures. Bookings must be made before 31st October and the offer is available across a range of itineraries. For example, a three-night 'Discover Patagonia Route' costs from £1,843 ($2,440) per person with departures on 7th, 14th and 21st December and a four-night 'Tierra del Fuego' route costs from £2233 ($2,957) per person with departures on 10th, 17th and 24th December. All cruises are on an all-inclusive basis. www.australis.com

Last Frontiers introduces Minca El Dorado National Park to its portfolio of holidays

Travel specialist Last Frontiers has added the stunning Minca El Dorado National Park located in the north of Colombia to its “Classic Colombia tour”. The park is just a one hour drive from the mountains of Santa Marta and is an excellent area for birdwatching and for sampling organic coffee. A trip to the National Park can be added to the “Classic Colombia” tour which takes in the highlights of the country including Bogota, the salt cathedral of Zipaquira, the Chicamoch Canyon and the Rosario Islands. The 14 day holiday is priced from £4,640 per person based on two people sharing, including accommodation, full board, private transfers and flights. www.lastfrontiers.com/itineraries/classic-colombia

EcoCircuitos launches new Boquete Honey and Butterfly House Tour in Boquete, Panama

Latin American tour company EcoCircuitos has launched a new Boquete Honey and Butterfly House tour in Panama offering visitors an exceptional perspective of the Boquete and Chiriquí highlands where travellers can try over 15 different varieties of honey products and learn first-hand about the bees that make the famous Boquete honey. The holiday also includes a tour of a new butterfly house, home to over 35 different endemic butterfly species. Prices of the holiday are available upon request and can be booked via:www.ecocircuitospanama.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/boquete-bee-and-butterfly-farm/  

Hotel News

First ever urban design hotel to open in the heart of Santiago

Following a meticulous two year renovation of a 1929 year old mansion in Santiago's historic downtown, Hotel Magnolia will formally open to the public in October 2016. The 42 room hotel is the first of its kind to open in the city's “El Centro” neighbourhood, offering historic beauty together with luxe accommodation, a gourmet restaurant, and a perfect location at the foot of the Cerro Santa Lucia hilltop park. Located in the heart of Santiago, the hotel is ideally situated for travellers to explore the city's many tourist attractions such as the Lastarria and Bellas Artes neighbourhoods, art galleries and many museums. One night stay in a standard double room in the Hotel Magnolia is priced from £170 based on two people sharing. www.hotelmagnolia.cl.

Atemporal Hotel opens in Lima, Peru

A brand new intimate hotel has opened in the trendy district of Miraflores in Lima Peru. Atemporal Hotel is housed in a revamped 1940s mansion and boasts a unique aesthetic, with an eclectic but elegant blend of contemporary and antique books, photographs, artwork and artefacts collected from across Peru. Atemporal has nine beautifully personalised rooms and is strategically located within quick walking distance of several of Peru's best known restaurants, including Astrid y Gaston. It is also a stone's throw away from Lima's top shops, galleries and nightlife, and the financial district in San Isidro. One night in a standard room is priced from £216 based on two people sharing.  www.atemporal.pe

Victoria House opens new luxury spa and fitness zone

Victoria House, the plantation style award-winning resort on the tropical island of Ambergris Caye in Belize has announced the opening of their new full service spa and fitness zone. The romantic retreat styled in a Caribbean colonial theme is set amongst coconut palms and bougainvillea, creating a sanctuary for relaxation and indulgence. The facility includes a fitness centre and a spa area where guests can sample spa products, a relaxation room and an enclosed courtyard perfect for small yoga groups. The spa offers over 36 enticing treatments including massages, facials, manicures, body wraps and scrubs. One night at Victoria House is priced from £153 per room including breakfast. www.victoria-house.com

Hotel Fasano Angra dos Reis due to open in Brazil

Fasano Angra dos Reis is a new hotel due to open in April 2017. It will be the first Fasano Hotel located in the region of Angra Dos Reis, a two hour and a half drive south of Rio de Janeiro. The luxury hotel will feature a beach club, spa, mall, golf course and 54 suites with stunning views overlooking the ocean. Prices are available upon request. www.fasano.com.br/hotelaria/novos_projetos/index/5

Airline News

Avianca introduces the first ever 787 Dreamliner in the UK

Avianca airlines has introduced its first 787 Dreamline aircraft in the UK on its daily flight from London Heathrow to Bogota connecting with any destination within Colombia and Latin America. The aircraft features a revolutionary design together with a new entertainment system introduced to improve customer flight experience.  www.avianca.com

Other News  

Dominican Jazz Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary 

From 8-12 November, the Dominican Republic Jazz festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary across a number of locations. The musical event will take place in the “Centro Leon” cultural centre in Santiago, the country's second most important city, Cabarete Beach also known as the 'windsurf capital of the Caribbean' and Puerto Plata, the north coast's biggest city. The festival includes a variety of exciting activities such as workshops and classes for young musicians as well as jam sessions with professional musicians.  In honour of its 20th anniversary, this year the festival is being dedicated to female jazz musicians and all the events will be headed by top women jazz performers in order to promote gender equality.

www.accessdr.com/2016/07/dr-jazz-festival-to-celebrate-20th-anniversary-in-november

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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