A Latin American fiesta
Long established travel company, Cox & Kings, has launched its new Latin America brochure for 2011 featuring a comprehensive programme of escorted group tours and private tailor-made travel to the continent.
From the rainforests and archaeological sites of Central America and the Andean peaks and Inca history of Peru and Ecuador, to the colourful carnivals in Brazil and gauchos and icy wilderness of Patagonia, the brochure encapsulates the real essence of Latin America.
The 2011 brochure includes additional departures to some of the most popular group tours, which will coincide with popular festivals and celebrations. There is a departure to include spending Christmas in Torres del Paine National Park on the Splendours of Chile group tour or New Year’s Eve in Buenos Aires during the Patagonia: The Untouched Wilderness tour.
The Train to Machu Picchu tour will spend Christmas in Arequipa and New Year’s Eve in Cuzco. Both the Grand Tour of South America and Wonders of the New World tours have a departure to coincide with the Champions Carnival Parade in Rio de Janeiro. There is still a departure of the Train to Machu Picchu tour, which includes Inti Raymi, the Inca festival of the sun and Highlights of Mexico has departures to witness the Semana Santa, or Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca.
Cox & Kings’ product manager for Latin America, Vessela Baleva says, “Latinos are well-known for their love of fiestas and these departures will give a chance to witness some of the continent's most colourful festivities, including the intriguing Day of the Dead in Mexico. The Champion's Parade sees the winners of the spectacular carnival celebrations with fewer crowds and at better value than the previous week’s carnival. The rest of the festival departures offer our clients the opportunities to be at a special place for Christmas, New Year’s Eve or Easter, such as Buenos Aires, Cuzco, Iguazú Falls or Torres del Paine.”
TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU: This tour has remained the best-selling group tour for 2010 and Cox & Kings has negotiated a fantastic special offer price for July, the high season, which is the same price as 2007. The tour is priced from £2,795 per person and in July it will be just £2,895 per person compared to £3,245 per person in July 2010. Additionally, the hotels in Arequipa and Puno have been upgraded to the 5 star Libertador and the group tour is now using the overnight flight with LAN airlines, via Madrid.
ARGENTINE ODYSSEY PRIVATE JOURNEY: This comprehensive new private journey reveals the best of the country, travelling from the sub-tropical north to the ‘End of the World’ in the south and exploring the wild landscapes and glaciers of Patagonia and its snow-capped mountains, forest and lakes. The 14 day / 11 night itinerary has both superior and luxury accommodation options and is priced from £3,595 and £4,295 per person respectively. This includes all flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast daily, and guided excursions.
Tailor-made itineraries have become increasingly popular and extra pages have been included to give ideas of lesser-known places that can be incorporated into any tailor-made itinerary. Baleva says, “People are becoming more knowledgeable about Latin America and feel confident about planning their own holidays in conjunction with our consultants, who have all travelled extensively throughout the continent. Cox & Kings works with the best ground agents in each country and they provide expert guides with incredible local information, which really brings a holiday to life”.
TAILOR-MADE PERU: The tailor-made pages now include a luxury alternative to the Inca Trail staying in lodges rather than tents and a relaxing spa break in the Incas’ Sacred Valley. Mountain Lodges of Peru has four intimate and comfortable lodges, located along the Salkantay trail and each day ends with a gourmet meal followed by a relaxing massage or a jacuzzi beneath the stars. The fertile Urubamba Valley is surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and is home to some first class hotels that are renowned for their spas, a perfect place to acclimatise to the high altitude or to unwind at the end of any trip to Peru.
TAILOR-MADE BRAZIL: With increased investments in its infrastructure, new regions of Brazil are opening up for tourists. New for the 2011 brochure are the chapada national parks, home of a variety of endemic flora and fauna and scenic high plateaus that combine canyons, rivers and waterfalls offering numerous walking possibilities. The far northeast of Brazil, just south of the equator, offers unique off-the-beaten track experiences. Lençóis Maranhenses is a stunning natural phenomenon of sweeping white dunes and turquoise lakes and the dazzling coast offers endless beaches, lush tropical deltas and unspoiled fishing villages.
TAILOR-MADE CHILE: Cox & Kings’ ideas for tailor-made visits to Chile now include cruises in Patagonia. The fjords and austral channels of Patagonia offer landscapes of extraordinary beauty and numerous sailing possibilities. A catamaran cruise to the stunning San Rafael Lagoon and its glacier with hot springs can be combined with a stay in a remote lodge on the shores of Dorita Bay. Alternatively sail through unexplored Chilean fjords on a small classic wooden boat and visit little-known islands and a traditional family estancia. Cruises can also be taken through the Strait of Magellan in search of humpback whales, or around the southern tip of the continent to Cape Horn and Ushuaia, in Argentina.
See coxandkings.co.uk for the full programme to Latin America.