INTRODUCING LATIN AMERICA
ECOTOURISM Jaguars, ocelots and pumas; sloths,
anteaters, armadillos and monkeys; anaconda, caiman and piranhas; and penguins, whales, seals and turtles – that’s just a snap shot of the weird and wonderful animal species at home in Latin America. The Amazon rainforest, with its jungle lodges and guided excursions, is a good place to start, but similar experiences are also available in the verdant national parks and reserves of Central America, as well as Brazil's Pantanal or the plains of Venezuela's Los Llanos. For marine wildlife, the Galapagos Islands are the obvious choice, but Mexico's Sea of Cortez and Argentina's Valdes Peninsula are also popular.
ADVENTURE The region’s colossal size and variety
of landscapes means those with adventure on the mind are well catered for, with cycling, trekking, rock-climbing, surfing and rafting all popular, with the Andes and Patagonia also presenting a challenge for serious climbers. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is
probably the region's most famous trek, but Chile's Torres del Paine National Park also offers some spectacular scenery. If horse-riding is more like your
client’s idea of adventure, then a trip to Argentina is a must. The ‘gaucho’ lifestyle still thrives in the expansive pampas regions and many ranches and estancias offer good accommodation in beautiful settings that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the saddle. The Andean highlands, Uruguay and Chile offer further similar options.
DOWN BY THE SEA Latin America’s classic beach
destinations include Cancun and the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, Rio’s Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, Brazil’s northeast coast, and the islands of Cuba and Dominican Republic. Divers should be directed to Belize, off whose coast lies the second-longest barrier reef in the world and the stunning Blue Hole. Other top spots for snorkelling and diving include Honduras’ Bay Islands, the Corn Islands in Nicaragua and Venezuela’s Los Roques. Latin America is also gaining
ground in the cruise sector, where the Amazon River and Galapagos Islands have long been fertile waters for smaller vessels. Now, however, the wider cruise market is also growing, with cruise lines such as Fred Olsen, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean and Star Clippers operating sailings around Latin America’s long Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific coastline.
ACCOMMODATION Five-star luxury, rainforest lodges,
rural haciendas, beach-side cabanas and trendy boutique hotels – Latin America offers a complete spectrum of accommodation. Fashionable
■ Pictured above: colonial Costa Rica; flamboyant Peruvian costume; Mexico's Copper Canyon; brightly coloured marine life of the Galapagos Islands; surf's up in Central America
cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires boast designer hotels, while colonial centres such as Cusco, Quito and Cartagena are rich in boutique hotels set in sensitively converted colonial buildings. Jungle lodges and isolated hotels
in spectacular destinations offer B&B rates or all-inclusive packages complete with a menu of daily excursions and adventure activities.
GETTING THERE Only Mexico, Brazil and Argentina
are connected to London by direct, non-stop flights. BA serves Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Cancun, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and Brazilian carrier TAM operates from London to both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Virgin Atlantic is due to launch a service to Cancun in summer 2012. Iberia flies from its Madrid hub to
over 15 cities across the region, while Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Air France, KLM, LAN, Lufthansa and TAP fly to various locations from their European hubs. There are also plenty of options flying via North American hubs.
©BMI, ANDY HOSKINS
© TITILAKA
© SUNVIL TRAVELLER
© METROPOLITAN TOURING
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