LATIN AMERICA GETTING AROUND DESTINATIONS
ABOVE: Buenos Aires LEFT: Salt flats in Chile
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Wendy Wu
Tours offers a 14-day Essence of Argentina and Brazil tour that
on the Pacific coast, via indigenous markets and stunning national parks. Overnight accommodation is in haciendas and hotels along the route, while from Guayaquil, clients can fly on to the Galapagos Islands.
w AUTOMOBILES For clients who don’t want to keep hopping on and off flights, Central America comes into its own, with
much smaller distances to cover than in South America. It is becoming more popular with UK visitors and the Central America Tourism Agency is predicting a 27% increase in British visitor numbers by 2020. One popular route is to follow the
Mayan trail through the rich jungles of southern Mexico, visiting Guatemala’s Mayan ruins and colonial towns, and the islands of Belize. The travel times are relatively short and border crossings are easy with the help of a tour guide (although keep in mind that clients leaving Belize overland must pay an exit tax of $20 in cash). According to Journey Latin America,
LEFT: Ruta 40, Argentina
wildlife-filled Costa Rica is also ideal for combining with its neighbours, and crossing the border means avoiding the journey back to the capital San José to catch a flight. After exploring rainforests, cloud forests and glowing volcanoes, clients can head north from Arenal National Park to Peñas Blancas, where they can easily cross into Nicaragua and visit Lake Nicaragua and the splendid colonial city Granada. Alternatively, from Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, it is easy to cross south into the highlands and coffee plantations of Panama. South America may be larger, but
it is still possible to enjoy overland trips. Chile and Argentina are pinned together by the Andes along their entire length. Each country has its own ‘lake district’ – an area of Switzerland- like beauty – where glacial lakes are surrounded by imposing volcanoes and picture-perfect villages. And an easy tour can be organised to cross the border between Puerto Varas in Chile and Bariloche in Argentina, combining bus travel with boat trips across three spectacular lakes. For clients seeking more adventure, Ruta 40 is Argentina’s version of US Route 66. Stretching 3,250 miles from the Bolivian border all the way to the southernmost point of the country’s mainland, the beautiful Bariloche to El Calafate section is a highlight. In Chile, the Carretera Austral was
developed by former military dictator General Pinochet to connect the country’s most remote communities. Snaking down from the Lake District into Patagonia, it is an often-unmade road taking in dense forests, glaciers, fjords and snow-capped peaks. In both countries, clients should
always rent a 4x4 and be aware that gravel roads, high winds and a lack of petrol stations can make the journey challenging.
features tango in Buenos Aires, the Tren a Las Nubes, the Humahuaca Valley, Iguazu
Falls and Rio de Janeiro. Prices start at £3,990, including flights, accommodation and some
meals. The first departure is September 10. wendywutours.
co.uk/agents
Kuoni offers a small-group tour, Mayan Explorer, through Mexico, Belize and
Guatemala, with visits to Mayan sites at Tulum, Xunantunich, Tikal, Palenque, Uxmal and
Chichen Itza. The eight-night tour starts at £2,236, including flights.
kuoni.co.uk
8 February 2018
travelweekly.co.uk 73
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