A warm welcome to our Spring newsletter with the very latest from our partners.
It’s been a busy start to the year for us with 3 visits to Germany including the CMT travel show in Stuttgart, LAN roadshow in February and ITB in March.
Manuel from Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa in Chile, and Thierry from La Passion in Cartagena have both visited the UK, and we have lots more visits planned in the coming few months.
In March Gareth from Senderos and Juan Carlos Selman from LAN accompanied our Peru fam trip with 10 UK tour operators. Over 12 days the group visited our partners Rainforest Expeditions (all 3 Tambopata lodges), and Casa Andina Private Collection (Cusco, Puno, Suasi Island, Arequipa and Lima). Gareth continued his trip to visit our partners in Puyuhuapi and Valparaiso.
Senderos' brochure is online www.senderos.co.uk/pageflip/brochure.htm
Our high res image library has proved very popular. Contact us for log in details & check it out at www.senderos.co.uk/media/index.php,
We're proud to welcome Casa Higueras (www.casahigueras.cl) in Valparaiso, Chile to the Senderos family. See below for a brief introduction to this beautiful small hotel.
Senderos Partners are:
Casa Higueras, Valparaiso, Chile www.casahigueras.cl
Rainforest Expeditions, Peru www.perunature.com
Casa Andina Private Collection Suasi Island and Sacred Valley, Peru www.casa-andina.com
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Praia do Rosa, Brazil www.vidasolemar.com.br
Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa, Chile www.patagonia-connection.com
Ecoventura, Galapagos www.ecoventura.com
The Antarctic Dream, www.antarctic.cl
Experience Patagonia, Argentina www.experiencepatagonia.com
Quincho Country Home, Chile www.quinchocountryhome.cl
Pousada Picinguaba, Brazil www.picinguaba.com
Awasi, Chile www.awasi.cl
Galapagos Walking Tours & Huaorani Ecolodge, Ecuador www.walkingalapagos.com / www.www.huaorani.com
Hotel La Passion, Cartagena www.lapassionhotel.com
Estancia Huechahue, Argentina www.huechahue.com
Casa Higueras, Valparaiso, Chile www.casahigueras.cl
I have just been to Valparaiso and loved the city. I also enjoyed Casa Higueras as it bought some of the city's fascinating history into the hotel. The views from the restaurant and terrace were continually changing as you looked over the busy working port. An excellent and stylish place to stay, especially the rooms with balconies. MG, A & K April 08
Perched on Valparaiso’s steep hills with spectacular views over the bay, Casa Higueras is a small, elegant hotel with real character; a base of distinction for exploring this fascinating Chilean port and surroundings.
The hotel’s 20 beautiful rooms (5 Traditional, 4 Premium, 4 Premium Superior, 7 Suites) on 5 levels of a renovated 1920’s mansion are complimented by warm Chilean hospitality and fine cuisine, and the tiered gardens feature a spa, sauna and swimming pool. The neighbourhood of Cerro Alegre is UNESCO World Heritage.
Valparaiso, regarded by many as the country’s most charming city, is a 1 ½ hour drive from Santiago through the vineyards of the Central Valley. A network of lifts and funiculars link the port and lower commercial areas with the slopes that are home to a colourful and eclectic mix of buildings and impressive viewpoints.
Rainforest Expeditions, Peru www.perunature.com
This was my favourite place in the Amazon. For a true jungle experience this is the place to stay! KG March 08 UK fam trip
- Check out the image right taken at our camera trap project - this photogenic jaguar seems to have no problem finding food!
- We have been refurbishing walls at Posada Amazonas, and changed the old roofing.
- We've just completed our thirteenth guide course and a special workshop for family programmes.
- Rainforest Expeditions' lodges were featured in the Economist - http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11017681
- We were proud to be a finalist in the Tourism for Tomorrow awards, the 'Investor in People' section. www.tourismfortomorrow.com
- Rainforest Expeditions was included as one of the World’s Best Adventure Outfitters http://atr.nationalgeographic.com/outfitters/outfitterDetail.action?id=140
We would be very grateful if tour operators fill in an online survey http://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_6FKnsFkkIkZYF5G&SVID=Prod
The survey will help us have your opinion at to pricing in the context of a weak ening dollar, a problem that has plagued the tourism industry for the past 18 months and looks set to continue in the next year or two.
Casa Andina Private Collection Suasi Island and Sacred Valley, Peru www.casa-andina.com
Suasi is really wonderful; It is charming and tastefully done. The gardens are beautifully kept. The views from all over the property are spectacular. The food was excellent. The experience of this place is difficult to portray, even photos do not do it justice! KG UK March 08 fam trip (see image right)
In March we co-hosted a very successful UK fam trip. The group of 12 stayed in Casa Andina Private Collection properties in Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno, Suasi Island, Arequipa & Lima.
Casa Andina has just celebrated its 5 year anniversary! We look to the future with ambitious expansion plans, based on optimism, teamwork and love for Peruvian culture. See the special anniversary video we've created at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Jd6fSxXsk
At Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley we are repainting the planetarium in time for high season, and we've launched a new activity - Yoga in the Sacred Valley.
March 27th was the official opening of Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa. Located in the ex Casa de la Moneda, one of the most beautiful traditional mansions of the White City, the hotel offers 41 guest rooms incl 11 suites. There is a beautiful little chapel, 2 colonial-style courtyards and a gourmet restaurant. (see middle photo right).
On February 27th in Lima we inaugurated our first 5 star hotel, Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, attended by the President of the Republic. It has 148 rooms (including 16 suites), a spa, gym, swimming pool & gourmet restaurant. (bottom image right)
The strength of the Sol against a weak dollar (22% change in 2 years) continues to challenge the hotel industry in Peru.
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Praia do Rosa, Brazil www.vidasolemar.com.br
After a busy summer and easter season, we're now awaiting the appearance of the whales again. In the meantime we're keeping busy:-
- We now have special massages and spa treatments available at the pousada
- We have rebuilt master hut 27 transforming it into a beautiful Villa.
- We installed a special antenna so now wireless internet is available for the whole hotel. This is free for guests in villas while there is a small one off charge for the Eco resort.
- We're busy restyling rooms. 8 studios were done for March (5/6/7/8/22/23/24/25) and we'll soon start on the rest. Please contact Senderos for new images.
- Canadian Jeffrey Jah – partner in the Lotus and Double Seven of New York, and Café de la Musique and KM7 in Florianópolis - recently chose Praia do Rosa and Vida Sol e Mar for a short vacation with his girlfriend, top model Renata Maciel.
Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa, Chile www.patagonia-connection.com
On behalf of all our group I am writing to thank you and all the staff of Patagonia Connection for they way that you treated us during our tour in November. Wonderful times we had at Puyuhuapi. We love the hotel and the area around it very much. As we expected everyone felt that the hotel is a very special place and we were also thrilled to have a good day when we visited San Rafael. We hope to visit again in the future. HR UK Nov 07
We have redesigned all our rooms this season. See picture top right, please contact Senderos for high resolution images.
Dirk Heckmann (BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year) explored the Carretera Austral this summer by bike investigating for his new guidebook “The Carretera Austral by Bike”. He was invited by Sernatur Aysen and Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa where he took some spectacular pictures. You can see 2 of his beautiful images right.
Ecoventura, Galapagos www.ecoventura.com
We just returned from a Galapagos trip on the Letty. Great trip, wonderful boat and a good time was had by all. There are a couple of photos you might like - this is our sister ship the Flamingo, with dolphins leaping at the front! Young Cage US March 08 (see two of Young's stunning images right!)
In May 07, Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) initiated a scholarship programme for local students to study for two years at GAIAS on San Cristobal. The aim is to form community leaders to help manage conservation and take a stand against illegal fishing. As of Jan 08, 22 students have been carefully selected, many of them children of fishermen from San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela Island.
In 2006 Ecoventura, together with the World Wildlife Fund, established the GMBF and alone has pledged to raise $80,000.00 per year for the first three years. Passengers are welcome to make donations to the fund.
The fund aims to enable the National Park to better manage and protect the marine reserve against illegal fishing activities, for example maintenance of park patrol boats and helping to make current small scale fishing practices more efficient. At Tiburon Martillo a permanent floating station near Wolf and Darwin rangers patrol for illegal shark finning and long-line fishing.
Funds from GMBF have also been allocated to benefit families of local fishermen by development of micro enterprises for the fisherman's wives, providing an alternate means of income. Through education and marine conservation GMBF puts funds to work on the ground, addressing critical issues, reversing ecological damage & conserving Galapagos for the future.
The Antarctic Dream, www.antarctic.cl
Just would like to say what a fantastic time both I and my husband had onboard the ship. Our agent in UK found space on the Antarctic Dream and we had the most brilliant adventure cruise - excellent cabin, food and very friendly and informative crew and naturalists. Would like to recommend the ship to anyone wanting a REAL Antarctic experience. We now want to go again as it is such a beautiful environment. RS, UK Dec 07
Antarctic Shipping wishes to announce that in the upcoming season 2008-2009, we will be offering a series of themed departures, in order to provide our guests with invaluable learning experiences in different genres. The featured topic will be in addition to our regular programme of Antarctic lectures.
Our first special guest lecturer, Eric Zafrán, will be joining the December 29th 08 departure, providing a special focus in lectures entitled "Artists as Adventurers". Mr. Zafrán has been a curator for over thirty years at art museums in New York, Baltimore, Boston and Atlanta. He has been at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford Connecticut, America’s oldest museum, for ten years as Curator of European Painting and Sculpture.
Stay tuned as we announce the dates and topics for the rest of the guest speakers series.
Please contact our reservations department with any questions, we still have plenty of availability for next season!
Experience Patagonia, Argentina www.experiencepatagonia.com
Hosteria Los Notros and Hotel Los Cerros in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.
- We are building our new portal website (in English soon) - www.experiencepatagonia.com
- Rates for the 2008-2009 season in Hotel Los Cerros and Hosteria Los Notros are already available www.experiencepatagonia.com/agt
- Los Cerros closes on the 20th April, and Los Notros on the 6th May
- Los Notros and Los Cerros appeared in Chris Moss' excellent article in a recent Wanderlust Magazine's feature on the region
- The rupture in Perito Moreno won’t happen very soon but there are already 8 metres difference in the water levels.
- There are now great new walkways for viewing.
- The pictures right are of the Big Ice excursion. Similar to mini trekking but more active (18-45 yrs), a short boat ride and 45 min walk gets you to the iceface where you explore fantastic scapes with help of crampons. Guests leave Los Notros at 8 am, returning at 4 - groups no bigger than 15, with 3 guides.
- Big Ice is modelled (photo right) by our very own Rita Agote! Rita will be travelling in May in Europe, including visits to Rome, Milan, Turin and the UK.
Quincho Country Home, Chile www.quinchocountryhome.cl
We have visited beautiful places but never have we felt as relaxed and looked after as we have here at Quincho. A caring, professional and intelligent team, beautiful surroundings, what more could one ask for. A & S D Scotland
Wonderful, wonderful wonderful M & D C England
Excellent hospitality, lovely rooms, beautiful grounds, delicious food. All perfection-except: do not allow future guests to depart after only one night! J & J K USA
Thanks to you all for helping make Quincho's second summer season so busy and successful.
Our guests continue to be hosted by Cecilia and Elizabeth, and have their taste buds delighted by chef Claudio. All under Silja's management.
We'll be open throughout the winter time!
Pousada Picinguaba, Brazil www.picinguaba.com
A little known delight in our region are winter festivals in Picinguaba and Paraty over the months of May, June, and July. (See photos right).
- Festas Juninas in Picinguaba, a revived tradition in June
- Festas dos pescadores, where boats in the region are decorated for Sao Joao and Sao Pedro
- Festa do Divino Espirito Santo, 10 days of processions in Paraty in May.
- FLIP, the now famous literature festival in Paraty during first week of July (08).
Picinguaba currently has 3 full time interns - Mareva and Thomas are from France's premier business school and are helping Manu with all aspects of sustainability, including the NGO that he is currently raising funds for in Europe. Francis is English, assists receiving guests and is great helping out wherever needed.
The winter months are the best time to see dolfins at Picinguaba (see picture right)
Pousada Picinguaba proudly announces a brand new addition. Felix was born on the 8th February in Lisbon to the delight of Manu and Filipa!
Awasi, Chile www.awasi.cl
We loved the hotel. We have told all of our friends about Awasi. Our guide was wonderful. She didn't push us but always encouraged us. We were so impressed with everything. The hotel was luxurious but not pretentious. It was everything that we needed. The service was great. Our time at Awasi was the highlight of our trip in South America (US)
Awasi was fantastic. The food was absolutely smashing. There are no words… it was top… The excursions were superb. Our guide taught us many things about the country and desert and we had a wonderful time with him. There is nothing to improve, everything was marvelous. Awasi was the highlight of our journey to Chile and we will definitely be back (Switzerland)
- Rodrigo Diaz is our new administrador in San Pedro
- Travel Time Magazine (Jan 08) – Awasi came number 1 in the 10 Best and Brightest new Hotels
- We´ll be in the next Rob Report Luxury Resort Annual Publication
- In the magazine Gourmet Traveller (Australia Apr 08) Awasi was included in the section "Best of the best, Top 30 New Hotels".
Continuing our sustainable tourism policy and after the “Encuentro de Arte de los Pueblos Originarios” that we organized in the last two years, we have just taught 2 educational programmes in the school at Socaire, a small town 90 km from San Pedro. This was organized with Junior Achievement Chile. We are also organizing some training and courses in organic farming and about ancient arts and crafts for the Socaire inhabitants.
Galapagos Walking Tours & Huaorani Ecolodge, Ecuador www.walkingalapagos.com / www.www.huaorani.com
Waponi! The Huaorani Ecolodge has been officially open since January 1st and we already have many things to share, starting with our first testimonial:
At the Huaorani Ecolodge, I got a good sense of life in the Amazon. While the comfortable Huaorani-style cabins provided unexpected indulgence in the rainforest, I was able to experience many aspects of Huaorani culture and lifestyle. From walking in the forest searching for peccaries and learning to use a blowgun, to identifying edible fruits hanging off the trunks of forest trees, traveling up and down rivers in a dugout canoe poled by native guides, eating yucca and palm fruits, and enjoying the nightly serenades of frogs and cicadas, I learned both the art and the science of the jungle. Abigail Rome
We put alot of emphasis on unique cultural experiences, definitely among the highlights, but please don't forget superb natural history!
- One group alone spotted 111 different species of birds after staying 8 days including a juvenile Harpy Eagle! In the first 3 months of being open we already have 191 species confirmed by clients and guides including a nocturnal currasow and hundreds of parakeets and parrots. Please request our updated bird list.
- Monkeys: The Huaorani are honoring the conservation and tourism area and now our clients are seeing & hearing red howler (eating at salt licks), sakis, duski titi, squirrel, white-fronted capuchin, night monkeys and even pygmy marmosets!
- At the salt licks we've seen fresh tracks of Jaguar, Ocelot, Deer & Peccaries. One group travelling downriver even saw a Puma drinking on the Shiripuno's shore, & later a Southern Tamandua. Our last group saw an Ocelot on the discovery trail!
Que más? Jasci visited the lodge with the WTO who are interested in working with us. The following day at the landing strip he greeted a very special group lead by Andy for our Official Opening. The communities, donors, representatives of government, and local press. Emotional speeches and a big party at the lodge with dancing till the early hours!
Moi is a dad! His daughter was born just a month ago. And Maria Augusta from Tropics office in Quito has also just given birth, to a baby boy on Tuesday!
The women in the community are a more and more active part of the lodge, going to fish, farm and weave with our groups.
We still have limited places on our September fam trips to coincide with Travel Mart in Quito -http://www.tropiceco.com/emailing/huao_fam.html
Hotel La Passion, Cartagena www.lapassionhotel.com
Thierry was in the UK for one visit-packed day in early April. We hope to return later in the year, with more time!
Colombia and La Passion in the Press:-
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1719654,00.html
- http://www.sellinglonghaul.com/index.htm
- We've also been mentioned in the past few months in Nouvel Observateur, Air France Magazine, Le Monde, the Guardian, Times, Conde Nast, El Pais and Cote Sud
In La Passion's restaurant the lovely Elvira prepares mouth watering local Caribbean coast specialities such as lobster, shrimp and conch. From the Grill, guests can enjoy a selection of delicous meats cooked beside them on our roof terrace.
Breakfast can be French - with Croissants, Pain au Chocolat, Brioche, and Crepes. Or American with eggs (cooked to order), along with an array of fresh tropical fruits.
There is nothing more romantic than a dinner for two on our terrace at night. Live local music and fine wine to accompany a Foie Gras starter and fresh fish.
Special offer - until the 30th June every stay of 3 nights has a fourth free!
Estancia Huechahue, Argentina www.huechahue.com
A little paradise somewhere on planet earth…Beautiful landscapes, fantastic riding, welcoming people, respect of environment, home made food…What else to ask for? Many thanks to everyone, I'll be back! CC France.
Thanks Jane for the great hospitality, horses, food, wine and an introduction to a wonderful country. Something tells me I might be back! LH U.K.
A horseman’s paradise with 5 star service! BG Canada.
Second time here and loved it more than the first. It’s a hard place to leave… SC U.K.
Its been exhausting and amazing. Definitely the trip of a lifetime. CW UK
At the end of April we close for the winter – its been a good, busy season. Thank you as always for your support.
- Our new 3 day pack trip at the base of Lanin Volcano has been very successful. We do this trip with Rodolfo and Salvador who live in the area and do a wonderful job of looking after everyone and sharing with guests their love for their spectacular land.
- After a couple of frustrating years the vegetable garden has finally come back to its own – providing almost all the vegetables we eat. We are now trying hard to use only locally produced products.
- Winter projects include setting up protection for the path we use to the Condor Cliff.
Email
info@senderos.co.uk for more
information.
Telephone: +44 (0)208 1448335