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Greetings and welcome to Senderos' April newsletter.
We hope you find there's plenty of interesting and useful
information contained in this spring edition of the newsletter -
please take a moment to scroll down or click on the individual
hotels below. As ever, please let me know if you have any
questions, require brochures or images, or
would like to arrange a presentation.
Senderos Partners are:-
Estancia
Huechahue, Argentina – end of Patagonia’s riding season &
plans for the next
Tambopata Research
Centre, Peru – captured! a jaguar stalks a family of
capybara
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, Chile
– a successful summer in Chile’s pristine far south
Brazil's north east, Olinda to Fortaleza –
news from Natal & film making in Cariri
Pousada Picinguaba, Brazil – Air France rave review,
new Manager takes the reins, & 2006 rates.
Estancia Huechahue (www.senderos.co.uk/partners_huechahue.htm)
"Thank you all for a wonderful ride. My
goals of relaxation, adventure and inspiration have been
accomplished!" Megan Mar
05
"Moments of madness, moments of calm.
Complete satisfaction within myself. A memorable holiday, wonderful
hospitality" David Dec
04
 As summer on the estancia draws to a
close and the autumn colours begin to show, Jane, Yvonne and the
team of gauchos reflect on a season of enriching experiences, good
riding, friendships, 'asados' and wine. Preparations are already
under way for next season!
We have new pictures of Estancia Huechahue including the 4
new rooms, hot tub and the 'rustic' swimming pool for cooling off
after hot, dusty days in the saddle. Please ask if you would like
Simon to send you a CD of images.
The surefooted and willing horses on the estancia, chosen to suit
riders of all abilities, are now putting on their winter coats.
Riding on Huechahue across ever changing scenery takes the riding
experience to a new level. Guests choose to head out on the estancia
from half day to full day rides, which might include a swim in the
river, working with the gauchos, some fishing and/or a 3 day pack
trip into the mountains. Around every corner space and freedom
combines with a new adventure!
The 11-day Across the Andes Ride introduced this year has
added a tough adventure option to the already existing riding on the
farm. Next season we introduce a new trip to Chile where some of the
nights will be spent in comfortable lodges and cabins as opposed to
all of them under canvas.
The rut is well under way and some guests have ridden out
with our stalker to help with the cull of the red deer. We are
refurbishing an old 'puesto' in the centre of the estancia so next
season there will be a simple hunting lodge from which the stalking
will operate.
Jane plans to extend the dining room and the kitchen, and
will build a 'quincho' for the ever-popular 'asados' when the
weather is not so good.
Comfortable guest houses, wholesome food and personalized service
allow guests in Huechahue to relax into the Patagonian
experience.
Tambopata Research Centre (www.perunature.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_tambopata.htm)
On the 2nd February this year, a guest at the
Tambopata Research Centre witnessed a jaguar crossing the river to a
sandbank where an unsuspecting family of capybaras were sunbathing.
See more of the pictures he took and find out what happened at
www.geocities.com/alanonabike/jaguarstory/jaguar.html
The new Tambopata Research Centre, with 18 rooms, is now
operational a few hundred yards from the old site.
Rainforest Expeditions and Senderos will be running 2 fam trips to
the three lodges this September. Exact dates tba but will coincide
with Travel Mart Latin America (Lima 14-16
September).
On Wednesday 6th April, BBC2 repeated Sir David Attenborough's
beautifully shot and researched Wildlife on One program on
macaws. This was entirely filmed at the Tambopata Research Centre
(with the exception of the tame macaw footage).
Rainforest Expeditions has won a bid to operate a lodge located
close to the World Heritage Trust archaeological site Chavín de
Huantar, near the spectacular Huascarán National Park. The lodge
is owned by Asociación Ancash, an NGO dedicated to the development
of the area, and is an ideal base to explore the Callejón de
Conchucos and the eastern flank of the Cordillera Blanca.
Rainforest Expeditions' new lodge Refugio
Amazonas is under construction, due for completion in October.
It will have 24 rooms, a canopy tower and be located close to an
oxbow lake. Similar in character to, and 45 minutes upriver from
Posada Amazonas.
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa (www.patagonia-connection.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_puyuhuapi.htm)
"We wanted to tell you that the trip to Puyuhuapi was
the absolute highlight of our 3 week holiday. The level of service
on the catamaran and in the lodge itself was so good it took us by
surprise, a rare occurrence. The overall experience, with fantastic
excursions, was so much more than your website describes. We will be
recommending you to all friends interested in a visit to your
beautiful Chile". Florian Feb '05
The last fixed departure group of the 2004/5 season
experienced the Carretera Austral from Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa,
wished they could stay longer and reluctantly left. The group gelled
brilliantly and was truly international, hailing from England,
Chile, India, North America, Germany, France, Switzerland and
Mexico.
With a wide and expanding range of exciting excursions on
offer from the Lodge (kayaking, walking, horseriding & biking -
for all levels of fitness), more and more guests are commenting that
they wish they had longer with us.
The hotel is open all year including May to September - for
those hardy souls that venture south in winter - but the catamaran
that glides its passengers to Laguna San Rafael will shortly be en
route to its winter dry dock in Valdivia.
We're delighted to announce that it has been a very
successful season with a very high level of guest
satisfaction.
The new 2005/6 season of programs starts on the 15th October
- we can't wait!
Senderos Highlights by Land Rover - ecology,
landscapes and culture of Brazil's North East (www.manary.com.br/ecotours/ingles/index.htm / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_brazil_ne.htm)
"It was ABSOLUTELY great!!! We had a brilliant time at
every turn. Its difficult to pick better bits, but we loved the long
walks along Pipa's beaches & the very warm sea; Pai Mateus
landscape was also fascinating and we very much enjoyed the guided
tours there. Manary were excellent all the way, thank you
Filipe". Marco, Dec
'04
The Manary Praia, Manary Ecotours and Senderos will be attending
this year's BNTM in Fortaleza (21-23 April). Our fam trip
afterwards is fully subscribed for this year - over 7 days we'll
travel south witnessing the endless sand dunes of Ponto do Mel,
beautiful beaches around Pipa and Cariri's spectacular landscapes,
finishing in colonial Olinda.
The Brazilian Government has announced the creation of a
1700-hectare Conservation Area south of Ponta Negra beach,
Natal. The area contains native Mata Atlântica rainforest covering
costal dunes and we're proud of this recognition for an area of
special beauty.
At the northern end of Ponta Negra begins the Parque das Dunas. With
more than 1130-hectares of Mata Atlântica, it's Brazil's biggest
urban national park after Rio.
The inauguration of 8 new rooms (all unique) being built within 3
colonial town houses by Olinda's Pousada do Amparo has
unfortunately been delayed. We're sure when ready around September
they will be stunning!
Film making at Fazenda Pai Mateus - A film called 'Os
Desvalidos' has just been finished featuring a well-known Brazilian
actor José Wilker as part of the cast. Last year 'Cinema, Urubus e
Aspirina' was also filmed at the Fazenda at the nearby town
Cabaceiras. Most famously, Pai Mateus was the location for 'O Auto
da Compadecida' in 2000. The Cariri Region is becoming popular as
the perfect 'remote sertão' location for films with an early 20th
Century ambience.
Pousada Picinguaba (www.picinguaba.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_picinguaba.htm)
"We have never been to such an oasis of warmth and
relaxed luxury. The past week has been fabulous…incredibly special
and unforgettable." Sarah Mar '05.
The Pousada has just been featured in an enthusiastic 8-page article
in Air France's Madame in-flight magazine (First and Business
Class). A copy will shortly be on www.picinguaba.com or contact Simon.
Our manager Andrea will sadly be leaving us but is in
the process of handing over to Krizia Naegele, also a
Brazilian. Krizia is a graduate from the famous Hotel School of
Lausanne, has experience in hotels in Spain and South Africa (Relais
& Chateaux), and speaks 5 languages! She will be key to the
continuous growth of quality and service that Picinguaba will offer
its guests this year.
Did you know we have massages available? The hotel currently
uses two great masseuses - one a physiotherapist and the other
trained in Shiatsu. There is also have a hands and feet specialist
from the village.
We are delighted to announce that 2006 base prices will remain
the same (to 15 Dec 06).
High season periods are…20 Dec 05 to 20 Jan 06 / 23 Feb to 12
Mar 06 / 10 to 20 April 06. A 6 night min stay applies for
New Year, 4 nights min for Carnival and Easter. The high season
supplement rises to 30%. Old rates apply to existing
bookings.
Special Offer - 10% discount on the value of any 'sojourn'
stay in June and July this year (min 8
nights).
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