| Welcome to Senderos' May newsletter, we hope you
find it useful.
Coming up…
CPT (Chilean Tourism Promotion - www.visitchile.org)
is organising 2 days of events in London on the 6th June (for
tour operators) and 7th June (press). Senderos represents
Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa and the Antarctic Dream at both
events where you’ll learn about Chile, meet suppliers
and sample delicious Chilean wine. Contact us for more info
or rsvp 020 89068989 / info@hotels-hotline.com.
Simon and Gonzalo Blanc from Antarctic Shipping attended the
LATA AGM on Monday 22nd May.
Americas workshop will be held at Canning
house 6-8 june. An excellent opportunity to meet their suppliers
from Latin America! Pls contact americas@americas.co.uk
Please advise if you’d like a Senderos CD with all up-to-date
rates, photos and info in general on all our partners.
Senderos Partners are:-
Brazil's north east, Olinda to Fortaleza
by landrover
Pousada Picinguaba, Brazil
Estancia Huechahue, Argentina
Rainforest Expeditions, Peru
Casa Andina Private Collection, Suasi
and Sacred Valley, Peru
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Brazil
Ecoventura, Galapagos
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, Chile
The Antarctic Dream
Brazil's North East Highlights by Land Rover (www.caririecotours.com.br/ingles/senderos.htm)
“Filipe, I just talked to my client – he had
a really great trip and said the guide was excellent! A very
successful trip - thanks for all your help and organisation!
He said he wouldn't change anything - just right for him!”
JA, Steppes Latin America
Cariri Ecotours
2-6 June we’ll be at São Paulo’s ‘Feira
Nacional de Turismo’, our country’s biggest tourism
event.
We look forward to receiving 27 visitors from Namibia at the
end of June. They travel to Fazenda Pai Mateus to experience
the sertão and farming methods there.
We have a new brochure!
The Hotel Manary Praia in Natal celebrates
10 years of business!
New restaurant - we have contracted the consultancy of renowned
Sao Paulo chef, Vagner Aguiar. He has developed a contemporary
look for traditional dishes and introducing spectacular new
recipes of seafood, salads, steaks and special deserts. We’re
sure we have the best restaurant in town!
We are the first hotel in Brazil to install Philips 20"
LCD TVs in its rooms. The main room door locks are being changed
to electronic and shortly we’ll receive new room safes
(also electronic and big enough to accommodate laptops).
The hotel has a new neo-colonial ‘Portico’ (see
picture) to give access to the restaurant.
Our other partners in the Northeast are:-
Pousada do Amparo, in beautiful colonial Olinda
Fazenda Pai Mateus, a working farm in the spectacular
sertão region of Cariri
Hotel Ponta do Madeiro, close to the resort of Pipa
with cliff top views
Pousada Costa Branca, explore Punta Do Mel & incredible
dunes at Morro Rosado
 Pousada
Picinguaba, Brazil (www.picinguaba.com)
“I loved Brazil and especially
Picinguaba - I'm just writing a report for our newsletter
now.
Priscila is really fantastic. Her English is great and she
is so enthusiastic and friendly.” JE Trips
Worldwide April 06
A new team is in place since April 1st, 2006 and set for the
long term! We are very happy to introduce Priscila
and Manolo Scher (see photo).
Pricila (priscila@picinguaba.com)
is Guests Relations Manager, Manolo is Administration Manager,
and Emmanuel (emmanuel@picinguaba.com)
continues to handle Supervision, Finance and Marketing.
Priscila (from Sao Paulo) and Manolo (Argentine) met some
years ago in New Zealand where they were living, and have
been married for 2 years. Before taking over Pousada Picinguaba's
operations, they managed a restaurant in Sao Paulo. Manolo
handles the back office and is also a Chef; Priscila takes
care of Guest Management and commercial, and has a diploma
in wine and coffee tasting. They are both nature lovers, speak
good English and together a very valuable asset for the pousada.
Picinguaba is proud to host the first Senderos meeting of
partners June 18-21, a great opportunity to meet and learn
from each other!
 Estancia
Huechahue, Argentina (www.huechahue.com)
"Beyond the fun of the gallop
was my realization - there in the thrill of the run and the
jump of the ditch - that the real reason for coming to Argentina
is not to catch trout; it is to see the great country and
to experience, first hand, life out on the estancia. Trout
can be caught in a hundred places on the planet, but the Argentine
is unique, breathtakingly beautiful, and happy. That is why
you come here. That is why I will come back” (Roy,
a guest who came to go fishing but we took him riding as well!)
Our new Estancia to Estancia Ride (28 Oct
- 5 Nov 06) involves great riding, hospitality and the chance
to understand the history of the region and the people who
settled it.
Junín and San Martín de los Andes were difficult
to get to even by Patagonian standards. The first settlers
only arrived in the early 1900’s, well-educated pioneers
from Europe looking for space to create new homes for their
families. We visit 3 estancias where today their grand children
and great grand children live protected by the trees their
ancestors planted. Working estancias, the herds of sheep replaced
with Hereford cattle, they are now beginning to take guests.
This is still in many ways the Last Frontier – the riding
is fast, the distances long, the rivers are large, the views
are vast and days can be as adventurous as they were in the
early 1900’s – but at the end of the day a hot
bath and really comfortable accommodation will be waiting.
We have a trial new Chile trip combining
with Loth and Pamela Kruteler from Currarehue. This will run
27 Nov to 8 Dec and the price will be US$ 3,300 pp. Contact
Jane or Simon for more details.
The new Jack Nicklaus Golf Course at Chapelco
35 mins drive away, is proving to be very popular. One much
travelled golf playing guest went everyday for a week and
said that it was one of the best courses he knew anywhere
in the world.
 Rainforest
Expeditions, Peru (www.perunature.com)
Konchukos Tambo (see photo) hosted 80 operators
and travel writers during the Peru Travel Mart. They were
treated to a reenactment of an Andean offering and wedding
by groups from local communities in the nearby pre-Inca monument
of Chavín de Huantar. On their way to Chavín,
they saw Caral, the oldest city in the Americas.
Refugio Amazonas. We completed the first
kayaking trip near Quebrada Gato. One and half hours walking,
then four or five hours on a narrow creek, floating downstream,
and back to the lodge for R & R. The final wing of rooms
is also finished - we now have 24. The last two construction
projects will be finished by June: the 30 mt tower and the
children’s rainforest trail.
Tambopata Research Center (see photo - Blue
& Gold Macaws at the lick). Another successful macaw project
research season just finished this April. Amongst topics that
have been studied: radio tracking of macaws (still in the
process of collaring macaws), quantifying available fruit
on trees, chemically analyzing clay samples from the lick
and continuing the nest monitoring.
Posada Amazonas. The community has produced
the first juices from its little processing plant. Every guest
at Posada Amazonas receives a bottled fruit juice as a snack
on the way in, and can purchase more at the bar. Juices come
from local fruit such as araza, copoazu, aguaje and cocona.
 Casa
Andina Private Collection Suasi Island and Sacred Valley,
Peru (www.casa-andina.com)
Suasi Island
“Our stay was wonderful. This
place is beautiful and my children wanted to stay for ever!
The service and friendliness were excellent, the food of a
very high standard. We enjoyed seeing the vicunas and the
alpacas, and taking the kayaks around the island. The subjects
of conservation and the environment were very well covered.”
(SE May 06)
Suasi’s new manager is Antonio Garate
Pigati. Antonio is a biologist who worked for many years as
a Naturalist Guide and in lodge management for Rainforest
Expeditions (TRC and Posada Amazonas). “My
skills are with conservation, bird watching, flora and fauna,
and as a host for the tourist. In Suasi I want to get involve
with the passengers, show them the island’s culture,
history, and nature. Suasi is beautiful and so are the people
here.”
New pictures of Suasi Island's Andean Cottage, Spa and Interpretation
Centre. The latter has an area dedicated to man (highlighting
local farming, pottery and textile skills and recent recycling
activities) and a gallery displaying photographs, utensils
and fabrics.
All Inclusive rates for 2007 (lodging, transport,
entrance fee, food and eco-activities) now available.
Private Collection Sacred Valley
 “We
have thoroughly enjoyed our short stay in your beautiful hotel.
Such a gorgeous setting and with attentive and lovely staff.
Many thanks to all.” (PS Rugby England)
Casa Andina has designed new activities in
the Sacred Valley of the Incas, offering travellers an unrivalled
local destination experience. In addition to those already
on offer (like rafting, biking, trekking & horseback-riding)
there are now: Pottery and Textile Workshops in and around
Ollantaytambo; Helicopter Flights over the Sacred Valley,
Cusco, Machu Picchu and Choquequirao.
The Andean spa opens this month offering
a wide range of treatments including Andean massages, reflexology,
and facials. All treatments include the use of Steam Chambers,
Sauna, showers, a resting area and infusions.
The planetarium and observatory will be ready
from June.
Private Collection Puno – Now Open.
Situated on the shores of the Lake, on the outskirts of Puno,
it has 46 rooms (15 with oxygen), magnificent views to the
lake from most of the rooms, Gourmet Restaurant, Lounge Bar,
Internet and a private train station for passengers travelling
to/from Cusco.
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Brazil (www.vidasolemar.com.br)
 “Enrique,
Rodrigo, Sabrina and family – I wanted to say what a
pleasure it was to meet you and your family and to experience
Praia do Rosa. Thank you so much for your kind hospitality
and for a wonderful few days at Vida Sol e Mar. Thank you
also for taking the time to ensure that we saw as much as
possible of what you have to offer. Aidan loved his surf lesson!
The beach villas are fabulous.”
N & A, i-escape
We’re earnestly awaiting the arrival (end of next month)
of the Right Whales. The first sighting of
the season is always very special!
Rodrigo Litman gets married on Saturday in Rosa – parabens!
Please contact us or Simon if you would like copies of our
new brochure or images of the hotel / villas.
Ecoventura, Galapagos Islands (www.ecoventura.com)
 “Ecoventura
has demonstrated its commitment to the conservation of natural
resources and social well-being in Ecuador. Its proactive
stance has been a source of inspiration for conservation organisations
that believe in the development of sustainable tourism. Only
with the private sector’s demonstrable commitment can
we make sure that future generations will enjoy the attractions
we have today. Ecoventura has shown that this is possible.”
(Ronald Sanabria, Sustainable Tourism Director for the Rainforest
Alliance)
We are very proud to announce that Ecoventura will soon become
the first Carbon Neutral company in Galapagos,
and Ecuador. The carbon emissions from the company’s
four Galapagos tour boats; the Eric, Flamingo, Letty &
Sky Dancer, and offices in Guayaquil, Quito, San Cristobal
and Miami (including business travel) will be offset by a
portfolio of projects.
Ecoventura has already made an important commitment to the
environment through its voluntary certification SmartVoyager
since 2000. Now, we are looking into ways to reduce global
warming gases. To this end, Carbon
Neutral Company has calculated the amount of carbon dioxide
that Ecoventura emits and has come up with a number of projects
that would counteract those effects including funding for
reforestation in Chiapas, sustainable energy projects in Sri
Lanka and India, and methane recapture in the US.
Also, Ecoventura are currently working with Oro Verde to make
additions to menus, and training our cooks in order to continually
improve food.
We have purchased 6 inflatable zodiac dinghies to be on board
Eric, Flamingo and Letty by mid-June. These are lighter, faster
and also more stable, navigating through waves better.
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa (www.patagonia-connection.com)
“We want to thank you for
an unforgettable stay at Puyuhapi…one of the best places
in the world we went to, it was just too short - so we have
to come back.” (CB,
Namibia)
 “The
location and style of the lodge was stunning (‘Out of
this World’). The thermal pools (especially outdoor)
were an excellent way to relax and diving into the cold water
of the fjords after the pools was exhilarating. We all felt
cleansed!! The genuine enthusiasm of the staff really made
visiting Puyuhuapi Lodge a magical experience. We felt the
staff were very efficient and incredibly knowledgeable…their
approach was natural, they clearly liked their jobs and this
was passed on to all the visitors.”
(ET, UK)
After a very busy season, the lodge is now closed for the
winter until the beginning of October. Work has started on
the new rooms.
Our Director Christine Kossmann is participating in IMEX-Frankfurt
(30 May–1 June).
We’ll shortly have a new CD with up
to date information, photos and special information for incentive
groups.
The Antarctic Dream (www.antarctic.cl)
“Thanks for a great experience.
There was universal admiration for the quality of food. The
atmosphere on the ship was very positive. Julio and Penny
were very approachable and this helps keep a relaxed atmosphere
on board. For a man who has been to over 100 countries, it
takes a lot to impress me, but I thought the Antarctic was
mind blowing!” (JB
Feb 06)
 “The
kindness and disposition of all the crew created a very pleasant
atmosphere. The places that were chosen to disembark were
fantastic.” (PT
Mar 06)
“Disembarking at Cape Horn
was a dream come true!”
(CS Mar 06)
Following an in-depth inspection in January, IATTO
has unanimously voted to accept the Antarctic Dream as a full
member. IAATO (www.iaato.org) is a non-profit organisation
created in 1991 and based in USA.
For 2006, the 11 day Antarctic itineraries depart from Ushuaia.
Delighted that our core team of Captain Peter Skog, and Expedition
leaders Julio and Rene Preller will be with us again for the
2006/7 season.
Peter Skog has more than 100 Antarctica ice
voyages to his credit and is widely recognised as one of the
most skilful ice pilots in the business.
Julio Preller is also extremely experienced.
Since 1995 he has worked as a coordinator and leader in Antarctic
Expeditions. Fluent in Spanish and English, Julio is also
a lecturer in Natural History, Marine Biology and Botany.
Rene Preller, his brother has 26 years of
expeditions to Antarctica and Shetland islands. Over that
time he completed more than 150 voyages to the White Continent
giving him a vast knowledge of its flora, fauna and history.
The Antarctic Dream plies the cold, clean waters from Patagonia
to the Antarctic Peninsula – a Chilean-owned expedition
vessel with 39 cabins transporting guests in real comfort
and style to the pristine wilderness of fjords, forests and
glaciers, and south further still to the White Continent!
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