| Welcome to Senderos' December newsletter.
In the past 3 months Senderos has organised a number of fams:
In September, coinciding with Travel Mart in Lima, visits
to Suasi Island on Lake Titicaca and afterwards Tambopata
(Posada Amazonas, Tambopata Research Centre and Refugio Amazonas).
In late October (with the support of our friends at TAM) 10
of us on a 2-week trip to Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa (its fjords,
forests and glaciers), Estancia Huechahue (gallops across
Patagonian steppes and condors), and Vida Sol e Mar (for Right
whales, dolphins and surfing).
“It was absolutely fantastic,
definitely a 'special fam trip'!” KS
Our website now has picture galleries from
these trips, check out www.senderos.co.uk/fam_trips.htm
Ecoventura, Casa Andina (Suasi) and Vida Sol e Mar all attended
WTM this year.
As always please let Simon know if you have any questions,
require brochures or images,
or would like to arrange a presentation.
Senderos Partners are:-
Ecoventura, Galapagos
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa, Chile
Brazil's north east, Olinda to Fortaleza
Pousada Picinguaba, Brazil
Estancia Huechahue, Argentina
Tambopata Research Centre, Peru
Suasi Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Brazil
Ecoventura, Galapagos Islands (www.ecoventura.com,
www.senderos.co.uk/partners_ecoventura.htm)
 “Our
boat, the Letty, was absolutely fantastic. The staff on board
went out of their way, always with a smile, to make sure that
we all had a terrific, safe holiday. The food was great and
always on time. The staff were extremely well organized from
the first wake up call to the very end of the day. Our tour
guides could not have done a better job of giving us wonderful,
timely information, excellent preparation for each tour, on-going
commentary on each of our trips onto the islands, and always
with a sense of humour. Can I think of anything that was bad
about the trip? Only that it was too short. Thank
you for a job well done!” Hania
& Rick
Simon’s latest trip out to the Galapagos in late September
this year was aboard the sister ship of the Letty, the M/Y
Eric. “This was my third trip to the Galapagos, every
one wonderful and unique. Highlights were seeing Genovesa
for the first time, and returning to old favourite Fernandina;
spotting humpback whales from afar and bottlenose dolphins
close up. Snorkeling twice a day was a revelation –
sea lions, turtles, penguins, mantas and marine iguanas –
incredible!” Ecoventura offers:
Superb itineraries and guiding
A high level of comfort, & commitment to safety and the
environment
Occasional scuba diving through a local dive shop, available
any week on the Eric, Flamingo or Letty with a min of 2 divers
($350 pp).
Extras like snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, and clear bottom
kayaks at no extra cost – overall, excellent value for
money!
For questions, images or brochures please don’t hesitate
to call Simon. For the latest availability please contact
doris@ / irma@
or paulina@galapagosnetwork.com
Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa (www.patagonia-connection.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_puyuhuapi.htm)
 “I
just wanted to send you a quick thank you for having me (as
part of Simon's group) at Puyuhuapi last month. I had a truly
memorable time and was so impressed with what I saw. Thank
you for making it such a special trip, I hope that I will
be able to send many clients to you to have the same experience.”
KS World Odyssey Nov 05
10 of us visited Puyuhuapi at the end of October. We were
blessed with good weather, spectacular days of long guided
walks followed by hotspring soaks, great hospitality, and
the climax of unforgettable Laguna San Rafael and glacier.
On the 1st October Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa launched its new
website (same address - www.patagonia-connection.com).
Senderos Highlights by Land Rover - ecology, landscapes
and culture of Brazil's North East (www.caririecotours.com.br/ingles/senderos.htm /
www.senderos.co.uk/partners_brazil_ne.htm)
Eduardo Bagnoli of the Hotel Manary Praia is the first President
of Ame Ponta Negra, a new association created by him and other
hoteliers, restaurateurs and tour operators on Ponta Negra
beach, Natal. Their aim is to promote this beautiful beach
to the tourism industry and take care of its environment,
infrastructure, security and social sustainability.
Pousada Ponta do Madeiro, with a cliff top location close
to Pipa, are currently renovating their chalets to become
the hotel’s most spacious and private accommodation
with beautiful sea views.
Cariri Ecotours is very pleased to have started working with
New Zealand based www.handsupholidays.com.
 Pousada
Picinguaba (www.picinguaba.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_picinguaba.htm)
"In life you remember moments, not days...thank
you so much for so many beautiful moments. We have had an
unforgettable time. Thank you for your generous hospitality
and for turning this amazing place into paradise. We shall
be leaving a small part of our hearts here for always."
Halinka Oct 05.
Pousada Picinguaba has been investing this year in order
to continually receive its guests with more style and comfort.
As of the past few months we have:
A spectacular 100 m2 deck over the sea in
front of the pool with 'cosy' furniture
Newly renovated, top notch bathrooms, and
use Natura products (Ekos Line) fantastic natural products
from the Amazon
A natural firewood sauna for cooler days
with a window overlooking the jungle
A permanent massage and acupuncture service,
surf classes, and yoga classes on certain days.
All of which contribute to make Picinguaba a "natural
spa" - a great place to relax and rejuvenate!
New pictures of these facilities will soon be available on
the website and on request.
Estancia Huechahue (www.senderos.co.uk/partners_huechahue.htm)
"Huechahue is the perfect
place for horse riding! Great hospitality, great cooking and
great horses.” Corinne & Benoit
"Absolutely Fabulous! Definitely
back next year. Thank you all for being the most perfect hosts.
It’s been a dream.” Retty
Despite some fairly desperate weather we have successfully
done the new pack trip from Huechahue to
the Cordillera 3 times, and next year will be running this
trip in October and November. The first trial trip was organized
for a large charity group who raised US$100,000 for the Teenage
Cancer Trust.
We very much enjoyed having the Senderos fam group
here and introducing everyone to Erik. Erik is a mountain
guide and can take guests who do not want to ride on pack
trips - meaning that we can now take both walkers and riders
on the trips. They can meet up at night and sometimes for
lunch as well.
Huechahue is situated where 3 different bird habitats
join - resulting in an exceptional variety of birdlife. We
are in the process of compiling a bird sheet and Horacio Matarrasso
is available for guiding (please enquire for price).
The first of our 6 trips over the Andes to Chile
is on 11 December - the trips are basically all full but on
each one there is still room for a single woman who is happy
to share accommodation.
We now have 3 more pack trips running in March.
They will be on 12-14 March; 24 - 26 March; and 30 March -
1 April. There is still a small amount of flexibility regarding
these dates - so if you want something different as always
please ask.
Our website will be up any day now! www.huechahue.com
Tambopata Research Centre (www.perunature.com / www.senderos.co.uk/partners_tambopata.htm)
 “I
must repeat how thoroughly I enjoyed my visit, how I felt
it was such a privilege to be there, how well you have not
only built the lodges but extremely well and considerately
- and with a view to the future - you have organized the system
with the local community and how brilliantly you operate the
logistics. I truly enjoyed every single minute of my stay,
especially my time at TRC. I do thank you so much for this
simply wonderful experience. I will treasure it for my lifetime.”
Anna McVittie Jun 05
Refugio Amazonas is proving to be a popular
choice for clients choosing 3 night stays, or on their way
further upriver to TRC.
Refugio has completed its second wing of 8 rooms, making that
16 (final number will be 24). The two story dining room &
bar is under construction, and already looking great.
Rainforest Expeditions are also currently developing an exciting
Children’s Trail at Refugio in conjunction
with a Peruvian NGO (www.ania-peru.org).
This is due to be finished in December and we’re sure
will prove a unique attraction for families.
Suasi Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru (www.casa-andina.com/suasi,
www.senderos.co.uk/partners_suasi.htm)
“Suasi is unique and the very
best of Lake Titicaca!“ Pierre, Nouveaux
Mondes 28/11/05
The Andean cottage on Suasi is now finished,
with its superb private location by the shores of the lake.
Perfect for honeymooners!
Our sauna will be up and running as of the
middle of December.
We are now offering private La Paz transfers
on request to or from the island. Its a long (6 hours), bumpy
and remote journey but another interesting transport option
to offer your more adventurous clients.
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar, Brazil (www.vidasolemar.com.br
/ www.senderos.co.uk/partners_vidasol.htm)
“What can I say? Stunning
coastline, great hospitality & a very close encounter
with an 18 ton whale! Many thanks indeed to all at Vida Sol
e Mar” AM,
Steppes Latin America, Oct 05
As the last stop on our fam trip, our group
visited Praia do Rosa and Pousada Vida Sol e Mar. It was right
at the end of the season but we still saw 6 mother Right whales
and calves, one of them albino - an amazing experience with
whales coming right up to, and diving under, our boat.
This year we’ve noticed whales are much more relaxed
with the boat, clearly not viewing it as a potential threat
(they let the calves come up to it unaccompanied). The reason:
whales from the first season we sailed have returned, and
recognise us!
Pousada Vida Sol e Mar now offers a higher level of comfort
for its guests. The Vida Sol e Mar Beach Village
is situated close to the sea at Praia do Rosa, one of the
most beautiful beaches of Santa Catarina-Brazil. We have 5
wonderful villas located between 50 and 100m from the beach,
plus two more will be completed in December.
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