Latin Excursions Blog

Begin your trip in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a short ferry ride across the Rio de la Pata to the coastal town of Colonia. After disembarking, a representative from the Four Seasons will be waiting to assist you with luggage, etc. The drive from Colonia to Carmelo is lovely, and the driver very friendly and chatty.

The hotel itself is about 10 minutes from the town of Carmelo, and is isolated from the surrounding estancias/private community/etc. The grounds have an estancia, polo field, 18-hole golf course, casino, and guests can also go to the marina nearby. The area is beautiful - very reminiscent of the Monterey area in California. The hotel is also gorgeous, and suites are very spacious and comfortable. The suites are large enough for a family of four, with two kids on rollaway beds in the downstairs area (and there is also a bathroom downstairs). The bungalows are really more for couples, although they can accommodate one rollaway for a child. Some of the bungalows have river views, and two of the bungalows have connecting doors in the closet for a family stay.
Lunch can be served indoors or on the patio overlooking the pool, and the service is excellent. Very attentive staff in all parts of the hotel, without being annoying. The food is delicious - wood-fired pizzas, meats, salads and more! The pool is fantastic, and even in April the weather was very warm and perfect for sunning and swimming. Apparently, October and April have some of the best weather - not too hot or humid. In wintertime the resort is cozy, particularly with fireplaces in each suite or bungalow. There is a gazebo down by the riverbank where they can arrange private dinners for couples, with a private waiter and chef, and a view over the water - all very romantic.
The resort is more for couples, or groups of couples, although they do get families and have activities for kids. But, the main draw is really the golf course plus the luxury and comfort of the Four Seasons. Guests can go on horseback rides, take polo lessons, mate lessons, etc. There are also a couple vineyards nearby, and tours of Carmelo and Colonia. The airport is right next to the hotel, and the flight is 15 minutes from Aeroparque.
Even when full, the hotel still feels deserted - no crowds at the pool and there is still a feeling of privacy and exclusivity. They can organize private meals for groups/families/weddings/etc at the estancia.

Great spa with fitness classes and services. No Wi-Fi in the rooms, but there is Wi-Fi in the lobby. Breakfast was great and ample.

This is a wonderful option for a few days, combined with a trip to Buenos Aires - the bustle of the city and the peace of the countryside.

  The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is a dream destination for stargazers, with high altitude, a virtually cloudless climate, and sparse settlements that minimize distracting light pollution and radio interference. Light years above the desert, the night sky burns with the astronomical highlights of the Southern Hemisphere, including the Southern Cross, the southern Milky Way, and even points in the North.

explora en Atacama, has a brand new observatory located in the hotel property, just 100 meters from main building. Inside, guests can now gather beneath an observation dome measuring five meters in diameter. The new Meade LX200R is a first-class telescope, generously accessorized with premiumgrade optical glass, a Super Wide Angle Eyepiece,
and a “piggyback bracket” enabling the mounting of digital cameras for spectacular astrophotography.
If all that weren’t enough, the Meade 16” also ranks as one of the largest “aficionado-level” telescopes to be found in Chile.
For day time adventurers there is plenty to do under the sun at explora en Atacama, including climbing high mountains, horseback riding, and hiking and walking through the stunning lunar landscape of the Atacama Desert. For the night time adventurers, the moon, stars, clear sky, constellations and galaxies are now among the
many exciting possibilities.

  Under the concept “astronomy for all,” advanced physics and complicated mathematical formulas are left aside: the beauty of the stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies is now within reach. explora en Atacama, Hotel de Larache, has a brand new observatory located in the hotel property, just 100 meters from the main building. Inside, guests can now gather beneath an observation dome measuring five meters in diameter. The new Meade 16” f/10 LX200R Advanced RD Telescope is a first-class telescope, generously accessorized with premium-grade optical glass, a Super Wide Angle Eyepiece, and a “piggyback bracket” enabling the mounting of digital cameras for spectacular astrophotography. If all that weren’t enough, the Meade 16” also ranks as one of the largest telescopes available in Chile for recreational astronomy.

For more information, call 866 626 3750 or email at info@latinexcursions.com

An ideal vacation can be defined as a moment in an individual life where time ceases to progress and the whole experience is captured in a timeless sphere. These moments then add permanent joy to one’s life. With astounding vacation packages at Latin Excursions, your life can be full of eternal pleasures obtained from traveling. It is our endeavor to reveal to you the sensibilities of South America. In order to give a glimpse of the treasures hidden in the heart of San Carlos de Bariloche, we have given a brief picture of Bariloche and its beauty.

Bariloche is a charming city where nature’s beauty is celebrated throughout the seasons with a myriad of outdoor activities for all ages.

San Carlos de Bariloche is in the western area of the province of Rio Negro. The city is the center of Nahuel Huapi National Park on the southern shore of the eponymous lake. Bariloche is 1,640 km from Buenos Aires, and easily accessible by a two-hour flight. Filled with breathtaking landscapes – snow-capped volcanoes, prehistoric forests and broad lakes – the area is home to world-class ski resorts, hiking and riding trails, and rivers perfect for rafting.

Cerro Catedral, perhaps the most famous ski resort in the region, has skiing and snowboarding during the winter (remember the seasons are switched in the southern hemisphere – June-August!). The ski center is 19km from the city center, and has an entire alpine village that appears to have been transplanted from Europe – stay in one of the five-star hotels for a snow-filled winter adventure.

Other activities in the area include hiking in pristine forests, kayaking or sailing on the lakes, white-water rafting on the Manso River, horseback riding to hidden waterfalls and simply relaxing. Visit a myrtle forest and Victoria Island, or cross the lake into Chile. Other adventures include hiking Mount Tronador, a trip to Puerto Pañuelo and Puerto Blest, visiting Los Alerces waterfall or taking a scenic drive past the seven lakes in the area.

Bariloche itself is a welcoming city, with stylish restaurants and an exciting nightlife. On the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake, Bariloche has amazing views of the surrounding mountains. Stroll the main avenue to shop for souvenirs, and stop into one of its famous chocolate shops to sample some treats and relax with a rich chocolate treat.

Contact Latin Excursions to plan your adventure to this Patagonian gem. We’ll arrange your stay, from elegant or cozy hotels, to activities with an expert guide to show you all the hidden treasures Bariloche and the Rio Negro province have to offer.

We all know the significance of the Galapagos Islands - these enchanted isles provided Charles Darwin with the inspiration for his theory of evolution. The Galapagos Islands are a wonderland of nature - you’ll have the opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat in astonishingly close proximity.

What better way to experience this natural wonder than by combining it with another famed South American wonder? The neighboring countries of Peru and Ecuador are close enough that a flight between the two countries makes perfect sense for combining a visit to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Latin Excursions can provide you with a unique chance to visit the two historically important and marvelous wonders of the world in one trip!

Latin Excursions prides itself on creating personalized travel programs throughout South America and Central America. We arrange honeymoon tours, adventure holidays, anniversary trips, family reunions and fascinating outings to countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. We also specialize in customized holidays for our clients, according to the wishes of our clients.

Designated a World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu has also been recognized as a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary and was named one of the New Open World Corporation’s New Seven Wonders of the World in July 2007. Machu Picchu (Old Peak) is located on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, about 70 km northwest of Cusco. Also known as the “Lost City of Incas,” Machu Picchu is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Inca Empire. Built in 1450, the impressive citadel was abandoned after 100 years, at the time of Spanish conquest. The architectural prowess of the Inca is clear in the buildings at Machu Picchu - the classic polished dry-stone walls were constructed using the Ashlar technique, in which blocks of stone are cut so precisely that they fit together without mortar. The beauty of the buildings is particularly evident in the famed Temple of the Sun (Intihuana) and the Room of the Three Windows.

In order to protect the city, the location was a well-guarded military secret; the surrounding mountains and precarious cliffside bridges and steep precipices provided natural defenses.

Another Peruvian attraction is the Urubamba Valley, or Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley is home to important archaeological ruins and villages, many of which combine their Inca heritage with Spanish colonial touches. The Sacred Valley was considered the Inca Empire’s wealthiest region – rivers feed into the valley and complicated terracing systems use every inch of fertile land, making this region the best place for maize production in the country. The relevance of the Sacred Valley has not diminished since it still provides Cuzco with the bulk of its produce, like maize, fruits and vegetables.

More traditional tours to Machu Picchu combine visits to Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero in the Sacred Valley, with a guided two-day tour of the ruins and a walking tour of Cuzco. More adventurous travelers, or those with more time to spend in the region, might be interested in including an overnight hike to Huchuy Qosqo, a day-long hike to the site of Tipon, or doing a portion or all of the Inca Trail. Don’t hesitate to ask us about horseback riding in the Sacred Valley, white-water rafting or mountain biking at the sites of Maras & Moray.

And you trip would not end with these adventures throughout the former center of the Inca Empire – continue on to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, for forays into natural history. Keep reading our blogs for more information on the Galapagos.

Visit our website, www.LatinExcursions.com for more details on planning a trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands with Latin Excursions.