Latin Excursions Blog

For travelers to Ecuador interested in spending some more time on the mainland and experiencing part of the country’s colorful culture and beautiful Andean scenery, we have a new region to reccomend. The Province of Loja, located south of the colonial city of Cuenca, is an area that offers activities and interests for all travel preferences - from anthropological, to cultural and natural experiences. We recommend exploring the area for three or four days as an exciting extenions either before or after a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Fly into Cuenca to explore the Saraguro Indian territory en route to the city of Loja. This region is home to an ancient culture, whose people scholars believe were brought by the Incas from Peru during the Inca conquest, and later stayed in the valley. A visit to Saraguro Market is a peek into tradition and local culture, and is famed for fined textiles. This area is off the tourist paths, and an authentic destination for Latin Excursions travelers.

Other sites in the region include Podocarpus National Park, one of the most pristine natural areas and home to an endangered conifer forest. Birdwatchers and outdoor lovers will enjoy hiking and discovering endemic flora and fauna here. The Vilcabamba Valley has beautiful landscapes and interesting people and villages to explore, and Zamora Village is another destination in the Loja Province. Zamora is home to Ecuador’s best coffee and is a beautiful colonial town in its own right.

For a stay in the area, we suggest making Loja city your base for more adventure in the area, and the Grand Victoria boutique hotel has a high level of service in a renovated 19th republican home. For an authentic journey in Ecuador, the Province of Loja is a fantastic destination for travelers interested in experiencing more of the myriad cultures in mainland Ecuador.

A pile of marine iguanas on Fernandina Island.

On April 11, La Cumbre Volcano, located on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos Islands, began erupting. Fernandina is one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos archipelago, and a popular destination for Galapagos yachts. The last time the volcano erupted was five years ago, in 2004. This time, the eruption is distinguished by lava running down to the sea. All yachts that visit Fernandina on their itinerary are changing their route until the activity ends. Hopefully, the eruption won’t cause too much damage to the large colony of marine iguanas that live near the eruption site.

Fernandina is home to not only marine iguanas, one of the Galapagos’ favorite attractions, but is also home to the unique flightless cormorants. A mangrove forest and sheltered cove provide habitat for sea turtles and sea rays, and interesting volcanic formations provide a dramatic backdrop for Galapagos travelers.

For travelers to the famed Machu Picchu looking for more excitement and adventure, while still experiencing luxury and comfort, Latin Excursions has an excellent option. The Mountain Lodges of Peru Lodge-to-Lodge trek is a seven-day total program, with trekking between four comfortable mountain lodges located between the Salkantay Peak and Machu Picchu citadel. Surrounded by the best of Peru high mountain scenery and far from the madding crowds of the Inca Trail, this challenging trek is one of the best ways to reach Machu Picchu.

Each night you’ll stay at one of four high altitude lodges, each with no more than 12 guest rooms (the majority have six rooms), and all the comforts you would expect to find at a hotel. Outdoor Jacuzzis are the perfect way to relax after a strenuous day, and massages are available to soothe sore muscles. Cuisine is gourmet, and based on Andean classics. Comfortable lounges and bars complete the facilities at the lodges.

During the program you’ll follow a little used Inca route through the mountains, visiting nine ecosystems, ruins and local villages. Because of the limited space at the lodges, groups are small, and guests have a more exclusive, personal feel. Pricing is reasonable at US$ 2,500 per person, and we can arrange all other services for you once you arrive in Peru. This trek is very popular - contact us at info@latinexcursions.com if you’d like to learn more.

Latin Excursions loves to be on the leading edge of new properties throughout South America - always searching out the new and unique for our clients. Estancia Vik, a new luxury estancia in Jose Ignacio, near the famed beach resort of Punta del Este where the rich and famous mingle from December to February, blends local art, stunning architecture and high class accommodations and service with the area’s beautiful natural scenery. Jose Ignacio is the newest “scene” in the Punta area, with more and more celebrities and coinoisseurs of the finest in accommodations, restaurants, boutiques and more choosing the relative tranquility and beautiful environs of this chic resort.

The Estancia is a 50,000 square foot SPanish colonial style hotel with 12 suites, and spread over 4,000 acres. Just one mile form the Atlantic coast, and 20 miles from the nightlife and bustle of Punta del Este, the Estancia combines beach, a deluxe estancia experience and Punta’s famous scene. Described as, “where Marlboro country meets a St. Tropez of times past, Estancia Vik Jose Ignacio offers the ultimate Uruguayan experience.” Activities include horse riding, bird watching, nature adventures, polo on the private field, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, surfing, kite surfing, water skiing, tennis, golf, as well as access to a gym and spa. Nearby are gourmet restaurants, art galleries, boutiques with fashions by local and international designers, and posh nightlife.

Suites are spacious, and predominantly white decor allows spectacular artwork from some of Uruguay’s finest artists to really pop. The open architecture scheme of light-filled patios, large windows and galleries provides nearly 360-degree views from every location.

For the high season of December, January and February, it’s best to book months, or up to a year in advance. Estancia Vik, with its combination of nature and nightlife should become the area’s hippest destination.

Dancers at Rojo Tango

Rojo Tango is one of Buenos Aires’ premier tango shows, taking guests through the last century of tango with stunning modern interpretions of traditional moves. In the intimate cabaret of the Faena Hotel + Universe, three couples take the stage to begin the show at the turn of the 20th century, with dancers in deshabille of corsets and fishnets.

Throughout the show, each couple is featured several times in solo performances, and the group also dances together. A male and female singer intersperse the dancing with powerful singing of traditional tango standards, while a live band adds to the atmosphere.

The experience can include just the show, or a gourmet dinner, complete with unlimited champagne and Argentine fine wine. The crowd is almost entirely foreigners, but that’s the norm at tango shows in the city - the benefit of Rojo Tango, aside from the quality, is that you’re not fighting for views of the stage behind 70 tourists taking flash photos. The Cabaret has a limited capacity, and all tables have views to the stage.

After the show, check out the bar of the hotel for some cocktails, or explore the chic Puerto Madero neighborhood for more nightlife options.

The Faena Hotel + Universe, along with hosting Rojo Tango, is also one of Buenos Aires’ most luxurious hotels, with a stunning design by Philip Starck, gourmet restaurants and uniquely decorated suites.

Rooftop terrace

The trendy Palermo neighborhood in Buenos Aires is home to gourmet restaurants, charming cafes, lively bars boutiques featuring local designers - and a host of stylish boutique hotels. Nuss, the latest option for travelers to Argentina looking to spend their time in the thick of Argentine life, offers some new options that other hotels have so far neglected. Nuss manages to combine the intimate feel of a boutique hotel, with some of the amenities of a larger property.

A spacious rooftop terrace, with bar, lounge chairs and small plunge pool is a haven from the city, and a place to relax in the hot summers with a cold cocktail. With treetop views, the terrace feels secluded and exclusive. Rooms are spacious, and decorated with clean modern lines. Although simple, even the standard category rooms boast small balconies; deluxe suites have small patios. Rooms are filled with natural light, thanks to a central patio in the core of the former convent, and all windows look over the old trees surrounding the property. Facilities include a deli lobby lounge, sauna, the rooftop bar with pool and executive boardroom.

Restaurant at Casa Cartagena

Experience high class service and luxury amenities in the historic Casa Cartagena Cusco, a Peruvian Cultural Heritage Site. This former home Inca nobility has recently been thoughtfully restored, maintaining the integrity of the building, while creating a colorful, sleek interior design space for discerning travelers.

Guests can choose from 16 suites, all enriched with oxygen to alleviate altitude problems,and ranging in category from LP Deluxe to LP Royal. Suites are spacious, and decorated in a clean, elegant style with materials like wood, leather and natural fabrics imported from Italy. Suites boast luxury amenities like butler service, Wi-Fi, LCD TV, DVD, air conditioning and

Casa Cartagena Suite

central heating, and Tatami shower and bath.

Facilities include a spa with hydromassage and full line of treatments, restaurant, bar and library. Located in downtown Cusco, just one block from Nazarenas Square, the city’s top shopping area. Nearby are boutiques, restaurants, museums and nightlife for guests interested in exploring this fabled city.

Patagonia Camp, situated on the shore of Lake Toro and with a stunning view of the Paine Massif is the first luxury camping offered in Chile. The camp is composed of 18 individual yurts, each with a private shower and large wooden balcony and all the comforts of a luxury accommodation. The yurts are decorated with earth colors, filled with locally made wooden furniture, soft wool fabrics, and heaters to add to the cozy ambiance on even the chilliest Patagonian nights.

The camp is committed to preserving the majestic beauty of this region, rich in local wildlife and populated with diverse bird species. Patagonia Camp uses only solar energy, incorporating waste treatment plants to ensure the water released from the camp is 100% void of toxins, and the design of property built in a style that harmonizes with the surrounding landscapes.

Five day programs are offered from Monday-Friday, or for those with limited time there are four day programs from Friday-Monday, beginning from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, Chile. Each program offers daily excursions into Torres del Paine Park, and are designed for adults or children with average fitness level. While not located directly within the Torres del Paine Park, the camp is a short drive away, offering a a tranquil retreat from an active day of sightseeing within the park. Patagonia Camp is perfect for nature enthusiasts looking for all the adventure of camping, without compromising on the comfort.

      UXUA Opening March 2009

Wilbert Das, Creative Director of Italian label Diesel, launches a fully independent project, the UXUA Casa Hotel (pronounced oo-SHOO-ahh) located in Trancoso, a colorful fishing village on Brazil’s idyllic Bahian coast.

Situated on the historic ‘Quadrado’ – a grassy hilltop square closed to traffic except for the occasional horse – UXUA’s unique 1 - 3 bedroom houses are self-catering or fully serviced according to preference. The units are complemented by a one-of-a-kind aventurine quartz swimming pool (aventurine an alluring green stone considered by many to possess powerful healing qualities), a restaurant, lounge, library, gym, spa, and a dedicated beachfront annex constructed of grounded fishing boats set beside ocean mangroves 5-minutes walk from the Quadrado.

Three of the UXUA houses are restored from traditional fishermen’s homes and face directly onto the Quadrado, and the remaining six (including a multi-level treehouse made entirely of recycled wood) are nestled around pools in a lush tropical garden of flowers, fruits, and towering cocoa and jackfruit trees.

Wilbert conceived the entire UXUA project as a tribute to the region of Bahia and its dynamic people. Built with the collaboration of a group of talented local artisans and builders skilled in recycled materials and traditional construction methods, the project has taken two years to realize.

The resulting architectural mix showcases southern Bahian and Indian influences alongside a rustic modernism that nods to Wilbert’s work in contemporary fashion and furniture design. The houses are each unique in every feature. Décor is composed of antiques and Bahian art as well as hand-made furniture and fixtures crafted on-site

UXUA offers a spectacular immersion in a natural and traditional Bahian environment, delivered to guests enjoying an entirely new level of casual luxury from the comfort of ‘their own home’ in one of Brazil’s most enchanting destinations.

UXUA endorses environmentally sustainable tourism, and contributes to projects for the maintenance and preservation of Trancoso’s Quadrado and all its local beaches. UXUA is also a supporter of Trancoso’s native businesses and community through a series of initiatives, including local partnerships and a commitment to progressive labor practices.

 Written by hotel Uxua

For more information: contact us at http://www.latinexcursions.com/contact_us.asp

A simple door on a quiet plaza admits guests to the sumptuous interiors of this refurbished colonial mansion. Rich weavings typical to the region, overstuffed furniture, and a quietly welcoming host usher you into Cusco’s most exclusive new luxury hotel.

La Casona, an Inkaterra property, opened in 2008 to wide acclaim from guests and media alike - the high level of service, stylishly appointed rooms, and exclusivity of the property make it a unique option for travelers looking for the best of the best.

Latin Excursions had an opportunity to visit La Casona in September, and was impressed by this latest addition to Cusco’s crowded hotel market. The first aspect of La Casona that makes it particularly stand out is its commitment to the privacy of guests - no hotel restaurant brings in diners from outside, no bar attracts revelers, and, in fact, the front door is closed to all but hotel guests.

Rooms in the refurbished colonial mansion are spacious, with even the lower category rooms boasting king beds and intimate dining areas. Bathrooms are huge, with deep baths, two sinks and plush amenities. Room categories include Patio Suites, Plaza Suites and Balcon Suites - the latter feature small balconies for enjoying a peaceful breakfast or drink.

VIP service is the order of the day for guests at La Casona, with housekeeping thrice daily, concierge service, a personalized welcome, and a butler. The small size (only 11 suites) keeps things quiet, and allows guests the maximum opportunity to relax in their opulent setting.

La Casona is perfect for honeymoon couples, those celebrating a special event, or travelers who want to experience the majesty of Cusco in style.