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LATIN AMERICAT R A V E L W O R L D N E W S - S E C T I O N T H R E E - J U LY 2 0 0 7

The M/V Coral Star is a 115-foot mother-ship live-aboard that offers first-class service with a world-class fishing experience. Their Two OceansPanama Canal Transit runs the months of June

through November every year, taking guests to the PanamaCanal to explore both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans whilefollowing the paths of real pirates.They take guests to theDarien, Contradora, the Pearl Islands (where "Survivor" wasfilmed) and on through the Panama Canal with several stopsin between. This seven day adventure is designed for the en-tire family and friends, with a maximum capacity of 16 guests.

Their biologist and naturalist guides will present a memo-rable exploration which offers an up close and personal un-derstanding of the history and future of Panama.

Sample ItineraryUpon arrival day in Panama, guests board the ship late in

the day, settle into their cabins and enjoy a welcome aboarddrink and a Ship Safety Talk. The cruise then begins to theSouth end of the Las Perlas Islands.

On day one, wake up at San Telmo, at the southern end ofthe Pearl Islands, which features great beaches and diving,and interesting historical shipwrecks, including a two mansubmarine. Dive for oysters, try your luck at finding a pearl,or negotiate with locals for oysters and/or pearls. The islandis owned by ANCON, a Panamanian EnvironmentalOrganization. A cruise around the islands offers excellent ob-servation of marine mammals.

On day two, head up the Rio Mogue in the Darien Provinceto visit an Embera Indian Village, to spend the day learningtheir culture and observing daily life. From the village, hikeinto the jungle in hopes of seeing a Harpy Eagle, the nationalbird of Panama, along with many other exotic birds and ani-mals. This is a truly remarkable experience. Back in the vil-lage, the local tribe will entertain guests with a lively folkloricpresentation and there will be an opportunity to negotiate forhandcrafted carvings, baskets and ceramics, if desired.

On day three, discover the 220 island chain of Las PerlasArchipelagos, which was a favorite haunt for pirates becauseof the many coves, beaches and bays that provided ideal hide-outs. Explore Isla Pachequita which offers clear seas and mi-grating sea birds. This small island is a natural rookery andoffers exceptional birding opportunities. Guests can snorkel,dive, beach comb, view wildlife/marine life, bird watch andsea kayak.

On day four, the journey through the Canal begins at 7:00am, with each set of locks providing a unique experience.Cruise through Lake Gatun, that feeds both the locks over 52million gallons of fresh water each time a ship transits thecanal. The ship will stop by Colon Yacht Club and the Hotel

Washington’s Pirates Bar for a glass of Captain MorgansSpiced Rum.

On day five, begin the day at the same place Captain HenryMorgan dropped anchor back in January 1671, at Fort SanLorenzo. This impressive cliff-hanging fortress was specifi-cally designed as fortification against pirates when it wasbuilt in 1597. The guides will cover the history, fact and fic-tion during the hike up to the Fort. This is a great jungle tohike with its black-mantled howler monkeys, three toedsloths, toucans, parrots and numerous other birds andwildlife.

On day six, enjoy a sunrise breakfast on the upper deck anda view of the heavily fortified City of Portobelo. Hike theCamino Real, explore forts, and swim, dive or kayak. In theevening, go ashore to visit the sleepy town of Portobelo, andexperience the lively Congo Dancers, which are a part ofPanama’s rich and diverse history. Guests may even behauled in by the dancers to participate in their untameddances, which is always great fun!

On day seven, the M/V Coral Star’s journey ends early in themorning. After a hearty breakfast and many goodbyes, guestswill taken back to shore for the bus ride back to Panama City.Many guests choose to extend their stay in Panama withmany optional tours available.

All staterooms on board the M/V Coral Star have individu-ally controlled A/C, carpeting, generous storage capacity witha sufficient supply of 110 V current throughout the ship. Thefull stainless steel galley on the main deck will rival anygourmet restaurant. The Coral Star's fully air-conditionedmahogany and teak interior with picture windows, entertain-ment center, wet bar, carpeting and spiral staircase to theship's library provides a home-like atmosphere to dine,lounge and relax from daily activities. MM//VV CCoorraall SSttaarr, 866-924-2837, [email protected],www.coralstar.com

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Visit and Explore the Panama CanalAboard the M/V Coral Star

M/V Coral Star

“KIDS SAIL FREE” INPANAMA WITH CRYSTALCRUISES

Crystal Cruises invites children 11 andunder to cruise for free on two PanamaCanal cruises this Thanksgiving whensharing a stateroom with two adults.

Part classroom, part adventure, childrenof all ages will marvel at the science oftransiting the Canal and the drama of ex-periencing nature from the wilds of CostaRica to the tranquility of the Caribbean.

With the new promotion and special sav-ings fares, travelers can save up to 60 per-cent off brochure fares.

The Crystal Symphony travels fromCaldera, Costa Rica to Miami, Florida ona 10-day cruise, November 14-24, withcalls in Curaçao/Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles; St. Barts/Gustavia, French WestIndies; and Tortola/Road Town, BritishVirgin Islands. Crystal Serenity journeysfrom Miami to Caldera on an 11-daycruise, November 19-30, with calls inTurks & Caicos/Grand Turk, UK; St.Barts/Gustavia, French West Indies; St.Maarten/Phillipsburg, Netherland

Antilles; and Aruba/Oranjestad, DutchWest Indies.

The “kids sail free” promotion is capac-ity controlled and limited to triple-berthstaterooms. Per adult, double occupancyfares start at $2,195 and $3,380 for the10- and 11-day cruises, respectively.

Both ships will feature a fully supervisedJunior Activities program for kids ages 17and under. Depending on the children’sages, families will also have the opportu-nity to extend their adventures ashore withsuch experiences as a ride in a yellow sub-marine in St. Barts, swimming withstingrays in Turks & Caicos, an elevatedcanopy walk among the rainforests ofCosta Rica, or a helmet dive for a walkalong the ocean floor in the Caribbean.Crystal Cruises, 800-446-6620, crystalcruises.com

SUPERCLUBS TO OPEN INPANAMA AND BRAZIL

SuperClubs have announced its plans toenter Panama’s tourism market with a 300-room Breezes resort near Playa Blanca.

The popular Jamaica-based all-inclusivesigned a 10-year contract with developers,Sunstar Hotel & Development SA, to buildthe hotel along the country’s premier south-ern Pacific coast beaches, in the luxurycoastal community of Bijao in the Coclé province. Ground breaking of thefamily-friendly hotel will commence in2007, slated to open its doors in mid-2008.

Also breaking ground in early 2007 for a 2009 opening is the 330-room Breezes Buzios Resort in Rio deJaneiro, Brazil. Located on Rio’s famedbeach town – and favorite playground ofFrench actress Bridget Bardot in the 1960s– this sprawling hideaway features an am-bitious master plan that includes a spa,mini golf course, cycling paths, roller skat-ing park, archery center, bowling alley, andconvention facilities. The resort will alsofeature 110 villas.

These two additions mark SuperClubs’first foray into Panama, its third propertyin Latin America, and raises the chain’sBreezes portfolio to eight resorts total insix countries. SuperClubs, 800-GO-SUPER, www.superclubs.com

CATCH THE CRANE ATMETROPOLITAN NATURALPARK, PANAMA CITY

Ancon Expeditions of Panama has an-nounced the latest in its quest for offeringunique and exclusive nature tours. Througha formal agreement signed withMetropolitan Natural Park, AnconExpeditions acquired the exclusive rights tooperate tours from the 42-meter highSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute’sresearch canopy crane. In 1990, theSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute(STRI) pioneered the use of constructioncranes to access the forest canopy inPanama's Metropolitan Natural Park. Therainforest canopy crane provides a spectac-ular view of the forest canopy, the city sky-line, and the Pacific entrance of thePanama Canal. For the first time everSTRI is allowing tourists to take advantageof the research canopy crane. Tours will belead exclusively by Ancon Expeditions ofPanama Naturalist guides and will be of-fered on a limited basis, three times perweek. The ride on the research crane’s gon-dola will last approximately 50 minutes andwill be complemented with two hours of na-ture observation along the trails ofMetropolitan Natural Park.

Metropolitan Natural Park, locatedwithin Panama City limits is contiguouswith Camino de Cruces National Park,which in turn is linked to the SoberaniaNational Park. These forests representsome of the few remaining dry coastalPacific forests in Central and SouthAmerica. Ancon Expeditions of Panama,[email protected],www.anconexpeditions.com

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EXPLORE PANAMA ON A “JOURNEYBETWEEN THE SEAS” CRUISE FROM PMA

Panama Marine Adventures, Inc. (PMA) will launch its new ex-pedition cruise product at the end of this year.

This unique adventure opportunity will be marketed under thename “The Journey Between The Seas – Panama ExplorationCruise” and it will provide travelers with the opportunity to expe-rience the best that Panama has to offer. PMA was founded in 2003and it has become the leading Panama Canal Transit Tour operatorin the country.

The Journey Between The Seas is an eight-day exploration cruise

that will take passengers to places of great interest along Panama’sinter-oceanic route navigating from one ocean to the other. The ex-ploration will take place on board PMA’s new vessel the M/VDiscovery which was designed and built by Richardson DevineMarine in Australia with elegant accommodations for 24 passen-gers and 10 crew members.

The atmosphere on board Discovery is personal, intimate and ca-sual. The vessel has the capability to reach remote areas for an up-close relation with nature, history and wild life. All 12 cabins onboard are outside with large windows that allow spectacular viewsand all have key amenities such as private bathrooms, comfortablebeds and individual air conditioning.

The inter-oceanic route across the isthmus is an integral part ofthe past, the present and the future of Panama. As the centraltheme of this exploration, the Discovery will visit the isolated jun-gle in Darien, where travelers will experience the life of the nativeEmbera Indians and they will also join locals in the search forpearls in San Telmo in the Pearl Islands.

They will transit the Panama Canal feeling the history and get-ting up-close to the operation of this marvel staying overnight onPanama Canal waters before exiting to visit the Chagres River andthe Spanish fortresses at San Lorenzo and Portobelo whichguarded against pirates to protect the gold crossing over the isth-mus from Peru. Panama Marine Adventures, Inc., www.pmatours.net


PRINCESS HOTEL & CASINO INTRODUCESCOMPANY NEWSLETTER

The Princess Hotel & Casino is not only the largest hotel in Belizebut it is also the only Entertainment Center as well. The PrincessHotel & Casino features 170 oceanview rooms which are furnishedwith air conditioning, ceiling fans, direct dial telephones, in-roomsafety deposit boxes, cable TV, internet access, and desk. The hotelalso provides laundry and dry cleaning services.

Guests can enjoy a semi-Olympic size swimming pool, a gym/ fit-ness center, a bowling alley and an arcade, and two cinemas offer-ing premier movies. For entertainment, the hotel boasts a SportsBar & Lounge, a discotheque, and a Las Vegas style casino withmore than 400 slot machines, live table games, free local drinks,international shows, and a midnight buffet. Guests can dine in theSea View Restaurant offering an international buffet breakfast,lunch and dinner, or the Calypso Restaurant which specializes inSeafood a la Carte.

For the first time the Princess Hotel & Casino has a special pub-lication, The Princess Hotel & Casino Newsletter. This Newsletterwill be published quarterly for all guests, prospective customers,companies, and friends. Interested parties may email PrincessHotel & Casino to receive copies. Princess Hotel & Casino, [email protected],[email protected],www.princessbelize.com

TACA INTERLINE E-TICKETINGAGREEMENT

TACA has finished the Interline E-Ticket project implementationswith 10 other aerial companies, making travel experience easierfor its users. This agreement enables travelers to combine segments

operated by different carriers under a single electronic ticket. Korean Air joins American Airlines, Mexicana, Copa Air,

Aeromexico, Continental Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines,Iberia, and Hahn Air who already have an operating interline e-ticketing agreement.

“These achievements enable our users a world-wide travel with asingle electronic ticket,” said Claudia Arenas, CorporateCommunications Director. “The coordination of the airlines’ oper-ating systems makes possible for one e-ticket to combine segmentsflown by different carriers.”

Through this, TACA continues its efforts to strengthen its pres-ence in the different world-wide markets and improve its over-allcustomer travel experience.TACA has 75 years of experience serv-ing passengers from the three Americas with world class service inthe newest fleet in the American Continent.TACA, www.taca.com

ASTRUM HELICOPTERS ANNOUNCESEXPANSION OF SERVICES IN BELIZE

Astrum Helicopters has announced the delivery of its new Bell206 Long Ranger L4 helicopter. The helicopter was delivered fromBell Helicopter and is undergoing an eight week completion atHillsboro Aviation located in Hillsboro, Oregon.

The new Bell 206 Long Ranger L4 will have a corporate six pas-senger configuration, sliding door, cargo hook, litter kit (twostretchers), emergency floats, latest avionics package, and manyother options that will allow the helicopter to accommodate a vari-ety of missions. Astrum Helicopters is expanding its fleet to ac-commodate the growing market in the tourism industry (bothovernight and cruise tourists) requiring helicopter transfers andtours while visiting Belize.

Currently, Astrum Helicopters offers direct helicopter transfersto Azul Belize, Cayo Espanto, Matachica Resort, Turneffe IslandLodge, Isla Marisol and services soon opening at Chaa Creek andMaruba Resort. In addition, Astrum Helicopters offers the follow-ing Helicopter Adventures: Belize City & Reef, The Blue Hole, TheMayan Ruins of Altun Ha and Lamanai, 1000 ft Falls and VictoriaPeak, and Ambergris Caye & San Pedro. Astrum Helicopters, www.astrumhelicopters.com


For information about this and other exciting tours, please call (866) 924-2837 or visit www.coralstar.com

Explore remote, tiny islands, the Darien Rainforest, historical forts and transit the world famous Panama Canal on this 7-day excursion along with so much more….

• Historical Facts and Areas• Wilderness areas little seen by tourists

ADVENTURE AND LUXURY AT HOTELPUNTA ISLITA AND THE NEW EL SILENCIOLODGE & SPA

Hotel Punta Islita is embedded in a tropical dry forest tract ofCosta Rica’s Guanacaste province. It features spectacular oceanviews and beaches, charming luxury, exciting activities, and a com-mitment to responsible tourism. From sea-turtle protection initia-tives to the inauguration of the Open Air Contemporary ArtMuseum, the We Care stewardship has successfully employedtourism as an effective tool for sustainable and fair development.

All the accommodations enjoy spectacular ocean cove views, adistinctive architectural style, warm ambiance, and privacy.Standard features include air conditioning, satellite

dish television, outdoor hammock, mini bar, telephone, ceilingfans, and a safe. Casa Spa Hotel Punta Islita offers a generous se-lection of signature treatments and products.

Coming soon to the Grupo Islita hotel family will be El SilencioLodge & Spa. El Silencio Lodge & Spa will introduce a novel com-bination of inspirational nature and upscale comfort to CostaRica’s mountain tourism options. Aimed at the luxury travel seg-ment, it will blend soft adventure, wellness, and pristine landscapescrisscrossed by hiking trails lined with hidden waterfalls, wildlife,and vegetation.

It will feature 16 suites and a full service spa in the thick of atropical cloud forest. Built with environmentally friendly materi-als, each suite will feature a private whirlpool tub, a fireplace, com-plimentary mini-bar, and upscale amenities. Nearby activities in-clude horseback riding, lake kayaking, river rafting, and canopyzip-lining.Hotel Punta Islita, [email protected],www.hotelpuntaislita.com;El Silencio Lodge & Spa, [email protected]

NATUREAIR, THE WORLD’S FIRST 100%CARBON NEUTRAL AIRLINE

Nature Air has become, what can be termed as, ‘the only car-bon neutral airline in the world.’ During the Global EcotourismConference in Oslo, Norway, Alexi Huntley, Chief MarketingOfficer for NatureAir explained how they went about it: “NatureAir first uses its yearly fuel consumption to calculate emissions—some 16,000 tons since 2004. Then, working with the CostaRican government, and using a valuation excepted by the KyotoProtocol, they get a monetary value for those emissions and theamount of land and tree density required to compensate or con-sume our yearly emissions.”

In 2004, when the company started the project, Nature Air off-set its emissions with a $45,000 investment in reforestation andhabitat-protection projects on the Osa Peninsula, one of CentralAmerica's most biologically diverse rainforests. “Since 2004,NatureAir has protected roughly 325 football fields of tropicalforests in Costa Rica and we have no plans on slowing down, weare not the biggest polluters however we knew we would be a cat-alyst for change to make other companies follow and take ac-tion,” explained Mr. Huntley.

NatureAir is a regional airline in Central America with over 74daily flights to 17 destinations in Costa Rica, Panama andNicaragua.

"There is no other industry that has more to gain or to lose fromclimate change," said Alexi Huntley. Nature Air, www.natureair.com


The perfect combination offering facilities to suit the needs of most travelers seeking a somewhere off the beaten path. A five minute stroll apart, located in the town of San Pedro, yet out of the hustle and bustle. The SunBreeze Hotel features 43 rooms offering the facilities and services of a resort while the SunBreeze Suites has 20 oceanfront fully equipped suites. A variety of packages are available.

SUNBREEZE HOTEL & SUNBREEZE SUITES

AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

SUNBREEZE SUITESemail:[email protected]

www.sunbreezesuites.com toll free: 1-800-826-1631

SUNBREEZE HOTELemail:[email protected]

www.sunbreeze.net toll free: 1-800-688-0191

LOS VITRALESRESTAURANT OPENS ATCASA CORCOVADO JUNGLELODGE

Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, a beauti-ful upscale property in the Osa Peninsula ofCosta Rica, is celebrating the opening of itsnew restaurant “Los Vitrales.”

Mealtimes are special as the guests enjoythe casual elegance of the lovely “JungleDining Room.” Delicious meals are pre-pared each day from the freshest vegeta-bles, seafood, tenderloin, chicken andpasta, and are always served and preparedwith the style and originality of CasaCorcovado Jungle Lodge. The clients are re-minded of the ever changing exotic and re-mote beauty that surrounds them in such aunique destination.

Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge is a 170acre private reserve bordering CorcovadoNational Park. Carefully designed and builtby an American naturalist with over 25years of local experience, this unique lodgeoffers accommodations constructed withthe highest concern for conservation in har-mony with the landscape and the environ-

ment. Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge pro-vides the ideal base for an in-depth rainfor-est experience.

Accommodations at this "Lost World" areartfully-appointed individual bungalows of-fering unpretentious comfort, mosquito-netted beds, ceiling fan, tiled floors, loungearea, dry mini bar, safety deposit box, ham-mock, and ample closets. Roomy privatebathrooms have hot water showers and de-signer fixtures. As you stroll down the side-walk, your eye can’t help but be drawn tothe beautiful stained glass in the door andwooden shutters in the windows, handmadeby Costa Rican artisans.

Several packages are available includingthe five-day/four-night Paradise in theRainforest; the four-day/three night ExoticTreasures of the Ocean; the four-day/three-night Spectacular Underwater World; andthe seven-day/six-night Ultimate JungleSafari. Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge canalso arrange tours which include hiking,bird watching and more.Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, 888-896-6097, [email protected], www.casacorcovado.com

CAPRICORN LEISUREOFFERING EXCITING ANDVALUE PACKED TRAVELPROGRAMS TO CENTRALAMERICA

Capricorn’s pioneering spirit again comesto the forefront in planning exciting andvalue-packed packages to Central Americawhich offer great value to the consumerwhile simultaneously allowing travel agentsto stimulate profits.

Over the past 15 years, Capricorn Leisurehas been synonymous with value travel pro-grams to Belize, Costa Rica and most othercountries of Central America. Capricorn’svery saleable consumer driven packages forseven night in Belize, including air andtransfers on American Airlines offer terrificvalue from Miami. Low cost add-on farestranslate to super-value deals from almostanywhere in the U.S. Capricorn also offerssimilar programs with Delta, US Airwaysand Grupo TACA. Capricorn is willing towork with agents to customize any of theirprograms to meet specific needs and wants.Capricorn Leisure, 800-426-6544,www.capricornleisure.com


Secluded Inn offeringpersonal service, twelveluxury cottages with fire-places, pool and hottub. Situated on 7200acres of private reservein the Maya Mountains.Six waterfalls, idyllicpools set in tropicaljungle, 90 miles of trails,

hiking, biking, wildlife, birding on property.Tours to ruins, caves, canoeing, horse riding.

Tel: 00-501-822-3320Toll Free : 1-866-443-3364www.hiddenvalleyinn.com

[email protected]

B E L I Z EB E L I Z E

hiking, biking, wildlife, birding on property.

Tours to ruins, caves, canoeing, horse riding.

Tel: 00-501-822-3320

Toll Free: 1-866-443-3364

www.hiddenvalleyinn.com

[email protected]

Secluded Inn offering

personal service, twelve

luxury cottages with fire-

places, pool and hot

tub. Situated on 7200

acres of private reserve

in the Maya Mountains.

Ten waterfalls, idyllic

pools set in tropical

jungle, 90 miles of trail,

BW BELIZE BILTMOREPLAZA HOTEL HOSTSPRIME MINISTERS ANDPRESIDENTS; LAUNCHESNEW WEBSITE

Caribbean and Central American leadersheld a historic summit in Belize onSaturday May 12, 2007 at the BestWestern Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel. Fiveprime ministers and six presidents werepresent for the Second summit of CARI-COM and SICA heads of state and govern-ment. Among the presidents in attendancewere Guatemala's Oscar Berger, Hait's RenePreval, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, andCosta Rica's Oscar Arias. Prime Ministersincluded Trinidad and Tobago's PatrickManning, Owen Arthur from Barbados, andKeith Mitchell from Grenada.

The Best Western Belize Biltmore PlazaHotel has also recently re-launched its newwebsite designed with all the Best WesternStandards. They have integrated a sevenminute video of the entire property display-ing all the amenities the hotel has to offer. Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza,www.belizebiltmore.com

AFFORDABLE SUMMERVACATION PACKAGESOFFERED AT THE INN ATROBERT’S GROVE

Travelers seeking a vacation that is a bitoff the beaten path will welcome the sum-mer packages offered by the Inn at Robert’sGrove in Placencia, Belize from July 1 toNovember 30, 2007.

Each of the packages includes round-tripairfare within Belize, land transfers, luxuryair-conditioned standard accommodationsfeaturing cable TV, telephone, internet ac-cess, private terrace, and three meals dailyat the Inn’s two restaurants, the gourmetSeaside Restaurant and the more casualHabanero Mexican Café & Bar.

For the adventurous there is a seven-night/eight-day Summer AdventurePackage that includes a full day snorkelingtrip off of the reef, an excursion to ancientMaya ruins and cave swimming, a visit tothe Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve to view ex-otic flora and fauna, waterfall swimming,river tubing, and a full-day guided MonkeyRiver float and trail walk. The cost of thepackage is $1,717 per person.

For those who would prefer a vacationthat is a little less adventure and a littlemore relaxing, the Summer Beach Odysseyoffers full access to beach and resort activ-ities. This package also includes two softadventure excursions: a full-day snorkeltrip and a Monkey River float and guidedtrail walk. Guests can choose from pack-ages ranging from five-nights/six-days for$1,148 per person or a 12-night/13-day es-cape for $2,486 per person.

Robert’s Grove designed its Summer DiveOdyssey Package – a four-night/five-day orseven-night/eight-day package that rangesfrom All-Dive, Snorkel and Dive, and Eco-Dive packages. Priced from $1,155 to$2,003 per person with over 20 named divesites right off the coast. The Dive Center atRobert’s Grove is fully equipped with brandnew top-of-the-range Oceanic equipmentand there is a fleet of new dive boats. TheInn’s Dive Center is staffed by experiencedPADI dive masters and instructors. Nitroxdiving is now offered at the resort. The Inn at Robert’s Grove, 800-565-9757,[email protected], www.robertsgrove.com


There is a crime committed every day in the travelindustry. But, fortunately for travel agents and touroperators, there is no penalty for it (except perhapsa moral one). No travel agent, no tour operator is

going to have to do hard time behind bars. The crime is theunseemly haste with which visitors are rushed through thePeruvian capital, Lima. Sometimes, on the standard tours,visitors get a day there. Sometimes they don’t get even that.They arrive one day, sometimes in the evening. They departat an ungodly hour the following morning for Cusco andMachu Picchu. A strange thing if you stay up late in Lima isthe staggering amount of tourist traffic you see, both inboundand outbound, in what for all practical purposes has to be rec-ognized as the middle of the night.

Admittedly, many people hate Lima. Or they say they do.But, then, many who hate Lima or think they hate Lima sim-ply don’t know Lima. My own experience has simply beenagnostic. I have repeatedly passed through Lima on my waythis way or that within the huge and diverse PeruvianRepublic. On one occasion I may have stayed for one night;on another occasion, two; on another occasion, three. Mostforeign tourists are at the short end of that band. They’re inLima only to catch their breath before continuing on to Cuscoand Machu Picchu or perhaps to Iquitos deep in the Amazonor to some other wilderness or archeological destination.

What inspired my wife and me to stay longer this time, onthe heels of late April’s 14th annual Peru Travel Mart, orPTM, was simply the experience we have had over the yearsof catching a glimpse of something seemingly tantalizing upan unexplored and for the time being inaccessible street aswe were hustled by it in a tour bus or a van (as likely as noton our way to or from the airport). And there was somethingelse: Lima is one of the world’s great eating cities. We wantedto explore the city’s menu more in depth — and we wanted toknow it in the more finely wrought form in which you get toexperience it when you order just for yourself (or selves), not,nothing against the PTM, when you experience it as preparedfor 150 or so foreign travel agents and tour operators and hun-dreds more local suppliers and dignitaries.

Hence, our week.I shall return presently to the extremelyinteresting question of Lima lodging. First, though, what isthere to do for a week in Lima?

The TourOne standard tour, provided by innumerable agencies,

takes casual visitors to the Huaca Pucllana archeological site,which was once upon a time, back in the period in which theRoman Empire was beginning to fall apart and there was al-

ready a hint of Dark Ages in the European air, a busy admin-istrative and ceremonial center. Many walls and pyramidalstructures still stand, and the site is all the stranger for theway it has come to be sandwiched in by an upscale residen-tial neighborhood.

The standard tour in question proceeds from the HuacaPucllana to the so-called “colonial” Lima that is now Lima’sdowntown. Sights visited, or glimpsed at, include theCathedral, where conquistador Francisco Pizarro in buried;the Saint Francis Convent, with its catacombs and gorgeouslymonkish 17th century library; great houses once belongingto the city’s prominent families; the Government Palace; thePalace of Lima city government. The standard tour alsomakes a pass through the glamorous neighborhoods of SanIsidro and Miraflores. The standard tour is nice. But it is overin four hours.

Though any of Lima’s excellent tour operators — LimaTours, for example — can develop a program to keep curiousand engaged visitors occupied for considerably longer, inde-pendent travelers who have committed to hanging aroundthe Greater Lima area for a week or so are sooner or latergoing to want to go out exploring on their own, exactly thesame as if they were in Paris or London.

Ceviche and MoreLima, as may or may not be generally known, is, as I have

already said, one of the world’s great eating cities — a culi-nary paradise, if you like — and all the more so for thosewhose tastes run to seafood rather than red meat. The reasonfor the virtuosity in seafood is that Peru sits at the edge ofwhat may be the world’s greatest fisheries in the nutrient-rich, cold water Humboldt Current. Throw in the exotic herbs,fruits, potatoes and vegetables that grow in the many micro-


A Week in LimaVisitors willing to ratchet down below warp speed are going to discover the Peruvian capital tobe an extremely agreeable bundle of ancient archeological sites, art treasures of five millennia,excellent shopping, and a cuisine unsurpassed anywhere on the planetB Y M A R K Z U S S M A N

A lively street of cafes and cantinas in Lima's always happening Miraflores district.

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climates along Peru’s coastal plane, in its Amazon region, andup in the mountains, and one outcome is ceviche. Ceviche isthe raw seafood that changes chemically and in a sense is“cooked” in a bath of citrus fruits, peppers and other agents.But ceviche is only a part of it. Lima may have as manyChinese restaurants as San Francisco does. Lima has Frenchrestaurants, Italian restaurants, Japanese restaurants, twoTony Romas, and a smattering of T.G.I.F.s, KFCs, Starbucks,Chili’s. Details, though, belong not here but in a consumermagazine.

Between meals? Lima is immense. The white pages tele-phone directory is of 1968 pages of four columns each andsomething like 130 names to a column. That’s over a milliontelephone subscribers but, in a land in which many peopleare still too poor to own phones, a telephone count is only toskim the surface. Lima’s real population is thought to be onthe order of eight million persons and, since constructiontends to be low rise rather than high rise, the sprawl is mind-boggling. On our last two days in Lima, we rented a car. Thelogic was simple. A cab to the airport was going to cost about$20. At a total rental cost of $47 a day, that brought down themarginal cost, with no drop-off charge at Jorge ChávezInternational, at least for day two, to a mere $27.

Since a full week in Lima is going to be saleable only to rel-atively sophisticated travelers, i.e., those who have alreadyprobably tried out self-drive in one or more Western Europeancountries, no reason other folks can’t do the same. And, forthose who want the convenience of a car but not to have todrive it, Hertz in Miraflores will throw in a driver for a measly$20 for an eight-hour day, and I would be extremely surprisedif the other agencies won’t do the same. Hertz in Miraflores,by the way, has an elegant old Daimler on the lot. It is rentedprimarily for weddings. But no reason it couldn’t be used justas well by someone who wanted to tour in style.

Far and WideFor us, the car, in any event, had several advantages. It gave

us a place, namely, the trunk, to stash our luggage all day inanticipation of an outbound flight at 1:50 in the morning. Itmade it possible for us to explore the gorgeous residential

streets, with their stunning bougainvilleas and cactus andother exotic desert flowers, in the neighborhoods ofMiraflores and San Isidro and La Molina. It made it possiblefor us to explore the Bohemian precincts of Barranco, once,not so many decades ago, a summer resort for the wealthy butnow, with the seemingly endless swell of population, all butsmoothly continuous with all the rest of the city. The car alsomade it possible for us to drive along the coast south fromLima and see the region’s great surfing beaches and the ele-gant houses at Pachacamac, Pucusana and Asia. It made itpossible on the evening before our wee-hour departure —and hard to think how else we would have passed the longhours — to drive up and eat our dinner in Callao, the old portcity immediately adjacent to Lima to the north but now for allpractical purposes just another of Lima’s many neighbor-hoods as well as home to the international airport.

Fortunately for those who do not see any good reason to renta car, Lima is extremely cheap to navigate by cab. A cab ridefrom central Miraflores, where many of the good hotels are,to Lima’s downtown, 15 or maybe even as many as 20 min-utes away, was quoted to us at prices ranging from a high of15 soles (something short of $5) to as low as 9 soles (some-thing short of $3). The cabs are not metered, but, given thatthe drivers have to put food on the table for their families, theprices quoted even at the high end seemed quite reasonableenough. The cab from Miraflores to the NationalAnthropological, Archeological and Historical Museum andto the distinguished Rafael Larco Herrera ArcheologicalMuseum, another 15 or 20 minutes away in another direction,out beyond San Isidro in a neighborhood called Pueblo Libre,cost on the order of 10 soles in each direction.

Forget the many museums we did visit. A full week in Limanotwithstanding, we managed to return home without hav-ing gotten even anywhere near the famous Museo de Oro, orGold Museum. Frankly, it was just too far out. We also nevergot inside the Lima Art Museum, as housed in the 1869 WorldExhibition Palace, the Italian Art Museum, the NationalMuseum, the Amano Museum, and more. (Wait, do not for-get the museums we did visit. A guide at the Pedro de Osma


CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Collection of Colonial Art in Barranco revealed that their vis-itor count sometimes slips as low as 20 a day. A shame. Theart aside, the elegant, classically-designed gallery, once,when Barranco was still a summer resort, the Osma family’sbeach house, is, in its way, as preciously evocative of a by-gone era as, say, the Frick in New York. And let’s, while we’reat it, give more high marks to the Museum of Peru’s CentralReserve Bank with its impressive Hugo Cohen gold collectionin an underground former vault and a floor of Peruvian paint-ing in which the icily aristocratic Doña Leonora Something-or-Other is obliged to share wall space with images of peas-ants and fishermen.)

Avenida Petit Thouars in Miraflores is lined on both sideswith huge markets for tourist wares, and each of the hugemarkets contains numerous — perhaps as many as 100 ormore — individual stalls. You can fill up your suitcases withtourist junk at these stalls. You can also find fine alpacasweaters, jewelry, accessories, decorative objects, even an-tiques. Avenida La Paz, off of Benavides in Miraflores, offersmuch finer antiques and finer craft items. In the course of alifetime, I have been in many an antique store from which Iwould have liked to take something home. Before El Frailero-Cati, at La Paz 551, I can’t say, though, that I had ever beenin an antique store from which I would have liked to takeeverything home.

Slots, Bulls, HotelsOh, there are gambling casinos in Lima. There are lots of

them. (Move over, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.) There is alsoa historic bullring in Lima. It dates from the 1760s, and it isapparently the second-oldest surviving bullring in the worldafter the one in Seville. However few people may still be intothis, there are corridas on Sundays.

On the lodging front, Lima is not overbuilt and perhaps thecontrary. There’s a huge corporate business nowadays.There’s a huge tourist business. When we were there, therewas nary a room to be had in any of the top hotels, so welodged — at a good industry discount — at the SonestaPosada del Inca Miraflores. This is not, nor does it pretend tobe, top luxe, but then top luxe is not what most leisure travel-ers are looking for anyway. This particular Sonesta providesvalue for the buck, the location is right, the rooms are cleanand comfortable, and there are a couple of nice little touchessuch as — in a hotel whose room count does not reach 30 —an omelette man to make eggs to order in the breakfast room.

To appearances, the top luxury hotels in Lima are theOrient-Express Miraflores Park — all suites, just over theocean, in Miraflores; the Country Club in San Isidro; the JWMarriott, across from the Larcomar shopping and diningmall, in Miraflores; the Swissôtel in San Isidro. The last ofthese, in the midst of a complex of commercial towers, is un-mistakably directed at the corporate trade. The first two areappropriate to the corporate traffic and to movie stars andmovie star wannabees. The Marriott is, in its style, a hotel for

corporate travelers; in its location, for leisure travelers as well.Excellent hotels just a notch down and therefore a touch

more accessible to leisure travelers are the Libertador, nextdoor to the Country Club; the Delfines, across from theLibertador and the Country Club; the Meliá, the LasAméricas, the Sonesta Posada del Inca El Olivar (not to beconfused with the Posada del Inca Miraflores), theDoubletree, the Sofitel and, downtown, the Sheraton. TheLibertador people at least are about to try to make up for someof the room and facilities deficit; they are in the process ofconstructing a stylish new tower of 320 rooms, 12 conferencerooms, a grand ballroom with a capacity for 2500 persons,plus of course restaurants and other amenities.

Lima has more modest hotels galore. It has fine apart hotels.In one that I walked into, the La Paz Apart Hotel, on, no sur-prise, the Avenida La Paz, I was fairly blown away by thequality of the suites and by the prices — $75 for the simplerof the suites, $120 for the deluxe version. There are also so-called hostales for even less money. Some of these, dormitory-style, are appropriate only for backpackers. Others that Iwalked into, the Hostal El Patio Miraflores and the HostalBuena Vista, for example, are quite elegant. The person Ispoke to at the Buena Vista told me he in fact gets many of hisbookings via travel agents.

A week in Lima is obviously not a vacation for everyone. Itis not a vacation for first-time travelers. It is not a vacation forpeople wanting simply to skim the surface of things and saythey’ve been there. But keep Lima in mind for people wholike the urban experience and who have perhaps overdosedon the European version of the same or want a relief from theEuropean version of the same.

Also keep Lima in mind for people who like the SouthAmerican experience in other of its manifestations.Remember, after all, that half (give or take) of academically-minded high school students in the U.S. study French. Theother half (give or take) study Spanish, and Spanish is spo-ken not merely in Spain. Even if clients are not fluent inSpanish, the world pollo in Lima will take them a long wayand, if they remember (or learn) ceviche, it will take them awhole lot farther.PromPerú, www.peru.info


LIMA FROM PAGE 11

The two millennia-old Huaca Pucllana archeological site in theheart of a Lima residential neighborhood.

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AVIANCA ACQUIRESAIRBUS FLEET

As part of its plan for modernizing, theColombian airline Avianca has announcedthe incorporation of 41 Airbus aircraft to its fleet, which will serve medium-to-long range routes starting in the second semester 2008.

The negotiation includes the purchase of38 aircraft from the European consortiumAirbus: 24 A320-200 model aircraft, nineA319-100 model aircraft and five A330-200 model aircraft. Twenty-nine of the air-planes acquired will be incorporated toAvianca fleet, while the other nine will beoperated by other Synergy Aerospace air-lines. In addition, three more A320 air-planes will be in Avianca's fleet through aleasing system. Besides the purchase order,the agreement includes the rights to exertan option to purchase 32 additional A320-200 and 5 A330-200 model aircraft.

Avianca President Fabio VillegasRamírez stated: "With the acquisition andoperation of the new Airbus A-320, A319and A-330, Avianca becomes the Airlinewith the most modern fleet in LatinAmerica. This way, the Company puts thebest of the airline industry at the service ofnational and international travelers, whowill enjoy more options for connection andmore comfort on board the Colombia's flagship airline.”

With the incorporation and commission-ing of the Airbus fleet, Avianca will rein-force its presence in domestic destinationsin Colombia, as well as in key points ofAmerica and Europe. Consequently, travel-ers to domestic destinations and/or to thefollowing destinations, including New York,Miami and Fort Lauderdale (The UnitedStates); Mexico, Aruba and Curazao,Caracas, Panama, Sao Paulo, Santiago deChile, Lima, Quito, Guayaquil, BuenosAires; Madrid and Barcelona (Spain),among others. The Airline, on the otherhand, will benefit from flexibility and effi-ciency offered by Airbus technology,renowned for its high "commonality" sys-tems and ways of handling of its differingaircraft references; this fact provides keyadvantages for airlines, when significantlyreducing their operating costs. Avianca, www.avianca.com

VISIT THE LARGESTCONCENTRATION OFWILDLIFE IN THEAMERICAS IN THEPANTANAL WITH OPEN DOOR

The Pantanal is the world’s largest inte-rior wetland with over 50,000 square milesof wildland and wetland, which is about 13times larger than the Everglades. The abun-dance and diversity of its vegetation and an-imal life are spectacular.

Wildlife in its most primitive form sharesthe space with cattle farms. Along with theAmazon, the Pantanal, located in the west-ern part of the states of Mato Grosso andMato Grosso do Sul, is considered an exam-ple of the best untouched nature of Brazil.It is an amazing mixture of ecosystems withdifferent landscapes such as savanna, flood-plains, lagoons, bays, and forests, crossedby many rivers, connected to the ParaguaiRiver. These characteristics give thePantanal some important titles like theThird Largest Biosphere Reserve of theWorld and Natural Patrimony of Humanity(UNESCO).

The Pantanal is a paradise for wildlifewatchers and photographers. Due to thefact that the view is unobstructed by thickvegetation, it is an even better show thancould be expected in the neighboringAmazon jungle.

For those interested in visiting three dif-ferent ecosystems during their trip toBrazil, it is recommended that you travel tothe state of Mato Grosso. Here you will en-counter the Pantanal wetlands, AmazonRainforest, and Savannah. The savannah isfound in Chapada dos Guimarães, an in-credible destination in itself, as well as an

excellent side-trip from the Pantanal.Chapada dos Guimaraes National Park isconsidered a mystical region.

For those interested in visiting thePantanal to enjoy trekking, wildlife, snor-keling and cave-diving, Open Door suggestsvisiting Mato Grosso do Sul. From there,begin an adventure into the Pantanal wet-lands and on to Bonito. The city of Bonitoand its neighbor Bodoquena with itsNational Park are the most fascinating nat-ural areas of water leisure in the world.Hundreds of waterfalls, lakes and rivers ofpristine waters, over 80 caves (dry andflooded), and endless species of fish andother wild animals are some of the attrac-tions. The main activity is diving into greatlakes of fresh and clear waters, where a va-riety of fish calmly swim among visitors ina dazzling display of color and movement.Snorkeling, scuba diving, light rafting, ab-seiling, horseback riding, caving, mountainbiking and trekking are just some of thethings to do in these places. Bonito is thenumber one destination for ecotourism inBrazil.

Open Door, with a professional and expe-rienced international staff, is the major in-coming tour operator for customized toursto this amazing region, with a main officein Campo Grande and a support-desk inCuiaba. Their English speaking guidesguarantee an unparalleled experience, dur-ing which you will learn as much as you de-sire about the unique culture and biodiver-sity. Next to that, Open Door has its ownnetwork of reliable contacts throughoutBrazil to arrange visits to any other desti-nation in Brazil. Open Door, [email protected],www.opendoortur.com.br


ENJOY CRUCE DE LAGOS IN CHILE THROUGHSPORTSTOUR

Cruce de Lagos is one of the most impor-tant tourist circuits in Chile and Argentina.Year after year, more than 60,000 touristsfrom all over the world choose it becausethe natural beauties that are seen along thejourney provide a captivating experience.

The first passengers did Cruce de Lagoson horseback or by foot, lodging in primi-tive places, overcoming difficulties thatmade them become more in touch with thescenery. There is no doubt that Cruce deLagos still retains much of those first expe-riences. Certainly, technology and progresshave introduced many changes, but thelandscape is still the same, and has becomeeven more prominent. In the heart of thezone of Lakes and Volcanos, travelers enteran almost magic world where nature pre-dominates over the actions of man andwhere the roots of human beings again havesome sense.

Puerto Montt is a city that is becomingmore modern every day, but retaining thewarmth and simplicity of the south of Chile.Together with Puerto Varas, or the “City ofRoses,” they are the starting point of thisjourney. From here, take the road that leadsto Petrohué, which in the native languagemeans “place of smoke,” perhaps becauseof the cloud of water produced by the

Petrohué rapids, one of the attractions thatwill be visited, located at the entrance toVicente Pérez Rosales National Park.

In Petrohué, guests board the catamaranLagos Andinos to sail through the water ofLake Todos Los Santos, also known asEmerald Lake because of its green color.The destination is Peulla. During nearly twohours of sailing guests can admire the ever-green forests, the Osorno and Puntiagudovolcanos, and the Tronador Hill.

Located 27 kilometers from the borderwith Argentina on the slopes of the Andesrange is Peulla. Lodge in Hotel Peulla,which features 60 rooms and facilities thatlet you enjoy the surroundings in comfort,or in Hotel Natura, which has merged clas-sic and modern architecture. It has 45rooms overlooking the Techado hill, and of-fers excellent gastronomy, with a bar andSpa among other amenities.

Cruce de Lagos, depending on the time ofthe year, has two systems. One of themmakes the crossing in one day, which takesplace between September 1 through April30, that is in the Spring – Summer season.In the Fall – Winter season, between May 1and August 31, it is done in two or moredays.

The trip continues to Argentina, whereguests ride buses to Puerto Frías, and boardthe motor ship El Dalca to sail across LakeFrías.

The El Dalca arrives in Puerto Alegre,and from there the journey goes to PuertoBlest to arrive in Argentina at NahuelHuapi National Park. Here travelers mayhave lunch or hike toward the waterfall“Cascada de los Cántaros,” depending onthe season. Then board El Cóndor catama-ran toward Puerto Pañuelo, sailing about

one hour through the peaceful Blest arm ofLake Nahuel Huapi. After this, visit thetourist city of San Carlos de Bariloche.

During this part of the trip, the same as onthe Chilean side, virgin forests and beauti-ful sceneries will keep faithful company,and guests will be reminded of why the ex-peditionaries came to these places.

Cruce de Lagos is a journey that carriesus not only to the wonders of nature, but also to a past full of stories, mysteriesand effort.Sportstour, [email protected]

LATIN DISCOVERANNOUNCES NEW WEBBROCHURE PROGRAM FOR AGENTS

Latin Discover is launching a new tourprogram giving travel agents up to 40 se-lected tours in Latin America in the form ofan attractive brochure viewable on the web.Particularly innovative is that the brochureis completely customized with the agent’sname and contact details, is easily editable,and is hosted on an unbranded website.

This means that travel agents can offerthese tours to their clients with their ownbranding, and without fear that the clientgoes direct. Latin Discover’s name does notappear anywhere. The tours can be furthercustomized by adding notes, adjustingprices, and by changing their appearance.Agents have several marketing options,from sending attractive eCards, tour PDFsand webpage links to clients, through tolinking to their own website or even includ-ing the web brochure directly within theirown site.

Latin Discover is kicking off the programwith the best 40 tours in the main countriesin Latin America. These tours offer 15 per-cent commission, or equivalent net prices,which agents can increase if they adjustclient prices.

To participate, agents simply provide thecontact details they want to appear on thetours, indicate whether they prefer rack ornet pricing, and select some or all of theavailable Latin American countries. LatinDiscover then creates an attractive cus-tomized web brochure for the agent with allthe tours. Latin Discover, www.latindiscover.com


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CABO AZUL TO OPENSEPTEMBER 2007

Los Cabos’ newest all-villa luxury hotel,Cabo Azul, will soon be the benchmark forall other properties as it prepares to open inSeptember 2007.

With a truly fresh look and feel, the cele-brated interior designer Dodd Mitchell has

created a true masterpiece. Featuring thedesigner’s flair for natural elegance, play-ful lighting effects and curious drama, thisunique resort and spa invites relaxation andentertainment. Passionate fire sculptures,creative and playful waterscapes, and art-ful interiors create a feeling that representan international interpretation of this

Mexican destination. Guests will also expe-rience a Dodd Mitchell designed world-class nightclub, extensive spa and fitnessaccoutrements, exciting restaurants, cre-ative cafes and boutiques, and an inspira-tional wedding chapel. Cabo Azul, 866-370-CABO (2226),www.caboazulresort.com


Almond Beach [email protected]

www.almondbeachbelize.com

Amazon Explorama [email protected]

Astrum Helicopters888-593-7069501-222-9462info@astrumhelicopters.comwww.astrumhelicopters.com

Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza800-528-1234www.belizebiltmore.com

Casa Encantada800-247-5159www.casaencantada-antigua.com

Chaa Creek887-709-8708www.chaacreek.com

Chan Chich [email protected]

Copa Airlineswww.copaair.com

Coral Star of Panama866-924-2837www.coralstar.com

Crillon Tours www.titcaca.com

GHL Hoteleswww.ghlhoteles.com

Grand Caribe Suites & [email protected]

Hidden Valley Inn866-443-3364www.hiddenvalleyinn.com

Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection888-223-5403www.belizediving.com

Inka Natura [email protected]

La Mariposa Hotel 800-572-6440 www.hotelmariposa.com

Libertador [email protected]

Maya Travel Services, [email protected]

Nature Air 800-235-9272 www.natureair.com

Open Door011-55-67-3321-8303info@opendoortur.com.brwww.opendoortur.com.br

Panama Government Tourist Boardwww.visitpanama.com

Panama Marine [email protected]

Hotel Parador BoutiqueResort & [email protected]

Princess Hotel 888-896-7855 www.princessbelize.com

Ramon’s [email protected]

South Star Tours800-654-4468www.southstartours.com

Sportstourwww.sportstour.cl

Sunbreeze [email protected]

TAM Vacations866-627-2945www.tamvacations.com

Tropic Air800-422-3435www.tropicair.com

Turneffe [email protected]

[email protected]

Victoria House800-247-5159www.victoria-house.com

LLAATTIINNAAMMEERRIICCAAresource directory

For additional listings visit the online resource directory: www.travelworldnews.com/agent

www.visitpanama.com

Actually you could, it is a good thing you can do much more in Panama.

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