South America`s Hidden Gems

South America’s Hidden Gems
Part I - the North
43 days departing 21 April 2013
About
Far Horizons
Established in South Australia in 1976 by
Martin and Auriel Wright, Far Horizons has
escorted more than 170 tours to over 160
countries on all seven continents. During
that time we have established a clientele of
devoted followers who appreciate our
uncompromising policy of providing the very
best available accommodation and
services, with meticulous attention to detail
in some of the world's most exotic and
stimulating regions.
All our tours are fully inclusive of all
transportation, accommodation, meals,
sightseeing, cultural events and gratuities.
Capacity is limited to sixteen, which we feel
is the ideal maximum number necessary
to achieve the degree of personal attention
and 'camaraderie' which is the hallmark of
Far Horizons.
In 2011 the company was acquired by Far
Horizons Tours Pty Ltd under the directorship
of long-standing family friend and Far Horizons
tour escort Nick Deacock. Martin will assist Nick
with the conceptualisation and creation of
new tour itineraries for some time to come.
Visiting
CHILE
San Pedro de Atacama
Atacama Desert
Iquique
Arica
Lauca National Park
PERU
Arequipa
Nazca
Lima
COLOMBIA
Bogota
Zipaquira
Villa de Leyva
Raquira
San Agustin
Bogota
Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd
PO Box 555, Cammeray
New South Wales 2062
Australia
Tel: (02) 9955 0444
Toll-free 1 800 083 141
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.farhorizons.com.au
Travel agents licence no.2TA 09085
2 nights
2 nights
An obvious contender for consideration is
South America, where many of our regular
clients will have already visited several of the
most popular destinations (such as Machu
Picchu and Iguassu Falls) and are looking
for a tour which will take them to places they
have not previously visited.
2 nights
1 night
2 nights
2 nights
The immense vastness and variety of this
great continent has prompted us to divide it
into two separate tours.
1 night
2 nights
1 night
1 night
GUYANA
Georgetown
2 nights
SURINAME
Paramaribo
2 nights
BRAZIL
Sao Luis
Fortaleza
Morro Branco
Canoa Quebrada
Ponta do Mel
Sao Miguel do Gostoso
Natal
Olinda
Recife
Salvador
The popularity of our Hidden Gems tours to
West and Eastern Africa has encouraged us
to develop this theme to cover more of the
less frequented regions of the world.
3 nights
VENEZUELA
Ihla de Margarita
Orinoco Delta
Canaima
Angel Falls
Ilha de Margarita
FRENCH GUIANA
Kourou
Devil’s Island
Cayenne
More Hidden Gems
This brochure is devoted to the first - “South
America’s Hidden Gems: Part I - the North”,
which begins with a stay at a luxury eco-resort
in the Atacama Desert, parts of which haven't
seen a drop of rain for over 400 years.
2 nights
1 night
We then drive into Peru for a stay in the
fascinating colonial city of Arequipa en route
to Nazca for an overflight of these remarkable
ancient giant etchings which can only be fully
appreciated from the air.
After a stay at the fashionable Lima Country
Club and sightseeing in the capital we fly to
the Colombian capital, Bogota with the world’s
most famous Gold Museum. Here we begin
a road journey via Zipaquira’s underground
Salt Cathedral to the fascinating 16th century
colonial town of Villa de Leyva. Our Colombian
adventure ends with a flight to San Agustin,
one of South America’s most fascinating
archaeological sites.
2 nights
1 night
2 nights
2 nights
1 night
1 night
1 night
1 night
2 nights
From the Caribbean island of Ilha de Margarita
we take a journey through Venezuela visiting
the Orinoco Delta with boat rides and jungle
walks followed by an overflight of the world’s
highest cataract, Angel Falls.
2 nights
page 2
We then drive through the continent’s “top
end” - Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana,
known as the “Three Guineas” - South
America’s smallest nations - each completely
different from its neighbour, each with its own
culture, language and religious beliefs.
The final stage of our tour takes us through
the remote north-eastern coastal region of
Brazil, starting with a stay at Sao Luis, the
country’s “capital of culture”. We then fly to
Fortaleza to begin a four-day journey by 4wheel-drive vehicles along the fabled “Sun
Road”, the name given to the 600km stretch
of sandy coastal plain with a string of remote
fishing villages and a succession of great
terraces formed by the denudation of the
ancient sandstone plateau which once
covered this part of the continent.
Following a stay at the colonial city of Olinda
we fly from the neighbouring port of Recife to
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil’s African soul and
the final destination of our tour - containing
the continent’s greatest collection of Boroque
architecture - before commencing our
homeward journey.
South America’s Hidden Gems
Part II - the South
37 days departing 27 September 2013
South America’s Hidden Gems: Part II the South covers Southern Brazil, Uruguay,
Argentina and Southern Chile, with an optional
extension to Easter Island and Tahiti.
A detailed brochure is available on request.
Route Map
Legend
Flight routes
Road journeys
page 3
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
We visit the theatre and church, both built of
Oregon pine, and its hotel, which boasts a full
sized swimming pool, built of iron. We continue
to the 19th-century colonial town of Iquique,
with its neo-classical opera house, a moorishstyle plaza, an English college and stately
wooden Victorian mansions. We stay for two
nights at the sea-front Radisson Hotel. This
modern city, once known as the great Nitrate
Port, still preserves evidence of its colonial
past with its American Georgian style buildings
from the turn of the last century. Our sightseeing
tour includes the Cavancha Peninsula, Playa
Brava and Primeras Piedras. Balmaceda and
Baquedano Avenues, the Astoreca Palace,
the regional Museum, Plaza Prat, the Municipal
Theatre and the Spanish Cultural Centre, the
Naval Museum,the old Customs Building and
the monument to the Unknown Sailor.
Explora’s luxurious Hotel Larache in Chile’s Atacama Desert
Our journey begins with a LAN flight from
Sydney via Santiago to Calama, gateway to
Northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, reputedly
the driest place on earth. We stay for three
nights at the luxurious Explora Hotel Larache,
located at an altitude of 2,500 metres near the
town of San Pedro de Atacama. The hotel
provides a series of explorations which will
enable us to discover the ancient culture of
Atacama, its unique wildlife with several kinds
of llamas and flamingos, and to explore the
vast landscapes, the towering mountains and
volcanos of the Andes, the white salt flats and
the green oases. We visit the sanctuaries of
Moon and Death Valley colourful geological
formations located in the Sierra Obate depression.
From San Pedro our overland journey takes us
close to Chuquicamata, the world’s biggest
open pit copper mine, where some of its huge
waste products hills (known as cakes) can still
be seen. Then we drive to the city of Tocopilla
through the Atacama Desert, where we can
admire the different colours, inmensity and
shapes of the desert. We continue past the
Pintados Geoglyphs, consisting of more than
400 figures ranged along the hillsides in
thematic groups before crossing the beautiful
Tamarugos Forest to the ghost village of
Humberstone. Now declared a National
Monument, this is where the world’s largest
deposit of salt-petre was used to produce the
fertiliser sodium nitrate which was to transform
agriculture in Europe and the Americas, and
provide great wealth for Chile.
Flamingos in Atacama’s Death Valley
Humberstone Theatre
Iquique
page 4
Leaving Iquique we continue through the vast
Atacama Desert, the most arid desert in the
world, where we take the route followed by
ancient civilizations that inhabited this vast
area of northern Chile. We later cross the
desert and the Pampa de Tamarugal, an
artificial forest in the middle of the desert that
at first appears like a mirage. At the desert
town of Huara we take the detour to visit Cerro
Unita, the “Atacama Giant”. This 86-metrehigh geoglyph, created in 900 BC, illustrates
the figure of a man with feathered headress
said to represent an ancient Andean deity
which made a journey from Lake Titicaca to
the Pacific Ocean.
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
From Lauca National park we travel to the
attractive village of Putre, situated at a height
of 3,500 metres above sea level, with the
impressive backdrop of the Taapaca volcanic
complex. Putre is populated by the Aymara
ethnic people who have their own distinctive
language. We visit the 17th-century church
with its valuable colonial artefacts before
returning to Arica.
Lauca National Park and Parinacota volcano
We then visit Tiliviche Ravine with its panel of
geoglyphs illustrating a herd of llamas and the
Chiza escarpment to see the Chiza Geoglyphs.
These inscriptions support the theory that preHispanic peoples used the valleys as natural
access routes to the coast. We arrive at the
border city of Arica with its impressive 110metre-high headland known as El Morro, for
a stay of two nights at the elegant Casa Beltrán
Hotel.
From Arica we take an excursion to the Lauca
National Park, a wildlife sanctuary harbouring
numerous rare animals including vicuna,
vizcacha (an Andean relative of the chinchilla)
and more than 150 bird species. Our journey
towards the altiplano travels through the many
different ecological levels which exist between
the coast and the desert. We visit the
picturesque village of Poconchile, with its 17thcentury church and Parinacota with its Andean/
Colonial architecture, where we will have the
chance to meet some of its native people.
El Morro Headland, Arica
Parinacota
Cerro Unita - the “Atacama Giant”
We continue through Cardones Ravine with
its Candelabra Cactus plants to the 12thcentury Fortress of Pukara de Copaquilla and
Tambo de Zapahuira an archaeological site
built by the Incas.
Approaching Putre
page 5
Putre Village Church
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
Mount Misti volcano from Arequipa
From Arequipa we drive to the small town of
Nazca, famous for one of world’s greatest
enigmas - the mysterious Nazca lines. We
stay overnight at the centrally-located Casa
Andina Hotel.
The next morning we take a 45-minute flight
(subject to weather conditions) over the Nazca
Lines, which were scratched on the surface of
the ground between 500 BC and AD 500. More
than 300 figures made of straight lines,
geometric shapes and pictures of men, animals
and birds cover an area of about 450 sq km
and are only clearly visible from the air. Even
today no-one knows how they were made and
their purpose is still a mystery.
Arequipa Cathedral
From Arica we cross the border into Peru for
a drive via Tacna and Monquegua to the
beautiful city of Arequipa, situated at an altitude
of 2325m surrounded by snow-clad mountains.
Many of the city’s buildings date to colonial
times and are built from a very light-coloured
volcanic rock called sillar, which gives the city
its nickname ‘the white city’. We stay for two
nights at the Hotel Libertador, Arequipa’s
leading hotel located in the historical centre
surrounded by extensive gardens.
The figures include a 180-metre-long lizard, a
90-metre-long monkey, and a condor with a
130-metre wingspan. Parallel straight lines
several kilometres long resemble giant runways.
Our full day of sightseeing in Arequipa starts in
the historical centre of Arequipa, a Unesco
world heritage site. We see the Plaza de
Armas and Cathedral, before visiting the
Convent of Santa Catalina, founded in1580.
Contained within an area of 20,000 sq m, the
Convent is a city in miniature, a walled fortress
with streets, passageways, stairways and
plazas. We visit the Jesuit Church, with its
beautiful façade. We continue to the residential
districts of Yanahuara and Chilina, from where
we will have a magnificent view of the
surrounding countryside and Mount Misti
volcano which dominates the city.
One of the many giant figures of the Nazca
lines, which only make sense when viewed
from the air
page 6
Could the Nazcans Fly?
At ground level, Nazca is totally incomprehensible, it can only be fully appreciated
from the air, which raises the question
“Could the Nazcans fly?”
British balloonist Julian Nott, founder of the
modern ballooning movement and one of
its creative exponents, has investigated the
possibility that a hot-air balloon could have
been built by the Nazca people a thousand
years ago. Whilst he does not see any
evidence that the Nazca civilisation did fly,
it is beyond doubt that they could have.
And so could the ancient Egyptians, the
Romans, the Vikings . . . indeed any
civilisation. With just a loom and fire you
can fly!
As you can see from the above photograph
the idea has been successfully tested.
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
Following our flight we continue by road to the
capital, Lima, for a stay of two nights at the
prestigious Lima Country Club.
In the afternoon we visit the famous Gold
Museum to see the world’s greatest collection
of pre-hispanic Indian gold craftsmanship and
the Emerald International Museum.
The lobby of the Lima Country Club
Inside Zipaquira’s underground Salt Cathedral
The next day is spent getting acquainted with
Peru’s Capital City and its 2000 years of history
and colonial heritage and experiencing the
artistic traditions and contemporary lives of its
residents. We start at Lima’s historical centre,
the Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the
Government Palace, the City Hall, the
Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace.
We visit Casa Solariega De Aliaga, America’s
best preserved colonial mansion, which has
been occupied by the same family since 1535.
We continue to the San Francisco Monastery,
a masterpiece of colonial architecture housing
important colonial paintings, followed by a visit
to the Larco Herrera Museum, housed in an
18th-century colonial mansion that holds the
most extensive collection of pre-Columbian art
in Peru. In the afternoon we drive through the
exclusive residential districts of San Isidro and
Miraflores, with magnificent views over the
Pacific Ocean and its beaches.
Lima: Plaza Mayor
From Lima we fly to Bogota, capital of
Colombia, one of Latin America’s greatest
cities with a fine historic centre and a wealth of
museums and colonial buildings. We stay for
two nights at the JW Marriott Hotel, situated at
the heart of the entertainment district.
Next morning we take a cable car ride up
Monserrate Hill for a view of the city before
visiting two adjacent Museums - de Botero and
La Casa de la Moneda - old colonial houses
containing works by Botero, Picasso, Monet,
Degas, Brueghel, Toulouse-Lautrec, Delacroix,
Courbet and Tamayo. This is followed by a
walk through the narrow cobbled streets of La
Candelaria with its typical colonial architecture.
Next morning we drive through the beautiful
Bogota savannah to the historic town of
Zipaquira - its traditional colonial buildings
considered to be National Monuments. Here
we visit the gigantic underground Cathedral
built in a tunnel of salt mines 200 metres inside
a salt mountain. On our way we pass 14 small
chapels representing the stations of the cross
and a collection of beautiful salt and marble
sculptures which create an atmosphere of
religious tranquility.
Boyoca’s Bridge
La Candelaria
Bogota Gold Museum: The Golden Raft
page 7
From Zipaquira we continue to Boyoca’s
Bridge, where the battle which led to the
formation of the Republic of Colombia was
fought on August 7th 1819.
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
Villa de Leyva
From there we take a three-hour drive to San
Agustin, considered by archaeologists to be
one of the most significant ancient sites in Latin
America, for a stay of two nights at the Hotel
Internacional.
We arrive at the colonial-era town of Villa de
Leyva for an overnight stay at the luxurious
Hospederia Duruelo, a colonial-style spa
resort situated on a hill overlooking the town.
Today Villa de Leyva looks very much as it did
when it was founded in 1572 with its cobblestoned streets, red-tiled roofs, balconies and
courtyards.The fact that there are no new
buildings has helped Villa de Leyva to retain
its original character. Our sightseeing tour
includes the main square (at 14,000 sq m one
of the largest plazas in South America), the
two fine churches, Santo Ecce Homo Convent
and El Infiernito Astronomical Observatory.
San Agustin archaeological site
Next morning we visit the pretty town of
Raquira, Colombia’s craftwork capital, famous
for its potteries, before driving to Bogota Airport
for the flight to Neiva.
San Agustin is a collection of ceremonial and
burial sites scattered over an area of 650 sq
km. Little is known about the people that lived
here, where they came from, when they
San Agustin archaeological site
arrived, or the purpose of the extraordinary
stone figures they so expertly carved. During
our stay we visit the archaeological park of San
Agustin and take an excursion to El Alto de los
Isnos to see the 37 funerary monuments
dating from the 1st century BC to the 6th
century AD. We continue to Obando, with its
painted tombs and fine museum, Alto del
Mortino archaeological site and the waterfall
of Borbones, set in a spectacular landscape.
On the final day of our stay we drive back to Neiva
for the return flight to Bogota and a futher
overnight stay at the JW Marriott Hotel.
From Bogota we fly to Polomar airport on the
Caribbean island of Ilha de Margarita, located
just off mainland Venezuela. We stay for two
nights at the Hesperia Isla Margarita, situated
in a natural park with its own golf course. Next
day we take a full day jeep safari around the
island which is divided into two parts
connected by La Restinga National Park.
A jeep safari on Ilha de Margarita
page 8
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
From Ilha de Margarita, we fly to Georgetown,
capital of Guyana, situated on the mouth of
the Demerara River, its many white-painted
wooden 19th-century houses rising on stilts.
This former British colony is South America’s
only English-speaking nation, and the only
one which boasts a Test Cricket ground.
We stay for two nights at the Pegasus Hotel,
situated on the delta of the Demerara River
and the Atlantic Ocean within walking distance
of many of the major tourist sites. Our
sightseeing tour includes visits to the riverside
Stabroek market, always a scene of frenetic
activity, the the Gothic style City Hall,and the
imposing St George’s Anglican Cathedral
dating from 1889 and designed by Sir Arthur
Blomfield. Reaching a height of 44 metres it is
reputed to be the tallest wooden building in the
world.
River Orinoco
From Porlamar we take a flight by light aircraft
to Tecupita, situated on the Orinoco River.
From here we take a 90-minute boat ride to the
Orinoco Delta Lodge, where we stay overnight.
Angel Falls
Approaching Orinoco Delta Lodge
Cradled between the mighty Orinoco River and
the Atlantic Ocean, the Delta is a constantly
evolving ecosystem with countless species of
flora and fauna. This afternoon we take an
excursion by motor boat to explore the remote
areas, visit the native Warao Indians and learn
how they exist in this isolated land of swamps
and jungles. We take a jungle walk to discover
the beauty of this area rich in flora and fauna.
The many birds including macaws, parrots,
toucans, kingfishers, herons, hawks, egrets
and storks. The fauna includes howler
monkeys, otters, dolphins, pumas and jaguars.
Next morning we fly to spectacular Canaima
Lagoon, where waterfalls cascade into a lake
fringed with pink sandy beaches. En route our
aircraft will enter Devil’s Canyon and (weather
permitting) fly past Angel Falls for a view of
the world’s highest cataract, plunging 979
metres into the jungle below. The waterfall was
named after bush pilot Jimmy Angel, who
crash-landed his ‘plane on the top on 9th
October 1937. On arriving at Canaima we
head for Canaima Lagoon and make an
excursion to visit one of the three falls, Sapo,
Yuri or Mayupa, depending on water levels.
We then fly back to Porlamar for a further
overnight stay at the Hesperia Isla Margarita.
Approaching Canaima Lagoon
page 9
Georgetown: St George’s Anglican Cathedral
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
From Georgetown we begin an overland
journey through the “Three Guineas” driving
via Fort Wellington to Corriverton on the
Corentyne River, which forms the boundary
between Guyana and Suriname. We cross
the river by ferry and drive to the capital,
Paramaribo for a stay of two nights at the
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.
point for French prisoners. Settled in 1604,
French Guiana was used as a penal colony
between 1852 and 1939, including the infamous
Devil's Island. In 1947 it became an overseas
department of France and today its citizens
are members of the European Union and use
the Euro as their currency.
Sao Luis street scene
St Laurent Transportation Camp
Suriname: A house in Paramaribo
Discovered by Columbus in 1498, the country
became a Dutch colony in 1667, when it was
known as Dutch Guinea. It gained independence,
with Dutch consent, on November 25, 1975,
and became known as Suriname.
Paramaribo is a city of attractive clapboard
architecture shaded by avenues of Mahogany
trees and houses which are reminiscent of
California’s San Francisco. Our sightseeing
tour includes visits to the local market, the
mosque and synagogue (next door to each
other) and the palm garden of the Governor of
Suriname’s Presidential Palace.
We continue our road journey to the border
town of Albina on the Maroni river, for a ferry
crossing to St Laurent, the second largest city
in French Guiana and formerly the arrival
At St Laurent we visit the restored remains of
the Transportation camp before continuing to
the town of Kourou, site of the main space
station of the European Space Agency (ESA).
Here we stay for two nights at the Hotel Mercure
Ariatel, situated in private grounds on the edge
of Bois Diable lake, from where we take a fullday excursion by catamaran (weather
permitting) to Devil’s Island to see the small
church, the remains of a hospital and the small
cemetery.
Cayenne street scene
The final stage of our “Three Guineas” journey
takes us to Cayenne, the capital of French
Guiana, a hotch-potch of building styles, but
with a distinctive French air, for sightseeing
and an overnight stay at the Novotel Cayenne,
surrounded by tropical gardens near Montabo
Beach, a nesting ground for sea turtles.
From Cayenne we fly to Sao Luis, a UNESCO
world heritage site situated on the remote
north-eastern coastline of Brazil, and known
as the country’s “Capital of Culture”. Its cobbled
streets are lined by attractive pastel-coloured
colonial buildings considered to be the largest
collection of Portuguese architecture in the
Americas. We stay for two nights at Pestana
Sao Luis Hotel, one of Brazil’s most exclusive
hotels, located in the coastal area of São Luís
do Maranhão.
Devil’s Island: prison block
page 10
Our sightseeing includes a stroll through the
historic centre, with its many colonial mansions
with tiled façades which have recently been
restored to their former grandeur. We visit the
Catedral da Sé, constructed by the Jesuits in
1629, the neo-classical Teatro Artur Azveda,
one of Brazil’s oldest and most beautiful
theatres, and the Centro de Cultura Popular,
housed in an impressive 19th century mansion.
From Sao Luis we fly to the fishing port of
Fortaleza for a stay of two nights at the beachfront Vila Galé Hotel, with visits to the Centro
de Turismo folk museum and the Cultural
Centre.
Fortaleza
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
The “Sun Road” at Canoa Quebrada
Our four-day overland journey by 4-wheeldrive vehilces passes terraces seamed by
watercourses, their valleys broken by hills and
ranges of highlands, capped with horizontal
strata of sandstone, with a uniform altitude of
between 600 and 730 metres. The flat top of
such a range is called a chapada or taboleira,
and its width in places is from 50 to 90 km. The
coastline is dotted with isolated fishing villages,
where the locals continue to fish on jangadas
(distinctive single-sailed boats) sleep in
hammocks and live in thatch-roofed homes.
The first stage of our journey follows the
eastern sea front of Ceará state, passing the
beaches of Porto das Dunas, Morro Branco
and Das Fontes (well known for its water
springs). We drive past many other deserted
beaches to the historic city of Aracati, with its
old houses and church dating back to the
colonial period. We continue to Canoa
Quebrada, a tiny village cut off from civilisation
by its huge pink sand dunes. Here stay
overnight at the Pousada Aruana, a typical
Portuguese Inn situated on the beach.
Next day we visit the beautiful beaches of
Ponta Grossa, Redonda and Icapu, with their
impressive falesias rock formations, passing
the Grossos and Areia Branca salt mines. After
crossing the Mossoro River by ferry we arrive
at the rustic village Ponta do Mel for overnight
stay at the splendid Costa Branca Eco Resort.
At Redinha we take a ferry across the Pirangi
river arriving at Natal, capital of Rio Grande
do Norte state, for overnight stay at Manary
Praia Hotel, situated right on the beach.
Costa Branca Eco Resort, Ponta do Mel
Natal sea front
On the following morning we drive to Marco’s
beach to see a replica of the original
foundation landmark left by the Portuguese
settlers in 1501. We continue to Sao Miguel
do Gostoso for overnight stay at dos Ponteiros
Inn, a charming Pousada right on the beach
Next morning we take a buggy ride to the
typical fishing village of Jacuma, with its long,
narrow beach, coloured sandbars, natural
pools and mineral springs. In the afternoon we
take the final stage of the Sun Road - arriving
at Olinda, one of Brazil’s best-preserved
colonial cities with its bohemian quarters, art
galleries, museums and street musicians. We
stay for two nights at 7 Colinas Hotel, located
in a large forested area of more than 15.000
square metres right in the heart of Olinda’s
historical centre.
Our journey continues to Farol de Calcanhar,
where we see the biggest lighthouse in South
America, and on to San Roque Cape, the
easternmost point in South America.
Our sightseeing tour includes a stroll through
the historical centre, visiting the 16th century
Church of Our Lady of Carmel, the Convent of
San Francisco and the Mercado da Ribeira, an
18th-century buidling which is now home to art
galleries and souvenir shops.
Farol de Calcanhar
“Jangadas” fishing boats
“Falesias” rock formations at Canoa Quebrada
page 11
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
From Salvador we take en excursion to the
ecological tourist village of Praia do Forte with
its tree-lined pedestrian walkway, cafés and
boutiques. Adjacent to the attractive tiny church
is the Tamar Project Station, a national project
designed to protect endangered sea turtles,
with several pools containing marine turtles of
various sizes and species.
Salvador de Bahia
Brazil: A street in Olinda’s historical centre
In the afternoon we drive to the neighbouring
port of Recife, known as Veneza Brasileira
(Brazilian Venice) because of its numerous
canals, rivers and islands. We visit the riverfront area of Boa Vista on the Rio Capibaribe
and cross to the old quarter on Ilha do Recife.
The next morning we drive to Recife Airport for
the flight to Salvador de Bahia for a stay of two
nights at Convento do Carmo Hotel, located in
the historic heart of the city, The Convent, built
in 1586 by the First Order of Carmelite Friars,
has throughout the centuries been the stage of
many significant events of the Brazilian history,
and now, after careful restoration, claims to be
Brazil’s first luxury historic hotel. Often referred
to simply as Bahia, the city is one of Brazil’s
cultural highlights, and regarded as Brazil’s
African soul, with a vibrant culture where black
people have preserved their African way of life
which is reflected in their religion, food, music
and capoeira (martial-art). Our city sightseeing
tour visits some of the more than one thousand
houses, churches and monuments built since
the 16th century, including the Barra
Lighthouse, Teatro Castro Alves, the Forte de
São Pedro and the Historical Centre of
Pelourinho with its churches, cafes,
restaurants, shops and pastel-hued buildings.
From Salvador we fly to Sao Paulo where we
connect with LAN Airlines flight via Santiago to
Sydney
Note: an optional stopover in Santiago on
the homeward journey can be arranged on
request
Climatic Conditions
Average temperatures at the time of our visit
Iquique
Arequipa
Lima
Bogota
Neiva
Ilha de Margarita
Orinoco Delta
Georgetown
Cayenne
Sao Luis
Fortaleza
Salvador
Maximum
22
22
22
16
32
34
37
39
29
30
29
28
Minimum
15
7
16
9
22
24
22
24
23
23
23
23
Tariffs per person [share twin] from
from Sydney
$38,950
Praia do Forte: Tamar project to save Sea
Turtles
Olinda: The Church of Our Lady of Carmel
Recife
page 12
Supplements:
Single room
$ 6,100
Business class travel
on LAN flights
$ 6,450
Itinerary
Day 1 Sunday: By air to Santiago
Morning LAN Airlines flight from Sydney to
Santiago, crossing the International Date Line
and gaining a day. Overnight in flight
Day 2 Sunday: By air and road to Atacama
Connecting LAN flight to Calama. Stay three
nights at Explora Hotel Larache at San Pedro
de Atacama
Days 3 Monday and Day 4 Tuesday: In the
Atacama Desert
Two full days of sightseeing activities
Day 5 Wednesday: By road to Iquique
Full day drive to Iquique via Humberstone.
Stay two nights at Radisson Hotel
Day 6 Thursday: In Iquique
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 7 Friday: By road to Arica
Morning drive to Arica visiting en route the
Atacama Giant. Stay two nights at Casa
Beltrán Hotel
Day 8 Saturday: In Arica
Full day excursion to Lauca National Park
Day 9 Sunday: By road to Arequipa
Drive across the Peruvian border to Arequipa.
Stay two nights at Hotel Libertador
Day 10 Monday: In Arequipa
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 11 Tuesday: By road to Nazca
Full day drive to Nazca. Overnight at Casa
Andina Hotel
Day 12 Wednesday: By road to Lima
Morning flight over the Nazca lines then drive
to Lima. Stay two nights at Lima Country Club
Day 13 Thursday: In Lima
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 14 Friday: By air to Bogota
Morning flight to Bogota. Stay two nights at
JW Marriott Hotel
Day 15 Saturday: In Bogota
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 16 Sunday: By road to Villa de Leyva
Morning drive via Zipaquira’s Salt Cathedral to
Villa de Leyva. Afternoon sightseeing.
Overnight at Hospederia Duruelo
Day 17 Monday: By road and air to San
Agustin
Morning drive via Raquira to Bogota.
Afternoon flight to Neiva for the drive to San
Agustin. Stay two nights at Hotel Internacional
Day 18 Tuesday: At San Agustin
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 19 Wednesday: By road and air to Bogota
Morning drive to Neiva. Afternoon flight to
Bogota. Overnight at JW Marriott Hotel
Day 23 Sunday: By air to Ilha de Margarita
Morning charter flight via Angel Falls to
Canaima Lagoon. Afternoon charter flight to
Porlamar. Overnight at Hesperia Isla Margarita
Day 35 Friday: By road to Canoa Quebrada
Morning drive by 4WDs to Morro Branco.
Afternoon drive to Canoa Quebrada. Overnight
at Pousada Aruana
Day 24 Monday: By air to Georgetown
Morning at leisure. Afternoon flight to
Georgetown. Stay two nights at Pegasus Hotel
Day 36 Saturday: By road to Ponta do Mel
Morning drive to Ponta Grossa. Afternoon
drive to Ponta do Mel. Overnight at Costa
Branca Eco Resort
Day 25 Tuesday: In Georgetown
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 26 Wednesday: By road to Paramaribo
Morning drive to Corriverton. Afternoon drive
to Paramaribo. Stay two nights at the
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel
Day 27 Thursday: In Paramaribo
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 28 Friday: By road to Kourou
Morning drive to Albina. Afternoon drive to
Kourou. Stay two nights at Hotel Mercure
Ariatel
Day 29 Saturday: In Kourou
Full day catamaran excursion to Devil’s Island
Day 20 Thursday: By air to Ilha de Margarita
Afternoon flight to Porlamar. Stay two nights at
Hesperia Isla Margarita
Day 30 Sunday: By road to Cayenne
Morning drive to Cayenne. Afternoon
sightseeing. Overnight at Novotel Cayenne
Day 21 Friday: On Ilha de Margarita
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 31 Monday: By air to Sao Luis
Midday flight to Sao Luis. Stay two nights at
Pestana Sao Luis Hotel
Day 22 Saturday: By air and boat to the
Orinoco Delta
Morning charter flight to Maturin for a boat ride
on the River Orinoco to Orinoco Delta Lodge.
Afternoon jungle walk. Overnight at Orinoco
Delta Lodge
Day 32 Tuesday: In Sao Luis
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 33 Wednesday: By air to Fortaleza
Morning at leisure. Afternoon flight to Fortaleza.
Stay two nights at Vila Gale Fortaleza Hotel
Day 34 Thursday: In Fortaleza
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
page 13
Day 37 Sunday: By road to Sao Miguel do
Gostoso
Full day drive to Sao Miguel do Gostoso.
Overnight at Ponteiros Inn
Day 38 Monday: By road to Natal
Full day drive to Natal. Overnight at Manary
Praia Hotel
Day 39 Tuesday: By road to Olinda
Morning drive to Jacuma. Afternoon drive to
Olinda. Stay two nights at 7 Colinas Hotel
Day 40 Wednesday: In Olinda
Full day sightseeing in Olinda and Recife
Day 41 Thursday: By air to Salvador Bahia
Morning flight to Salvador. Afternoon
sightseeing. Stay two nights at Convento do
Carmo Hotel
Day 42 Friday: In Salvador Bahia
Morning further sightseeing in Salvador.
Afternoon excursion to Praia do Forte
Day 43 Saturday: By air to Sydney
Midday flight to Sao Paulo. Connecting LAN
flight via Santiago to Sydney, crossing the
International Date Line and losing a day.
Overnight in flight
Day 44 Monday (3 June): Arrive Sydney
Morning arrival at Sydney International Airport
Hotels
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
AREQUIPA
VILLA DE LEYVA
GEORGETOWN
SAO LUIS
SAO MIGUEL DO
GOSTOSO
Hotel Libertador
Pegasus Hotel
NAZCA
Pestana Sao Luis
Hospederia Duruelo
PARAMARIBO
SAN AGUSTIN
FORTALEZA
Ponteiros Inn
NATAL
Explora Hotel Larache
IQUIQUE
Casa Andina Hotel
LIMA
Courtyard by Marriott
Hotel Internacional
KOUROU
ILHA DE MARGARITA
Vila Gale Hotel
CANOA QUEBRADA
OLINDA
Radisson Hotel
ARICA
Manary Praia Hotel
Lima Country Club
Mercure Ariatel
Pousada Aruana
BOGOTA
Hesperia Isla Margarita
CAYENNE
PONTA DO MEL
7 Colinas Hotel
SALVADOR BAHIA
ORINOCO DELTA
Casa Beltrán Hotel
Costa Branca Eco Resort
JW Marriott Hotel
Novotel Cayenne
Convento do Carmo Hotel
Orinoco Delta Lodge
page 14
General Information and Booking Conditions
To make a booking
Complete the Booking Form on page 16 and return it
to Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd together with a deposit
of $2,000 per person.
the deposit you have paid. Late payment may cause
the late delivery of travel documents and we accept
no responsibility for such delivery or any
consequence thereof.
Items included in the tour cost
1. Scheduled air travel as indicated
2. Transfers, assistance and porterage between
airports and hotels
3. Accommodation in specified hotels in double,
twin-bedded and single rooms
4. All meals throughout the tour including breakfast,
lunch and dinner daily
5. Gratuities to guides, drivers, hotel staff and tour
escort
6. All service charges and local taxes
7. All ground transportation and sightseeing
excursions as indicated
8. All entrance fees, admission charges,
entertainments and cultural events
9. Services of Far Horizons Tours tour escort
throughout
10. Services of experienced local guide/lecturers
through all regions
11. Free baggage allowance of 20 kgs (30kgs on
Business Class flights)
13. Airport taxes
Late Bookings
Bookings made within sixty days of departure will only
be accepted if full payment is received when booking.
Late booking fees may be charged in addition to any
charges levied by operating suppliers.
Items not included in the tour cost
1. Laundry, drinks, room service and other items
of a personal nature
2.
Visa fees (will be added to tour invoice)
Balance of Payment
Fifty percent of the tour cost must be received by Far
Horizons Tours Pty Ltd no later than ninety days
before departure, and the balance of payment must
be received by Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd no later
than forty-five days prior to departure. About four
weeks before departure we will send you historical
notes and travellers requirements which contain
information about climate, clothing, health
requirements, visa procedures and other matters.
Approximately two weeks prior to departure we will
send your joining instructions, detailed day by day
itinerary, luggage labels and all other documentation
pertinent to your journey. Please note we are not
bound to issue any tickets or other travel documents
until full payment is made. Failure to make payment
when due may at our option be deemed a
cancellation by you and we reserve the right to retain
Cancellations
All cancellations must be made to Far Horizons Tours
Pty Ltd in writing signed by the person who made the
original booking. In the event of cancellation the
following charges will be levied, depending upon the
number of days prior to departure date when Far
Horizons Tours Pty Ltd receives written notice of
cancellation:
Up to 120 days
$500*
119 - 90 days
loss of deposit*#
89 - 45 days
50% of tour price
Less than 45 days
100% of tour price
* plus any non-recoverable deposits paid on your
behalf.
# deposit may be transferrable to a future Far
Horizons Tours tour on request.
If you fail to avail yourself of the services comprised
in the holiday, no refund will be available for services
not provided.
Changes to the advertised itinerary or designated
airline
Passengers wishing to make changes to the
advertised itinerary may do so at an administrative
charge of $200 per booking, plus the cost of any
additional flights, accommodation and/or services.
The air fare on which this tour is based requires all
passengers to travel out together, so any
amendments to the itinerary should take place after
the completion of the tour rather than before,
otherwise additional charges may be incurred.
Passengers wishing to travel on a 'land only' basis, or
to travel by airlines other than those designated, will
be required to pay a supplementary charge of $500
per person.
Changes in prices and itineraries
Prices are based on tariffs, air fares and exchange
rates current at 07 May 2012. To reflect fluctuations
in exchange rates or increases to the cost elements
of the tour we reserve the right to adjust prices as
may be necessary at any time.
The tours are based on an economic minimum
number of passengers. Should this minimum not be
reached, we reserve the right to cancel the tour
before non-refundable supplier deposits fall due or at
Far Horizons Tours discretion. The right is reserved
to refuse to accept any person, or to terminate any
person's participation in the tour at our own
discretion at any time during the course of the tour.
We furthermore reserve the right to withdraw a tour or
any part of it, or to make such alterations to the
itinerary as we deem necessary or desirable in the
event of delays or events beyond our control. In the
event of any changes made we will give you or be
caused to give you notice thereof including any
consequent change in price. In the event any one
change or series of changes to your itinerary
demonstrates that your tour has thereby become
materially different from that contemplated, you have
the right to ask to rearrange or withdraw from the tour
and monies already paid will be refunded less any
charges levied by operating suppliers.
Insurance
We strongly advise passengers to take out travel
insurance at the time of booking, covering medical,
cancellation and emergency costs, cash in hospital,
loss of baggage and documents, hijack
compensation, death, disability and loss of income.
Far Horizons Tours will be happy to assist with this.
Accommodation
The basis of accommodation provided is in a doublebedded, twin-bedded or single room with private bath
or shower and w.c. in luxury, first class or the 'best
available' hotels.
Single rooms and share-twin accommodation
At all hotels rooms are available for single occupancy
at the appropriate supplement. These rooms are
usually normal twin-bedded rooms, but occasionally
they may be smaller. We will endeavour to match
single persons wishing to book on a "share-twin"
basis. However, such bookings are accepted on the
understanding that the single supplement will be
payable in the event of our being unable to find a
suitable partner. Passengers wishing to book on this
page 15
basis will be asked to complete a form to assist us in
providing a compatible partner.
Immigration and Health
Each passenger must be in possession of a valid
passport valid for at least six months after the
completion of the tour. A visa is required for entry into
Brazil. This will be obtained by Far Horizons Tours
Pty Ltd. there are no mandatory health requirements
for this tour. Participation on this tour may involve
walking over rough/uneven surfaces, embarking/
disembarking from small boats or traditional forms of
transport, and extremes of climatic conditions.
Payment of your deposit confirms your understanding
and acceptance of this and your ability to participate
in all aspects of the tour.
Acts of God
We are unable to accept liability in contract or in tort
for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional
expenses or inconvenience caused directly or
indirectly by force majeure or other events over which
we have no control including without limitation or
rights, civil strife, terrorist activity, weather conditions,
fire, flood, drought, industrial disputes, unusually
severe weather, acts of God, acts of government,
cancellation.
Independent Suppliers
Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd purchases transportation,
accommodation and other services from independent
suppliers not affiliated with Far Horizons Tours in any
way. Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd act solely as agents
for the persons supplying these services. Although
we try to choose the best suppliers available we have
no right to control their operations and accordingly
cannot be responsible in any way for day to day
problems resulting from the booking, or any loss,
damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to persons or
property or any loss howsoever arising, unless it is a
direct result of negligence on our part or on the part
of our employees, but any liability on our part shall be
limited (except for death or personal injury) to a
maximum of the tour cost subject to these conditions.
Jurisdiction
The passenger's contract is governed by the law of
the State of New South Wales and any legal action
arising pursuant to the contract shall be litigated in
the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that State.
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North: 43 days departing 21 April 2013
Room type (please tick)
Full names of all passengers - as stated in passport
Twin
Booking Form
1.
Please complete this form and mail to
2 beds
Double
Single
large bed
2.
Far Horizons Tours Pty Ltd
PO Box 555,
3.
Class of Travel on LAN flights
Cammeray
4.
New South Wales 2062
Telephone
(02) 9955 0444
Reservations
1800 083 141
E-mail
[email protected]
Web
www.farhorizons.com.au
Further Information
Address for correspondence
Travel agents licence no. 2TA 09085
Frequent Flyer #
Remittance
Aircraft Seating Preference
I enclose herewith a remittance of $2,000
per person for each of the passengers named. I confirm that
Special Diet
Postcode
the relevant Conditions of Booking contained in the General
Information section on page 15 have been read and
accepted by me and all members of my party.
Telephone (home)
Signed
Telephone (work)
Date
Fax number
Other
Email
Passport Details - in block capitals please
Title
Surname
Initials
Nationality
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Passport Number
Place of Issue
(City/Country)
page 16
Date of Issue
Expiry Date