Travel – Luxury Travel to Peru, Galapagos & Bolivia

What You Need to Know for Your Trip to “Salta the Beautiful!”

Molly Krifka — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 09:33:42 +0000

What do tango clubs, the perfect steak, fantastic wine, icy wilderness, larger-than-life waterfalls, and romantic getaways have in common? They easily coexist on the classic Argentina bucket list, with destinations like Buenos Aires, Patagonia, and Iguazu often stealing the show. But dig a little bit deeper, and you will find some absolutely stunning outside-the-box destinations in the heart of Argentina’s rough & tumble and exciting history. One such spot is Salta “La Linda,” meaning Salta “The Beautiful!”

Just now making a name for itself on the tourist circuit, Salta, Argentina (including both the entire province and the capital city with the same name) offers an impressive list of things to see and do. Some of these include wineries, salt flats, an exhilarating cable car ride, and a few of the most intriguing museums in Argentina, such as the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology, or MAAM for short. But even more exciting is the rich cultural history and home cooking embedded within Salta’s borders. The following are some interesting tidbits to store away before embarking on your journey to Argentina, including the northwest region of Salta!

Let’s talk about the history!

The Incas made modern-day Salta the southernmost epicenter of their empire before the Spanish conquest in the early 1500s. Salta formed what was then the Collasuyo province of the Inca Empire, aka Tahuatinsuyo. However, after the Spanish conquest officially cut Tahuatinsuyo’s legacy short, Hernando de Lerma founded Salta city as “The City of Lerma in the Salta” in 1582.

Lerma’s intention was to form a trading axis with Chile, Perú, and eventually the booming industrial city of Potosí. However, throughout the following two centuries, strong resistance from local indigenous communities, especially the Calchaquí, consistently frustrated Spanish aspirations for Salta to become their new trade giant.

You can feel this resistance pulsing through Salta even today, as evidenced by the sheer diversity of local cultural identities, languages, and traditions in the region.

Let’s talk about the folklore!

Folk music and dance culminate in the “peña” in Salta, which represents the lifeblood of Salteño (people from Salta) identity. These peña celebrations are local concerts and dances that take place year-round and can be traced back to the 1500s during the Spanish conquest. Like other South American cultures, music from this region of Argentina can be described as criolla, which takes elements from traditional indigenous melodies and Spanish traditions like the Fandango.

These gatherings keep local dances like the chacarera (a couples’ dance), zamba, and malambo alive for future generations to come. And unlike the ubiquitous Argentine tango that has become mostly fuel for tourism in the country, these local dances sustain community in Argentina, connecting one generation to the next.

Let’s talk about the food!

Like Salta’s deep folkloric roots, the regional food culture (and a very proud one at that) reflects both authentic Andean roots and Spanish tradition. You can spy the Spanish influence in the custom of taking an afternoon merienda (snack), followed by a late dinner. And of course, Salta has its own version of the famous empanada (found throughout all of South America in varying manifestations), which is on the smaller side and baked versus fried.

Similarly, Salteños love humitas and tamales, two other dishes you would find in most corners of Latin America. However, Salteños have cultivated their a very unique spin, making the humita and tamal their own. Here, the carefully corn-husk wrapped tamales are filled to the brim with spiced meat, only containing a very thin outer-layer of cornmeal goodness. Whereas the humita (one of Salta’s signatures) combines sweet corn, cheese, and a bit of picante (spice).

In Salta, like in most corners of Argentina, the parrilla (grill) reigns, churning out the smokiest chorizos, morcillas, flank steaks, and belly cuts, which you can then top off with a local wine from the Cafayate region in Salta!

If you’re looking to capture an authentic slice of Argentine life and culture in your travels, contact us for more information on how to incorporate Salta into your bespoke Argentine adventure!

Flying in the New Normal of Travel

Theresa Galles — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 09:45:48 +0000

The new normal of travel will bring with it a lot of changes and uncertainty. One of the most significant changes will be in how we fly. Each airline will have a particular set of rules, being sure to comply with each country’s government standards, and following the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) and World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations. Domestic flights will have different rules than international flights as well. Here in Peru, LATAM is the airline you will most likely use for any domestic flights, such as Lima to Cusco. So when you get to Peru, here is a good idea of what you can expect –

Before Your Flight

First of all, LATAM gets ready for each flight by thoroughly disinfecting all of the surfaces passengers and crew may come into contact with using a solution with at least 70% alcohol. This way, the chance of any contagion spreading through these surfaces is significantly reduced.

Check-in and Security Controls

Check-in will be completely automated, avoiding in-person contact as much as possible. Your temperature will also be taken at each of the control areas – those with a fever will be accompanied to medical personnel for further examination.

Boarding and Disembarking

The process for boarding and disembarking has been changed in order to avoid crowding. This will likely take quite a bit longer than it used to, this is true. However, the benefit is that you no longer have to worry about the guy behind you getting uncomfortably close. Also, the chance of spreading disease is much lower.

Face Masks are Mandatory

When worn correctly, face masks have been proven to reduce the droplets that are spread by breathing, coughing, or sneezing by 90%. For this reason, face masks MUST be worn, and worn correctly, during your flight. This means that your mask must cover your mouth and nose completely – a mask worn around your neck, on your forehead, around your elbow, or just covering your mouth doesn’t count. Passengers not wearing a face mask correctly will not be allowed to board the plane.

The Air you Breathe During your Flight

LATAM has implemented HEPA filters onboard all of their aircrafts’ cabin ventilation systems. These filters remove 99.9% of bacteria and viruses and renew the air in the cabin every 3 minutes. Therefore you can be sure you are breathing in fresh, clean air during your flight.

Distancing During your Flight

The flight crew will make sure that distancing measures will be taken during your flight, organizing passengers to prevent crowding. This may include seating your family together, and making sure you don’t have to sit by that guy you don’t know who talks too much, allowing you to read your book in peace.

Food and Drink Service

LATAM has changed their refreshment services to minimize the handling of food and drink items on their international flights. For domestic flights in Peru, this service has been suspended for now at the Peruvian government’s request.

These are some of the changes that you can expect when flying on LATAM, and most other airlines will have very similar regulations. While some may seem extreme, just remember that these regulations are in place to keep everyone on board as safe and healthy as possible. So wash your hands, wear your mask, keep your distance, and respect the airline crew, and you will get to your destination safe and sound before you know it!

Coronavirus Travel FAQS

Theresa Galles — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:11:13 +0000

With the latest news emerging about the novel coronavirus, you may have some questions about any trips that you have planned coming up soon. For trips in March, April, and May, we are recommending postponement, as information and government restrictions are changing quickly. We don’t want anyone to be stuck anywhere they don’t want to be. We are hopeful that by June this will have blown over, and are not recommending postponement for those traveling in June yet, however we are monitoring the situation, and will let you know if this changes.

We will try to answer the questions we have been receiving most here, however please feel free to contact us or talk to your Travel Designer if you have other questions:

What happens if I need to cancel or change my tour?

Please get in touch with us as soon as possible. If your tour is still scheduled to depart as normal, and you choose to cancel your tour for any reason, then you will liable for any cancellation fees that were agreed upon at the time of booking.

What happens if my tour goes to an affected area?

As the tour operator we will try our very best to re-route the itinerary to make sure that travelers stay safe and that the tour still runs smoothly. If we are unable to re-route the itinerary, we will find an alternate solution, as safety is our highest priority. You will always be kept informed of any changes as and when they are made.

Should I refrain from booking flights right now?

Many airlines are offering flexible booking options that allow you to change your reservation. Check with individual airlines for details.

Should I change my travel plans if I’ve booked a tour?

This is a personal decision, depending on your comfort with traveling under the current circumstances. We are monitoring the situation closely, and will keep you informed of any changes related to South American travel that we become aware of.

Are flights being cancelled or restricted in any way?

Not at this time. Latam, Latin America’s biggest airline, have announced a 30% cut on flights for April and May (beginning April 1^st).

Are there any quarantine measures being taken?

For locals, residents and citizens arriving on international flights from Italy, Spain, France and China, there will be a 14 day quarantine upon arrival to Peru and Colombia. For Argentina, the same applies for Argentine residents and citizens those arriving from these countries, plus Germany, Japan, South Korea and the US. Travelers arriving from these countries will be assessed upon arrival, and monitored during the duration of their stay.

What is the access to medical care should we become ill during our travels?

We have good access to medical care and contacts with first-class medical facilities. With 24 hour persons at hand, you will be prioritized should you have need of medical attention during your stay in South America. We do recommend to have purchased travel insurance before your travels, which will help to take care of any medical expenses where necessary.

In the case of possible COVID-19, we will bring you to a center of the ministry of health for a free test, and if it comes out positive, you will need to be quarantined.

If we are unable to travel home due to government action or cancelled flights - how will we be accommodated?

If a hotel is required then we can assist as necessary. Payment would be directly or via us, and we can help with a letter to claim on your travel insurance in the days following your travels. In the case of governmental actions changing your plans, we can always assist with your in-country (in South America) needs depending on the situation.

Are trips being impacted, limited or cancelled?

At the moment, travel is not being impacted directly. There are passengers that wish to cancel, and this remains the choice of the traveler.

Are sites and attractions being shut down?

No visits are being impacted at the moment. Some sporting events are being cancelled or with no entry to the public.

If we need to postpone the trip, what expenses can be refunded to us?

As per your signed terms and conditions form, we will do our best to accommodate your requests in a timely manner. In order to process a postponement, we will need your new dates, as many providers will need these to change your dates. The cost of postponing your trip will depend on exactly when you decide to change your dates to – the policies of other providers. Hotels, flights, cruises, trains and others are among those applicable, and each will be dealt with on an individual basis. Postponement may incur some additional costs, depending on when you plan to travel in the future.

If we need to cancel the trip, what expenses can be refunded to us?

The earlier that your need to cancel is communicated to us, the better the chances of receiving refunds from each part of your trip are. Kuoda will adhere to the policies of each operator – flights, hotels, cruises etc – and will do our best to recover as much as possible for you. As noted in our terms and conditions, trips that are due to commence within 31 days we might not be able to help so much, but some operators are aiding in their own ways with the current situation. We are committed to helping your best interests in any changes necessary to your trip