MACHU PICCHU: THE EMERGENCY IS OVER…

As rebuilding efforts are currently in place, an estimated date has been announced for a return to normal tourist operations. Perurail has temporarily suspended rail services to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Caliente) – the town below the citadel. Although many local residents and business owners have been severely affected, with the aid of the Peruvian government and the private sector, work is in progress to rebuild damaged areas. It is estimated that normal tourist operations to Machu Picchu should resume by the beginning of April.

Plans to travel to the affected areas in April should not be disrupted.

The areas of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley have not been affected. There is far more to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley than Machu Picchu. Any plans to visit the area that do not include a visit to Machu Picchu should not be disrupted at all.

The following is an official statement regarding travel to Machu Picchu, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley:

February 3, 2010
Peru’s government announced a 60-day state of emergency in the Cusco department last week as heavy rainfall and mudslides battered the country’s southern Andean region. The storms flooded the Vilcanota River, which blocked the railway between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Peru’s sacred Inca citadel and top tourist attraction. The town of Aguas Caliente has been temporarily isolated. Some bridges have fallen and most crops have been lost. Furthermore, many rural houses built on the river banks or near the river have been inundated and some are a total loss.

British-owned Perurail has temporarily suspended services to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Caliente) – the town below the citadel - stranding some 2,000 tourists. Peru’s government sent police and military helicopters to evacuate the tourists and local residents.

The main tourist attractions of the Sacred Valley, such as Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Maras and Moray; areas south of Cuzco: Tipon, Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas and the citadel of Machu Picchu did not suffer damages. Nevertheless, it will not be possible to access Machu Picchu by train for up to seven weeks. We are confident that by early April all the tourist activity will be reestablished to Machu Picchu.

Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Martín Pérez, said Tuesday that Peru’s top tourist attraction, Machu Picchu, was not damaged following torrential rains, mudslides and floods that washed out roads and railroad tracks leading to the 15th-century sacred Inca citadel. Pérez expects repairs of the railway to be finished in eight weeks (from February 3rd).

“The citadel (of Machu Picchu), which I visited on Saturday (January 30th) after the tourists had been evacuated, was in perfect condition.” said Pérez. “The Inca knew not only how to build the drainage system, the hydraulic system is absolutely amazing. We went on Saturday and it was completely dry. We expect it will take eight weeks to repair the railroad tracks and (Machu Picchu) will be able to receive tourists again,” Pérez told Radio Programas Peru.

M/S ALTA GALAPAGOS 2010 SPECIAL

For all new bookings made on Alta's naturalist cruises by March 1, 2010

All new passengers booked and confirmed on Alta's Naturalist cruises by the dates above will receive their domestic air tickets to the Galapagos Islands, Transit Control Cards and Galapagos Park Entrance Fees at no additional cost. A savings of over $500.
*Note: This offer is for new bookings only and is not retroactive to current bookings

Contact Lost World Adventures for availability, itinerary and ship description

The Cliffs Preserve 2010 Summer Promotion

US$ 799, per person, per night, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy - minimum 3 night stay.
Includes
-Puerto Montt airport transfers
-Accommodations in a Luxury Suite with ocean views, living area, private terrace, walk-in shower, Jacuzzi
-All meals and drinks (Reserve/Grand Reserve wines and rack liquors included - premium wines and liquors not included)
-One day off-property activity: sport or fly fishing, rafting, canopy or cultural heritage excursion to Puerto Varas and/or the small fishing village of Quenuir.
-One Wellness Spa treatment per person
-Sauna, steamroom and wood-fired hot tub
-Wifi access
-Laundry service

Kids from 6 to 12 years old 50% off - Kids under 5 years old free of charge. 
Valid for stays through March 31, 2010
Price subject to change

For reservations or availabilities, please contact Lost World Adventures

Special offer at Remota in Patagonia

This winter take advantage of these special offers and live the Full Patagonian Experience with Remota

With access to trips inside and outside Torres del Parque National Park, Remota is the new top destination in Chilean Patagonia. A place where guests can experience the history, the culture and the sheer expanse of Patagonia.


Remota has two special offers for the coming months of January and February 2010:

Pay 3 nights / Enjoy 4 nights
For the purchase of a 3 nights program REMOTA will invite you for one extra night so you will have a 4 nights program
Published rates of the 4 nights program: US$ 1,980 per person in double room occupancy. With this offer pay only US$ 1,548 and save more than US$ 400 per person!

Pay 4 nights / Enjoy 7 nights
For the purchase of a 4 nights program, REMOTA will invite you for three additional nights so you will have a 7 nights program.
Published rates of the 7 nights program: US$ 2,988 per person in double room occupancy. With this offer pay only US$ 1,980 and save more than US$ 1,000 per person!

These offers are valid for travel during January and February 2010, limited and subject to availability at time of booking.

New & Improved M/V Galapagos Legend

It's a great pleasure for us to inform you about the improvements made to the vessel M/V Galapagos Legend:

Beds are larger and more comfortable with new linens.
New decoration of the main bar, Neptune Bar.
Window cabins with UV protection.
Maintenance of propeller machines.
General maintenance of outer and inner areas.
Maintenance of fire detector and extinguishing system, hot and cold water.
Upgrading the air conditioning system in Neptune bar and on Balcony cabins with manual controller per cabin.
Upgrading the audio system.
General maintenance of furnishings.
Maintenance of sailing and communication equipment.
Maintenance of hull, propellers, shafts and the ship's steering.
General maintenance of the dinghies and outboards.

Easter Island & Robinson Crusoe Island

Easter Island is one of those wonderful places where you can enjoy amazing culture with a breathtaking landscape - a triangle-shaped island with a volcano in each corner. Here you can find Polynesian charm combined with a Latin taste. Come and live a millenarian culture that keeps its traditions alive with sculpture, food, costumes and celebrations. You will be able to experience their lifestyle in person.

A five-hour flight from Santiago, Chile will take you to this paradise full of legends and mysteries for you to discover. Easter Island, known as Rapa Nui by the locals, receives many visitors during February when the celebration of Tapati is held. Tapati is a 2-week celebration during which competitors and more than 50 events take place to decide the winning clan of the island.

Robinson Crusoe Island is one of the three islands of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago. A two-hour flight from Santiago, Robinson Crusoe is an exclusive and off-the-beaten-path destination that was declared a National Park in 1935. A unique ecosystem where flowers, birds and insects found an untouched land, including hummingbirds that can only be found in this part of the world. Out of 146 native species of plants, 101 are endemic. Robinson Crusoe Island is so amazing and unique that UNESCO declared it a World Biosphere Reserve.

Lost World Adventures can arrange your trip to Easter Island and/or Robinson Crusoe Island.

Honduras Political Resolution

TOURISM AREAS CONTINUE TO WELCOME VISITORS
Tegucigalpa, Honduras (October 30, 2009) – Four months after President Manuel Zelaya was relieved of power on June 28, the interim Roberto Micheletti government and Zelaya officials have come to a resolution to end the ongoing political situation in Honduras.

On the evening of October 29, in a U.S.-brokered deal, both sides agreed to a resolution that asks the Honduran Congress, with prior authorization by the Honduran Supreme Court, to approve Zelaya’s return to the presidency until the end of his term. Under the agreement, the candidate elected in the November 29 elections will take office as planned in January 2010. The international community has praised both Micheletti and Zelaya for their willingness to come to a consensus, and end four months of uncertainty in the country.

As a result of this resolution, the World Bank will resume all projects committed to prior to June 28, and the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa will begin issuing Visas to Hondurans within the next week. The Honduran consulates in the U.S. and throughout the world will also resume their diplomatic positions within the next week.
Meanwhile, the Honduras tourism sector continues to welcome visitors to its many tourist areas. Wholesalers, tour operators and hotels in areas such as Roatán, Utila, La Ceiba, Tela and Copán Ruinas are offering special promotions to visitors for the remainder of 2009 and continuing into the 2010 high season. With this resolution and its widespread acceptance in the international community, the travel alerts issued by many countries are expected to be lifted in the forthcoming weeks.
“The committal to this resolution is excellent news for the Honduras tourism industry,” stated Ana Abarca, Minister of Tourism for Honduras. “With this, travelers from around the globe should have no hesitation in taking advantage of everything Honduras has to offer. We very excited to welcome visitors back to our beautiful country.”

Honduras is located in the heart of Central America, encompassing over 43,000 square miles, making it about the size of Tennessee. It is only a short flight from the U.S.: two hours from Miami or less than three hours from Houston or Atlanta. Honduras features a 500-mile Caribbean coastline on its north and a 100-mile Pacific coastline on its south. Travelers can tour Maya ruins in the western highlands, explore an underwater paradise in the Bay Islands, engage in eco-tourism in the La Moskitia region, immerse themselves in the Garifuna or Lenca culture, and much more. Honduras borders on the west with Guatemala, the southwest with El Salvador, and on the east with Nicaragua.