a comprehensive brochure

South America’s Hidden Gems
Part I - the North
43 days departing 23 March 2014
About
Far Horizons
Visiting
Established in 1976 by Martin and Auriel
Wright, Far Horizons has escorted more
than 170 tours to over 160 countries on all
seven continents. We have established a
clientele of devoted followers who
appreciate our uncompromising policy of
providing the highest quality
accommodation and services, with
meticulous attention to detail in some of the
world's most exotic and stimulating regions.
CHILE
San Pedro de Atacama
Atacama Desert
Iquique
Arica
Lauca National Park
All our tours are fully escorted and
inclusive of all transportation,
accommodation, meals, sightseeing,
cultural events and gratuities.
COLOMBIA
Bogota
Zipaquira
Villa de Leyva
Raquira
Cartagena
Capacity is limited to fifteen, 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 longstanding family friend and travel industry
associate Nick Deacock. Martin continues to
assist Nick with the creation of new tour
itineraries.
PERU
Arequipa
Nazca
Lima
VENEZUELA
Caracas
Orinoco Delta
Puerto Ordas
Canaima
Angel Falls
Ilha de Margarita
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 some 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
3 nights
This brochure is devoted to the northern
regions of the South American continent and
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.
1 night
1 night
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 ancient
remarkable giant etchings which can only be
fully appreciated from the air.
1 night
2 nights
SURINAME
Paramaribo
2 nights
BRAZIL
Sao Luis
Fortaleza
Morro Branco
Canoa Quebrada
Sao Miguel do Gostoso
Natal
Olinda
Recife
Salvador
Praia do Forte
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
GUYANA
Georgetown
FRENCH GUIANA
Kourou
Devil’s Island
Cayenne
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: info@farhorizons.com.au
Website: www.farhorizons.com.au
More Hidden Gems
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.
2 nights
1 night
2 nights
2 nights
the world’s highest cataract, Angel Falls, ending
our visit with a night on the Caribbean Ilha de
Margarita.
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 4-wheel-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.
Our Colombian sojourn ends with a flight to
Cartagena, one of South America’s most
fascinating colonial cities.
1 night
1 night
1 night
2 nights
From Caracas we take a journey through
Venezuela visiting the Orinoco Delta with boat
rides and jungle walks followed by a flight over
2 nights
Carmo Church in Olinda near Recife
page 2
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 12th-century
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 next day is spent getting acquainted with
Peru’s Capital City and its 2000 years of history
colonial heritage, 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, City Hall, Cathedral and
Archbishop’s Palace.
Inside Zipaquira’s underground Salt Cathedral
Lima: Plaza Mayor
The lobby of the Lima Country Club
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 preColumbian 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.
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.
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 in the heart of the
entertainment district.
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
Later in the afternoon we visit the fortress of
San Felipe de Barajas and the monastery and
the church of La Candelaria on the hill de La
Popa, which are outstanding examples of
reigious and colonial architecture. We take a
stroll through charming alleys and impressive
colonial buildings. We visit the Inquisition Palace
and the historic clock tower.
Villa de Leyva
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 cobble-stoned
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.
Caribbean”. Upon arrival we check in for 3 nights
at the Sofitel Santa Clara. Next morning we
embark on a full day sightseeing tour to explore
Cartagena, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
city. In the old colonial part of the city we visit
the church and monastery of San Pedro Claver,
the gold museum of Zenu, the cathedral, the
church of Santo Domingo, and the barricade of
Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Frances
Javier among other attactions.
Colonial architecture, Cartagena
Approaching Orinoco Delta Lodge
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 including macaws,
parrots, toucans, kingfishers, herons, hawks,
egrets, storks, howler monkeys, otters,
dolphins, pumas and jaguar.
The next day is at leisure in Cartagena to soak
in the natural beauty and relax in one of the
beautiful parks or explore the city futher.
The following morning we bid farewell to
Colombia and take a morning flight via Bogota to
Caracas in Venezuela. Afternoon half day
sightseeing tour of Caracas including the historic
quarter, where we visit the Panteon Nacional,
Plaza Bolivar and the Cathedral. Overnight at
the Marriott Playa Grande.
The next morning we take a chartered flight to
Maturin and then drive to the banks of the
Orinoco River. From here we take a 90-minute
boat ride to the Orinoco Delta Lodge where we
stay overnight. Cradled between the mighty
Orinoco River and the Atlantic Ocean, the Delta
Next morning we visit the pretty town of
Raquira, Colombia’s craftwork capital, famous
for its potteries, before driving to Bogota Airport
for a flight to Cartagena, the “Pearl of the
View from the hill de La Popa, Cartagena
page 8
Orinoco River
Next morning we drive to Puerto Ordas and then
fly to spectacular Canaima Lagoon, where
waterfalls cascade into a lake fringed with pink
sandy beaches. On arriving at Canaima we
make an excursion to visit one of the three falls,
Sapo, Yuri or Mayupa, depending on water
levels.Overnight Waku Lodge.
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
Next morning we take the charter flight to Puerto
Ordaz. 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. From Puerto Ordaz we
fly to Porlomar airport on the Caribbean island
of Ilha de Margarita, located just off mainland
Venezuela. We stay for onenight at Hotel Ikin
Margarita.
Next morning we take a jeep safari around the
island which is divided into two parts connected
by La Restinga National Park.
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.
A jeep safari on Ilha de Margarita
Afternoon flight to Georgetown via Port of Spain
(Trinidad). George town is the capital of Guyana,
and is situated on the mouth of the Demerara
River. This former British colony with its many
white-painted wooden 19th-century houses
rising on stilts, is South America’s only Englishspeaking nation, and the only one which boasts
a Test Cricket ground.
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 point for French
prisoners. Settled in 1604, French Guiana was
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.
Angel Falls
From George town 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.
Georgetown
page 9
Georgetown: St George’s Anglican Cathedral
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
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.
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.
Sao Luis street scene
Suriname: A house in Paramaribo
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.
St Laurent Transportation Camp
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.
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 northeastern coastline of Brazil, and known as the
Cayenne street scene
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.
Our four-day overland journey by 4-wheeldrive vehicles 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.
Devil’s Island: prison block
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.
We 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.
Fortaleza
page 10
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
“Jangadas” fishing boats
The next morning we fly 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
Brazilian history, and now, after careful
restoration, claims to be Brazil’s first luxury
historic hotel.
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 building which is now home to art
galleries and souvenir shops.
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).
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 river-front area of Boa
Vista on the Rio Capibaribe and cross to the old
quarter on Ilha do Recife.
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.
Recife, Veneza Brasileira
Salvador de Bahia
Bahia
The “Sun Road” at Canoa Quebrada
“Falesias” rock formations, Canoa Quebrada
Farol de Calcanhar
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.
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.
page 11
South America’s Hidden Gems Part I: the North
More of South America
Climatic Conditions
Average temperatures at the time of our visit
Maximum
Iquique
22
Arequipa
22
Lima
22
Bogota
16
Cartagena
30
Ilha de Margarita
34
Orinoco Delta
37
Georgetown
39
Cayenne
29
Sao Luis
30
Fortaleza
29
Salvador
28
Minimum
15
7
16
9
25
24
22
24
23
23
23
23
Tariffs per person [share twin] from
Sydney
$42,850
Brazil: A street in Olinda’s historical centre
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 various species
of marine turtles.
Supplements:
Single room
$ 7,500
Business class travel
on Sydney - Santiago - Sydney
flights only
$ 6,300
Our 29 - day La Ruta Maya tour departing 22
October 2014 journeys through Southern
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras to
discover the fascinating history of the Mayan
civilisation, visiting many of its ancient sites
and witnessing the life of the indigenous
Mayan groups who can be identified by their
traditional dress and who till this day practice
their own unique customs.
VISITING
MEXICO - Cancun,Valadolid, Cobá, Bacalar,
San Cristobal de Las Casas, Cascadas de
Agua Azul, Palenque, Campeche, Uxmal,
Merida, Chichen Itza
BELIZE - Altun Ha, Belize City, Xunantunich
GUATEMALA - Tikal, Lake Izabel, Rio Dulce,
Puerto Barrios, Quirigua, Guatemala City,
Antigua, Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan,
Panajachel, Santiago
HONDURAS - Copan
Ask for the descriptive brochure
From Salvador we fly to Sao Paulo for
connecting LAN Airlines flight via Santiago to
Sydney
Note: an optional stopover in Santiago
on the homeward journey can be arranged
on request
La Ruta Maya - The Mayan Road is the name
gven to the region of Southern Mexico, Belize,
Guatermala and Honduras, which was
populated by the Mayans from 2000 BC to AD
900. These remarkable people represented an
advanced civilisation that built 21 - storey
stone palaces without tools and without the
benefit of the wheel, and develepoed a calendar
which is more precise than the one we use
today.
Praia do Forte: Tamar project to save Sea
Turtles
Basilica de Santiago
page 12
Itinerary
Day 1 Sunday (23 March): By air to Santiago
Morning LAN Airlines flight from Sydney to
Santiago, crossing the International Date Line
and gaining a day 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 14 Friday: By air to Bogota
Morning flight to Bogota. Stay two nights at
JW Marriott Hotel
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
Cartagena
Morning drive via Raquira to Bogota.
Afternoon flight to Cartagena for three nights at
Sofitel Santa Clara
Day 18 Tuesday: In Cartagena
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 8 Saturday: In Arica
Full day excursion to Lauca National Park
Day 20 Thursday: By air to Caracas
Morning flight to Bogota connecting to Caracas.
Afternoon sightseeing. Overnight Marriott Playa
Grande
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 24 Monday: By air to Georgetown
Morning sightseeing. Afternoon flight to
Georgetown via Port of Spain (Trinidad). Stay
two nights at Pegasus Hotel
Day 15 Saturday: In Bogota
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 9 Sunday: By road to Arequipa
Drive across the Peruvian border to Arequipa.
Stay two nights at Hotel Libertador
Day 23 Sunday: By air to Porlama
Morning charter flight via Angel Falls to Puerto
Ordaz with connecting flight to Porlama on Ilha
de Margarita. Overnight Hotel Ikin Margarita
Day 13 Thursday: In Lima
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
Day 19 Wednesday: In Cartagena
Day at leisure for optional activities
Day 21 Friday: By air and road to Orinoco
Delta
Morning charter flight to Maturin. Drive and boat
ride to Orinoco. Overnight Orinoco Delta Lodge.
Day 22 Saturday: By road and air to
Canaima
Morning drive to Puerto Ordas. Fly to Canaima.
Excursion to Sapa Falls. Overnight Waku Lodge
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 34 Thursday: In Fortaleza
Morning and afternoon sightseeing
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 36 Saturday: By road to Sao Miguel do
Gostoso
Full day drive to Sao Miguel do Gostoso.
Overnight at Ponteiros Inn
Day 37 Sunday: By road to Natal
Full day drive to Natal. Overnight at Manary Praia
Hotel
Day 38 Monday: By road to Olinda
Morning drive to Jacuma. Afternoon drive to
Olinda. Stay two nights at 7 Colinas Hotel
Day 39 Tuesday: In Olinda
Full day sightseeing in Olinda and Recife
Day 29 Saturday: In Kourou
Full day catamaran excursion to Devil’s Island
Day 40 Wednesday: By air to Salvador Bahia
Morning flight to Salvador. Afternoon
sightseeing. Stay two nights at Convento do
Carmo Hotel
Day 30 Sunday: By road to Cayenne
Morning drive to Cayenne. Afternoon
sightseeing. Overnight at Novotel Cayenne
Day 41 Thursday: In Salvador Bahia
Morning further sightseeing in Salvador.
Afternoon excursion to Praia do Forte
Day 31 Monday: By air to Sao Luis
Afternoon flight to Sao Luis via Belem. Stay two
nights at Pestana Sao Luis Hotel
Day 42 Friday: 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 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
page 13
Day 44 Sunday (04 May): Arrive Sydney
Morning arrival at Sydney International Airport
Hotels
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
AREQUIPA
VILLA DE LEYVA
CANAIMA
CAYENNE
Waku Lodge
Novotel Cayenne
SAO MIGUEL DO
GOSTOSO
Hotel Libertador
NAZCA
Hospederia Duruelo
SAO LUIS
Ponteiros Inn
GEORGETOWN
NATAL
CARTAGENA
Explora Hotel Atacama
IQUIQUE
Casa Andina Hotel
LIMA
Pegasus Hotel
Sofitel Santa Clara
PARAMARIBO
CARACAS
Pestana Sao Luis
FORTALEZA
OLINDA
Radisson Hotel
ARICA
Manary Praia Hotel
Lima Country Club
Marriott Playa Grande
Courtyard by Marriott
ORINOCO DELTA
KOUROU
Vila Gale Hotel
BOGOTA
CANOA QUEBRADA
7 Colinas Hotel
SALVADOR BAHIA
Casa Beltrán Hotel
Pousada Aruana
JW Marriott Hotel
Mercure Ariatel
Orinoco Delta Lodge
Convento do Carmo Hotel
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.
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 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
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 no later than ninety days before
departure, and the balance of payment must be
received by Far Horizons 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 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.
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.
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 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 travel out together, so any amendments
to the itinerary should take place after 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 01 August 2013. 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 or documents, death, disability,
loss of income and hijack compensation. Far
Horizons will be happy to assist with this.
Accommodation
The basis of accommodation provided is in a
double-bedded, 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
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 passport
valid for at least six months after the completion of
page 15
the tour. A visa is required for entry into Brazil and
visa/permit fees are payable for entry to Chile and
Suriname. These will be obtained by Far Horizons.
Yellow Fever vaccination is required. Participation
in this tour may involve walking over rough/uneven
surfaces, embarking/disembarking from small boats
or traditional forms of transport, and extremes of
climatic conditions. All guests must ensure they are
medically and physically fit for travel. If your
mobility is impaired in any way, a companion who
will be responsible for providing any required
assistance must accompany you as Far Horizons
are unable to provide any individual assistance.
Payment of your deposit confirms your
understanding and acceptance of the above 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 purchases transportation,
accommodation and other services from independent
suppliers not affiliated with Far Horizons in any
way. Far Horizons 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 23 March 2014
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
info@farhorizons.com.au
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)
Other
Signed
Telephone (work)
Date
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