Hola,

Welcome to the first edition of the online newsletter of the South American Travel Centre. South America is such a diverse destination for travellers that no single brochure can possibly tell you about all the great places to see and the unique experiences that can be found. The Lama Newsletter is intended to fill that gap, to tell you about the special places in South America that you might like to visit, or if you have already been there, it will probably bring back some great memories.

In this issue you can read about ancient ruins and modern cities, luxurious journeys, treks, wilderness areas, resorts and accommodation that is out of the ordinary.Brazil might grab the headlines for its carnivals, soccer and coffee, but with a land mass larger than Australia’s there is so much more to it. Sao Paulo ……. Salvador. Txai…Praia do Forte. Or for a change of pace take a cruise up the Amazon on the Iberostar. Train trips also feature with the Copper Canyon train trip in Mexico being a memorable experience for Fleur, one of our clients,and Karen one of our consultants experiencing first hand the luxury of the Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. Please follow the links to the SATC website or contact your travel agent if you want further information about anything that has been featured here. And of course, we would love to hear from you if you would like to share your special experiences with readers of The Lama Newsletter as well.

Glenys Tuena
Director

'The Real Mexico'
The Copper Canyon Railway takes you where few roads go. Starting at Los Mochis on Mexico’s north west coast it climbs over the Sierra Madres to arrive at from Los Mochis on Mexico’s north west coast the mountain town of Chihuahua, more than 600 kilometres inland. The railway is a scenic wonder as it passes through tunnels, crosses bridges that span huge gorges, and snakes along cliff tops, past Indian settlements, mines, forests and waterfalls.

You might think a lengthy train trip like this would only appeal to adults, but for Fleur Bayley and her family, including children aged 9 and 7, it was a huge success and was the catalyst for their further exploration of Mexico.

The family joined the train at El Fuente, a town founded by the Spanish in the 16th Century and still blessed with colonial buildings, cobblestones and wonderful views at every turn.

Even the children were impressed with the town– especially after they met a modern day Zorro and discovered that it was the reputed birthplace of Zorro!
“The Copper Canyon is often compared with the USA’s Grand Canyon, and I think it is every bit as picturesque,” says Fleur. “We took three days to reach Chihuahua, although you can take longer. We stopped off along the way at Cerocahui, Barrancas, and Creel, little villages or towns where we could explore, walk around, buy handicrafts and tour parts of the canyon before catching the train again next day. The hotels we stayed in were full of local colour and were of a really good standard. Our luxurious adobe style hotel at Barrancas was perched on the rocky edge of the canyon, but in Creel we were staying in the mountains close to pine forests and lakes.”

For Fleur, seeing the Tarahumara Indians who live in this part of Mexico was one of the highlights. “There is such a strong Indian culture and although they are very poor, they have chosen to live their simple traditional life rather than adopt modern ways.”

After her return to Australia, she was telling someone from South America who had spent many years in Mexico about her visit to there.

He looked as if he’d heard it all before until she started to speak about her Copper Canyon experience. “Ah,” he said, “then you have seen parts of the real Mexico.”

Click here to read more on the Copper Canyon
 
'Brazilian Hideaway'
White sand and secluded beaches, rocky outcrops and rain forest, waterfalls and a vibrant local culture: the Txai Resort, in Bahia State on Brazil’s central coast has all this at its doorstep. And perhaps the best feature of all is the idyllic climate which averages 27ºC all year round.

Glenys had the enviable task of reviewing this new resort for the South American Travel Centre earlier this year. She rates it as just perfect. “I think it would be a great place for a honeymoon or if you wanted a quiet hideaway.
 
It’s truly a tropical paradise, with lots of space, good and unobtrusive service, and most of the staff can speak English.”Built close to the beach, the resort’s bungalows and apartments have been inspired by the local Bahian culture. They combine the rustic simplicity of timber and thatch with up-to-the-minute comfort in a lush environment of shady palms, swimming pools and nature trails. You are never far from the sea, whether you are sampling the Bahian cuisine in the restaurant overlooking the water, or watching the waves from the privacy of your bungalow.

There’s plenty to do for those who want an active holiday – tennis, canoeing, trekking and eco-touring. A shuttle bus runs between the resort and Itacare, where you can check out the restaurants, shops and markets. Good surf beaches are not far away either. But if you are feeling a little lethargic after a few weeks on the go, a beauty treatment or a water shiatsu massage at the resort’s spa might be more appealing.

Only an hour’s drive from the airport at Ilheus, theTxai Resort would make a special stopover at the end of your visit to Brazil. “After seeing Rio, Paratay or Salvador, this is just the spot for some relaxation and pampering before returning home,” says Glenys. “It would be hard to find another beach resort in South America to match it.”