Pacific Delight Launches First South America Tours Starting with Peru

Eric Oborski, president of Pacific Delight Tours, was first brought on as an executive consultant in 2013 to lead the luxury operator’s expansion efforts. He hinted that further expansion into South America is in the pipeline with more itineraries to appear throughout 2015.

NEW YORK, NY – Pacific Delight Tours is expanding into South America, beginning with the launch of a seven day itinerary to Peru where travelers will have the opportunity to view some of the most famed sights in the Western Hemisphere, including Machu Picchu.  Tours to Peru start at $2,559 per person, based on double occupancy.

“Peru is a fabulous landscape where exotic culture and ancient ruins combine with well-preserved colonial architecture to create a multi-faceted window into the past, present and future with ultra-modern cities like Lima, ancient Incan cities like Cusco and the incredibly mysterious Machu Picchu, all within one vast landscape,” said Eric Oborski, president of Pacific Delight Tours, who was first brought on as an executive consultant in 2013 to lead the luxury operator’s expansion efforts.

“We are very excited to have Peru as our first South America destination, as I’ve been involved in promoting tourism to and from South America since 1972 and am extremely familiar with Peru, having lived there,” noted Oborski, hinting that further expansion into South America is in the pipeline with more itineraries to appear throughout 2015.

Pacific Delight’s 7-Day Peru Program takes travelers to Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco along with a full-day tour of different Incan communities and antique salt mines.

Machu Picchu, known as the “Lost City of the Incas” is not only one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but also the biggest cultural treasure of Peru’s past and the empire of the Incas.  Undiscovered by Spaniards and forgotten for centuries, it was not until 1911 that the American scientist Hiram Bingham came upon this phenomenon accidentally.  The ruins still leave scientists with numerous questions and riddles as to how it was built and for what purpose.  Travelers will reach Machu Picchu by shuttle bus and enjoy lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Travelers will get to visit Cusco, home to many important Inca sites, where explorers will not only find Incan walls and temples, but also colonial mansions and Catholic churches.  In addition to Cusco, other stops include the Salt Mines of Mara, an excursion to the small Andean community Moray, known for its embedded amphitheater, and a trip to Chinchero where travelers will explore the town’s Sunday market, originally dedicated to the people of the valley to barter their products with a variety of handicrafts and textiles made in true pre-Columbian style.  Explorers will also get to visit Awankancha where they will learn about the traditional weaving techniques typical for the area.

Peru also offers travelers the unique opportunity to experience nearly 98% of the world’s climates, from Rainforests in the North, to coastal cities like Lima in the West and sprawling mountain ranges in the East.  This varied climate, along with a merging of cultures, has given Peruvians the ability to create some of the most unique culinary experiences including Chifa, a fusion of Peruvian and Chinese food, and Ceviche, Peru’s take on sushi.

Pacific Delight Tours is offering the 7-Day Peru Program in Silver and Gold packages.  The Silver package starts at $2,559 with a $600 single supplement and provides travelers with first-class accommodations.  The Gold program starts at $2,999 with a $926 single supplement and features Pacific Delight’s signature FiveStarPlus® luxury accommodations.  All rates quoted are per person, based on double occupancy and do not include international airfare or initial arrival and departure transfers, which are only included when airfare is purchased from Pacific Delight Tours.

Meals are included as per the itineraries along with English-speaking guides and the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program. International airfare is not included, but can be purchased from Pacific Delight Tours at competitive rates from all major U.S. gateways.

Pacific Delight Tours’ expansion into South America will include itineraries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru in 2015, with more destinations to be announced.

For more information or to book, consult your local travel agent or contact Pacific Delight Tours at 800-221-7179.  Browse Pacific Delight’s China and Asia offerings at www.PacificDelightTours.com.

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Nomadico Travel Promotes Eco-Friendly Trips to Ecuador, Peru

Nomadico Travel, which specializes in cultural eco-friendly trips to Latin America that provide enriching cultural interaction with the local people while including visits to historical sites and physical activities, is promoting itineraries to Ecuador and Peru.
In Ecuador, travelers can choose from six different experiences, which cover all types of experiences from walking tours to more rigorous expeditions including trekking, kayaking, rappelling and more.
Amazon Lodges –
Huaorani Adventure – an unforgettable experience that offers an opportunity to interact firsthand with the Huaorani people – Ecuador’s most isolated and perhaps most intriguing indigenous tribe. The Huaorani eco-lodge is in the midst of a primordial jungle where one can kayak, hike, camp and visit Huaorani villages during the day with the help of a bilingual naturalist guide.
Kapawi Adventure – one of the most remote, ecologically responsible and cultural sensible Amazon Jungle Eco-lodges in the world. A visit to this Amazon Jungle Lodge contributes to sustainable socio – cultural communities and the protection of a unique natural environment. Explore the Pristine Amazon, take a evening trip down the Kapawi River, bird watch in Claylick, hike along the Pitzacocha and Pama trails discovering the many ways the rainforest benefits the Achuar people, test your skills at a blowgun contest, hear a tutorial on Achuar face painting, learn about Arutam, the spirit of the forest, and more. The Kapawi lodge is couples friendly and family friendly. It’s a community owned ecolodge that supports an indigenous population.
Galapagos –
For the walker/hiker, Nomadico offers several walking tours in the Galapagos islands. With the Multi – Island Adventure, travelers leave the crowds behind and spend time actively exploring the islands in a path less traveled, kayak along the Cristobal Island Bay, and snorkel at Leon Dormido, and more.
The Isabela Walking Tour offers the exploration of Isabela, the largest of the Galapagos islands, covered in over 60% of the flora and fauna of the archipelago and is the only one straddled by the equatorial line. Find different species of parrots, macaws on one of the best natural attractions, the Claylick and visit one of the Achuar communities.
In Quito – visit the colonial centre of Quito, see the Plaza de Independencia, XVI and XVII century churches, including the monastery of San Francisco, a building begun only 5 days after the founding of the city. Lunch is served, tat the rim of the extinct Pululahua volcanic crater, then the Ethnographic Museum, situated right on the Equator.
In Otavalo whether by foot, riding a horse or biking along mountain trails participants see the beautiful patchwork quilt of local farms, gorges humming with birds, the humid high mountain cloud forests, as well as waterfalls and the cool clear mountain lakes of the Mojanda region; visit indigenous markets, the Raptor Rescue center, Inca ruins, and kayaking through Volcanoes Lakes, then dine on traditional Ecuadorian dishes prepared with fresh organic products and grains directly from the farm.
Highlights of the Cotopaxi Highland Adventure include adventure biking, ziplines Over Mountain Valleys, riding with the Chagras. This expedition is designed for the more adventurous traveler with horseback riding, mountain biking, trekking, hiking, mountain climbing, rappelling, bird watching, camping, as well as cultural exchange with the local communities available, as well as a visit to an ecological reserve on the slopes of the Mt. Pasochoa volcano, known for its forests, rivers and spectacular waterfalls, high in the Andean forest.
The Cloud Forest itinerary includes hiking above the Clouds, first Class bird watching, Cock-of-the-Rock Lek, and biking in the Forest. The lodge has 3 cabañas and sits on 44 hectares (110 acres) of land.
Nomadico offers Peruvain vacations including
Inca Trail
The Inca Trail is Peru’s best-known hike, combining a stunning mix of Inca ruins, mountain scenery, lush cloud forest and rich subtropical jungle. Dee over 345 species of orchids, numerous birds such as hummingbirds, waterfowl and the majestic Andean Condor, the spectacled bear – a shy, herbivorous animal that is extremely rare and close to extinction. The Inca Trail is a mountainous jungle hike leading to the sacred Inca city of Machu Picchu. The 45km trek is usually covered in 4 days, arriving at Machu Picchu at daybreak on the final day before returning to Cusco by train in the afternoon. Also included are Inca ruins at Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, as well as exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas visiting the tradition market town of Pisac and the fascinating Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo.
Nomadico Travel is committed to preserving the local cultures and environments of the countries they visit. They work hard to support locally owned hotels and lodges that have environmentally friendly practices. They employ local tour guides that give travelers an insider’s perspective, and donate a portion of profits to support indigenous rights campaigns and non-profits that protect the precious environments of Latin America.
For more information and to book travel, visit http://www.nomadicotravel.com, or call 855 996 6623.
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Quasar Expeditions Launches 8-Day, 4×4 Jeep Driving Adventure in Patagonia

Quasar Expeditions (www.quasarexpeditions.com), a luxury South American tour operator best known for operating small yacht expeditions in the Galapagos Islands, is launching the brand’s next exploratory adventure featuring Jeep_® brand vehicles – a luxurious eight day / seven night 4×4 overland adventure throughout both Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia.

Beginning on December 8,  and running Saturday through Saturday  through the end of May each week, aspiring pioneers will retrace the steps of those centuries before them to discover the natural wonders of the region including among them, famed Torres del Paine National Park, Los Glaciares National Park and the mighty Perito Moreno Glacier.

Modern day Vespucci’s will start their journey in Puerto Natales, Chile (after flying from either Santiago, Chile or driving from El Calafate, Argentina) where they will be met by the Quasar team and handed the keys to a road ready 2013 Jeep_Ò Wrangler Rubicon complete with both a built-in Garmin GPS and an external, innovative GPS Ranger®, which acts as a tour-guide of sorts calling out points of interest along the route and ensuring the pre-programmed hotels and destinations are reached each day. Guests have the option of driving themselves relying on their instincts and the provided technology; driving themselves but accompanied by a dedicated tour guide; or having a dedicated tour guide drive while they just sit back and enjoy.

Regardless of who is in the driver’s seat, Quasar has assembled an exciting and adventurous, yet comfortable and luxurious, eight-day / seven-night driving itinerary where guests spend the days exploring the awe-inspiring surroundings with activities such as light hikes, sightseeing catamaran cruises, horseback riding and bird watching, while at night they relax in the utmost comfort of the chosen hotels and indulge in the various food, wine and spa offerings each boasts. No stretch of driving is more than 3-4 hours on average with most only taking an hour or two. Also, Quasar maintains their dedication to social responsibility by ensuring these are 100% carbon-free adventures through collaboration with the Carbon Fund, as well as having 100 tree forests in Patagonia through a partnership with Reforest Patagonia.

Guests start their journey with welcome drinks and a full program briefing at the award-winning Singular Patagonia, a 100-year old former Cold Storage Plant now restored and renovated into a 57-room luxury retreat along the shores of the Fjord of Last Hope. After settling in and relaxing at the spa, guests will relish in local cuisine like guanaco, conger eel and a variety of pisco sours, before retiring for the night. The next morning guests set out in their Jeep_® Wrangler SUVs across the Argentinean border to the town of El Calafate and then northward across the Patagonian Pampa to the day’s final destination, Hosteria Helsingfors. The next two days will be spent at this rustic retreat located at the edge of beautiful Lake Viedma and across from the mighty Mt. Fitz Roy. Activities include horseback riding or hiking to a secluded blue lagoon at the edge of a glacier.

A full day of marveling at the Perito Glacier and ‘Iceberg Channel’ is in store after departing Helsingfors, followed by a visit to the Glaciarum museum before settling in for a delicious local meal and fourth’s night sleep at Eolo Lodge, cut in the cloth of the true Argentine Estancia tradition. On the fifth day guests can enjoy Eolo’s spa in the morning or venture into town for some souvenir shopping in El Calafate. Later in the afternoon, guests head back west to Chile to the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. The destination for the night is Patagonia Camp, Chile’s first luxury tented camp located at the edge of stunning Lake Toro.

The next day is spent on a light hike up the French Valley, among lenga tree forests, rivers and bridges to reach the hanging glaciers of the Paine Grande Massif. Guests are welcomed that night at dinner with roasted Patagonia lamb, prepared the true gaucho way. The following day guests do a full day driving tour around the park, stopping at several points to view vibrant Chilean flamingos and black-faced Ibis, overlooks of the three towers after which the National Park was named and finally lunch along the shore of the breathtaking blue lagoon. Guests settle in to their final night at Tierra Patagonia for a relaxing spa afternoon and an exquisite dinner. The voyage comes to an end the following day as guests transfer to the airport for their flights home or where their next adventure may be.

Aspiring explorers have various options when booking Quasar’s 4×4 adventure. Pricing starts at $5200 per person per trip, based on four people in one vehicle driving themselves and increases from there depending on whether a driver or guide is required and how many people are in the vehicle. For a couple, it is $5600 per person based on two people self driving in one vehicle. Children 12 and under receive a 15%discount.

Included in the trip cost is hotel accommodations, meals as noted in, all ground transportation within Chile and Argentina as noted in itinerary, airport transfers to / from Puerto Natales and entrance to the Glaciarum Museum. The services of a Quasar Expeditions tour leader are also included for those choosing that option. Items not included in the above pricing include: international and domestic airfare, park and glacier entrance fees, beverages (with the exception of those included at specific hotels) and fuel for the Jeep_® brand vehicles.

Quasar Expeditions is a leading South American tour operator that has become synonymous with luxury travel in the Galapagos Islands since introducing smaller yacht expeditions to the area in 1986. Born out of founders (and Ecuadorian natives) Eduardo and Dolores Diez’s passion for the untouched natural beauty of the islands, which they first discovered in the 70’s, Quasar has grown into one of the region’s preeminent exclusive travel companies. Quasar’s offerings  include two luxury yachts in the Galapagos, high-end expeditions through Peru,  Amazon jungle adventures and now expeditions through Patagonia.

For reservations, more information and to watch a video of the adventure, visit www.jeeppatagoniaexpeditions.com.

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Tara Tours Offers 7-Day ‘Machu Picchu on a Budget’ for $1294

Tara Tours is promoting a 7-day/5night journey featuring a tour with private guide in Machu Picchu, for $1,294 per person/double.

The program lands in Lima with an immediate flight to Cuzco. A quite morning is spent here in order to get used to the high altitude and to the surroundings. During the stay in Cuzco, once known as the Capital of the Inca Empire, a city tour and visit to the ruins nearby of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay and other archeological sites are included.

The next day you will go by bus and train to one of the most intriguing places on earth Machu Picchu. Temples, palaces, towers and staircases are built into the side of the mountain. Here your private tour guide will take you from site to site explaining the advanced world of the Incas. Overnight in the village of Aguas Calientes, just at bottom of Machu Picchu.

The next day is at leisure, so you can go back to explore “The Lost City of Incas” or you can visit the Inca Thermal baths of Aguas Calientes and visit the local market. Mid-afternoon return to Cuzco.

On the way back, there is an opportunity to enjoy incredible views of the Andean peaks, the Urubamba Valley and the powerful Vilcanota River.

The tour departs every day from USA.

The cost per person including domestic airfare Lima-Cuzco-Lima and all ground arrangements with daily breakfast, entrance fees, train tickets, etc. is $1,294.00 based on double occupancy (single supplement cost $646)

Airfare is available from Miami from $600-$750 and add-ons from other major cities are available upon request.

You can see the full itinerary at www.taratours.com/peru.htm#Machu_Picchu_on_a_Budget.

Tara Tours Inc 12002 SW 128 CT –Suite 209 / Miami, Fla.33186 -USA 1-305-278-4464 or 1-800-327-0080 www.taratours.com

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Celebrate Centennial of Machu Picchu’s Discovery with Adventure Center’s 8-Day Peru Tour, at 15% Savings

Some of the golden treasures of Peru's rich heritage. This year marks the centennial of the discovery of Machu Picchu © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Travelers seeking to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu and see all of Peru’s major highlights can do so without forsaking the comfort of a hotel bed with Adventure Center’s eight-day “Cusco & the Sacred Valley” tour – and save up to 15% on eleven 2011 departures.

Traveling round-trip from Lima, considered the ‘Gastronomic Capital of the Americas,’ guests explore the architecture of Cusco, where original Incan stonework remains intact; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu – one of the new ‘Seven World Wonders’; the Sacred Valley, located between the colorful market town of Pisac and the archeological site of Ollantaytambo; and Aguas Calientes, so named for its natural hot baths.

A visit to the Peru’s Challenge Community Project at Pumamarca, which works to create opportunities for children living in the Andes region, offers a rare opportunity to learn firsthand about the farming communities of Peru. With small group sizes of 15 or less, English-speaking tour leaders and a comprehensive itinerary that allots free time in each area, travelers enjoy the convenience of group travel and the flexibility of independent ventures.

Discounted fares for the 2011 options are US/Cdn $1,555 to $1,698 per person, double; prices for the 21 departures in 2012 range from US/Cdn $1,825 to $1,840.

A half-day tour in the Peruvian capital of Lima, a melting pot of cultures ranging from Andean to Asian, reveals reconstructed colonial architecture from Lima’s glory days and visits the Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Archbishop Palace and San Francisco Monastery. Lima’s National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History of Peru traces its history from the original inhabitants to the Inca Empire and the Spanish Conquerors. In the ancient Incan capital of Cusco, visitors take in the areas surrounding the Plaza de Armas, noted for its 17^th-century Baroque cathedral, and discover evidence of Incan engineering in the ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman. The Sacred Valley reveals further examples of Incan advancement with ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals and dams, and features the Awana Kancha tourist center, the ruins at Qenko, the Inca citadel at Ollantaytambo and the village of Pisac. The Peru’s Challenge Community Project gives travelers an intimate peek into the lives of the 1,000 families that have been helped so far, as well as an inspiring view into the future. The trip culminates in a visit to the awe-inspiring stonework of Machu Picchu before returning to Lima.

Optional tours and activities allow guests to customize the tour with the areas and attractions that interest them most. Lima’s area of Miraflores, defined by flower-filled parks and beaches, is perfect for casual exploration, while the downtown area is ideal for those looking to savor the exceptional seafood Peru is known for, such as the national dish of ceviche. Free time in Cusco offers a chance to uncover Peruvian history with a tour of the Church of San Blas or a visit to its range of museums: the Inca Museum, Religious Art Museum and Santa Catalina Museum. In Aguas Calientes, guests can peruse the small shops and restaurants or relax in the hot thermal baths at the end of town. Pre- or post-tour extensions in Lima can be arranged when booking the itinerary.

Fares include seven nights’ hotel accommodation; English-speaking local tour leader; local flights: Lima-Cusco and Cusco-Lima; sightseeing and tours, including entrance fees, specified in the itinerary; airport arrival transfer; transport throughout; and seven days breakfast. Insurance, visas, gratuities, any optional tours and activities and international air – including taxes and departure transfer – are extra.

Booking information, brochures and reservations, can be obtained from travel agents or Adventure Center’s visitor-friendly web site, www.adventurecenter.com; or by phone: U.S. (800) 228-8747; Canada (866) 338-8735. Canadian travel agents needing bulk orders of brochures can order them at www.hippoexpress.com in Canada while U.S. agents should call Adventure Center.

Adventure Center has provided world-class, affordably priced adventure travel experiences with one-on-one advice for more than 35 years. Adventure Center’s Travel Specialists have personally traveled to more than 130 countries and offer knowledgeable guidance to guests in selecting an “adventure of a lifetime.”

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