South America for the 21st Century Traveler
Each week, Keller and Nehring virtually gather their team across the company’s international offices in Germany, the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, and Peru to discuss their inventory and best practices for understanding their clients’ needs.
“Our team is trained to ask what people really want,” says Keller. “Are they just looking for a photo opportunity for an Instagram post, or do they want to delve into the history or architecture of a particular locale? If they want to experience the Amazon, the team asks why? For example, people think they’ll see lots of animals in the Amazon, but we’d recommend a photo safari instead, and take them to another area. There are lots of animals in the Amazon, but behind the trees, you rarely see them.”
With the advancement of technology, so has come an onslaught of online resources, but they can often muddy the waters when planning a trip. A quick Google search will reveal dozens of “top ten” lists, photo albums, new property advertisements, social influencer videos and more, each trying to get you to click on content, but not always with your specific travel interests in mind.
Cuzco, Peru
Photo: Ksenia Ragozina
A dedicated travel planner is like having a good friend who knows what makes you tick. And that friend also happens to be an expert with an in-depth knowledge of your dream destination. Keller and Nehring say, anecdotally, that more customers want to avoid big cities, with some even inquiring about self-driving tours. Typically, SouthAmerica.Travel bookings are private tours with a dedicated guide who oversees your experience from airport arrival through departure. Private group tours are also available and can range from a small group of family or friends to hundreds, like a group of 360 travelers who headed to Chile for a solar eclipse.
After chatting with a SouthAmerica.Travel consultant, clients often rethink their bucket list to include recommendations that embrace the company’s commitment to authenticity. For example, have you always wanted to visit Machu Picchu? Keller suggests Kuelap instead. The Chachapoyas civilization site dates back approximately 1,500 years and is substantially larger than the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu. A recently installed cable car traverses 2.5 miles of the ascent, though there’s still a bit of hiking to reach the walled city (or ask your guide to hire a horse).
For those who prefer to stay closer to sea level, there’s still much to see. South America overflows with stunning architecture that creates a lasting mosaic of the continent’s ever-evolving cultural legacy. Keller and Nehring recommend two lesser-known spots in Brazil: Ouro Preto and Paraty.
Named Brazil’s first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980, Ouro Preto dates back to the late 17th century and represents its golden age. The old mining town, tucked in a secluded and inspiring landscape, was home to many artists of the Brazilian Baroque period and features many architectural works and religious monuments. A half day’s drive north from Rio, Paraty nestles into Baia Carioca on Brazil’s eastern shore. The coastal town shipped gold out of the mountains, and later coffee. In more recent years, tourists have rediscovered Paraty and the nearby archipelago and beaches for their unsurpassed beauty.
For those looking for pre-planned tours as a starting point, Kehler and Nehring’s decades of experience have been mined to create a shortlist of the top 15 South America tours. Whether you want to explore the entire continent or focus your travels on a specific country, SouthAmerica.Travel has compiled an array of offerings for every type of traveler.
The Pink Palace in Buenos Aires
Photo: San Hoyano
If you have the time and the resources, the 26-day South America Deluxe Tour begins in Lima, then heads to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley. From Peru, travelers then head to beautiful Buenos Aires (complete with a traditional tango show) and the nearby town of El Tigre. UNESCO World Heritage site Iguazu Falls comes next, seen from both Argentina and Brazil. The natural wonders continue with a train tour through the Atlantic rainforest, followed by the bustling energy of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil’s original capital, Salvador da Bahia. For a grand finale, the Tucano Amazon River Cruise carries passengers up the Rio Negro, which may include visits to local villages, jungle hikes, and plenty of time to take in the surroundings from the intimate river vessel.
Sometimes, travelers want to immerse themselves in the traditions of a single country. SouthAmerica.Travel offers several structured tours that can be customized depending on the customer’s interest. The 13-day Very Best of Argentina tour is such an itinerary and encompasses top tourist destinations and off-the-beaten-path discoveries. The barrios of Buenos Aires come alive with unique character and sites, from the legendary Colon Theatre in the city center to Palermo’s independent shops and cafes in the city’s northern section. Brazil’s natural wonders are equally enthralling in Bariloche (often called “the Aspen of the South”), Cerro Tronador, and Perito Moreno Glacier.
If you want to experience South America through your palate, consider a culinarythemed itinerary such as the South America Wine Tour, which offers vineyard tours of some of Argentina’s most notable winemakers in the Mendoza Valley as well as the lesser-known wines of Montevideo, Uruguay. Coffee lovers will love the caffeinated Columbia Coffee Tour, which heads to Pereira, Columbia’s coffee-growing region, and includes several nights in a traditional hacienda with the smell of freshly roasted beans close by.
Each tour is peppered with Kehler and Nehring’s favorite picks, destinations often more popular with the locals than tourists. “In Rio, we have two restaurants we value: Alla Zingara, where there are excellent Brazilian vegetarian choices! Yes, there are those as well in Brazil,” says Keller. “And then there is Churrascaria Palace, where the locals go and where we take our meathungry friends and family. We eat mostly exotic meats there, like wild boar or alligator and enjoy the extraordinary salad bar and sushi and sashimi options. It’s a very local experience rather than a high-end restaurant with a famous chef.”
It is these sorts of experiences that make a SouthAmerica.Travel itinerary an experience that feels as if it’s been planned by a friend rather than a tour operator. Still, Keller and Nehring’s global team needs to be at the top of their game to stay competitive in a market that’s been squeezed tight by the pandemic. A recent survey by Community Marketing & Insights shows that LGBTQ travelers are some of the most resilient and committed consumers in the industry. Respondents indicated (for the near future) that they’d feel “safest and most comfortable participatingin activities in outdoor spaces and without crowds,” which bodes well for SouthAmerica.Travel’s offerings. www.SouthAmerica.travel.
