Updated November 17th, 2024

Our latest update on Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil regarding travel to/from our destinations.

Peru, Argentina, and Brazil are currently grappling with a notable surge in dengue cases. These outbreaks predominantly affect underprivileged areas and are exacerbated by moderate temperatures. If you intend to travel to any of these destinations in the near future, we strongly advise consulting with your general practitioner whether a Dengue vaccination should be considered.

Please note that for travel within South America, we recommend a layover of 2 hours for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.

PERU

IMPORTANT

• The new terminal at Lima airport is set to open on January 29th, 2025, boasting triple the capacity of its current counterpart. Costa del Sol is building 2 new hotels at the terminal: a 5-star hotel with 249 rooms, opening in April 2025, and a 3-star hotel with 338 rooms, planned for 2027.
• The Costa del Sol 4-star and Holiday Inn at the current terminal will offer shuttle buses to the new terminal.
• Construction work is currently impacting the routes from Arequipa and Colca to Puno. The project is expected to last for around six months, causing delays of 1 to 2 hours on both routes.
• New routes for Machu Picchu and details on online ticket purchases since August 5 can be found under 'Machu Picchu New Rules 2024'.

FLIGHTS

• There will be daily direct flights by LATAM between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado from November 2024 to March 2025. In August, September, and October 2024, and April and May 2025, flights will run daily except Thursdays and Fridays.
• Latam will operate direct flights from Lima to Huaraz starting in July.
• Latam has resumed direct flights between Cusco and Santiago de Chile (3 times weekly)
• Latam has increased frequencies Lima and Mendoza from 3 to 5 flights. Check out our '7 Insider Tips To Explore Mendoza wine region'.

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• Currently, there are long lines for the shuttle buses to and from Machu Picchu due to a reduced number of buses in operation. We recommend planning at least an hour for the ride up to Machu Picchu and another hour for the return trip to Aguas Calientes, especially during the high season from June 1st to October 15th and December 30-31.
• We highly recommend purchasing your Machu Picchu tickets at least 45 days before your planned visit. With the recent launch of our online ticketing system, demand has surged, making it essential to secure your tickets well in advance
• Access to Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain via Cusipata community is suspended since November 2023. You can find a map with the alternative route via Pitumarca in our Vinicunca blog article.
• Four Lima restaurants made the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2024: Maido at No. 5, Kjolle at No. 16 and Mayta at No. 41.

TRAINS

• The check-in for the Belmond Andean Explorer train journeys starting in Cusco will take place at the Hotel Monasterio. Starting from June 4th, live music and welcome drinks will be offered during check-in in the colonial chapel of the Monasterio. The subsequent transfer to the Wanchaq train station will also be organized by Belmond.
• Due to the high demand for Machu Picchu tickets and the limited daily visitor capacity, the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train can ensure the purchase of Machu Picchu tickets for its passengers only if their personal data have been submitted well in advance. The latest deadline for submitting this information is 45 days prior to the travel date.

SPECIAL DATES

The following corporate events to be held in Peru will have an impact on hotel availability/rates:

• In 2024, CADE will take place in Arequipa from November 26 to 28.
• The PERUMIN Convention, held annually in Arequipa, is scheduled for September 22 to 26 in 2025.

HOTELS

• Ananay Hotels announced the opening of two new boutique properties: Casa Clara in Cusco and Palacio Guaqui in Arequipa. Both hotels will be available for bookings starting in November 2024.
• Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Machu Picchu is not accepting reservations after May 16, 2025, due to uncertainty over the renewal of its operating contract. Futher updates are pending.
• On September 15th, 2024, Villa Barranco hotel in Lima opened another block of rooms, adding 9 more to its existing inventory. This expansion will bring the total number of rooms at the property to 18.
• The Nunu Boutique Hotel in the Sacred Valley changed ownership on July 1st, 2024. It is currently unclear whether any renovations or other changes will occur under the new management.
• On October 1st, Las Torres Patagonia reopened, unveiling its remodeled rooms.

ECUADOR

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• The entrance fee to Galapagos Islands for foreign visitors will double from USD 100 to USD 200 starting in August 2024.

CHILE

FLIGHTS

• LATAM’s direct flights between Sydney and Santiago de Chile resumed on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, operating four times a week with departures from Sydney on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Condé Nast Traveler named San Pedro de Atacama among 'The Best Places to Go in South America' for 2024, highlighting must-visit spots like Chaxa Lagoon and ALMA Observatory. Check out our San Pedro blog for insider tips.
• Direct flights between Cusco and Santiago de Chile are offered 3 times weekly by Latam
• Latam has resumed flights between Santiago de Chile and Easter Island (4 a week). Flight schedule and our tips for a 3-day visit in our latest blog article.
• Latam resumed direct flights between Santiago de Chile and Sydney, with a convenient frequency of 4x a week.

HOTELS

• Two Chilean hotels made Travel + Leisure's 2024 list of the 100 best hotels in the world. Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, ranked 19th, is an intimate all-inclusive in the Chilean desert, currently closed under renovation and will reopen in March 2025. Hotel Casa Real in Santiago, ranked 40th, is a 19th-century property on a 40-hectare estate that was the summer home of the Santa Rita winery founder.
• Cabo de Hornos Hotel, one of our preferred options in Punta Arenas, is expanding with the construction of a new building of 70 rooms expected to open in November 2024.

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• In the 'World's Best Vineyard 2023' awards, 2 outstanding Chilean vineyards made it to the top 10, Vik Chile secured the third position, with Montes ranking at number 7. For valuable insights into exploring the wine regions near Santiago de Chile, delve into our comprehensive guide: 'Discovering the Main Wine Regions Near Santiago de Chile'.
• Virgilio Martinez, the Peruvian owner of 'Central' ( World's Best Restaurant 2023), has designed a gastronomic proposal exclusively for Explora Atacama.

ARGENTINA

IMPORTANT

• Starting November 4, 2024, entrance fees for national parks in Iguazu, El Calafate, and El Chalten have increased by approximately 20%.
• As part of Argentina's open skies policy, new carriers such as Humming Airways and American Jet are planning to enter the market in 2025, offering regular regional flights. Meanwhile, low-cost airline JetSmart has announced plans to expand its fleet, aiming to operate over 236 weekly flights across 20 national and international routes.

FLIGHTS

• Sky increased its operations in Argentina from 24 weekly flights in 2019 to 44 in 2024, adding routes like Buenos Aires–Lima, Santiago–Bariloche, and soon Santiago – El Calafate (only twice a week from December to February 2025).
• Latam has resumed direct flights Lima - Salta 3x weekly. The city of Salta in Northwest Argentina has been chosen as part of 'The Top Global Destinations for Architecture Lovers' compiled by the British site Buildworld.
• Latam has increased its frequencies between Lima and Mendoza with 4 flights weekly (daily Thursdays to Sundays). Check out our '7 Insider Tips To Explore Mendoza wine region'

HOTELS

• Casa Lucia, considered one of the sexiest new hotels for 2024, is welcoming guests from January 15th, 2024. Formerly Sofitel Arroyo, it is now part of the prestigious 5-star Unico brand, offering 142 rooms in a building inspired by the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. With a priviledged location in Recoleta, Casa Lucía is poised to elevate the 5-star experience in the Argentine capital.

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• Catena Zapata has claimed the top spot in the 'World's Best Vineyards 2023', followed by Bodega Salentein at #9, and El Enemigo Wines at #10. Head over to our post 7 Insider Tips To Explore Mendoza Wine Region for more valuable insights into navigating the Mendoza wine region.
• Puerto Iguazu has a new gourmet market/hall aiming to highlight local flavors and products. At Yabuticaba Mercadito de la Selva visitors can also sample wines and craft beers in a natural setting, reminicent of the local jungle.

RESTAURANTS

• In 2024, Don Julio steakhouse in Buenos Aires ranked in the top 10 of the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
• In the Leloir Palace, a building from 1903 that houses the Italian Circle, a new gastronomic proposal has emerged. The Bravo restaurant combines flavors of Italy cradled in Argentine DNA with Beaux-Arts architecture. It is complemented by a secret cellar and a garden surrounded by greenery in the heart of the Recoleta district. Its spaces can also be rented for private events.
• The prestigious Michelin guide is broadening its reach in Latin America by introducing a new edition in Argentina, focusing on Buenos Aires and Mendoza. Find Michelin's first selection here.

BRAZIL

FLIGHTS

• Starting in December 2024, SKY will launch a new route connecting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Montevideo, Uruguay.

SITE / ACTIVITIES

• Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Salta (Argentina) in South America were chosen as part of 'The Top Global Destinations for Architecture Lovers' compiled by the British site Buildworld

VISA FOR US, CANADA & AUSTRALIA

• The government has decided to postpone the reinstatement of visa requirements for citizens of the US, Australia, and Canada, which was initially scheduled for April 2024. As a result, the current visa exemption will remain valid for tourist purposes until April 9th 2025. For entries beyond this date, visa applications will only be accepted through the official website https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/, without the involvement of intermediaries.

HOTELS

• Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Copacabana has reopened this August following an extensive renovation

BOLIVIA

FLIGHTS

• Since August, BoA has been offering three direct flights per week from La Paz to Lima.
• Avianca has resumeed direct flight connection between La Paz and Cusco 4 times weekly (on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) in both directions.
• BoA and Ecojet are serving the route La Paz - Uyuni with 6 flights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday. The full schedule and other insider tips to enhance your journey to Uyuni can be found in our 6 Tips For An Enhanced Travel Experience in Uyuni blog article.

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• La Paz's restaurants 'Gustu' and 'Ancestral' have made it to the top 100 restaurants in Latin America, ranking 45 and 62 respectively. Check out the complete list here.