Updated December 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.

PERU

IMPORTANT

• The new terminal at Lima Airport is scheduled to open on January 29, 2025. Costa del Sol is constructing two new hotels at the terminal: a 5-star hotel with 249 rooms, expected to open in March 2025, although some unofficial sources suggest it may be delayed until June 2025.
• The Costa del Sol 4-star and Holiday Inn at the current terminal will offer shuttle buses to the new terminal.
• Due to increased traffic in Lima, we recommend scheduling airport transfers with greater anticipation: 3 hours and 30 minutes for domestic and 4 hours and 30 minutes for international flights.
• The online sale of Machu Picchu tickets for 2025 will begin on December 19, 2024, according to the following schedule. For more details, see 'Machu Picchu New Rules 2025'.

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 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

• The Highest Climber Award at the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Awards was presented to Rafael (Lima), which climbed 27 spots to reach #19.
• 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.
• 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:

• The PERUMIN Convention, held annually in Arequipa, is scheduled for September 22 to 26 in 2025.

HOTELS

• New hotels are set to open in Miraflores, Lima, in 2025. A 133-room Sonesta and a Real InterContinental with ocean views on Malecón de la Reserva are scheduled for Q2. Meanwhile, the European chain Nhow plans to debut its first Nhow Design Hotel with 243 rooms in Q3.
• 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.

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

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• Vik Chile, the stunning wine hotel in the Colchagua Valley, located just 2 hours south of Santiago, has achieved second place among the World's Best Vineyards 2024. Additionally, its 2021 Vik Valle red blend from the Cachapoal Valley was recognized as the Chilean Wine of the Year in James Suckling's Top Chilean Wines 2024.
• Renowned wine critic James Suckling recently ranked the Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 among the top 5 Chilean wines. This outstanding wine, crafted in the Don Melchor vineyard south of Santiago, has also been awarded Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year honors. Originally planted over a century ago, the vineyard was revitalized after Concha y Toro's acquisition in 1968.

FLIGHTS

• Direct flights between Cusco and Santiago de Chile are offered 3 times weekly by Latam.

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 has inaugurated a new building of 70 rooms in November 2024.

ARGENTINA

IMPORTANT

• Starting November 4, 2024, entrance fees for national parks in Iguazu, El Calafate, Ushuaia 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'

SITES/ACTIVITIES

• 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 and on 24. November 2024 took the #1 spot in the list of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2024.
• Restaurant Trescha, also in Buenos Aires, received the Highest New Entry Award, securing the #33 spot on the list.
• 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

IMPORTANT

Bolivia is currently grappling with a fuel crisis and rising inflation, driven by an unsustainable economic model. Long queues at gas stations, a shortage of dollars, and growing concerns about economic stability have become part of daily life.

In Uyuni, where tourism operations rely heavily on fuel, tour operators are now limited to receiving only the amount of fuel strictly necessary to complete each tour.

FLIGHTS

• BoA has been offering 4 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 restaurant 'Gustu' has been ranked 38th among the top 50 restaurants in Latin America 2024. Check out the complete list here.