Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun, Peru

The Inti Raymi festival is one of the biggest and most impressive celebrations in Peru. It is a homage to the Sun, an important God in Inca Culture. The Inti Raymi is celebrated every June 24th – one of the shortest days in the southern hemisphere marking the beginning of a new year in the Andean´s Cosmovision.

The Sacsaywaman fortress, located just outside Cuzco is where the Inti Raymi festival takes place and it is was originally the most majestic and greatest of festivals of the Inca Empire. Today, the Inti Raymi evokes the splendid Inca ritual of yore, being carefully scripted by Cusco professors, archaeologists and historians.

On the day thousands of actors proudly bring the past alive, giving thanks to the sun god. The Inti Raymi starts in the square in front of the Qorikancha in Cuzco – also known as the Santo Domingo. The Sapa Inca honours, with an eloquently strong voice, the blessings of the Sun and after this initiation the procession moves with imperial dignity to Sacsaywaman.

At the top of the hill the Inca is carried on a royal litter and on arrival at the fortress the high priest performs the llama sacrifice offering a black and white llama. With a sharp ceremonial golden knife called a Tumi” he opens the animal’s chest. With his hands, he pulls out its throbbing heart, lungs and viscera and examines them, so he can predict the future. Later, the animal and its parts were completely incinerated.

After the sacrifice, the High Priest had to produce the “Sacred Fire”, where, standing in front of the Sun he had to get its rays in a concave gold medallion that contained a soft or oily material in order to produce the fire that had to be kept for the next year in the Qorikancha cathedral.

Once the ritual stages of the Inti Raymi were finished a huge celebration took place, with food music and dancing.

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Free exhibition of Basil Pau (Palin’s travel photographer)

The photographer Basil Pao has travelled around the world with Michael Palin for 25 years, documenting the presenter’s globe-trotting with truly stunning images. You can see some of his work here. If you want to see more why not go along to the free to access exhibition ‘Travels with Michael Palin’, running from 3 December 2012 to 25 January 2013, in the Royal Geographical Society pavilion in Kensington, London. What a lovely Christmas treat for the eyes that will be. It’s already in our diary.

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New Inca tomb discovered in peru

Pachacamac is a little-visited Inca ruin just outside Lima.

Earlier this year, archaeologists from a Belgian University discovered a mass burial tomb there, containing 80 skeletons and a number of babies. The mummified bodies were buried 1,000 years ago with wooden “heads”, and are thought to be diseased pilgrims drawn to the religious site in the hope of a miracle.

The tomb just off the Pan American highway is thought to date from AD 1000 and at 20-metres long is the largest to be found at Pachacamac. Experts are now hoping the discovery will help their understanding of the Inca people who lived in and around here.

Not many people going on holiday to Peru actually visit Pachacamac, but it is well worth it if youhave a spare day in Lima.

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Celebrity favourite hideaways in Latin America

Beyonce – Ponta los Ganchos, Brazil

Situated on a secluded private peninsular off the island of Florianoplis, Ponta los Ganchos has just 25 stand alone suites that all overlook a sparkling emerald sea. It is Brazil’s most exclusive resort, and many celebrities have holidayed here including Beyonce, Paul McCartney and Naomi Campbell. Its intimate sandy beach was named one of the ‘World’s Sexiest Beaches’ by Condé Nast Traveler.

Brad, Angelina and family – Galapagos islands

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie holidayed in April this year at the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. They were all seen splashing about in the water and their little boy Pax did some snorkelling.

The stunning islands are a wonderful family holiday destination as there is nowhere else in the world that you get so close to such an array of wildlife. Any adult or child will remember this for the rest of their lives.

Kelly Brook – Trancoso, Bahia, Brazil

In January Kelly Brook took off for a break in Bahia, Brazil. Bahia is where Brazil’s chi chi set go to let their hair down and has some of the most beautiful, tropical beaches. Kelly Brook was seen buying a teeny weeny bikini from a beach vendor and after running inside to get changed quickly, she leapt in and out of the ocean to keep cool. She described Bahia as ‘paradise’ and tweeted “Stars in Trancoso are Magical! Dreamy place”.

Katy Perry – Inca trail, Peru

We hear that Katy Perry is planning a long break from work and wants to spend three-months in South America. She will holiday with her brother and start off in Peru as she’s always wanted to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Naomi Campbell – Punta del Este, Uruguay

The Uruguayan Riviera contains some of the best beaches in South America and arguably the most glamorous. Punta del Este is ritzy, sexy and every bit as enjoyably flash as its European counterpart St Tropez. Very little is known of the Uruguay coast in the UK but to those in-the-know it is one of the most glamorous destinations in Latin America. The rich and famous flock here in Summer; you’ll see a heady mix of Argentines, Brazilians, New Yorkers and Europeans at the late-night art parties and fashion soirees. However if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, much of it remains a remote, unspoilt coastline of sandy beaches, rolling dunes, densely forested hills and shimmering lagoons.

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Our favourite sounds to wake up to in Latin America

A memorable travel experience is driven by the sights and sounds you encounter every day. All too often we think about our favourite holiday images or views but how often do we consider our favourite sounds? So we thought it would be interesting to discuss the sounds which have brought a travel experience to life and created a lasting impression. Here are our some of our favourite sounds to wake up to on holiday.

1. Tikal, Guatemala – The call of the Howler monkeys above your cabana

The most famous of all Maya sites, it doesn’t get much better than this. The setting is spell binding – encroached by tropical forest with steep pyramid temples that pierce the jungle canopy. Listening to the booming roar of the Howler monkeys as you explore the world of Indian Jones is a magical experience.

2. The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica – the sound of the Pacific Ocean breaking on the beach

The remote, pristine beaches lined with lush tropical jungle make this an idyllic place to relax and re-charge your batteries. Each morning you’ll wake up to hear the crash of the Pacific Ocean breaking on golden sands. Can you think of a better wake up call?

3. The Pantanal, Brazil – The bird songs celebrating the breaking of dawn

The Pantanal is best described as a small window of Africa in the heart of South America. It’s a haven for bird lovers with over 650 species of birds including 26 types of parrot. So as you can imagine there is nothing like it as dawn breaks in the Pantanal and you are awoken from your slumber to hear birdsong like no other.

4. Iguazu falls, Argentina –280 waterfalls crashing over the cliffs

Iguazu Falls are known throughout the world as one of the most beautiful and majestic natural waterfalls man has ever seen. If you take the 1km walkway built across the river you’ll see a wondrous sight of 280 waterfalls creating one thunderous waterfall plunging into a 3 km long gorge – known as Devil’s throat.

5. The Inca Trail, Peru – surrounded by snow-capped peaks you experience a magical silence

Very rarely in the western world do you get to enjoy the feeling of having complete silence around you! Walking in the high Andes at between 2450 m & 4000 m on the Inca Trail, you will experience this as well as dazzling views and scenery. When you reach Machu Picchu on the slopes above the Urubamba River, you will find you are enveloped in a magical silence.

6. The Turneffe Islands, Belize – the sound of the ocean breaking against the reef

The Turneffe Islands are actually a series of atolls (an atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely). This means that when you stay on Turneffe you are completely encircled by a coral reef. So all day every day you hear the wonderfully rhythmic sound of the waves breaking against the reef. Paradise found.

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – the greatest city in the world, slowly waking up

Rio is famous for its natural splendour, upbeat atmosphere, carnival celebrations and beautiful beaches including Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Waking up here to the sound of this magnificent urban paradise stirring and whirring into life is something everyone should experience. Do you know anyone who went to Rio who didn’t have a wonderful time?

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Our Favourite travel books

We promised we’d come back to you with some more great reads for holidays to South and Central America – so here are some more of our favourite books for travellers to Peru, Chile and Mexico. We’d love to hear about your favourites too, so do let us know.

Chile

My invented country, by Isabel Allende

My Invented Country is a memoir in which truth is most definitely stranger than fiction. Exploring the events of her life and those of the country (Chile) in which she lived until the assassination of her father’s cousin, President Salvador Allende, in Pinochet’s military coup, Allende takes us on a highly personal tour through her homeland, bringing it to life. This is where her grandfather saw the devil on a bus, recognizing him because of his “green cloven hooves like a billy goat,” and her great aunt sprouted wings. It is a place of love charms, ghosts, and continual family feuds. Her experiences make for unforgettable, often hilarious reading that help bring Chile to life for a traveller.

Peru
Inca-Kola, by Matthew Parris

Inca-Kola is the funny, absorbing account of Matthew Parris’s fourth trip to Peru, on a bizarre holiday which takes him among
bandits, prostitutes, peasants and riots. He and his three companions seem to head into trouble, not away from it, and he describes the troubles, curiosities and wonders they meet with the spell-binding fascination of a traveller relating adventures over the campfire. The Times comments ‘A backpacker’s classic: atmospheric, touching, instructive and compulsively readable’.

Mexico
A Trip to the Light Fantastic: Travels with a Mexican Circus, by Katie Hickman

Evocative and entertaining, A Trip to the Light Fantastic dives into the lives of a troupe of Mexican circus performers. Hickman’s unforgettable account of her epic year-long journey through an extraordinary and beautiful country has power and richness. She went to Mexico looking for magic and she found it in the circus with nights filled with glitter, sequins and illusion. Gradually adjusting to the tough ways of the circus’s nomadic lifestyle she soon becomes pulled into this hypnotic new world. Hickman’s unforgettable account of her epic year-long journey through an extraordinary and bizarrely beautiful country has
all the power and richness of a novel

The Mayans
Popol Vu: The Definitive Edition of the Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life and the glories of gods and kings, translated by Dennis Tedlock

If you’d going to visit some Mayan ruins and would like to know more about the Mayan way of life this is the book for you. Researched and written by a man who became an apprentice to a present-day priest of Mayan ancestry, Popol Vuh is viewed as the most important text in the native languages of the Americas. Originally written in Mayan hieroglyphs, it was translated into the Roman alphabet in the sixteenth century. It begins with the deeds of Mayan gods in the darkness of a primeval sea and ends with the radiant splendour of the Mayan lords who founded the Quiché kingdom in the Guatemalan highlands. It gets five stars from reviewers on Amazon and the Los Angeles Times said ‘The volume is required reading for everyone seriously interested in Native American literature or in Meso-American cultural history.’

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Inca Trail tour top tips

The Inca Trail is not an overly physically demanding trek as the trek is done over several days, but the altitude can make it gruelling. Choosing good hiking gear will ensure that you’re enjoying your surroundings and not complaining about your twisted ankle or cold sleeping bag.

The most famous trek in the Americas – perhaps the world – the Inca Trail tour offers a unique and unrivalled combination of history and spectacular scenery. Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is awe-inspiring and over the four days you will not only see some of the more remote Inca ruins of Peru, but you will also learn about the Inca way of life. The trek has some of the most spectacular scenery in Peru as you walk along rivers, through cloud forests, local villages and in the shadows of 6,000 metre peaks. All of which leads to the emerald peaks and terraced ruins of the mystical ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Here are our tips:

The best time to visit is May through September. Sure, it’s the busy season (especially June to August), but it’s also the dry season. And trust us, you don’t want to visit during rainy season! Note that the Inca Trail is closed February.
Make your Inca Trail reservations several months in advance – up to a year if you’re going during peak season. You can only visit with a licensed agency, and spots book up quickly.
No matter what time of year, the trail gets cold at night. Bring a warm sleeping bag and layer your clothes, though we can provide sleeping bags if you don’t want to carry yours for your whole holiday!
Listen for shouts of “PORTERO” – If you hear shouts of “PORTERO”, be ready to let a stout Peruvian travelling at speed past. These porters show incredible stamina and resilience and deserve your respect. They are the descendants of the civilisation responsible for constructing the paved trail that weaves it way through the mountain passes, the amazing irrigated terraces and of course the magnificent Machu Picchu.
If you can’t get an Inca Trail reservation, don’t despair. There’s always the Salkantay Trek, which now has lodges to sleep in instead of tents with the Mountain lodes of Peru.
Altitude sickness is serious and can ruin your trip. The biggest mistake you can make is to fly directly to Cuzco (3326m/10,910ft) and expect to hike the next day. Give yourself at least three nights in Cuzco few days to adjust to the altitude first, or alternatively visit other areas such as Arequipa or the sacred Valley to help acclimatise as they are slightly lower than Cuzco.

To find out more about a trip to Peru and Machu Picchu call us on:

UK +44 (0) 207 6106020
US +1-866-724 1590

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Cuzco – now a chi chi Latin city

Once it was just a stopping off point en route to Machu Picchu, but now Cuzco has suddenly become rather chic. It could be down to gastronomy – there are quite a few celebrity chefs setting up restaurants – or perhaps it’s the lovely fashion boutiques which are appearing on many of the cobbled streets. Whatever it is, we are delighted that Cuzco has become such a delightful stepping stone to the majestic Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

Where to stay

La Casona Hotel. Eleven suites surround a sumptuous courtyard, where the history of time has been tastefully preserved. Furnished with antiques, and decorated with original architectural details this is probably the best place to stay in Cuzco.

In July there are two new five-star hotels opening. The first is the opulent Orient Express run Palacio Nazarenas with doubles from £315; it is in a beautiful old convent and will be the only hotel in Cuzco with its own pool. The next is the JW Marriott set in a converted church and we like the fact that all rooms have oxygen machines to help alleviate altitude sickness.

What to see

The city has a curious characterwith its huge walls of intricately laid stone and narrow cobbled streets. A great place to see Cuzco life unfold is the Plaza de Armas – probably the most beautiful in the world with the dominant sixteenth century cathedral and 17th centuray church next door both of which are surrounded by colonial buildings with balconies. The Inca Museum is also a must see, built on Inca foundations its exhibits include, carved ceremonial goblets, weavings, mummies, silver and gold figurines, as well as Inca weapons and tools.

What to eat

The diverse population and climate make Peruvian cuisine one of the most exciting in the world. You have the pungent heat of Spanish tastes brought over from Cortes and, through immigration, influences from China and Japan. So it’s no surprise that Ceviche – bite-size pieces of white fish marinated raw in lime juice mixed with chilli’s – is one of the most sought after dishes. One of the best places to try it is at Chicha Cuzco, overlooking the charming Plaza Regocijo and managed by Peru’s most famous chef Gaston Acurio. Set in an airy loft like setting on the second floor of an old colonial house, it has high ceilings and an open kitchen. The menu is very reasonably priced too.

Recently you may have read about Peruvian cuisine as an international food trend – indeed there were two high profile London restaurant openings in January alone, including Lima London and Coya.

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Planning the perfect holiday at the perfect time

One of the most common questions we’re asked by customers is “We’ve always wanted to go to Brazil (or Argentina or Guatemala) and when is the best time to visit?” For others who are constrained by a set time it’s more a question of “Where do you think we should go in March (or June or November)?”. So we thought a monthly guide on where to go and when in South and Central America would be helpful. Do let us know what you think.

January
Mexico’s Caribbean coast

Why not escape the British winter and celebrate New Year basking in the sunshine of Mexico’s Caribbean coast – the Mayan Riviera. With hundreds of miles of perfect, white-sand beaches with clear turquoise waters, hotels to suit every budget and some great flight deals available it’s a great choice.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is an undiscovered gem. It’s what Costa Rica was like years ago – untouched and with little infrastructure. The Corn Islands off the Eastern coast have pristine white beaches and a typically Caribbean atmosphere. If you’re looking for a bit more luxury, you’ll find it on the Western Pacific coast at Morgan’s Rock (probably one of the best beach lodges in the America’s) and Punta Teonoste, which is a perfect place to get away from it all. The colonial towns of Leon and Granada are a must see and those with an adventurous spirit will like the Rio Indio lodge at the end of the Rio San juan.

February
Salvador, Brazil

No doubt, the carnival parade in Rio is maybe the most visually beautiful spectacle in the world, but if you are looking for real fun, the Salvador Carnival is the place to go. It’s no coincidence that thousands of Brazilians come to Salvador every carnival. In Rio you are a spectator of the parade, whereas in the Salvador Carnival you are the show. This is by far the biggest street party in the world with around 2 million people participating in the parades over six consecutive days.

Costa Rica

It’s the dry season in Costa Rica so it’s the perfect time to visit most areas. Nature lovers can explore the country’s volcanoes and rainforests to see beautiful poison dart frogs, cloud forests, macaws, hummingbirds and the elusive quetzal. Costa Rica is a heaven for adventurers with rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horse-riding, surfing and zip-lining through the forest canopy.

March
Soberania, Panama

Panama is frequently described as “Central America’s best-kept secret” due to its rich history, incredible natural beauty and an astounding degree of biodiversity. If you’re passionate about birding this really is the place to be with over nine hundred bird species – more than in Costa Rica or in the whole of North America. Soberania is a world famous destination among birdwatchers – and March is one of the best times to come as it’s mostly dry.

Patagonia, Chile

This is the last month of the season in Chilean Patagonia as from April through to September Patagonia can become inaccessible. People looking to get off the beaten track will find Patagonia blissful as this is one of the most remote and beautiful areas of the world. It has lush forests, deep fjords, spectacular shaped mountains and awe inspiring glaciers. Expect to see an abundance of wildlife including llama, guanaco, rhea, condors and Magellan penguins.

April
The Cayes, Belize

These tiny Caribbean islands are good value for money at this time of year, as prices begin to drop. And if you’re looking to get away from high-rise hotels, over the top resorts and crowded dive and snorkelling sites, then this is the right spot for you! The Cayes have two stunning atolls and miles of barrier reef, much of which is totally unexplored and all of it is easily accessible by boat. Why not snorkel off the Turneffe islands or dive the infamous Blue Hole made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1972 – it’s almost 1000 feet in diameter and over 450 feet deep!

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, the ‘lost city of the Incas’ is a world famous destination so it can get very crowded. We recommend going either at the beginning or the end of the dry season (April to October) when there are fewer travellers. For us April is a truly special month with the orchids along the Inca trail in full bloom and the rivers ideal for white water rafting.

May
Galapagos Islands
A trip to the Galapagos Island is the journey of a lifetime; offering you a magical opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat who are completely unafraid of man. There are two seasons – the warm season is January to June and the dry Season July to December. May is a wonderful month with sunny clear skies and warm seas. You can snorkel with penguins and sea-lions and get close to penguins and flamingos. You’ll see waved albatrosses laying their eggs as well as green sea turtles hatching and marine iguana eggs.

Costa Rica Pacific
The sun drenches the land from November until the end of May; and the remote, pristine beaches lined with lush tropical jungle make this an idyllic place to relax and re-charge your batteries. You’ll find some of Costa Rica’s most exclusive beach retreats here on the Nicoya Peninsula. If you’re feeling more energetic why not learn to surf – the Pacific coast presents one of the best stretches of surfing coastline in the world.

June
Cuzco, Peru
The Inca festival of the Sun ‘Inti Raymi’ is held in Cuzco every June. Tens of thousands of people come here from other parts of Peru and South America for the celebrations that last an entire week. There are parades, dancing, street fairs, music and there is even a re-enactment of a llama sacrifice (just in case any of you are faint-hearted, it’s fake). After this you can take the short drive to the Sacred Valley with its fertile valleys, white water rivers, colourful markets and hiking trails.

Brazil
In June the weather in Brazil is perfect. You can expect temperatures in the mid-twenties on the coast in the south and low thirties further north and all without the rain. This is also the best time to see the mighty Iguazu Falls as with less water coming over the canyons there are actually more individual waterfalls!

July
Ecuador
Ecuador is a diverse country offering everything from colourful markets to colonial towns and snow-capped volcanoes to Amazonia jungle. July’s dry, warm weather is perfect for trekking, climbing or horseriding holidays here and the tropical vegetation is still lush and green. One of the most authentic and off the beaten track expeditions we offer is to the Huaorani Lodge on the edge of the Amazon where you can meet the people of this unique Indian settlement that still maintains all of their original ways of life.

Northwest Argentina
This is a relatively unknown region of Argentina – explore the multi-coloured valleys and canyons of Calchaques, visit the ancient pre-Inca ruins of Quilmes, walk through narrow canyons to hidden waterfalls, or sample wine from the many vineyards. Take the famous ‘Train to the clouds’, the highest in the world built in 1932 which begins in Salta and ends in La Polvarilla – the highest point at 4220m. The trip takes approximately 15 hours and passes through some incredibly striking scenery.

August
Pantanal, Brazil
The Amazon maybe better known but the Pantanal is a superior place to see wildlife. In the Amazon, the animals hide in the dense foliage so you will always hear more than you can see, but in the open spaces of the Pantanal, wildlife is highly visible. From May to October, the world’s biggest wetland area drains into the Amazon River to the north and through the River Plate to the south, and as the month’s progress the wet lands subside. This leaves behind small pockets of water, trapping the fish, which in turn attracts large numbers of migratory birds and resident mammals.

Bolivia
Bolivia’s population is 90% indigenous and travelling around this fascinating country is an adventure. You don’t find the high levels of luxury found elsewhere on the continent, but you will find an array of spectacular scenery. The Bolivian Amazon (or the Yunga’s as they are known) is where the Andes meet the Amazon – you’ll find small mountains draped in jungle and a wide variety of wildlife. The Uyuni salt flats are the largest in the world and are difficult to reach, but worth the journey. Most people visit Bolivia during their Winter (May-October) because of the dry, clear days.

September
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Fernando de Noronha’s weather is tropical with heat and sun all through the year – however September is a great month with average temperatures of 30 oC. Honeymooners will adore Brazil’s best and most exclusive hideaway, its 22 beaches have been fabled as an eco-wonderland. It offers a range of attractions that include snorkelling, diving, walking as well as wildlife and its beaches are regularly voted as the best in Brazil. Being a national park island it limits the amount of people on the island at any one time, which will hopefully preserve this pocket of paradise.

North East Brazil
The North East coast of Brazil is still hot at this time of year and there is no better place to get away from it all than the Marau Peninsula. To get to this remote paradise hotel, you take a private plane from Salvador landing just 100 meters from the reception, after a 35-minute scenic flight. The eco-luxury resort of Kiaroa is situated on an endless deserted beach with crystalline water and natural pools which are ideal for swimming in – you can walk for miles and you won’t see a soul.

October
Buenos Aires, Argentina
It is early spring in Buenos Aires right now and the city is warming up. Known as the ‘Paris of South America’ it’s a fascinating, colourful city with a European feel. What’s more eating out is really affordable – so you can indulge yourself dining al fresco in the rejuvenated and hip Palermo Soho with all the new boutique hotels and bars. Then dance the night away in San Telmo!

The Atacama Desert, Chile
The Atacama Desert is a haven for adventure and in the past few years some superb hotels have been built in and around the adobe town of San Pedro de Atacama. The landscape is positively lunar and when the sun sets and rises in the Valley de la Luna the hues of colours are amazing. The area also has salt flats, geysers, pre-Inca ruins and is surrounded by numerous 5,000 and 6,000 metre volcanoes.

November
Guatemala
November is an ideal month to explore Guatemala – the heartland of the ancient world of the Mayans – as it’s fairly dry. Unlike most of Latin America, the majority of the local people are still indigenous Indian and many still wear their colourful, traditional costume. The beautiful colonial city of Antigua is located close to the capital making it an ideal first point of call. Then head on to see Tikal probably the most impressive of the ancient Mayan cities, set deep in the rainforest and an absolute must.

Uruguay
Uruguay has year round good weather, but from November onwards the temperatures steadily increase making it a perfect beach destination after a visit to Argentina or Chile. The new Playa VIK hotel has set a gold standard, but the Posada del Faro and the Casa Suaya are both excellent alternatives. Around the small fishing village of Jose Ignacio are numerous activities from horse riding and surfing to beach combing and watching the fisherman bring in their catch – a time when the local restaurants vie for the best fish for your dinner!

December
The Bay Islands, Honduras
Located in amongst the second longest barrier reef in the world the Bay Islands spectacular coral-reef systems are home to some 96% of all species of marine life known to inhabit the Caribbean! Prices remain remarkably low, making the Bay Islands a great place to learn, and in turn love, scuba diving. December is a great month to visit because hurricane season (June to November) has ended plus its lobster season so you can indulge yourself in a fantastically fresh, incredibly cheap, sustainably fished lobster dinner.

Antarctica
Join an exclusive group of intrepid travellers and take an Antarctic voyage past Cape Horn, across the Drake Passage to the peninsula. It’s Summer in the White Continent and being unimaginably rich in fauna the southern ocean is a constant drama. Get close to penguins, seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins and albatrosses. With each boat limited to about 50 passengers there is an intimate, friendly atmosphere and there are educational lectures on board.

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Tips for getting some sleep on planes

Many of us have problems dozing off whilst flying and a good sleep when flying long distance can make all the difference to how we feel when we arrive at our destination. Having spent thousands of hours in the air exploring the globe the Latin Odyssey team have had plenty of practise perfecting the art of nodding off in-flight. So here are some of our top tips which we hope will help.

1. Not everyone can afford a seat in a flat bed in first class. So the trick is to score the best possible seat in economy. A window seat is usually best as you can have control of the window blind, and you dont have to deal with your fellow passengers clambouring over you to go to the toilet. Plus you can lean your head against the wall of the plane. Engine noise tends to be loudest towards the end of the plane so avoid this. Dont sit close to the galley or the toilet as people often congregate and chat. Finally dont go for a seat in front of the emergency exit as these often dont recline. To get one of these prime seats look at Seatguru.com to check out your plane’s seating plan and check in online as soon as possible.

2.What you put in your body whilst you are at 9,000m can have a big impact on how your body relaxes. It’s best to have a light meal before you plan to have a sleep. Try to eat foods which contain tryptophan (a calming amino acid) such as fish, turkey and cottage cheese. Avoid gas producing foods like brocolli, beans, wheat and potatoes if you can.

3. What you wear is also important. Whilst rocking up in a pair of pajama’s clearly isnt feasible, being comfortable is achieveable. Always travel with plenty of soft layered clothing and your two essentials – ear plugs and an eye mask. Not every airline provides these so best to pack these yourself. Also it’s best to ask for a blanket as soon as you board as sometimes there arent enough for everyone and a blanket helps to make you feel cosy. Lastly, it’s wise to tell the steward you’re planning to go to sleep so they dont wake you up for meals.

Sleep tight..

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Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun, Peru

Free exhibition of Basil Pau (Palin’s travel photographer)

New Inca tomb discovered in peru

Celebrity favourite hideaways in Latin America

Our favourite sounds to wake up to in Latin America

Our Favourite travel books

Inca Trail tour top tips

Cuzco – now a chi chi Latin city

Planning the perfect holiday at the perfect time

Tips for getting some sleep on planes

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