Pure Destinations | Holiday Builder, Trips, Resorts

Michelle embarks on the best South America Tours

Specializing in tailor made holidays to South America, Latin Routes began in a small office above a pizza shop and has been growing ever since. Latin Routes are now considered as one of the industry’s highly regarded success stories with award winning publications. Recently, Latin Routes flew our Store Manager Michelle off to South America to discover the magical wonders of Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls National Park and Rio. Scroll down to discover her favourite parts…

 

British Airways Flight

“Flying with British Airways on business class was the most wonderful experience to start off my trip, the flight was 14 hours and I am very thankful to have flown business class. The seats were comfy and you could turn them into a flat bed using the footstall that comes down at the back of the opposite seat. I enjoyed a wonderful 3-course meal and took advantage of the unlimited drinks menu, which had a selection of wines and spirits. On board entertainment was brilliant, my personal TV was adjustable and offered a collection of TV series, music and the latest films.”

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is made up of a lively city center with little suburbs scattered around it. Staying in the city center is the best option when in Buenos Aires, you can easily travel to and from the multiple regions as transport fees are cheap.

“A walking tour is a must-do, you will get a real feel for the city where you can see more than if you were doing a bus tour. Buenos Aires center reminds me of Paris, with its colonial buildings, open parks and dainty cafes.”

“A visit to Le Recoleta Cemetery is a wonderful place to visit, there were memorials and tombs that were out of this world. The statues and tombs were designed with intricate detailing’s, which was a very impressive sight to see.”

“If you want to fit in with the locals, a trip to the Sunday Rag market will have you purchasing anything from retro telephones, signs and used bits and bobs.”

“I really enjoyed the Tango show Buenos Aires, it was very entertaining and fun to watch, I would really recommend this to couples and honeymooners. It’s a great way to begin your evening, watching the talented dancers perform while enjoying and exquisite dinner.”

There are many neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. If you’re looking for upmarket shops and boutiques you may want to visit Palermo, which is only 20 minutes from the city center. For gourmet restaurants, spend an afternoon in Recoleta, which also showcases a range of galleries and cafes. For an interesting sightseeing tour visit Caminito, a small residential suburb. This place takes you to a whole new ambient, expect vibrant retro buildings with Italian and Argentinian influences, a distant contrast of the colonial center of Buenos Aires.

The Hotels:

 Alvera Palace: High-end budget

“Alvera Palace is a very high end hotel, from the moment you walk in to the moment you reach your hotel room, you can feel the grand presence through the furnishings and interiors. This hotel has a very romantic appeal to it; I would recommend this for couples. The views of the city are evident from the rooms, which adds to the experience, giving a calm and relaxing ambience. I stopped by to have some lunch in the restaurant and the buffet was very fancy, with a La Carte delights.”

Hotel Moreno: Small luxury 3 star, good for those on a budget

“Hotel Moreno was stylish and modern and located in a really good area, when you set outside of the hotel it doesn’t really matter where you turn as you’ll end up by main sights, shops and restaurants. Everything is situated just 5 minutes away. A really good highlight of this hotel is their breakfast room; set on the top floor you can enjoy city view panoramas, whether it’s inside or on the wrap around balcony. Next door to this hotel is the Bebop Jazz Club, which is a highly recommended place to hang out.”

La Pampas – Argentine Ranch

“Located just 2 hours from Buenos is the lush country side with stunning views of acres upon acres of green landscapes. Couples can be greeted upon arrival by horse and carriage for a romantic treat. Staying on the ranch is a truly wonderful experience, designed to get you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Wi-Fi is only available in one communal room and dinner is served communally on the ranches deck or garden, allowing you to mingle with other guests if you wish. Of course, a visit to the ranch involves a horse ride experience, lasting 45 minutes; you can enjoy blissful countryside views on horseback. If the thought of getting married on these beautiful grounds appeal to you, you can do so from £35,000 for a week’s hire. “

Iguazu Falls National Park

“If there’s one place to get the ultimate WOW factor, it has to be at the spectacular Iguazu National Park.”

There are 4 different ways to see the Iguazu Falls, from the Argentina side, the Brazilian side, by boat or helicopter. The falls are in Argentina but in the border, so can be seen on the Brazilian Side. All together there are an outstanding 275 individual waterfalls. As well as the waterfalls, you can spend some time spotting the natural habitats within the park from exotic butterflies, lizards and Jaguars.”

“All views of the falls were absolutely mesmerizing and majestic, but personally I preferred the Argentina side, as you really get to see the scale of the falls.”

“We took a speedboat to get up close to the falls, which was really amazing. Another great way to see the falls is via the boardwalk.”

Hotels:

 

Belmond Das Cataratas: For high-end budgets

“For those that have a little extra budget should really consider staying at Belmond Das Cataratas, from your modern bedroom you’ll get to hear the waterfalls. This hotel is also the closest hotel to the falls and offers access to the falls boardwalk, which can be used by guests even when the park is closed.”

Mecure Hotel – A more affordable choice

“Mecure Hotel is only a few years old, but offers intimate living for its guests. It is still set within the park and is surrounded by dense jungle, with just 100 guest rooms.”

Rio

“The stigma behind Rio is that it is unsafe and homes the poor, throughout my time in Rio, I never felt unsafe and thought that the area was very clean and friendly.”

“You can expect plenty of beach, Ocean and mountains in Rio, as well as many shanti towns to explore. Copoacabana beach is family-friendly and offers plenty of sports, from beach volleyball to watersports. There is even a separate running and cyclist track besides the main road and gym apparatus hot points.

“Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ Redeemer are two fabulous must-dos! To reach Sugarloaf Mountain take a cable car, which has an interval stop. You’ll see monkeys on the highest peak. To get to Christ Redeemer you will need to take the metro, the seats are angled so you get the best possible views, it is recommend to book tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.”

Hotels:

 

“While the hotels aren’t exclusively luxury, Rio offers a fine collection of budget luxury hotels, which are modern and stylish”

Belmond Copacabana Palace – High-end luxury

“Belmond Copacabana Palace is set in a 1920s building and was one of my favourite hotels in Rio. It’s right on the beach yet you get a really personal and intimate feel when staying there, even if you are surrounded by the city’s hustle and bustle.”

Hotel Santa Teresa – High-end luxury

“Set away from Rio’s lively hub, Santa Teresa is positioned up in the hills and is accessible by bus or car. The hotel’s interiors are very artistic and create a place of rejuvenation and comfort. Amy Whinehouse once stayed in Hotel Santa Teresa, and below is the exact room in which she spent time in. I would recommend guests to stay here for a couple of nights to end their Rio holiday in comfort and style.”