South America
Small Ship Expedition Cruise Company Ecoventura Raises $12,000 to Help the World Wildlife Fund Combat Illegal Fishing in the Galapagos
July 28, 2010
Give Back to the Galapagos Promotion Ends in Success New Discount Incentives Offered on Select Cruise Dates MIAMI – The visionary, small-ship travel company Ecoventura announced that a recent promotion has raised $12,000 to help fund, among other things, a satellite vessel monitoring system to combat illegal commercial fishing operating clandestinely in protected Galapagos waters. The promotion which ended this week offered guests a 5 percent discount plus the satisfaction of knowing that another 5 percent from the cruise company’s pocket went to the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund administered by the World Wildlife Fund. “Our clients always want to know how they can help our efforts to create a positive level of sustainability for this fragile eco-system called the Galapagos,” said Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura. “This was a way they for them to benefit twice: once by receiving a rate reduction and once by giving something back to the islands.” Ecoventura... Read More →
ATTA Member Profiles
Enchanted Expeditions
July 8, 2010
We at Enchanted Expeditions are proudly into our fourth decade of operating high quality tours in the Galapagos Islands and throughout mainland Ecuador. As a result of our experience, coupled with our in-depth knowledge and special expertise in the field, we have been able to nurture an intimate and trusting relationship with the people of Ecuador and our clients. Consequently, we have built an excellent reputation as an operator who delivers well organized tours of the highest standards. These standards are reflected in our staff, our guides and our yachts. We pride ourselves on the personal attention we provide, and our ability to customize and tailor make mainland Ecuador tours to suit the individual needs of our clients; be it for groups, or the lone traveller. For exploring the Galapagos Islands, Enchanted Expeditions book yachts that meet our high standards and we exclusively represent, and are operators of our two splendid yachts, M/V Beluga and M/Y Cachalote I. Straddling the... Read More →
Must Read/ViewSenator Chris Dodd Backs Peru’s Claim to Artifacts Taken by Yale University
June 15, 2010
According to WNPR’s Diane Orson’ June 7th report featured at www.yourpublicmedia.org and since picked up by the Associated Press, “Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd was in Latin America last week, speaking with leaders in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru about US relations and the global economic crisis. “In an interview published online Sunday on the website Peru.com, Dodd told the Peruvian newspaper “Correo” that he will help Peru in its fight against Yale University over a collection of antiquities taken from the Incan site of Machu Picchu nearly a century ago.” (Editor’s Note: ATTA Member Inkaterra and its Chairman & CEO, Jose Koechlin, was just interviewed for Connecticut’s WNPR story, which was subsequently carried as an Associated Press syndicated article. Meanwhile, Jose has appealed to the ATTA and members to back the call for Yale to reverse its decision to retain Peruvian artifacts as described in the story. Since the first alert by Jose... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Invasive algae threatens Patagonia biodiversity and tourism
June 11, 2010
The Didymo algae is often mistaken for toilet paper or other waste. (photo by Sebastián Alvarez, of Expediciones Chile) An invasive algae species previously found in parts of New Zealand and North America has been discovered in Futaleufu River, in Chile’s Patagonia Region. Didymosphenia, which looks like paper waste or toilet paper in the water, can have deleriotous effects on the local ecosystem if left untreated because it kills bottom-dwelling insects in the water that fish feed on to survive. The species was likely tracked into the region on affected outdoors gear from other parts of the world, and threatens Patagonia’s tourism community, as well as other ecosystems and industries, such as hydropower. Chris Spelius, owner of the adventure travel company Expediciones Chile, says “Patagonia has a world-wide reputation for fly fishing. The potential damage is awful.” Bill Horvath, a chemist who has been studying the appearance of Didymosphenia in the river, urges that the... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityBrazilian Adventure Tourism Association Matures, Contributes to Growth in Segment, Advances Professionalism in Sustainability & Safety
June 10, 2010
ABETA aspires to bring together nature and adventure tourism companies, accomplish qualification, and establish new jobs and foreign capital. ABETA (Brazilian Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Trade Association), which has grown to 282 members in 24 Brazilian states and 19 regional commissions and has established itself as one of the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) most active Association Partners, continues to advance efforts to strengthen the potential of Brazil for adventure activities. What started in July 2003 as simply an idea spread through the Internet to bring together businesses with similar interests in adventure tourism, now represents a dynamic network of entrepreneurs who are focused on the segment growth in the Brazil, as well as sustainable tourism and safety/security initiatives. Today, ABETA has earned representation countrywide, with regional commissions located in the Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, Ceará,... Read More →
Member Press Releases
Peter Hughes Named President of Newly Created DivEncounters, Inc. Owned in Partnership with Ecoventura, Leading Travel Company in Galapagos
May 17, 2010
Peter Hughes, New President of of DivEncounters, Inc. MIAMI – The visionary, small ship travel company Ecoventura announced that Peter Hughes has been named president of a newly created company, DivEncounters, Inc. that is serving the growing dive market in the Galapagos and elsewhere. Santiago Dunn, president and owner of Ecoventura, is an owner-partner, along with Hughes of DivEncounters, Inc. Peter Hughes recently resigned as President of Peter Hughes Diving, Inc. He had built his live-aboard dive boat company from scratch over the past 25 years. In 2008 he sold his company to Wayne B. Brown who retained Hughes as president of the company after the purchase. The two worked together over the past two years. “I felt the time was right for me to resign and move on,” said Hughes who subsequently became a partner in the start-up company DivEncounters, Inc. and is supervising operations of the M/V Galapagos Sky, ensuring a continuing high standard of operation. Hughes has also re-established... Read More →
Must Read/View
NY Times Reports: To Help Jaguars Survive, Ease Their Commute
May 12, 2010
On Wednesday, The New York Times reports on jaguars in South America. “In the past few years, such corridors have been created in Africa, Asia and the Americas to help animals cope with 21st-century threats, from encroaching highways and malls to climate change.” Read full story on NYTimes.com. Read More →
Announcing an Art Auction for the Victims of the Chilean Earthquake and Tsunami
April 13, 2010
John Burton, Artist and Founder of The Art of Helping has committed more than 50 of the most prestigious artists from across the United States have to donate original paintings to raise money for the victims of Chile’s earthquake. Anyone can buy their work via The Art of Helping online auction site, and assist in this humanitarian effort. 100% of all funds raised by this auction will go to help Chileans in their hour of need. “On behalf of myself and all the other artists who are participating, thank you for offering your help to Chile!” says Mr. Burton. Though the retail price of these artists range from the thousands to the tens of thousands, the starting bid on these small works will be a fraction of the retail value. No matter how established and renowned the artist, the opening bid for each painting is $300. Bidding begins April 12, 2010 at 5:00 PM PDT. Read More →
Member Press ReleasesMachu Picchu Opens Following Two-month Closure
April 2, 2010
Machu Picchu, Peru’s legendary archaeological site officially reopened April 1st following a two-month closure due to flooding. The Machu Picchu citadel did not experience any damage earlier this year during the heavy rains and landslides in the Peruvian region – a true testament to the architectural and engineering mastery of the Incans – however damage to the railways made the site inaccessible for visitors since January. Tourism Vice Minister Mara Seminario reported that hundreds of foreign tourists entered the city following its official reopening yesterday. Rail service to the town of Machu Picchu, also known as Aguas Calientes, resumed from Piscacucho earlier this week (Monday, March 29) several days ahead of schedule. Visitors will be able to travel from Cusco to Piscacucho by bus, and then continue on to the Aguas Calientes station by train. This re-opening comes just in time for the peak travel season for North American visitors to Peru, leading up to the highly anticipated... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesTrain Service to Machu Picchu to be Re-Opened
March 12, 2010
Railroad to Machu Picchu. Photo taken before the rains. Peru Rail, Peru’s Southern Train routes service operator, has informed Apumayo Expediciones that Ferrocarril Trans Andino SA (FTSA) has announced that the railroad from Piscaycucho (Km.82) to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes) will be reopened next Monday 29th of March, if the weather conditions remain as stable as they have been until now. Though FTSA announced a few weeks ago that this portion of the railroad to Machu Picchu was going to be reopened on April the 1st, they have realized that, as they have made extensive progress, this deadline can be re-scheduled to March 29th. This has been a great effort from FTSA engineers, who have worked over-hours to reopen Machu Picchu at the soonest. Peru Rail is developing an Operational Plan to reestablish their train services, based on operational safety parameters which will be announced in the following days Apumayo Expediciones stands out the efforts made by FTSA engineers and workers,... Read More →
