News from Latin America
Costa Rica has announced plans to become carbon neutral by 2021, despite challenges presented by growing visitor numbers which are leading to rising transport emissions.
The destination, which is one of the exhibitors at the Experience Latin America trade show in London this week, already generates around 98% of its electricity from renewable sources.
News from other exhibitors includes:
* a new cable car link opened in April 2017 in northern Peru joining the village of Tingo Nuevo to the pre-Inca ruins of Kuelap, one of Peru’s most important archaeological sites. The ruins were previously only accessible with a steep 9km hike up unpaved roads. The new transport link will reduce the four-hour hike to a 20-minute cable car ride.
* Construction has begun on a new convention centre in the heart of the Ecuador capital Quito, due to be completed in the second half of 2018. The new Metropolitan Convention Centre will feature two exhibition spaces with a capacity of over 4,000 people each, an auditorium with a capacity of 800 people, and an event space with a capacity of 4,000.
* Cruise specialist Australis has confirmed that its new expedition cruise ship will take to the water in January 2018. Named Ventus Australis the 210-passenger vessel will explore Patagonia, encompassing the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn.
* Metropolitan Touring have launched the first luxury island hopping safari in the Galapagos, offering greater flexibility than a traditional cruise and the chance to explore some of its remoter regions.
* Kallpa Tours has re-launched a new edition of its trekking adventure in the north-west region of Argentina near the city of Salta. The four-day adventure starts in Ingeniero Maury station where travellers will take the world famous Train to the Clouds and travel to Qubrada de San Lorenza.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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