Exito Travel Official Blog !

So you find yourself in Cuzco, Peru, and for whatever reason you are not going to traverse the famed Inca Trail, be it because you didn’t reserve your space far enough in advance or you simply don’t want to battle the throngs that are already on it. Rest assured, there are alternatives, and great ones at that.

Maukallacta is a relatively newer find that is located close enough to Cuzco that it makes for an ideal day trip. Travel to the base of the site is about two hours in automobile along a dirt road most of the way, though they are in the process of paving it. From the base it is roughly a 1-2 hour intermediate hike through the rich red and green Andean countryside.

Mario Canessa and Rudi Winsberg, owners of Andean Origins, make it their job to be experts on the road less traveled, and they were kind enough to show me this marvelous and virtually untouched gem of Quechua history. One of the beauties of this excursion is that you will, most likely, be the only people there besides the locals. There is a sort of caretaker that works near a makeshift entrance that will most likely ask you to sign the guest book. He will not, however, ask you for any sort of entrance fee. Maukallacta at this point is free to any who visit, and those, according to the caretaker, number about 2-5 a week (unlike the 500 daily spaces allotted for entrance to the Inca Trail).

A visit to Maukallacta involves two parts: exploring the ruins themselves and also exploring Puma Orqo (Puma Mount in the regional Quechua dialect) which served as a place of ritual and worship and houses various caves, altars, and pumas carved into the stone. And if you are as lucky as we were, you may even catch the locals who still reside in the area on break from working the cornfields drinking their homemade chicha (a fermented type of corn beer), which they undoubtedly will be more than generous in offering you some. We drank ours out of a bull’s horn and then washed it down with some Anis that they distill themselves.

From Puma Orqo the ruins of Maukallacta are about a one-mile walk. As Puma Orqo was considered a sacred place the dwellings were constructed across the way on a separate hill facing it, an act demonstrating the great importance this geographic formation held. The ruins were constructed in a mixture of the imperial or ashlar style (rocks ground and shaped to fit together with each other perfectly without mortar) and the regular style where rocks were placed together and the cracks were filled with mortar. Many of the ‘regular style’ walls were then covered with a layer of mud a few inches thick, though very little of this mud covering still remains.

Maukallacta was unearthed in recent years and excavation efforts are still in the works, though funding has been cut so an enormous portion of this site still remains mostly covered. You may even see where archeologists have closed off certain sections and covered their work with blue tarps to keep it protected from the elements, while other sections, completely open to exploration, contain some magnificent relics of ceramic works painted in the local style. These sections have been left in a natural state, but thatched roofs have been built to keep the rain out.

According to the caretaker it is thought that Maukallacta was home to some 5,000-10,000 inhabitants, which would qualify it as one of the largest sites of Quechua civilization found to date. As it was built on the side of a mountain, climbing up to a higher vantage point, sitting back and imagining how life was here when it was a thriving community can be quite entertaining. Where did the children play? Where, besides the areas already discovered, was work done? Besides ceramics, what other products were created here? Where were the sleeping quarters? There are endless questions for a community that itself came to an end. Possibly though, those that still live and work in the area are direct descendants of those children who once ran through the fields of Maukallacta.

So put on your hiking boots, pack a lunch (or if you happen to befriend the locals they will most likely invite you to join them for their almuerzo), prepare to save money, avoid the hordes, and go visit history being exhumed.

Additional Pictures:

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Photos courtesy of Rudi Winsberg.

Group Travel Insurance: Costs Less & Covers More

Planning a group trip has it’s complexities. Arriving at a final itinerary that fits everyone’s budget, tastes and schedule can take some time, effort, and a fair amount of diplomacy. Once a group has committed, and more importantly, invested in confirming travel plans, it is well worth protecting that investment by purchasing group travel insurance.

Why? To start with, tickets and tours are typically non-refundable, especially at the last minute. Now more than ever, travel suppliers are strictly enforcing their cancellation and change policies. The days of producing a doctor’s note and getting a refund are just about long gone. What many people don’t realize is that the medical insurance they may have at home most likely does not provide any coverage for emergencies occurring abroad. An illness or injury can suddenly leave the traveler, and the group, facing a slew of logistical, and financial challenges.

Luckily, when it comes to travel to Latin America, some recent airfare and flight changes make it one of the best times to get up, and out of town.

Select “fall sale” fares have completely eliminated fuel surcharges.
Save an average of $300 per ticket by booking right now. Sales end soon.

SAMPLE ROUND TRIP FARES, TOTAL COST, INCLUDING ALL TAXES

At these rates, spending a week abroad could cost less than a holiday weekend flight in the US!  Subject to change. Restrictions apply. Availability is limited.

Groups of 10+:  Call : 800 655 4054, or complete a Group Request Form
1-9 passengers: Book Online or call 800 655 4053

For travelers, particularly groups, added flight service equates to better itinerary choices, and more lower-fare seats available to more destinations

Featured Changes For Latin America:

• Delta adds service to Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• TAM Brazilian Airlines adds direct service from Orlando to Sao Paolo
• TACA adds connection service to Paraguay
• Delta adds direct service from New York to Buenos Aires
• American and Delta add new flights to Brazil, to such popular destinations as Salvador, Manaus, and Fortaleza.

American Airlines is offering double Aadvantage miles on flights to Salvador de Bahia, or Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Date and registration restrictions apply. Book an applicable flight with Exito and find out how to earn double miles when flying round-trip between Nov 4th 2008 and Feb 15th 2009.  PLUS, ask an Exito Group Specialist about how to save over $50 off of the lowest, published fare for groups of 10+ traveling to these Brazil destinations, and more.

New!   Fortaleza • Manaus • Recife • Salvador • Belo Horizonte

More direct flights from the US to Brazil is especially good news for groups

Cities in Northeastern Brazil are best known as the gateways to beautiful beaches, treasured World Heritage sites, and the lush expanse of the Amazon rainforest. Delta and American Airlines are adding direct service from their respective hubs in Atlanta and Miami to these diverse destinations, making them easier to reach, and harder to resist.

Previously, flying from North America to Northern Brazil involved at least 2 airlines and multiple plane changes. Most routings required flying to a southern city like Rio or Sao Paolo before changing to a local airline going north. Itineraries involving two airlines can obviously add travel time and inconvenience to anyone’s trip. For groups of 10 or more people, working with two airlines to make one trip requires double the number of bookings, deposits and payments, while doubling the potential pitfalls.

Direct flight options will now make arranging a group as simple as booking a flight across the nearest border.

Benefits for groups traveling on a single-airline:

• Fare: One fare from home to your destination, guaranteed in advance
• Routing: One connection, even no connection when traveling via Hubs in Atlanta or Miami
• Deposit: One deposit per person cuts the initial outlay in half
• Reservation: One booking keeps schedules and reservations synchronized
• Ticket: One ticket minimizes service fees and effort related changes or cancellation
• Baggage: One international ticket minimizes baggage fees, as well as avoids confusion if a bag is lost
• Service: One airline, one network means simpler solutions to unexpected delays or cancellations

Whether it’s for recreation or research, now is the time to make plans for your group to travel to Brazil.

CALL NOW FOR YOUR GROUP AIRFARE QUOTE:

1-800-655-4054

or CLICK HERE to submit your request online

Any family getaway can have its benefits. A week at the beach allows for some relaxation, and a dose of ever-elusive “quality time”.  An extended trip should at least expand the options of family touring activities, and ideally widen everyone’s horizons. So how about setting off on a path through multiple countries, choosing to count the trip in terms of multiple weeks or months? With the typical US family vacation barely lasting 2 weeks, a longer trip may sound rather ambitious, but every year thousands of people are finding ways to slip away from their daily routines and fulfill their own vision of a family sabbatical.

Besides giving families a chance to spend more time together and stay connected, a well-planned journey can offer other “wordly” benefits that a shorter trip may only give a small taste of. Consider how speaking Spanish or Portuguese several levels higher than before, and gaining an inkling of what it is like to truly live, and even work, in a different culture can boost confidence and competence when encountering future challenges.

An important part of planning, and yes, justifying, and extended trip abroad is staying aware of the needs and interests of each family member, ensuring there are enough fun activities that are also truly educational, and/or resume-building. Enrichment could start with something as basic as a child mastering the local metro system, or be as thrilling as learning about environmental sustainability while hiking through a remote Andean community, in the valley of a majestic volcano. The last book report may begin to pale in comparison.

It doesn’t hurt that daily living expenses in Latin America can often be lower than what a family might spend by staying at home. Those who may choose to avoid traveling to Europe, Hawaii or the Caribbean islands due to unfavorable exchange rates and higher travel costs, may still have the option go to Latin America, where the diversity and quality of cultural and outdoor activities continue to offer incredible value.

With some inspiration and preparation, what might start as a short trip to a popular beach town in Costa Rica could lead to a plan to skip bunking in a hotel, and instead settle in for a few weeks to live with a host family and take Spanish immersion courses. With a bit more time, it might be easier than expected to continue on to explore some of Ecuador or Peru, balancing time for sightseeing as well as making a contribution to a local volunteer project.

Where to start?  Learn a few things from those who have already done it. Check out how one family chose to take their plans for quality time on the road  in a book called “BYOC: South America! A Family Sabbatical Handbook” - where BYOC stands for “Bring Your Own Children”. Information is available online at:  http://www.rumskytravelworks.com.  There are also a myriad of websites that offer tips and directories of resources related to traveling abroad as a family. Try starting with Transitions Abroad or idealist.com.

While airfares are rising in several markets, there are still some great discount deals that are perfect for an extended getaway. For example: Round-trip travel from from New York to Ecuador, with stopovers in both Costa Rica and Peru for under $650 including tax, per person. There are hundreds of similar combinations available, traveling from various US cities into Central and South America.

These special airfare deals are only available through a specialist like Exito Travel. A Latin America Travel Specialist at Exito has years of experience in digging out discounted fares in order to create an itinerary that matches both the vision, and the budget of the trip. For details on how to afford a family trip of a lifetime, contact Exito by phone at 800 655 4053 , or fill in an extended stay, or  multi-stop flight request form online.

It’s the same challenge for most groups: How to find a group airfare option that fits the total budget, without having to pay in full right away, or otherwise risk paying more later, as the fare, taxes and/or fuel charges continue to skyrocket?

In the current airfare market, there is an inherent risk of paying more tomorrow for what was quoted today. Even when a “guaranteed” group rate is available, this guarantee typically applies only the base fare, and not to taxes, or the ever-increasing fuel surcharges, which can be as much as $300 per ticket. A group fare booked today can end up being hundreds higher by the time the group is ready to issue tickets.

There is a refreshing exception. Exito group specialists can now offer a guaranteed rate on select group fares INCLUDING taxes and fees. Book today with a deposit, and lock in todays total price, even if the final purchase is months away. While other group bookings fluctuate from rising fuel costs and annual tax adjustments, Exito’s qualifying group rates stay put, allowing groups the chance of actually staying within a set budget.

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact an Exito Group Specialist and request a quote for a group flight, specifying an interest in a guaranteed total rate. Phone: 800 655 4054 . *Minimum group size is 10 people, traveling on an identical itinerary*

2. Once a suitable itinerary is confirmed for the group, pay a standard group deposit, up to $100 per seat, to lock in the space and the price for the group. Deposits are either refunded or applied to the purchase price, provided the group abides by the airlines stated cancellation and minimum utilization policy. Note: Flights departing within 90 days may have special deposit and payment requirements.

3. Provide all passenger names and payment by the airline’s quoted deadline; typically 30-60 days prior to departure. *No surprise fees or extra taxes will be charged on qualifying fares, according to the initial quote*

This option is available to groups of at least 10 people traveling together, on select airlines, subject to availability of group space and according to specific airline policies, which are subject to change. Round trip travel must originate in the US, and include select destinations in:

Mexico - Guatemala - Costa Rica- Honduras - Belize - El Salvador
Nicaragua - Ecuador - Peru- Venezuela - Chile - Argentina - Brazil - Colombia

Contact an Exito Group Airfare Specialist for further details and to find your guaranteed group fare, now.

Phone: 800 655 4054

Email: groups@exitotravel.com

It’s no secret that airlines are scrambling to cover costs this year. One of the most noticeable tactics to that end is the addition, and continual increase, of fuel surcharges. What may be less obvious is that airlines are also reducing the the number of low-fare seats available on any given flight. The result: Low fares still exist but are generally not as low as before, and, will be sold on a limited, first-come, first purchase basis.

What does this mean for your group? It might take some specific strategies to obtain the best group airfare deal. Here are some tips:

• Reserve in advance, up to 9 months in advance, and be ready to pay a deposit for every seat. Most airlines expect groups to be organized and confirmed to travel at least 3 months prior to departure. Anything later is considered “last minute”, and can result in fewer options, higher fares, and expedited payment deadlines.

• Simplify. With a limited supply of cheap seats, airlines will not double book, or otherwise offer multiple quotes for the same group. Focus your search by designating one group leader to work with one Latin America group specialist, who will negotiate the best group fare with each airline

• Consider paying in full, way ahead of time. Although the base fare on most group bookings is locked in with a deposit, fuel surcharges and taxes typically continue to rise, and will be calculated on the final purchase date. With rare exception, only paying in full will guarantee the total price.

• Reserve only the number of seats needed, ideally within at 10% margin. If an airline has, say, 20 seats available at the lowest fare, requesting 30 seats can result in a higher quote for everyone in the group.

• Be flexible. Consider traveling during off-peak travel dates, or be ready to pay a premium.

• For larger groups, consider spreading the group onto separate flights on the same dates, when a reasonable option is available.

For more details about group airfare visit http://www.exitotravel.com/flights/group_flights.htm or contact an Exito Travel Group Specialist at 800 655 4054.

One of the most exciting things about contemplating a trip to Latin America is discovering the diversity of sustainable travel options. Staying in a remote “ecolodge” in Costa Rica or Ecuador, joining a cultural heritage tour in Peru, or enrolling in a Spanish immersion course in Guatemala are popular travel options that ideally benefit the local community and conserve its resources. There are ever increasing ways to enjoy connecting with a new culture, while striving to minimize the negative impacts of tourism.

Some people go a leap further by having a true “hands on” approach, choosing to focus firmly on service over sightseeing. Participants travel as a group to volunteer their skills for projects aimed at directly improving the lives of others, a.k.a. “mission trips”. Some example of groups recently booked with Exito include:

Burners Without Borders: Aiding in reconstruction efforts in Peru, after last year’s 8.0 earthquake.

Centura Medical Missions : Medical teams aiding health care facilities in Peru and Nepal

Nova University : Dentistry mission to northeastern Brazil

And, there is everything in between. A whole branch of the travel industry, aptly named “VolunTourism“, serves the increasing number of people who want to combine travel with some amount of volunteer or research work. A variety of travel companies and non-profit organizations endeavor to play the role of matchmaker, carefully putting well-intentioned people together with current projects. A couple of interesting examples:

Earthwatch puts volunteers to work “in the field”, collecting data for ongoing conservation studies focusing on anything from climate change to loss of habitat to lost civilizations. Volunteers who might find the idea of viewing wildlife “up close” in a place like Brazil exciting already, are invited through participation to gain a deeper understanding of the subject at hand, and about key conservations issues. Programs are designed to encourage researchers to apply what they learn back home.

Cultural Embrace provides guidance and placement services for groups and individuals engaging in a variety of volunteer activities, in and beyond Latin America. Volunteers choose from working in an orphanage or school, to taking part in wildlife conservation or construction projects. In many cases language immersion courses and a bit of sightseeing are either already included or can be added to the itinerary as a way of rounding out the ideal volunteer-travel “package”.

A recent Careerbuilder.com survey found that 25% of Americans plan to do some amount of work while on vacation, implying an expectation to stay connected to the job at home. Choosing to dedicate time and energy to a local project could result in a refreshing change of habit, a way to stay engaged with the “here and now” of the destination; ideally leaving the place, and the traveler, in better condition than they were before.