Cruise South America with Overseas Adventure Travel

South America is a great cruise destination for winter cruises. The weather is great, the dollar is strong, and the historical and natural sites are impressive. What more could an adventurous traveler be looking for? Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) has three South American getaways, two of which include most cruisers' dream destinations--the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon River. These small ship group tours allow a much more intimate look at the cultures and sites.

Amazon River Picture (c) Linda Garrison

Travelers Queuing Up for Winter Getaways from Only $1895, Including Round-Trip International Airfare

BOSTON, MA--Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), which provides international small group travel for Americans 50-plus, reports brisk sales of its recently announced 2007 schedule of South America adventures. The company's three most popular South American adventures include "Machu Picchu & the Galapagos", "Amazon River Cruise & Rainforest", and "Real Affordable Peru."

"When it's winter here it's summer there, so the January through March period is typically a popular time for bookings," said Mark Frevert, OAT's Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Architect. "But given the particularly strong start we've seen so far, we're anticipating a large demand throughout 2007." The relative strength of the dollar may also be fueling sales, along with the favorable pricing OAT has offered. All programs include airfare (and all air fuel surcharges), accommodations, most meals, and more.

"The real draw," adds Frevert, "is the unique experience you get traveling in a small group. Besides seeing the major attractions, we can slip off the beaten path, try our hand at local crafts, sample homemade food right in the homes of local families. We might pull into town in a dugout canoe, versus a tour bus, so as not to disrupt the flow of everyday life." OAT groups typically are no larger than 10-16 travelers for land-based tours, and only slightly larger for some cruises. Frevert also credits the company's regional office teams for developing innovative activities. "Because we have insiders planning and running our trips, OAT travelers enjoy a much richer and more authentic perspective on things. It's all about authenticity."

Three "Hot" Itineraries for Winter 2007

• Machu Picchu & the Galapagos -- 19 Days From Only $4495
  This small group land and sea adventure celebrates the South America's diverse cultural legacy, as well as its unique natural wonders. First, exploring historic districts in Lima, Cuzco, Quito, and environs, travelers will encounter the region's Incan and Spanish heritage. Highlights include visits to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, participation in a traditional curandero healing ritual, and a visit to the Quoricancha Sun Temple. The centerpiece of our land journey is a thrilling train ride through the Urubamba Gorge to the Incan "lost city" of Machu Picchu. Staying here for two days, travelers will have plenty of time for thorough exploration, including an early morning visit before the tourist crowds arrive.

  Depending on departure date and ecological conditions, travelers then cruise for three or four nights in the Galapagos Islands, a bower of rare and stunning wildlife known as Darwin's "living laboratory of evolution." Activities include guided nature walks, swimming with sea lions, visiting the Darwin Research Station, a home-hosted lunch with a local family on Santa Cruz, and more.

  Pre-trip extension: The Amazon Rain Forest of Peru, 5 nights from $745

  Post-trip extension: Quito & Cotopaxi: Ecuador's Avenue of the Volcanoes, 4 nights from $495.

  What's included: Round trip international airfare from Miami (other gateways available); all accommodations; a 3- or 4- night Galapagos cruise aboard a privately chartered small ship; 43 meals; guided small group exploration and activities; all daily shore excursions during cruise; exclusive services of a Peruvian OAT Trip Leader and an Ecuadorian OAT Trip Leader/certified naturalist; all land transportation and internal flights; Galapagos park fees ($100 value); 5% Frequent Traveler credits; and more.

  Travelers can fly from about 130 other US cities including New York (from $4695); Orlando and Tampa (from $4795); Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco (from $4895); Chicago, Denver, and Seattle (from $4945), and more.

• Amazon River Cruise & Rain Forest -- 11 Days from only $2495
  Aboard a classic riverboat, our small group will sail for six nights along the world's second longest river, following it to its origin: the confluence of the Rio Maranon and Ucayali. Three nights in historic Lima are also included. Cruising deep into the Upper Amazon region, we embark smaller boats to traverse the pristine lakes and tributaries, alighting (by day and night) to observe the rare flora and fauna. Our Trip Leaders will explain the distinct ecosystems as we amble along the treetops on the Amazon Nature Park canopy walkway and explore the dazzling Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

  A unique aspect of this trip is the chance to meet the local ribereno people. Travelers will paddle dugout canoes to rural villages, share lunch in the home of a local family, enjoy a cooking lesson, visit with the village shaman to observe ritual healing and reforestation ceremonies, fish for piranha, and more.

  Pre-trip extension: Bolivia & Peru: La Paz and Lake Titicaca, 4 nights from $695

  Post-trip extension: Machu Picchu & Cuzco, Peru, 5 nights from $945.

  What's included: Round trip international airfare from Miami (other gateways available); all accommodations; a 6-night Amazon cruise aboard a privately chartered riverboat; 24 meals; guided small group exploration and activities; all daily shore excursions during cruise; exclusive services of a Peruvian OAT Trip Leader; all land transportation; Amazon reserve fees; 5% Frequent Traveler credits; and more.

  Travelers can fly from about 130 other US cities including Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles (from $2745); Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa (from $2795); Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC (from $2845); Boston, Denver, and Detroit (from $2945), and more.

• Real Affordable Peru -- 11 Days from Only $1895
  Travel to the heart of Peru to celebrate the vivid cultures of the Andes. For 11 days we explore the historic monuments and off-the-beaten path gems of Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Along the way, in city and country, we stop to visit with the latter-day descendants of Incan kings and Spanish conquistadors. In Cuzco, where Colonial buildings rise from Inca stonework, travelers have free time to explore the attractive colonial squares and streets passing locals with llamas. They'll enjoy a demonstration of Quechua weaving techniques by the women of Chinchero, attend a curandero ceremony with a local medicine man, be the dinner guests of a family in the Sacred Valley, go rafting along the Urubamba river, shop the colorful local markets, and more. The highlight of our journey will be our two days in Machu Picchu, which we reach by scenic switchback rail. Staying at the base of the site, we make two separate visits and enjoy plenty of time to explore as a group and join elective hikes of various Incan trails.

  Pre-trip extension: The Amazon Rain Forest of Peru, 5 nights from $645

  Post-trip extension: Peru: Lake Titicaca's Sacred Landscape, 4 nights from $495.

  What's included: Round trip international airfare from Miami (other gateways available); all accommodations; 21 meals; guided small group exploration and activities; exclusive services of a Peruvian OAT Trip Leader; all land transportation and internal flights; 5% Frequent Traveler credits; and more.

  Travelers can fly from about 130 other US cities including Atlanta (from $2095), Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, and Tampa (from $2145); Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Newark, Philadelphia, and Seattle (from $2195); New York, Houston, and Washington DC (from $2245); Boston, Detroit, and Denver (from $2345); and more.

For more information and free copies of an Overseas Adventure Travel catalog featuring South American destinations, please call 1-800-248-3737, or visit our website at www.oatttravel.com/pr.

Press Release Source: Grand Circle Travel
Dateline: August 2006