Colombia offers new experiences for cyclists

Looking for a different cycling destination?

Ride & Seek is promoting a new historic cycling tour in the South American nation of Colombia.

The route travels from the heights of the Andes to the lush Coffee Triangle and sunny Caribbean coast.

Winding from Bogotá to Medellín and Cartegena, the Bolívar tour blends climbs with cruising and culture.

Departures of the three-week tour are now available November 7, 2026, and November 6, 2027, with prices starting at $US11,880 per person based on double occupancy.

“Few places bring together world-class terrain, authentic culture and a passion for cycling as naturally as Colombia,” saysd Ride & Seek founder Dylan Reynolds.

“While landscapes like challenging Andean climbs, rolling coffee plantations and beautiful Caribbean beaches guide the route of our new tour, the country’s enthusiasm for cycling truly gives it its soul - it’s shared by everyday commuters on bustling streets and elite riders who dominate international races.

"Having left its turbulent past behind, Colombia today is open and welcoming, making this the perfect time to visit by bike.”



Along the way, participants stay in restored haciendas and enjoy authentic meals.

The tour includes all accommodation, breakfasts and group dinners, most lunches, nutrition for rides, Ride & Seek kit and water bottle, GPS with pre-loaded routes and guides.



For more information, visit https://rideandseek.com/tour/bolivar-colombia/.

About Ride & Seek

Ride & Seek is a global adventure cycling company that says it offers unique historical-themed itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy and cultural immersion. It offers tours in Europe, Asia, Oceania and South America.

Qatar Airways unveils new routes to Venezuela and Colombia

 

Qatar Airways has announced two unique routes set to open up South American travel destinations. 

The Middle East airline it top operate flights to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia, from July. 

Inaugural flights will run on July 22, meaning Qatar Airways will serve over 160 global destinations this northern summer. 

Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate flights from the Middle East to Caracas and Bogotá. 

Flights will depart every Wednesday and Sunday. 

The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 15th and 16th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. 

The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Sao Paolo in Brazil.

Qatar will also operate four weekly flights between Doha
and Helsinki from July 15, increasing to daily from August 10.

The carrier will also return to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from July 15.

Machu Picchu makes its way to Sydney

Machu Picchu is one of the most awe-inspiring sites on earth and will be showcased at the Australian Museum’s (AM) summer highlight: Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru.

The exhibition will open in Sydney on Saturday, November 23, with tickets now on sale.

The immersive museum experience which spill the secrets of five ancient Peruvian Empires, dating back more than 3000 years.

Created by Peru’s Museo Larco and Museo de Sito Manuel Chavez Ballon, in conjunction with Neon Global, the exhibition features 134 priceless artefacts including gold treasure from royal tombs, glittering jewels, intricate masks and objects of worship.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the Virtual Reality experience Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor, which includes a bird’s-eye tour of Machu Picchu while sharing the intriguing story of grand Inca emperor Pachacuti.

Australian Museum Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO, said the venue is honoured to host the collection, including the most opulent collection of Andean gold to ever travel outside of Peru.

“One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a top bucket-list destination for many Australians, and this exhibition will further inspire visitors with its state-of-the-art storytelling alongside treasures from these intriguing ancient empires,” she said.

The exhibition is exclusive to the Australian Museum and Sydney will be only the fourth city in the world to host it, following in the footsteps of Boca Raton, Florida; Paris and Milan.

The Australian consul-general of Peru, José Alberto Ortiz, said the exhibition will contribute to the cultural connection between Peru and Australia.

“I’m delighted that the Australian Museum will be hosting this exhibition highlighting the rich history and culture of ancient Peru, enabling the people of NSW and beyond to experience Machu Picchu and all our country has to offer,” he said.

“I know the public will be captivated by our unique culture dating back more than 3000 years and will be fascinated by the stories of five empires which are still present in our country today.”

The previous AM blockbuster, Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, set new attendance records for the museum during its six-month run from November 2023-May 2024, attracting over half a million ticket sales.

Ticket prices start at $37.50 for adults, and $20 for children, with VR tickets from $22. Visit Australian Museum.

Direct Sydney-Santiago flights reinstated

Good news for flyers who hate layovers en route to their final destination.

LATAM Airlines has just announced the re-introduction of direct flights from Sydney to Santiago four times per week, starting from October 28.

This cuts out the tiresome stop in Auckland.

LATAM now offers daily direct flights between Australia and Latin America, departing from both Sydney and Melbourne.

In September last year LATAM re-started Melbourne-Santiago direct flights three times weekly.

The addition of the Sydney-Santiago direct flights completes the schedule.

LATAM originally launched direct flights between Sydney and Santiago in 2019 but paused the services due to the pandemic.

LATAM resumed operations from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland in March 2022 with three weekly services and quickly scaled up to daily flights by December 2022.

The move to reintroduce direct flights will enable up to 1,200 passengers per week to enjoy the convenience of travelling directly from Sydney to Latin America in under 13 hours.

The direct services will have a flight time of 12 hours and 50 minutes.

All LATAM Airlines flights between Australia and Chile are operated on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring economy, premium economy and premium business cabins

“We’re thrilled to restart our direct flights from Sydney to Santiago to meet the demand of travellers in Australia," said Chris Ellis, LATAM Airlines manager for Oceania.

"This significant milestone for LATAM Airlines brings Latin America closer to Australians, whether they're flying for business, leisure, or cultural exploration.

"From October, passengers can choose from daily direct services between Australia and Chile, including four direct flights from Sydney and three from Melbourne every week, in addition to our flights via Auckland. That’s a wealth of options for our customers.”

From Santiago, LATAM offers connections to over 144 destinations.

For bookings and more information on the direct flights from Sydney to Santiago, please visit LATAM Airlines' website. https://www.latamairlines.com/au

Flying from Australia to South America is about to get a lot easier

LATAM Airlines is to resume flying directly between Melbourne and Santiago, Chile.

From Santiago, passengers can connect to more than 144 destinations in LATAM’s network across the Americas.

LATAM will recommence the Melbourne - Santiago route with three weekly services operated on a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, enabling passengers to fly to Santiago in under 13 hours.

LATAM Airlines Australian operations were paused in April 2020 due to the pandemic, with flights from Sydney via Auckland to Santiago restarting in March 2022.

"We are extremely excited to work with the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport to resume LATAM’s direct flights to South America," said Chris Ellis, Country Manager for LATAM.

"There has been a huge demand for travel to the region and we are thrilled to be able to meet the needs of travellers, starting with over 900 seats a week on our Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

"For the past year, we have been building our capacity in Sydney and it's a pleasure to be taking up residence again in Melbourne Airport as we expand our footprint in Australia.

“LATAM has the largest network in Latin America with connections to 144 destinations, including some of the greatest bucket list destinations in the world."

The first LATAM Airlines Melbourne flight will take off from Santiago on September 1, 2023, arriving in Melbourne on September 2 and taking off on the same day.

To make a booking, visit latam.com or contact travel agents.

LATAM sees flight figures soar

South America is back on the global travel agenda post Covid, figures released by the region's largest airline indicate.

LATAM Airlines projects passenger operation figures of 83% for November compared with the same time period in 2019 (before the pandemic).

The airline maintains its projection to exceed 85% of the consolidated operational recovery by the end of the year.

LATAM will this month hit a major milestone in resuming to fly to the same number of destinations as it did prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The carrier plans to operate approximately 1,347 national and international flights this month, connecting 144 destinations across 22 countries.

LATAM Airlines Group South America is the leading airline group in Latin America with international operations within Latin America and to Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand.

See www.latam.com

LATAM resumes Sydney-Santiago flight schedule

 After almost two years of pausing its passenger services from Australia and New Zealand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, LATAM has announced it will resume its passenger operations between Sydney, Auckland and Santiago starting from March 29. 

LATAM will operate a Boeing 787-9 aircraft three times a week and is looking to increase the schedule to five flights weekly from July 1. 

"We are extremely excited to recommence our flights between Australia/New Zealand to South America (Chile) on 29 March," Chris Ellis, country manager- Oceania for LATAM Airlines (someone should maybe tell Chris's bosses that Oceania is not a country). 

"We are ready to give our passengers a warm welcome back on board, reconnect them with their loved ones and showcase all the beauty and wonders that South America has to offer. 

"LATAM operates the largest network in Latin America and we know that many of our passengers have been patiently waiting for flights to resume so they can tick off their bucket list destinations such as the Atacama Desert, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Patagonia and many more."

Passengers must meet specific entry requirements for entering South American nations and can use this link for more information:

https://www.latamairlines.com/us/en/experience/coronavirus/restrictions.

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its affiliates is the main group of airlines in Latin America with a presence in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.

The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft.