Ecuador unfortunately just had an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, hitting the coastline. On one hand, we are happy to report that all our tour partners are well and safe, but certainly are we heartbroken due to the increasing number of victims and the devastation in the area.
Our tour operations are running almost normal, as the Andes, Amazon and Galapagos region have not suffered damages.
On a different note, I wanted to reach out to you and comment on two important issues:
1.) The Royal Tour
The Royal Tour is an innovative series of television specials, produced and hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, showcasing nations in a way no visitor has ever seen them before: guided by heads of state. Past hosts have included the King of Jordan, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Prime Minister of Israel, and the presidents of Mexico and Peru.
This latest edition, Ecuador: The Royal Tour, with four camera crews, Peter journeys deep inside Ecuador to offer viewers an all-access pass to Ecuador’s historic landmarks and cultural experiences, accompanied by the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa.
This special adventure presents Mr. Correa as the ultimate guide. For a whole week, he showed off the best of his country with activities like swimming with piranha in the Amazon rainforest, whale watching off the coast of Manta, shopping like a local in rural towns in the Andean Mountains, visiting the President’s hometown of Guayaquil and the school he used to attend as a child, touring a cacao plantation farm, and diving with sharks in the Galapagos Islands.
Peter Greenberg commented that this special will draw American travellers to discover this amazingly diverse South American country and unveil its secrets.
We are delighted to inform that Ecuador: The Royal Tour premiered on Thursday, April 12. The programmer is presented by WTTW Chicago and airs in the days and weeks to follow on public television stations nationwide in the US (check your local listing).
2.) This week´s webinar!
Keep an eye open for our in-depth tour of our brand new Galapagos star, the Santa Cruz II. I will have product expert Klaus Fielsch with me – he took an important role during the reconstruction process of the former Mare Australis. As we speak, there is no better small Expedition boat operating in the Islands, so, join us and get to know all her top features!
Thank you for your interest and concern, thank you for your numerous mails and questions on our wellbeing and how you can support…it is wonderful and heart-touching to see that such extraordinary solidarity arises during difficult times. Yours thoughts and prayers are very much needed and highly appreciated!
Yours,
Tamara
