Avanti Destinations Divides to Conquer

December 18, 2006 By: Mark Rogers Travel Agent

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Tour operator distributes separate brochures for Central and South America

When a company experiences an abundance of success, change often follows. This is the case for Portland, OR-based Avanti Destinations (www.avantidestinations). The company, in operation for 25 years, has just released its 2007 brochures for independent vacations to Central America and South America. In past years, these destinations were combined into one Latin America brochure. "Our Latin America program has continued to grow to such a degree that we felt it was important to create individual brochures for Central America and South America, which we consider individual niche markets," says Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti.

Avanti is seeing a continuing trend towards more family
vacations and multi-generational trips. In 2007, Avanti will add beachfront
villas and condos in Costa Rica
and Belize.
The company has also seen an increase in the surfing niche market, and plans to
cater to surfers with targeted information on weather and wave conditions.

"Today's travelers want more than just a hotel room and
a seat on a bus," says Dalgaard. "They demand an experience with an
in-depth look at the country they are visiting." Avanti Destinations
presents a range of activities to be experienced across Latin
America. These include jungle lodge stays in Brazil, Peru
and Ecuador, kayaking and
rafting programs in Costa Rica
and Belize, beach resorts in
Belize, Costa Rica, Panama
and Brazil, and self-drive
programs in Belize and Costa Rica.

Look for the tour operator to add more boutique hotels and
expand itineraries to include more wine-tasting tours in the Mendoza
region of Argentina and the
wine-producing valleys of Chile.

Destinations performing particularly well for Avanti
Destinations are Costa Rica
and Peru.
The company also has its eye on Panama.
In a recent survey from Frommers,
Panama made the
cut as a hot destination to watch. Avanti is offering a combined tour of Costa Rica and Panama that takes advantage of new
inter-country flights, making it much easier to visit prime areas in each
country. In 2007, Avanti will offer a nine-day program that includes Panama City, the San Blas
Islands, Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro.

Avanti Destinations' South America
journeys for 2007 include the seven-night "Amazon River Cruise: The
Greatest Amazon Experience" for $3,217 per person, double. The trip
departs from Iquitos and explores the main
tributaries of the Ucayali and Maranon rivers.

One of the company's most popular programs is "Best of
Peru: Lima/Cuzco/Machu Picchu." The seven-night itinerary features two
nights in Lima, one night in the Sacred Valley (Urubamba River Valley), an
excursion to Machu Picchu, one night in a Machu Picchu area hotel and two
nights in Cuzco for $1,768 per person, double; roundtrip air from Lima to Cuzco
is included.