Southern Hospitality: Say 'hats off' to your staff in LATAM

Apr 27, 2018 09:00 GMT

Latin Loyalty: Yourguide to incentive tripsMost travel enthusiasts have at least one Latin American destination ontheir bucket list. The region has it all: ancient cultures, tongue-tinglingcuisine, and ever-smiling people.

Visiting the region on an incentive trip can add an extra dimension to thedestinations we know and love. According to our report, 2018 Meetings &

Events Future Trends, taking your staff somewhere memorable is key toboosting motivation and morale. Let me take you on a journey to eight ofthe most unforgettable spots in my region.

Tulum, Mexico 

1. Coast along in Tulum

Our first stop is one of the 31 most beautiful beaches in the world,according to National Geographic. Tulum, on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, isa natural paradise that offers Mayan ruins, subterranean swimming holes, aseashore filled with breath-taking resorts and a pueblo, a traditional villagewhere groups can bond over one of the attractions Mexico is most famousfor: having a fiesta.

2. Zip across the rainforest in Costa Rica

Tulum is not the only magical coast in Latin America. Our second stop isCosta Rica. Known as the land of diversity, it's home to 60 volcanoes,including Arenal, the most active in the country. Too much for you? Try ajungle safari or fly through the rainforest on a canopy zip line. 90% of theanimals and 50% of the plant species live in the upper levels of the treeshere. 

Costa Rica

3. Be seduced by the cobblestone streets of Cartagena 

For those who prefer a more peaceful stay, few places are as welcoming asCartagena de Indias, the port city on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast. Add up1760km of turquoise beaches, colonial architecture, and discoteca-tasticnightlife and what you get is a destination that has something for everyone.Sample the flavors of traditional cuisine with a farewell dinner, overlookingthe 16th century walls of the old town. You will leave feeling like the mostnotorious Colombian (sorry Shakira!), the novelist Gabriel García Márquez,who said, "It was enough for me to take a step inside the wall to see it in allits grandeur in the mauve light of six in the evening, and I could not repressthe feeling of having been born again.”

4. See the world differently on the Galapagos Islands

For our next stop, let’s go back to the start. A province of Ecuador, theseislands are a breath of fresh air. Just ask Darwin. The legendary scientistdeveloped the theory of evolution, observing birds here. Northeast of PuertoAyora, groups can visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Run by morethan 200 scientists and research volunteers, it’s dedicated to preserving theecosystem – including a captive breeding program for giant tortoises.

5. Explore the lost city of the Incas at Machu Picchu

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu combines thewisdom of ancient Inca with mystical landscapes and fresh Peruvian disheslike ceviche.

Stretched over 13 square kilometers, you can spend hours discovering the

sites, but if you want that Instagram-worthy view, climb Huayna Pichu.

Machu Picchu, Peru

6. Samba ‘til dawn in Rio de Janeiro

It’s hard to say ‘Copacabana’ without singing that Barry Manilow song, or totalk about Rio at all, without shimmying or singing. Rio de Janeiro is whereyour team will come alive, whether you join the two million that arrive forCarnival every year, or visit during a quieter period. As you wander thestreets, bursting with music and color, the 124-foot El Cristo Redentor willwatch over you, in this most awe-inspiring of cities.

Rio de Janeiro 

7. Dance the tango in Buenos Aires

Tired of Samba? Let’s fly to Buenos Aires, the city of cambalache. Acombination of European grandeur and laidback Latin vibes, Argentina’scapital is home to El Tango, the world’s most sensual dance. It's bestexperienced at its birthplace on the streets of La Boca. After you’ve taken ina dance, take your team to the Teatro Colón opera house. And if thebewitching throats of lyrical singers are not really your thing, try theGarganta del Diablo (the devil’s throat) waterfall, at Iguazu falls. It’s bestwhen illuminated solely by the moon. 

8. Go off the beaten track in the southern Chilean Patagonia

Discover Torres del Paine National Park in the southern Chilean Patagonia,named after three distinctive granite peaks. Alternatively, travel far to RapaNui, the Easter Island. It's famous for being covered with hundreds of giantstatues. Each weighing several tons and some standing more than 30-feettall, they're shrouded in mystery. Who built them and how did they getthere? Nobody knows for sure. It has even been suggested that aliensplayed a role in their construction. 

Whether you're an alien or earthling, choose Latin America foryour incentive trip. You’ll leave saying “Veni, Vidi, Amavi.” That’s the otherLatin for “I came, I saw, I loved.”

Blog Author: Cintia Copado, Manager, CWT Meetings & Events, Argentina

CWT

CWT is a Business-to-Business-for-Employees (B2B4E) travel managementplatform. Companies and governments rely on us to keep their peopleconnected – anywhere, anytime, anyhow – and across six continents, weprovide their employees with innovative technology and an efficient, safeand secure travel experience. Every single day, we look after enoughtravelers to fill more than 100,000 hotel rooms, while our meetings andevents division handles more than 100 events every 24 hours.

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