Goway Agent News

I just wanted to write to say what a joy it was for us to have booked with Goway Travel for our trip to Cusco and to Machu Picchu. Claudia who met us at the airport was a delight as were each of the guides. Fatima guided us in Machu Picchu and she was fabulous and made the history come alive for us both. Your drivers were the best and Goway made our trip worry free, safe and so fun. We have already passed this note on to our Travel Agent in Hawaii. Thank you to all of your wonderful staff in Peru!

Sandy and Scout, Hawai USA

Sorry it has taken me a couple of weeks to write, but I just wanted to thank you for arranging our South American flights and our tour of Easter Island. We were very impressed. Iguazzu Falls was breathtaking but Easter Island was definitely the highlight of our trip. We had our own private tour guide for the three days that we were there. Marite was wonderful. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and she took us to see every part of the island. If you have any clients who are interested, please tell them it is worth the 5 hour flight from Santiago. I would go back again in a minute! Thanks again.

Sharon, Toronto ON

One of Central America’s most popular and easily accessible destinations, Costa Rica is a perfect getaway for the harsh North American winters, a great choice for soft adventure and also for those romantic getaways as well as weddings. Following are some sales tips from Goway’s most experienced Costa Rican experts.

Determine which beach location suits your client:

• Manuel Antonio has a wide variety of nightly entertainment, bars, clubs, restaurants, however clients need to take a taxi to the beach from most hotels (as they are perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific), golden sand beaches.
• Tamarindo is an ideal spot for surfing and a laid back atmosphere, golden sand beaches.
• In Papagayo – land of the first class hotel properties & villas, dark sand beaches

Wildlife by area:

• Arenal – Howler Monkeys roaring at the base of the Arenal Volcano, scenic boat tour through the Cano Negro Refuge, bordering Honduras, home to caiman, sloths and tropical birds.
• Monteverde – Ideal destination for birdwatchers, many travelers flock here in search of the resplendent Quetzal. Over 400 bird species live in the area.
• Manuel Antonio – Squirrel and White Faced Monkeys scurry along the beach and swing from the tree tops above.
• Tortuguero – Green & Leatherback Turtles frequent the Pacific Sands from May to November each year.
• Corcovado – National Geographic has called it “the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity”. There is a possibility to see Jaguars within the National Park.

Adventure by area:

• Arenal – FD Toro River Rafting (class III & IV), HD Balsa River Rafting (class II & III), Volcano Hike, Baldi, Tabacon, Ecotermales Hot Springs, Hanging Bridges, Cano Negro Refuge Boat Tour, Wildlife Safari Float, Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall, Rio Celeste Waterfalls & Lagoons, Rapelling down a series of waterfalls & canyons.
• Monteverde – Best Zip Lines in Costa Rica (fly 2000m above sea level), Arial Tram ride, Night walks, tarzan swing.
• Manuel Antonio – Kayaking to Damas Island, Rio Savegre & Naranjo River Rafting (class II-IV).
• Guanacaste – Rincon de La Vieja National Park, mountain trekking & mudbaths

Made infamous in the film of the same name – Anaconda – these non venomous, constrictor snakes are found in the swamps and jungles of south America, specifically in Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana and Argentina – though not on Goway trips to Latin America!

• The green anaconda is the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are considered. It can reach a length of 30 feet (9 meters) and weigh up to 550 pounds (227 kilograms).
• When it attacks, it springs from the water and grabs the unsuspecting creature with its small, sharp teeth, quickly wrapping its body around the victim and squeezing it until it stops breathing. It then maneuvers its prey into its mouth, usually headfirst, and powerful muscles contract in waves to crush the meal and push it down to its stomach.
• One Spanish name for this snake is matatoro, which means “bull killer.”
• The giant snake opens its mouth wide enough to swallow its victim—sometimes fish or caiman (relatives of crocodiles) and even jaguars and small deer.
• Anaconda jaws are held together with stretchy ligaments so they can open wide enough to swallow prey whole. (watch below to see just how far the jaw can “dislocate”)

Here we have some close-ups of birds of Latin America. Can you pick which bird it is?

Answers in the next eZine!

Goway’s range of exotic long haul travel products is as varied as the people who work for the company. A recent internal survey showed over 40 different nationalities working for the company. Goway celebrates all these different cultures by recognizing national holidays and festivals of these respective countries such as Chinese New Year, Australia Day and Diwali, to name a few.

Within Latin America the team celebrates Latin Day by recognizing the birth day of Simon Bolivar – July 24th. Simon Bolivar – El Libertador – is seen as South Americas “George Washington”. He was the driving force behind the modern day countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia gaining independence from Spain.

The Goway Latin team celebrates all things Latin on this day by bringing local delicacies such as ceviche, tapas, arepas, with some of the more adventurous staff dressing up in ponchos!

June sees the power of Goway’s marketing machine handed over to the Latin American division for their first “Sell Latin America Month”. All things Latin will be featured: from pre and post cruise excursions, luxury small vessel cruising in the Galapagos or the Amazon, some of the world’s best treks in Peru and Colombia, romantic getaways in Costa Rica and Belize, small group value touring throughout South America, 3, 4 and 5 star customized itineraries, and Goway’s flag ship tours – the 4 Latin HOLIDAYS OF A LIFETIME!

So keep an eye out for these and many more Latin options as well as amazing air and land deals in what we in the Latin department consider to be the best destination to choose from all of Goway’s choices!

Goway Travel has announced that their Latin America Division expertise now extends to bilingual agents.

“Spanish is the world’s 2nd or 3rd most spoken language behind Mandarin and English. It is of course at the heart of our Latin product and for anyone travelling to Latin America, basic Spanish is a good addition, plus it is fun conversing in the native tongue. “ states Don Forster, Product & Marketing Mmanager for Goway’s specialist Latin America division.

“Goway’s Latin wholesale FIT, retail and groups departments are staffed by experts who only sell Latin America and part of that expertise includes three staff members who hail from South America, while another three others who are fluent in Spanish. We have noticed an increase in the number of Spanish speaking agents selling Latin America and  if an agent is more comfortable speaking Spanish then we have staff who can assist.” continues Forster. “There are times when picking up the phone and speaking (in Spanish) to local operators is the fastest and most efficient way to operate, and we’re pleased that this is an undeniable advantage we have.”