TravelArt - Chile - August news! Flight schedules

Cerro Santa Inés – a new nature reserve in Chile

Impressive and varied landscape panoramas, a species-rich flora and fauna, this is attracting more and more nature lovers to Chile. Where else in the world can you find in one single country almost every kind of climate that exists on earth.

An extensive network of protected areas ensures the preservation of this natural heritage. Chile currently has 41 national parks, 46 nature reserves and 18 natural monuments all over the country.

Cerro Santa Inés has now been added as another nature reserve. It is located in the Coquimbo region only 15 minutes from the coastal town of Pichidangui and 195 km north of Santiago. The lush forest in Cerro Santa Inés is very similar to the forest in national park Bosque de Fray Jorge, which is also located in the same region. Visitors might get the impression that they are in the middle of the Valdivian rainforest. However, this green lung at 689 metres above sea level is located between the regions of Valparaíso and Coquimbo, specifically between the municipalities of La Ligua and Los Vilos, and is home to 83 animal and 243 plant species in an area of 713 hectares. On July 3, 2020, this area was recognized by the Ministry of Environment as part of the Chilean network of protected areas.

Improvements in Torres del Paine National Park

The Torres del Paine National Park in the Chilean Patagonia has recorded a steadily growing number of visitors in recent years.

The National Forest Corporation or CONAF is using the current situation positively to make improvements in the park. For example, a new bridge is being built over the Pingo River near Grey lake. The previous hanging bridge only allowed a maximum crossing of 6 people.

The new robust bridge, which is already at an advanced stage of construction, significantly improves the park’s infrastructure, allowing an easy way to get to the shore of Grey lake for walkings in the area and also to take the catamaran navigation tour to admire the glacier.

For more information on travel to Torres del Paine National Park please contact your travelArt representative or email info@travelart.com.

Current status of international flights from/to Santiago

Domestic flights within Chile are considerably increasing. Airlines such as LAN, Sky and Jetsmart already offer a number of flights from Santiago to other cities in the country.

We have prepared a list of international flights of major airlines and when flights can be expected to restart. As the future development of the situation worldwide is not entirely predictable, all information provided here is subject to change. AUGUST

• LATAM/LAN (Santiago SCL – São Paulo GRU as well as Santiago SCL – Miami MIA daily/ São Paulo GRU – Miami MIA three times a week)

• American Airlines (Miami MIA -Santiago SCL operates again since May)

• DELTA Airlines (Santiago SCL -Atlanta ATL operates again since May)

• Air France (operates again since July)

• Iberia Airlines (operates again since July)

• Copa Airlines (Santiago SCL -Miami MIA and further flight connections)

• KLM (Direct flight Santiago SCL – Amsterdam AMS, twice a week)

• Air Europa (São Paulo GRU – Madrid MAD, from there connecting flights to Santiago are available)

SEPTEMBER

• GOL (Santiago SCL -São Paulo GRU)

• Air Canada (to be confirmed)

• Aerolíneas Argentinas (Buenos Aires EZE – Santiago SCL)

• Avianca (Santiago SCL – Madrid MAD)

OCTOBER

• United Airlines (to be confirmed)

NOVEMBER

• Qantas (to be confirmed)

Travel insurances to enter Costa Rica

The insurance requirement requested from foreign tourists to enter Costa Rica may be met through international medical insurance, in addition to the two existing local options. In this way, tourists can no longer choose not only the national products registered but also the international options of their choice, as long as they meet three requirements:

• Medical expenses generated by the disease COVID-19

• Minimum medical expenses equivalent to the costs of hospitalization for the time that is required.

• 14 days minimum coverage for lodging expenses.

In the event that the insurance with international coverage does not meet any of these requirements, the tourist must purchase travel insurance offered by one of the authorized insurers in Costa Rica.

In the case of insurance with international coverage, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute assumes the task of verifying compliance with the established minimum conditions.

The verification mechanism will be digital; however, while it is being implemented, the Institution staff will personally attend the cases of tourists with international coverage. The tourist will have to ask the international insurer for a certification issued in English or Spanish, stating at least three conditions:

a. The validity of effective insurance during the visit to Costa Rica

b. Guarantee that it covers medical expenses in cases of pandemic disease COVID 19 in Costa Rica, for at least $ 50,000 (fifty thousand United States dollars).

c. That includes a minimum coverage of $ 2,000 for extended lodging expenses due to pandemic disease.

Medical insurance is one of the three requirements that the Government of Costa Rica has established to regulate the entry of tourists into the country in times of pandemic. The other two requirements are:

• A negative test for COVID-19. The sample for the test must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the passenger flies to Costa Rica.

• Complete the digital form called Health Pass. The form is available at the address https://salud.go.cr

Thank you.

Horizontes team

An Update from us...a new light of hope! Horizontes Nature Tours - Costa Rica

George Mason University confirms that anti-coronavirus drug produced by the University of Costa Rica inhibits the virus. A light of hope is making us both very hopeful and proud.  Since the pandemic started, a group of local committed scientists started looking at possible cures, and finally, very positive results are arising. The two antibody formulations prepared by the Clodomiro Picado Institute of the University of Costa Rica (ICP-UCR), from the plasma of horses hyperimmunized with viral proteins, are capable of inhibiting the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that It produces COVID-19 disease. This was revealed by the results of tests carried out at George Mason University, in the United States, which confirmed that the antibodies produced in Costa Rica not only could prevent the disease from progressing in patients but also that the plasma that neutralizes SARS CoV-2 is 100 times more powerful than convalescent plasma obtained from humans. This North American centre has one of the highest biosafety laboratories in the United States for testing live viruses in an environment with all the conditions of isolation and biosecurity.   In the past four months, the researchers used various SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins to immunize six horses, inducing the immune system of these animals to produce specific antibodies.  In total, there were four immunizations with different combinations of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that, at no time, harmed the health of the animals.  This procedure with horses was developed at the institute long ago and is regularly used to produce snake antivenom.  It is, in fact, one of the few labs in the world that produces snake antivenom, and the only one that uses horses. Later, the scientists extracted the blood and separated the blood cells from their liquid part, called blood plasma, which contains the antibodies and finally, were used to make and package the new drug, which is an injectable liquid. Based on the specs provided by the lab at George Mason, a group of local professionals are currently preparing the protocol to be used for the clinical use of the new drug, which should be applied to patience in about 7 days.  At this point, the Clodomiro Picado Institute will focus on optimizing the production of the new drug with the aim of reducing costs and maximizing process performance. Sincerely, Horizontes Team