South American travel in a nutshell

South America has become a destination of choice for those seeking a holiday with a difference, and Nuevo Mundo was established by Henri and Marian Assen to tailor packages for this purpose.

A Dutchman, Henri first came to Ireland in the 1970s and subsequently married Marian, from Greystones, Co Wicklow. The couple set up Greystones Travel in 1992, but it closed last year after business halved in six months.

Nuevo Mundo was launched in Clonsilla, Dublin in 2006, and the couple decided to focus their energy on this business instead.

The pair¡¯s target market includes honeymooners, well-heeled travellers and more mature clients.

The couple provide advice, information and individual five-star itineraries for customers, and book all flights, accommodation, private transfers, guides and excursions as requested. According to Henri Assen, there is a demand for this service to South America, as it is still an ¡®¡®unknown entity¡¯¡¯ for many people.

¡®¡®Marian and I have travelled most of the continent and made contacts there. We have a sales manager and are recruiting another sales representative, who will need three months¡¯ training before they take up the position," said Assen.

¡®¡®I travel there at least once a year to deal with my suppliers. It is very important to us that our customers receive the best services from trusted providers.

¡®¡®English is not widely spoken [in South America], so that is why transfers and guides are an important element of packages," he said.

Packages start at €2,000 per person, and a basic itinerary would include flights to Buenos Aires, with accommodation for four nights, a flight to Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian border with two nights¡¯ accommodation there, a flight to Rio de Janeiro with four nights in a top hotel, and a return flight home. All taxes and fees, guides and transfers are included.

A€5,000 individual package could include flights to Patagonia in Argentina, glacier hiking, transfer to national parks in Chile, a flight to the capital of Santiago, wine tasting and accommodation in vineyards, and a flight to the Atacama desert in Chile, ahead of return flights home.

¡®¡®If you¡¯ve never been, you will have no idea of the experiences that await, and that¡¯s what we¡¯re here to help with," Assen said.