Viva Expeditions has welcomed back Daniela Wards into its reservations team after stepping back during Covid.

Hailing from Chile and with a depth of experience in travel to Latin America, Wards is an expert on South America and Central America. 

Domestic travel with an eye to exceptional experiences for Kiwis will remain a focus for Viva Expeditions, even as its pre-pandemic business starts to gain momentum again, says founder Rachel Williams.

With offices here and in South America, Viva is back promoting two-way travel between the destinations. However, successful forays into the local market have shown Williams the worth of having domestic product with a difference on offer.

Can you think outside the box?

Are you creative, dynamic and just plain awesome? 

If you are then we want you!

Viva are a progressive and growing wholesale travel provider who prides itself on travel bookings based on extensive knowledge and experience.
Our trips are intimate, environmentally friendly, community focussed, and designed to offer a real connection with the cultures and landscapes in which people travel.

• We offer Unique Luxury Experiences throughout Latin America, New Zealand, Antarctica & the Arctic.
• We are NZ's leading specialist in travel to Latin America & the Polar regions.
• We offer personalised itineraries for independent travellers we also operate our own small group tours throughout South America.
• We offer NZ's largest range of Antarctica cruise options & operate our own charter cruises.
• We created and operate Southern Lights by Flight - a 10 hour flight onboard an Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner to view the incredible Aurora Australis from 40,000 feet above sea level.

We are looking for great people to grow our team so if you want the chance to stand out and do something bold in a fun and rejuvenating industry then we would love to have you join us! 

 Location: Albany, Auckland office.  Some flexibility with work hours & location.

Send you CV to Rachel Williams rachel@vivaexpeditions.com

Though the borders look set to remain shut longer than many in the industry were hoping after some promising signs late last year, agents are being reminded that the domestic market still provides some opportunities for short term revenue generation.

Rachel Williams, managing director of Viva Expeditions, says the company’s attention has turned back to New Zealand for the Kiwi market.

In Cuba the vaccination rates are advancing rapidly and there are some advances with respect to tourism, according to Viva Expeditions.

Managing director of Viva Expeditions, Rachel Williams reports that Havana has already lifted many of the restrictions, having opened restaurants and other recreational places, and it was announced that on 15 November the country will begin to open more widely to tourism. Several Spanish hotel companies such as Melia and Iberostar have already announced the reopening of their hotels, and 23 airlines will resume flights during October.

After enduring some of the worst of the Covid pandemic so far, Peru’s cases are dropping, vaccines are increasing, and the country is welcoming tourists back.

Viva Expeditions’ hotel and operations manager, Nick Macciocca has been at Casa República in Lima and reports an increase in occupancy month on month with August now having 50% occupancy during the week, growing to 70% on weekends following a trend nationwide. All hotel staff are back on full hours and the hotel has had to increase its staff numbers to meet increasing demand.

Viva Expeditions is promoting Antarctica day flights from Australia on a Qantas Dreamliner (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane).

Managing director, Rachel Williams says this is a great way to experience and appreciate the sheer size of Antarctica in a day. ‘Weather permitting we’ll hope to reduce the flying altitude to approximately 20,000 feet to give improved viewing of some areas. The South Pole flight will spend significantly longer over Antarctica, mostly at cruising altitude as we aim to reach the South Pole.

Viva Expeditions has advised that Tierra Hotels in Chile have confirmed reopening dates after long closures due to strict Covid lockdowns in Chile. Tierra Hotels offers accommodation in spectacular locations in Chile.

Tierra Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama will re-open 3 September 2021, Tierra Chiloé on the Island of Chiloé will re-open 30 October 2021 and Tierra Patagonia in Torres del Paine National Park on 1 October 2021. The hotels will close again for the winter period in 2022 – Tierra Patagonia on 30 April, Tierra Chiloé on 31 March. Tierra Atacama is currently planning on being open until the end of April 2022.

Viva Expeditions’ double Tierra  Hotel experience starts from $8945 for eight days and includes luxury accommodation, all meals and drinks, internal flights, guided activities and more. Click here for details.

Viva Expeditions is reminding agents of opportunities around its exclusive two-day Mt John Observatory Overnight Experience. 

For the first time the University of Canterbury is opening the doors of Mt John Observatory to a limited number of people for an overnight stay.  Usually this type of experience is limited to astronomers and scientists.

How to grow consumer confidence so New Zealanders will travel again to Latin America post Covid-19 was on the agenda when Viva Expeditions managing director Rachel Williams caught up with the Latin American ambassadors in Wellington recently. The group also discussed creative ideas to be able to market the various destinations within Latin America with limited resources available in the short to medium term.