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It’s time to add my own addition to the series of “Booked” posts PMB authors publish, and I’m incredibly excited about my trip to northern South America. This July, I’m spending two weeks between Colombia and Peru and look forward to exploring Medellin’s café culture, wandering the narrow alleys of Cartagena’s Old Town, and walking up endless stairs on the 4-day Inca Trail before arriving at Machu Picchu for sunrise.
Flights to South America depend more on route and timing than the inflight experience, as airlines in this region rarely compete with industry-leading business class products. The truth is, flying Japan Airlines and taking another trip to East Asia tempts me most, but I’m trying to make the most of my partner’s temporary home base in Miami and the excellent connections it offers to South America.
Flights
To Colombia
To start the trip, I’m flying Avianca from Fort Lauderdale to Medellin, Colombia. With a 3.5-hour flight time and all airlines operating narrowbodies, I am perfectly content to sit in economy. I did consider flying Emirates, but that only goes to Bogotá and requires an extra domestic connection.
My Avianca economy flight cost 8,980 miles + $44 USD in Economy Classic. You can also redeem more miles for “Flex” and fewer miles for “Light”. I booked this flight in February, and a few weeks later, the flight from Miami (MIA) dropped in price, so I planned to switch. Then I discovered LifeMiles’ rather unpleasant change and cancellation policy. Changing my ticket would cost $150 USD, which is only slightly cheaper than purchasing a new flight outright in cash, so I kept my ticket as is.
If you have a paid Avianca subscription, Avianca waives all change and cancellation fees and gives you up to 25% off award redemptions.
Avianca economy was uneventful
I then redeemed 4,320 Lifemiles + $12.12 USD for Medellín-Cartagena. Cash flights on this sector are relatively affordable, but I had a stash of LifeMiles from a cancelled Peru trip two years ago.
From Colombia to Peru
Going from Cartagena to Peru proved more difficult, and using points represents a lower value because Colombia has very high departure taxes. I believe the airline can refund part of it at the check-in desk, but your mileage may vary depending on how the staff handle the request. Furthermore, due to timing, I was eyeing a LATAM ticket Cartagena-Lima-Cusco, but there was no award space available.
Like with Avianca, I’m content to fly economy as it’s a narrowbody A320 and the flight time is under 4 hours (plus, I’m flying with a friend).
LATAM served a hot (and delicious) meal on CTG-LIM (3.5 hours)
Because I had no flexibility, with my other flights booked and friends waiting for me, I booked the entire itinerary with cash for $460.60 CAD instead of waiting for award space to open. I offset the purchase with TD Rewards points at 0.5 cents per point through Expedia for TD.
Around Peru and Back Home
My entire trip actually revolved around one flight that I booked last September, when LATAM had a big award drop from Peru. I booked Lima-New York on LATAM business class for just 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points + $84.05 USD. I earned Virgin Atlantic with a 40% transfer bonus from Amex US MR, so this was a spectacular deal at 36,000 MR.
It’s not the newest LATAM mini-suites, but the Boeing 767 business class looks great as well.
LATAM Boeing 767 business class
Qatar Avios usually provide the best value for LATAM flights between Cusco and Lima. Since the specific evening departure I wanted had no award space, I paid $153.60 CAD in cash and offset the purchase with TD Rewards points.
I’ll spend a few days in New York at the end of my trip to catch up with some friends before flying Porter from Newark to Ottawa, booked for just 4,500 Alaska Atmos Rewards points + $5.60 USD. I’ll say it over and over: redeeming Alaska Atmos Rewards on Porter is one of my favourite uses of points ever.
Hotels
Colombia
In my bid to requalify for Marriott Titanium Elite status, I chose the Medellin Marriott Hotel (in Medellin) and Ermita Cartagena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Cartagena. If you’re questioning whether Titanium is worth it, my short answer is yes, given the attached Air Canada and United Elite status. I definitely need United MileagePlus Elite status to unlock extra saver award space.
Ermita, Cartagena, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Both hotels were available at an industry rate, at $99 USD/night in Medellin and $130 USD/night in Cartagena (tourists don’t pay VAT). I seriously considered spending my $300 Amex FHR credits at the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, but (maybe irrational) loyalty won out. My partner thinks I’ll regret it, as it’s a considerably nicer property within the old town walls with a similar cash outlay (actually cheaper depending on how you value the $100 property credit), but I’m tight on requalification and 2 elite nights might make the difference.
Peru
In Cusco, I booked a cheap airport hotel for one night since I land at 1AM, before 1 night at the Palacio del Inka (Marriott Luxury Collection) and 2 nights at the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco. There are no promotions to chase; I just wanted to visit both… being close to each other should make hotel hopping easier.
Both were available at industry rates, with Palacio del Inka costing $191.51 USD for one night and JW Marriott costing $368 USD for two nights, all-in.
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
After 3 nights to acclimate in Cusco, I’ll be embarking on the 4-day, 3-night Inca Trail hike booked with GAdventures. It’s the first time in many years this particular group of my high school friends has spent quality time together, and what better way to catch up than by huffing and puffing our way to Dead Woman’s Pass. It’s sure to be a memorable occasion as we take in the sights of Machu Picchu on the final morning, and I’m crossing my fingers for good weather.
We’re spending the night after at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection hotel in the Sacred Valley, and plan to spend around 24 hours entirely visiting the spa.
I scheduled one day in Lima to check out the apparently amazing food scene and will be staying overnight at the AC Hotel by Marriott Lima Miraflores, also booked at an industry rate for $184.80 USD, tax-inclusive, for my one-night stay.
Takeaway
As I write this, I’m watching the ocean waves in Ermita in Cartagena before heading off to Peru. Flying from Lima to New York for just 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points and no fuel surcharges is actually an underrated sweet spot, especially since Alaska lost LATAM as a partner. It’s also my first time using LifeMiles, and I’ve already learned a few valuable lessons from the clunky website and steep change fees.
While not the flashiest of redemptions on any front, it’s a practical, comfortable trip made significantly more accessible with Miles & Points. I used TD Rewards, LifeMiles, and Virgin Atlantic points to piece together a two-week trip through Colombia and Peru (one business class flight for an international trip is my lowest ratio yet 🫣), and Sash said it best: “The best redemptions are not always the ones with the highest cents-per-point value; they are the ones that help create trips you actually want to take.” The narrowbody flights across South America are certainly not the occasion, but spending meaningful time with my friends is.
