New Orleans has long been referred to as the “northernmost city in the Caribbean.” Our culture is heavily influenced by the tropics, and now there’s an easier way to travel below the latitude line of Cancer, and even that of Capricorn.
Copa Airlines has announced two new destinations connected to their airport, Hub of the Americas in Panama City, Panama. Beginning June 28, Copa will offer two nonstop flights each week to Chiclayo, Peru. Then, starting July 1, there will be four weekly nonstop flights available for travel to Rosario, Argentina.
The airline began service out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in June 2015 and has been operating four weekly nonstop flights to their hub in Panama City. With the addition of these two cities, Copa Airlines now has routes to 76 cities in 31 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
As Copa extends their service, it’s great news for New Orleans and our visitors. Because of our cultural attractions, many travelers plan their itineraries to include an extra night or two stay in New Orleans between and home and their ultimate destination. As airlines invest in building out their routes, and ideally adding direct services to New Orleans, travel will be made easier and more affordable for those wanting to experience our fair city. Not to mention the benefits to locals who desire more international travel.
It’s a good thing there’s a passport office in New Orleans because the two new cities serviced by Copa sound intriguing.
Chiclayo, Peru is located approximately 479 miles north of Lima, the capital. It is eight miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and boasts a population of over 500,000. It is known for its archeological sites and its proximity to both beaches and inland forests. One major attraction is the tomb of Lord of Sipán, a Moche ruler dating to 1,500 years ago. He occupied a complex of tombs that were first unearthed in 1987. His tomb included more than 450 cultural objects of precious metals and textiles that were buried with him for the afterlife. Other attractions to keep on your radar are the Túcume pyramids, the Municipal Palace, the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary and the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge.
Travel further south, and Rosario, Argentina is the third largest city by population in the country. Like New Orleans, Rosario is cradled by a powerful river, the Rio Paraná. Guided river tours and other leisure activities, as well as beaches, cuisine and culture, are all on hand for tourists. Perhaps most famously, it is the birthplace of the revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara.
Travel through the Americas is becoming easier and more attractive thanks to the investment in New Orleans by airlines like Copa. These new services, along with the potential of leisure tourism to Cuba, play a vital role for New Orleans to serve as a hub for international travel in addition to being a unique destination by itself.