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Trip Highlights
Four key ingredients of Andean cuisine
The Andean region is characterised by high altitudes, low rainfall and bitter winters. Not only does this make it hard to grow crops, but it also results in a hungry populace. Here we look at four cornerstones of the Andean diet, with a particular focus on Peru and Bolivia. Potatoes The potato was first cultivated [...]
Understanding South America through its History of War
It pays to know at least a little bit about the history of a place before you visit it, and wars are a good place to start. They shape fortunes and borders but they also form memories and national grudges. Here are three post-independence wars in South America that are still important today. Falklands War [...]
Two Werner Herzog Movies Set in South America
Reading Nick’s article on his favorite Latin American movies, I just can’t help giving a shout out to a couple of my own particular favorites. Both are by the same director, Werner Herzog, and both are set in the Amazon: “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” and “Fitzcarraldo.” Aguirre Wrath of God starts off with an [...]
The Finest Galapagos Sailing Tour: the Mary Anne
On a recent trip to the Galapagos Islands, I boarded the beautiful Mary Anne, a First Class 16 passenger sailing vessel, and embarked on an out-of-this-world eight day naturalist cruise. The experience was truly awe-inspiring. We anchored in many of the picturesque highlight sites of the archipelago, ventured onto six different islands and had some [...]
Film review: La Nana (Chile 2009)
I watched La Nana (The Maid) knowing nothing about it or its reputation. I was enchanted by the performance of the lead actress and by the humorous script (the same things, I would later learn, that have enchanted audiences around the world) but I was also reminded of the extremely well-drawn class divisions in Chile. [...]
Four Latin American blockbusters worth watching
Ever since I lived in Argentina, I’ve had a thing for movies from or about Latin America. I haven’t watched everything, but I have watched a lot. Here’s a list of four that have achieved global success. I’ll do a blog post on four lesser-known films soon. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) This tells the story [...]
Three questions arising from One Hundred Years of Solitude
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. The first line of One Hundred Years of Solitude encapsulates not only a book, but also a nation, a continent and a literary movement. Think about it. The [...]
Day Trips from Mendoza, Argentina
I lived in Mendoza for two years and I went on countless day and overnight trips. Here are three of my favourites. Aconcagua / Alta Montaña circuit Mendoza is located on a desert plain, 2300ft above sea level. Aconcagua, which at 22,841ft is the highest peak on the continent, is only two hours away by [...]
A Stay at an Amazon Jungle Lodge (La Selva)
Earlier this month I was able to embark on a adventurous trip into the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain Forest. The three best words I could use to describe the experience are unforgettable, unique, and pristine. To begin, I flew into Quito the night before my journey into the Amazon. I did this because the flight into [...]
Exploring Santiago, Chile
Chile is famous for its lakes, its mountains, its wines and its deserts, but its capital goes largely unnoticed. True, most people who visit Chile visit Santiago but it isn’t usually afforded many days on their itinerary. Santiago has the reputation of being polluted and a little dull. It cannot be denied that in the [...]
Peru Highlights
Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Tour
Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Patagonia and Lake DistrictVaya Adventures brochure
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