Exploration of the Amazon River
The sun rose, a beautiful cotton candy pink, as we cruised over the placid water of the Amazon. Even now I can imagine the scent of the river first thing in the morning, woody, earthy, damp. We were bird spotting, and we did catch sight of a few toucans, macaws, and herons. Even more exciting,… Read Full Post
Hiking in Comfort and Style: The Lodge-Based Salkantay Trek
A few years ago I was fortunate to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This was a beautiful experience, and I loved almost every moment of this iconic hike. That being said: while I’m the kind of person who is thrilled to hike for hours every day, the need to crawl into a tent… Read Full Post
Kayaking in the Rainforest Canopy versus taking the Canopy Elevator, Bridges, Towers or Sky Biking
Following a recent Tucano cruise in the Brazilian Amazon, kayaking in the canopy of the Amazon Rainforest is now my favorite means of exploring the unique ecosystem found at the top of the jungle’s centenarian trees. How does one kayak at the tops of trees? We’ll get to that, but first, a quick recap of… Read Full Post
Gustu, La Paz’s Acclaimed Culinary Experiment with a Social Conscience, Draws Globetrotting Foodies
Could there be a less likely location for a world-class culinary experience than La Paz, Bolivia? As first impressions go, entering the sprawling city from the Altiplano via a dizzying detour through El Alto, inspired gastronomy was the furthest thing from my mind. In fact, having crossed the border into Bolivia from Peru, land of… Read Full Post
Restaurants of the Casablanca Wine Valley
Located only about a 1.5 hour drive from Chile’s capital Santiago, the Casablanca Wine Valley is a great place to eat. Here you can find excellent Chilean dishes expertly paired with wines produced by the local Casablanca vineyards. If you have a free day while in Santiago (or even a free afternoon), it is highly… Read Full Post
Not Just a Day in the Park
As a kid, I would lie awake in anticipation of the next day whenever a storm was on the horizon and I didn’t yet know how much snow would fall on the local ski mountain. When I opened my eyes in the morning I would jump from bed and run to the window, hoping to… Read Full Post
Lutz Go, Part II: A 5 Month South American Odyssey With My Wife and 3 Young Kids
Recap of Part I: At the end of August 2016, I set out with my wife Carly and our three young kids for a journey through South America. Well, the trip actually happened. It ended up being shorter than originally planned for reasons I’ll explain, but long story short: it was exhilarating, exhausting, eye opening,… Read Full Post
New Ecuador Entry Requirements
Effective September 2017, the Ecuadorian government will now require all tourists to carry proof of health insurance that covers them during their stay in Ecuador. While the government has yet to issue the exact details on how the immigration officials will be enforcing this new law, Vaya recommends that all travelers now carry the following… Read Full Post
El Morado: Hummingbirds, Bacon-Eating Finches, and Glaciers on a Day Hike from Santiago
Adventure-seekers and nature-lovers headed to Chile to hike and enjoy the outdoors usually focus on the spectacular national parks in the south of Chile, and for good reason: Chile’s largest and wildest national parks are in the south. Torres del Paine National Park, for example, which covers 927 square miles of southern Patagonia (about three… Read Full Post
Experience Awasi Patagonia
Yvon Chouinard, founder of the Patagonia clothing company, once said “You know where I wanna be right now? Right here. Nowhere else. Not in the future, not in the past.” This is the feeling one experiences at Awasi Patagonia, an incredible 14-villa property located at the southern tip of South America. At Awasi, it isn’t… Read Full Post