Trip Highlights
The Sensation of Tasting Top Pastry Chef in the World’s Confections at Nuema in Quito
Have you ever closed your eyes while chewing to fully immerse yourself in flavor? Have you spent hours watching documentaries with sultry slow-mo shots of top chef’s creations? Has food ever made you laugh, cry, or shout out in sheer delight? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are planning a… Read Full Post
Flying to Antarctica (Without the Drake Passage): My First Journey to the 7th Continent
As I stood on the windswept tarmac in Puna Arenas, Chile, I felt nervous yet wasn’t sure why. Anticipation and excitement, yes. But, as a seasoned traveler, anxiety is not something I typically experience before getting on a plane. Perhaps it was not knowing exactly what to expect. Or having to be prepared to change… Read Full Post
Cartagena, Colombia: Crown Jewel of the Caribbean
This beguiling city has a way of getting under your skin and beckoning you to return again and again. Cartagena has cast such a spell on me that even as I am just now unpacking my bags from my second visit, I am left yearning to return. Like a book you want to re-read with… Read Full Post
Cruise to Svalbard: Cooling Off In An Arctic Summer
Years ago, when Vaya first began arranging trips to Antarctica, I was fortunate to be invited to travel south to the end of the world to research this dream destination. That Antarctica trip was truly the most spectacular travel experience of my entire life. So of course, I was thrilled this past summer when I… Read Full Post
Top 4 Hikes Starting at Machu Picchu
Many travelers to Machu Picchu love hiking but perhaps do not have the time (or the desire anymore to tent camp) to do the Inca Trail while visiting Peru. Hiking lovers, fear not! Here are four incredible hikes that you can do right from the Machu Picchu citadel that will surely bolster your experience of… Read Full Post
Fresco-Seccoes as a Storytelling Tool in the Baroque Circuit
Fresco, commonly known in Italian Renaissance painting, is the technique of painting murals directly on freshly laid lime plaster while the plaster is still wet. The drying time of lime plaster gives an artist seven to nine hours to work, and the process of carbonatation of the lime allows the pigments to adhere to the… Read Full Post
2019 Vaya Photo Contest Winners!
Throughout 2019 we were delighted to receive photos taken by our travelers. To everyone who sent us photos, thank you! We look at every one of them, and we appreciate the chance to experience our destinations through your eyes. Whether they’re showcasing outstanding natural beauty, untamed wildlife, or vibrant culture, your photos allow us to… Read Full Post
A Traditional Chilean Culinary Class
A reporter once asked famed chef Anthony Bourdain what his least favorite cuisine was. He replied that he didn’t have a least favorite cuisine, but when pressed, he said he found Chilean cuisine “boring.” I’ve lived in Chile for four years at the time of writing this post. While it is true that the capital,… Read Full Post
SCUBA Diving in the Galapagos Islands
At 7:20 a.m. we headed down the Tiburon Martillo Dock to board the Wreck Bay diving boat for our full day SCUBA excursion in the Galapagos Islands. The day before, a representative of the dive shop had met us at our hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to fit us with our wetsuits, BCDs, and fins,… Read Full Post
The Frigate Bird: Pirate Bird of the Galapagos
A group of six bachelors are spotted sitting together. They seem like friends hanging out socially, but really they’re all trying to pick up a lady, and competition is fierce. Through the posing and showing off, occasionally the bravado takes over and the men resort to spats of violence. Most striking on these gentlemen, the… Read Full Post