The Magic of the Coca Leaf
It may come as a surprise and sound a little strange at first, but every hotel you encounter during your adventure to Machu Picchu will almost certainly offer you a hot cup of mate de coca, tea made from coca leaves (yes, the very same leaves that cocaine comes from, but the tea is non-addictive)…. Read Full Post
Book Report: Darwin’s Ghosts
It seems safe to say that we all know the name Charles Darwin. Widely credited with proposing the theory of natural selection, Darwin is considered one of the fathers of evolutionary theory. In the Galapagos Islands, where his travels as a young man led him to many of his theories, his name and story are… Read Full Post
The Unexpected Side of Easter Island
Easter Island is probably best known for its moai, the enormous and mysterious stone heads that cover the island, but on my last trip there I spent 10 days digging into the more unexplored and unexpected parts of the island. While a full two days is sufficient to explore the moai and the highlights of… Read Full Post
So-Called “Dark” Tourism: Incorporating Difficult Stories into your Journey
South America offers a number of attractions for travelers: beautiful scenery, friendly people, vivacious music and dance, delicious food, fun activities and interesting cultural experiences. Many of the destinations also the opportunity to learn about the darker side of local history. So-called “dark tourism” can be tricky. Difficult stories must be told respectfully, with the… 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
Sailing in Rio de Janeiro
A gust of tropical wind fills the sails and propels us out of Guanabara Bay and into the Atlantic Ocean. On the starboard side lies iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, where tourists line up by the thousands to take the cable car to the summit for a view of Rio de Janeiro from 1300 feet above. Down… 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
Curanto Al Hoyo (Recipe): Chiloe’s Signature Dish
The curanto is a traditional form of food preparation in the island of Chiloe, a true Chilote classic. Its name derives from the hot rocks used in its preparation, in which a variety of meats, shellfish, and potatoes are cooked over heated stones in an earthen pit. First the rocks are laid down, then the… Read Full Post
The World Has Two Navels
Easter Island, Isla de Pasqua, Rapa Nui, or the original native name: Te Pito o Te Henua, The Navel of the World… so if you thought Cusco was the Navel of the World, now you know… the world has two navels. Rapa Nui, better known in the English-speaking world as Easter Island, has to be… Read Full Post
Spotlight on Peruvian Guide Extraordinaire, Wilfredo Huillca
One of the top reasons to travel with Vaya is the quality of our local guides. We’ve worked with our local partners for years, and we’ve established relationships with the best private guides in South America. When you travel with a Vaya guide, you’re not on tour – you’re traveling with a fun, knowledgeable friend… Read Full Post