A day and night in the Colchagua Wine Valley
Located just 3 hours south of Santiago can be found one the top wine producing valleys in Chile, the Colchagua Valley. A visit here is definitely worth the time, especially if you like red wine. The “capital” of this wine region is Santa Cruz where you will find many small boutique hotels to stay the… Read Full Post
Puerto Natales Airport starts receiving commercial flights
Previously, the journey to Torres del Paine or Puerto Natales included a flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas followed by a 3-4 hour drive. However, beginning on December 6th of this year, Puerto Natales Airport expanded their runway to allow the arrival of commercial flights. This means that you can now arrive to downtown Puerto… Read Full Post
Luxury in the Lake District: Vira Vira and The Araucanía Region of Chile
In the northern part of Chile’s Lake District is a region called Araucanía. Its name derives from the Araucaria Tree (often referred to as the Monkey Puzzle Tree in English). In the last few years the main airport of Araucanía, Temuco, has gotten a major facelift, with multiple flights per day to and from Santiago…. Read Full Post
Recommended Listening in South American Music
OK, big disclaimer: We’re not even going to be scratching the surface of the surface here. Latin America has an extraordinary history of musical output. Sometimes we just feel like we have to share some of it for those who might not be familiar. Here, in no particular order, is some great stuff from a… Read Full Post
Tierra del Fuego, the End of the World, and the Yamana People
The southernmost city in the world tends to inspire awe at first glance. While this city anywhere else might be just another habitable area filled with houses, industry, and businesses alike, Ushuaia sits along the Beagle Channel and is at the entryway to several amazing National Parks sitting at the end of the world. One… Read Full Post
Lutz Go: Taking My Family to South America for the Next 10 Months
It’s hard for me to believe, but on August 31 my wife Carly, my three kids (Cecelia, Sean and Colin) and I will all be boarding a flight to Rio de Janeiro to start a 10 month journey in South America. Carly and I have talked for years about how we should take the time… Read Full Post
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) – A complete disconnect!
Thinking back to a past trip that has left countless memories in my mind inspired this blog post. A few years back I had the opportunity to spend a week in the very remote Falkland Islands. In this far off destination, one must arrive and depart on a Saturday on the one commercial flight in… Read Full Post
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu the Vaya Way
Those of you who have traveled with Vaya before know that we like to put our own signature on classic South American destinations, elevating our travelers’ experiences wherever possible. In Chilean Patagonia, for example, most Vaya travelers trade what would be a five-hour van ride from Punta Arenas into Torres del Paine National Park for… Read Full Post
Glacier Trekking on the Carretera Austral
The only road that provides access to Chilean Patagonia, the Carretera Austral is a breathtaking journey through the mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, volcanoes, glaciers, and fjords of southern Chile. It is a largely underexplored and relatively unknown region of the country, due in great part to its limited accessibility. This is a shame, because it… Read Full Post
Cartagena, a must-see city
Throughout my life, I’ve had the good fortune of visiting many wonderful cities around the world. Few can match the vibrant atmosphere or history of Cartagena, Colombia. Perhaps the city’s wealth of history isn’t so surprising considering its prime location on the Caribbean coast, which invited settlers, pirates, and other colorful characters – but the… Read Full Post