Chile
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
Easter Island: Worth the Trip?
Easter Island is arguably one of the most unique destinations in South America, with a culture and history utterly distinct from the mainland of Chile or the rest of the continent. While it is officially a part of Chile, modern Rapa Nui (the name for Easter Island in the indigenous language of its people and… Read Full Post
Santiago’s Lastarria district gets several new hotel options
In one of Santiago’s top barrios (districts), there have been several recent positive developments in hotel options. While the Lastarria Boutique Hotel remains a great option and highly recommended, here are a few more new additions to the neighborhood that are worth considering: Singular Lastarria: A five star full luxury hotel that is small enough… Read Full Post
Time Flies but Memories Last
Days can come and go in rapid succession. But while time whizzes by, when I stop and reflect on past travels, the clock tends to tick just a little bit slower. For me, that is one of the most beautiful things about travel. The memories aren’t left in baggage claim or on a camera’s memory… Read Full Post
Cruising the Amazon Aboard the Tucano
On a recent trip to Manaus, I was fortunate to experience a 4 night / 5 day cruise on the Tucano. If you are looking to have a quality wildlife experience in the Brazilian Amazon, the Tucano is one of the very top options. This cruise offers just the right amount of comfort while allowing… Read Full Post
Canoeing with Caimans in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park
“Back, back, back!” exclaimed our native naturalist guide, Sergio, as he and two members of the local Añangu indigenous community paddled our canoe back into the reeds along the wild shore of Laguna Añangucocha. A large Black Caiman, a carnivorous crocodilian species known as the largest predator in the Amazon Basin, was swimming menacingly toward… Read Full Post
Central Chile: More Than Just a Layover
Santiago and Central Chile have long been afterthoughts for travelers coming to Chile, who tend to focus on the southern parts of the country, particularly Torres del Paine and the Lake District. Logistically, it’s easy to spend just one night in Santiago, do a few hours of sightseeing to say you’ve been, and leave it… Read Full Post
Hiking the Cordillera Blanca
On my most recent trip to Peru I had the chance to return to the Cordillera Blanca, a stunning Andean subrange about a 1 hour flight (or 7 hour drive) north of Lima. I had been to this dramatic region of the Andes to go mountain climbing with a friend in 1998, back when I… Read Full Post
Carnival in Rio
Carnival in Rio is arguably one of the biggest and most famous parties in the world. This year I let a friend talk me into experiencing it, but to be honest, it took some convincing. Before experiencing it for myself, the images I had in my head were less than positive. I had the impression… Read Full Post
Exploring Chile’s Wine Region in a Day Trip from Santiago
Chile is known internationally for the quality of its wine, and a visit to wine country is a great addition to a visit. There are extensive wine regions throughout the central part of the country. Many visitors have heard of the famed Colchagua Valley, but while Colchagua is an excellent place to spend a couple… Read Full Post