Conservation
My Grandfather’s Travels Through Latin America with the National Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s and ’60s
When I was young, before I or anyone in my immediate family had been to South America, I remember hearing that my maternal grandfather, Howard Mitchell, had visited South America several times. Originally from Iowa, he had left home at the age of 16 to study music at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. An accomplished… Read Full Post
Arequipa & Colca Canyon as an Active 3-Night Extension
On a recent trip to Peru I had the chance to visit some places that are slightly further off the radar than the iconic Cusco and Machu Picchu. I spent about a week exploring Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, and Lake Titicaca, which was a nice amount of time for a leisurely exploration of all three…. Read Full Post
Winetasting and James Turrell at the World’s Highest Vineyard in Argentina
I recently took a trip to the northwest region of Argentina, a vast and less-visited section of the country. Some parts are reminiscent of the American southwest, but with many decidedly Argentine cultural twists (well-preserved colonial towns, gaucho culture), and not a few surprises. Among the surprises is Colomé, home to the world’s highest vineyards… Read Full Post
Beyond Ceviche: Mistura and the Diversity of Peruvian Cuisine
Many in-the-know travelers rank Peru among the world’s greatest food cultures, and Peruvian cuisine has begun enjoying widespread international recognition. This is due in part to chefs whose fame has grown outside of Peru, such as Gastón Acurio, whose flagship Lima restaurant Astrid y Gastón has consistently been at the top of Best Restaurant lists… Read Full Post
Savoring a Stay at a Gourmet Hotel in Argentina’s Lake District
Given that the word gourmet is in the name, one would expect Las Balsas Gourmet Hotel & Spa to have a stellar restaurant, but the gourmet experience at this beautiful boutique property in Argentina’s Lake District goes far beyond the food. Of all the Argentina hotels I’ve been fortunate enough to visit over the years,… Read Full Post
Guatin / Gatchi – an active Atacama option
The Atacama Desert has numerous excellent and unique excursion options. While they all allow you to see amazing and extremely varied things, many of them (particularly some of the most highly-touted, like the Tatio Geysers, Atacama Salt Flat, Valley of the Moon, etc.) require quite a lot of time in a vehicle as part of… Read Full Post
Wandering the Walled City of Cartagena
It’s been over a decade since I started traveling in Central and South America, but I continue to be surprised and delighted by new and unexpected sights, sounds and sabores here. There are certainly common threads and reoccurring themes throughout the region: a plaza in Peru might remind you of one in Ecuador; a band… Read Full Post
IGTOA: Looking to the Future of Galapagos Conservation
I’ve been an active member of the Board of IGTOA, the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, for the last 4 years, and I was recently named its new president. IGTOA is an organization consisting of over 40 travel companies that promotes sustainable travel and raises money for conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. I’m honored… Read Full Post
Conference Highlights Galapagos Conservation Efforts
This past April I participated in the annual conference of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) in Miami. I’ve been on the Board of IGTOA for 3 years, and the annual conference has been a great way to meet some of the people most actively involved in Galapagos conservation. The funds that members… Read Full Post
Why There Should Be A Cap on Tourist Arrivals to the Galapagos
As a Board Member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA), I recently attended a conference in Guayaquil entitled “Defining and Achieving Sustainable Tourism in the Galapagos.” Attendees included the Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation and representatives of various organizations working to preserve the Galapagos, including the World Wildlife Foundation and WildAid…. Read Full Post