Peru
2016 Vaya Photo Contest Winners!
From the stiff breeze of Patagonia at the bottom of the Southern Cone, to the lush green landscapes surrounding Machu Picchu, all the way up to colorful markets of Colombia and everywhere in between, this year’s photo contest made it difficult for us to choose the winners. In no specific order, here are the winners… Read Full Post
Hemingway and the glory days of Cabo Blanco, Peru
Looking at the unspectacular smattering of low-strung cabins and fishing boats on a scrubby cape on Peru’s North coast, you would never imagine that Cabo Blanco had played host to the likes of Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Joe di Maggio and Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway’s life-long love affair with Cuba is well documented, but… Read Full Post
3 Latin American cocktails
Nothing says ‘vacation’ more loudly or clearly than sipping on a cocktail in your swimsuit or your bathrobe. While Argentina and Chile might be most famous for their wines, and Peru and Brazil for their coffee, try these three Latin American cocktails and you’ll realize that each country has something to offer on the cocktail… Read Full Post
Machu Picchu Travel Tips
Visiting Machu Picchu will almost certainly be the highlight of your Peruvian adventure. With real bucket-list destinations it pays to do your homework before you go, so that you can make the experience everything you imagined it to be. Follow these Machu Picchu travel tips to get the most out of your visit. Three ways… Read Full Post
A brief history of Cusco
Cusco is so much more than the gateway to Machu Picchu. It’s probably the most important historical city in South America, and its architecture includes Killke, Inca and Spanish constructions. Before the Incas Located in a valley, at an altitude of about 11 000 ft, Cusco is surrounded by mountains in the truest sense of… Read Full Post
Pristine Peruvian Amazon: Manu
The Manu National Biosphere Reserve is a 2 million hectare park located in the Amazon basin of Peru. A large percentage of the park is protected and inaccessible to visitors but the areas that are accessible provide arguably the best wildlife viewing possibilities in Peru and the chance to experience primary rainforest. Access… Read Full Post
Zen Birding in South America – Macaws in Peru
While preparing for a recent trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest in Ecuador, one of the most bird species-rich areas of the world, with over 450 species of birds, I stumbled across a book by David M. White and Susan M. Guyette entitled Zen Birding which reminded me of my experiences with macaws in Peru. … Read Full Post
5 Amazon animal species
A trip to the Amazon is on many people’s bucket list, and with the variety of species on offer it’s no wonder why. Here’s a list of five animals that were highlights of my months in the jungle. (I’ve strategically left sandflies and mosquitoes off the list – the less said about them the better!)…. Read Full Post
A guide to shopping in Peru
Peru is a fantastic place to buy traditional arts and crafts, but the quality on offer varies enormously. Make sure you don’t buy a fake alpaca sweater (or a real Inca relic!) by following our guide to the best of Peru. Alpaca wool Just like quinoa was the food of the gods, alpaca wool was… Read Full Post
Hiking Machu Picchu Mountain
Most photos of Machu Picchu include the rhino horn-shaped peak of Huayna Picchu, making this peak almost as iconic as the archeological zone itself. Maybe this is why many visitors to Machu Picchu eagerly queue every morning to be one of the 400 people who are permitted to ascend the 8,920 ft. peak per day. … Read Full Post