Santiago

Canoeing with Caimans in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park

Posted by on August 13th, 2015

“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

Posted by on August 6th, 2015

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

Posted by on June 16th, 2015

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

Posted by on May 26th, 2015

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

Posted by on March 23rd, 2015

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

Esteros del Iberá, Argentina’s Wildlife Secret

Posted by on March 9th, 2015

Many travelers, when considering the best place to view wildlife in South America, immediately think of the Amazon. It is true that the Amazon basin is one of the most bio-diverse places on earth, with a high concentration of diverse species. However, one aspect of visiting the Amazon is that the animals are well camouflaged… Read Full Post

Experience Buenos Aires Like a Porteño: 5 Tips for Enjoying the City

Posted by on January 7th, 2015

So that we can offer the best possible experience to our clients, the team here at Vaya spends large periods of time researching and exploring the destinations we put together. Buenos Aires is one of my favorite places in all of South America and the place I currently call home. Sure, the economy has more… Read Full Post

Ecuador is the New Name in Artisan Chocolate

Posted by on December 16th, 2014

When I think about really good chocolate (a not infrequent occurrence), my thoughts tend to drift toward Europe. Belgian chocolate, German chocolate, Italian chocolate: these are the gold standards of fine gourmet confectionery. These countries don’t actually produce the cocoa used in their products, however. Theobroma cacao, the cocoa tree, grows best in very particular… Read Full Post

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