wine
Restaurants of the Casablanca Wine Valley
Located only about a 1.5 hour drive from Chile’s capital Santiago, the Casablanca Wine Valley is a great place to eat. Here you can find excellent Chilean dishes expertly paired with wines produced by the local Casablanca vineyards. If you have a free day while in Santiago (or even a free afternoon), it is highly… Read Full Post
A day and night in the Colchagua Wine Valley
Located just 3 hours south of Santiago can be found one of 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… 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
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
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
End of the Argentina Reciprocity Fee for U.S. Travelers
As of March 24, 2016 the Argentine government will no longer charge a $160 reciprocity fee of U.S. passport holders who are visiting the country for less than 90 days. This fee, which was implemented in 2008, has been suspended until further notice as part of an effort to strengthen relations between Argentina and the… Read Full Post
Beyond Mendoza: Argentina’s Other Wine Region & the Natural Beauty of the Northwest
Malbec has become synonymous with Argentina. The region of Mendoza is famous for producing this full-bodied varietal, an excellent accompaniment to a big cut of Argentine steak. Yet talk to wine connoisseurs who are well-versed in Malbec, and they’ll likely tell you that some of the best and most under-appreciated Argentine wine is coming from… Read Full Post
An Alternative, Less-Traveled Lakes Crossing Route
The Lakes Crossing between Chile and Argentina. For those who travel to the Chilean or Argentinian Lake District (most notably, Puerto Varas and Bariloche, respectively), it’s undoubtedly a great way to see more of the fantastic scenery of these areas. It’s also the most effective way to combine visits to both sides of the border… Read Full Post
A visit to Colonia de Sacramento
A great day trip when visiting Buenos Aires is to Colonia, Uruguay. The high speed ferry is located at Puerto Madero (very close to many Palermo or Recoleta hotels) and is an easy and quick ride to this old walled city which used to be a Portuguese outpost. On a recent trip to Buenos Aires… Read Full Post
An introduction to South American wines
Chile and Argentina are two of the world’s biggest producers and exporters of wine, and their wines are readily available in the US and Europe. Plenty of their excellent wines don’t make it to the foreign market, however, and are waiting to be discovered on your visit to the region. Use this guide to scratch… Read Full Post