June 2012

Colombia’s Coffee Triangle has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Landscape. Grab a cup of coffee and keep reading to plan your trip to unique destination.

Armenia, Manizales and Pereira. The temperature in these cities that form the famous coffee triangle fluctuates from 72°F (22°C) to 32° F (18°C). From the small city of Armenia, make your way to the Parque Nacional del Café to enjoy the history and culture of coffee in Colombia. READ MORE

Chile’s capital city is known for its clean streets and diverse urban landscape. You can visit interesting museums, marvel at architectural gems and enjoy great food and entertainment while exploring Santiago de Chile’s neighborhoods.

Day 1: Start your first day in the bohemian borough of Bellavista. A walk around the streets will lead you to the entrance of San Cristobal Hill, where you can reach the top to have a panoramic view of the capital.

For lunch, you can go to a restaurant in the neighborhood and then visit La Chascona, a house built by the author Neruda for his secret love. READ MORE

No matter what your interests and travel preferences are, you will be sure to find amazing destinations to explore on your next vacation in one of Chile’s diverse regions.

North: San Pedro de Atacama is a place not to be missed in the northern region of Chile. A small village located in the Chilean altiplano (high plains), it is a cornerstone of Chile’s archeological history. From Santiago, catch a plane to Calama and then a bus to San Pedro (90-minute trip). Here you will find a wide variety of accommodations such as hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts or camping. If you love the outdoors and don’t mind cool nights, pitch your tent and enjoy some of the clearest skies in the world. READ MORE

Argentina’s red Malbecs and white Torrontes have been winning acclaim for years, and these days, oenophiles the world over are coming to the country in droves to sample its wines firsthand. If you like vino, then including a stop on your itinerary at Mendoza (for Malbecs), Salta (for Torrontes), or one of Argentina’s other wine-region destinations is a no-brainer. What’s not so simple, however, is figuring out how to get the bottles you buy back home with you. The simple “Oh, let’s just Google it!” solution yields all kinds of confusing, conflicting information, and even the friendliest vineyard staffers with the best of intentions usually can’t explain all the specific rules.

Thankfully, if you’re flying with LAN, deciphering the restrictions and regulations will be pretty easy. The airline simply enforces the same rules as the countries of departure and origin. While it’s true that LAN passengers are restricted to five liters of alcohol per person for liquor with high alcoholic content, such as vodka or gin, for lighter beverages like wine, the airline has no specific restrictions. READ MORE

Every year, the Q`eswachaca bridge is rebuilt, keeping alive an Inca tradition. Building this bridge made out of Puna grassland, called Ichu, was the only way settlers could cross the rivers in their time. This used to be part of a network of bridges in the Cuzco region and now is the only one of its kind, which exists thanks to the local villagers.

Andean women harvested, wove and built 6 thick ropes, which connect them to the rest of the villages at almost 13,000 feet over the Apurimac River. Four of the six ropes are placed in the bottom, and two are used as the straps. Each one is made out of thousands of thinner cords skillfully woven by women who passed this technique down from generation to generation. READ MORE

It is only a matter of time before travelers come to Quito simply for the food.  A famous chef from Venezuela has told me several times that the most varied cuisine on the continent, and perhaps the world, is found in Ecuador.

There are two ways you can discover the richness of Ecuadorian cuisine.  One is by seeking out the traditional or typical foods.  The other way is seeking out traditions that may not be so typical, but use Ecuador’s great products.

For national cuisine – restaurants and chefs who focus on traditional, Ecuadorian preparations or traditional products – we take you first to La Choza.  Family run for half a century, Diana Pallares now oversees what her grandparents started.  All recipes are still from her grandmother.  The ambiance is modern, the décor Andean, the menu very traditional, but with contemporary presentations.

For a more intimate experience, where you will never find a menu, we direct you to Estragon.  Converting a neighborhood home into one of Ecuador´s finest and most intimate restaurants, Chef Edgar Leon prepares his dishes using strictly Ecuadorian products and he offers tasting menus from 6-30 courses.  You cannot select your food.  He will tell you what you are going to eat and you will not be disappointed.

READ MORE

Coming soon to this exact spot, wearing nothing but words (and the occasional photo) and dedicated to bringing you all the ins and outs, tips and tidbits, hots and nots of South America… it’s our new blog! Now you’ll be able to stay in-the-know about sights to see, events to attend, food to eat, music to hear, ideas to share, and much more. Only the most blog-worthy info. Only in South America.