October 2012

With Halloween and the Day of the Dead quickly approaching, the macabre spirit in all of us is beginning to bloom, right? Well, if not, perhaps we can foster a little admiration for the dark side, which is surprisingly not always so dark in Ecuador.

Cemeteries, apart from serving their functional purpose, also offer great tourism attractions throughout the world. Think of Arlington Cemetery in Washington, the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, or Venice’s San Michele, and the Recoleta in Buenos Aires.

And though you will not find them on any list of world famous cemeteries, Ecuador has three that are certainly worth a stroll. READ MORE

They are sworn to be cures for hangovers and catalysts for sexual performance.  They are warm, cold, light, heavy, simple, and sophisticated.  And they are the beginning of any respectable meal and the final word for those who wish to understand the art of mankind´s oldest culinary tradition: the soup.

Also called stews, locros, caldos, cazuelas, chupes, aguados, ceviches, viches, sangos, repes, and coladas, they are the symbol of culinary tradition and greatness in Ecuador and a great way to discover the country.  Don’t take this blog’s claims without hearing it from the experts:

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Between June and mid-December, some of the largest mammals in the world, Southern Right whales, gather for breeding season in the Atlantic waters just off the Valdes Peninsula. The wind-whipped coastline in Argentine Patagonia, about 870 miles south of Buenos Aires, is the best place in the country for incredible wildlife-spotting opportunities. Along with whales, you can also see Magellanic penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, and dolphins year-round.

Puerto Madryn is the typical jumping-off point for vacations in the Valdes Peninsula. The streets of this small coastal town are lined with tour operators offering a countless array of boat and kayaking excursions, horseback-riding trips, and driving tours of some of the peninsula’s many traditional Patagonian sheep ranches. The tourist information office (Avenida Julio a Roca 223) is a good place to start.

With any luck, you might be able to spot whales right from Puerto Madryn. The town is lined with a wide, sandy beach, and it’s possible to see the slap of a giant tail or the spray of Southern Rights from there.

~Andrea, Argentina Insider

Central Quito, comprised of about 1,000 acres of historical buildings, public spaces, and narrow streets and stairways, is a labyrinth that requires a certain spirit to discover it. But sometimes, even that is not enough. You still need access to some important places, something that not every tour in Quito can offer.

Meet Julio Rivas. Quito’s one of a kind tour guide. A tour with Julio Rivas is unorthodox, mysterious, remarkable, and even suspenseful. Rivas takes his tours into the convents and the churches of El Centro, climbing the back stairs and maneuvering through restricted passageways, and it seems, always exiting onto the rooftops. READ MORE

At 269 feet high, 490 feet wide, and 2,300 feet long, the horseshoe-shaped Devil’s Throat waterfall provides an undeniably impressive
spectacle. But what really makes this cascade worth visiting is what’s nearby. For in Iguazu Falls National Park, in northeastern Argentina,
Devil’s Throat is just one of more than 260 waterfalls visitors can see. Every one of the waterfalls is cloaked in palm trees and thick jungle,
with resident toucans, capuchin monkeys, and a rainbow-spectrum of butterflies. READ MORE

The central zone of Chile, located between two mountain ranges: the Andes and Coastal ranges, is home to fertile valleys bathed by different rivers. Taking advantage of these special characteristics, this area of the country has seen the establishment of vineyards that produce different and exquisite varieties of wines. It’s led to Chile being recognized as one of the main exporters of wine from the “new world.”

If you are coming to Chile, it’s worthwhile to explore one of several wine routes: READ MORE

When people think of visiting the rain forest in Ecuador, images of jungle lodges along the Amazon River tributaries come to mind.

The Amazon begins at the base of the Eastern Cordilleras of the Andes, but what sits on the other side of the mountains along the slopes of the Western Cordillera or mountain range? Many tourists have actually discovered some wonderful destinations in the tropical and cloud forests just a couple hours west of the capital city of Quito. READ MORE

Touring Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city by two wheels just got a whole lot easier, and more enjoyable, thanks to a new public bike-share program and an expanded system of bike lanes, which help make for great sightseeing.

A government program called Mejor in Bici (“Better by bike”) is leading the charge. The organization is in the process of building
more than 100 miles of protected bike lanes across Buenos Aires, which separates cyclists from traffic and allows for easier navigating. The bike network passes through and by some of the city’s visual highlights, making it an ideal way to see the sights. READ MORE