Argentina’s Patagonia Region Offers Both Opulent and Intrepid Adventures

Argentina, Paine Towers Lodge Adventure, Patagonia

By Karen Loftus, Guest Blogger

Argentina’s capital city and Patagonia make for the perfect pair for sophisticated South American travel. After your cultural kick off you can dive in the deep end of Argentine adventure. If heading over this land is but a bit of what you can expect… Continue reading →

How to Plan a Seamless Adventure Trip to Patagonia

Chile, Hiking the Patagonian Andes, Paine Towers Lodge Adventure, Patagonia

By: Tom Damon, Southwind President & Adventure Travel Specialist

I recently re-visited the Chilean and Argentinean sides of Patagonia to review top level accommodations and test out excursions. The first decision to make in planning a successful Patagonia trip is to be realistic with what you could do with your time allotted. Here’s my advice: Continue reading →

Top 12 Reasons to Visit Chile’s Atacama Desert, the DRIEST Place on Earth!

Chile

by: Dana Johnson & Luis Felipa

Having such an otherworldly appearance, the majestic Atacama Desert of Northern Chile has been compared to the surface of Mars. So similar to our neighboring planet, NASA has even tested instruments designed for their Mars missions in this region. The Atacama Desert sees an average of less than .004 inches of rain per year and some areas have not had rainfall for over 400 years. As one of the rising travel destinations in South America, why should you visit Atacama? Below are the top reasons to explore this unique and magical place. It can be reached by a 2 hour flight from Santiago to Calama, followed by 1.5 hour scenic drive to San Pedro de Atacama (elev 7,898 ft), the base for our adventures. Continue reading →

Where to Dine in Santiago, Chile

Patagonia

Top 15 Restaurants for a Local Taste of the City

Cosmopolitan Santiago is a major capital in South America with a very distinctive setting, backed by the white peaks of the Andes. It’s a collage of traditional Spanish colonial architecture combined with contemporary design, complete with a slew of first-class dining options for urbanites both native and visiting.

Continue reading →

Condé Nast Traveler Awards Southwind Adventures’ Tom Damon as 2013 World’s Top Travel Specialist

Ecuador and Galapagos, Patagonia, Peru, press release

Southwind’s own Tom Damon has been awarded status as Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist. Since 2005, Tom has been recognized on this exclusive list for his mastery in planning trips of a lifetime to Peru, Ecuador, the Galápagos, and Patagonia. His nine consecutive years make him the longest-standing Top Travel Specialist for South America.
Continue reading →

Where to Dine in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Patagonia

Buenos Aires is perhaps South America’s grandest and most cosmopolitan city, with a thriving foodie and restaurant scene that can be downright overwhelming. To narrow down the options, we’ve chosen places in or near Recoleta, where most first-class hotels are located. We favor areas that are safe and convenient to reach by taxi. Most of all, we look for high quality authentic dining experiences that reflect Argentina’s world-renowned grilled beef ‘asado’ tradition, its Southern European influences, and the city’s hottest trends like the exclusive ‘closed door’ restaurants. Continue reading →