Quito: Pushing Culinary Boundaries in South America

by: Leah Celler & Luis Felipa

Ecuador has one of the most distinctive ecosystems in the world, from the lowland Amazon rainforest up to the Andes Mountains and all the way to the coast with the stunning Galapagos Islands. This ecological diversity provides an incredible selection of produce, meats, vegetables, fruits and fish all found year-round, in the country’s culinary scene. 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 →

12 Exceptional Restaurants in Cusco, Peru

Family Andean Discovery, Flavors and Culinary Traditions, Peru, World of the Incas, World of the Incas Iconic

by: Dana Johnson

Peru is fast becoming a top travel destination on any foodie’s bucketlist. While Machu Picchu remains as the main highlight in any extraordinary Peru voyage, it is important to know the top dining establishments in the friendly and historical city of Cusco–gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the famous hilltop citadel. Continue reading →

Insider Experience: Lima’s Larco Herrera Museum with a Curator

Peru

The fascinating Larco Museum, which covers Peru’s pre-Columbian era, has something for everyone. In fact, it has grown in popularity over the past several years to become Lima’s #1 attraction on TripAdvisor. Even for those who don’t tend to wonder what Peru was like before the Spanish arrived, the Larco Museum stirs curiosity with its collection of over 45,000 pieces that span over 4,000 years of Peruvian culture. Continue reading →

Elegance and Adventure in Peru’s Colca Canyon

Peru

Twice the depth of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon in southern Peru measures up as one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons on the planet. It’s a journey into deep and vibrant Peru, where traditional Andean culture holds on to its roots, condors soar upward from the depths, and iconic Peruvian vicuñas and alpacas roam in the nearby highlands.

Colca is not your typical Andean landscape, however. The region contains Peru’s main concentration of volcanoes and geothermic activity, which translates to unique peaks and natural hot springs. Continue reading →