When most people think of beaches in this small South American country between Argentina and Brazil, Punta del Este and other strands along its "Gold Coast" most readily come to mind. But two hours north, among the charms of Uruguay´s appealing capital (pop. 1.8 million) are several beaches of its own, bathed in the waters of the Río de la Plata (River Plate), an estuary which empties into the South Atlantic and is so huge that locals refer to it as el mar (the sea). So in addition to admiring
Close your eyes and imagine yourself amidst the sun-drenched foothills of the Andes. The air shimmers with crisp mountain freshness, and a glass of vibrant liquid dances between your fingertips. This is the magic of Torrontés wine, Argentina's hidden gem waiting to waltz across your palate and into your heart. Forget the usual suspects; Torrontés wine offers an exhilarating adventure, a tango of unexpected aromas and refreshing flavors that will leave you wanting more.
But before we emb
With a population of just 818,000 (and just over the size of Kansas, or England and Scotland comined), this is a country relatively few people have heard of, but will soon be be much better known - in part because huge recent oil-field finds are poised to make it a "petro power" and because more and more travelers are coming to appreciate its ecotourism riches. Bordering Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela on the north coast of South America and with a coastline of 285 miles, Guyana is con
hillsn_1992
Colombia is just packed with remarkable landmarks, sights, and experiences, and this one is singular, indeed: a vertiginous 220-metre (722-foot) hill - rising abruptly near a small town two hours from the city of Medellín in the department of Antioquía - is in a class by itself. The Peñón de Guatapé (Rock of Guatapé, also known as the Piedra del Peñol, Stone of El Peñol), was venerated by the prehispanic Tahamí, and many visitors come to pay homage to it today - including some pretty
photos | Sarah Brownby Sarah Brown
Though most famous for Carnival, golden beaches, and world-famous landmarks, the real heart of Rio de Janeiro, for those in the know, lies in its downtown, most notably in Saúde, Gamboa, and the surrounding neighbourhoods hard by the port. For it’s this area that’s steeped in a complex history that dates back half a millennium to the Portuguese colonisers’ founding of Rio and the centuries of brutal slavery which followed.
A good place to start is Praça Mauá, a o
On Colombia´s Caribbean coast near better known Cartagena, Barranquilla is famous for its gorgeous inhabitants, Caribbean culture, and vibrant Carnaval celebrations. Even if you're here to celebrate the festivities the nightlife in Barranquilla is well-known for its traditional salsa dancing and late-night events.
The beach is open all year long for a day of surfing or just relaxing in the numerous bars as well as beach bars. The fourth-largest city in Colombia is a thriving port along the Carib
Santiago is a pleasurable blend of old European influences and an ultramodern, Bohemian life. While in the history it has not attracted as numerous excursionists as other South American centrals, Santiago is snappily rising as a little-given jewel. It's a megacity where Belle Époque armature shares pavements with glass towers and premises full of win trees. While over 40 of the population of Chile live in Santiago, the megacity maintains a relaxed pace, with its moping lunches at out-of-door caf
It's a great idea to make the trip to Guayaquil with an array of activities, regardless of how big or small your group. We're not going to advise the places and attractions you go to while in Guayaquil, however, we could provide some suggestions regarding what there is to do in the city. Similar to many other towns, Guayaquil has both good and bad spots to go to and, if this is your first time to Guayaquil or if you've visited previously, you must take advantage of your visit. It's a good idea t
Visitors to part of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru (where it's the national animal and is even on the country's coat of arms) may come across this quintessential South American mammal, a camelid related to guanacos, llamas, and alpacas (which are descended from vicuñas) The smallest of the camelids, vicuñas stand about three feet tall at the shoulder; weigh between 70 and 150 pounds; and have long necks and legs as well as relatively small heads with long pointed ears.
Basicall
Volunteering your time to an organization and dedicating some of your time to a cause is one of the most noble and meaningful things a person can do. Whether assisting the poor, taking care of abandoned children or helping communities grow, the simple and generous act of participation is a rewarding experience to both the volunteer and the people they help.
Being that our own volunteer program is only months away we thought it a good idea to highlight why volunteering in Peru is such a special an
Pablo Rogat
by Miguel Martínez Rabanal
Unfamiliar compared to many than other Latin American cuisines such as Mexican, Peruvian, and Cuban, Chilean cuisine has always been considered one of those that best blend the traditions of the Spaniards and the pre-Columbian people of the Americas, and drawing from the bounty of fertile agricultural lands, highlands, and thousands of kilometres of coastline. Here they call it sazón chilena (Chilean seasoning), and it imbues all of this country's most belo
Diego Delso
As concern for our shared global biosphere rises, many are taking it to heart when it comes to travel, as well. Along with booming ecotourism, both providers and consumers in the travel and tourism sector are looking to promote tourism that's "sustainable" - a trendy buzzword, for sure, but one that simply means striving to minimise as much as possible any negative impacts on our increasingly beleaguered environment whilst allowing visitors to enjoy and learn more about it. And today
TitiNicola
by Marita Acosta
Two hours' drive east from Montevideo and a little over an hour from Punta del Este lies a stretch of coast some 180 kilometres (112 miles) long that's been the secret of a few in-the-know Uruguayans and fewer neighboring Argentines, and even fewer other foreign visitors - with wild sand dunes, little villages, sea-lion colonies, whale watching (October and November), and unspoilt white-sand beaches such as Punta del Diablo, Cabo Polonia, Santa Teresa (top), and La Palo
by José Alejandro Adamuz
One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its markets. What you find is not only its products, but an entire way of life, of feeling, of talking… dare we even say, of falling in love with the place. An entire country is exposed to our senses, through its people and its culture. And so in order to get to know Ecuador better, we’re going to take a stroll through one of the most important markets – not just of the country, but of all South America. Get yo
photos: ProColombia
by Miguel Martínez Rabanal
Along with cumbia, the folk music form known as vallenato is a calling card of Colombian culture, and its Vallenata Legend Festival is a particularly momentous one, marking its 52nd edition this year April 26-30 in the city of Valledupar, in Colombia's northeast, about an hour and a half flight from Bogotá and just under four hours' drive from Cartagena.
Truth to tell, Colombian culture wouldn't be the same without this music, which goes back more
Argentina may be famous for its pampas (lowlands plains), ranching, beef, and of course gauchos (cowboys, such as the one above and those in the video below). But fewer people are aware that these characterize its much smaller next door neighbor Uruguay, to an even greater extent. In fact, unlike Argentina, here the pampas cover practically 90 percent of the country beyond the coast and capital Montevideo, and the gaucho tradition and culture is if anything a more de
by Miguel Martínez Rabanal
Chile is a very special country, full of very special sights and experiences. But the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui is not only special, but dramatically unique in all the world. What makes it worth the time (a five-hour flight from Santiago), effort, and expense to make your way out to this wee chunk of rock in the middle of the southeastern Pacific Ocean – one of the world’s most remoted inhabited islands?
Named Isla de Pascua because it was found by Europeans (th
by Felice Hardy
Even if you’ve been not just to Buenos Aires but also the pampas, Mendoza, Córdoba, Patagonia, and Iguazú Falls, that still leaves much more wonderful stuff to explore in Argentina. I recently took the sunny city of Salta in the far north of the country as the stepping-off point for a 900-kilometre (560-mile) round trip, with only the first 90 minutes’ drive outside the city on paved road. It’s an area that is so little known that in some parts they see almost no visitors all
Kobby Dagn
Way down South America way, one of the hemisphere’s most chichi beach resorts sits astride the Atlantic coast of one of South America’s lower-profile countries, Uruguay. On a narrow spit of land separating the Atlantic from the Rio de la Plata, Punta del Este is a 90-minute drive east of the national capital, Montevideo, and a 45-minute flight from Buenos Aires. Why do I mention the latter?
Because as popular as Punta is with many Uruguayans, it would be pretty much nowheresville wi
Shutterstock/Felipe_Frazao
by María José Cortés Llamas
Carved out of the Amazonian rain forest, Manaus (pop. 1.8 million) has been little known by the outside world, the capital of Amazonas state is filled with contrasts and intrigue, and previously lived through a golden age due to the rubber boom in the 19th century. The results can be seen in the architecture, which exude majesty and the inspiration of Belle-Époque Paris. The Amazon Theatre is the foremost example; inaugurated in 1896, it’s
