Favorite Places

Peru

The Sacred Valley

ISA Peru Trip 2024: part 2 After an amazing four days in the Peruvian Amazon’s Tambopata National Reserve (part 1), a 45 minute flight brought me from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco – the Incan capital and gateway to Machu Picchu. …

Peru

The Amazon – Tambopata National Reserve

ISA Peru Trip 2024: part 1 As the planet’s largest rainforest, the Amazon is roughly the size of the contiguous U.S. and covers nearly half of the South American continent. Although two-thirds of it is in Brazil, the mighty Amazon…

Brazil

Off-the-beaten-path: Hidden Gems in Brazil

South America’s largest country is well-known for its capital city, Rio de Janeiro, and its annual carnival parade. Perhaps best viewed from Sugar Loaf Mountain, seeing the Atlantic coastal forests descend to the city’s fabulous world-class beaches and Guanabara Bay –…

Peru

Off-the-beaten-path: Hidden Gems in Peru

Peru, a country steeped in history and natural wonders, extends far beyond the famed Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu. Embark on a journey to discover the lesser-known treasures that make this top South American destination a true adventurer’s paradise. Here are…

Argentina

Off-the-beaten-path: Hidden Gems in Argentina

Argentina is well-known for Tango dance and music, along with its vast Patagonian expanses. The plains (pampas) and mountains bring to mind world-class hiking and trekking, as well as Mendoza and its wine tours, not far from the continent’s highest peak –…

Brazil, Galapagos

South America’s Stunning Beaches: Sun, Sand, and Surf

Although South America has thousands of miles of coastline, much of it is not actually beach friendly. The majority of the southern half of the continent – on both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean sides – is connected to rainy, windy…

Peru

A Foodie’s Guide to South America: Gastronomic Adventures Abound

Peru is more than just Ceviche With all due respect to the cuisine of other countries in South America, many would agree that Peru is the pinnacle of gastronomy in the region. The country’s cuisine blends native, European and East Asian cultures, with…

Patagonia

The Magic of Patagonia: Discovering the Southern Tip of South America

Patagonia – What, Where and When? You heard that Patagonia is amazing, but are not sure when is best and how best to get there? Perhaps you heard about the Paine Towers (Torres del Paine) in southern Chile or the Perito Moreno Glacier, across the…