- V!VA Travel Guides
I am a writer and editor at V!VA Travel guides here in Quito, where I specialize in adding quality content to the site and also in spooky things like haunted museums! Before this, I served in the US Peace Corps in Guatemala. I hold a PhD from Ohio State in Latin American Literature. My wife is a naturalist guide in the Galapagos islands, so I often get to go visit her.
Rochester, NY USA
Quito, Ecuador
Most of my work has been published only with V!VA, but I have done subtitles for a few films and I did an article for the Toronto Globe and Mail. I also did a translation for a book of Ecuadorian ghost stories.
The best travel experiences have less to do with buildings and natural beauty and more to do with the people you meet.
I was in Brazil when they won the World Cup of soccer. That was insane! They were partying in the streets.
I was in Spain and my host mother served me fried brains! I'm a tough traveler and I have an iron stomach, but that was pretty gross.
Don't put travel off: no one on their deathbed ever said they wished they had spent more time at the office! Also, pack a good hat.
I'd love to go to Egypt.
All over. I think I've been to about 30 countries, mostly in South and Central America.
The Dominican Republic.
Info
In 1929, Dr. Friedrich Karl Ritter, an eccentric Berlin doctor, arrived on Floreana Island with his mistress/patient Dore Strauch. Dr. ......
Read MoreThe Galapagos Islands may look rough and harsh, but the numerous ecosystems found on each of the islands are, in ......
Read MoreThe Caribbean Coast is much like other parts of Nicaragua: it can be dangerous, but you should be fine if ......
Read MoreThe rainy season on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast is from May to September, and rains are often heavy enough to produce ......
Read MoreThe Corn Islands were originally home to indigenous cultures such as the Sumu and Kukra Indians, who (fortunately for them) ......
Read MoreSantiago was founded on February 12, 1541 by Spanish explorer and conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. The region had been explored ......
Read MoreChilean writers are among the best in all of Latin America: in fact, they’ve won two of the four Nobel ......
Read MoreLate 1400’s: Inca Empire expands to include some parts of northern Chile 1520: Magellan passes into Pacific, explores some of ......
Read MoreChile has a long history of rugged isolation. The indigenous people who settled there had to adapt to some of ......
Read MoreSpanish is not the official language of Mexico! In fact, no official language is specified in Mexico, and if one ......
Read MoreAsk any Mexican who likes to read “Who’s the best Mexican writer?” and there’s a good chance the answer you ......
Read MoreBorn in the Peruvian province of Arequipa, Abimael Guzmán (1934 - ) developed two interests at an early age: academics ......
Read MoreEarly GrievancesEmiliano Zapata was born in the Mexican region of Morelos to a poor but independent family during the reign ......
Read MoreWhat is the Aztec Sun Stone? The Aztec Sun Stone, often called the Aztec calendar, is a massive, 24-ton stone ......
Read MoreBolivia has traditionally been poor, isolated and backward, and its inhabitants are often illiterate or do not speak Spanish as ......
Read MoreBorn in Quito in 1793 as the illegitimate daughter of a married Spanish nobleman, Manuela Saenz led one of the ......
Read MoreIn 1819, as the various wars of independence in South America were still raging, the man known as the “father ......
Read MoreThe most famous living Latin American artist, Fernando Botero (1932-) is best known for his paintings of very fat subjects. ......
Read MoreA civil war raged in El Salvador from 1980-1992: an estimated 75,000 were killed. El Salvador is prone to many ......
Read MoreAncient History The area of present-day Argentina has been inhabited by humans for ages, and archaeological remains some 11,000 years ......
Read MoreIn 1864, Paraguay, which had been a reclusive, insular state in the fifty years or so since independence from Spain, ......
Read MoreThe totalitarian regime of Estrada Cabrera (1898-1920) was immortalized in the novel El Señor Presidente by Nobel Prize winner Miguel ......
Read MoreGaspar Ilóm was born Rodrigo Asturias, son of Miguel Angel Asturias, the Guatemalan writer, activist and Nobel Prize winner for ......
Read MoreThe Juarez Femicides Since 1994, more than 300 mutilated bodies, almost all of them young women and girls, have been ......
Read MoreAn Open-and-Shut Case...On the afternoon of March 23, 1994, Luis Donaldo Colosio, a Mexican presidential candidate, was shot in the ......
Read MoreBackground InfoIn early 1994, there was a short-lived armed rebellion in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. The Mexican government, ......
Read MoreYoung Santa AnnaIn 1810, Mexico declared independence from Spain and 16 year old Antonio López de Santa Anna enlisted – ......
Read MoreThe border between Argentina and Chile is 5,308 kilometers, third-longest in the world. The longest is 8,893 km between the ......
Read MoreAhh, travel. Seeing new places, meeting new people, trying new activities, experiencing new cultures and gagging on “food” that calls ......
Read MoreIn 2003, former President of Nicaragua Arnoldo Alemán was convicted of corruption, having been accused of embezzling millions. Another former ......
Read MorePre-Hispanic The area of present-day Nicaragua has been inhabited for centuries, since long before the arrival of the Spanish to the ......
Read MoreMuch more so than most of Latin America, Argentina is a true cultural meeting pot. It was inhabited by relatively ......
Read MoreMexico Before In 1909, Mexico was tranquil and peaceful…on the surface. Appearances can be deceiving, as the nation was a ......
Read MoreOver the years, many famous people have visited the Galápagos, including actors, artists and politicians from all over the world. ......
Read MoreAsk any Galápagos guide or park ranger, and they’ll tell you that the most serious problem currently facing the islands ......
Read MoreFirst discovered in 1986, the Pink Iguana was thought for a ling time to be a subspecies of the Galapagos ......
Read MoreWho was Don Porfirio?José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (1830 – 1915) ruled Mexico from 1876 to 1911, one ......
Read MoreIn the early 1970’s, Argentina was an extremely unstable place. Marxist revolutionaries, inspired by the example of Cuba, were organizing ......
Read MoreThe Spanish brought Catholicism with them when they established cities in the region, and forced all native people to convert ......
Read MorePre-Conquest The geographical area of present-day Colombia has been inhabited for centuries, since at least 10,000 BC. Various cultures came ......
Read MoreJorge Luís Borges (1899-1986) was an Argentine writer who achieved worldwide fame for his mind-blowing short stories. He is a ......
Read MoreThe first Spanish explorers in present-day Argentina found a wide river inhabited by various indigenous tribes. According to one legend, ......
Read MoreLa Ciudad de Nuestra Señora del Buen Aire was founded in 1536 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza, who had ......
Read MoreNormal people, they die, and they go to regular heaven, you know, with wings and clouds and harps and all ......
Read MoreArgentina is a great place to do some fishing. Patagonia is well-known as a top fly-fishing destination, with skilled guides ......
Read MoreNot surprisingly for a country with some truly outstanding and picturesque mountains, Argentina has a well-developed skiing industry. Best of ......
Read MoreJuan Perón (October 8, 1895 – July 1, 1974) Juan Perón was born in the town of Lobos, not far ......
Read MoreColombian Coffee. Those two words just sort of seem to roll together, don’t they? Colombian coffee. Mmm. Go say them ......
Read MoreThe hero of Argentine Independence was born in Yapeyú in 1778. He went to Spain as a young man where ......
Read MoreOn September 23, 1956, the New York Giants sent out a rookie infielder that had just been called up from ......
Read MoreFor decades, Galápagos was a backwater province, a place no decent Ecuadorian wanted to go. A few hundred hardy pioneers, ......
Read MoreOkay, okay, I know, I know. Bullfighting is evil, matadors are cruel and heartless, it’s all barbaric, anyone who would ......
Read MoreColombia has some excellent rivers for rafting, and some reliable operators to take you there. The rafting industry in Colombia ......
Read MoreOn July 7, 2007 (or 7/7/07), the results of a popular internet contest to name the Seven Wonders of the ......
Read MoreColombia borders Brazil, Venezuela, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador. Total landmass of Colombia is roughly 1,140,000 square kilometers, which is slightly ......
Read MoreFor centuries, the beautiful forest of Buçaco, a verdant woods on the side of a hill, was a monastic retreat. ......
Read MoreThe story of Pedro, Crown Prince of Portugal, and Inés de Castro, lady-in-waiting to a Spanish Princess, is one of ......
Read MorePeru is a country of spectacular vistas and incredible natural diversity, and one of the best ways to experience it ......
Read MoreSpa and relaxation tourism is growing internationally, and Peru is no exception. Many travelers come to Latin America from the ......
Read MoreLike the rest of Latin America, Peru was once home to many haciendas, elegant country estate homes owned by wealthy ......
Read MoreFor those looking to live and work in certain Andean areas, or for those who simply want to try something ......
Read MoreThe area now known as Peru was inhabited long before the arrival of the Spanish. Various smaller ethnic groups controlled ......
Read MorePeru features wildly diverse flora and fauna, thanks to its great natural and geological diversity. One of Peru's leading scientists, ......
Read MoreIn July, 1911, Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham was exploring the area near Cuzco, searching for the lost city of Vilcabamba, ......
Read MoreBasically, there are four areas of the Alhambra complex, which sits at the top of a hill overlooking Granada. The ......
Read MoreThe spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a large, graceful, beautiful member of the ray family that is common throughout ......
Read MoreLoja is in a remote part of southern Ecuador and the best way to get there, by far, is to ......
Read MoreThe American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a distinctive shorebird found up and down the eastern coast of North America, the ......
Read MoreThe Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a stocky, smallish shorebird found all over the world, including on every island in ......
Read MoreThe distinctive Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax violaceus) can be easily identified by its yellow crown and a white stripe under ......
Read MoreThe Lava Heron (Butorides sundevalli) is very similar in appearance to the Striated Heron: they’re the same size and shape, ......
Read MoreThe Striated Heron (Butorides striatus), also known in some parts of the world as the Little Heron, is a fairly ......
Read MoreThe Colca Canyon has been the traditional home of the Collagua and Cabana peoples for ages: they are thought to ......
Read MoreOne of the best places in all of Galápagos to see birds is right along the shoreline. Many of the ......
Read MoreHerons and egrets (Order Ciconiiformes) are shore birds distinguished by their long, pointed beaks, long necks and long, slender legs. ......
Read MoreYes, the Great Blue Herons that you’ve seen back home in the USA and Canada are the same as the ......
Read MoreBy air: Bolivia has two international airports: La Paz and Santa Cruz. Most visitors will arrive to La Paz, which happens ......
Read MoreThe most unique regional festival in Bolivia is almost certainly the Chiquitos Music Festival, which takes place in April or ......
Read MoreEmergency Medical Care: Lima The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of medical providers in Lima; although they do not officially recommend ......
Read MoreBolivia has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. Spanish is spoken by roughly 3.5 million Bolivians, followed by Quechua ......
Read MoreBolivia, like the rest of South America, is predominantly Roman Catholic. 95% of the population lists their religion as Roman ......
Read MoreIn Bolivia, the main meal is lunch: most workers try to go home to eat during the week. A proper ......
Read MoreAltitude sickness (soroche): In most of Bolivia, altitude sickness – referred to locally as soroche – is the ailment you’re ......
Read MoreAccording to the most recent census (2005) Bolivia has a population of just under 9 million. The largest ethnic group ......
Read MoreThe area of present-day Bolivia was populated long before the arrival of the Spanish to the area in the 1530’s. ......
Read MoreAs is the case with the rest of the countries in South America, the climate in Bolivia is quite varied ......
Read MoreLike much of South America, soccer (fútbol) is something like religion in Peru. Kids play in the street, adults play ......
Read MoreWhen the Spanish arrived in the region in the early 1530's and set about conquering the Inca Empire, they brought ......
Read MoreWhen the Incas came to the region of Peru in the 15th century, they found several small tribes engaged in ......
Read Moreriginally the site of an extensive olive grove outside of Lima, San Isidro wasn’t founded until 1931, so it does ......
Read MoreLima's central colonial district is the most historic in the whole city and one of the most historic in all ......
Read MoreThe village of Barranco was founded by early Spanish settlers and soon became known as a popular seaside resort. By ......
Read MoreThis attractive area, with its ocean views and cliffs, was one of the first areas to be settled by the ......
Read MoreGetting Across the Border between Arizona and AlamosTransportes Baldomero Corral (TBC) runs a cross-border bus service from Tuscon, Arizona to ......
Read MoreInternational Cervantes Festival (Festival Internacional Cervantino, or FIC) The Cervantes Festival, held every October in Guanajuato, is one of the ......
Read MoreHuancayo has one of the highest crime rates in Peru: locals attribute it to gang activity. Take extra caution. The ......
Read MoreHuancayo Information: Telephone: Country code: 51 City code: 64 Huancayo to and from Lima: Getting buses to and from Lima from Huancayo is fairly ......
Read MoreA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MoreAnyone with even a passing interest in photography will love Ecuador: it is probably one of the most scenic countries ......
Read MoreYou will greatly enjoy the quality of food in Ecuador's finest restaurants. In the larger cities, such as Quito, Cuenca ......
Read MoreIf you can afford them, there are a variety of tour options available to Ecuador. The most famous part of ......
Read MoreLuxury travelers to Ecuador need not worry too much about security. Ecuador's top hotels are known for honest employees, and ......
Read MoreFirst-class travelers will find a wide array of lodging options in Ecuador. There are super-deluxe hotels in every major Ecuadorian ......
Read MoreNo buses or cars for you, luxury travelers! If money is no object, you'll definitely want to arrange a very ......
Read MoreGreat news! Hotels, restaurants, visitor sites, and travel agencies in Ecuador have the professionalism, attention to detail and elegance that ......
Read MoreMid-range travelers are not considered to be as much at risk for theft or other security problems as budget travelers ......
Read MoreThe best part about booking a trip through a tour agency is not having to deal with pesky matters like ......
Read MoreThe restaurants in Ecuador are excellent, safe and reasonably priced. Almost all of them should be within your price range, ......
Read MoreIn every Ecuador city and tourist destination, you’ll find attractive, clean mid-range hotels with a lot of charm and personality. ......
Read MoreYou have more options than budget travelers, but unless you're with a tour company, buses are still probably your best ......
Read MoreGood news! Ecuador is a fabulous place for mid-range ($30-$75 daily budget) travelers. Of all of our three categories, you'll ......
Read MoreEcuador is a poor country, and budget travelers are particularly at risk: many professional criminals in touristy areas specifically target ......
Read MoreIf you're on a super-tight budget, chances are you won’t be able to afford a long, extended tour. There may ......
Read MoreEvery major or minor tourist destination in Ecuador has at least one or two hostels that cater to the budget ......
Read MoreEcuador has great food if you're on a tight budget: a true budget traveler can get by on as little ......
Read MoreWhat trains are to Europe, buses are to Ecuador – the cheapest way to get around. There are trains, and ......
Read MoreGreat news for budget travelers! Ecuador is one of the best countries in the world to visit if you're watching ......
Read MoreMinster There is constant tension in Galápagos between the two main industries in the islands: fishing and tourism. Those in the ......
Read MoreThe elusive zebra moray eel (gymnomuraena zebra) is smaller and more shy than its moray cousins. It is blackish brown ......
Read MoreA common sight for snorkelers and divers, the parrot fish is very colorful and not terribly shy, which makes it ......
Read MoreThe endemic Swallow-tailed Gull (Larus furcatus, gaviota de cola bifurcada) is the only nocturnal gull in the world. Adults have ......
Read MoreGalapagos is world-renowned as one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. If you choose to ......
Read MoreBird life is everywhere in Galapagos, and the marine species are particularly fun to watch and identify. Because of the ......
Read MoreAs spectacular as the waters, islands and beaches of Galápagos are, there is no doubt about what visitors have come ......
Read MoreBelize already had a long and important history when the first Europeans arrived in the New World. The first settlers ......
Read MoreThe Maya and Other Indigenous Groups The first settlers of present-day Guatemala arrived thousands of years ago, and a number of ......
Read MoreAncient Mexican CulturesPresent-day Mexico was home to many important native cultures before the arrival of Europeans in the fifteenth century. ......
Read MoreMinster According to some historians, the first men and women to arrive to present-day Brazil did so over 8,000 years ago. ......
Read MorePre-Colombian history Before the arrival of the Spanish, present-day Panama was home to two tribal groups: the Cuevas and Cocole peoples. ......
Read MoreThere is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands. There is always something interesting to see and the weather ......
Read MoreDestinations
Established as a National Park in 1983, the Zapatera Archipelago consists of a series of islands in Lake Nicaragua. The ......
Read MoreIn 1917, rebel Emiliano Zapata and his ragged army stormed Cuernavaca, capturing the city as he tried to bait President ......
Read MoreLocated on the Eastern end of the Island of Hispaniola, Punta Cana features a vast stretch of white-sand beaches, blue ......
Read MoreApproximately two hundred and forty thousand gallons of water passes over Iguazú falls every minute, passing through more than 250 ......
Read MoreThis laid-back island in the Caribbean (technically, half an island: it shares Hispaniola with the nation of Haiti) is best ......
Read MoreConsidered the oldest European-founded city in the Americas, Santo Domingo was founded by Christopher Columbus’ brother Bartholomew in 1496. The ......
Read MoreOne of the more important autonomous regions in Spain, Catalonia is located in the Spanish northeast, bordering France and the ......
Read MoreLocated in the Spanish northeast, La Rioja is one of the smaller Spanish autonomous regions, consisting entirely of the province ......
Read MoreThe Canary Islands are a small archipelago, consisting of seven volcanic islands off the western coast of Morocco. The islands ......
Read MoreLocated on the sunny Mediterranean coast, the region known as Comunidad Valenciana consists of three provinces: Valencia, Castellón and Alicante. ......
Read MoreLocated on the Mediterranean coast, Murcia is one of Spain’s seventeen autonomous regions. Unlike most of the others, Murcia consists ......
Read MoreSalamanca is a small city that seems much larger than it actually is: this is due to the number of ......
Read MoreCastile-León is the largest autonomous region in Spain, being comprised of nine provinces: Salamanca, Segovia, Avila, León, Burgos, Palencia, Soria, ......
Read MoreGalicia is the region of Spain that consists of the corner of the peninsula that is just to the north ......
Read MoreOne of the smaller regions of Spain, Asturias is a former principality located on Spain’s northern coast. It is bordered ......
Read MoreLocated in west-central Spain, bordering Andalucía to the south and Portugal to the west, Extremadura is a hot, dry region ......
Read MoreAragón is an extremely historic region of northeastern Spain consisting of three provinces: Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel. A small region, ......
Read MoreCastile-La Mancha is a large, sparsely populated region in central Spain comprising the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara ......
Read MoreThe bustling modern capital of Spain somehow manages to defy and define the nation at the same time. The Madrileños ......
Read MoreThe city of Toledo is history incarnate. Get off a bus in the center of town and you can’t go ......
Read MoreTotonicapán is a laid-back, medium sized city located in Guatemala’s central-western highlands not far from the much larger city of ......
Read MoreThe second-largest city in all of Guatemala, Quetzaltenango is an important commercial hub in the central-western highlands. The city is ......
Read MoreCuatro Caminos, located in the department of Totonicapán, is basically an important intersection in which the four roads or “Cuatro ......
Read MoreMomostenango, which means “fortified place of many idols,” is a small indigenous town located in the foothills of the Cuchumatanes ......
Read MoreLocated just outside of Huehuetenango, the small town of Chiantla is actually just as old as its larger neighbor, dating ......
Read MoreLocated about two dusty hours by battered chicken bus from Huehue, Aguacatán is a small, traditional Maya village located in ......
Read MoreThe city of Huehuetenango, capital of the province of the same name, is a friendly, medium-sized town generally seen as ......
Read MoreCayambe is a medium-sized Andean town, located at the foot of the volcano of the same name. Most visitors to ......
Read MoreLocated not far to the north of Ibarra and near the town of Chota, Mascarilla is a small town that ......
Read MoreÉvora, the capital of the Alentejo region, is a picturesque, medium-sized city with more than its share of things to ......
Read MoreLocated about ten miles (16 km) from Coimbra, the ruined Roman town of Conímbriga is one of Portugal’s best preserved ......
Read MorePerched atop a hill alongside the Mondego River, Coimbra has been an important city since Roman times, when it was ......
Read MoreLuso is a small, pleasant, traditional town that would be completely unremarkable if not for two things: first of all, ......
Read MoreAveiro is another city with a long history: the Romans called it “Aviarium,” which means “aviary.” Often referred to as ......
Read MoreOn August 14, 1385, King João I of Portugal and his army met the forces of King John of Castile ......
Read MoreThe modest, attractive town of Alcobaça is a popular stopover for visitors heading north from Lisbon to Luso, Porto or ......
Read MoreThis medieval walled city is one of Portugal’s biggest attractions. According to tradition, King Dinis of Portugal was passing through ......
Read MoreSintra is a small, touristy town located within the District of Lisbon, and only about a half-hour to 45 minutes ......
Read MoreThe capitol and largest city of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa), is a logical place to start your journey. Lisbon is ......
Read MoreCentral Portugal is a beautiful, diverse region containing everything from beaches along the west coast to skiing in the Serra ......
Read MoreThe central-western region of Portugal is dominated by the city of Lisbon, but there is more to it than just ......
Read MoreThe south-central region of Portugal, known as the Alentejo, stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Spain in ......
Read MoreAndalucía is the southernmost region of Spain, and one of the larger ones. It contains the provinces of Almería, Cádiz, ......
Read MoreMuch like New Jersey with New York or Uruguay with Argentina, Portugal is Spain’s little stepsister, lost in the shadow ......
Read MoreWith a population of 1.3 million, Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is Spain’s fourth largest city and is the cultural, political and ......
Read MoreCave-living gypsies. One of the front-runners for the new seven wonders of the world. Flamenco dancing in centuries-old taverns. The ......
Read MoreIf the planet has a crossroads, Spain has to be it. Although it is part of Europe, it is very ......
Read MoreThe old mining town of Aduana is worth a visit. Once home to 20,000, Adiana now houses about 400 full-time ......
Read MoreNot much distinguishes Pedernales from other coastal towns. While it features the same bamboo beachside bars as Atacames, it lacks ......
Read MoreLocated on the pacific coast of the upper part of Baja California 70 miles from the border (about an hour ......
Read MoreSan Ignacio is a small (population approximately 4,000), picturesque town which is a good base for visiting many of the ......
Read MoreOne of the southernmost cities in the world, Punta Arenas sits on the Strait of Magellan, a treacherous channel between ......
Read MoreLoreto is a pleasant, hot beach town located on the Sea of Cortes in Baja California Sur, not far from ......
Read MoreOften overlooked by visitors to Baja California headed for the better-known resort towns such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, ......
Read MoreCreel is a charming little town in the northern state of Chihuahua which lives off of tourism and lumber. By ......
Read MoreCuatro Ciénegas is a tiny town (population roughly 12,000) in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. Cuatro Ciénegas means “four ......
Read MoreMatehuala is a Mexican town best known for being a stopover on the route to Real de Catorce. It does ......
Read MoreReal de Catorce – whose full name of “Real de Minas de la Limpia Concepción de los Álamos de Catorce” ......
Read MoreAcapulco…even the name conjures up images of sandy beaches, tall cliffs, beautiful young men and women in swimsuits sipping piña ......
Read MoreOriginally a logging camp, the small town of Gales Point is one of Belize’s growing tourist draws. Located about 25 ......
Read MoreTulum refers to two places: the 12th century Maya-Toltec ruins and the small town about 5 km away of the ......
Read MoreParty, party, party! There is no escaping Cancún’s international image as one of the good-time capitals of the planet. College ......
Read MoreChetumal, capital of the Yucatan state of Quintana Roo, is a small city (population: less than 150,000) that is growing ......
Read MoreThe north-central region of Mexico is defined as several states in the northern part of the country that do not ......
Read MoreThe Mexican northwest is formed by the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Durango and Sinoloa. It is known for natural beauty, ......
Read More? Mexico’s Western Pacific region includes the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima and Michoacán. It is known for a generally ......
Read MoreThe Gulf of Mexico region is comprised of the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Tabasco. The region is known for ......
Read MoreMexico's Pacific SouthComprised of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico’s Pacific South is a popular region for visitors. ......
Read MoreBecause of Guatemala’s orientation, its “western” coast—that is to say, its Pacific coast—is actually for the most part to the ......
Read MoreGuatemala’s central highlands, which include the provinces of El Quiché, Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz, are home to misty forests, ......
Read MoreComprising the provinces of Huehuetenango, Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, Guatemala’s western highlands are mostly for die-hard travelers who are ......
Read MoreThe twin cities of Flores and Santa Elena are the most common launching point for excursions into Guatemala’s Petén region. ......
Read MoreThe rugged, densely forested northeastern appendage of Guatemala, the Petén borders both Belize and Mexico. Although the Petén was once ......
Read MoreA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MoreSan Andres and Providencia San Andres and Providencia are two small islands in the Caribbean, less than 100 miles off the ......
Read MoreAbout a half hour outside of Cuenca, the tiny town of Bulcay is home to the last remaining weavers of ......
Read MoreThe largest field of exposed petrified wood in the world is found just south of the Ecuadorian city of Loja, ......
Read MoreMinster “Pana,” as it’s known to locals, is the biggest hippie town south of California. It is located on the banks ......
Read MoreCauac Sky was the greatest ruler of the city of Quirigua during the Maya classic period. He is depicted on ......
Read MoreMinster Todos Santos is a very closed indigenous community located high in the barren, rocky Cuchumatanes mountain range. The nearest city ......
Read More......
Read MoreProhibition was the best thing to ever happen to Tijuana. A small, dusty town best known for a modest cattle ......
Read MoreThe Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwestern part of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. ......
Read More......
Read MoreMinster No one knows what happened to the Olmecs. This fierce Central Mexican tribe came to the rich valleys near present-day ......
Read MoreThe city of Oaxaca is one of the treasures of Mexican colonial architecture. The gorgeous city center, or Zócalo, is ......
Read MoreVisitors to Bariloche can be excused for a little bit of confusion. Did their flight from Buenos Aires somehow get ......
Read More......
Read MoreSão Paulo is the largest city in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. Brazil’s industrial capital, ......
Read MoreRio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most famous cities. Established around 1560, it was initially the site of ......
Read MoreConsidered to be Guatemala’s best beach (which is not really saying much), Monterico is located on the south-western coast. It ......
Read MoreA medium-sized town about an hour south of Quito, Latacunga appeals to the traveler interested in a more native or genuine ......
Read MoreA few kilometers west of the city of Cuenca is the small town of Baños, not to be confused with ......
Read MoreAn attractive little village on the river of the same name, Gualaceo is known as "The Garden of Azuay" (Azuay ......
Read MoreEl Cajas National Park and Reserve (Parque Nacional El Cajas) is a starkly beautiful wilderness of valleys, lakes, highland vistas ......
Read MoreIngapirca is the most impressive and significant set of Inca ruins in Ecuador. That being said, the ruins at Ingapirca ......
Read MoreIn order to connect to just about anywhere in Belize, the traveler must first pass through Belize City. In the ......
Read MoreThere are several hundred cayes, or small islands, off the coast of Belize. The largest of these is Ambergris Caye, ......
Read MoreThe largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize is Caracol (Snail), one of the most important cities of the Mayan classical ......
Read MoreBelize’s most famous dive spot is the Blue Hole. Once an underwater cave, the Blue Hole collapsed about 10,000 years ......
Read MoreBelize, the only English-speaking country in Central America, is a relatively poor nation in most respects but is incredibly rich ......
Read MoreChichicastenango, a medium-sized town in the Quiché region about two to three hours away from Guatemala City, is home to ......
Read MoreFirst founded in the early sixteenth century by victorious Spanish conquistadores, Antigua soon became an administrative center for the Spanish ......
Read MoreMinster Guatemala City, (Guate to locals) the sprawling capital, is considered by most travelers simply a place to catch a ......
Read MoreLake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s premier travel destinations. A beautiful volcanic lake high in the central highlands, it has ......
Read MoreGuatemala is only about the size of Iceland, but it is an amazingly diverse and complex land with a long ......
Read MoreBeaches, nightlife, Mayan sites, diving, nature... the Yucatán Peninsula has it all. A vacationer’s paradise, Yucatán has something for everyone. ......
Read MoreCentral Mexico is the most historic region in Mexico. It was here that conquistador Hernán Cortés, leading only a few ......
Read MoreMexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, is a modern, cosmopolitan city with excellent hotels, restaurants, and ......
Read MoreBaja GeographyThe Baja peninsula is a long, narrow strip of land that juts out from northern Mexico into the Pacific. ......
Read MoreWith sunny beaches, excellent food, desert mountains, lush valleys one of the biggest cities in the world and charming colonial ......
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Read MoreMinster The central-western region of Brazil, comprised of the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, is dominated ......
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Read MoreBrazil is a land of contrasts. Here you will find great wealth and grinding poverty, beautiful beaches and filthy waterways ......
Read MoreIf you measure a city on size or population alone, Cuenca ranks third in Ecuador. If you consider charm, beauty and ......
Read MoreHotels
The Royal Hotel is a new, modern three-star located at the south end of the malecon. It has air conditioned ......
Read MoreThis hotel smells bad. Right from the front doorway, it has a mucky, musty smell. I can only assume that ......
Read MoreThe "Cathedral of the Sea" gets its name from a tall wall on the front of the hotel that has ......
Read MoreNew, clean and friendly, Hostal Agua Marina is clearly one of the most comfortable options in town. It has a ......
Read MoreHotel Miconia is one of the better visitor options in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The rooms are nice, the staff friendly, ......
Read MoreHotel Bien al Sur is a clean, low-key hotel well-located in San Telmo. The rooms are neat and comfortable. The ......
Read MoreThe Ostinatto, conveniently located in San Telmo, is a clean, friendly hostel catering to the backpacker crowd. There are several ......
Read MoreThe LTI Beach Resort is one of several all-inclusive mega-hotels located on the gorgeous white-sand beaches of the Dominican Republic. ......
Read MoreIf you’re approaching the Hotel Castro from the outside, veteran travelers in Latin America will see something to set off ......
Read MoreThe dolled-up Red Booby occupies a very specific place on the food chain of Puerto Ayora Hotels. It’s nice and ......
Read MoreThe Sir Francis Drake is a somewhat dodgy-looking hotel inside a dodgy-looking building in a dodgy-looking area of town. It ......
Read MoreRemember that one spring break back in college, when you and a bunch of buddies went to Fort Lauderdale? And ......
Read MoreHotel España, one of the best budget options in Puerto Ayora, is clean, friendly and has been recently been renovated. ......
Read MoreThe Flamingo seems to have undergone a superficial facelift recently. There is an attractive new sign outside, featuring a bright ......
Read MoreThe Hotel Gardner is one of Puerto Ayora's better budget options. Clean and friendly, the Gardner is a very good ......
Read MoreThe Hostal Mainao (don't be fooled by the name: it's no hostal but a hotel) is a pleasant, clean, multi-story ......
Read MoreHotel Bécquer is extremely well located, right in the heart of all of the best that Seville has to offer. ......
Read MoreIn 1888, King Carlos of Portugal decided he needed a hunting retreat and ordered the construction of an extravagant palace ......
Read MoreThe Castle Inn of Obidos is an unforgettable experience: it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal ......
Read MoreWhen the Portuguese Royal family lived in the splendid Queluz Palace, they needed a home for all of the servants, ......
Read MoreFor the jet-setting traveler who has no interest in staying in dusty, rabble-filled Aguas Calientes, there is the Machu Picchu ......
Read MoreOne of the newest hotels in Loja (completed in early 2007), the Quo Vadis is a modern, reasonably priced and ......
Read MoreCasa Lojana is one of Loja’s best high-budget options. The building that houses the hotel was once an elegant home, ......
Read MoreProbably the all-around best low-budget lodging option in downtown Loja, Las Orquídeas is a small, but clean and friendly, hostal ......
Read MoreLocated directly across the street from the impossible-to-miss Entrada de la Ciudad, the Hostal Aguilera Internacional is an airy, bright ......
Read MoreThe Central Park Hostal is located right on Loja’s central square, not far from the cathedral. The rooms, which feature ......
Read MoreThe Hotel Londres is located in an old, unassuming building that was obviously cut in half at some point in ......
Read MoreDank and dismal, the Hotel Acapulco is about as cheery as a morgue. Presumably the building once saw better days, ......
Read MoreThe Hotel Libertador is the best of the hotels located in Loja’s historic district. The interior is dimly lit and ......
Read MoreThe most remote jungle lodge (75 miles/121 kilometers from Iquitos), operated by the reputable Paseos Amazónicos, Tambo Amazónico is also ......
Read MoreSolipaso is a sort of all-in-one travel agency (specializing in birdwatching), hotel and restaurant. Owned and operated by an American ......
Read MoreA blocky building a couple blocks off the beach, the Yam Yam doesn't have much going for it, which is ......
Read MoreOn the banks of the Yanayacu River, 38 miles (61 kilometers) from Iquitos, the Tambo Yanayacu lodge is another good ......
Read MoreAmazonas Sinchicuy is located only 32 kilometers (20mi) from Iquitos. Because it is so close to town, Amazonas Sinchicuy is ......
Read MoreAlthough it is still less than ten years old, Tahuayo Lodge (135 km / 90 miles from Iquitos) is one ......
Read MoreOne of Ecuador’s most elegant and upscale resort is located at the end of a nondescript dirt road near Cotacachi ......
Read MoreFor art aficionados and discriminating travelers, La Posada del Arte is certainly a Baños gem. In addition to big, comfy ......
Read MoreHotel Restaurant La Cabaña is a friendly hotel and restaurant not far from the center of town. It offers a ......
Read MoreHacienda Cusin, one of the most elegant and prestigious haciendas in the northern highlands, consists of a complex of buildings, ......
Read MoreLocated about an hour from Otavalo (it's actually closer to Ibarra), Hacienda Zuleta is a good option for the traveler ......
Read MoreLocated between the towns of Otavalo (with its famous market), Cotacachi (known for leather goods) and San Antonio de Ibarra ......
Read MoreHacienda San Francisco is a good bet for traveler who want a hacienda experience at a more reasonable price. Located ......
Read MoreHacienda Guachalá dates back to 1700 and has a chapel that was originally built in 1580. In its heyday, Guachalá ......
Read MoreHostería Pantaví was constructed on the ruins of the old San Clemente hacienda. The hotel has 12 lovely rooms in ......
Read MoreSan Agustín de Callo is one of the most intriguing haciendas available in Ecuador. Originally the site of a pre-Columbian ......
Read MoreLocated a mere half hour south of Quito, La Carriona is a viable option for the traveler who needs to ......
Read MoreSituated an hour south of Quito on the slopes of Corazón (“Heart”) Volcano, Hacienda La Alegría is in the heart ......
Read MoreSan Jorge is a very historic hacienda – it was once owned by Ecuadorian president Eloy Alfaro – on the ......
Read MoreLocated about a half-hour from Baños, Hacienda Manteles is an elegant, full service hostería. First constructed in 1580, Hacienda Manteles ......
Read MoreBuilt in the 1940s as a farm and later converted for tourism, Tinalandia was one of Ecuador’s first eco-lodges. The ......
Read MoreOn the shore of San Pablo Lake, about fifteen minutes south of Otavalo, sits Puerto Lago hotel and restaurant. The ......
Read MoreHostería Papagayo is an attractive hotel, located 45 minutes south of Quito, and has a variety of rooms that come ......
Read MoreSan Mateo, a small, attractive inn located very close to Cotopaxi park, is a good option for travelers in the ......
Read MoreHostal Alegría is located in downtown Nasca. It is owned by Alegría Tours, who keep an office at the hotel. ......
Read MoreThe best hotel in the city of Nasca, Nazca Lines is a converted hacienda with a courtyard, tennis courts, fountains ......
Read MoreThe most luxurious place to stay in the Nasca area, the Hotel Cantayo Spa and Resort was built on the ......
Read MoreOro Viejo is a popular but small, nine-room hotel. Located in central Nasca, it is close enough to offer access ......
Read MoreHotel Oro Verde ( the name translates as "Green Gold" in Spanish and refers to bananas) is Cuenca's most luxurious ......
Read MoreIn 2000-2001, the owners of this fine colonial mansion in central Cuenca renovated it into a modern, elegant hotel. The ......
Read MoreHotel Santa Lucía is a beautiful, converted home in central Cuenca (the home once belonged to Don Manuel Vega Davila, ......
Read MoreHostal La Orquídea is a converted colonial home in downtown Cuenca. The establishment's rates are lower than many of its ......
Read MoreLocated in the small town of Baños about five minutes from Cuenca (not to be confused with the much larger ......
Read MoreCLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Located between the towns of Ica and Nasca (it is closer to Ica), Hotel Hacienda Ocucaje is ......
Read MoreLocated outside of Ica on Lake Huacachina, Hostal Rocha is a good option for the budget traveler or backpacker who ......
Read MoreLa Florida is a small, neat hotel not far from the middle of Ica, and only a couple of blocks ......
Read MoreOn the shores of Huacachina Lake, the venerable Hotel Mossone was a plush resort back in the 1920s whose visitors ......
Read MoreA complete resort-hotel, Las Dunas offers a bit of everything: three pools with slides, tours to the desert, tennis, golf, ......
Read MoreCLOSED. REOPENING AUGUST 15. Restorations underway. Hacienda San José is a well-preserved colonial hacienda with a great deal of history ......
Read MoreThe Miraflores Park Hotel is one of Lima’s finest. Owned by the prestigious international Orient Express group, the hotel offers ......
Read MoreA charming turn-of-the-century mansion that has since been converted to a hotel, Hotel Antigua Miraflores has the homey feel of ......
Read MoreCasa del Mochilero (“House of the Backpacker”) is a clean, efficient hostel just a few blocks from Kennedy Park in ......
Read MoreHome Peru, located in the swank Miraflores district, is a restored colonial mansion popular with the backpacker crowd. Although it’s ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador is a small chain of luxury hotels in Peru. The Hotel Libertador Trujillo is right on the main ......
Read MoreThe Hotel Libertador chain is one of Peru's most luxurious, and their Arequipa hotel is no exception. Built in the ......
Read MoreHostería Playa Rosada is located on a remote stretch of Costa del Sol beach, about three kilometers north of Palmar, ......
Read MoreThe Sonesta Posada del Inca hotels always seem to find the best locations in the cities they serve, and their ......
Read MoreThe well-regarded Hostal Roma is something of a Lima institution and has been in business for 35 years. Travelers can ......
Read MoreThe Sheraton Lima is one of the finest hotels in the city and almost certainly the best luxury hotel in ......
Read MoreHostal Mami Panchita, located in the San Miguel district, is highly rated by past visitors. With only about 15 rooms, ......
Read MoreThe Hostal de las Artes is located in Lima’s historical center, not far from Paseo Colón and Plaza Bolognesi. The ......
Read MoreLocated on the same block as the San Francisco church and only a couple of blocks from the main city ......
Read MoreMochilero’s Backpackers is one of Lima’s best backpacker options. A converted old mansion, it is located close to the Parque ......
Read MoreThe Inka Lodge is a modern, friendly hostel. All of the facilities are new and well-maintained. There is a pleasant ......
Read MoreHostal El Patio is a small, cozy mid-range hotel in Miraflores. A bit chic by design, it looks more like ......
Read MoreThe Point Backpacker’s Hostel considers itself Lima’s “original party hostel,” a joint immensely popular among the international backpacker set. It ......
Read MoreHostal Torreblanca is a pleasant mid-range hotel which offers a wide variety of services, including cable TV in every room, ......
Read MoreHotel Colonial Inn is an attractive mid-range hotel, with elegant and comfortable rooms; two have a jacuzzi. There is a ......
Read MoreHostal Buena Vista is well-located in the Miraflores district: It is close to old town as well as the hip ......
Read MoreThe Country Club Lima Hotel was built in 1927 and refurbished in 1998. Today it stands as one of Lima’s ......
Read MoreAnother luxury hotel in the swank San Isidro district, Los Delfines is in an attractive, modern building. It sets itself ......
Read MoreThe Marriott hotel chain is well-known for luxury lodgings, and their Lima branch is no different. JW Marriot offers everything ......
Read MoreFlying Dog Backpackers is a clean, airy hostel located very close to Kennedy Park, which puts it near most of ......
Read MoreConveniently located on the Plaza de San Martín, the Gran Hotel Bolívar is a stately, elegant white building that was ......
Read MoreWayruro’s Backpackers is a small, clean backpacker’s hostel in Miraflores. Rooms are dormitory style. There is a game room with ......
Read MoreHospedaje La Pascana is located near the Iquitos malecón (river walk) and is one of the better bargains in town. ......
Read MoreThe Hotel Real Iquitos is a venerable Iquitos institution. Built more than 50 years ago, what was once an elegant, ......
Read MorePosada de Sancho is a converted older home with fifteen rooms and a couple of pleasant courtyards. The quality for ......
Read MoreHotel la Posada del Puente is an elegant, well-maintained inn near the Grau Bridge. Popular with business travelers, the hotel ......
Read MoreCasa Mojanda, located in the hills on the road to Lagunas de Mojanda (just over 3 km past Otavalo), is ......
Read MoreRestaurants
El Costeñito is an airy, friendly, family-run restaurant located right in the middle of the malecon, the main drag in ......
Read MoreThe Palace Hotel in Buçaco is one of Portugal’s most famous and elegant inns, being set in an actual nineteenth-century ......
Read MoreWhen the Portuguese royal family was in residence at the Queluz palace, a small army of maids, cooks and servants ......
Read MoreCasa Lojana is a fancy hotel and restaurant located outside of Loja in a converted home. It is owned and ......
Read MoreHuancahuasi restaurant, featuring two locations (one in Lima, the other in Huancayo) offers an intriguing mixture or traditional Andean food ......
Read MoreThe Villa Rosa is one of Cuenca’s most elegant restaurants, and one of the best that is not affiliated with ......
Read MoreHotel Restaurant La Cabaña is a friendly hotel and restaurant not far from the center of town. It offers a ......
Read MoreThe restaurant at the Hotel Cantayo is considered to be the best in the Nasca area. Much of the food ......
Read MoreLocated about an hour from Otavalo (it's actually closer to Ibarra), Hacienda Zuleta is a good option for the traveler ......
Read MoreLocated between the towns of Otavalo (with its famous market), Cotacachi (known for leather goods) and San Antonio de Ibarra ......
Read MoreHacienda San Francisco is a good bet for traveler who want a hacienda experience at a more reasonable price. Located ......
Read MoreHacienda Guachalá dates back to 1700 and has a chapel that was originally built in 1580. In its heyday, Guachalá ......
Read MoreOn the shore of San Pablo Lake, about fifteen minutes south of Otavalo, sits Puerto Lago hotel and restaurant. The ......
Read MoreAs one of Cuenca's best and most elegant restaurants, El Jardín is a good place to splurge on a fine ......
Read MoreCraving some deep-fried Mexican? Then check out the town's popular Mexican-owned restaurant. The place fills up on weekend nights nights, ......
Read MorePescados Capitales is an excellent seafood restaurant hidden away in a corner of the Miraflores district, it serves good desserts, ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador is a small chain of luxury hotels in Peru. The Hotel Libertador Trujillo is right on the main ......
Read MoreThe Yavari is a medium-sized, iron-hulled ship, one of two first commissioned in 1861 by the Peruvian government. They were ......
Read MoreA funky, artsy restaurant featuring tables made out of bathtubs (full of live fish!) and barbed wire on the toilets ......
Read MoreConsistently rated as one of Lima’s best restaurants, Astrid y Gastón is located on a little side street not far ......
Read MoreEl Kapallaq is an upscale cevichería, considered one of Lima’s best by locals. Try a ceviche or one of the ......
Read MoreLa Carreta is a steak house favored by Lima locals. It is located in the San Isidro financial district and ......
Read MoreAntica Pizzería is one of Lima's most popular Italian restaurants, specializing in wood-burning oven-style pizzas and standard but well-done Italian ......
Read MoreActivities
Brown, medium-sized birds commonly sighted along the seashore, whimbrels are most easily identified by their long, narrow, curved beaks. They're ......
Read MoreLaterallus spilonotus Seldom seen by visitors, the elusive Galapagos rail is a medium-sized bird which preders wooded and grassy highlands. ......
Read MoreGallinula chloropus Also called the Common Waterhen and Common Gallinule, the Common Moorhen is a familiar sight in many areas ......
Read MorePodilymbus podiceps The Pied-Billed Grebe is a water bird resembling a small grayish brown duck. The easiest way to recognize ......
Read MoreAnas bahamensis galapagensis The Galapagos Pintail Duck is a medium-sized duck with brown and white feathers. It is easily identified ......
Read MoreAlthough the different islands that make up Galapagos are generally very dry and arid, there are a few ponds and ......
Read MoreFrom about 1519-1521, Hernan Cortes and his ruthless band of conquistadors laid waste the mighty Aztec Empire, bringing Central Mexico ......
Read MoreIn the southern part of Quito's Old Town, the airy Plaza de Santo Domingo is dominated by the Santo Domingo ......
Read MorePyrocephalus rubinus One of the more dazzling birds in Galapagos (or anywhere, for that matter), the Vermilion Flycatcher is found in ......
Read MoreEstablished as a National Park in 1983, the Zapatera Archipelago consists of a series of islands in Lake Nicaragua. The ......
Read MoreChile, with its wide variety of ecological zones and climates, is a birdwatching hotspot. And how could it not be? ......
Read MoreLocated about a half hour south of Neiva, the Rivera Hot springs make for a good day trip or overnight, ......
Read MoreArgentina has a long and rich equestrian tradition. The gauchos, sort of like Argentine cowboys, ruled the vast grassland pampas ......
Read MoreAnimal Adventure Park is a sort of mini-zoo/animal show about 45 minutes from the big hotels in Punta Cana. It's ......
Read MoreApparently, the Dominican Republic was once full of tree sap. Who knew? Today, this small island nation produces more than ......
Read MoreThe Cave of the Three Eyes (Cueva de los Tres Ojos) is a collapsed cave featuring three small pools located ......
Read MoreChristopher Columbus’ son Diego became one of the earliest governors of the Indies in 1509, and he ordered the construction ......
Read MoreIf you’re staying in Puerto Ayora for a while, a day tour of Academy Bay is a great way to ......
Read MoreLocated about 30 kilometers away from Madrid, El Escorial (full name: The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo el Real) is ......
Read MoreOpened in 1990, the Reina Sofia is one of the world’s top modern art museums. Built on the former site ......
Read MoreThe greatest art museum in Spain and one of the best in the world, the Prado is a can’t miss ......
Read MoreThe Alcázar of Seville was once a Moorish palace not unlike the Alhambra in nearby Granada, bit its history is ......
Read MoreThe Igreja de São Francisco (St. Francis Church) is a fairly typical Portuguese cathedral, with the requisite high columns, majestic ......
Read MoreLocated about ten miles (16 km) from Coimbra, the ruined Roman town of Conímbriga is one of Portugal’s best preserved ......
Read MoreThe University of Coimbra is the oldest and most prestigious in Portugal. Founded in 1290, the University is one of ......
Read MoreFor centuries, the beautiful forest of Buçaco, a verdant woods on the side of a hill, was a monastic retreat. ......
Read MoreCommissioned in 1385 to celebrate the Portuguese victory over an overwhelming Castilian force at the battle of Aljubarrota, the impressive ......
Read MoreThe Monastery of Alcobaça (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Alcobaça), also known as the Abbey of Santa María is one of Portugal’s ......
Read MoreThe entire town of Óbidos is ringed by a high stone wall, constructed during the medieval era. Back in the ......
Read MoreOne of Europe’s most magnificent castle/palaces, The Palacio da Pena often draws comparisons with Germany’s Neuschwanstein, which it predates by ......
Read MoreQueluz Palace is often referred to as “The Versailles of Portugal,” and it’s easy to see why: the two elaborate, ......
Read MoreLisbon’s official main cathedral, the Sé is but a shadow of the much more impressive Hieronymite Monastery located along the ......
Read MoreSituated on the Lisbon waterfront, the bleached-white Belém tower is a local landmark and one of the city’s must-sees. It ......
Read MoreThe Lisbon Zoological Garden is a modest zoo on well-kept grounds slightly outside of the downtown area. The zoo is ......
Read MoreThe Portuguese have been experts at porcelain, ceramics and tile for centuries. Many of the exteriors of older buildings in ......
Read MoreLisbon’s new Oceanarium is a true marvel of modern engineering. Built as part of Nations Park for the 1998 Expo, ......
Read MoreTwo saints for the price of one! The remains of Lima’s two saints, Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín ......
Read MoreThis smallish church doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the baroque interior—considered the best baroque church interior in ......
Read MoreA stunning church built by the Jesuits starting in the 16th century, St. Peter’s Church is one of Lima’s best-known ......
Read MoreA traditional dance from southern Spain, Flamenco is famous for colorful, flowing dresses, athletic spins and dips and Spanish guitar ......
Read MoreOne of the best museums of its kind anywhere, Seville’s Archaeological Museum features relics from all of the civilizations that ......
Read MoreOne of the jewels of world architecture, the distinctive Giralda Tower has stood watch over Seville since 1198, when it ......
Read MoreIn 711, Islamic forces crossed into southern Spain, spreading the word of Mohammad and establishing Caliphates and kingdoms of their ......
Read MoreLocated on Valparaiso Hill outside the city, the Sacromonte Abbey was founded in 1600 and built over extensive catacombs, which ......
Read MoreHorseback riding is popular in Vilcabamba, due mostly to the quality of local horses and the absolutely stunning natural beauty ......
Read MoreAlso known as Puerta de la Ciudad (Portal de la Ciudad), the Entrada a la Ciudad de Loja is without ......
Read MoreThe Yellow Warbler is frequently spotted in Galápagos, flitting across the trail or snapping up bugs near the water’s edge. ......
Read MoreThe Mirador de Los Andes (“Andes Lookout”), also known as the Patapampa Pass, is a breathtaking lookout point between Arequipa ......
Read MoreLa Cruz del Cóndor (“the condor’s cross”) is one of the Arequipa region’s major visitor draws. It is a lofty ......
Read MoreFernandina’s most popular visitor site, Punta Espinosa is a great place to see some Galapagos wildlife that you don’t often ......
Read MorePlaza de San Martín is one of the largest and most impressive city squares in Lima. Built in 1921 and ......
Read MoreUrbina (also known as Urvina) Bay, a visitor site on Isabela Island, is famous because of a relatively recent (1954) ......
Read MoreOff the northern coast of Floreana Island is a jagged set of rocks that just out of the sea. The ......
Read MoreTiny Rábida Island packs a big punch for the snorkeler. A quick dinghy ride from the beach and landing point, ......
Read MoreThe Quijos River runs down the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes, eventually flowing into the Amazon. During the months ......
Read MoreThe Athala II is a luxury-class ship owned and operated by Huagan Cruises and Columbus Travel. It features eight nicely ......
Read MoreOwned and operated by Galapagos Catamarans, the Journey 1 is a luxury motor catamaran that began service in July 2006. ......
Read MoreThe old mining town of Aduana is worth a visit. Once home to 20,000, Adiana now houses about 400 full-time ......
Read MoreThis is a meticulously restored old hacienda featuring furniture and art from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Most impressive, however, ......
Read MoreThis converted old home contains a remarkable collection of paintings by famous Mexican artists, including Olga Costa and José Chavez ......
Read MoreThis restored house and museum is a tribute to Guanajuato’s favorite son, muralist Diego Rivers. He was born and spent ......
Read MoreAficionados of the spooky, gruesome or simply bizarre will not want to miss a trip to the Mummy Museum in ......
Read MoreGuanajuato is known for several different locally produced handicrafts which delight visitors. The ceramics are excellent: you’ll find everything from ......
Read MoreTorre Torre features several sandstone pillars that have been naturally eroded over the years by wind and rain. It's also ......
Read MoreEl Cerrito de la Libertad is a small hill from which the entire city of Huancayo can be seen. It ......
Read MoreLa Loma Many San Andres Island tours will take you to La Loma, the central hill of the island. A hotel ......
Read MoreThe Blowing Hole (El Hoyo Soplador) Only on a small Caribbean island in the middle of the ocean could a hole ......
Read MoreWest View West View is included on most island tours. It’s basically nothing more than a short pier out into the ......
Read MoreCasa Museo Isleña/Island House Museum This museum is a restored home, an example of traditional functional island architecture. It is ......
Read MoreMorgan’s Cave/Pirate Museum/Coconut Museum Shiver me timbers! Pirate buffs won’t want to miss Morgan’s Cave, where locals have taken an unassuming ......
Read MoreA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MoreAccording to local San Andres lore, the Blue Diamond, a medium-sized freighter, was impounded in the 1990’s by the Colombian ......
Read MoreOne of the best known parks in Loja, Jipiro is north of the city and spans 10 hectares. There is ......
Read MoreCuenca’s beautifully tended Central Park, Parque Calderón, is an attractive, expansive area of flowers and trees. The park is dominated by ......
Read MoreMinster Good snorkeling in Galápagos is easy: if you’re near any island, chances are you can strap on a mask, jump ......
Read MoreThe largest field of exposed petrified wood in the world is found just south of the Ecuadorian city of Loja, ......
Read MoreCauac Sky was the greatest ruler of the city of Quirigua during the Maya classic period. He is depicted on ......
Read MoreFor centuries, Salvador da Bahia was Brazil’s most important city. It was the capital of the nation until 1763, when ......
Read MoreThe Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwestern part of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. ......
Read MoreMinster No one knows what happened to the Olmecs. This fierce Central Mexican tribe came to the rich valleys near present-day ......
Read MoreDeep in the forests of South Central Mexico sits a ruined city, once known as Lakam Ha, capital of the ......
Read MoreLocated in the center of Cusco on the Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s massive stone cathedral is well worth a visit. ......
Read MoreThe Pisac market is a must-see for those visiting the Cuzco region. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, the streets fill ......
Read MoreThe ruins of the fortress at Pisac are among the most interesting in Peru. Today, historians and archaeologists believe that ......
Read MoreAlong with Isla Lobos, the most popular dive site near Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is Kicker Rock (a.k.a León Dormido). Kicker ......
Read MoreMinster Nothing embodies the spirit of Brazil more than carnival. Every year, six weeks before Easter, the country turns out for ......
Read MoreLocated in the Hotel Nasca Lines in town, the Planetarium offers nightly shows (7 p.m.) concerning the Nasca lines and ......
Read MoreThe Pumapungo Museum, also known as the Central Bank Museum, is actually a complex of several smaller exhibits, each dedicated ......
Read MoreThe Yavari is a medium-sized, iron-hulled ship, one of two first commissioned in 1861 by the Peruvian government. They were ......
Read MoreOnly 6 kilometers from Ica, Huacachina Lake is a popular attraction. A true oasis, it is a green spot in ......
Read MoreLocated on the Pacific coast to the west of Nasca, the San Juan de Marcona Marine Reserve is relatively small ......
Read MoreThe Paracas National Reserve comprises most of the Paracas peninsula and surrounding waters. It is a land and marine reserve, ......
Read MoreThe Ica desert was once a shallow ocean basin before tectonic movements millions of years ago thrust it upward. Today, ......
Read MoreAbout ten kilometers away from Ica, the Tacama Winery is open for tours 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except December ......
Read MoreIngapirca is the most impressive and significant set of Inca ruins in Ecuador. That being said, the ruins at Ingapirca ......
Read MoreBelize’s most famous dive spot is the Blue Hole. Once an underwater cave, the Blue Hole collapsed about 10,000 years ......
Read MoreThe largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize is Caracol (Snail), one of the most important cities of the Mayan classical ......
Read MoreAges ago, a mysterious culture etched more than 300 figures and shapes into the barren desert rock outside of the ......
Read MoreTours
La Tasca is a very small tour operator located just off the main square in Vilcabamba. They specialize in horseback ......
Read MoreSchools
Tropical Dancing School is a small, friendly place that offers dance lessons in a variety of styles, including salsa, merengue, ......
Read MoreServices
Cuernavaca is not a shopping Mecca to compare with a place like nearby Taxco, but you can still find some ......
Read MoreIf you’re in the mood to pick up some souvenirs while in the Dominican Republic, you’re in luck: there are ......
Read MoreMaybe it’s the great location. Maybe it’s the sign outside, which has a hip, google-ish look (see photo). Maybe there ......
Read MorePelic@n Net Cyber C@fe and internet is one of many cyber cafes in Puerto Ayora where you can check your ......
Read MoreShopping is great fun in Toledo, especially if you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings. Toledo got a ......
Read MoreSan Andres Island is a duty free zone, much like those foofy shops you see in airports, and anything you ......
Read MoreLocated about seven or eight blocks to the northeast of the central square in Cuenca, Plaza Rotary hosts an outdoor ......
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May 10, 1624. The Dutch, jealous of the New World empires of Spain, England and Portugal, decide to establish themselves ......
Read MoreIt was tango singer Carlos Gardel who said it best, in his immortal tango classic “Mi Buenos Aires Querido” (“My ......
Read MoreYou’re hiking through the thick, steamy jungle of Ecuador’s rainforest. The hot sun overhead is softened by the dense canopy ......
Read MoreLeaving behind the smog, traffic and fast food of Quito, an airplane flies two hours west and eons backward in ......
Read MoreA new sun rises over the steaming Guatemalan jungle. In the low, green forest, a mighty king stands tall, placidly ......
Read MorePicture yourself meandering down a cobblestone street, admiring the sloped roofs and gingerbread look of the homes around you. You’ve ......
Read MoreStretching 82 feet by 50 yards, and varying from five to 13 feet deep, the 800,000 gallon, multi-purpose swimming pool ......
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