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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.
- Hometown
Rochester, NY USA
- Location now
Quito, Ecuador
- Work published
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.
- Travel philosophy
The best travel experiences have less to do with buildings and natural beauty and more to do with the people you meet.
- Craziest place
I was in Brazil when they won the World Cup of soccer. That was insane! They were partying in the streets.
- Bizarre experience
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.
- Advice
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.
- Dream destination
I'd love to go to Egypt.
- Traveled before
All over. I think I've been to about 30 countries, mostly in South and Central America.
- Going next
The Dominican Republic.
Christopher Minster's Guide Book Entries
Info
The Mystery of the Galapagos Affair
Oct 26, 2009 - EcuadorIn 1929, Dr. Friedrich Karl Ritter, an eccentric Berlin doctor, arrived on Floreana Island with his mistress/patient Dore Strauch. Dr. ......
Read MoreGalapagos Ecology and Ecotourism
Oct 26, 2009 - EcuadorThe Galapagos Islands may look rough and harsh, but the numerous ecosystems found on each of the islands are, in ......
Read MoreCaribbean Coast Safety
Oct 19, 2009 - NicaraguaThe Caribbean Coast is much like other parts of Nicaragua: it can be dangerous, but you should be fine if ......
Read More
Caribbean Coast: When to Go
Oct 19, 2009 - NicaraguaThe rainy season on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast is from May to September, and rains are often heavy enough to produce ......
Read MoreThe History of the Corn Islands
Oct 07, 2009 - NicaraguaThe Corn Islands were originally home to indigenous cultures such as the Sumu and Kukra Indians, who (fortunately for them) ......
Read MoreThe History of Santiago, Chile
Sep 21, 2009 - Santiago, ChileSantiago was founded on February 12, 1541 by Spanish explorer and conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. The region had been explored ......
Read MoreChilean Literature
May 25, 2009 - ChileChilean writers are among the best in all of Latin America: in fact, they’ve won two of the four Nobel ......
Read MoreChile History Timeline
May 11, 2009 - ChileLate 1400’s: Inca Empire expands to include some parts of northern Chile 1520: Magellan passes into Pacific, explores some of ......
Read MoreThe History of Chile
May 11, 2009 - ChileChile has a long history of rugged isolation. The indigenous people who settled there had to adapt to some of ......
Read MoreLanguages in Mexico
May 06, 2009 - MexicoSpanish is not the official language of Mexico! In fact, no official language is specified in Mexico, and if one ......
Read MoreJuan Rulfo
May 06, 2009 - MexicoAsk any Mexican who likes to read “Who’s the best Mexican writer?” and there’s a good chance the answer you ......
Read MoreAbimael Guzman
Apr 29, 2009 - PeruBorn in the Peruvian province of Arequipa, Abimael Guzmán (1934 - ) developed two interests at an early age: academics ......
Read MoreEmiliano Zapata
Apr 29, 2009 - MexicoEarly GrievancesEmiliano Zapata was born in the Mexican region of Morelos to a poor but independent family during the reign ......
Read MoreThe Aztec Sun Stone
Apr 29, 2009 - MexicoWhat is the Aztec Sun Stone? The Aztec Sun Stone, often called the Aztec calendar, is a massive, 24-ton stone ......
Read MoreThe Literature of Bolivia
Apr 29, 2009 - BoliviaBolivia has traditionally been poor, isolated and backward, and its inhabitants are often illiterate or do not speak Spanish as ......
Read MoreManuela Saenz
Apr 27, 2009 - EcuadorBorn in Quito in 1793 as the illegitimate daughter of a married Spanish nobleman, Manuela Saenz led one of the ......
Read MoreGran Colombia
Apr 27, 2009 - ColombiaIn 1819, as the various wars of independence in South America were still raging, the man known as the “father ......
Read MoreFernando Botero
Apr 27, 2009 - ColombiaThe most famous living Latin American artist, Fernando Botero (1932-) is best known for his paintings of very fat subjects. ......
Read MoreEl Salvador factlets
Apr 27, 2009 - El SalvadorA civil war raged in El Salvador from 1980-1992: an estimated 75,000 were killed. El Salvador is prone to many ......
Read MoreThe History of Argentina
Apr 24, 2009 - ArgentinaAncient History The area of present-day Argentina has been inhabited by humans for ages, and archaeological remains some 11,000 years ......
Read MoreThe War of the Triple Alliance
Apr 24, 2009 - ArgentinaIn 1864, Paraguay, which had been a reclusive, insular state in the fifty years or so since independence from Spain, ......
Read MoreManuel José Estrada Cabrera
Apr 22, 2009 - GuatemalaThe totalitarian regime of Estrada Cabrera (1898-1920) was immortalized in the novel El Señor Presidente by Nobel Prize winner Miguel ......
Read MoreGaspar Ilóm
Apr 22, 2009 - GuatemalaGaspar Ilóm was born Rodrigo Asturias, son of Miguel Angel Asturias, the Guatemalan writer, activist and Nobel Prize winner for ......
Read MoreThe Ciudad Juarez Murders
Apr 08, 2009 - MexicoThe Juarez Femicides Since 1994, more than 300 mutilated bodies, almost all of them young women and girls, have been ......
Read MoreWho Killed Luis Donaldo Colosio?
Apr 06, 2009 - MexicoAn Open-and-Shut Case...On the afternoon of March 23, 1994, Luis Donaldo Colosio, a Mexican presidential candidate, was shot in the ......
Read MoreSubcomandante Marcos
Apr 06, 2009 - MexicoBackground InfoIn early 1994, there was a short-lived armed rebellion in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. The Mexican government, ......
Read MoreAntonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Apr 06, 2009 - MexicoYoung Santa AnnaIn 1810, Mexico declared independence from Spain and 16 year old Antonio López de Santa Anna enlisted – ......
Read MoreArgentina Facts
Apr 06, 2009 - ArgentinaThe border between Argentina and Chile is 5,308 kilometers, third-longest in the world. The longest is 8,893 km between the ......
Read MoreLatin America: Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know Were Food!
Mar 25, 2009 - EcuadorAhh, travel. Seeing new places, meeting new people, trying new activities, experiencing new cultures and gagging on “food” that calls ......
Read MoreAleman and Ortega: "The Pact"
Mar 04, 2009 - NicaraguaIn 2003, former President of Nicaragua Arnoldo Alemán was convicted of corruption, having been accused of embezzling millions. Another former ......
Read MoreThe History of Nicaragua
Mar 04, 2009 - NicaraguaPre-Hispanic The area of present-day Nicaragua has been inhabited for centuries, since long before the arrival of the Spanish to the ......
Read MoreArgentine Culture
Feb 02, 2009 - ArgentinaMuch more so than most of Latin America, Argentina is a true cultural meeting pot. It was inhabited by relatively ......
Read MoreThe Mexican Revolution
Jan 30, 2009 - MexicoMexico Before In 1909, Mexico was tranquil and peaceful…on the surface. Appearances can be deceiving, as the nation was a ......
Read MoreDarwin in Galapagos
Jan 23, 2009 - EcuadorOver the years, many famous people have visited the Galápagos, including actors, artists and politicians from all over the world. ......
Read MoreIntroduced Species in Galapagos
Jan 19, 2009 - EcuadorAsk any Galápagos guide or park ranger, and they’ll tell you that the most serious problem currently facing the islands ......
Read MorePink Iguana
Jan 16, 2009 - EcuadorFirst discovered in 1986, the Pink Iguana was thought for a ling time to be a subspecies of the Galapagos ......
Read MorePorfirio Diaz
Nov 05, 2008 - MexicoWho was Don Porfirio?José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (1830 – 1915) ruled Mexico from 1876 to 1911, one ......
Read MoreThe Dirty War
May 14, 2008 - ArgentinaIn the early 1970’s, Argentina was an extremely unstable place. Marxist revolutionaries, inspired by the example of Cuba, were organizing ......
Read MoreReligion in Argentina
Apr 18, 2008 - ArgentinaThe Spanish brought Catholicism with them when they established cities in the region, and forced all native people to convert ......
Read MoreThe History of Colombia
Apr 04, 2008 - ColombiaPre-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
Mar 31, 2008 - ArgentinaJorge Luís Borges (1899-1986) was an Argentine writer who achieved worldwide fame for his mind-blowing short stories. He is a ......
Read MoreThe Economy of Argentina: History
Mar 17, 2008 - ArgentinaThe first Spanish explorers in present-day Argentina found a wide river inhabited by various indigenous tribes. According to one legend, ......
Read MoreThe History of Buenos Aires
Mar 14, 2008 - Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLa Ciudad de Nuestra Señora del Buen Aire was founded in 1536 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza, who had ......
Read MoreAn Argentine Meat Feast
Mar 10, 2008 - ArgentinaNormal people, they die, and they go to regular heaven, you know, with wings and clouds and harps and all ......
Read MoreFishing in Argentina
Mar 03, 2008 - ArgentinaArgentina is a great place to do some fishing. Patagonia is well-known as a top fly-fishing destination, with skilled guides ......
Read MoreSkiing in Argentina
Feb 29, 2008 - ArgentinaNot surprisingly for a country with some truly outstanding and picturesque mountains, Argentina has a well-developed skiing industry. Best of ......
Read MoreJuan Peron
Feb 27, 2008 - ArgentinaJuan Perón (October 8, 1895 – July 1, 1974) Juan Perón was born in the town of Lobos, not far ......
Read MoreColombian Coffee
Feb 27, 2008 - ColombiaColombian Coffee. Those two words just sort of seem to roll together, don’t they? Colombian coffee. Mmm. Go say them ......
Read MoreJosé de San Martín
Jan 30, 2008 - ArgentinaThe hero of Argentine Independence was born in Yapeyú in 1778. He went to Spain as a young man where ......
Read MoreBaseball in the Dominican Republic
Jan 28, 2008 - Dominican RepublicOn September 23, 1956, the New York Giants sent out a rookie infielder that had just been called up from ......
Read MoreThe Islanders Take Over
Dec 18, 2007 - EcuadorFor decades, Galápagos was a backwater province, a place no decent Ecuadorian wanted to go. A few hundred hardy pioneers, ......
Read MoreBullfighting in Spain
Dec 11, 2007 - SpainOkay, okay, I know, I know. Bullfighting is evil, matadors are cruel and heartless, it’s all barbaric, anyone who would ......
Read MoreRafting in Colombia
Oct 26, 2007 - ColombiaColombia has some excellent rivers for rafting, and some reliable operators to take you there. The rafting industry in Colombia ......
Read MoreThe Seven Wonders of Portugal
Oct 25, 2007 - PortugalOn July 7, 2007 (or 7/7/07), the results of a popular internet contest to name the Seven Wonders of the ......
Read MoreColombia Fun Facts
Oct 15, 2007 - ColombiaColombia borders Brazil, Venezuela, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador. Total landmass of Colombia is roughly 1,140,000 square kilometers, which is slightly ......
Read MoreThe Forest and Palace of Buçaco
Sep 27, 2007 - Luso, PortugalFor centuries, the beautiful forest of Buçaco, a verdant woods on the side of a hill, was a monastic retreat. ......
Read MoreThe Story of Pedro and Ines
Sep 21, 2007 - PortugalThe story of Pedro, Crown Prince of Portugal, and Inés de Castro, lady-in-waiting to a Spanish Princess, is one of ......
Read MoreHorseback riding in Peru
Jul 17, 2007 - PeruPeru is a country of spectacular vistas and incredible natural diversity, and one of the best ways to experience it ......
Read MoreSpas in Peru
Jul 17, 2007 - PeruSpa and relaxation tourism is growing internationally, and Peru is no exception. Many travelers come to Latin America from the ......
Read MoreHaciendas in Peru
Jul 17, 2007 - PeruLike the rest of Latin America, Peru was once home to many haciendas, elegant country estate homes owned by wealthy ......
Read MoreLearning Quechua in Peru
Jul 16, 2007 - PeruFor those looking to live and work in certain Andean areas, or for those who simply want to try something ......
Read MorePeru History
Jul 16, 2007 - PeruThe area now known as Peru was inhabited long before the arrival of the Spanish. Various smaller ethnic groups controlled ......
Read MorePeru Geography, Climate, Flora and Fauna
Jul 16, 2007 - PeruPeru features wildly diverse flora and fauna, thanks to its great natural and geological diversity. One of Peru's leading scientists, ......
Read MoreMachu Picchu History
Jul 12, 2007 - Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, PeruIn July, 1911, Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham was exploring the area near Cuzco, searching for the lost city of Vilcabamba, ......
Read MoreAlhambra Tips and Advice
Jun 14, 2007 - Granada, SpainBasically, there are four areas of the Alhambra complex, which sits at the top of a hill overlooking Granada. The ......
Read MoreSpotted Eagle Ray
Apr 20, 2007 - EcuadorThe spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a large, graceful, beautiful member of the ray family that is common throughout ......
Read MoreLoja: Getting there and away
Apr 12, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorLoja is in a remote part of southern Ecuador and the best way to get there, by far, is to ......
Read MoreAmerican Oystercatcher
Mar 30, 2007 - EcuadorThe American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a distinctive shorebird found up and down the eastern coast of North America, the ......
Read MoreRuddy Turnstone
Mar 30, 2007 - EcuadorThe Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a stocky, smallish shorebird found all over the world, including on every island in ......
Read MoreYellow-Crowned Night Heron
Mar 29, 2007 - EcuadorThe distinctive Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax violaceus) can be easily identified by its yellow crown and a white stripe under ......
Read MoreLava Heron
Mar 29, 2007 - EcuadorThe Lava Heron (Butorides sundevalli) is very similar in appearance to the Striated Heron: they’re the same size and shape, ......
Read MoreStriated Heron
Mar 29, 2007 - EcuadorThe Striated Heron (Butorides striatus), also known in some parts of the world as the Little Heron, is a fairly ......
Read MoreColca Canyon History
Mar 29, 2007 - PeruThe Colca Canyon has been the traditional home of the Collagua and Cabana peoples for ages: they are thought to ......
Read MoreShore Birds - Galapagos
Mar 27, 2007 - EcuadorOne of the best places in all of Galápagos to see birds is right along the shoreline. Many of the ......
Read MoreHerons and Egrets in the Galapagos
Mar 27, 2007 - EcuadorHerons and egrets (Order Ciconiiformes) are shore birds distinguished by their long, pointed beaks, long necks and long, slender legs. ......
Read MoreGreat Blue Heron
Mar 27, 2007 - EcuadorYes, the Great Blue Herons that you’ve seen back home in the USA and Canada are the same as the ......
Read MoreGetting To and Away
Mar 22, 2007 - BoliviaBy air: Bolivia has two international airports: La Paz and Santa Cruz. Most visitors will arrive to La Paz, which happens ......
Read MoreHolidays and Festivals in Bolivia
Mar 22, 2007 - BoliviaThe most unique regional festival in Bolivia is almost certainly the Chiquitos Music Festival, which takes place in April or ......
Read MoreEmergency Medical Care in Lima
Mar 20, 2007 - Lima, PeruEmergency Medical Care: Lima The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of medical providers in Lima; although they do not officially recommend ......
Read MoreBolivia-Language
Mar 13, 2007 - BoliviaBolivia has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. Spanish is spoken by roughly 3.5 million Bolivians, followed by Quechua ......
Read MoreReligion in Bolivia
Mar 13, 2007 - BoliviaBolivia, like the rest of South America, is predominantly Roman Catholic. 95% of the population lists their religion as Roman ......
Read MoreFood and Drink in Bolivia
Mar 13, 2007 - BoliviaIn Bolivia, the main meal is lunch: most workers try to go home to eat during the week. A proper ......
Read MoreHealth in Bolivia
Mar 13, 2007 - BoliviaAltitude sickness (soroche): In most of Bolivia, altitude sickness – referred to locally as soroche – is the ailment you’re ......
Read MoreThe people of Bolivia
Mar 08, 2007 - BoliviaAccording to the most recent census (2005) Bolivia has a population of just under 9 million. The largest ethnic group ......
Read MoreThe History of Bolivia
Mar 01, 2007 - BoliviaThe area of present-day Bolivia was populated long before the arrival of the Spanish to the area in the 1530’s. ......
Read MoreClimate of Bolivia
Mar 01, 2007 - BoliviaAs is the case with the rest of the countries in South America, the climate in Bolivia is quite varied ......
Read MoreSports and Recreation in Peru
Feb 16, 2007 - PeruLike much of South America, soccer (fútbol) is something like religion in Peru. Kids play in the street, adults play ......
Read MoreReligion in Peru
Feb 16, 2007 - PeruWhen the Spanish arrived in the region in the early 1530's and set about conquering the Inca Empire, they brought ......
Read MoreThe Economy of Peru
Feb 16, 2007 - PeruWhen the Incas came to the region of Peru in the 15th century, they found several small tribes engaged in ......
Read MoreHistory of San Isidro
Feb 16, 2007 - San Isidro, Lima, Peruriginally the site of an extensive olive grove outside of Lima, San Isidro wasn’t founded until 1931, so it does ......
Read MoreCentral Lima History
Feb 16, 2007 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruLima's central colonial district is the most historic in the whole city and one of the most historic in all ......
Read MoreThe History of Barranco
Feb 16, 2007 - Barranco, Lima, PeruThe village of Barranco was founded by early Spanish settlers and soon became known as a popular seaside resort. By ......
Read MoreThe History of Miraflores
Feb 16, 2007 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruThis attractive area, with its ocean views and cliffs, was one of the first areas to be settled by the ......
Read MoreGetting To and Away From Alamos
Feb 16, 2007 - Alamos, MexicoGetting Across the Border between Arizona and AlamosTransportes Baldomero Corral (TBC) runs a cross-border bus service from Tuscon, Arizona to ......
Read MoreInternational Cervantes Festival
Feb 15, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoInternational Cervantes Festival (Festival Internacional Cervantino, or FIC) The Cervantes Festival, held every October in Guanajuato, is one of the ......
Read MoreHuancayo Travel Tips
Jan 23, 2007 - Huancayo, PeruHuancayo has one of the highest crime rates in Peru: locals attribute it to gang activity. Take extra caution. The ......
Read MoreGetting to and away from Huancayo
Jan 23, 2007 - Huancayo, PeruHuancayo Information: Telephone: Country code: 51 City code: 64 Huancayo to and from Lima: Getting buses to and from Lima from Huancayo is fairly ......
Read MoreAquarium Island
Nov 10, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MorePhotography In Ecuador
Oct 10, 2005 - EcuadorAnyone with even a passing interest in photography will love Ecuador: it is probably one of the most scenic countries ......
Read MoreEcuador Food Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorYou will greatly enjoy the quality of food in Ecuador's finest restaurants. In the larger cities, such as Quito, Cuenca ......
Read MoreEcuador Tour Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorIf you can afford them, there are a variety of tour options available to Ecuador. The most famous part of ......
Read MoreEcuador Security Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorLuxury travelers to Ecuador need not worry too much about security. Ecuador's top hotels are known for honest employees, and ......
Read MoreEcuador Lodging Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorFirst-class travelers will find a wide array of lodging options in Ecuador. There are super-deluxe hotels in every major Ecuadorian ......
Read MoreEcuador Transportation Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorNo buses or cars for you, luxury travelers! If money is no object, you'll definitely want to arrange a very ......
Read MoreEcuador Tips for Luxury Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorGreat news! Hotels, restaurants, visitor sites, and travel agencies in Ecuador have the professionalism, attention to detail and elegance that ......
Read MoreEcuador Security Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorMid-range travelers are not considered to be as much at risk for theft or other security problems as budget travelers ......
Read MoreEcuador Tour Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorThe best part about booking a trip through a tour agency is not having to deal with pesky matters like ......
Read MoreEcuador Food Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorThe restaurants in Ecuador are excellent, safe and reasonably priced. Almost all of them should be within your price range, ......
Read MoreEcuador Lodging Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorIn every Ecuador city and tourist destination, you’ll find attractive, clean mid-range hotels with a lot of charm and personality. ......
Read MoreEcuador Transportation Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorYou have more options than budget travelers, but unless you're with a tour company, buses are still probably your best ......
Read MoreEcuador Tips for Mid-range Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorGood news! Ecuador is a fabulous place for mid-range ($30-$75 daily budget) travelers. Of all of our three categories, you'll ......
Read MoreEcuador Security Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorEcuador is a poor country, and budget travelers are particularly at risk: many professional criminals in touristy areas specifically target ......
Read MoreEcuador Tour Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorIf you're on a super-tight budget, chances are you won’t be able to afford a long, extended tour. There may ......
Read MoreEcuador Lodging Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorEvery major or minor tourist destination in Ecuador has at least one or two hostels that cater to the budget ......
Read MoreEcuador Food Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorEcuador has great food if you're on a tight budget: a true budget traveler can get by on as little ......
Read MoreEcuador Transportation Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorWhat trains are to Europe, buses are to Ecuador – the cheapest way to get around. There are trains, and ......
Read MoreEcuador Tips for Budget Travelers
Oct 06, 2005 - EcuadorGreat news for budget travelers! Ecuador is one of the best countries in the world to visit if you're watching ......
Read MoreThe Galápagos Fishing War
Oct 04, 2005 - EcuadorMinster There is constant tension in Galápagos between the two main industries in the islands: fishing and tourism. Those in the ......
Read MoreZebra Moray Eel
Sep 27, 2005 - EcuadorThe elusive zebra moray eel (gymnomuraena zebra) is smaller and more shy than its moray cousins. It is blackish brown ......
Read MoreParrot Fish
Sep 26, 2005 - EcuadorA common sight for snorkelers and divers, the parrot fish is very colorful and not terribly shy, which makes it ......
Read MoreSwallow-Tailed Gull
May 12, 2005 - EcuadorThe endemic Swallow-tailed Gull (Larus furcatus, gaviota de cola bifurcada) is the only nocturnal gull in the world. Adults have ......
Read MoreFish in the Galápagos
May 06, 2005 - EcuadorGalapagos is world-renowned as one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. If you choose to ......
Read MoreSea Birds - Galápagos
May 05, 2005 - EcuadorBird life is everywhere in Galapagos, and the marine species are particularly fun to watch and identify. Because of the ......
Read MoreGalápagos Wildlife Guide
May 05, 2005 - EcuadorAs spectacular as the waters, islands and beaches of Galápagos are, there is no doubt about what visitors have come ......
Read MoreHistory and Politics of Belize
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeBelize already had a long and important history when the first Europeans arrived in the New World. The first settlers ......
Read MoreHistory and Politics
Mar 04, 2005 - GuatemalaThe Maya and Other Indigenous Groups The first settlers of present-day Guatemala arrived thousands of years ago, and a number of ......
Read MoreHistory and Politics of Mexico
Feb 18, 2005 - MexicoAncient Mexican CulturesPresent-day Mexico was home to many important native cultures before the arrival of Europeans in the fifteenth century. ......
Read MoreHistory and Politics
Feb 10, 2005 - BrazilMinster According to some historians, the first men and women to arrive to present-day Brazil did so over 8,000 years ago. ......
Read MoreHistory and Politics of Panama
Feb 02, 2005 - PanamaPre-Colombian history Before the arrival of the Spanish, present-day Panama was home to two tribal groups: the Cuevas and Cocole peoples. ......
Read MoreWhen to Go to the Galápagos
Dec 01, 2004 - EcuadorThere is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands. There is always something interesting to see and the weather ......
Read More
Destinations
Parque Nacional Archipiéago Zapatera
Sep 30, 2009 - NicaraguaEstablished as a National Park in 1983, the Zapatera Archipelago consists of a series of islands in Lake Nicaragua. The ......
Read MoreCuernavaca
Oct 15, 2008 - Cuernavaca, MexicoIn 1917, rebel Emiliano Zapata and his ragged army stormed Cuernavaca, capturing the city as he tried to bait President ......
Read MorePunta Cana
Jan 25, 2008 - Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicLocated on the Eastern end of the Island of Hispaniola, Punta Cana features a vast stretch of white-sand beaches, blue ......
Read More
Iguazú Falls
Jan 07, 2008 - ArgentinaApproximately two hundred and forty thousand gallons of water passes over Iguazú falls every minute, passing through more than 250 ......
Read MoreDominican Republic
Jan 02, 2008 - Dominican RepublicThis laid-back island in the Caribbean (technically, half an island: it shares Hispaniola with the nation of Haiti) is best ......
Read MoreSanto Domingo
Jan 02, 2008 - Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicConsidered the oldest European-founded city in the Americas, Santo Domingo was founded by Christopher Columbus’ brother Bartholomew in 1496. The ......
Read MoreCatalonia
Oct 31, 2007 - SpainOne of the more important autonomous regions in Spain, Catalonia is located in the Spanish northeast, bordering France and the ......
Read MoreLa Rioja
Oct 30, 2007 - SpainLocated in the Spanish northeast, La Rioja is one of the smaller Spanish autonomous regions, consisting entirely of the province ......
Read MoreThe Canary Islands
Oct 30, 2007 - SpainThe Canary Islands are a small archipelago, consisting of seven volcanic islands off the western coast of Morocco. The islands ......
Read MoreValencia
Oct 29, 2007 - SpainLocated on the sunny Mediterranean coast, the region known as Comunidad Valenciana consists of three provinces: Valencia, Castellón and Alicante. ......
Read MoreMurcia
Oct 26, 2007 - SpainLocated on the Mediterranean coast, Murcia is one of Spain’s seventeen autonomous regions. Unlike most of the others, Murcia consists ......
Read MoreSalamanca
Oct 26, 2007 - Salamanca, SpainSalamanca is a small city that seems much larger than it actually is: this is due to the number of ......
Read MoreCastile-León
Oct 26, 2007 - SpainCastile-León is the largest autonomous region in Spain, being comprised of nine provinces: Salamanca, Segovia, Avila, León, Burgos, Palencia, Soria, ......
Read MoreGalicia
Oct 26, 2007 - SpainGalicia is the region of Spain that consists of the corner of the peninsula that is just to the north ......
Read MoreAsturias
Oct 26, 2007 - SpainOne of the smaller regions of Spain, Asturias is a former principality located on Spain’s northern coast. It is bordered ......
Read MoreExtremadura
Oct 25, 2007 - SpainLocated in west-central Spain, bordering Andalucía to the south and Portugal to the west, Extremadura is a hot, dry region ......
Read MoreAragón
Oct 24, 2007 - SpainAragón is an extremely historic region of northeastern Spain consisting of three provinces: Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel. A small region, ......
Read MoreCastile-La Mancha
Oct 24, 2007 - SpainCastile-La Mancha is a large, sparsely populated region in central Spain comprising the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara ......
Read MoreMadrid
Oct 23, 2007 - Madrid, SpainThe bustling modern capital of Spain somehow manages to defy and define the nation at the same time. The Madrileños ......
Read MoreToledo
Oct 19, 2007 - Toledo, SpainThe city of Toledo is history incarnate. Get off a bus in the center of town and you can’t go ......
Read MoreTotonicapán
Oct 19, 2007 - Totonicapán , GuatemalaTotonicapán is a laid-back, medium sized city located in Guatemala’s central-western highlands not far from the much larger city of ......
Read MoreQuetzaltenango
Oct 19, 2007 - Quetzaltenango , GuatemalaThe second-largest city in all of Guatemala, Quetzaltenango is an important commercial hub in the central-western highlands. The city is ......
Read MoreCuatro Caminos
Oct 19, 2007 - Cuatro Caminos, GuatemalaCuatro Caminos, located in the department of Totonicapán, is basically an important intersection in which the four roads or “Cuatro ......
Read MoreMomostenango
Oct 16, 2007 - Momostenango, GuatemalaMomostenango, which means “fortified place of many idols,” is a small indigenous town located in the foothills of the Cuchumatanes ......
Read MoreChiantla
Oct 16, 2007 - Chiantla, GuatemalaLocated just outside of Huehuetenango, the small town of Chiantla is actually just as old as its larger neighbor, dating ......
Read MoreAguacatán
Oct 16, 2007 - Aguacatán , GuatemalaLocated about two dusty hours by battered chicken bus from Huehue, Aguacatán is a small, traditional Maya village located in ......
Read MoreHuehuetenango
Oct 15, 2007 - Huehuetenango, GuatemalaThe city of Huehuetenango, capital of the province of the same name, is a friendly, medium-sized town generally seen as ......
Read MoreCayambe
Oct 15, 2007 - Cayambe, EcuadorCayambe is a medium-sized Andean town, located at the foot of the volcano of the same name. Most visitors to ......
Read MoreMascarilla
Oct 15, 2007 - Mascarilla, EcuadorLocated not far to the north of Ibarra and near the town of Chota, Mascarilla is a small town that ......
Read MoreEvora
Oct 02, 2007 - Evora, PortugalÉvora, the capital of the Alentejo region, is a picturesque, medium-sized city with more than its share of things to ......
Read MoreThe Roman Ruins of Conímbriga
Oct 01, 2007 - Coimbra, PortugalLocated about ten miles (16 km) from Coimbra, the ruined Roman town of Conímbriga is one of Portugal’s best preserved ......
Read MoreCoimbra
Sep 28, 2007 - Coimbra, PortugalPerched atop a hill alongside the Mondego River, Coimbra has been an important city since Roman times, when it was ......
Read MoreLuso
Sep 27, 2007 - Luso, PortugalLuso is a small, pleasant, traditional town that would be completely unremarkable if not for two things: first of all, ......
Read MoreAveiro
Sep 27, 2007 - Aveiro, PortugalAveiro is another city with a long history: the Romans called it “Aviarium,” which means “aviary.” Often referred to as ......
Read MoreBatalha
Sep 24, 2007 - Batalha, PortugalOn August 14, 1385, King João I of Portugal and his army met the forces of King John of Castile ......
Read MoreAlcobaça
Sep 21, 2007 - Alcobaça, PortugalThe modest, attractive town of Alcobaça is a popular stopover for visitors heading north from Lisbon to Luso, Porto or ......
Read MoreÓbidos
Sep 21, 2007 - Óbidos, PortugalThis medieval walled city is one of Portugal’s biggest attractions. According to tradition, King Dinis of Portugal was passing through ......
Read MoreSintra
Sep 20, 2007 - Sintra, PortugalSintra is a small, touristy town located within the District of Lisbon, and only about a half-hour to 45 minutes ......
Read MoreLisbon
Sep 19, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalThe capitol and largest city of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa), is a logical place to start your journey. Lisbon is ......
Read MoreCentral Portugal
Sep 18, 2007 - PortugalCentral Portugal is a beautiful, diverse region containing everything from beaches along the west coast to skiing in the Serra ......
Read MoreLisbon and Surroundings
Sep 18, 2007 - PortugalThe central-western region of Portugal is dominated by the city of Lisbon, but there is more to it than just ......
Read MoreAlentejo
Sep 18, 2007 - PortugalThe south-central region of Portugal, known as the Alentejo, stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Spain in ......
Read MoreAndalucía
Jul 12, 2007 - SpainAndalucía is the southernmost region of Spain, and one of the larger ones. It contains the provinces of Almería, Cádiz, ......
Read MorePortugal
Jun 14, 2007 - PortugalMuch like New Jersey with New York or Uruguay with Argentina, Portugal is Spain’s little stepsister, lost in the shadow ......
Read MoreSevilla
Jun 14, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainWith a population of 1.3 million, Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is Spain’s fourth largest city and is the cultural, political and ......
Read MoreGranada
Jun 04, 2007 - Granada, SpainCave-living gypsies. One of the front-runners for the new seven wonders of the world. Flamenco dancing in centuries-old taverns. The ......
Read MoreSpain
May 20, 2007 - SpainIf the planet has a crossroads, Spain has to be it. Although it is part of Europe, it is very ......
Read MoreAduana
Feb 16, 2007 - Alamos, MexicoThe old mining town of Aduana is worth a visit. Once home to 20,000, Adiana now houses about 400 full-time ......
Read MorePedernales
Feb 13, 2007 - Pedernales, EcuadorNot much distinguishes Pedernales from other coastal towns. While it features the same bamboo beachside bars as Atacames, it lacks ......
Read MoreEnsenada
Jan 18, 2007 - Ensenada, MexicoLocated on the pacific coast of the upper part of Baja California 70 miles from the border (about an hour ......
Read MoreSan Ignacio
Jan 18, 2007 - San Ignacio, MexicoSan Ignacio is a small (population approximately 4,000), picturesque town which is a good base for visiting many of the ......
Read MorePunta Arenas
Jan 16, 2007 - Punta Arenas, ChileOne of the southernmost cities in the world, Punta Arenas sits on the Strait of Magellan, a treacherous channel between ......
Read MoreLoreto
Jan 16, 2007 - Loreto, MexicoLoreto is a pleasant, hot beach town located on the Sea of Cortes in Baja California Sur, not far from ......
Read MoreLa Paz
Jan 16, 2007 - La Paz, MexicoOften overlooked by visitors to Baja California headed for the better-known resort towns such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, ......
Read MoreCreel
Dec 15, 2006 - Creel, MexicoCreel is a charming little town in the northern state of Chihuahua which lives off of tourism and lumber. By ......
Read MoreCuatro Ciénegas
Dec 15, 2006 - Cuatro Ciénegas , MexicoCuatro Ciénegas is a tiny town (population roughly 12,000) in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. Cuatro Ciénegas means “four ......
Read MoreMatehuala
Dec 14, 2006 - Matehuala, MexicoMatehuala is a Mexican town best known for being a stopover on the route to Real de Catorce. It does ......
Read MoreReal de Catorce
Dec 14, 2006 - Real de Catorce, MexicoReal de Catorce – whose full name of “Real de Minas de la Limpia Concepción de los Álamos de Catorce” ......
Read MoreAcapulco
Dec 08, 2006 - Acapulco, MexicoAcapulco…even the name conjures up images of sandy beaches, tall cliffs, beautiful young men and women in swimsuits sipping piña ......
Read MoreGales Point
Nov 30, 2006 - Gales Point, BelizeOriginally a logging camp, the small town of Gales Point is one of Belize’s growing tourist draws. Located about 25 ......
Read MoreTulum
Nov 30, 2006 - Tulum, MexicoTulum refers to two places: the 12th century Maya-Toltec ruins and the small town about 5 km away of the ......
Read MoreCancún
Nov 30, 2006 - Cancún, MexicoParty, party, party! There is no escaping Cancún’s international image as one of the good-time capitals of the planet. College ......
Read MoreChetumal
Nov 30, 2006 - Chetumal, MexicoChetumal, capital of the Yucatan state of Quintana Roo, is a small city (population: less than 150,000) that is growing ......
Read MoreNorth-Central Mexico
Nov 28, 2006 - MexicoThe north-central region of Mexico is defined as several states in the northern part of the country that do not ......
Read MoreThe Northwest
Nov 28, 2006 - MexicoThe Mexican northwest is formed by the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Durango and Sinoloa. It is known for natural beauty, ......
Read MoreThe Western Pacific
Nov 28, 2006 - Mexico? 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
Nov 28, 2006 - MexicoThe Gulf of Mexico region is comprised of the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Tabasco. The region is known for ......
Read MoreThe Pacific South
Nov 28, 2006 - MexicoMexico's Pacific SouthComprised of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico’s Pacific South is a popular region for visitors. ......
Read MoreGuatemala's Pacific Coast
Nov 21, 2006 - GuatemalaBecause of Guatemala’s orientation, its “western” coast—that is to say, its Pacific coast—is actually for the most part to the ......
Read MoreCentral Highlands
Nov 17, 2006 - GuatemalaGuatemala’s central highlands, which include the provinces of El Quiché, Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz, are home to misty forests, ......
Read MoreWestern Highlands
Nov 17, 2006 - GuatemalaComprising the provinces of Huehuetenango, Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, Guatemala’s western highlands are mostly for die-hard travelers who are ......
Read MoreFlores
Nov 16, 2006 - Flores, GuatemalaThe twin cities of Flores and Santa Elena are the most common launching point for excursions into Guatemala’s Petén region. ......
Read MoreThe Petén
Nov 16, 2006 - GuatemalaThe rugged, densely forested northeastern appendage of Guatemala, the Petén borders both Belize and Mexico. Although the Petén was once ......
Read MoreAquarium Island
Nov 10, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MoreSan Andres
Nov 09, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaSan Andres and Providencia San Andres and Providencia are two small islands in the Caribbean, less than 100 miles off the ......
Read MoreBulcay
Apr 07, 2006 - Bulcay, EcuadorAbout a half hour outside of Cuenca, the tiny town of Bulcay is home to the last remaining weavers of ......
Read MorePuyango Petrified Forest
Mar 02, 2006 - EcuadorThe largest field of exposed petrified wood in the world is found just south of the Ecuadorian city of Loja, ......
Read MorePanajachel
Mar 02, 2006 - Panajachel, GuatemalaMinster “Pana,” as it’s known to locals, is the biggest hippie town south of California. It is located on the banks ......
Read MoreRuins of Quirigua
Feb 23, 2006 - GuatemalaCauac Sky was the greatest ruler of the city of Quirigua during the Maya classic period. He is depicted on ......
Read MoreTodos Santos Cuchumatan
Feb 23, 2006 - Todos Santos Cuchumatan, GuatemalaMinster Todos Santos is a very closed indigenous community located high in the barren, rocky Cuchumatanes mountain range. The nearest city ......
Read MoreSalvador da Bahia
Feb 15, 2006 - Salvador da Bahia, Brazil......
Read MoreTijuana
Feb 14, 2006 - Tijuana, MexicoProhibition was the best thing to ever happen to Tijuana. A small, dusty town best known for a modest cattle ......
Read MorePerito Moreno Glacier
Feb 09, 2006 - El Calafate, ArgentinaThe Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwestern part of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. ......
Read MoreIguassu Falls
Feb 02, 2006 - Brazil......
Read MoreMonte Alban Ruins
Jan 31, 2006 - Oaxaca, MexicoMinster No one knows what happened to the Olmecs. This fierce Central Mexican tribe came to the rich valleys near present-day ......
Read MoreOaxaca
Jan 31, 2006 - Oaxaca, MexicoThe city of Oaxaca is one of the treasures of Mexican colonial architecture. The gorgeous city center, or Zócalo, is ......
Read MoreBariloche
Jan 30, 2006 - Bariloche, ArgentinaVisitors to Bariloche can be excused for a little bit of confusion. Did their flight from Buenos Aires somehow get ......
Read MoreSouthern Brazil - Iguassu Falls
Jun 29, 2005 - Brazil......
Read MoreSão Paulo
Jun 29, 2005 - São Paulo, BrazilSão Paulo is the largest city in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. Brazil’s industrial capital, ......
Read MoreRio de Janeiro
Jun 29, 2005 - Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most famous cities. Established around 1560, it was initially the site of ......
Read MoreMonterico Beach
Jun 20, 2005 - Monterico Beach, GuatemalaConsidered to be Guatemala’s best beach (which is not really saying much), Monterico is located on the south-western coast. It ......
Read MoreLatacunga
May 19, 2005 - Latacunga, EcuadorA medium-sized town about an hour south of Quito, Latacunga appeals to the traveler interested in a more native or genuine ......
Read MoreBaños (Cuenca)
May 04, 2005 - Baños (Cuenca), EcuadorA few kilometers west of the city of Cuenca is the small town of Baños, not to be confused with ......
Read MoreGualaceo
May 04, 2005 - Gualaceo, EcuadorAn attractive little village on the river of the same name, Gualaceo is known as "The Garden of Azuay" (Azuay ......
Read MoreEl Cajas National Park
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorEl Cajas National Park and Reserve (Parque Nacional El Cajas) is a starkly beautiful wilderness of valleys, lakes, highland vistas ......
Read MoreIngapirca
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorIngapirca is the most impressive and significant set of Inca ruins in Ecuador. That being said, the ruins at Ingapirca ......
Read MoreBelize City
Mar 09, 2005 - Belize City, BelizeIn order to connect to just about anywhere in Belize, the traveler must first pass through Belize City. In the ......
Read MoreBelize Cayes & Island Getaways
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeThere are several hundred cayes, or small islands, off the coast of Belize. The largest of these is Ambergris Caye, ......
Read MoreBelize's Mayan Sites
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeThe largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize is Caracol (Snail), one of the most important cities of the Mayan classical ......
Read MoreBelize Marine Reserves
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeBelize’s most famous dive spot is the Blue Hole. Once an underwater cave, the Blue Hole collapsed about 10,000 years ......
Read MoreBelize
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeBelize, the only English-speaking country in Central America, is a relatively poor nation in most respects but is incredibly rich ......
Read MoreChichicastenango
Mar 04, 2005 - Chichicastenango, GuatemalaChichicastenango, a medium-sized town in the Quiché region about two to three hours away from Guatemala City, is home to ......
Read MoreAntigua
Mar 04, 2005 - Antigua, GuatemalaFirst founded in the early sixteenth century by victorious Spanish conquistadores, Antigua soon became an administrative center for the Spanish ......
Read MoreGuatemala City
Mar 04, 2005 - Guatemala City, GuatemalaMinster Guatemala City, (Guate to locals) the sprawling capital, is considered by most travelers simply a place to catch a ......
Read MoreLake Atitlan
Mar 04, 2005 - GuatemalaLake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s premier travel destinations. A beautiful volcanic lake high in the central highlands, it has ......
Read MoreGuatemala
Mar 04, 2005 - GuatemalaGuatemala is only about the size of Iceland, but it is an amazingly diverse and complex land with a long ......
Read MoreYucatán Peninsula
Feb 18, 2005 - MexicoBeaches, nightlife, Mayan sites, diving, nature... the Yucatán Peninsula has it all. A vacationer’s paradise, Yucatán has something for everyone. ......
Read MoreCentral Mexico
Feb 18, 2005 - MexicoCentral Mexico is the most historic region in Mexico. It was here that conquistador Hernán Cortés, leading only a few ......
Read MoreMexico City
Feb 18, 2005 - Mexico City, MexicoMexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, is a modern, cosmopolitan city with excellent hotels, restaurants, and ......
Read MoreBaja California
Feb 18, 2005 - MexicoBaja GeographyThe Baja peninsula is a long, narrow strip of land that juts out from northern Mexico into the Pacific. ......
Read MoreMexico
Feb 18, 2005 - MexicoWith sunny beaches, excellent food, desert mountains, lush valleys one of the biggest cities in the world and charming colonial ......
Read MoreSoutheastern Brazil
Feb 10, 2005 - Brazil......
Read MoreCentral-Western Brazil
Feb 10, 2005 - BrazilMinster The central-western region of Brazil, comprised of the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul, is dominated ......
Read MoreNorthern Brazil
Feb 10, 2005 - Brazil......
Read MoreNortheastern Brazil
Feb 10, 2005 - Brazil......
Read MoreBrazil
Feb 10, 2005 - BrazilBrazil is a land of contrasts. Here you will find great wealth and grinding poverty, beautiful beaches and filthy waterways ......
Read MoreCuenca
Dec 01, 2004 - Cuenca, EcuadorIf you measure a city on size or population alone, Cuenca ranks third in Ecuador. If you consider charm, beauty and ......
Read More
Hotels
Royal Hotel
Apr 15, 2009 - Pedernales, EcuadorThe Royal Hotel is a new, modern three-star located at the south end of the malecon. It has air conditioned ......
Read MoreHotel Chimborazo
Apr 15, 2009 - Pedernales, EcuadorThis hotel smells bad. Right from the front doorway, it has a mucky, musty smell. I can only assume that ......
Read MoreHotel Catedral del Mar
Apr 15, 2009 - Pedernales, EcuadorThe "Cathedral of the Sea" gets its name from a tall wall on the front of the hotel that has ......
Read More
Hostal Agua Marina
Apr 15, 2009 - Pedernales, EcuadorNew, clean and friendly, Hostal Agua Marina is clearly one of the most comfortable options in town. It has a ......
Read MoreHotel Miconia
Feb 09, 2009 - Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, EcuadorHotel Miconia is one of the better visitor options in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The rooms are nice, the staff friendly, ......
Read MoreHotel Bien al Sur
Feb 01, 2008 - San Telmo, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaHotel Bien al Sur is a clean, low-key hotel well-located in San Telmo. The rooms are neat and comfortable. The ......
Read MoreOstinatto Hostel
Feb 01, 2008 - San Telmo, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe Ostinatto, conveniently located in San Telmo, is a clean, friendly hostel catering to the backpacker crowd. There are several ......
Read MoreLTI Beach Resort Punta Cana Golf & Spa
Jan 25, 2008 - Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicThe LTI Beach Resort is one of several all-inclusive mega-hotels located on the gorgeous white-sand beaches of the Dominican Republic. ......
Read MoreHotel Castro
Dec 11, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorIf you’re approaching the Hotel Castro from the outside, veteran travelers in Latin America will see something to set off ......
Read MoreHotel Red Booby
Dec 11, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorThe dolled-up Red Booby occupies a very specific place on the food chain of Puerto Ayora Hotels. It’s nice and ......
Read MoreHotel Sir Francis Drake
Dec 11, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorThe Sir Francis Drake is a somewhat dodgy-looking hotel inside a dodgy-looking building in a dodgy-looking area of town. It ......
Read MoreHotel Ninfa
Dec 11, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorRemember that one spring break back in college, when you and a bunch of buddies went to Fort Lauderdale? And ......
Read MoreHotel España
Nov 23, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorHotel España, one of the best budget options in Puerto Ayora, is clean, friendly and has been recently been renovated. ......
Read MoreHotel Flamingo
Nov 23, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorThe Flamingo seems to have undergone a superficial facelift recently. There is an attractive new sign outside, featuring a bright ......
Read MoreHotel Gardner
Nov 19, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorThe Hotel Gardner is one of Puerto Ayora's better budget options. Clean and friendly, the Gardner is a very good ......
Read MoreHostal Mainao
Nov 19, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorThe 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
Oct 19, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainHotel Bécquer is extremely well located, right in the heart of all of the best that Seville has to offer. ......
Read MorePalace Hotel do Buçaco
Sep 27, 2007 - Luso, PortugalIn 1888, King Carlos of Portugal decided he needed a hunting retreat and ordered the construction of an extravagant palace ......
Read MorePousada de Castelo de Óbidos
Sep 21, 2007 - Óbidos, PortugalThe Castle Inn of Obidos is an unforgettable experience: it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal ......
Read MorePousada Dona Maria
Sep 20, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalWhen the Portuguese Royal family lived in the splendid Queluz Palace, they needed a home for all of the servants, ......
Read MoreMachu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Sep 17, 2007 - Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, PeruFor the jet-setting traveler who has no interest in staying in dusty, rabble-filled Aguas Calientes, there is the Machu Picchu ......
Read MoreQuo Vadis
Apr 12, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorOne of the newest hotels in Loja (completed in early 2007), the Quo Vadis is a modern, reasonably priced and ......
Read MoreCasa Lojana
Apr 12, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorCasa Lojana is one of Loja’s best high-budget options. The building that houses the hotel was once an elegant home, ......
Read MoreHostal Las Orquídeas
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorProbably the all-around best low-budget lodging option in downtown Loja, Las Orquídeas is a small, but clean and friendly, hostal ......
Read MoreHostal Aguilera Internacional
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorLocated directly across the street from the impossible-to-miss Entrada de la Ciudad, the Hostal Aguilera Internacional is an airy, bright ......
Read MoreCentral Park Hostal
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorThe Central Park Hostal is located right on Loja’s central square, not far from the cathedral. The rooms, which feature ......
Read MoreHotel Londres
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorThe Hotel Londres is located in an old, unassuming building that was obviously cut in half at some point in ......
Read MoreHotel Acapulco
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorDank and dismal, the Hotel Acapulco is about as cheery as a morgue. Presumably the building once saw better days, ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador
Mar 14, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorThe Hotel Libertador is the best of the hotels located in Loja’s historic district. The interior is dimly lit and ......
Read MoreTambo Amazónico Lodge
Mar 06, 2007 - Iquitos, PeruThe most remote jungle lodge (75 miles/121 kilometers from Iquitos), operated by the reputable Paseos Amazónicos, Tambo Amazónico is also ......
Read MoreSolipaso
Feb 16, 2007 - Alamos, MexicoSolipaso is a sort of all-in-one travel agency (specializing in birdwatching), hotel and restaurant. Owned and operated by an American ......
Read MoreHotel Yam Yam
Feb 13, 2007 - Pedernales, EcuadorA blocky building a couple blocks off the beach, the Yam Yam doesn't have much going for it, which is ......
Read MoreTambo Yanayacu
Feb 09, 2007 - Iquitos, PeruOn the banks of the Yanayacu River, 38 miles (61 kilometers) from Iquitos, the Tambo Yanayacu lodge is another good ......
Read MoreAmazonas Sinchicuy Lodge
Feb 09, 2007 - Iquitos, PeruAmazonas Sinchicuy is located only 32 kilometers (20mi) from Iquitos. Because it is so close to town, Amazonas Sinchicuy is ......
Read MoreTahuayo Lodge
Feb 01, 2007 - Iquitos, PeruAlthough it is still less than ten years old, Tahuayo Lodge (135 km / 90 miles from Iquitos) is one ......
Read MoreLa Mirage
Apr 11, 2006 - EcuadorOne of Ecuador’s most elegant and upscale resort is located at the end of a nondescript dirt road near Cotacachi ......
Read MoreLa Posada del Arte
Jan 10, 2006 - Baños, EcuadorFor art aficionados and discriminating travelers, La Posada del Arte is certainly a Baños gem. In addition to big, comfy ......
Read MoreHotel Restaurant La Cabaña
Oct 03, 2005 - Aguas Calientes, PeruHotel Restaurant La Cabaña is a friendly hotel and restaurant not far from the center of town. It offers a ......
Read MoreHacienda Cusin
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHacienda Cusin, one of the most elegant and prestigious haciendas in the northern highlands, consists of a complex of buildings, ......
Read MoreHacienda Zuleta
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorLocated about an hour from Otavalo (it's actually closer to Ibarra), Hacienda Zuleta is a good option for the traveler ......
Read MoreHacienda Pinsaqui
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorLocated between the towns of Otavalo (with its famous market), Cotacachi (known for leather goods) and San Antonio de Ibarra ......
Read MoreHacienda San Francisco
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHacienda San Francisco is a good bet for traveler who want a hacienda experience at a more reasonable price. Located ......
Read MoreHacienda Guachalá
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHacienda Guachalá dates back to 1700 and has a chapel that was originally built in 1580. In its heyday, Guachalá ......
Read MoreHostería Pantaví
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHostería Pantaví was constructed on the ruins of the old San Clemente hacienda. The hotel has 12 lovely rooms in ......
Read MoreSan Agustín de Callo
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorSan Agustín de Callo is one of the most intriguing haciendas available in Ecuador. Originally the site of a pre-Columbian ......
Read MoreLa Carriona
May 04, 2005 - Near Quito, Quito, EcuadorLocated a mere half hour south of Quito, La Carriona is a viable option for the traveler who needs to ......
Read MoreHacienda La Alegría
May 04, 2005 - Near Quito, Quito, EcuadorSituated an hour south of Quito on the slopes of Corazón (“Heart”) Volcano, Hacienda La Alegría is in the heart ......
Read MoreSan Jorge Eco-Lodge and Biological Reserve
May 04, 2005 - Near Quito, Quito, EcuadorSan Jorge is a very historic hacienda – it was once owned by Ecuadorian president Eloy Alfaro – on the ......
Read MoreHacienda Manteles
May 04, 2005 - Baños, EcuadorLocated about a half-hour from Baños, Hacienda Manteles is an elegant, full service hostería. First constructed in 1580, Hacienda Manteles ......
Read MoreTinalandia
May 04, 2005 - Santo Domingo de los Colorados, EcuadorBuilt in the 1940s as a farm and later converted for tourism, Tinalandia was one of Ecuador’s first eco-lodges. The ......
Read MoreHostería Puerto Lago
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorOn the shore of San Pablo Lake, about fifteen minutes south of Otavalo, sits Puerto Lago hotel and restaurant. The ......
Read MoreHostería Papagayo
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHostería Papagayo is an attractive hotel, located 45 minutes south of Quito, and has a variety of rooms that come ......
Read MoreHosteria San Mateo
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorSan Mateo, a small, attractive inn located very close to Cotopaxi park, is a good option for travelers in the ......
Read MoreHostal Alegría I
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruHostal Alegría is located in downtown Nasca. It is owned by Alegría Tours, who keep an office at the hotel. ......
Read MoreNazca Lines Hotel
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruThe best hotel in the city of Nasca, Nazca Lines is a converted hacienda with a courtyard, tennis courts, fountains ......
Read MoreHotel Cantayo Spa and Resort
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruThe most luxurious place to stay in the Nasca area, the Hotel Cantayo Spa and Resort was built on the ......
Read MoreOro Viejo Hotel
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruOro Viejo is a popular but small, nine-room hotel. Located in central Nasca, it is close enough to offer access ......
Read MoreHotel Oro Verde
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorHotel Oro Verde ( the name translates as "Green Gold" in Spanish and refers to bananas) is Cuenca's most luxurious ......
Read MoreMansión Alcázar
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorIn 2000-2001, the owners of this fine colonial mansion in central Cuenca renovated it into a modern, elegant hotel. The ......
Read MoreHotel Santa Lucía
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorHotel Santa Lucía is a beautiful, converted home in central Cuenca (the home once belonged to Don Manuel Vega Davila, ......
Read MoreHostal La Orquídea
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorHostal La Orquídea is a converted colonial home in downtown Cuenca. The establishment's rates are lower than many of its ......
Read MoreHostería Durán
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorLocated in the small town of Baños about five minutes from Cuenca (not to be confused with the much larger ......
Read MoreHotel Hacienda Ocucaje
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorCLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Located between the towns of Ica and Nasca (it is closer to Ica), Hotel Hacienda Ocucaje is ......
Read MoreHostal Rocha
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruLocated outside of Ica on Lake Huacachina, Hostal Rocha is a good option for the budget traveler or backpacker who ......
Read MoreLa Florida Inn
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruLa Florida is a small, neat hotel not far from the middle of Ica, and only a couple of blocks ......
Read MoreHotel Mossone
May 04, 2005 - Huacachina Oasis, PeruOn the shores of Huacachina Lake, the venerable Hotel Mossone was a plush resort back in the 1920s whose visitors ......
Read MoreHotel Las Dunas
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruA complete resort-hotel, Las Dunas offers a bit of everything: three pools with slides, tours to the desert, tennis, golf, ......
Read MoreHacienda San José
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruCLOSED. REOPENING AUGUST 15. Restorations underway. Hacienda San José is a well-preserved colonial hacienda with a great deal of history ......
Read MoreMiraflores Park Hotel
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruThe Miraflores Park Hotel is one of Lima’s finest. Owned by the prestigious international Orient Express group, the hotel offers ......
Read MoreHotel Antigua Miraflores
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruA 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
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruCasa del Mochilero (“House of the Backpacker”) is a clean, efficient hostel just a few blocks from Kennedy Park in ......
Read MoreHome Peru
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruHome Peru, located in the swank Miraflores district, is a restored colonial mansion popular with the backpacker crowd. Although it’s ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador (Trujillo)
May 04, 2005 - Trujillo, PeruHotel Libertador is a small chain of luxury hotels in Peru. The Hotel Libertador Trujillo is right on the main ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador Arequipa
May 04, 2005 - Arequipa, PeruThe Hotel Libertador chain is one of Peru's most luxurious, and their Arequipa hotel is no exception. Built in the ......
Read MoreAngauel Hostería Playa Rosada
May 04, 2005 - Montañita, EcuadorHostería Playa Rosada is located on a remote stretch of Costa del Sol beach, about three kilometers north of Palmar, ......
Read MoreSonesta Posada del Inca
May 04, 2005 - Arequipa, PeruThe Sonesta Posada del Inca hotels always seem to find the best locations in the cities they serve, and their ......
Read MoreHostal Roma
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruThe well-regarded Hostal Roma is something of a Lima institution and has been in business for 35 years. Travelers can ......
Read MoreHotel Lima Sheraton and Casino
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruThe Sheraton Lima is one of the finest hotels in the city and almost certainly the best luxury hotel in ......
Read MoreMami Panchita
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruHostal Mami Panchita, located in the San Miguel district, is highly rated by past visitors. With only about 15 rooms, ......
Read MoreHostal de las Artes
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruThe Hostal de las Artes is located in Lima’s historical center, not far from Paseo Colón and Plaza Bolognesi. The ......
Read MoreHotel España
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruLocated on the same block as the San Francisco church and only a couple of blocks from the main city ......
Read MoreMochilero's Backpackers
May 04, 2005 - Barranco, Lima, PeruMochilero’s Backpackers is one of Lima’s best backpacker options. A converted old mansion, it is located close to the Parque ......
Read MoreInka Lodge Hostel
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruThe Inka Lodge is a modern, friendly hostel. All of the facilities are new and well-maintained. There is a pleasant ......
Read MoreHostal El Patio
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruHostal El Patio is a small, cozy mid-range hotel in Miraflores. A bit chic by design, it looks more like ......
Read MoreThe Point
May 04, 2005 - Barranco, Lima, PeruThe Point Backpacker’s Hostel considers itself Lima’s “original party hostel,” a joint immensely popular among the international backpacker set. It ......
Read MoreHostal Torreblanca
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruHostal Torreblanca is a pleasant mid-range hotel which offers a wide variety of services, including cable TV in every room, ......
Read MoreHotel Colonial Inn
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruHotel Colonial Inn is an attractive mid-range hotel, with elegant and comfortable rooms; two have a jacuzzi. There is a ......
Read MoreHostal Buena Vista
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruHostal Buena Vista is well-located in the Miraflores district: It is close to old town as well as the hip ......
Read MoreCountry Club Lima Hotel
May 04, 2005 - San Isidro, Lima, PeruThe Country Club Lima Hotel was built in 1927 and refurbished in 1998. Today it stands as one of Lima’s ......
Read MoreHotel los Delfines
May 04, 2005 - San Isidro, Lima, PeruAnother luxury hotel in the swank San Isidro district, Los Delfines is in an attractive, modern building. It sets itself ......
Read MoreJW Marriott Lima
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruThe Marriott hotel chain is well-known for luxury lodgings, and their Lima branch is no different. JW Marriot offers everything ......
Read MoreFlying Dog Backpackers
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruFlying Dog Backpackers is a clean, airy hostel located very close to Kennedy Park, which puts it near most of ......
Read MoreGran Hotel Bolívar
May 04, 2005 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruConveniently located on the Plaza de San Martín, the Gran Hotel Bolívar is a stately, elegant white building that was ......
Read MoreWayruro's Backpackers
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruWayruro’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
May 04, 2005 - Iquitos, PeruHospedaje La Pascana is located near the Iquitos malecón (river walk) and is one of the better bargains in town. ......
Read MoreHotel Real Iquitos
May 04, 2005 - Iquitos, PeruThe Hotel Real Iquitos is a venerable Iquitos institution. Built more than 50 years ago, what was once an elegant, ......
Read MorePosada de Sancho
May 04, 2005 - Arequipa, PeruPosada 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
May 04, 2005 - Arequipa, PeruHotel la Posada del Puente is an elegant, well-maintained inn near the Grau Bridge. Popular with business travelers, the hotel ......
Read MoreCasa Mojanda
Jan 25, 2005 - Lagunas de Mojanda, EcuadorCasa Mojanda, located in the hills on the road to Lagunas de Mojanda (just over 3 km past Otavalo), is ......
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Restaurants
El Costeñito
Apr 15, 2009 - Pedernales, EcuadorEl Costeñito is an airy, friendly, family-run restaurant located right in the middle of the malecon, the main drag in ......
Read MorePalace Hotel Restaurant
Sep 28, 2007 - Luso, PortugalThe Palace Hotel in Buçaco is one of Portugal’s most famous and elegant inns, being set in an actual nineteenth-century ......
Read MoreCozinha Velha
Sep 20, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalWhen the Portuguese royal family was in residence at the Queluz palace, a small army of maids, cooks and servants ......
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Casa Lojana Restaurant
Apr 12, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorCasa Lojana is a fancy hotel and restaurant located outside of Loja in a converted home. It is owned and ......
Read MoreHuancahuasi Restaurant
Mar 08, 2007 - Huancayo, PeruHuancahuasi restaurant, featuring two locations (one in Lima, the other in Huancayo) offers an intriguing mixture or traditional Andean food ......
Read MoreVilla Rosa
Apr 06, 2006 - Cuenca, EcuadorThe 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
Oct 03, 2005 - Aguas Calientes, PeruHotel Restaurant La Cabaña is a friendly hotel and restaurant not far from the center of town. It offers a ......
Read MoreHotel Cantayo restaurant
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruThe restaurant at the Hotel Cantayo is considered to be the best in the Nasca area. Much of the food ......
Read MoreHacienda Zuleta
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorLocated about an hour from Otavalo (it's actually closer to Ibarra), Hacienda Zuleta is a good option for the traveler ......
Read MoreHacienda Pinsaqui
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorLocated between the towns of Otavalo (with its famous market), Cotacachi (known for leather goods) and San Antonio de Ibarra ......
Read MoreHacienda San Francisco
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHacienda San Francisco is a good bet for traveler who want a hacienda experience at a more reasonable price. Located ......
Read MoreHacienda Guachalá
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorHacienda Guachalá dates back to 1700 and has a chapel that was originally built in 1580. In its heyday, Guachalá ......
Read MoreHostería Puerto Lago
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorOn the shore of San Pablo Lake, about fifteen minutes south of Otavalo, sits Puerto Lago hotel and restaurant. The ......
Read MoreEl Jardín Restaurant
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorAs one of Cuenca's best and most elegant restaurants, El Jardín is a good place to splurge on a fine ......
Read MoreEl Pedregal Azteca
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorCraving 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
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruPescados Capitales is an excellent seafood restaurant hidden away in a corner of the Miraflores district, it serves good desserts, ......
Read MoreHotel Libertador (Trujillo)
May 04, 2005 - Trujillo, PeruHotel Libertador is a small chain of luxury hotels in Peru. The Hotel Libertador Trujillo is right on the main ......
Read MoreThe Yavari
May 04, 2005 - Puno, PeruThe Yavari is a medium-sized, iron-hulled ship, one of two first commissioned in 1861 by the Peruvian government. They were ......
Read MoreFallen Angel
May 04, 2005 - Cusco, PeruA funky, artsy restaurant featuring tables made out of bathtubs (full of live fish!) and barbed wire on the toilets ......
Read MoreAstrid y Gastón
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruConsistently rated as one of Lima’s best restaurants, Astrid y Gastón is located on a little side street not far ......
Read MoreEl Kapallaq
May 04, 2005 - Miraflores, Lima, PeruEl Kapallaq is an upscale cevichería, considered one of Lima’s best by locals. Try a ceviche or one of the ......
Read MoreLa Carreta
May 04, 2005 - San Isidro, Lima, PeruLa Carreta is a steak house favored by Lima locals. It is located in the San Isidro financial district and ......
Read MoreAntica Pizzería
May 04, 2005 - San Isidro, Lima, PeruAntica Pizzería is one of Lima's most popular Italian restaurants, specializing in wood-burning oven-style pizzas and standard but well-done Italian ......
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Activities
Whimbrels in Galapagos
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorBrown, medium-sized birds commonly sighted along the seashore, whimbrels are most easily identified by their long, narrow, curved beaks. They're ......
Read MoreGalapagos Rail
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorLaterallus spilonotus Seldom seen by visitors, the elusive Galapagos rail is a medium-sized bird which preders wooded and grassy highlands. ......
Read MoreCommon Moorhen in Galapagos
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorGallinula chloropus Also called the Common Waterhen and Common Gallinule, the Common Moorhen is a familiar sight in many areas ......
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Pied-Billed Grebe
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorPodilymbus podiceps The Pied-Billed Grebe is a water bird resembling a small grayish brown duck. The easiest way to recognize ......
Read MoreGalapagos Pintail Duck
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorAnas bahamensis galapagensis The Galapagos Pintail Duck is a medium-sized duck with brown and white feathers. It is easily identified ......
Read MoreInland Water Birds of Galapagos
Nov 16, 2009 - EcuadorAlthough the different islands that make up Galapagos are generally very dry and arid, there are a few ponds and ......
Read MoreCortes Palace
Nov 06, 2009 - Cuernavaca, MexicoFrom about 1519-1521, Hernan Cortes and his ruthless band of conquistadors laid waste the mighty Aztec Empire, bringing Central Mexico ......
Read MoreQuito's Old Town: The Santo Domingo Plaza
Oct 26, 2009 - Centro Histórico, Quito, EcuadorIn the southern part of Quito's Old Town, the airy Plaza de Santo Domingo is dominated by the Santo Domingo ......
Read MoreThe Vermilion Flycatcher
Oct 23, 2009 - EcuadorPyrocephalus rubinus One of the more dazzling birds in Galapagos (or anywhere, for that matter), the Vermilion Flycatcher is found in ......
Read MoreParque Nacional Archipiéago Zapatera
Sep 30, 2009 - NicaraguaEstablished as a National Park in 1983, the Zapatera Archipelago consists of a series of islands in Lake Nicaragua. The ......
Read MoreBirdwatching in Chile
May 20, 2009 - ChileChile, with its wide variety of ecological zones and climates, is a birdwatching hotspot. And how could it not be? ......
Read MoreTermales de Rivera/Rivera Hot Springs
Apr 21, 2008 - Neiva, ColombiaLocated about a half hour south of Neiva, the Rivera Hot springs make for a good day trip or overnight, ......
Read MoreHorseback Riding in Argentina
Feb 27, 2008 - ArgentinaArgentina has a long and rich equestrian tradition. The gauchos, sort of like Argentine cowboys, ruled the vast grassland pampas ......
Read MoreAnimal Adventure Park
Jan 30, 2008 - Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicAnimal Adventure Park is a sort of mini-zoo/animal show about 45 minutes from the big hotels in Punta Cana. It's ......
Read MoreAmber World Museum
Jan 28, 2008 - Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicApparently, the Dominican Republic was once full of tree sap. Who knew? Today, this small island nation produces more than ......
Read MoreCueva de los Tres Ojos/Three Eyes Cave
Jan 23, 2008 - Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicThe Cave of the Three Eyes (Cueva de los Tres Ojos) is a collapsed cave featuring three small pools located ......
Read MoreAlcázar de Colón/Diego Columbus House
Jan 23, 2008 - Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicChristopher Columbus’ son Diego became one of the earliest governors of the Indies in 1509, and he ordered the construction ......
Read MoreAcademy Bay Boat Tour
Dec 17, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorIf you’re staying in Puerto Ayora for a while, a day tour of Academy Bay is a great way to ......
Read MoreEl Escorial
Oct 23, 2007 - Madrid, SpainLocated about 30 kilometers away from Madrid, El Escorial (full name: The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo el Real) is ......
Read MoreReina Sofía Art Museum
Oct 23, 2007 - Madrid, SpainOpened in 1990, the Reina Sofia is one of the world’s top modern art museums. Built on the former site ......
Read MoreEl Prado Art Museum
Oct 23, 2007 - Madrid, SpainThe greatest art museum in Spain and one of the best in the world, the Prado is a can’t miss ......
Read MoreReal Alcázar
Oct 16, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainThe Alcázar of Seville was once a Moorish palace not unlike the Alhambra in nearby Granada, bit its history is ......
Read MoreBone Chapel (Capela dos Ossos)
Oct 03, 2007 - Evora, PortugalThe Igreja de São Francisco (St. Francis Church) is a fairly typical Portuguese cathedral, with the requisite high columns, majestic ......
Read MoreThe Roman Ruins of Conímbriga
Oct 01, 2007 - Coimbra, PortugalLocated 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
Sep 28, 2007 - Coimbra, PortugalThe University of Coimbra is the oldest and most prestigious in Portugal. Founded in 1290, the University is one of ......
Read MoreThe Forest and Palace of Buçaco
Sep 27, 2007 - Luso, PortugalFor centuries, the beautiful forest of Buçaco, a verdant woods on the side of a hill, was a monastic retreat. ......
Read MoreMonastery of Batalha
Sep 25, 2007 - Batalha, PortugalCommissioned in 1385 to celebrate the Portuguese victory over an overwhelming Castilian force at the battle of Aljubarrota, the impressive ......
Read MoreThe Monastery of Alcobaça
Sep 24, 2007 - Alcobaça, PortugalThe Monastery of Alcobaça (Portuguese: Mosteiro de Alcobaça), also known as the Abbey of Santa María is one of Portugal’s ......
Read MoreWalking the Wall
Sep 21, 2007 - Óbidos, PortugalThe entire town of Óbidos is ringed by a high stone wall, constructed during the medieval era. Back in the ......
Read MorePalacio da Pena
Sep 20, 2007 - Sintra, PortugalOne 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
Sep 20, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalQueluz Palace is often referred to as “The Versailles of Portugal,” and it’s easy to see why: the two elaborate, ......
Read MoreSé de Lisboa
Sep 20, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalLisbon’s official main cathedral, the Sé is but a shadow of the much more impressive Hieronymite Monastery located along the ......
Read MoreTorre de Belém
Sep 20, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalSituated on the Lisbon waterfront, the bleached-white Belém tower is a local landmark and one of the city’s must-sees. It ......
Read MoreLisbon Zoological Garden
Sep 19, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalThe Lisbon Zoological Garden is a modest zoo on well-kept grounds slightly outside of the downtown area. The zoo is ......
Read MoreTile Museum (Museo Nacional do Azulejo)
Sep 19, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalThe Portuguese have been experts at porcelain, ceramics and tile for centuries. Many of the exteriors of older buildings in ......
Read MoreLisbon Oceanarium
Sep 19, 2007 - Lisbon, PortugalLisbon’s new Oceanarium is a true marvel of modern engineering. Built as part of Nations Park for the 1998 Expo, ......
Read MoreConvento de Santo Domingo
Jul 20, 2007 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruTwo saints for the price of one! The remains of Lima’s two saints, Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín ......
Read MoreIglesia de Jesús, Maria y José
Jul 20, 2007 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruThis smallish church doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the baroque interior—considered the best baroque church interior in ......
Read MoreIglesia de San Pedro
Jul 20, 2007 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruA stunning church built by the Jesuits starting in the 16th century, St. Peter’s Church is one of Lima’s best-known ......
Read MoreFlamenco in Sevilla
Jun 14, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainA traditional dance from southern Spain, Flamenco is famous for colorful, flowing dresses, athletic spins and dips and Spanish guitar ......
Read MoreSevilla's Archaeological Museum
Jun 14, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainOne of the best museums of its kind anywhere, Seville’s Archaeological Museum features relics from all of the civilizations that ......
Read MoreGiralda Tower
Jun 14, 2007 - Sevilla, SpainOne of the jewels of world architecture, the distinctive Giralda Tower has stood watch over Seville since 1198, when it ......
Read MoreThe Alhambra
Jun 14, 2007 - Granada, SpainIn 711, Islamic forces crossed into southern Spain, spreading the word of Mohammad and establishing Caliphates and kingdoms of their ......
Read MoreSacromonte Abbey
Jun 04, 2007 - Granada, SpainLocated on Valparaiso Hill outside the city, the Sacromonte Abbey was founded in 1600 and built over extensive catacombs, which ......
Read MoreHorseback riding in Vilcabamba
Apr 13, 2007 - Vilcabamba, EcuadorHorseback riding is popular in Vilcabamba, due mostly to the quality of local horses and the absolutely stunning natural beauty ......
Read MoreEntrada a la Ciudad
Apr 11, 2007 - Loja, EcuadorAlso known as Puerta de la Ciudad (Portal de la Ciudad), the Entrada a la Ciudad de Loja is without ......
Read MoreYellow Warbler
Mar 29, 2007 - EcuadorThe Yellow Warbler is frequently spotted in Galápagos, flitting across the trail or snapping up bugs near the water’s edge. ......
Read MoreMirador de los Andes
Mar 29, 2007 - PeruThe Mirador de Los Andes (“Andes Lookout”), also known as the Patapampa Pass, is a breathtaking lookout point between Arequipa ......
Read MoreLa Cruz del Condor
Mar 29, 2007 - PeruLa Cruz del Cóndor (“the condor’s cross”) is one of the Arequipa region’s major visitor draws. It is a lofty ......
Read MorePunta Espinosa
Mar 20, 2007 - EcuadorFernandina’s most popular visitor site, Punta Espinosa is a great place to see some Galapagos wildlife that you don’t often ......
Read MorePlaza San Martín
Mar 20, 2007 - Central Lima, Lima, PeruPlaza de San Martín is one of the largest and most impressive city squares in Lima. Built in 1921 and ......
Read MoreSnorkeling in Urbina Bay
Mar 15, 2007 - EcuadorUrbina (also known as Urvina) Bay, a visitor site on Isabela Island, is famous because of a relatively recent (1954) ......
Read MoreThe Devil's Crown
Mar 15, 2007 - EcuadorOff the northern coast of Floreana Island is a jagged set of rocks that just out of the sea. The ......
Read MoreRabida Island Snorkeling
Mar 15, 2007 - EcuadorTiny Rábida Island packs a big punch for the snorkeler. A quick dinghy ride from the beach and landing point, ......
Read MoreRafting the Quijos River
Mar 15, 2007 - Quito, EcuadorThe Quijos River runs down the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes, eventually flowing into the Amazon. During the months ......
Read MoreThe Athala
Mar 09, 2007 - EcuadorThe Athala II is a luxury-class ship owned and operated by Huagan Cruises and Columbus Travel. It features eight nicely ......
Read MoreJourney 1
Mar 09, 2007 - EcuadorOwned and operated by Galapagos Catamarans, the Journey 1 is a luxury motor catamaran that began service in July 2006. ......
Read MoreAduana
Feb 16, 2007 - Alamos, MexicoThe old mining town of Aduana is worth a visit. Once home to 20,000, Adiana now houses about 400 full-time ......
Read MoreMuseo Ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera
Feb 15, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoThis is a meticulously restored old hacienda featuring furniture and art from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Most impressive, however, ......
Read MoreMuseo del Pueblo de Guanajuato (Town of Guanajuato Museum)
Feb 15, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoThis converted old home contains a remarkable collection of paintings by famous Mexican artists, including Olga Costa and José Chavez ......
Read MoreDiego Rivera House and Museum
Feb 15, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoThis restored house and museum is a tribute to Guanajuato’s favorite son, muralist Diego Rivers. He was born and spent ......
Read MoreGuanajuato Mummy Museum
Feb 13, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoAficionados of the spooky, gruesome or simply bizarre will not want to miss a trip to the Mummy Museum in ......
Read MoreHidalgo Market
Feb 13, 2007 - Guanajuato, MexicoGuanajuato is known for several different locally produced handicrafts which delight visitors. The ceramics are excellent: you’ll find everything from ......
Read MoreTorre Torre
Jan 23, 2007 - Huancayo, PeruTorre Torre features several sandstone pillars that have been naturally eroded over the years by wind and rain. It's also ......
Read MoreCerrito de la Libertad
Jan 23, 2007 - Huancayo, PeruEl Cerrito de la Libertad is a small hill from which the entire city of Huancayo can be seen. It ......
Read MoreLa Loma
Nov 16, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaLa Loma Many San Andres Island tours will take you to La Loma, the central hill of the island. A hotel ......
Read MoreThe Blowing Hole
Nov 16, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaThe Blowing Hole (El Hoyo Soplador) Only on a small Caribbean island in the middle of the ocean could a hole ......
Read MoreWest View
Nov 14, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaWest View West View is included on most island tours. It’s basically nothing more than a short pier out into the ......
Read MoreMuseo Casa Isleña/Island House Museum
Nov 14, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaCasa 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
Nov 14, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaMorgan’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 MoreAquarium Island
Nov 10, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaA short distance off of the western coast of San Andres (about a 20 minute ride in a slow boat: ......
Read MoreThe Blue Diamond wreck dive
Nov 10, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaAccording to local San Andres lore, the Blue Diamond, a medium-sized freighter, was impounded in the 1990’s by the Colombian ......
Read MoreParque Jipiro
May 12, 2006 - Loja, EcuadorOne of the best known parks in Loja, Jipiro is north of the city and spans 10 hectares. There is ......
Read MoreCuenca's Central Park
Apr 07, 2006 - Cuenca, EcuadorCuenca’s beautifully tended Central Park, Parque Calderón, is an attractive, expansive area of flowers and trees. The park is dominated by ......
Read MoreSnorkeling in Galápagos
Mar 08, 2006 - EcuadorMinster Good snorkeling in Galápagos is easy: if you’re near any island, chances are you can strap on a mask, jump ......
Read MorePuyango Petrified Forest
Mar 02, 2006 - EcuadorThe largest field of exposed petrified wood in the world is found just south of the Ecuadorian city of Loja, ......
Read MoreRuins of Quirigua
Feb 23, 2006 - GuatemalaCauac Sky was the greatest ruler of the city of Quirigua during the Maya classic period. He is depicted on ......
Read MoreSCUBA Diving in Salvador
Feb 15, 2006 - GuatemalaFor centuries, Salvador da Bahia was Brazil’s most important city. It was the capital of the nation until 1763, when ......
Read MorePerito Moreno Glacier
Feb 09, 2006 - El Calafate, ArgentinaThe Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwestern part of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. ......
Read MoreMonte Alban Ruins
Jan 31, 2006 - Oaxaca, MexicoMinster No one knows what happened to the Olmecs. This fierce Central Mexican tribe came to the rich valleys near present-day ......
Read MorePalenque Ruins
Jan 30, 2006 - Palenque, MexicoDeep in the forests of South Central Mexico sits a ruined city, once known as Lakam Ha, capital of the ......
Read MoreCusco Cathedral
Sep 29, 2005 - Cusco, PeruLocated in the center of Cusco on the Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s massive stone cathedral is well worth a visit. ......
Read MorePisac Market
Sep 29, 2005 - Pisac, PeruThe Pisac market is a must-see for those visiting the Cuzco region. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, the streets fill ......
Read MorePisac Ruins
Sep 29, 2005 - Pisac, PeruThe ruins of the fortress at Pisac are among the most interesting in Peru. Today, historians and archaeologists believe that ......
Read MoreKicker Rock/León Dormido
Sep 26, 2005 - EcuadorAlong with Isla Lobos, the most popular dive site near Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is Kicker Rock (a.k.a León Dormido). Kicker ......
Read MoreCarnival in Brazil
Jun 29, 2005 - BrazilMinster Nothing embodies the spirit of Brazil more than carnival. Every year, six weeks before Easter, the country turns out for ......
Read MoreMaria Reiche Planetarium
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruLocated in the Hotel Nasca Lines in town, the Planetarium offers nightly shows (7 p.m.) concerning the Nasca lines and ......
Read MorePumapungo Museum
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorThe Pumapungo Museum, also known as the Central Bank Museum, is actually a complex of several smaller exhibits, each dedicated ......
Read MoreThe Yavari
May 04, 2005 - Puno, PeruThe Yavari is a medium-sized, iron-hulled ship, one of two first commissioned in 1861 by the Peruvian government. They were ......
Read MoreHuacachina Lake
May 04, 2005 - Huacachina Oasis, PeruOnly 6 kilometers from Ica, Huacachina Lake is a popular attraction. A true oasis, it is a green spot in ......
Read MoreSan Juan de Marcona Marine Reserve
May 04, 2005 - Nasca, PeruLocated on the Pacific coast to the west of Nasca, the San Juan de Marcona Marine Reserve is relatively small ......
Read MoreParacas National Reserve
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruThe Paracas National Reserve comprises most of the Paracas peninsula and surrounding waters. It is a land and marine reserve, ......
Read MoreIca Desert
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruThe Ica desert was once a shallow ocean basin before tectonic movements millions of years ago thrust it upward. Today, ......
Read MoreTacama Winery
May 04, 2005 - Ica, PeruAbout ten kilometers away from Ica, the Tacama Winery is open for tours 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except December ......
Read MoreIngapirca
May 04, 2005 - EcuadorIngapirca is the most impressive and significant set of Inca ruins in Ecuador. That being said, the ruins at Ingapirca ......
Read MoreBelize Marine Reserves
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeBelize’s most famous dive spot is the Blue Hole. Once an underwater cave, the Blue Hole collapsed about 10,000 years ......
Read MoreBelize's Mayan Sites
Mar 09, 2005 - BelizeThe largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize is Caracol (Snail), one of the most important cities of the Mayan classical ......
Read MoreThe Nasca Lines
Jan 19, 2005 - Nasca, PeruAges ago, a mysterious culture etched more than 300 figures and shapes into the barren desert rock outside of the ......
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Tours
La Tasca Tours
Apr 13, 2007 - Vilcabamba, EcuadorLa Tasca is a very small tour operator located just off the main square in Vilcabamba. They specialize in horseback ......
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Schools
Tropical Dancing School
May 04, 2005 - La Mariscal, Quito, EcuadorTropical Dancing School is a small, friendly place that offers dance lessons in a variety of styles, including salsa, merengue, ......
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Services
Shopping in Cuernavaca
Sep 21, 2009 - Cuernavaca, MexicoCuernavaca is not a shopping Mecca to compare with a place like nearby Taxco, but you can still find some ......
Read MoreShopping in the Dominican Republic
Jan 25, 2008 - Dominican RepublicIf you’re in the mood to pick up some souvenirs while in the Dominican Republic, you’re in luck: there are ......
Read MoreGalapagos On Line
Dec 17, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorMaybe it’s the great location. Maybe it’s the sign outside, which has a hip, google-ish look (see photo). Maybe there ......
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Pelik@n Net Cyber C@fe
Dec 17, 2007 - Puerto Ayora, EcuadorPelic@n Net Cyber C@fe and internet is one of many cyber cafes in Puerto Ayora where you can check your ......
Read MoreShopping in Toledo
Oct 19, 2007 - Toledo, SpainShopping is great fun in Toledo, especially if you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings. Toledo got a ......
Read MoreShopping in San Andres
Nov 14, 2006 - San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, San Andres, ColombiaSan Andres Island is a duty free zone, much like those foofy shops you see in airports, and anything you ......
Read MorePlaza Rotary
May 04, 2005 - Cuenca, EcuadorLocated about seven or eight blocks to the northeast of the central square in Cuenca, Plaza Rotary hosts an outdoor ......
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V!VA List Articles
V!VA Latin
Diving in Salvador
Oct 06, 2006 - BrazilMay 10, 1624. The Dutch, jealous of the New World empires of Spain, England and Portugal, decide to establish themselves ......
Read MoreBuenos Aires
Oct 06, 2006 - ArgentinaIt was tango singer Carlos Gardel who said it best, in his immortal tango classic “Mi Buenos Aires Querido” (“My ......
Read MoreEating Lemon Ants in the Rainforest
Feb 15, 2006 - EcuadorYou’re hiking through the thick, steamy jungle of Ecuador’s rainforest. The hot sun overhead is softened by the dense canopy ......
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The Galápagos Islands
Feb 03, 2006 - EcuadorLeaving behind the smog, traffic and fast food of Quito, an airplane flies two hours west and eons backward in ......
Read MoreQuiriguá
Jan 02, 2006 - GuatemalaA new sun rises over the steaming Guatemalan jungle. In the low, green forest, a mighty king stands tall, placidly ......
Read MoreSan Carlos de Bariloche
Dec 30, 2005 - ArgentinaPicture yourself meandering down a cobblestone street, admiring the sloped roofs and gingerbread look of the homes around you. You’ve ......
Read MoreIguazú Falls
Dec 30, 2005 - ArgentinaStretching 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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