Category LATIN AMERICA
Mexico City, Guadalupe, Teotihuacan – Heart of Ancient Civilizations At Hotel Moneda in the historic center, we got a 4-person room with meals for $14/person. The street name (“Monetary”) recalls its colonial-era royal mint. After breakfast with chilaquiles and fresh… Continue Reading →
Guatemala offers natural beauty, historical significance and ancient Mayan ruins. Visitors can immerse themselves in the indigenous culture, explore diverse geography, including volcanoes, jungles, and beaches and relax by the beautiful Lake Atitlan.
Preparing for a Mexican Adventure I began trip preparations with true Mexican foresight – six months before departure. For a country with one of the world’s oldest civilizations (the Olmecs existed as early as 1500 BCE), proper planning was essential…. Continue Reading →
Torres del Paine – a national park in Patagonia, famous of its breathtaking landscapes, including the 4 towering granite peaks of Torres del Paine.
Isla Magdalena – small island located in the Strait of Magellan. This is home for penguin colony, over 60,000 pairs.
Atacama Desert – the amazing world of the desert. The driest desert area on Earth. There is no rain in some part of the desert for over 500 years.
Salar de Uyuni – the world’s largest salt lake. In the dry season, the lake becomes a mirror, reflecting the sky and the surrounding area.
Ecuador Travel Essentials: Practical Tips and Local Insights We’ve compiled the most important information and observations from our stay in Ecuador (data from early 2011). These tips will help you better prepare for your journey and avoid common mistakes. Basic… Continue Reading →
Isla Isabela – Galapagos’ Crown Jewel: Between Volcanoes and Paradise Beaches At dawn, we boarded a ferry ($25-30) to Isla Isabela – the youngest and wildest of Galapagos’ main islands. With only 1-2 daily crossings that fill quickly, advance booking… Continue Reading →
Galapagos – Darwin’s Paradise: Unforgettable Adventures in the Islands of Evolution After returning from the jungle, we spent just one night in Quito before heading to the legendary Galapagos at dawn. This is where Charles Darwin conceived his theory of… Continue Reading →
Otavalo Market – A Vibrant Tapestry of Andean Culture We began the final day of our Ecuadorian adventure before dawn – departing Baños at 4:30 am for Quito, then onward to famous Otavalo. Here in the heart of Imbabura’s Andean… Continue Reading →
From Galapagos to the Andes: Ecuadorian Adventures in Baños and Quilotoa Our return from the paradise islands of Galapagos to mainland Ecuador became a lesson in local logistics. From Puerto Ayora, we took a $1.80 bus to the dock, where… Continue Reading →
Ecuador’s Amazon – Between Magic and Mass Tourism At 11 PM, we left chilly, rainy Quito for an overnight bus journey to Lago Agrio – gateway to Ecuador’s Amazon. After eight hours crossing the Andes, the hot Oriente climate embraced… Continue Reading →