My fascination for South America, and also for the great Antarctic explorers, began in a geography class in high school and it wasn’t until many years later that l had opportunities to travel to both continents – I couldn’t believe my luck when I was able to visit the two places in the world that had been on my wish-list since l was a teenager. Since then I’ve travelled to South America every year, immersing myself in the mosaic of culture and countries that this region has to offer.
An enthusiasm for mountains and landscapes led to my trekking the classic Inca Trail and the Salkantay route in Peru, the ‘W Trek’ in Torres del Paine National Park, day hikes in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, and climbing to the top of Auyan Tepui in Venezuela. Travelling by boat gives you a whole different perspective and I’ve had the pleasure of crossing the lakes between Chile and Argentina, cruising the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon River in Brazil, the majestic fjords of Chilean Patagonia, and to the amazing Antarctic Peninsula.
On my travels I have visited many beautiful cities in South America, enjoyed the varied local cuisines (washed down with regional wines), swam with pink dolphins and fished for piranha in the Amazon, crouched in jungle hides waiting for nocturnal animals to come out to feed, and have been horse riding in Patagonia and Atacama. The endless variety of cultures, landscapes, wildlife and experiences throughout these wonderful countries will ensure I keep going back as often as I can.
Places Visited
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Mendoza, Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate, El Chalten, Los Glaciares National Park, Ushuaia, Tierra de Fuego.
Brazil: Florianopolis, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Iguassu Falls, Paraty, Ilha Grande, Cuiaba, Pantanal, Manaus, Amazon
Bolivia: Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, La Paz
Chile: Santiago, San Pedro de Atacama, Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Frutillar, Lakes Crossing, Puella, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park, Valparaiso & Chiloe Island.
Colombia: Bogota, Villa de Leyva, Cartagena
Costa Rica: San Jose, Volcan Arenal, Monteverde, Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero
Ecuador: Galapagos Islands, Quito, Mashpi Cloud Forest, Otavalo, Hacienda Zuleta
Mexico: Mexico City, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Bonampak and Yaxchitlan Palenque, Villahermosa, Merida, Izamal, Chichen Itza, Cancun, Tulum
Nicaragua: Granada
Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley (Pisac, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo), Cusco, Machu Picchu, Moray, Maras, Aguas Calientes, Amazon, Puno, Lake Titicaca
Venezuela: Caracas, Colonia Tovar,Cuidad Guyana, Cuidad Bolivar, Canaima, Barinas, Los Llanos, Merida
Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, The Falklands, South Georgia
I was welcomed to Chiloe Island with a spectacular sunrise whilst feasting on a hearty breakfast at my accommodation, the luxurious Tierra Chiloe Hotel. I knew this was going to be my kind of place....
I had quite a few activities on my wish list for my time spent in Chile, but horse riding in Patagonia through the remarkable landscape was at the top. On my last day in Chile at Tierra Patagonia I made this wish a reality....