It’s a pity I don’t follow my own advice, “don’t drink alcohol when you first arrive at high altitude, and drink plenty of fluids.” but who can resist a few Pisco Sours in Cuzco whilst listening to Andean music – it gives you goosebumps! Or was it the Pisco? (it’s muy fuerto!). But on a serious note the diversity of Latin America really intrigues me. My first trip was 20 years ago, and since then my passion and enthusiasm for the continent has only strengthened. I enjoy returning each year, keen to explore new areas. My last trip was to remote Patagonia – what a highlight! I visited the Torres del Paine National Park, located in Chile Patagonia, and stayed at the fabulous Explora Hotel Salto Chico with awesome views of the Cordillera del Paine. I then crossed the border to the Argentine side and stayed at the Hosteria Los Notros, a cosy hotel facing the Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate. Both hotels are the true meaning of ‘a room with a view’! I look forward to sharing my special affection of Latin America with you. Feliz Viaje!
Places Visited
Chile: Santiago, Easter Island, Atacama desert, Puerto Montt, Chiloe Island, Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Pucon, Lauca National Park, Iquique.
Argentina: Buenos Aires, Salta, Jujuy, Iguazu Falls, Bariloche, Perito Moreno Glacier, Mendoza.
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto, Iguazu Falls, Salvador, Recife, Olinda, Maceio, Manaus, Amazon Jungle.
Peru: Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley (Pisac, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo), Aguas Calientes, Puno, Huaraz, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Amazon Cruise Brazil to Peru.
Bolivia: La Paz, Lake Titicaca.
Ecuador: Quito, Otavalo, Cuenca, Galapagos Cruise, Amazon Jungle.
Uruguay: Colonia, Montevideo, Punta del Este.
Mexico: Mexico City, Taxco, Oaxaca, Villahermosa, Palenque, Cancun, Chichen Itza, Merida, Copper Canyon, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, San Miguel de Allende, Queretaro, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Huatulco, San Cristobal de la Casas, Merida, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel.
Cuba: Havana, Vinales, Varadero, Trinidad.
Belize: Belize City, Ambergris Caye.
Panama: Panama City, Panama Canal, Colon, San Lorenzo National Park, Portobelo.
Guatemala: Guatemala City, Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Flores.
Costa Rica: San Jose, Poas Volcano National Park, Tortuguero, Osa Peninsula – Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Arenal, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Manuel Antonio
A hot air balloon ride in the Atacama Desert is a must. Sail over the Moon Valley admiring the pink sand, salt-rich Mountains and rugged cliffs. Our expert travel consultant Cinzia, recently visited the Atacama Desert in Chile and to her delight she was able to participate in a hot air balloon ride at dawn over this vast, unique landscape....
Not so long ago I had an unexpected opportunity to go to Mexico – or I should say, go back to Mexico after quite some years – and I’ve fallen in love with it all over again! You can now call me a born-again aficionado....