Colonia del Sacramento, or Colonia as the locals call it, is Uruguay’s oldest city. A beachfront town founded by the Portuguese in 1680, it sits across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Colonia’s distinctive character is defined by winding cobblestone roads and the colourful architecture of its historic old town. However, there …
Travel to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay
Valparaiso Street Art: Vibrant Expression in Chile
Valparaiso street art is a bold and dramatic example of personal expression. It is different from other cities. Not so much in its style, but in its artists’ passion, respect, and backstory. Unlike the rest of Chile, where street art is illegal or restricted, the Valparaiso government almost encourages this freedom. As a result, Valparaiso …
24 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires Argentina
Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …
Our South America Boutique Cruise on Azamara Pursuit
From the first moment I stepped onboard the Azamara Pursuit, I was home. A boutique cruise, the ship’s understated elegance is unmistakably welcoming, as is the crew. The Azamara Pursuit caters to fewer than 700 passengers, yet our worry that there might not be enough to do on this smaller ship melted away as we …
22 Things to Do in Montevideo Uruguay
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay is an often overlooked South American city with a European flair. Uruguay is a liberal nation with a sordid history and progressive laws. Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, it’s a coastal nation with its own personality. We found plenty of interesting things to do in Montevideo and other parts of …
Santos Brazil for Coffee, Beaches and Leaning Buildings
As we cruised into the Santos Brazil port, passing South America’s largest dock, we had two choices for our day on shore. We could spend it in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, or stay in its seaside resort town of Santos and enjoy some of the world famous Santos coffee, relax at one of the many …
17 Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama Desert
Mysterious and enchanting, the barrenness of Chile’s Atacama desert is captivating. The high elevation and ultra-dry climate creates endless unusual landscapes and salt flats, while its main town is a lush desert oasis. There seems no limit to the unique things to do in San Pedro de Atacama and its surrounding desert, the driest non-polar …
Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil
Iguazu Falls are hundreds of cascades tumbling along a 2.7-kilometre stretch of the Iguazu River. Comprising the world’s largest waterfall system, they are on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The official count is 275 falls, but that figure changes based on rains. The numbers are almost incomprehensible, and standing in front of any portion …
Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires: Artistic or Eerie?
Surrounded by huge and dramatically carved mausoleums, we strolled through the Recoleta Cemetery in wonderment. It’s neither the oldest nor the largest cemetery in Argentina, but it certainly is the most famous. Intriguing rather than depressing, the intricately decorated, mostly art nouveau above-ground tombs draw you into the Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery. Its vaults hold …
The Best Things to Do in Santiago Chile
Santiago, the capital of Chile, is an eclectic mix of architectural styles. We spent five days in the city and filled our time with a variety of activities as there is an endless list of things to do in Santiago Chile. Below are our highlights and recommendations. We opted to discover the city with the hop-on-hop-off …
Cruce Andino: Andean Crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas
Cruse Andino’s Andean crossing is an ever-changing example of nature at its finest. Turning a day of transit into a spectacular adventure, Cruce Andino transported us over the Andes mountains, from San Carlos de Bariloche to Puerto Varas. As we travelled from Argentina to Chile we sailed across three lakes, drove through a rainforest, viewed …
A Guide to Paraty Brazil: From a Day to a Week
Paraty is a popular holiday spot with Brazilians, yet they have somehow kept it a secret from the rest of us. This tropical paradise overlooks Ilha Grande Bay on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Paraty put a smile on my face from the first moment I stepped ashore. The vibrantly painted boats that line the coast create …
How to Explore Rio de Janeiro Landmarks Safely
Rio de Janeiro Brazil conjures up images of brightly coloured samba dancers, Christ the Redeemer towering over the city, Sugarloaf mountain, spectacular beaches, exciting lifestyle, and unfortunately, petty crime. It’s an affordable city for tourists, filled with fascinating sites, delicious foods, and great entertainment, but it has a reputation for pickpocketing and other non-violent crime. …
Amazing Fireworks: Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve
I am not a fan of crowds. So what was I doing at an event that has 2 million people on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve? Fourteen minutes of fireworks across 4 km of a brightly lit up beach is quite an attraction creating one of the world’s biggest New Year’s …
Discover Culture Through Food: Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class
Chilean food is simple, traditional, and delicious. We have had one great meal after the next and today we learned why. It’s all about tradition, culture, and real food. We spent the day with Pablo, one of the chefs from Chilean Cuisine Cooking Classes in Valparaiso, Chile. We came away with a better understanding of …
