How to Plan a Seamless Adventure Trip to Patagonia
New HOT Destination: Cartagena, Colombia
by: Dana Johnson, Southwind Director & Adventure Travel Specialist
At Southwind Adventures we like to keep our finger on the pulse of Latin America and its hidden treasures. For the past ten years we’ve been watching as Colombia grew into one of the newest must-sees in South America. Make no mistake, Colombia is not the politically charged country of the 1990’s. Though still riddled with the perception of guerilla warfare and drug cartels by people stuck in the 1980’s, Colombia has blossomed Continue reading
Top 12 Reasons to Visit Chile’s Atacama Desert, the DRIEST Place on Earth!
by: Dana Johnson & Luis Felipa
Having such an otherworldly appearance, the majestic Atacama Desert of Northern Chile has been compared to the surface of Mars. So similar to our neighboring planet, NASA has even tested instruments designed for their Mars missions in this region. The Atacama Desert sees an average of less than .004 inches of rain per year and some areas have not had rainfall for over 400 years. As one of the rising travel destinations in South America, why should you visit Atacama? Below are the top reasons to explore this unique and magical place. It can be reached by a 2 hour flight from Santiago to Calama, followed by 1.5 hour scenic drive to San Pedro de Atacama (elev 7,898 ft), the base for our adventures. Continue reading12 Exceptional Restaurants in Cusco, Peru
by: Dana Johnson
Peru is fast becoming a top travel destination on any foodie’s bucketlist. While Machu Picchu remains as the main highlight in any extraordinary Peru voyage, it is important to know the top dining establishments in the friendly and historical city of Cusco–gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the famous hilltop citadel. Continue reading10 Fabulous Beaches in Costa Rica
Where to Dine in Santiago, Chile
Top 15 Restaurants for a Local Taste of the City
Cosmopolitan Santiago is a major capital in South America with a very distinctive setting, backed by the white peaks of the Andes. It’s a collage of traditional Spanish colonial architecture combined with contemporary design, complete with a slew of first-class dining options for urbanites both native and visiting.Continue reading
What to Do at Machu Picchu
Exploring the Ancient Citadel’s Top 12 Treasures
At Southwind Adventures, we make sure your journey to Machu Picchu is special and rich in discovery. We’ve put our heads together with our top Peru guides Romulo Lizarraga, Rosa Garcia, and Francis Casapino to highlight what to do at Machu Picchu within the citadel itself. These local Machu Picchu experts have led visitors through the citadel hundreds of times. We’ve also gotten input from Dr. Federico Kauffmann-Doig, a renowned Peruvian archaeologist, historian, and celebrated author of the definitive new book Machu Picchu: Enchantment in Stone – the culmination of 50 years of his research.Continue reading
Aboard the M/V Aria: Cruising and Conserving the Peruvian Amazon
For me, cruising the Peruvian Amazon in the luxury of the M/V Aria had its obvious perks. The experience felt almost like spectating a grand performance. In my cabin I had a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window framing an unbeatable view of the river, and a California king-sized bed with fine Peruvian cotton linens where I could curl up and just watch the rainforest landscape drift by. Continue reading
New Family Adventure Explores Ecuador’s Top Wildlife Destinations
Southwind Launches Family-friendly Itinerary in the Amazon and Galápagos
Small but mega-biodiverse Ecuador is becoming a wildlife mecca in South America. Its eastern slope intersects with the mighty Amazon rainforest, home to 10% of the known species on the planet. Its Galápagos Islands form the best conserved tropical archipelago in the world, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Southwind Guide Spotlight: Meet Francis Casapino
