On my third day of a total immersion language holiday, I suddenly feel a slight rebelliousness. I’ve paid good money to spend a week in Colombia improving my Spanish, yet I’m craving to hear some English before my head explodes. But no, it’s 100% Spanish from the time I eat breakfast with my host family to the moment I head for bed, my brain fizzing with new words and baffling subjunctive sentences. I quietly whisper
… Browsing: South & Central America
In a landmark environmental agreement, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize have joined forces to establish one of the largest protected areas in the Western Hemisphere. The creation of the Great Maya Forest Biocultural Corridor represents not just a victory for environmental protection but also a rare example of successful international cooperation in a region often marked by political tensions.
On August 15, 2025, three heads of state met in the rainforest of Calakmul, Mexico. Mexican President
This one looks delicious, I thought as I swirled the wine around in my glass and took an indelicately large slurp.
“Ah yes, a definite aroma of diesel and a lingering taste of salami. Is that normal for a Malbec?” I wondered as I eyed its odd neon hues.
“No,” my partner said, “but the sommelier did advise us not to try wine tasting on the pavement.”
We couldn’t resist, though. The tables outside …
Founded in 1533 by the Spanish, Cartagena is situated on the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia and was Spain’s gateway to its new empire. Trading in gold, silver, tobacco, and, regrettably, enslaved people, the city boomed. These days, Cartagena draws tourists from all over the world, many of them arriving on cruise ships to explore the cobbled streets and colonial buildings of the colorful old city.
The historic streets of Cartagena’s old city are full …
There are two reasons why cable car rides are utterly irresistible.
Firstly, the engineering that enables a length of wire to haul a small metal cabin up steep mountains and across gaping valleys is intriguing. But more importantly, there’s the gorgeous view from the top, with a city or countryside sprawled out far below.
So when I had some free time in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, it was obvious how I’d spend it. Quito’s …
On a planet where over-tourism is spoiling the very place you’ve gone to visit, it’s a rare treat to be far from the crowds and close to nature. A place where only a handful of other humans are swimming with baby sharks in the bay, or you’re the only person stepping around a dozen iguanas sunbathing on the pier. Where you and your friends are standing only a few feet from some barking, frolicking sea …
From unforgettable hikes to exploring the Amazon Rainforest, here are five Peruvian attractions you need to consider in addition to world-renowned Machu Picchu.
If you’re heading to Peru, you won’t want to miss one of the new Wonders of the World–Machu Picchu. You’re sure to be amazed by the remnants of the ancient Incan citadel and ponder at how advanced civilization was for the 15th century. Yet, if you are at a loss as far …
The small village of Tortuguero is tucked away in the northeastern corner of Costa Rica, within a vast protected national park. It is one of the most important nesting sites for sea turtles in the Western Hemisphere. Each year, thousands of endangered green turtles arrive en masse to lay their eggs on the long, isolated stretches of beach. Here, you can witness one of nature’s most marvelous ancient reproductive rituals.
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If you have a craving to get up close and personal with Argentina’s stunning mountains, waterfalls, and lakes, look no further than El Chalten. A small settlement amongst the rugged peaks of Patagonia, it’s a magnet for trekkers who flock to the town in the summer. Close to Chile’s border, El Chalten is situated in the heart of the spectacular Los Glaciares National Park.
Every year, visitors add considerably to the town’s current population of …
There’s a strange fact about Costa Rican people – while they’re enormously proud of their beautiful country, they cringe when you mention the capital.
“To be honest, it’s not somewhere we’re really proud of,” one tour guide told me. “If you only see San Jose, you haven’t seen our country.” An Uber driver taking me to the apartment I’d rented was equally discouraging. “Maybe you can take some day trips out of town to the …
Rainy season. Two words that are almost sure to make you rethink your holiday plans. Like Costa Rica in soggy September, when anyone visiting this small Central American country is bound to need a raincoat. So why go to a place knowing you’re likely to get drenched, when you can pick other months that promise glorious sunshine?
The crowds, that’s why. I’d far rather run the risk of rain rather than face a flood of …
Ushuaia, known as the city at the end of the world, is situated at the southern-most tip of Argentina and is famous for being the gateway to Antarctica. Most people make tracks to the far-flung city to join one of the cruises which sail across Drake Passage and explore the vast frozen continent. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to be taking a cruise, Ushuaia is worthy of a visit – as I recently discovered …
As the chef proudly leans across the counter to hand me my lunch, a few pieces of chopped tomato plop onto the floor.
He smiles sympathetically, knowing that by the end of the meal, I’ll be a mess. There’ll be sauce on my shirt, avocado on my jeans, and a splodge of mayonnaise on the floor. I expect he’s already alerting the cleaners: “get ready, a foreigner is eating a completo.”
The completo is practically …
If I ask you to describe a sommelier, you’ll almost inevitably picture a man. White and middle aged, perhaps a little portly, and with a slightly intimidating air.
The exact opposite of Karla Abarca, who gives a huge grin as she swirls some wine around in her glass, raises it up with her tattooed arms, and takes a big, appreciative gulp. She’s a tiny powerhouse, young and lively, cheeky and irreverent, and she giggles when …