South America Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips!

For those of you who want a taste of trekking in the high Andes before visiting Machu Picchu but are not willing to compromise on comfort, the Machu Picchu lodge trek is perfect for you! The Machu Picchu lodge trek offers all the pleasures of trekking in the mountains – with luxury accommodation, a comfortable bed, a good meal and a glass of wine awaiting you at the end of each day’s exertions. Now, doesn’t that sound lovely?

Machu Picchu is undeniably Peru’s premier tourist attraction and few visitors to the country fail to make their way to the hilltop ruins of the ‘Lost City of the Incas’. Almost everyone has seen pictures of the enigmatic ruins nestling on their perch on top of a mountain, surrounded by swirling wisps of cloud. However, not everyone is so familiar with the highlights and unmissable sights within the complex. Here are 13 things to do in Machu Picchu to make your visit worthwhile (in no particular order). Note: Since Machu Picchu has seasonal weather, please do read our guide on the best time to visit Machu Picchu that can help plan your next adventure!

With roughly 200 volcanic formations outlining its landscape, Costa Rica is the perfect escape for travelers looking to soak up some peace and tranquility. The hot springs in Costa Rica are safe enough to bathe in, and unlike what you might have imagined, you’ll be spoiled for choice as far as options go. In this post, we’ll be taking a closer look at 6 of the most popular natural hot springs to visit on a trip to Costa Rica, essentially providing you with all the need-to-know details before you embark on your trip!

Located 400 km north of Santiago on the edge of the Atacama Desert, Elqui Valley is Chile’s most northern wine producing region. Its arid climate paired with warm sunny days and cool crisp nights aids in growing the valley’s special band of grapes. But before carmenere and syrah from this valley became famous, Elqui Valley was known for Chile’s most popular grape-based brandy, pisco.Today, vineyards cover the valley from the Pacific coast to the Andes Mountains. The bright-hued, aromatic Elqui Valley wines attract a lot of international attention despite being relatively new on the scene. Pisco distilleries continue to thrive as well. Add to this the charming towns, vineyard-covered hills and amazing stargazing opportunities the valley provides, and Elqui Valley can be a perfect destination to relax and unwind during your Chile trip. Below, find our recommendations (in no particular order) of wineries and distilleries in Elqui Valley that should be a part of your itinerary.

The Carretera Austral, also known as Chile’s Route 7, is the country’s most challenging and yet wildly beautiful road trip. Stretching 1,240 km through Chile, from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins in Patagonia, the route takes you through untamed landscapes that constantly change and evolve. One moment the road will be fringed with lush, dense forests and the next you will be driving through stark, rugged wilderness with snow-capped mountains forming the backdrop. The entirety of the area is sparsely populated, allowing visitors to truly detach from modern civilization and lose themselves in the lap of nature. There’s no doubt that a road trip along the Carretera Austral will be a trip of a lifetime.

All the prominent wine regions in Chile are located just within hours drive of Santiago city center, making it one of the best destinations in South America for a wine-break. Of all the wine spots, Maipo Valley wine region is the shortest drive away and offers a host of delectable Chilean wine, meaning it is a perfect getaway for wine-lovers who are short on time. For those on a longer trip, you could even combine your Maipo Valley wine tour with some hiking or rafting, but we suggest you get your activities done before you start drinking!Maipo Valley, the most traditional (and claimed by some to be the oldest) wine region in Chile, is known for its French-inspired wineries and famed for its cabernet sauvignon and carmenere. No trip to Maipo is complete without sampling a glass or two of this fine local produce!

Located just an hours drive away from Santiago, Casablanca Valley, although fairly new, is one of Chile’s best wine regions. The first and only cool-climate wine producing region, Casablanca is blessed with a Mediterranean climate — a hot-bed for aromatic and flavorful grapes, thus producing rich, decadent wines.Taking a Casablanca Valley wine tour should be at the top of anyone’s list. The combination of scenic Chilean countryside and divine, locally-produced wine creates an experience that is unique to the valley. Read on to find out everything you need to know about Casablanca Valley, including our recommendations of where to visit.

Peru is a country perfect for lovers of the great outdoors and hiking in Peru offers some of the most picturesque trails. However, not every visitor has the time or inclination to spend several days trekking through the mountains at a high altitude. For those looking for some tamer walking and the chance to see something of the Andes without quite so much hardship, here is a guide to some of the best hikes in Peru, in no particular order.If you are interested in trekking in Peru, then please do read our ultimate guide on the 10 best treks in Peru.

The remote and spectacular Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world. This magnificent rock formation of the Colca River has now become Peru’s third most popular destination. It promises rewarding trekking trails against the backdrop of rugged mountain scenery and offers the chance to interact with distinctive local cultures, which makes it one of the best hikes in Peru. It is little wonder that more travelers are making their way to this intriguing destination. Here is everything you need to know about organizing your Colca Canyon trek.

Practically every visitor to Peru wants to visit Machu Picchu. For some, the experience would not be complete without completing the four-day Inca Trail that winds through the mountains leading to the mystical ruins. The Inca Trail is the original Machu Picchu trek that has become extremely popular and is always fully booked well in advance. Now, many trekkers opt for alternative treks to Machu Picchu. This is a guide to the classic Inca Trail as well as some of the best alternatives in the Sacred Valley.

Most visitors to Peru head straight for Cusco to visit Peru’s premier tourist attraction, Machu Picchu. Cusco was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and is the present-day base for exploring the Sacred Valley. However, the more adventurous travellers continue on from Cusco to the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Madre de Dios region on the border with Bolivia and Brazil. Nowadays, it is not too difficult to travel from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and the two main options are a bus journey or a short flight. Before you leave, please check out some of the top things to do in Cusco.

Peru’s famous trekking trails need no introduction. But as the country’s primary trekking destination, the Cordillera Blanca region exerts an inexorable pull. It has something for every ability, from relative novices to elite technical mountaineers. The gateway to this outdoor wonderland is the town of Huaraz, also a convenient stop for organizing guides and provisions. Since the Cordillera Blanca is firmly on the itinerary of many who make the trip to Peru, there are several good transport connections from Lima to Huaraz and travelling between the two should present no significant difficulties. If you don’t have your own transport, the two easiest options are either to fly or to take a bus.

The only thing better than spending the day surrounded by spectacular natural beauty is combining that experience with a glass of the world’s finest vino. The Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's best wine regions, allows travellers to do just that — take in the great outdoors whilst sipping on a glass of mouth-watering Chilean wine.Known as Chile’s Napa Valley for the stance this region has taken to promote wine tourism in the country, Colchagua Valley boasts some of the best wineries in the country and thus, some brilliant red wine varieties. Located just a short drive from Santiago, you can either take a day long wine tour in the valley or choose to extend it to weeks during your trip to Chile. Discover the art of turning a bunch of grapes into excellent bottled wine at Colchagua. To get started, here are 5 wineries in Colchagua Valley you must visit:

Of all the alternative treks to the Inca Trail, the Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu is perhaps the least known. A far cry from the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, on this trek you are unlikely to see any other tourists for the duration of your trip. This is an option that will appeal to those who enjoy being different and who want to attempt a trek that few others will even have heard of.

A trip to Costa Rica just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its most iconic volcano. Inspiring school science projects for years, Arenal Volcano stands majestically as a perfectly symmetrical cone puffing steam into the clouds. While the active Arenal Volcano is the most popular attraction here, Arenal Volcano National Park is actually home to two volcanoes. The other, Cerro Chato, is considered extinct and has long been a destination for adventurous tourists.Sightseeing around the volcanic wonders becomes all the more interesting as you discover the fascinating ecology of the park. Covered by a mixture of vibrant tropical rainforest and open grasslands, this park is rich in flora and fauna due to its fertile landscape. Plan a day trip or stay for a few days. Either way, this national park and the surrounding town of La Fortuna offer plenty of interesting areas to explore.