In the footsteps of Darwin in Argentina

From 1832 to 1834, HMS Beagle embarked on a hydrographic survey of South America’s southern coasts. Captain Robert FitzRoy was in charge of the expedition, and a 22-year-old Charles Darwin was on board as a naturalist. While FitzRoy mapped coasts and measured tides and currents, Darwin went on-land to collect fossils, bones, and samples of flora and fauna. Once completed, the expedition brought renown to both men, and its findings, in particular the later publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, decisively impacted the course of scientific thinking on human evolution.

Chile and Argentina share the southern territory of Patagonia.

The names of some of Patagonia’s most iconic features remain as testaments to this historic expedition. Mount Fitz Roy, with its elegant rock spires and sheer granite faces, attracts mountain climbers and trekkers to its base, which is located next to the small town of El Chalten. The Beagle Channel in Ushuaia separates Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from smaller islands to the south, and is a popular route for cruise ships. Finally, Mount Darwin is the highest point in the Tierra del Fuego National Park at 8,640 feet (2,580 meters) and is part of the Cordillera Darwin, the southernmost extension of the Andes Mountains.

Argentina Tours:

Glaciers, Iguazu & Tango Tours

Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Iguazu
9 Days / from $2089

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El Calafate, El Chalten, Puerto Natales, Torres Del Paine
10 Days / from $2479

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Like Darwin, modern adventurers on a Patagonia trip will find much to marvel at, and the expedition’s route provides a rough guide to some of the most spectacular destinations in this region, which include mountains, glaciers, lakes, and iceberg-studded waterways.

El Chalten, with the peaks of Mount Fitz Roy (also known as Cerro Chalten) rising above. Photo by Wade/ TrekWiki

On one land expedition, Darwin and FitzRoy attempted to find the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Equipped with two smaller vessels, they battled upstream for several days, at some points dragging the boats alongside the river banks. With the Andes in view, but still at a far distance, FitzRoy decided to turn back, and the expedition members never reached their goal. Had they continued, they would have found the origin of the river at Lake Argentino, surrounded by the magnificent peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. In the present day, the towns of  El Calafate and El Chalten have become launch points for visitors interested in trekking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, or visiting the nearby Perito Moreno Glacier.

Faro Les Eclaireurs in the Beagle Channel, Argentina. photo by Ricardo Martins/ Wikimedia

The Beagle continued south to Tierra del Fuego and the surrounding archipelago. In the 1830s, this southernmost territory was inhabited by Yahgan aborigines, a nomadic hunter-gatherer people who had devised methods to survive in the harsh conditions of this extreme environment. Today, the modern-day city of Ushuaia serves as a launching point for travelers seeking outdoor adventures at the “end of the world”, be it trekking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, skiing the slopes of Cerro Castor, or boarding cruises to Antarctica.

A Patagonia cruise is the best way to explore the Beagle Channel and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Following the path of HMS Beagle, cruises depart from Ushuaia and arrive in Punta Arena in Chile, but the route can also be done in reverse. Highlights of the voyage include Cape Horn, Wulaia Bay (where Yahgan communities still live), Glacier Alley, and the fabulous Marinelli Glacier. Cruises include frequent stops so that passengers can go on land and trek through pristine wilderness.

View of Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia.

Plan your own expedition to the tip of the world

Contact one of our travel experts at Latin America For Less who can help you organize a fully customized Argentina vacation package.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

These conditions pose a dilemma for the ethically-minded traveler – how to visit the world’s most naturally splendid destinations without thereby degrading that which makes them naturally splendid. In other words, how to travel responsibly.

Ground zero for climate change

Fortunately, government officials in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and other South American countries have taken initiative by establishing national parks systems to conserve and showcase the bounty of Mother Nature. In recent years, this has been coupled with the philosophy and practice of ecotourism. which provides mechanisms to open protected areas to visitors while also contributing to their conservation and to the well-being of communities affected by tourism.

Amazon Rainforest Tours:

#10 Machu Picchu & Jungle Adventure

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The Amazon River: the multi-colored life blood of ground zero
Photo by Heather Thorkelson/Flickr

Brazil’s floating mosaic

Jaú National Park is a mosaic of river channels, lakes, and floating landforms that are constantly in flux, shifting in size and location depending on the volume of the river. Located in the Central Amazon Conservation Complex of Brazil, the park covers 23,000 square kilometers, making it the largest forest reserve in South America. Access to outsiders is restricted, but travelers lucky enough to hike its terra firme trails and canoe through its flooded forests will have a chance to see some of the rarest plant and bird species in the world.

The Anavilhanas Archipelago, located 70 km north of Manaus, is one of the Amazon’s most striking destinations. In the rainy season, water levels rise and submerge most of the archipelago. In the dry season, stretches of white sand beaches and mounds of densely vegetated land become exposed. The species that reside here are adapted to the seasonal changes of water levels. These  include caimans, pink dolphins, the giant river otter, the Amazonian manatee, and the South American river turtle, and countless species of birds, monkeys, and butterflies.

Charismatic macaws feed at the clay lick in Tambopata.
Photo by mediocreimage

At the epicenter of Peru’s climate diversity

In Peru, the eastern flanks of the Andes give way to the leafy exuberance of the Amazon. The result of this confluence is astounding biodiversity. Although the jungle solidly covers a half of Peru, its historical inaccessibility has kept it from becoming developed until recently. There are 3 main areas for ecotourism: Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos, and Manu. All are in close proximity to important national reserves. Among these, Puerto Maldonado stands out for the scope of wildlife and its infrastructure for sustainable travel.

Located downriver from Puerto Maldonado, the Tampopata-Candomo Reserve was created in the late 1970s specifically to preserve the zone for scientific study and ecologically responsible tourism. The hilly topography creates various microclimates such as cloud forests, humid forests, and subtropical rainforests. The array of flora and fauna includes 165 species of trees, 1,000 species of butterflies, and 750 species of bird. Basically, it’s a wildlife paradise.

Experience the Amazon from the Tambopata Research Center near Puerto Puerto Maldonado.
Photo by Rainforest Expeditions/Facebook

Rainforest Expeditions operates a string of lodges in the Tambopata region. Departing from the port in Puerto Maldonado, Posada Amazonas is just 45 minutes upriver, while Refugio Amazonas is 3.5 hours away. The Tambopata Research Center is an additional 4 hours upriver from the last lodge, providing a true jungle immersion experience. The 18-room lodge is walking distance from the largest clay lick in the Amazon, where parrots, parakeets, and macaws noisily congregate in a spectacle of sound and color.

Visitor and local South American macaw discuss rainforest preservation at the Tambopata Research Center.
Photo by Barry Zee/Flickr

Ecuador’s ecosystem entourage

Ecuador boasts some of the most recently developed and exciting prospects for Amazon travel. Yasuní National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on 2.5 million acres in northeast Ecuador, has been identified by scientists as the area with the most biodiversity on the planet, holding world records for documented numbers of plant and animal species, including tree, amphibian, and bat species.

The Napo Wildlife Center typifies the Amazon wildlife experience in Ecuador. Located within Yasuni National Park and managed by the Kichwa de Añangu community, travelers have an opportunity to explore rivers and the nearby Añangucocha lagoon, spot wildlife, visit parrot clay licks, zipline through canopy towers, taste regional food specialties, and learn centuries-old medicinal techniques from the healers and shamans in the community.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

With 5 active volcanoes and close to 100 others that are dormant or extinct, Costa Rica has become a preferred vacation spot for travelers who want to witness Planet Earth in action. Occasional flare-ups remind Ticos and travelers of the powerful forces that shape the earth beneath their feet. Tourists are reminded to stay safe on a volcano tour by taking simple precautions.

Arenal, nature’s fireworks

After 400 years of dormancy, Arenal Volcano (1,670 m) exploded to life on July 29, 1968, devastating the quaint town of La Fortuna de San Carlos. Smaller eruptions continued, sometimes tallying up to 40 times a day in its most active phase, and a stream of travelers followed. Nature’s fireworks display was especially dazzling after dark. Lava spewed from the perfectly conical peak of Arenal and molten rocks sputtered out like popcorn, leaving fiery trails of red and orange on the mountain’s slopes.

Arenal Volcano is deep slumber, but the town of La Fortuna continues to draw visitors.
Photo by Celso Diniz/ Dreamstime

The volcano has been quiet since 2010, but La Fortuna remains a top spot for trips to Costa Rica  thanks to its natural hot springs and countless outdoor activities. When it is not shrouded in low-hanging clouds, Arenal Volcano is a photogenic peak. Its cone is visible from the town’s streets, from the swimming pool patios of hotels in and around La Fortuna, and from the very long lake, also called Arenal, that stretches away from the volcano’s slopes.

Irazú, the rumbling mountain

At 3,432 m, Irazú Volcano is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica and the highest mountain of the Central Range. Among locals, it is known as El Coloso (The Colossus). Irazú’s name derives from an indigenous word that means the “mountain of rumbling and trembling”. The volcano famously erupted on March 19, 1963 – coinciding with the first day of a visit by U.S. President John F. Kennedy – and covered San Jose and the nearby highlands in layers of ash.

At 11,000 feet, Irazú Volcano greets visitors in green and panaromic views of the surrounding seismic peaks
Photo by rbreve/Flickr

Hikers who reach the summit encounter five craters, including the Principal Crater, with steep walls that drop 300 meters down, a diameter that stretches 1,050 meters across, and a green lake at its bottom. The smaller Diego de la Haya crater also has a lagoon whose colors can shift from emerald green to crimson red depending on its mineral concentrations. Plant growth and wildlife are scarce at the summit, but the patches of montane forest grow dense at lower elevations. On rare clear days, lucky visitors can spot the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

Poás, on the edge of an acid lake 

A popular day trip from San José to Poás Volcano (2,708 m) traverses the varied landscapes of the Central Valley, from flower fields and strawberry farms to cloud forests at higher altitudes. The road leads right to the lip of a caldera and a viewing platform offers a stunning look at the jade-colored lake at its depths, Laguna Caliente, which more recently is colored steamy white. The crater lake is quite acidic, with a pH close to 0. The interaction of rainfall with the highly sulfurous crater results in puffs of acid fog that can irritate the eyes and lungs.

At the crater of the Poás Volcano, sulfuric furmaroles burst upwards, ruffling the calm surface of the ethereal lake.
Photo by Sandra Cohen-Rose & Colin Rose/Flickr

Poás Volcano remains mildly active since its last significant eruption in 2009. Seismic movements, geyser-like explosions, and phreatic eruptions of mud and ash occur intermittently. In June 2013, temperatures rose high enough that the peak of Poás looked incandescent at night. The best time to visit Poás is in the morning as clouds tend to obstruct views in the afternoon.

Some more fiery inner workings

Turrialba Volcano, visible from Irazu, is one of Costa Rica’s most recently active volcanoes and it occasionally sends up plumes of smoke. On the northwest coast, in the sun-drenched Guanacaste Province, Tenorio Volcano is surrounded by forests, hot springs, scattered geysers and a sky-blue river called Rio Celeste. Finally, the steep-sloped Rincon de la Vieja Volcano also draws its fair share of visitors, although the crater is sometimes off-limits. Its name in Spanish means “old woman’s corner” and, according to various local legends, its frequent columns of smoke represent either an old witch’s moments of fury or a kind old lady’s cooking fires.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park offers an ideal setting for hiking, bird-watching and volcano-climbing.
Photo from Dreamstime

Articles, videos, and more

Websites:
Up-to-date volcano activity in Costa Rica on Volcano Discovery
List of volcanoes in Costa Rica
5 Top hot springs in Costa Rica

Maps:
Locations of volcanoes in Costa Rica

Videos:
Arenal nighttime eruption
Poas phreatic eruption

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

Bolivia’s infamous Witches’ Market

It’s a common refrain heard among travelers in South America: “If you’re going to La Paz, you must go to the Witches’ Market!”

The Witches’ Market in La Paz, known as the Mercado de las Brujas in Spanish, is a collection of shops, booths, and makeshift stalls, where women dressed in layered skirts and wearing bowler hats trade in souvenirs and occult knowledge. Yatiris is the name for the medicine healers and fortune-tellers who wander the streets offering their skills and souvenirs to paceños (La Paz residents) and travelers alike. You can recognize them by their ponchos and coca pouches.

Photo by Blane of Embassy International

On sale at the Witches’ Market, amid quantities of cheap trinkets, alpaca sweaters, and happy pants, are less attractive piles of dried frogs and rats, owl feathers, seeds, herbs, and insect parts, as well as medicinal plants, love potions, ceramic figures, and amulets. There are also statuettes and when you talk to the vendors, you learn that different statues serve different functions. For example, there are statues to protect children, to safeguard travelers, to attract love, or to bring prosperity to a business. Many of the items on sale are the raw materials of ancient indigenous Aymara rituals and practices that are still very much part of living Bolivian culture.

For many who seek out the Witches’ Market, the main draw is the ghoulish sight of desiccated llama fetuses that are everywhere along the street, piled into baskets, crammed into boxes, or hanging on display. Bolivians consider the llama fetus (or sullu in the Aymara language) lucky and will bury one under the foundations of a new building in order to bring protection. It can also be prepared by brujas (witches) with incense, sugar and sweets, and wool dyed in multiple colors to make a mesa andina (Andean table). When burnt, the preparation brings good luck, whether to a household, business, or other venture. In both uses, the llama fetus serves as an offering to give thanks to Pachamama, or Mother Earth.

Llama fetuses sold at the Witches’ Market in La Paz, Bolivia.

You may be wondering where these llama fetuses come from. Well, it is not uncommon for llamas to miscarry during the rainy season. The aborted fetuses are collected and then sold in markets like this one.

Interestingly, the Witches’ Market in La Paz is predominantly composed of women business owners. This market has existed for years and years and many of the shops, and the knowledge that is exchanged within them, have been passed on through generations of women. Additionally, in Bolivia, where home and business are often merged, the witches and folk healers that ply their trade along Calle Linares in La Paz also live on this street.

How to find the Witches’ Market in La Paz, Bolivia

From the center of La Paz, walk from the Plaza San Francisco – leaving the plaza with the church on your right-hand side, and wander up Sagarnarga which is lined with tourist souvenir shops and travel agencies. After two blocks, you’ll reach the Witches’ Market, which lines Linares street to your left and to your right, where it also flows into Jiminez, running up to Santa Cruz.

Plan your own trip to Bolivia

Bolivia and Peru are perfect for a dual-country holiday. Contact one of our expert travel advisors to start planning your fully customized trip to Bolivia and other destinations.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

Torres del Paine National Park at the southern tip of Chile is filled with rushing rivers, cascading waterfalls, multi-colored lagoons, massive glaciers, deep blue lakes, and sky-piercing mountain peaks. Wild Patagonia is a true spectacle of nature, best experienced in person.

Bleak cold is the main feature of southern Patagonia during most of the year. At these extreme latitudes, icy conditions prevail. So much so that town officials in Punta Arenas (host to the largest regional airport with connections to Santiago) installed ropes and chains along the sidewalks to help pedestrians haul themselves forward in the face of lashing winds and rain.

Summer is different. From December to February, the austral days become long (up to 18 hours of daylight) and temperatures become friendlier, although the chance of sudden foul weather persists. During this time, travelers flock like migrating birds to Patagonia’s far southern reaches, hoping to have weather on their side as they explore vistas of unparalleled beauty.

From Punta Arenas it is 3 hours over land to Puerto Natales, the town that provides entrance to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve since 1978. The reserve takes its name from the Cordillera del Paine, a clustering of mountain peaks located on 2,400 square kilometers of territory that sidles up to the border with Argentina.

The name of Torres del Paine National Park refers to three tower-like granite monoliths, one of the most visited attractions within the park.

An extensive and well-marked trail network connects the park’s valleys, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. Options for Torres Del Paine tours range from day-long outings with a return to a comfortable hotel in Puerto Natales to multi-day treks such as the famous ”W” Circuit with overnight stays at campsites and basic lodges in the national park. (For an idea of what to expect on a day tour, read about LAFL travel advisor Silvana’s trip to Torres del Paine.)

Whatever your travel style, Torres del Paine guarantees a feast for the eyes. Cameras can only begin to capture the magnificence of cerulean lakes, the panoramas of wide valleys speckled with flowers, the quiet force and mass of ancient glaciers, and the fine shading of sediments that settled into hard rock many eons ago, and that were then thrust into the air by earth’s tectonic movements and sculpted by glacial action into gorgeous forms that look like spires, needles, blades of swords, and tusks. This is scenery that fuels the imagination, a landscape that appeals to aesthetes and adventurers alike and that inspires both to plan a vacation in Chile.

For lovers of fauna, Torres del Paine does not disappoint. Guanacos, a cousin of the llama, happily roam on open grasslands, enjoying such protection that they’re almost indifferent to approaching humans. The rare ñandú (rhea) makes its home here and the elusive condor is known to make an appearance. Other bird species include hawks, harriers, owls, flamingos, swans, ibises, and woodpeckers. With such a display of nature at its finest, Torres del Paine earns its place as one of Chile and South America’s natural wonders.

Wildlife in Torres del Paine National Park.

Latin America For Less provides fully customized vacation packages to the most stunning destinations in Chile and across South America. Contact us to start planning your dream vacation.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

Today we focus on Brazil’s most popular drinks. Whether you’re already plotting a tropical beach getaway or seeking vacation inspiration, here are some quick facts and tips for navigating the icy, delicious, and refreshing options of a drinks menu on a trip to Brazil.

Caipirinha

Paradise in a cup is a caipirinha. This celebrated Brazilian cocktail is prepared as follows: in an old-fashioned glass, muddle a quarter lime and a generous serving of sugar, add cachaça (Brazilian sugarcane alcohol), top with ice, stir, and serve. Drinking a caipirinha is an aesthetic experience – the bright color of a green lime, the clinking ice cubes, a frosty glass in your hand, and a refreshing coolness in your mouth as you take a sip. Paired with a gorgeous setting, the caipirinha is the perfect way to toast a Brazil vacation, be it in Buzios, Florianopolis, Salvador de Bahia or any other destination.

Looks tasty, right? In 2003, president Lula da Silva officially denominated the caipirinha as Brazil’s national drink.

If the simple cocktail is not enticing enough, there are a million variations of the caipirinha that include crushed fresh fruits such as mango and strawberry. The classic caipirinha has also spawned cocktails with different liquors. For example, a caipiroska replaces cachaça with vodka, a saquerinha or caipisake with sake, and a caipirissima with rum. Any adaptation guarantees liquid refreshment.

Cachaça
Cachaça is to Brazil in the same way that tequila is to Mexico or rum is to Jamaica. This type of alcohol is fermented and distilled in oak barrels from fresh sugarcane juice. (Standard rum, by contrast, is distilled from molasses.) In a country that loves creative nicknames, cachaça has over 2,000 aliases, including pinga, caninha, água-benta (holy water), abre-coração (heart opener), and bafo-de-tigre (tiger breath).

The shining stars of Brazilian cachaça.

Like rum, cachaça can be white or dark. White or clear cachaça is unaged and usually less expensive, but there are finer quality varieties. Dark cachaça is aged from 3 to 15 year in wood barrels, as is meant to be savored straight, unmixed, with or without ice. Industrial distilleries are concentrated in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Pernambuco, and Ceará; the state of Minas Gerais specializes in artisanal production of small batches of cachaça.

Apart from its essential role in Brazil’s most famous cocktail, cachaça is used in myriad other drinks. At the kiosks that line Brazil’s beaches, cachaça is blended with condensed milk, sugar, ice, and the fruit of your choice to make a batida, aka the caipifruta. Popular options include maracuja (passion fruit), caju (cashew fruit), coconut, strawberry, mango, and more.

Guaraná
Seekers of non-alcoholic tonics in Brazil need to look no further than guaraná, which is the name of both the source of the drink and the drink itself. Guaraná is a small fruit native to the Amazon. It is similar in size and shape to a coffee bean, but the guaraná seed has twice the amount of caffeine. As such, guaraná  is a potent energizer and outside of Brazil, guaraná has become a common ingredient in energy drinks.

In Brazil, guaraná is the name of sweet carbonated beverage that by sales alone rivals in popularity any other soft drink, including Coca Cola. Made with a small amount of guaraná extract, the drink tastes of apples and berries. The popular brand Guarana Antarctica is the official sponsor of the Brazilian football team.

Travel experts at Latin America For Less are specialists in planning great value, fully customized vacation packages to Brazil and other top destinations in South America. Contact us to start planning your dream vacation.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

In the spirit of culinary adventure of the liquid variety, for the month of March, the LAFL travel blog will feature the national drinks of various Latin American countries. From hot drinks to cold drinks to all forms of alcoholic concoctions, we will be covering the drinks you’re likely to find on a Latin American vacation, the types of drink you’ll run into whether you’re at a high-end restaurant, a street-corner cafe, or the hippest nightclub in town.

We begin in Argentina, where Malbec, Fernet, and yerba mate are regarded as proud national emblems.

Argentina Tours:

Glaciers, Iguazu & Tango Tours

Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Iguazu
9 Days / from $2089

Best of Patagonia

El Calafate, El Chalten, Puerto Natales, Torres Del Paine
10 Days / from $2479

See All Argentina Tours

In a country that boasts a love affair with red meat, it is entirely fitting that wine is, by presidential decree, Argentina’s “bebida nacional” (national drink). On an international scale, Argentine wines have rocketed to prominence because of their high quality and great value. Wherever you go in Argentina, wine is the companion par excellence to any meal whether you travel to Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Salta, or the furthest reaches of Patagonia.

Enjoy Argentina’s official “national drink” on a wine tour to Mendoza or Salta.

Malbec is the superstar of Argentine wines. Fruity and balanced, with a velvety texture, this dark red wine is known for being very accessible. For tours of vineyards and wineries in Argentina, Mendoza is the place to go. While the city of Mendoza is a great base for dining, nightlife, and sightseeing, the surrounding communities of Chacras de Coria, Luján de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley will appeal to travelers seeking a quieter, more romantic getaway.

The tranquil boutique wine atmosphere is even more pronounced in Argentina’s north. The region around Salta and the Calchaqui Valleys is recognized for the production of Torrontés. Aromatic and citrusy, this smooth, full bodied white wine is also making a splash on the international scene. You can buy Torrontés abroad, but there’s nothing quite like traveling to the high altitude vineyards of Cafayate or Cachi to sample the local vintage.

Fernet, a Powerful Liqueur

Fernet has its origins in Italy, where it was first brewed as a tonic for “gas pains,” fatigue, and other maladies. In the post-WWII period, Italian immigrants brought the pungent, dark-hued elixir with them to Buenos Aires, where many years later, their descendants began mixing it with cola to create one of the most enduringly popular cocktails in Argentina. Behind Italy, Argentina is the largest consumer of Fernet.

The aromatic liqueur Fernet, mixed with cola and served over ice, is one of Argentina’s most popular refreshments.

The bitter and somewhat pungent liqueur is a blend of 40 herbs, spices, barks, roots, and fungi. Saffron is the most overpowering among these ingredients and accounts for the distinctive bitterness of Fernet, often perceived as an exceedingly minty, mouthwash flavor.

Today, Argentines drink Fernet in a shot glass, on the rocks, or mixed with coffee, espresso, soda, mineral water, or soft drinks. Some Argentines continue to consume Fernet for its medicinal qualities, specifically as a cure for excesses of food and drink (this without irony).

Fernet is enjoying a boon of popularity in the U.S., where the revival of vintage cocktails has made it the darling of mixologists in bars across the nation, earning profiles in magazines such as The Atlantic.

A mate kit: gourd, small stand, bombilla (metal straw), and a thermos of boiled hot water.

Yerba Mate

With just as much enthusiasm, Argentina drinks yerba mate. Usually prepared in a small, dried out gourd and sipped through a metal straw, the base of this hot brew is the ground leaf of the Ilex paraguariensis tree, a species of holly. Once brewed, yerba mate has a smoky, bitter, and woody flavor. The drink is sometimes sweetened with sugar or honey. Flavored varieties (peach, orange, etc) are also produced.

Since the time of the gauchos, the drinking of mate (pronounced mah-tay) has been deeply entwined with Argentine national identity and today is a widespread social custom. In parks, plazas, and other public places, it’s common to see groups of friends gathered round a thermos of hot water and a small gourd which is passed from person to person. (The same is true in Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southernmost Brazil, where the incidence of mate drinking rivals that of Argentina.)

The travel experts at Latin America For Less can help you organize a vacation to Buenos Aires and other top Argentina destinations, where you can sample the best of this captivating country.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

Although UNESCO’s designation is in acknowledgement of the city built by Spanish settlers and their descendants in the 16th through the 18th centuries, Quito’s pre-Columbian history is also a huge shaping factor. Before the Spanish arrived, Quito was the second capital (after Cusco) of the Inca Empire, and before that it was the capital of the Shyris or Quitu culture. The historical record is not conclusive, but evidence suggests that the Inca Emperor Huayna Capac was born in Ecuadorian territory and that his son, Atahualpa – the last emperor before the arrival of the Spanish – may have been born in Quito.

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Andean Gems & Galapagos

Quito, Cuenca, Galapagos Cruise
11 Days / from $4099

Galapagos Island Hopping Tour

Galapagos Islands
6 Days / from $2579

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In 1534, a cavalry of Spanish conquistadors led by the captain Sebastián de Benalcazar rode into Quito expecting to find a city of gold (Atahualpa’s fabled treasure), but they encountered instead a city in ashes. Hearing of Atahualpa’s capture by conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the Inca general Rumiñahui had ordered his warriors to burn Quito to the ground. Undeterred in their zeal for colonization, the Spaniards founded San Francisco de Quito on December 6, 1534, upon the ruins of the Inca city.

Streets and houses are adapted to the hilly topography of Quito’s center.

Based on access to mineral resources, the development of a huge textile industry, and a strategic geographic position, Quito went on to become a fabulously wealthy city. The city elite used their profits to build mansions, grand churches, and even grander administrative palaces. Today, these monumental buildings are the most impressive features of the historic center of Quito, all arrayed around the main square, Plaza Grande, and the surrounding streets.

The city’s historic churches are a definite highlight of a Quito tour. The Jesuit Church, called Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, was built of volcanic gray stone between the years 1605 to 1765. The drab color of the façade is considered a fine example of baroque architecture and gives entrance to the visual delight of a richly gilded interior. The long central nave is roofed with intricately detailed wood carvings and Mudéjar figures in gold leaf, culminating in a golden altar considered to be the greatest work of the Quito School of Art.

The Church of the Society of Jesus is one of the most visually thrilling church interiors in South America.

San Francisco Church is another of Quito’s jewels. Construction for the church and monastery began in 1534, on the same site where the palace of Atahualpa lay in ruins. A wood carving of the Virgen de Quito, also known as the “Winged Virgin” and the “Dancing Virgin,” is the artistic centerpiece of the church. In an unusual depiction of the Madonna figure, the mestizo sculptor Bernardo de Legardia added wings to the figure and its flowing robes and upturned hands create a sensation of movement.

Another notable construction in the historic center is the massive presidential palace called Palacio de Carondelet, which is the seat of government in Ecuador and currently also functions as a museum. Construction of the first version of the palace began in 1570. Simon Bolivar resided here for brief periods of time during his campaign of independence from the Spanish Empire. The treasures of Quito’s historic center are thus hugely symbolic and deeply intertwined with stories of Ecuador and South America’s most influential characters and events.

As mentioned above, Quito as a city goes well beyond the historical. In and around the neighborhood of Mariscal Sucre (La Mariscal), modern Quito is equipped with parks, museums, shopping malls, and myriad attractions like the Teleferico cable car which transports visitors to a restaurant and park complex on the 4,000 meter slopes of the towering Pichincha Volcano. For its wealth of offerings, old and new, Quito is one of South America’s most exciting cities, fast outgrowing its status as a mere stopover prior to a Galapagos vacation launch. The city of Quito’s information website is a great resource for travelers planning an Ecuador vacation in Quito.

Latin America For Less provides comprehensive packages for travel to the Galapagos Islands, Quito, Guayaquil, and other destinations. Contact us to start planning your dream South America vacation.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com

Constructed over a period of 9 years, from 1922 to 1931, the statue was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald and it was carved by French sculptor Paul Landowski, who preferred the Art Deco style. The interior structure of the statue is made of reinforced concrete and the outer layers are of soapstone. The cost to build the statue totaled 2 million reais, at that time equal to $250,000, or a staggering $3 million in today’s equivalent, and incredibly, all the funds were donations gathered by Catholic parishes across Brazil.

At the time of its construction, the Christ the Redeemer statue was the greatest feat of Brazilian engineering. It was also the largest Jesus statue in the world, though it has since lost this distinction to other, successively bigger ones around the world. Today, it holds fifth place in the ranking of statues by size, but it is the only Jesus statue recognized as a World Wonder. Every day, hundreds of locals and foreign travelers visit this most iconic of Brazil travel attractions.

On a Rio de Janeiro tour, millions of visitors flock to Mt. Corcovado every year to take photos with the statue and of the incredible panorama below.

The Christ the Redeemer statue’s fame as one of Brazil’s most recognizable landmarks may be partly due to the inimitable urban and cultural landscape over which the statue stands guard. Situated atop Mount Corcovado in the Tijuca Forest National Park (the largest urban park in the world), the statue presides over remarkable views of the city of Rio below, including the iconic beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the granite rock outcrop directly on the coast known as Sugarloaf Mountain, as well the distinctive Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. These sites (and sights) are the classic highlights of a Rio de Janeiro tour.

Brazil is a deeply Catholic country. Talk to any Brazilian, and if the subject of Rio de Janeiro comes up, they are sure to sing the praises of the Christ the Redeemer statue, a symbol as deeply entwined with the identity of the city (and the nation) as Carnaval, samba, cachaça, its beautiful tropical beaches, or “o jogo bonito” (literally, “the beautiful game,” also known as football or soccer).

The most recent modifications to the structure were completed in October 2006, when the Chapel of Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of Apparition, patron saint of Brazil) was dedicated. Located at the base of the statue, the chapel has a capacity for 150 worshippers and Catholic weddings and baptisms can be celebrated here.

An aerial view of the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, a man-made treasure of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

In 2007, the Christ the Redeemer Statue was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in a competition organized by the New7Wonders Foundation. Millions of voters participated in the election, and Rio’s magnificent man-made creation was chosen alongside other wonders, including our already profiled Machu Picchu, as well as Chichen Itza, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and others.

The main viewing platform of Cristo Redentor can be accessed by a series of walkways, escalators, and elevators.  For a very cool aerial panorama of Christ the Redeemer and the city of Rio, check out this site: http://bit.ly/UWwyqo.

The travel experts at Latin America For Less can help you organize tours to Brazil’s top destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and the Amazon. Contact us to start planning your dream Brazil vacation.

Anabel Mota

Anabel has been exploring the length and width of South America since 2010. Ditching preconceptions, settling into the local pace, and embracing the unexpected are the tenets of her philosophy of travel – and life.

www.latinamericaforless.com