The Galapagos islands have long been on my radar, but a visit has so far eluded me. There are few places left in the world that I’m certain feel so untouched. The Galápagos Islands located roughly 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador—are certainly one of those places. Remote, carefully protected, and biologically unlike anywhere else on earth, they are not simply a destination; they are an experience that reshapes how you think about nature, wildlife, and your place within it. The more I research these islands, the stronger their […]

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There really is no other city quite like Cusco. Located up within the remote Peruvian Andes, this bustling city is well-known for its cultural markets, stunning colonial architecture as well as an abundance of ancient Inca ruins. However Cusco is also the gateway to many unforgettable landscapes and hiking circuits, and if planning on visiting then it’s worth tackling at least one of these incredible routes. In this guide we’ll explore the different hiking circuits worth exploring around Cusco, and how to choose the right one for you. This includes […]

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Hostels conjure a lot of negative images—from shit horror movies, to loud snoring, to lack of privacy. I’ve experienced the downsides of them. But when you stay at a good one… man is it good. The Best Hostel I’ve Ever Stayed At Without further ado… The Secret Garden Cotopaxi in Ecuador. Let me start with the value of the place. My 3-day, 2-night package included: Transport from Quito (Cotopaxi is a couple of hours away). You’re in a van filled with travelers, starting to make friends immediately – Two nights […]

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Preface: My Peruvian experience was truly unparalleled; what I encountered there cannot be captured on platforms like YouTube or Google. When most people envision a trip to Peru, they visualize images of sun-drenched beaches or the enchanting peaks of the Andes. But how often do we pause to consider the richness lying beyond the usual tourist hotspots? Rarely, if ever. This article details the hidden gems and intricate tapestry of culture I encountered during my visit to rural Peru. Upon our arrival in Peru, my family and I found ourselves […]

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Solo trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a journey that every adventurous soul should experience at least once.  This ancient path, carved through the Peruvian Andes, offers not just a physical challenge but also a deeply spiritual experience. The anticipation of seeing Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, kept my spirits high as I prepared for this epic Peruvian adventure. Preparing for the Trek Before setting out, I knew that preparation was key. The Inca Trail, while beautiful, is also demanding. I spent […]

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Picture a world where vibrant macaws flaunt their sapphire feathers just beyond your window, where rough and tough cowboys navigate waist-deep waters teeming with caimans on horseback, and where the landscape surrenders to the ebb and flow of seasonal floods, submerging vast expanses for half the year. Welcome to the Pantanal, the beating heart of South America, nestled within the borders of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil’s Amazon basin. Spanning over 42 million acres, the Pantanal emerges as the planet’s largest wetland, overshadowing the likes of England in sheer magnitude. Yet, […]

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Heli-Skiing: An Incredible Way to Experience the Andres Mountains “Never Summer” is a motto for some of us winter sports enthusiasts, and if you’re like one of us, heading to South America in the summer is the perfect way to scratch your “winter sport” itch. Ski Trip in Chile I planned a ski trip to Chile in August 2022, which was incredible. The highlight of the trip was, of course, heli-skiing. Although we tried to heli-ski at Ski Portillo (a resort northwest of Santiago), it just didn’t work out. And […]

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Photo by Alice Bourget When I was around 10, I tagged along to my brother’s Boy Scout meeting, where one activity was making art projects. Given instruction, I sprayed a clothespin with glittery red paint and spelled my name out on the top bar with glued alphabet macaroni. That might be my highest artistic achievement, so perhaps I don’t have a credible basis to judge the quality of the crafts I’ve seen in Ecuador over the past month. But damn, they are good. My girlfriend Alice and I have been […]

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When visiting Curitiba, any individual or group that has an interest in cachaça must visit Orlando Regis. It just so happened that while I was in Morretes, Bruna Gomes of Porto Morretes had suggested that I go visit Orlando, since I had time on my last day before my trip back to Brasilia. Thanks to her, I was able to set up some time with him. Orlando Regis and his wife have one of the largest collections of cachaça in the country. At over 7,000 bottles, they certainly have the […]

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I repeated my morning walk around town, came back and ate breakfast, and headed out to Porto Morretes, traversing the same dangerous road that I had the previous day. This time, however, I had an appointment. When I got to the gates and pressed the buzzer, I was let in to the very private facility. The winding dirt driveway led to a modern, large facility, where workers scurried about from place to place. I was met at the main office by Bruna Gomes. Bruna, one of the managers of the […]

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Morning in Morretes. I left the pousada because I woke early. Breakfast wouldn’t be served until eight. Clouds covered the not-so-distant-mountains, but the city was sunny. I walked along the quiet main road. People passed me on their way to work. Schoolchildren carried backpacks, walking in groups, excited for the school day. I crossed over the river on a slight bridge that carried the occasional car. Descending the opposite bank, I walked the cobblestone path, which was without another soul. I snapped a few pictures of the river, a small […]

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I was up before dawn, checked out, and on the road while Itajaí slept. My flight was at 9 am, and I made it to the airport by 7:30. I was going to miss Santa Catarina, knowing that I hadn’t gotten to see all that I wanted. But I was on to Parana, flying into Curitiba by way of Congonhas Airport in São Paulo. All my flights went smoothly, even in the busy domestic airport in Sao Paulo. By the time I landed in Curitiba, amidst the fog and rain, […]

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I’d been on the road for a week when I woke up in Itajaí, my last full day in Santa Catarina. The storm clouds had cleared and there were people getting in their morning exercise along the dishwater gray beach. An old couple sat on a park bench holding hands. I was on my way back to Luis Alvez to take a look at the fermentation and distillation processes. It was rush hour when I left. The city moved languidly around me as I maneuvered over speed bumps and through […]

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I departed Nova Petropolis at 6:30 am. There were so many more things to see in Rio Grande do Sul, of that I was sure. But I had to get on the road, appreciate the tight curves and tailgaters for one last time. The nearly two hour drive back to the airport in Porto Alegre was relatively uneventful, fortunately. I’d chosen to fly with Gol for my entire trip, though I realized after I bought my tickets that it might have been better to mix up my airline choice just […]

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On Friday morning, I headed to Harmonie Schnapps. I’d set up this visit before I’d left Brasilia and was excited to visit a distillery that had received so much praise from members of the cachaça community. Harmony, was a short, pleasant drive from Nova Petropolis. I left the clogged main roads and found myself on tranquil, well-maintained thoroughfares. Google hadn’t steered me wrong yet, and a little before 9:30 am, I saw that I was but a few moments away from my destination. The final turn was a right, according […]

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