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). … [Read more...]
Sacha Lodge Announces New Private Birding Tours in Ecuadorian Amazon
(Quito, Ecuador) -- Sacha Lodge, an easily accessible 5000-acre private ecological reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is thrilled to announce an array of NEW private birding itineraries. Of the 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 have been seen at Sacha Lodge. For avid bird watchers, Sacha Lodge will provide specialist filed guides who know the best spots for the hard-to-find species and can easily identify them by sight and sound. … [Read more...]
Mark Jason Williams, Award-Winning Playwright, Essayist and Travel Writer
Q. Traveling is a universal experience that everyone takes pleasure in, but being a gay traveler comes with its own set of complexity and challenges. How do you define LGBTQ travel and why LGBTQ travel matters in your opinion? I think the definition of LGBTQ travel is constantly evolving, and that’s a great thing. Twenty years ago, being a gay traveler meant I only felt comfortable going to certain spots, like San Francisco or Miami, where … [Read more...]
The Best Trekking Trips for Adventurous Backpackers
There's no better way to experience nature's beauty than a trek through some of the world's most incredible jungles and peaks. Sure, trekking can be gruelling and could test your physical and mental abilities. But with proper training, preparation, and some help from professional guides, trekking is such a rewarding experience. For adventurous backpackers looking to venture into trekking, here are some of the best trekking adventures to … [Read more...]
Discover the ultimate indulgence of hanging 1,200 feet off a cliff in the Sacred Valley, Peru – Interview with Natalia Rodriguez, General Manager of Natura Vive
A ray of sun broke through the clouds and the morning mist, illuminating the valley in sparkly golden gold. The surrounding mountains cast a long shadow over a vast expanse of farmland cut by a river meandering through the valley. This is the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a lush green valley lies in the heart of Urubamba Province, Peru – about 35 miles from Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Up on the edge of a mountain cliff, three transparent … [Read more...]
Kontiki Expeditions Announce Inaugural 2021 Ecuador Cruises and “Experiences”
(Manta, ECUADOR – March 2021) At a time when traveling to uncrowded areas is more desirable than ever, Kontiki Expeditions announces its two launch itineraries on M/Y Kontiki Wayra. Experiences are scheduled in five provinces of the seldom-visited Ecuadorian coast. Kontiki’s small-yacht size allows visits to authentic areas where social distancing is the norm rather than the exception in what is one of the most biodiverse countries in the … [Read more...]
Hands-on Ecuadorian Artisans Are Hands-Down Amazing
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 … [Read more...]
4 Epic Treks in South America You Need To Know About
South America has some of the highest mountain ranges in the world (like the Andes) - it is the second-highest mountain range in the world. The continent offers some of the best and challenging hikes in the world. Even one-day hikes are sure to test the endurance and strength of the mightiest trekkers and hikers. With different landscapes spread across the continent, it offers diverse views to suit the needs of every hiker out there. For … [Read more...]
The Things You Carry, the Things You Leave Behind
When I was 16, I hitchhiked with my older brother from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Being lean and hungry types, we knew we needed fortification for the long journey. So it made perfect sense that we’d load our backpacks—already substantial, with their sturdy wood and metal frames—with canned foods of every type. Chili, fruit cocktail, soup. That one of the laden backpacks now weighed about as much as a sports car wasn’t that daunting until a day or … [Read more...]
Today’s Best Western
Phoenix – With its fall 2017 debut, BW Signature Collection by Best Western was the newest addition to the rapidly growing Best Western Hotels & Resorts brand portfolio. Today, the soft brand is on the move, with the arrival of its first international location in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. As part of the "Today's Best Western" campaign, which launched earlier this year, the company is this month going "Behind the Brands" with a closer look at BW … [Read more...]
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