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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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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(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. Guests will spot an average of 60 distinct species of birds per day. Highlights of the new birding itineraries […]

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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 I knew I could find gay bars, social acceptance, and people like me. Nowadays, […]

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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 capsule suites cling closely to the mountain and hang […]

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(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 world. With only nine staterooms carrying a maximum of 18 guests, Kontiki Expeditions offers a new, exclusive way to enjoy “NEO […]

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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 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 two into the trip. We were young, after all. Two summers later, […]

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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 Signature Collection by Best Western. “With the debut of our BW Signature Collection by […]

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I’m in a remote Peruvian village in the Sacred Valley, deep in the heart of the Inca world. Surrounded by mist-shrouded mountains and cobalt blue lakes, agrarian rhythms define life here, just as they have for centuries. I feel as far off the beaten track as I can possibly get. I’m spending the afternoon with the women of the village. Traditionally dressed with their long black hair in precise plaits, it’s as if time has stood still. They are weaving experts, using the same techniques, materials, natural dyes and patterns […]

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Quito is the highest capital city in the world (approximately 2800 meters) and earned one of the first UNESCO World Heritage designations in 1978. It is a bustling city spread out between valleys and sprawls partway up the massive mountains that surround it. While the Galapagos Islands garner much of the attention of tourists – a visit to Quito offers a variety of attractions both in and outside the city. Setup “home base” in the lively La Mariscal neighborhood – with its wide variety of lodging, restaurants, bars, shopping and […]

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NEW YORK (Aug. 1, 2015) – Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism is proud to announce that the Galapagos Islands have been honored as “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure magazine. This consumer-based nomination recognizes the best of the best in travel across various categories including airlines, cities, destination spas, hotels, islands, tour operators and safari outfitters among others. The Galapagos Islands were not only ranked first on the list of Best Islands, but were the only ones in the American continent to be profiled. “We are so proud of all that […]

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The 2015 Travel World Championship EventEntry Deadline Approaches SANTA MONICA, USA The deadline to enter the 2015 edition of the travel world championship, The Global Scavenger Hunt, is February 1st with only a few spots open for those wanting to compete for “The World’s Greatest Travelers” title and trophy–and chance to earn a free trip around the world with their triumph. Serious travelers are a competitive breed, from: “How many countries have you been to?” and “We’ve been there, did you do…?” to watching TV’s Amazing Race saying, “I could […]

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The first ´traveller´ to sample chocolates bitter sweet charms was Christopher Columbus in 1502, although it´s likely that the Indigenous Maya and Aztec people had already been drinking it for the previous thousand years. The cacao bean itself had originated in South America millions of years before and is now being reclaimed by its discoverers, yep, chocolate is coming home. Artisan and organic chocolate is the subject on every foodie´s lips right now, but, what is it exactly? We talked to the experts to discover what it is that makes South American chocolate so special. […]

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The last time I was in Panama I purchased a Panama Hat – a misleading name considering these hats are made in Ecuador. During the construction of the Panama Canal workers wore these hats. When USA President at the time, Teddy Roosevelt saw one – he wanted to wear it – he was photographed wearing this hat and the name “Panama Hat” soon stuck. In actuality these hats should be called Ecuadorian Hats! After wearing out the ‘Panama Hat’ I bought a number of years ago, I was on the […]

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