Mar 6, 2012

(MIAMI, FL, March 2012) – LAN Airlines, South America’s premier carrier, and its affiliates invite passengers to celebrate the arrival of springtime by booking a trip to South America. Savvy travelers can get a head start on planning a summer getaway this year by taking advantage of LAN Airlines and its affiliates’ low fares on travel taking place from

Feb 11, 2012

(MIAMI, Fla., February 2012) – In an effort to meet travelers’ growing desire for authentic vacation experiences, a selection of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, and Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America today announced the “Authentically Local” package – an exciting new program that introduces travelers to

Dec 4, 2011

 (MIAMI, November 28, 2011) – LAN Airlines, South America´s premier air carrier, and its affiliates announce the biggest deal of the year! Passengers looking to travel to South America next year can book now through December 12, 2011 and enjoy savings on trips to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.   “LAN is making a big

Sep 2, 2011

Brendan Vacations, the Ireland Specialist, is also a leader in providing unique and memorable guided vacations to Latin America. Brendan is now pleased to announce their 2012-13 South & Central America 2012-13 Brochure highlighting the region’s vibrant culture and vast natural and historical treasures. Brendan knows it’s all about you, the

Aug 29, 2011

(Billings, MT, Aug. 24, 2011) – Award-winning tour operator Austin-Lehman Adventures, the active travel company setting adventure vacation standards in The Americas, Europe, Africa and beyond, announces three new itineraries for 2012 embracing the diversity, culture, cuisine and natural wonders of both sides of the Andes in Argentina, Chile and south to

I was doubly blessed that Christmas Eve. December in the Southern Hemisphere is a time of lingering twilight and balmy summer air, or what passes for “balmy” in southern Chile. I was in Punta Arenas, where the Chilean Andes meet the Straits of Magellan. The first surprise of the day was the Cementerio Municipal, a walled, flower-riot of a gem where the

On my last day in South America, I wake up to the calm sound of rain falling atop the metal roof.  Two days before I was tanning on a cushioned lounge chair along the water of Mancora Beach, Peru my mind dizzied, almost drunk, on sun and relaxation. But now I am in Quito, Ecuador on a rainy morning and my mind is dizzying from the prospect of leaving this great

Sitting at the top of a sand dune, with board attached to my feet, wind and sand pelting my face, looking out at the alien terrain reminiscent of Star Wars, is when I finally realized how damn lucky I am.  Maybe it was the altitude or maybe it was the exhaustion from trudging up the steep sand, but something finally jostled me and opened my eyes.  Here I am

I was once lured to read Isabel Allende’s novel Daughter of Fortune upon recommendation, but never got more than forty pages in. Though I stopped reading, I still remember the magical description of a bustling port city at the turn of the 20th century. Allende’s  heroine runs about a city built along hills and terraces that look out onto the sea,

I was in Mendoza, a desert in the west of Argentina that is now wine country, taking tours of vineyards and wineries and tasting the local Malbecs (Argentine wine). I was having a lovely time, but all I could do was stare off into the distance to the jagged Andes that ran to the west.  There they were, the second highest mountain range in the world and so

Maryl visits with Marie Ann of GAP Adventures at the Los Angeles Times Adventurers Travel Expo help on February 10-11. Marie Ann gives travelers options to over 1000 trip options worldwide. The refitted 18th Century boat trips visiting exotic locales does sound great, I guess that’s why it won an award. Produced by Wayfarer Digital for In The Know

In what could be the largest vote ever, the world will soon choose the New Seven Wonders of the World to stand alongside the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. In January, the New7Wonders committee, chaired by Dr. Federico Mayor, selected 21 finalists out of the 77 nominated sites. You can have a say in the selection of the final seven by casting your vote.

Mark Twain wrote in Innocents Abroad that there are places in the world where we can find “nothing to remind us of any other people or any other land under the sun.” Although South America was not on the itinerary of Twain’s Quaker City voyage, there is a myriad of destinations in our neighboring continent where we can find little to remind us of