Articles from this Category
January 22, 2024
“Way up there?” I asked Silver Ballón, our guide, who was pointing to the seemingly vertical 13,000 ft. summit. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to go all the way up. There are amazing views all along the way.” he replied. I immediately thought it was a trick. And it was, but the very best kind. […]
April 30, 2022
I stepped back into the dark brown muck and leaned on the tree behind me to get a better photo of the anaconda slithering in my direction. I was motionless for a mere two seconds when Ericson Pinedo, our local naturalist on the Delfin Amazon Cruise, jerked me back by my arm and quickly snatched […]
January 16, 2021
Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this vibrant colonial city cradled by the rugged Peruvian Andes is a magnificent fusion of ancient vs. modern. Tourists who travel to South America’s most famous and most visited draw, Machu Picchu, inevitably start in Cusco but are soon seduced by the well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage city and […]
May 14, 2020
“Way up there?” I asked Silver Ballón, our guide, who was pointing up to the 13,000 ft. summit. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to go all the way up. There are amazing views all along the way.” he replied. I immediately thought it was a trick. And it was, but the very best kind. Few […]
May 2, 2020
Cartagena is irresistible, beckoning travelers with its diversity of sights from 16th-century stone walls, forts, plazas, and palm-lined Caribbean beaches, to the chic, frenetic urban city –enticing unsuspecting visitors with its Bohemian vibe. It’s so beautiful, you’ll want to tour Cartagena the first chance you get! I wished I could have stayed longer to explore […]
June 28, 2019
There are very few countries like Argentina. It has everything from mountains and glaciers, to jungles and desserts, a world-class capital, and some unique Argentina landmarks. But unlike many places in South America, European influence is very strong in this Latin country, which makes for a unique and memorable experience. Perhaps the most ideal aspect […]
August 27, 2018
I’ve been obsessed with the Incas and Peru ruins since my early 20’s. Maybe it’s because the Inca civilization is so enigmatic. Or perhaps admiration at having created such an impressive culture without written language, monetary system, iron, or slaves. I’d pour over photos of Machu Picchu in glossy magazines, imagining myself standing on that […]
May 7, 2018
Chinchero Peru was the first Inca site on our schedule in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Eager to get to my “real” bucket list destination, Machu Picchu, I wasn’t expecting much at the Moray archaeological site. After driving 19 miles from Cusco with AdventureSmith Explorations, I got out of our transport van and strolled […]
April 16, 2018
How hard could it be? I’d already tried tandem skydiving and hang gliding. I had my first inkling of trouble when paragliding Lima came as we leaped off the Miraflores cliff in Lima, Peru. But instead of taking flight, we started to descend. This was the first of several white-knuckle episodes in the Miraflores sky. […]
April 11, 2018
About a one hour drive from Cusco, Pisac is the city used as the starting point to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The better-known Inca ruins at Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo are spectacular, for sure. But Pisac itself is one of the most colorful and diverse cities in Peru. And with far fewer tourists. […]