The controversial Pisco Sour!

Plaza de Armas, Pisco Town, Peru

The origin of pisco stems from the early Spanish settlers in the 16th Century and it was produced as an alternative to the pomace based brandy “orujo” from Spain with the first recorded mention of it in Peru being found in a will dating from 1613. While in Chile the earliest reference is 1871, so that appears to give the edge to Peru but of course it’s not as simple as that because at the beginning of the Spanish conquest there was no border and Chile & Peru were part of the same colony. However the Chilean defence is that because they occupied part of southern Peru in the late 1800′s that is why there was no reference. If you are to take production volume into consideration into account then Chile wins hands down as it produces 50 litres versus just 1.5m in Peru.

Relations between the countries have been strained in the past and the consequences of the “War of the Pacific” (1879-1884) are still a bone of contention for some people as both Peru & Bolivia ceded land to Chile’s more powerful military forces, with Bolivia losing its coastline. So it’s perhaps understandable that Peru are taking such a strong stance on this matter as they don’t want to lose out again to the southern neighbours. Even after the World Intellectual Property Organization recognised the validity of Chile’s manufacture of Pisco and offered to jointly promote the alcohol they were swiftly rebuffed by the Peruvians.

The ongoing battle for ownership of the Pisco name is actually a recurring theme throughout the world with Greece successfully claiming feta cheese, Parma and Bologna where Parma cheese has been made for over 600 years has also claimed the rights to exclusively label their products as being from Parma but this is not just about prestige as there are also the financial benefits that exclusivity bring. These disputes are not dissimilar to those involving software and intellectual property and are commonly known as “geographical indications” or”designations of origin” in legal terms.

Pisco is prepared quite differently in both countries with the Peruvian version being a pure distillate from young wine for a period of just 3 months and there is nothing else added to it whereas the Chilean Pisco is distilled from mature wine where the grapes have fermented in their entirety before distillation begins. Sometimes it will be matured in oak casks with infusions of different fruits which can give a yellowish colour, as opposed to the clear Pisco of Peru, and they have just 3 varietals, compared to 8 in Peruvian Pisco, and vitally in the Chilean Pisco they do not distill to proof and can on occasion add extra water to reduce high alcohol content. That’s the technical part of it explained, I hope!

Then there’s the way the drink is enjoyed. In Chile the preferred method of preparation is to simply sip it or to mix with cola to make the originally named “piscola” but of course that’s not to say Chileans don’t also enjoy the famed Peruvian method for a Pisco Sour which is typically prepared using simple syrup, a sprinkle of Angostura bitters and egg white. Some Chileans will even admit to being bigger fans of the Peruvian version but you can be sure they’re not exactly shouting it from the rooftops!

Only yesterday a Peruvian visited our offices, and we touched on the delicate subject of pisco. The Chilean pisco is really very good, he magnanimously commented, “como limpiaparabrisas” (as a car window cleaner)….And added two other facts that we need to check out: that the greatest importer of Peruvian pisco is Chile (true?), and that a couple of the top restaurants in Santiago are Peruvian and they make sure where their pisco comes from. Well, a quick check does confirm the leading Peruvian restaurant Astrid y Gaston is one of the top Santiago restaurants in Trip Advisor.

Well as in all such contested matters, the only solution is to decide for oneself, right? Luckily we have a range of trips to Chile and to Peru where you can start this essential process. And we can even design a trip to both countries for the perfect comparison. Salud!

Carol Ann Bassett sailing in the Galapagos

Not everybody experiences the dream of living and working in the Galapagos Islands. Carol Ann Bassett recently did, for almost a year, on assignment from National Geographic Books to research into the way Galapagos and its people were evolving over time. She lived in the idyllic surroundings of Academy Bay, quite a fitting location for a well-recognised academic and journalist.

Here is her story, The Paradox of Paradise, extracted with her permission from her book Galápagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin’s Cradle of Evolution.

* * * * * *

In the time of the garua, when cold Pacific currents flow north from Antarctica, then west along the equator, a light fog shrouds the Galápagos Islands like a veil. In Spanish, garua means “mist,” and to the early explorers, pirates, and whalers who once passed through the archipelago, this ephemeral haze could be both seductive and deadly: The illusion of water called out like the legendary Sirens. Even Charles Darwin wrote in his field journal in September 1835: “The main evil under which these islands suffer is the scarcity of water.”

What Darwin and those before him did not understand was that the Galápagos had survived precisely because the lack of fresh water had rendered the islands uninhabitable to humans. But to the strange and lovely denizens dispersed to these islands by wind, water, and organic rafts, life had taken a different course. Land species that gained a foothold adapted to whatever food was available and evolved in ways unimaginable. Marine species thrived in the plankton-rich waters.

The Galapagos remained isolated until their accidental “discovery” in 1535 when Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, and his crew were caught in a dead calm and drifted westward on the ocean currents.  Berlanga described the islands as “dross, worthless,” and was glad when the trade winds returned to set his ship free from this haunting inferno. In time, those who followed would learn to adapt to this volcanic landscape, just as the bizarre life forms that had evolved here throughout the millennia: Giant land tortoises that can survive more than a hundred and fifty years. Marine iguanas that can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour. Cormorants that no longer need wings to fly. Vampire finches that feed on the blood of masked boobies. Daisies that have morphed into trees.

Magnificent Frigatebird over Academy Bay

But these islands and their unusual denizens now stand at a critical crossroad—a collision course with 21st century values on how to manage tourism, immigration, and the invasive species that prey on the very life forms that make the Galapagos special. The islands are a protected World Heritage Site, and scientists, conservationists, and Galapageños are working to protect the archipelago before it’s too late.

I first visited the Galápagos in 1990 as a young journalist on assignment for a national magazine. Like most visitors I felt as though I was entering a primordial dreamscape where time and space had stood still. On Floreana Island, I watched a school of spotted eagle rays float through the waves like butterflies. In the darkness of night, bottle-nosed dolphins frolicked beside our tour boat, their dorsal fins radiant with bioluminescence—living light from microscopic organisms. I had come to Las Encantadas (the Enchanted Islands), as the early Spanish explorers called them. On North Seymour Island male frigate birds floated on thermals, their throats puffed out like giant red balloons to attract mates.

Carol Ann & young sea lion

But what struck me most was the baby sea lion on Santiago Island that trailed me like a puppy and sniffed at my shoes, not knowing what to make of me. As I gazed out to sea I spotted a lone sea turtle, plowing through the waves like a dark leviathan. Perhaps this is what Darwin saw when he wrote that in the Galápagos, “Both in time and space, we seem to be brought near to that great fact—the mystery of mysteries—the first appearance of new beings on this earth.”

* * *

Like Darwin, I too was captivated by the mystical quality of the islands, and throughout the years I continued studying the archipelago, its lifeforms, and how rapidly life was changing throughout the archipelago. Back in 1990 an estimated 12,000 colonists lived on the islands, most of them in Puerto Ayora. (Today, about 30,000 people call the Galapagos home.) Fishermen in shorts, tattered shirts, and sandals worked in the equatorial sun, building wooden boats and weaving nets. Few amenities existed back then for visitors. Makeshift kiosks sold seafood and trinkets made of endangered black coral. The village consisted of a few modest hotels, a restaurant, and a bar called El Booby whose T-shirts were popular among tourists. There was no bank, nor were there telephones. The electricity was turned off after midnight.

None of the trendy art galleries existed, nor did sushi restaurants, day spas, discotheques, or Internet cafes. Today, when you ask a Galapagueño what time it is, most will pull out a cell phone to check. The truth is, the Galapagos, a region with no indigenous roots or mythology—a cluster of remote islands known to the world for less than five centuries—has gone from the Stone Age to the Space Age in a matter of decades.

The Dakar Race was inspired by Frenchman Thierry Sabine who became lost in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan- Nice rally in 1978, after the experience he wanted to put together a race where everyone could experience the desert.  The rally used to start in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower. Sabine became one of the races casualties in January 1986 when he lost his life in a helicopter crash that killed 4 other passengers in Mali, fittingly his ashes were spread across the desert.

Atacama at Night

Stephane Peterhansel is the undoubted King of the Desert (Sand King) with 3 wins in his Mitsubishi car and an incredibly impressive 6 further victories on his Yamaha bike. Other notable competitors are Yoshimasa Sugawara who has competed in 28 consecutive races since 1969 (several were in the Abidjan – Nice Rally, the precursor to Dakar) and Jutta Kleinschmidt became the first female stage (1998) and overall race winner (2001). Unfortunately the race had to move to South America in 2009 after 4 French tourists were killed in 2008 in Mauritania and there were further terrorist threats against the race.

Over 400 cars, trucks, motorcycles and quad bikes start the 8,000km long, toughest of all motor races but not everyone finishes due to the incredibly tough terrain that needs to be negotiated and there are occasionally some pretty bad accidents along the way. However, this hasn’t stopped the race being warmly embraced by the South Americans and almost the entire first stage of 300km in Argentina was lined with spectators.

The 2013 version of the rally will start in Lima, Peru on January 5th 2013 for the first time with the route winding it’s way through the spectacular landscapes of Nazca and Arequipa in Peru before heading to Arica and Calama in Chile followed by a detour through Salta, Cordoba, La Rioja and Calama in Argentina before coming back to Chile for the final stages of the race through Copiapo, La Serena and finally Santiago on January 20th.

Here are some highlights from last years race to give you an idea of the terrain the drivers must face, one of who humorously described it as, and I’m paraphrasing here, Nature’s way of telling us we shouldn’t be here!

Jean-Louis Schlesser's Ford powered Dune Buggy

The event will be a boon to the countries involved in economic terms with the 2012 event estimated to have been worth over $500m to the Peruvian economy, the principle beneficiaries being the hotel & restaurant industries and there are expected to be as many as 15,000 in “The White City” of Arequipa alone! Shown in 190 countries and with a worldwide audience in the billions this is a great opportunity for South America to once again showcase its natural beauty along with the charm and friendliness of the people that make it such an exciting place to visit.

For many years there has been heated debate between historians, scientists and archeologists regarding the when, the how and the who of the settlement of the Americas. Our current understanding of how human migration to and ultimately throughout the continent began comes from advances in several interconnected disciplines, the combination of which has lead to exciting new findings, published in the scientific journal Nature and summarised in a great article on the BBC may definitively answer one of the most hotly debated topics in science, which is when did people first arrive in the Americas.

Quecha descendents in the Sacred Valley, Peru

There are many conflicting and sometimes adversarial views on the subject of when the America were settled with the date of the first arrivals from Asia being set as early as 40,000 years ago, although they are only theorised to have gotten as far as Alaska, to the widely accepted version of events where they got here between 13,000 and maybe as long as 19,000 year ago. Let’s also not forget the possibility of groups who may have arrived but didn’t flourish as the later migrants did. Thanks to the huge popularity of the hit show “Ancient Aliens” on the History Channel there are the growing number of theorists who have some pretty outlandish theories on the history of the continent. For better or worse this has sparked a lot of interest in ancient man made structures around the world with a lot of attention focused on the Maya and Inca Empires Latin America in particular and as long as the inevitable increase in traffic is handled properly,  it opens up these magnificent feats of our ancestors to a new generation of admirers. One of the major interests in the current resurgence in interest in the Maya is of course the so-called Doomsday Calendar which has seen people flocking to sites such as Chichen Itza and Palenque in Mexico and Tikal and Copal in Guatemala before it’s too late!

Chukchi Anadyr residents of Siberia taken circa 1906

The initial wave of people populated the continent in a southerly direction with the aid of the coastline and a sequential population split is apparent with little gene flow after divergence. This is most striking in South America where there was virtually none with a major exception found on the Panama isthmus with the Chibchin people who have both North and South American ancestry. Proof of the second and third waves is found only in the Alaska and Canada according to co-author David Reich, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, “There are at least three deep lineages in Native American populations. The Asian lineage leading to First Americans is the most anciently diverged, whereas the Asian lineages that contributed some of the DNA to Eskimo-Aleut speakers and the Na-Dene-speaking Chipewyan from Canada are more closely related to present-day East Asian populations.”. While it also transpires that the Nauken & Chukchis of Siberia carry distinctive First American DNA therefore the Eskimo-Aluet speakers migrated back to Asia at some point bringing Native American genes with them.

The University of Tel Aviv in conjunction with UCLA have published a study on DNA findings recently which may give us further insight into human migration by being able to genetically map your past and has the potential to accurately determine ancestry, origins going back many generations and the migration patterns your ancestors took. This new method will also help scientists to learn more about the human genome and will hopefully give us even greater insight to the paths taken by the early arrivals in the Americas and eliminate any remaining doubt!

Should you wish to join us in Latin America to search for any possible ancestors who made the original trip all those aeons ago then look no further.

Migration patterns of American Settlers (Source BBC)

Now that the dust has settled on what by all accounts was an incredible Olympic Games in London recently, Brazil will be the focus of the sporting world for the next four years. Not only are they hosting the biggest sporting event in the world in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 but two years prior to that in 2014 the famous Maracana will play host to the World Cup final which was last played there in 1950 when Brazil lost to Uruguay, so needless to say the locals will be hoping for a better finish this time!

Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This is of course a massive undertaking for any country hosting a World Cup but even more so in Brazil by having 12 host cities spread out across enormous distances, in some cases very remote cities in the Amazon which need massive investments in stadia, infrastructure and hotel rooms, with the longest distance between venues being the equivalent of travelling from London to Baghdad! However, as is usually the case with these events such as South Africa in 2010, when the time comes everything will be completed, there’ll be a couple of glitches but overall it will run smoothly and everyone goes home happy.

The national football team and those of neighbours Uruguay and Argentina have long been major players in soccer on the world stage  as beween them they account for almost 50% of World Cup wins and 80% of the Copa America finals since 1976 so you would expect them all to fancy their chances this time around and it would be a brave soul to bet against it happening. However while being overachievers in football, polo, volleyball, boxing and maybe hockey the Olympics medal haul for Latin America in general is quite poor with Sweden and South Korea having more gold medals to show than the entire continent combined. This may change if MMA (that’s Mixed Martial Arts for the uninitated, it’s definitely not recommended for the faint of heart!) is introduced as an Olympic sport in the future as Brazil is currently the dominant player in what is regarded as the fastest growing sport in the world.

With the games arriving in South America for the first time we may very well see a large increase in the number of medals for Latin countries as there will probably be a push for investment in sports which has not been seen before and the host country traditionally gets a boost from their usual haul. The main reasons why Latin America has lagged behind the rest of the world is mainly due to money and a recent report on the BBC shows that an Olympic medal cost on average £4m of investment which is far beyond the means of most Latin countries.  Overall the medal haul at London was a big improvement over recent Olympics and there were big celebrations in Guatemala when they secured their first ever medal, silver in the 20km Walk, while Venezuela won only their 2nd gold ever after a 44 year gap in fencing but this could simply be due to countries outstanding athletes in their respective disciplines rather than anything special their respective countries did to help them.

One area where Latin America can and have started to help their athletes is via private sponsorship and an example of this is Bolivia’s largest brewery helping 10 athletes in several fields, including distance running where Bolivia’s altitude is a major advantage, and while this may not sound like much it’s still 10 more than have previously been helped. It would be great if there was no repeat of the experiences of Peruvian athlete, Mario Bazan a long distance runner, who complained that he was unable to afford breakfast in preparation for the London games.

This is also a fantastic opportunity for the respective tourism boards of neighbouring South American countries to take full advantage of the huge influx of sports fans to who will be in Brazil to extend their trip to see some of the many once-in-a-lifetime experiences this amazing and diverse continent has to offer!

I love Top 10 Lists.  Whenever I’m cruising the web and a news article that starts with “Top 5″ or “Top 10″ catches my eye, I can’t help but be drawn in.  It doesn’t matter if its “Top ten cars of 2011″ or “Top ten beauty tips”, for some reason I can’t help but need to know what claims the number one spot (as well as 2-10).  So when an entity as respected as National Geographic comes up with the “Best Tours in Latin America”, I can’t bring myself to look away.  So, what did they choose and, more importantly, are they right?

Machu Picchu- One of the most visited tourist attractions in South America

From Belize to Tierra del Fuego, they include a wide variety of trips and excursions:-

Guyana: Behind the Guiana Shield

Guyana

Delve deep into the relatively untouched interior rainforest via canoe, planes, and 4x4s to visit indigenous lodges and learn about their culture.

Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay: Tour del Sur

A challenging overland journey, this trip proves to show the very best of eastern South America.

Belize, Guatemala, Honduras: The Maya Kings

The Mayans once ruled over much of Central America, and on this journey you’ll delve deep into their lost civilization’s monuments, ruins and historical artifacts.

Ecuador: Galapagos Land and Sea

Called Charles Darwin’s laboratory, Galapagos is perhaps one of the most spectactular places on Earth for wildlife viewing.  Here you’ll hike, kayak and cruise through the archipelago that gave birth to the modern theory of evolution.

Peru: Saddle Up for the Inca Trail

Hiking and bus riding to ancient Machu Picchu is common, but here you’ll have the opportunity to go on horseback through various ecosystems before reaching the historical city of the Incas.

Colombia: Lost and Found City

Less well known than Machu Picchu, Colombia’s Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) was built over 600 years before the Incan destination and today lies hidden in dense tropical rainforest at the end of a rigorous 3-day trek .

Argentina,Chile: Patagonia Adventure

Just like Che Guevara in his Motorcycle Diaries, travelers explore the vastness of Patagonia by motorbike through the Lake District, across the Andes and to Tierra del Fuego at the end of the world.

The above are what National Geographic thinks are the top trips in Latin America.  These are all amazing journeys, and worthy of anyone’s trip of a lifetime.  However, there are several key destinations that I would like to add to the list, so here are my (additional) top trips in Latin America:

Costa Rica’s Natural Treasures

Costa Rica boasts 5% of the world’s animal and plant life in only .25% of its landmass.  They have devoted more than 25% of their national territory to their National Park system and these protected areas ranging from sea level to 13,000 feet and across many different biomes are not to be missed by any nature lover.

Ecuador’s Volcanoes

Ecuador is host to multiple active volcanoes settled in rain forest, cloud forest and the high paramos.  Mount Cotopaxi hosts one of the only Equatorial glaciers on Earth at a latitude of O’40″S.  Next, move over Everest, nearby Mount Chimborazo’s summit is the point on Earth closest to outer space thanks to the Equatorial bulge of the planet.

Iguazu Falls

Found along the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the most spectacular sights in Latin America with 275 separate waterfalls anywhere from 60 meters to 82 meters high along a 2.7km long divide.

Peru and Brazil: The Amazon

No list of top Latin America trips would be complete without an expedition down the world’s mightiest river.  The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and host to thousands of plant and animal species, and nowhere will you find better examples than cruising down the river’s muddy waters through Peru and Brazil.

So there you have it.  National Geographic’s top tours combined with my own, even if not necessarily a Top Ten list (who could presume to put these in order of importance).  Which is your favorite?  What is your number one trip of a lifetime in Latin America?

Peru is a major center for food variety in South America; with a rich blend of local foods and imported crops, local cuisine offers a startling variety of ingredients for travelers to enjoy, and different foods can be found in different climates. Here are five of the top traditional foods that visitors can enjoy.

Most popular in the coastal regions where seafood is readily accessible, Ceviche (or, in some regions, Cebiche) is a seafood dish where raw fish is marinated in citrus juices and spiced to taste, often served with side-dishes that complement the flavors. The exact flavoring frequently varies, but proper Ceviche is always fresh. Perhaps the most interesting variation can be found in the Trujillo area, where Ceviche is sometimes prepared from shark meat rather than a more common type of fish.

One of Peru’s more traditional dishes is the Papa rellena, a type of stuffed potato most common in the Lima and Central Coast region where the influence from Spanish colonists remains the most powerful. Within the outer shell, the food combines minced meat (usually beef), onions, whole olives, hardboiled eggs, and various spices. Once the ingredients have been put together, the entire mass is deep-fried. While perhaps not suitable as a dinner course during a Peru vacation, Papa rellena is often consumed for lunch and usually comes with some form of sauce to adjust the flavor a bit.

The northern coast of Peru offers a considerable difference in style when compared to the southern areas of the country. With generally warmer temperatures, different historical influences, and a greater array of certain ingredients, residents eventually came up with Shambar, an unusually complex soup. The dish incorporates a wide variety of beans (including chickpeas, lima beans, dry beans), wheat grain, multiple types of meat (usually chicken, beef, and pork), and an immensely complex set of spices that help create its complex flavor. Shambar is considered by some to be the most traditional dish of the area, and it serves as an attractive choice for anyone looking to experience the full richness of local tastes.

The mountainous Andes region offers fewer offerings for variety due to the difficulty of raising certain crops and the lack of some types of livestock. However, one meal that locals occasionally consume is the Pachamanca, a massive meal designed more for a large number of guests than a single person looking for some Peru food. After mixing meats, produce such as sweet potatoes and corn, and various spices, the entire set is put under hot stones to bake for over an hour. Considered to be something of a festival dish, Pachamanca is most commonly available during celebrations, though some local restaurants specialize in serving it regularly.

Ocopa is a generally regional dish in Peru that can be found in a variety of areas and during many Peru tours, though some of the more outlying areas may not have it available. After yellow potatoes have been sliced and boiled, they are covered in a chili pepper sauce, a local herb (to give Ocopa its distinctive green color), and white cheese to create the main part of the dish. Lettuce and eggs are often added as a side, and certain restaurants may add walnuts as well. The vivid sauce gives Ocopa the sharp taste common to Peruvian cuisine and adds most of the main flavor of the dish.

These are just some of the many options available for Peruvian foods; with its wide variety of ingredients and varied climates, Peru offers enough diversity in meals to suit just about any desire.

Chile is a country with a lot to do and even more to see. Here are five of the top places to visit, as well as activities that can be enjoyed in each area.

1.) Atacama Desert

Covering 40,600 square miles, it can be hard to know where to start in the Atacama Desert. Despite its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Atacama is actually one of the driest places on the planet, which means that many of the ruins in the area have been preserved remarkably well. Visitors can take a walk through the Padre Le Paige museum, explore the pre-Inca ruins of Tulor, examine Moon Valley and the Atacama Salt Lake, or even see the unusual El Tatio geysers. Horseback-riding and sand-boarding are popular sports in the area, though it is highly recommended that all visitors bring something to drink.

2.) Easter Island

For those who prefer a little more water, Easter Island is a moderate flight from the coast of Chile. A little over 63 square miles large, the island isn’t large enough to host too many inhabitants. However, visitors can find archeological ruins and volcanoes, as well as attend annual celebrations such as the Tapati festival. Easter Island also works well as a cruise destination, providing a truly unique destination. Visitors can continue on the ship back to port or fly home from the island’s airport, allowing for easier scheduling as well.

3.) Patagonia

The southern part of Chile hosts Patagonia, a spacious region known for its dramatic scenery and abundant wildlife. Less-developed than some other regions of the country, the Patagonia area offers National Parks (such as the Torres del Paine), the Perito Moreno glacier, and other natural wonders. Trekking excursions are a popular way to experience Patagonia and allow visitors to fully experience the land around them.

4.) Central Valley

For those who prefer their experiences to be a bit more modern, the Central Valley region hosts the capital city of Chile, Santiago. It also has easy access to the Andes Mountains, where visitors can enjoy winter sports as well as a number of wineries and other luxurious producers that cater to the finer tastes of life.

5.) Lake District

The Lake District, or Los Lagos, region offers a combination of many of Chile’s features. Fishing, forestry, and cattle ranching are all common sights in the area, while the abundant rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and volcanoes offer nature-lovers a truly unique place to explore. For those who’d prefer to relax, the Lake District also has easy access to the Andes Mountains, with activities including ski resorts, hot springs, and a number of other recreational activities.

With abundant natural beauty and enough modern development to provide the better things in life, Chile offers an incredible variety of places to explore and activities to enjoy, making it an ideal destination for any vacation.

Note from Latin Discover: If you are looking for a tour that encompasses the best of Chile, we highly recommend one of our most popular tours: ‘Magic of Chile‘

With its rich history, vibrant culture, and diversity of destinations, Argentina is one of South America’s most significant and fascinating regions. Here are ten of the top places for Argentina tours to visit and for those visitors a good time.

1. Buenos Aires

One of Argentina’s most unusual locations, Buenos Aires is an independent city-state that exists alongside the 23 provinces of the nation. Upbeat and vigorous, Buenos Aires is a city that never truly sleeps, and offers countless things to do and see such as learning tango and seeing tango shows.

2. Bariloche

The Bariloche region, along with the Seven Lakes, is an alpine area in western Argentina that features skiing, trekking, and mountaineering alongside confectioner’s shope, cafes, and chocolate shops. The classical climate of this area mixes well with the exotic location to provide a truly memorable retreat.

3. Cordoba

The second-largest city in all of Argentina, Cordoba contains a number of buildings left over from Spanish colonialism, such as churches and part of the oldest university in the nation. The university has attracted people from around the country for hundreds of years, and partially as a result of this, Cordoba is often considered to be one of the most culturally rich cities in the nation as well. The destination is also full of things to do such as golf on any of the 25+ golf courses. Or you can trek, horse ride bike and more.

4. Iguazu Falls

Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguazu Falls are one of the most powerful sets of waterfalls in the world. With two hundred seventy-five drops and a width of over one and a half miles, this iconic destination is often a highlight of nature-oriented tours and any trip passing through the area.

5. Mendoza

For travelers who prefer a little less snow in their adventures, Mendoza is often the city of choice within Argentina. Despite its easy access to the Andes Mountains, Mendoza features activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and river rafting as well as more cultural activities such as wine tasting (due to the plentiful number of wineries in the area).

6. The Andes Mountains

Speaking of the Andes, however, these mountains are a major feature of South America and offer quite a lot of things for visitors to do. Whether it’s skiing down one of the many slopes, climbing Aconcagua (the highest mountain in the entire chain), or simply flying over them for the view, the Andes remain accessible and exciting as part of any vacation.

7. Patagonia

Most often one of the wilder areas of Argentina, Patagonia is an expansive part of the southern region of the nation, and features everything from a particularly high number of beaches to excellent fly-fishing and a petrified forest dated back to the Jurassic era. Due to its size, many visitors often choose to limit their vacation to just this region, as there is already so much to see without heading to the rest of the country.

8. Ushuaia

Perhaps the greatest claim of the city of Ushuaia is that it is generally regarded as the southernmost city of the entire world, a distinction of some renown. The temperature of this area is generally cool throughout the year, so warm clothing is often recommended, and visitors can expect to see an abundance of seals, penguins, and other animals that populate the southernmost regions of the world.

9. El Calafate

One of the smaller towns in the general Patagonia area, El Calafate was originally constructed as a minor settlement, and expansion didn’t really begin until Argentina created the nearby Los Glaciares National Park to highlight one of the largest and most-visited glaciers in the world, Perito Morino. At ninety-seven square miles in area and holding the world’s third-largest reserve of fresh water, Perito Morino draws nature-lovers from around the world to experience hiking and sightseeing.

10. The Valdes Peninsula

Located on the eastern side of Argentina, the Valdes Peninsula is regarded as a major nature reserve where high numbers of animals come to mate, live, or simply pass time. The area features a high number of protected areas, but visitors can tour certain regions to observe wildlife such as birds, seals, and whales.

With everything from wildlife preserves to modern cities spread throughout the country, and with a rich history and culture to be enjoyed, Argentina is easily one of South America’s most attractive destinations for any vacation. Individuals and groups interested in such trips can arrange for tours to any of these destinations through Latin Discover, one of the most popular vacation providers in all of Latin and South America.

As the Winter Solstice approaches in the southern hemisphere, a sense of excitement can be felt throughout the Andes Mountains, once home to the ancient Inca tribe. On June 24, many people living in the area celebrate the Incan “Festival of the Sun”, known otherwise as the Inti Raymi. In ancient times, this festival was a major religious event celebrated in the Cusco region, featuring dancing, ceremonies, and sacrifices as well as an opportunity to enjoy the new year (as their calendar reckoned it). The festival vanished in 1535 when the Spanish moved through South America, but in the last few decades the ceremony has been revived in Cuzco, Peru – don’t worry about the sacrifices, though, because now it’s mainly entertainment.

Stage One: Coricancha

The modern celebration of the Inti Raymi begins at Coricancha (spellings may vary), the Incan Temple of the Sun. Dedicated to the sun deity Inti, Coricancha was the most important temple in the entire empire and, despite the fact that the original temple was taken down by Spanish colonists in favor of building the Church of Santo Domingo, parts of the original temple remain. Visitors can examine textiles, mummies, and other artifacts from the era. If you’re visiting during Inti Raymi, though, you’d better be ready to wake up early; people start gathering hours before the event truly begins (usually at 9 AM or so), but the earliest visitors can still get the best seats. A number of activities are held outside, rather than within the temple itself, allowing for far more seats for visitors.

Stage Two: Huaqaypata
The festival continues with a parade to the Main Square of Cusco, Huaqaypata. Colorful outfits and traditional Incan clothing are common sights, and as with the first stage of the festival, arriving early is highly recommended in order to get a good view. The second stage begins at about 11 AM, depending on how fast the procession is moving. For those who are pressed for time, it may be better to watch this part of the procession for only a little while, because the parade isn’t stopping and it’s heading straight for the main event.

Stage Three: Sacsayhuamán
The largest and final events of the Inti Raymi take place at the sacred square in Sacsayhuamán, about two kilometers from the second stage. Many observers prefer to hike through the hills to find good spots to watch, though tickets for closer seats are available in limited numbers. Featuring further processions and re-enactments of traditional dances and worship, the festivities in this area make good use of precisely what the open field is believed to have been designed for. The third stage begins at about 2 PM, and lasts for a good portion of the day – for this reason, it is highly recommended to bring your own food.

For information on visiting Cuzco during the Inti Raymi festival, inquire with Latin Discover, where a representative can help you plan a trip to one of Latin America’s biggest and most exciting festivals. You can book a Peru Classic Tour which includes a full leisure day so that you can follow all of the Inti Raymi festivities and also visit Machu Picchu and Lima at the same time. Or Latin Discover can create a custom itinerary which will include Inti Raymi within the trip.