Travel Blog
Expert tips, destination guides, and stories from our adventures across South America. Get inspired for your next journey.
Peru medical mission trip: why I chose to lend a hand
Sister Lucia leaned in close and spoke loudly, but calmly, into Aurelia's deafened ear. The Catholic Nun asked the elderly, blind woman, in her native Qechua language, if she had chronic pain or discomfort. Aurelia touched her upper abdomen and pointed to her pain hidden by layers of worn clothing.
Did you see the Peace Pole on your trip to Machu Picchu?
It was standing alone, tucked away in a shady corner at the main entrance to Machu Picchu . A Peace Pole. I recognized the white pole with dark lettering right away because there is one at my children's school. Virginia Beach Friends School. Although not prominently displayed at Machu Picchu, it's not hard to find.
What to do if natural disaster strikes on your vacation
So you're ready for that trip-of-a-lifetime to your dream destination. Perhaps a few days before you depart, you hear a report of a threatening natural disaster. You picture yourself clinging to a guy in a hard hat, feet dangling in mid air while suspended from a helicopter as CNN camera crews capture your rescue for a
Less than world-class hotels at world-class Machu Picchu. Why?
Why are there so many complaints about the hotels in Aguas Calientes that serve travelers going to Machu Picchu? It's the only town close enough to Machu Picchu to offer services for the thousands of tourists who make the trip to the mysterious & magical Incan ruins.
Tips for Families Traveling Abroad
Tip #1 - If only 1 parent (or no parents) are traveling with children under the age of 18, the parent (or guardian) traveling with child(ren) should have a notorized Permission to Travel letter from the parent not traveling. There is no standardized single form. You can find templates online or create your own. Tip #2
Off to Northern Peru (part 4)
(continue from "Our Guide, Our Mother and Our Chicha Beer" part 3) Before leaving the hotel for the Cusco airport, Vidal told me privately that my son did not have altitude sickness. Vidal was confident that my son had some kind of bug. It was not the kind of quick, laid-out-on-your-bed kind of sickness. It was a slow-
"Nobody knew about our trips to Machu Picchu" by Vidal Jaquehua
By Vidal Jaquehua
Peru: Our Guide, Our Mother and Our Chicha Beer (part 3)
(continued from "Our Guide, Our Mother and Our Chicha Beer" part 2) Vidal would be our guide, our mother and our angel, day and night, for the next week as we walked, drove and toured our way through Cusco, Sacsayhuaman (pronounced sexy woman, a pronunciation that did not go unnoticed by the males in my group) and Sacr
Cusco hotels & toilets: what to expect when traveling in Peru
This post will focus on the common characteristics of 3 star hotels in Cuzco and what to expect. There's nothing wrong with most of the hotels in Cusco. But judging by the negative comments written by travelers on Trip Advisor, most of the issues are due to traveler expectations. There are a few things that, if prepare
Qosqo Tales
Our local guides are Andean natives with a passion for bringing their Qechua culture to life. Here are three Andean legends they translated so you can connect with their roots before experiencing the culture for yourself.
Children of the Sun
The Story of the Origin of the People of the Andes
Valicha: A Tale of My Mother's Famed Chicha Brewery in the Andes Mountains
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