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South America
  • TheGoingNorths
  • Michael North
  • TheGoingNorths
  • Michael North

South America

6 weeks in South America: Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile! もっと詳しく
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  • 旅行の開始
    2026年4月25日
    South America
    1Michael smiling at the beginning of our journey at DEN in the lounge with his Diet Coke.
    And still smiling since we know we are going to make it to La Paz just in time.View from our rebooked flight from Cusco, Peru to La Paz.Lake Titicaca from above as we start our descent to La Paz.Upon arrival in La Paz we were hungry! Acai bowl hit the spot.1Our nice Hotel Atix in La Paz had interesting art like this fabric cactus.

    Eleven Hours in Columbia

    4月26日, コロンビア ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Travel is a skill in addition to being an experience, and on this first leg of our journey to our starting point in Bolivia we were surely tested! Bolivia is not easy to get to, it requires at minimum two stops from the US (if you start in Denver). We'd booked a Denver --> Houston --> Bogota --> La Paz flight itinerary, and hit a snag in Houston where the captain of our flight had a family emergency, requiring a lengthy delay getting into Bogota. It's a long story involving a run through the Bogota airport, multiple flight rebookings that were made for the incorrect date and time by they airline, and a passport that didn't get returned, but in the end we got an unplanned-for passport stamp for Columbia, four hours of sleep in a hotel, and the sense that we added some travel skills to knowledge base.

    Our organized tour of Bolivia started at 6 pm on Sunday, April 26 and we arrived at the hotel at 3:45 pm. Phew! We were able to join our group of 13 travelers in La Paz We're on a National Geographic Journeys tour through G Adventures, which is a new company to us.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    The salt forms hexagrams on the surface.
    Welcome to the Bolivian Train Graveyard!Heaping hulks of rusted metal stretch along abandoned tracks at the Uyani Train Graveyard.At the train cemeteryThe other worldly Uyani Salt FlatsWe were treated to a very upscale picnic on the flats.Our guide played with the perspective to show Melissa atop a beer bottle!We took a short walk through a tiny ranch community to visit mummified remains of indigenous people.View of the salt flats stretches seemingly forever.This indigenous woman showed us a cemetery used by her ancestors for more than eight centuries.An island of cacti amid the salt flats.Standing atop the island of cacti.Michael gets up close and personal with a cactus.Our hotel is made of salt--even the bed and headboard are formed of salt.View of the Uyani Salt FlatsMichael wandered what it would be like to run on the flats!

    Exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats

    4月27日, ボリビア ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    The Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia is probably the reason we're here. Melissa saw a photo in a book of the best 500 places to visit in the world and the next thing she knew she was searching for a tour package.

    Spanning over 10,000 square kilometers (it's larger than Connecticut!), this prehistoric dried lake bed is the world’s largest salt flat, blanketed in a thick, white crust that forms geometric hexagons across the ground. For perspective if you've been to the Bonneville Salt Flats like Melissa did as a child, this is more than 100 times larger. We're visiting in the dry season, and the endless white horizon creates a unique lack of depth perception, and our tour guide enjoyed setting us up into perspective-bending photos.

    Our first stop was the Train Cemetery, where locomotives and train cars were abandoned in the 1970s after decades of work and when truckers demanded an end to railways throughout South America. We then drove miles and miles into the flats, met with a Bolivian indigenous woman who showed us the burial ground of her "grandparents' grandparents" that included mummies over 800 years old. We also visited the cactus-covered Incahuasi Island in the center of the "salt sea." Our hotel is the Luna Salada, which means "Salty moon" and indeed our room is made of salt bricks! Even the mattress rests on a salt bed.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Michael tries out a new pose.
    The world's largest mirror reflecting Melissa's image.Our faithful Toyota Land Cruisers sit with their images reflected in the water.We're traveling with 11 others on this trip.Playing with perspective on the salt flats--here Michael tries to save Melissa from dinosaurs.Riding a salt llama!On top of a salt pyramid.Michael holds a heavy salt brick--the building blocks in this place of no trees.Checking out the salt processing center.And yes, you can buy table salt here as well.We had an elegant champagne toast as the sun went down.Sun setting along the salt flats.2

    Playing on the Salt Flats

    4月28日, ボリビア ⋅ 🌬 61 °F

    After a full day yesterday of driving and seeing the extent of the salt flats, today was a day full of "photo op" stops as we played tourist on the Uyani Salt Flats. There are areas where the perspective is such that you can create scenes with cameras--such as a dinosaur attack with Michael attempting to rescue Melissa.

    We also lined up and had the jeeps that carried us out to the flats circle us while filming creating a fun video. And toward the late afternoon we sought out an area that was underwater. About one or two inches of water creates the world's larges mirror, reflecting images and is truly a delight to photograph. We stayed in the area to see the sun set with champagne.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Volcanic Rock Soup for lunch
    The chuch door in PotosiStreet scene in PotosiStreet scene in PotosiInteresting scenery between the Salt Flats and PotosiCerro Rico - Rich Hill has been mined since the 1600s

    Volcanic Soup and Cerro Rico

    4月29日, ボリビア ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    We made our way along a highway four hours to Potosi. The drive itself was scenic with plenty of llama herds and even the wild guanacos (a llama cousin) were in sight. Reaching over 13,000 feet at times on the drive we arrived Potosi in time for lunch.

    We tried a tasty, traditional soup called k’alapurka which is heated with a volcanic rock. Watching the hot stone make the soup immediately start to boil was definitely memorable—more engaging, honestly, than much of the sightseeing in the afternoon.

    We spent part of the day at the Casa Nacional de la Moneda, which tells the story of the silver that once made this city one of the wealthiest in the world. While the history is significant, the experience itself felt a little heavy and slow-paced for us. We wandered through town afterward—interesting to see, but not somewhere we lingered long.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    View from the teleférico
    A go sola with no snow and without skis?Enjoying the viewsMt Illimami in the background over 21,000'Street dates back to the Spanish colonial periodPigeons flocking in the square alongside the president's mansions and congressional hallsThe Bolivian Congress meets hereLlama fetus used in offerings to patchamama (Mother Earth)The street art in La Paz is incredibleView from the teleférico

    Exploring La Paz

    5月2日, ボリビア ⋅ 🌙 52 °F

    La Paz is a city that unfolds vertically, so we set out to explore it than from above. We spent the morning riding the Mi Teleférico, a series of 10 gondola transit paths gliding silently over the sprawling red-brick buildings that cling to the valley walls. From that vantage point, the scale of the city becomes clear—dense, dramatic, and framed by the peaks of the Andes. We’re used to gondolas of course, but using them as a transit system in the absence of snow was a new experience!

    Back on the ground, we were guided through the colonial streets of the old town, where narrow lanes open into lively plazas. At Plaza Murillo, the political heart of Bolivia, we saw the facades of government buildings and a steady rhythm of daily life—locals passing through and a plethora of pigeons.

    We visited the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, which houses collections of textiles, featherwork, ceramics, and intricate masks.

    We wrapped up the day at the Mercado de las Brujas (the witch’s market). Stalls were filled with dried herbs, potions, and traditional remedies, alongside offerings used in Aymara rituals—everything from amulets for luck to more curious items like dehydrated llama fetuses meant for spiritual protection.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Trout appetizer and Bolivian wine
    A cholet: check out the statue of liberty at the top!Dragons appear at the top of this home.El Alto is the city at the top of La Paz's valley. 13k+ feet in elevation.View from the teleférico, La Paz's metro systemThe market stretched for at least a mile!Eiffel Tower choletSide of the titanic choletFront of the choletInside the event center in the titanic choletTitanic's captain's deckIf you can't afford much, public housing may be an optionBrightly painted by artist Mamani

    La Paz and El Alto Neighborhoods

    5月3日, ボリビア ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    After a fun Bolivian 6-course meal with wine pairings last night we got to sleep in and then took a tour of the “cholets” and the enormous Sunday market in El Alto. El Alto is the city above La Paz, so it’s well over 13,000 feet in elevation and has nearly 2 million residents.

    Although most of El Alto is not wealthy, the few that are demonstrate their wealth and business acumen through the building of cholets. The word is a fusion of “chola” the word for an indigenous Bolivian lady and “chalet” the French villa.

    These huge 10+ story homes have themes—transformers, Batman, and even the Titanic.

    We then stopped at the other end of the wealth spectrum and saw El Alto’s version of the projects. Public housing developed by the government in 2023, brightly painted by artist Mamani.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    On the boat ride
    Chandelier rock in Ballestes IslandsCarina and James on the 10 passenger dune buggy.Michael with his sand board.Sunset on the sand dunesMichael's second sand boarding runA lone penguin

    On to Peru!

    5月4日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    We flew to Lima the night before Day and have joined a “Peru Hop” tour that is anything but slow-paced. We left Lima at 5 a.m. and didn’t really stop moving until we reached Huacachina late in the day—with Paracas in between. It’s a popular route, and we are the more “seasoned” travelers on a bus full of very energetic younger folks. Thankfully, we were joined by our friends James and Carina, which made the whole experience more fun.

    Our first stop was a boat trip out to the Ballestas Islands, often compared to a mini Galápagos, though having been to the Galapagos this is a stretch. The wildlife included sea lions, a lone penguin, and more birds than we could count. From there, we stopped at a vineyard visit to learn about (and sample) pisco, followed by a quick lunch before heading on again.

    By the time we reached Huacachina, the pace hadn’t let up. The desert oasis is stunning, but the main event was dune buggying and sandboarding. Racing up and down the massive dunes made us wonder how much our travel insurance would cover for medical evacuation, and Michael was brave and slid down the dunes on a board which was equal parts exhilarating and slightly terrifying. Not exactly relaxing—but definitely memorable!    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Before the Nascas there were the Paracas, older etchings but on hills not flat ground
    All the images we sawOur plane for the flightThe astronautOur pilots were so informativeThe monkeyThe hummingbirdThe spiderThe HeronThe CondorThe TreeWe also toured 2000-year-old aqueoThe circles

    The Nasca Lines

    5月5日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Today we traded solid ground for the skies above the Nasca Lines, climbing into a 6-seater plane for a 30-minute flight. From the air, the scale of the lines finally makes sense—massive geoglyphs etched into the desert, only fully visible from above. We spotted the famous hummingbird, monkey, and spider, each one remarkably crisp despite being up to 2,500 years old. The pilot banked left and right over each figure so everyone could get a good view, which made for great photos.

    It’s one of those experiences that feels slightly surreal—hovering over something so ancient and mysterious, wondering how and why these enormous designs were created in the first place.

    And then came the comedown: the long, long bus ride back to Lima. Not the easiest day logistically, but worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime view.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Selfie at the Plaza de Armes
    This dog walker! 🥰Michael found some type of bread he loves at the market and wanted a pic to memorialize it 😉Llamas! 🦙 🦙🦙🦙🦙Old City Gate in Cusco

    Making our Way to Machu Picchu

    5月6日, ペルー ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    After an extremely long day yesterday we arrived at about 1 am to our hotel in Lima and got a solid 7 hours of sleep before heading to the airport for a flight to Cusco because we are bound for Machu Picchu!

    We arrived in Cusco in the afternoon and found the market to get a late lunch. We then walked the city core area taking in the colonial Spanish buildings built right on top of the Inca empire’s capital. Cusco was full of tourists and people selling all things llama and alpaca.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Our first stop the "capital" of the Inca Empire
    Really lucked out with our driver for the dayThe Inca people paid "taxes" though labor to build these structuresA pup among the ruinsValley view and just before the puffer jackets were stowed awayAgricultural terracesHousing structures in the foregroundAlpacas seeking shade among the touristsMoray agricultural terraces were used as a farming research stationFrom the Ollantaytambo Fortess🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙Map sent by our Machu Picchu guide along with a message "run for tickets!"

    Sacred Valley of the Incas

    5月7日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    What a great day! We started early from Cusco and headed toward Ollantaytambo. We hired a driver who just happened to be a archeologist, had excellent English and wanted to tell us about every ancient site we checked out.

    Located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a fertile, scenic river valley in the Peruvian Andes that served as the agricultural, spiritual, and administrative heart of the Inca Empire. Created by the Urubamba River the valley acted as the primary "breadbasket" supplying corn, quinoa, and potatoes. Dotted with impressive archaeological sites like Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the valley demonstrates the advanced architectural and engineering skills of the Inca civilization. There were so many tourists, but the scenery was beautiful, especially the agricultural terraces.

    We finished our day with a train ride to Aguas Calientes (hot waters) where we made a mad dash to the Machu Picchu ticket office to secure tickets for Saturday. More on that later, but let’s just say it was a big downer after such a lovely day.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    It's been a quiet day here as there isn't a lot to do in this little townWatching people move a kiosk by muscleThe river running through Aguas Calientes

    Machu Picchu Machinations

    5月8日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    So Machu Picchu is on many people’s lists of “we must see.” Unfortunately there are oodles of people trying to do just that. We had been unable to secure online tickets 4 months out for the most popular route when we planned our trip so we purchased a guided tour that included this route. But about 6 weeks ago we heard from the tour company that the Ministry of Culture had changed the rules and guides could not purchase tickets, we would need to be in the town it is located in a full day in advance to line up at 6 am to get tickets.

    So we rebooked hotels and rearranged the schedule only to get a message the day before that the rules had changed again and now you need to get tickets 2 days in advance (this is true, we checked). Our timing was terrible and we had no wiggle room in the schedule this late. So…in Amazing Race style we literally ran from the train stop to get in line for the 8 tickets available but missed the window. We were able to get a route, but not the one we wanted.

    Our guide arranged today to somehow get us in and to put us in a private tour (we’d been with a group)! So although we have had a very quiet day in Aguas Calientes we are anticipating a great tour. Perseverance!    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    First viewpoint
    Not many pics in this visit due to Melissa being dizzyTrying to look fabulous 😂Housing areasWe learned the llamas are "here for the tourists"#hereforthellamasWaynapicchu Mountain, the route for tomorrow!Last viewpoint of the agricultural terraces

    Machu Picchu in the Sun

    5月9日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    Finally after weeks of wrangling travel plans and the last minute dash to get tickets we arrived at Machu Picchu! We took the bus up the winding road, met our guide and made our way through the various checkpoints and somehow did land on the popular circuit 2A.

    We had a lovely sunny day with few clouds so weather-wise we were fortunate. But unfortunately as Melissa started up the steps in the heat she became dizzy and lightheaded making the visit something to endure. We think a bout with tummy issues earlier resulted in not enough food for breakfast and the hot day compounded it 😔 The guide was great though allowing us to take our time and found Melissa bits of shade. And tomorrow we get to go in again on the circuit 3A so another chance, yeah!    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Michael and James at the start of the hike
    James showing off the type of stairsDid I mention it was cloudy?Just love those llamas!Carina on a portion of the Waynapicchu hikePost hike viewsAgricultural terracesPeek-a-boo! Llama-see-you!

    Round Two: Machu Picchu

    5月10日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Our second visit to Machu Picchu began a little differently as Michael and James wanted to hike to the site (about 90 minutes) and Melissa and Carina preferred the bus. We met at the top at 10 am for a Circuit 3A visit.

    This circuit is very restricted, as only 300 people a day get to access it because it includes a hike up Waynapicchu mountain. We decided to forego a guide this time and were able to visit a different portion of the site, the lower ruins before winding our way toward the start of the hike.

    Thankfully we had cooler weather today, but it was very cloudy making the views less than ideal. The four of us set out and one returned early—Melissa. There just wasn’t enough recovery time from yesterday’s issues and, well let’s just say that while Michael loved this challenging hike, this was in no way a hike that Melissa would enjoy. Steep, narrow, tall stone steps all the way up. More than 2,000 of them—essentially vertical. After about getting in 20% of the way Melissa decided she would have made a lousy Inca. Michael helped her get back to the start and then sprinted to meet the other two near the top getting there in just 35 minutes!

    We finished up on time for lunch and then took the 4.5 hour train ride back to Cusco arriving at 10:30 pm at our hotel. We have a 3 am pickup for Rainbow Mountain tomorrow 😬    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Snow! Dagnabit!
    Looked a little like home, except the mountains are craggier and we lack alpacasSelfie, yes it was freezingMelissa's favorite moment when a huge herd of alpacas walked with her...all those alpaca butts ❤️

    Snowfall on Rainbow Mountain

    5月11日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    Michael has been our lead investigator for the Rainbow Mountain trek, and was really looking forward to it. The trip involved a 2:50 am hotel pickup, 2-hour van ride to breakfast. Another 1.5 hour ride to the start of the trek. About 2 hours trekking to get to see the mountain at 17,000 feet of elevation. A beautiful “rainbow” mountain made of different minerals, then you make your way back arriving at your hotel at 3 pm. Phew!

    So no surprise that Michael bounded out of bed after 4 hours of sleep and was ready to go!

    But we’d had heavy rain in Cusco the night before (that we trudged through heading to the hotel from the train station) so when the sun came up on our journey to rainbow mountain we were suddenly aware that there was only going to be white mountains to see—no rainbows.

    An unexpected snowstorm made the roads slippery in rear wheel drive vans, so we were encouraged to get out and “enjoy hiking a while”’up the road (Melissa suspects they needed to lighten the vans to get them up the hill!).

    After a lot of trying to figure out what to do with disappointed tourists our guides finally asked whether we wanted to hike around some more in the snow/mud or head back to Cusco. It was James’ birthday we let him decide for our group and we headed back to Cusco for naps and a late birthday dinner.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Michael feels about 🐢 as Melissa feels about 🦙
    Turtle close-up in El Oliver ParkEnding the day with Pisco Sours, Peru's national cocktail

    Back to the Start in Lima

    5月13日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We said goodbye to James and Carina, who were headed home via Panama. We had a reasonable wake up time and headed to the Cusco airport for a flight to Lima. We start a tour of Argentina and Chile in a few days so wanted a bit of a breather before that and we hadn’t really had a chance to see Lima.

    At 10 million people Lima is bustling, but we choose to position ourselves south of the city in San Isidro. It’s a very clean, upscale suburb and after our flight we scouted out a park for Michael to run in. It came complete with turtles (Michael’s spirit animal) and so we knew it was a good fit. We saw lots of folks out enjoying the afternoon with families and two young ladies getting their photos taken for their quinceañeras (big parties when girls turn 15). A lovely relaxing day!    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    We usually have good luck with "free" city walking tours and this one did not disappoint
    One of the buildings around the Plaza de ArmasBeautiful church doorChifa restaurants are a fusion of Chinese and Peruvian cuisinesStreet scene in LimaSculpture in front of the "old" theaterParque de Amor (Love Park) named for this sculpture of a couple embracingYou can go for a 12-minute ride in a hang glider for about $100 USDGreat coastal trails and viewsIt feels like with the sound up you'd hear "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!" But nope!

    Lima Highlights Tour

    5月13日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Today we slowed the pace a little and explored the historic heart of the city on foot. Our walking tour took us by grand plazas, colonial buildings, ornate churches, and streets packed with history. The contrast between old Spanish architecture and the constant buzz of modern Lima (working class is how our guide described it) made this city of 10 million feel different than the smaller places we’ve visited so far.

    One small victory for the day: we successfully figured out Lima’s transit bus system. That may not sound exciting, but navigating a massive city using local transit always feels like an accomplishment when you’re traveling. Armed with questionable confidence, Melissa’s limited Spanish skills and Google Maps, we made our way across the city to Miraflores.

    The reward was worth it. The coastal paths of Miraflores were absolutely beautiful, with cliffs dropping dramatically to the Pacific Ocean below. We spent the afternoon walking along the shoreline parks, watching paragliders drift over the ocean, surfers far below, and locals out enjoying the cool sea air.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Michael trekking through a Miraflores coastal park
    Peruvian flag flying over the bicentennial plazaChurch we passed along the wayStreet art in Barranco"A lot for dreaming"Detail here in the eyes was interestingCoastal views of surfers belowWall with photos of doctors who died treating Covid patients during the pandemic (it kept going...)400 + year old olive trees in a park still bearing fruit

    Last Day in Peru

    5月14日, ペルー ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    To fill our last day in Peru we decided to head south from where we are staying in San Isidro and walk the coastal paths again going from the cities of Miraflores to Barranco to Chorrillos. We put more than 9 miles in and were impressed at how lovely these areas were, especially Miraflores and Barranco. Super clean pedestrian walkways, gorgeous gardens, shopping districts and lots of people out enjoying the day.

    Barrancos has a lot of street art we enjoyed, and we also walked by the medical college that had a display honoring their graduates that died during the pandemic (Peru had the worst rate of death illness of any country in terms of percentage of population 😔).

    Now for an early night. Tomorrow we leave for Argentina!    もっと詳しく

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  • South America

    Off to Argentina!

    5月16日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Our day was spent getting from Lima to Buenos Aires, a 4.5 flight that was delayed by about an hour and a 2-hour time change made the day come to an end quickly.

    Lima’s airport is very new, but lacks a road or transit to it making getting to the airport a real slog backing up traffic through disadvantaged communities, while Buenos Aires (AEP) was about the easiest trip we’ve made through an international destination airport. Friendly immigration officers, easy entry, and a few steps to an Uber pickup within minutes right at the curb.

    We start our 15-day tour with OAT tomorrow. We think there are just 10 of us visiting northern Argentina and Chile.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    1View of the Recoleta Cemetery from the mall food court of all places!
    Beautiful cakes displayed in a store windowOne of many bookstores in the city, but perhaps the most beautifulBA skyline at nightCan you live without us? Women!

    Buenos Aires Orientation

    5月16日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Close to 16 million people live in the area of Buenos Aires (3 to 4 million in the city proper) where it is very much fall. Our puffy jackets have been getting some use.

    Our tour leader for the next two weeks met us at noon and we went on a little orientation walk and then we went out on our own until a group dinner that evening.

    We popped by an overlook to the famous Recoleta cemetery and visited one of the city’s most famous book stores, that was jammed with people on a Saturday.

    Dinner was at a steak house (what else?) complete with Malbec wine (yum!) and Dulce de Leche ice cream.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    The "pink house" is the presidential house, but we were told the current president prefers elsewhere
    The stones are left from people who lost loved ones to Covid and include death dates.Tomb of San Martin in the cathedral that Pope Francis was from.Excuse the shadow...this is the symbol of the grandmas of the missing 30,000

    Buenos Aires Snapshots

    5月17日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    Buenos Aires is a huge city, so we just scratched the surface today, starting with the Plaza de Mayo where the city protests. Key to this plaza is the “abuelas” (the grandmothers) who during the dictatorship 40 years ago kept questioning the disappearance of 30,000 of their sons, daughters and grandchildren.

    We had the opportunity to hear firsthand from a grandson of a citizen who likely helped the dictatorship “disappear” people from his university and made a documentary of his experience.

    We chose to get some steps in the afternoon visiting a reserve along the river and port in the city. There were lots of people out enjoying a relatively warm fall day.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Long story, but Gaucho Gil is a folk hero and there are shrines everywhere in gaucho countryOur local guide explaining the elevation of the area we are in1A wind and water swept canyonLoved these cairns

    On to Argentina’s Rugged North

    5月18日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    After a few nights in Buenos Aires we packed up and flew to Salta, landing and immediately getting into a van for a four-hour ride to Cafayate. We made stops along the way in the Quebrada de Las Conchas, an arid gorge carved by a river over time. The landscape is otherworldly, yet also familiar reminding us of parts of the American Southwest.

    Lunch was at a local place where Melissa sampled locro, a local stew made with beans, corn, tomatoes and beef, which was delicious.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Llama charges up to us and right into our guide.
    Llama zoomies as our guides attempt to make him/her back off with hiking polesLa Yesera canyon1The strata on this rock was so cool!Really reminded us of the American southwestBurro friends were much less aggressive than the llama!Not saguaros, yet look like saguarosNote llama on Melissa's hat, which seems appropriateArtisan's building in town1Alfajores factory making the sugary Argentinian cookies filled with dulce de lecheWinery tour - they produce 7.5 million bottles a yearA very tasty wine tasting!

    Llama Drama, Cafayate Landscapes and Wine

    5月19日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Our little group had some excitement today when a llama literally attacked us! We have seen hundreds if not thousands of llamas, but while out today in a national heritage site viewpoint we saw a llama running full tilt toward us. It nearly mowed down one of our guides and then aggressively ran at group members, eventually forcing us back into our bus! Melissa got great video of the "llama drama," and no one was hurt, but what a strange experience!

    Other than llama antics, today was all about the landscapes around Cafayate. We started with hikes through La Yesera and Los Colorados, surrounded by dramatic canyons, towering red rock walls, giant cacti, and layers of colorful stone shaped over millions of years. Northern Argentina really knows how to put on a show.

    After some free time back in Cafayate, we visited the El Esteco winery to learn about high-altitude winemaking. The vineyards here sit thousands of feet above sea level, producing bold reds (including Melissa's favorite Malbec) and the region’s signature torrontés white wine.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    The Fletchas - The Arrows
    Route 40 is South America's Route 66 - except much longer!1Michael helping harvestThis gentleman was quickly sealing the bags of onionsDon't miss the cats on the top of the buildingColonial era churchWe visited a chili drying company, with a giant pepper made of upcyled tiresChilis drying in the sunMichael checking out the drying onionsOur hacienda hotel for the night

    Journey to Cachi

    5月20日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Today was all about the journey as we traveled from Argentina’s wine country toward the remote desert town of Cachi. The scenery changed dramatically along the way — lush vineyards slowly giving way to rugged red rock landscapes and towering mountains. We followed a stretch of the legendary Ruta 40, Argentina’s answer to Route 66, winding through spectacular valleys and mountain passes alongside the Calchaquí River.

    Along the way we made a few stops. One with an 80-year-old woman who lives alone in a remote area with a killer view. Another stop was when we found a couple of men harvesting sweet onions and we went out into the field to learn about their work and even helped them gather up several loads of onions!

    We stopped for lunch in the tiny village of Molinos before continuing on to Cachi, a small colonial town beneath the Nevado de Cachi mountains. After arriving, we walked its streets taking in the adobe houses and plaza.    もっと詳しく

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  • South America
    Michael intently works on his ceramics project
    His and hers...such creativity!Desolate landscape in the national parkGuanacos (wild llamas) in the mist!We made tamales!And met a real gaucho! The wild chaps are to keep the rider safe from cactus.Prepping the clayA gaucho dance demonstration

    Huge cacti, tamales and gauchos

    5月21日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F

    Today we drove back to Salta, completing a loop we started two days ago. We started with a ceramics class, making Inca crosses, and then loaded into the van and crossed through Los Cardones National Park, where enormous cardon cacti rise out of the dry valley floor against a backdrop of rugged mountains. The fog hung low over the landscape, giving everything a dramatic atmosphere. We spotted several guanacos along the way, although the condors stayed hidden in the clouds.

    From there, we climbed the winding Cuesta del Obispo pass, reaching elevations above 11,000 feet. As we gained altitude, the temperatures dropped sharply and we even encountered snow at the higher peaks but not sticking to the road.

    It was certainly our coldest day, compounded by the heater not working in the bus. We stopped for lunch and a tamale making session and a dance demonstration, which helped us warm up a bit before we arrived Salta.    もっと詳しく

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