Eco Travels in South America - Green Mochila Travel Blog

🇧🇴 12 Colourful Bolivia Festivals & Celebrations

A fiesta in Bolivia is sure to be a memorable treat. Bolivia festivals are loud, lively, colourful, massive; some of ...
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View from Villarrica volcano on the surrounding National Park, Chile

🇨🇱 A Hiker’s Guide to Chile National Parks

Be ready to hop on the train of Adventure and we swear: it'll be a beautiful ride. There has to ...
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🇨🇴 Super-Easy Gluten-Free Arepas Like in Colombia

Arepa truly is the #1 street food in Colombia and Venezuela. You're sure to come across this snack if you're ...
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Women in typical dress at Lavagem do Bonfim festival, Brazil

🇧🇷 10 Festivals in Brazil for all Kinds of Travellers

For many, Brazil's name resonates with the drum beats of the world's most famous Carnival. Yet in a country that ...
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🇨🇴 10 Colombian Snacks You Need to Try

Colombia is full of surprises. This is true not only about its diverse landscapes but about its gastronomy as well ...
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🇪🇨 A Hiker’s Guide to the National Parks in Ecuador

Step off the beaten trail and take a dive into the unexpected. Ecuador, despite being the 4th smallest country in ...
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🇦🇷 Super Easy Veggie-Filled Empanadas Like in Argentina

Is there anything better than the feeling of vacation while being actually in the (home) office? (Well, probably to be ...
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🇦🇷 10 Festivals and Celebrations of Argentina to Dive into its Culture

When planning holiday in Argentina, I often think of visiting cities, hiking in nature, or even planning a fun activity ...
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The ochre cliffs of Paracas National Reserve, Peru

🇵🇪 A Hiker’s Guide to Peru National Parks

Let's dive into the mysteries of Peru. In a country where nature is closely related to beliefs and traditions, it's ...
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The best view on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, Colombia

🇨🇴 A Hiker’s Guide to the Best National Parks in Colombia

Let your mind wander through the diversity of the Colombian landscapes. From lush forests to stunning beaches, from savannas to ...
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Our Eco Trip Turned Out to Be a Life-Changing Experience. We’re Telling You How.

So everything started out like this: On a sunny September afternoon, we jumped on a plane to South America, ready ...
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Jau national park, Brazil, seen from above

🇧🇷 A Hiker’s Guide to Brazil National Parks

Let the wilderness of Brazil put a spell on you. From steep canyons to jungle rivers, from impressive sand dunes ...
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Viewpoint on Lago Escondido, Nahuel Huapi National Park, near Bariloche

7 (+1) Tips to Travel More Often

Get up, go to work. Smile at your colleagues, small-talk in the lift. Work, work, and then watch Netflix and ...
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Tierra del Fuego NP, the most famous National Park in Argentina

🇦🇷 A Hiker’s Guide to Argentina National Parks

Let Argentina bring you on a beautiful trip. From arid canyons to moving glaciers, from roaring waterfalls to crystal lakes, ...
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What Are Your Favourite Movies Set in South America?

Question: How many films set in South America can you name? A couple, a handful, quite a few? To score ...
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What Are Your Favourite South American Novels?

Question: How many South American authors can you name? As for me, I've never been good at that game, despite ...
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The Shape of Travel to Come

Nature has given us a hard punch in the face. With this coronavirus crisis, all of us, governments and companies ...
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What is your favourite South America trek?

Sore legs and contented soul – nothing beats a good hike. In the sand, the snow or on the rocks, ...
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A small waterfall in the Amazon rainforest

24 Magnificent National Parks in South America

The first thing we did when we booked our flight to South America was to jump around the room giggling ...
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🇵🇪 What to Do in One Day in Lima, Peru!

Don't feel bad about it. There are actually many travellers who either overnight in Lima on their way between the ...
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Gold earring from the Moche civilisation

🇵🇪 Uncovering the Treasures of the Lord of Sipán Tomb

What you see above is an earring. But not any earring. It's probably the most famous earring on the whole ...
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🇵🇪 A Few Keys to Understanding the Wari: Culture in the Shadows

While in Peru there is a true cult of the Incas, little attention is paid to many other cultures who ...
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Closeup of a boat on the beach in Florianopolis Brazil

🇧🇷 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Brazil

If you go in search of the soul of Brazil, beware: you could well leave a bit of your own ...
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wild camping argentina lake district header

🇦🇷 Wild Camping in Patagonia: Our Argentina Adventure

How to go wild camping in Argentina when you don't have a tent? Most of the time, to camp or ...
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Man hitchhiking on a desert road in Argentina

🇦🇷 Our Hitchhiking Adventure in the Northwest of Argentina!

How to go on an Argentina road trip when you have no car? Well, in many parts of the world, ...
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The strange builging of the Oscar Niemeyer Museum

🇧🇷 A Visit to Curitiba, the Most European City in Brazil

Koo-ree-tchee-ba. It might sound like the Indigenous name of a wild bird species, but no. Curitiba, the 8th largest city ...
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Graffiti mural of an aboriginal man in Rio de Janeiro by Kobra

🇧🇷 Backpacking Brazil: Tips & Destinations

There's samba, football and festivals. There are beautiful hips wearing the shortest of clothes. There are even kids playing with ...
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🇦🇷 10 Hikes for Adventure Trekking in Bariloche, Argentina

"The mountains are calling & I must go", said naturalist John Muir while fighting to protect Yosemite in North America ...
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🇨🇱 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Chile

Chile, the inconceivable land. A stretch of land that patches together the most diverse and unique landscapes. If you're a ...
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🇦🇷 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Argentina

How will we find the words to tell you? We loved Argentina so much, we hope you'll love it too ...
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Landscape near Uyuni, Bolivia with a volcano background

🇧🇴 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Bolivia

One thing for sure is that Bolivia won't leave you indifferent. The poorest and less developed country on the continent ...
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🇵🇪 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Peru

Peru surprises, intrigues, and fascinates. It's on half the world's top dream destinations, but at the same time it remains ...
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The site of Machu picchu with Huayna Picchu in the background

🇵🇪 The Cheapest Ways to Visit Machu Picchu in 2020

I know, I know. You want to hike and travel on the cheap and the sheer price of the Machu ...
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Gold-colour tundra with mountains in background

🇪🇨 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Ecuador

Some places deserve to be in the spotlight, others should rather be kept a secret. Ecuador is one of those ...
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Colourful facades of colonial houses in Cartagena, Colombia

🇨🇴 [Itinerary] 2 or 3 Weeks in Colombia

Life is full of memories, and the ones that are made in Colombia have a suffused light to them. Wherever ...
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🇨🇴 Cartagena to Santa Marta or Vice Versa: Travel by Bus with a Clear Head, Stress-Free

All those beaches! Travelling along the Caribbean coast of Colombia was one of our best beach experiences in South America ...
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Backpacking in South America: All the Answers You Need

We all have a different dream of South America. And South America can satisfy us all. Some of us need ...
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🇨🇴 What You Need to Know Before Camping in Tayrona National Park

If you LOVE secluded beaches with crystal clear water, choose Tayrona Park (or Parque Tayrona in Spanish). Anthony and I ...
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🇦🇷 Backpacking Argentina: Tips & Destinations

We have a difficult mission ahead: we want to try and tell you why we love Argentina so much. The ...
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Anna seating on a rock overlooking Titicaca lake

🇧🇴 Backpacking Bolivia: Tips & Destinations

And now for something completely different. The mainly Indigenous population of the poorest country in South America often lacks education ...
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Anna looking over the tatacoa desert, Colombia

🇨🇴 Backpacking Colombia: Tips & Destinations

When we prepared our South American trip, we were very excited to learn that backpacking Colombia was now possible. One ...
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Anna looking over the jungle from the viewpoint of mirador natural near Tarapoto, Peru

🇵🇪 Backpacking Peru: Tips & Destinations

Mysterious ruins mistily nestled atop jungle mountains. Slow-paced life on the cobblestones of cosy colonial towns. Peru is a large ...
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🇪🇨 Backpacking Ecuador: Tips & Destinations

We always love the underdog. Ecuador is tucked between the two tourism heavyweights Peru to the south and Colombia to ...
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Looking at the andes atop Volcan Osorno, near Puerto Varas, Chile

🇨🇱 Backpacking Chile: Tips & Destinations

Well then, just look at Chile on a world map. A country stretched like a tagliatelle on a pauper's plate; ...
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chile wine tours are among the best things to do and see near valparaiso

🇨🇱 7 Nifty Things to do near Valparaíso, Chile

Are you sold to the vibrant beauty of Valparaíso? Have you decided to spend longer than the couple of days ...
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🇨🇱 Valparaíso : Things to do on a Budget

When I first visited Valparaíso on a budget 15 years ago, the impression it made on me was rather bad ...
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🇦🇷 A Beautiful Day Hike in the Aconcagua Provincial Park

Aconcagua. A tribal name that resonates like an adventure. Towering at 6,960.8 metres (22,837 ft), the "White Sentinel" overlooks the ...
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🇵🇪The Best Place to Explore the Amazon in Peru

The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, famous for its biodiversity. Although the Amazon is often associated to ...
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One of the best beaches in Tayrona National Park, Colombia

🇨🇴 The Penultimate Guide to the Best Beaches in Colombia

When people think about South America, they often depict crystal clear water with palm trees and white sand. We guarantee ...
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🇪🇨 A Collection of Cultural Things to do in Quito, Ecuador

It's the middle of the world as we know it; Kitu, "the middle" in the indigenous Kichwa language. Although the ...
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🇦🇷 Our Favourite Things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a whole world. It's easy to get lost in the twirl of the Argentine capital; in its ...
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🇧🇴 Bolivian Street Food and Drinks: A Vegetarian Foodie Guide

Bolivia is like a global open-air food market. It's literally a paradise of street food and drink, with Bolivian ladies ...
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🎁 Indispensable Gifts List For You & Your Friends Going Travelling

For a few years my family have been nagging at me before Christmas and my birthday for present ideas. "What ...
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🇺🇾 🇦🇷 ¿What is Yerba Mate Tea? Benefits, Caffeine, etc.

Mate in Argentina and Uruguay is not a drink: it's a religion. The bitter infusion takes on the role that ...
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🇦🇷 The Road to Argentina’s Lake District: San Martín de los Andes to El Bolsón

Imagine vast lakes of crystal clear waters surrounded by pine forests and enshrined in the snow-domed mountains of the Andes ...
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🇧🇴 How to Choose Your Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

The custom office on the Chile-Bolivia border is miserable. It adorned itself with a few shacks pretending to be a town ...
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🇨🇴 Pasto, the Well-Kept Secret of Colombia

SWho wants to stay all the time on the beaten path? Pasto, the westernmost biggest town in Colombia, hardly features ...
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Juana azurduy painting casa de libertad battle

🇧🇴 Juana Azurduy, Heroine of the Latin American Independence

March is the month of fierce women in history. The ones who had to overcome an authoritatively male society even ...
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🇨🇴 You Should (Really) Spend More Time in Medellin

Medellin is a very special place, to say the least. The 2nd most populated city in Colombia and the capital ...
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🇨🇴”A la orden” – A Beginner’s Guide to Colombian Spanish

Colombian Spanish is one of the most varied we could hear all over the South American continent. Its untypical use ...
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🇨🇴 Coffee Paradise: San Alberto Cafe in Buenavista

At the end of a winding country road one hour from Armenia lies the peaceful small village of Buenavista, in ...
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🇪🇨 A Guide to the Colourful Otavalo Market in Ecuador

The Ecuadorian town of Otavalo is famous for one thing: its outdoors craft market that is the biggest in South ...
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🇵🇪 Peruvian Plantains, or How to Cook Plantains like in Peru

Plantain (or 'plátano' in Spanish) is popular in Peruvian food, and across Latin America in general. It’s a typical side ...
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Eco Travels & Responsible Tourism: Our Guide for Responsible Travellers

What are "eco travels"? You probably heard or read different adjectives to qualify responsible tourism: sustainable, ethical, conscious or even ...
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🇵🇪 Steep Slopes and Dope Leaps: The Gocta Waterfalls Hike

Our trustworthy feet led us to the north of Peru, precisely to the Gocta waterfalls, for a hike. They are ...
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🇪🇨 Hike the Quilotoa Loop (in 1 day) and Experience Country Life in Ecuador

Quilotoa and its kaleidoscopic emerald colour is one of the most gorgeous lakes I’ve ever seen! Unless you've had enough ...
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🇪🇨 Baños, the Outdoors Paradise of Ecuador

Life is a swing over the precipice, she said. It becomes particularly true in Baños, a small mountain town in ...
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Round houses in Kuélap, in the north of Peru

🇵🇪 A Very Sexy Guide to Kuélap, the Kingdom of the Clouds in Peru

Bucolic Kuélap! Romantic Kuélap! This small pre-inca citadel, on the top of a mountain near Chachapoyas in the north of ...
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Anna sitting on the shore of a turquoise lake, with a mountain in the background

🇵🇪 Huaraz in Peru: 3 Beautiful Hikes in Huascaran National Park

Why choose lakes or mountains when you can have both? The region of Huaraz, in the centre of Peru, and ...
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Interesting Facts About the European Population of South America

From The German Doctor Hollywood blockbuster we learnt that Argentina was a popular destination for Nazis escaping from justice. But ...
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Long-distance bus travelling in South America

Bus Transportation in South America: Everything You Need to Know

Apart from hitchhiking, cycling or stealing a car, the bus is the cheapest means of transportation in South America. Therefore ...
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🇦🇷 Traveling Off the Beaten Path: La Rioja in Argentina

The new year brought us a return to an old favourite country where one of our most memorable completely off-the-beaten ...
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🇵🇪 How to Do the Breathtaking Choquequirao Trek in 4 Days

It’s been my dream to complete a hardcore multi day hiking trip without a guide and in the Sacred Valley ...
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Beginner’s Guide to Quechua Language Place Names

A rapid look at the map of the Sacred Valley will make you notice that many places have a similar ...
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Platforms of Moray, in the Sacred valley of Peru

🇵🇪 The Most Energising Sites to See around Cusco, Peru

El Valle Sagrado de los Incas is, without a doubt, the most famous destination in Peru, and in South America ...
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🇵🇪 3 Unmissable Things to Do in Arequipa, in Peru

Colonial Arequipa really earns its nickname of 'white town'. Reminding the traveler of the beauty of Sucre in Bolivia, the ...
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🇦🇷 ¡Aborto Legal! – The Situation of Abortion in Argentina

Unless you're spending your time travelling in Argentina on one of its many beautiful beaches, it's hard not to hear ...
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🇵🇪 7 Unusual Fruits from Peru that You Must Try

I’ve already posted about some exotic fruits and vegetables that we’ve discovered during our trip - think about the sour ...
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🇧🇴 Everything to Know about Visiting Lake Titicaca in Bolivia

I remember learning about Lake Titicaca at geography class in primary school. I found the name sounded utterly funny and ...
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🇧🇴 4 Super Local Things to Do in La Paz, Bolivia

A firm push out of the station and through the glass we marvel at the unfinished brick houses that cover ...
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🇧🇴 Why Visit Sucre in Bolivia, the ‘White Town’

When I first visited South America around 15 years ago, I literally fell in love with Sucre in Bolivia. Its ...
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🇧🇴 Little Town of Silver: Potosí

The history of Potosí is both bright like the silver metal that made it rich, and dark like the face ...
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🇦🇷 Why Stay at an Ecological House in Argentina

In Bariloche, the Lake District of Argentina that we visited in December 2018, we stayed in the ecological house of ...
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A Concise Guide to the Andean Mythology

The Andean mythology is a heritage of the Inca culture, present in current day Peru, Bolivia and the north of ...
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🇦🇷 Argentine Folklore: 3 Popular Dances in Salta

Happy World Folklore Day! Well, not until 22 August, but in the meantime let's talk about Argentine folklore. Whereas in ...
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🇨🇱 The Best Way to Visit Valle de la Luna in Atacama

The otherworldly moon-like scenery of the Valle de la Luna is one of the main attractions in the Atacama desert and ...
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🇨🇱 Tips to Visit the Atacama Desert with a Peaceful Mind

If you're travelling in Chile or simply intend to, you already know about the Atacama desert. You might have heard ...
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🇦🇷 The Real Beginners Guide to Argentine Spanish

The Spanish spoken in Argentina is known as "Rioplatense" as it developed along the Rio de la Plata river and ...
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🇨🇱 My 5 Favourite Must-Try Chilean Food and Drinks

Cuisine in Chile is fairly similar to Argentina, including our very favourite dulce de leche that here is called manjar ...
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Those South American Heroes We Never Heard About

The South American heroes of independence are literally everywhere in South America. Who are the South American heroes? When visiting ...
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🇨🇱 Finding The Top Things to Do in Santiago, Chile

Santiago is a busy, big city at a very special location: it’s surrounded by the Andes mountains. On a clear ...
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🇨🇱 Several Ways to Reach the Stars in Elqui Valley

The Elqui Valley (or Valle del Elqui in Spanish) is a constellation of small pueblos tucked in the arid mountains ...
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🇨🇱 How to Spend Christmas on the Beach: in Pichilemu

Many of you asked how our Christmas was in Chile, so here’s a little update on that. In short, we ...
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puerto varas chile volcano osorno header

🇨🇱 The Most Amazing Things to See around Puerto Varas

After being out and about in Chiloé, we couldn’t help but have a bit of rest at our next destination, ...
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🇨🇱 The Single Most Amazing Hidden Place of Chile: Island of Chiloé

Our first Chilean road led us to the island of Chiloé of the Los Lagos area (equivalent to the Lake ...
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🇺🇾 🇦🇷 Top 5 Pastries You’ll Find in Uruguayan and Argentine Bakeries

Since we mostly eat in panaderias (=bakeries) when eating "out", it doesn't come as a surprise that the foods that ...
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Lunch box with a view in Aconcagua Argentina

6 Tips on Eating Healthy While Travelling in South America

I’m not beating about the bush - we don’t eat as varied as at home. It’s difficult to buy various ...
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🇦🇷 What’s in Córdoba in Argentina and its Sierra – Picture Post

Córdoba in Argentina is the second biggest city in the country. What's in Córdoba in Argentina? It has not much ...
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View from the water of Museum of Fine Art -the Tigre Club Argentina

🇦🇷 What to Expect from Tigre in Argentina, Porteños’ Favourite Getaway

On a long trip, not every destination has to be memorable – so we decided to go to Tigre in ...
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🇺🇾 🇦🇷 How to Experience Tango in Argentina and in Uruguay

I decided to get acquainted with and practice all South American dances as we travel. After forro in Rio, I ...
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Rio Plata waterfront promenade in Montevideo, Uruguay

🇺🇾 Squatting in Montevideo: a South American Adventure

We arrived in Montevideo on a Sunday (again?! We thought we'd never make that mistake again!), innocently making our way ...
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We Should All Learn from Rodin in Buenos Aires

Did you know that Rodin has some works in Buenos Aires? I didn't know it either before visiting the city ...
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Womens candombe group Montevideo Uruguay

🇺🇾 How to Join an Uruguayan Candombe, the Loud Soul of Montevideo

One usually gets introduced to candombe by hearing a rumble and wondering if it's the thunder or the 1st trumpet ...
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Salvo palace main square Montevideo Uruguay

🇺🇾 Things we Love in Montevideo, Uruguay!

Ah, Montevideo, Uruguay! The unknown, the ignored, the unsung! I was so excited about it, I even wrote it in ...
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🇧🇷 Discrimination and Environment in Brazil: 2 Important Topics

There are so many things we love about Brazil that we can hardly wait to go back. There are also ...
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Main square with church in Conselheiro Lafaiete Brazil

🇧🇷 How Not to Go Hitchhiking in Brazil

Hitchhiking in South America? Some says "why not", some says "forget it". Truth is, from time to time we do ...
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Acai bowl with banana granola and nuts on the table

🇧🇷 Top 5 Brazilian Food That Became my Favourite

One of our quests with Anthony for the trip is to try as much new (vegetarian) food from the countries ...
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Tall buildings in Porto Alegre downtown Brazil

🇧🇷 Why to Definitely Visit Porto Alegre, the Surprise City

Porto Alegre is the last city we visited in Brazil. Since the only thing that it's famous for is to ...
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Empty beach and blue sky in Florianopolis, Brazil

🇧🇷 A Perfect Day on Florianópolis Beaches

We spent a few days on Santa Catarina island and on Florianópolis beaches. Although it was off-season, we did run ...
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Closeup at the Garganta del Diablo Iguazu falls Argentine side

🇧🇷 🇦🇷 How to Visit the Iguazú Falls in Argentina

Every travel guide book and website suggests to visit Foz de Iguaçu during a trip in Brazil and there are ...
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View from the top of Pão de Açúcar with cable car Rio de Janeiro Brazil

🇧🇷 The Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro on a Budget

Visiting rio was my dream since I studied portuguese language at university. I only knew the basics about the city ...
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🇧🇷 A Real Hidden Place: Lavras Novas Waterfall in Brazil

Have you ever seen a beautiful waterfall that was completely hidden from travellers? It was a real pleasure to explore ...
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Steep cobblestone street in Ouro Preto Brazil

🇧🇷 Literally The Best Things to Do in Ouro Preto

After a painful (but surprisingly better than expected) 26-hr bus ride we arrived to Ouro Preto, the little town of ...
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Beautiful Cachoeira do Sossego in Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

🇧🇷 Hidden Gem Hike: Chapada Diamantina National Park

I read about this national park back at home - it was listed in the 12 best hikes of South ...
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City Visits

🇧🇷 The Best Things to Do in Rio de Janeiro on a Budget

Travel with us to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Discover the famous Pão de Açúcar, Copacabana, Santa Teresa and forro dance!

Great Outdoors

🇧🇷 A Real Hidden Place: Lavras Novas Waterfall in Brazil

Travel with us to Lavras Novas, Brazil! Discover this amazing day-trip from Ouro Preto, surrounded by waterfalls.

City Visits

🇧🇷 Literally The Best Things to Do in Ouro Preto

Travel with us to Ouro Preto, Brazil! Discover its colonial streets, many churches, its mining past and the works of Aleijadinho.

Great Outdoors

🇧🇷 Hidden Gem Hike: Chapada Diamantina National Park

Travel with us to the Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil! Discover how to go to Lençois and hike in the park.

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