The awesome Amazon River is one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders. It weaves through the heart of South America and supports an ecosystem that is unmatched in its diversity. While the river’s journey starts in Brazil, it meanders through several other countries, ultimately connecting distant lands and cultures before its waters reach the Atlantic Ocean. This incredible river spans nine countries, each contributing to the Amazon’s unique and awe-inspiring character. The Source: Brazil’s Highlands The Amazon River begins its journey high in the Andes, specifically in the Nevado Mismi region of southern Peru. Here, the river starts as small glacial streams that trickle down the mountains, gradually combining to form larger tributaries. These early waters join together to become the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which are considered the main headwaters of the Amazon. Brazil is most often associated with the Amazon River, as its largest stretch and its…
Easter, or ‘Holy Week’, has profound religious significance in Latin America, along with famous, vibrant cultural celebrations. Each country boasts its own unique traditions and customs, from solemn processions to joyful feasts, let’s delve into these diverse Easter traditions in five Latin American countries, take your pick on which of these you would like to experience for yourself, on your next holiday to Latin America… Argentina Semana Santa or Holy Week in Argentina is a time for both celebration and relaxation. Many Argentinians will attend church services and participate in processions throughout the week. One of the most famous Easter traditions in Argentina is the “Vía Crucis” ceremony. During this event, the procession works its way through 14 stations of the cross towards the cathedral, and participants are encouraged to bring candles. Peru As in Argentina, in Peru, Holy Week usually begins on Palm Sunday, a week before Easter Sunday….
…with Marketing Executive, Lewis Are you dreaming of getting away from the wet and windy winter days at home for your next Christmas break? Perhaps you’re wondering how the festive season is celebrated in a city as dazzling as Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, and how a tropical city like Rio gets into the Christmas spirit in the middle of summer. What should you expect at the world’s biggest outdoor New Year’s Eve party soon after? Our Marketing Executive Lewis Freeth spent Christmas and New Year in Brazil’s holiday capital in the sun, and tells us what there is to experience over the festive period in this merry South American metropolis. Almighty Sights Although at first the blue skies, beach activities, and samba culture of this part of the world don’t exactly scream ‘classic Christmas’ to a seasoned European traveler, Rio is perhaps one of the best places anywhere to celebrate…
…with Product Executive, Hannah In the next instalment of Our Routes series dedicated to sharing travel experiences from our experts all over Latin America, we take a look at a road less travelled with product executive Hannah Finch, who had a blast over the sandscapes of the Route of Emotion’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the northeast of Brazil. YOUR MAIN DESTINATIONS? Route of Emotions – Sao Luis, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Parnaíba, Jericoacoara. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? Via Lisbon and Recife with TAP, then overland travel by 4X4, dune buggy, boat, and ferry-raft. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? First time to Brazil… definitely not my last though! FAVOURITE LOCATION? Lençóis Maranhenses National Park – I’d seen pictures but they don’t do it justice. The park is so vast, pristine, stunningly beautiful and feels out of this world. MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Driving around the dunes in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, taking in…
…with Co-Director Martin and Senior Product Executive, Sarah For the latest installment of Our Routes series dedicated to sharing travel experiences from our experts all over Latin America, our co-founder and director Martin Johnson and wife, Senior Product Executive Sarah Johnson, share with us the highlights of their whistle-stop tour of Sao Paolo and the beauty of Bahia in Brazil. YOUR MAIN DESTINATIONS? Sao Paulo and Bahia (Santo Andre and Trancoso). HOW DID YOU GET THERE? We flew LATAM to Sao Paulo and then onwards to Porto Seguro. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? First time in these areas. FAVOURITE LOCATION? Trancoso was really beautiful and we loved the Quadrado. The beach at the Fasano Trancoso was spectacular. MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? A walk along the beach from Estrela D’Água in Santo Andre and getting caught in a rainstorm. We managed to find a great little local bar and spent the afternoon there watching…
All four seasons (sometimes in one day!) can play their part in shaping your experience throughout Latin America, so let’s delve deeper into the rolling peak and shoulder seasons that dominate the sky, land, and sea on your next trip to this stunning big outdoors continent. Argentina High Season: November – February & July The Patagonia region in southern Argentina hits a peak from December to February with the best weather for pursuing outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a Christmas / mid-winter getaway, the beaches from late December through January are popular times along the Argentine coastline as well. For skiers, July is the best time to hit the big resorts of Mendoza and picturesque areas like Bariloche. Shoulder Seasons: September – November & March – May Buenos Aires enjoys ideal temperatures in shoulder seasons, and it’s also a good shout for seeing Patagonia with the beautiful Lake District…
Some of our favourite Latin Routes destinations – Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica – are competing in this year’s winter World Cup, which starts this weekend when the Ecuadorians kick off the footballing festivities on Sunday against Qatar! We take a look at each country’s rich sporting history and some of the fútbol related things you can experience when visiting these football-mad nations. Legacy of Champions Fútbol – or futebol as it’s known in Brazil – represents one of the most popular cultural institutions in Latin America. Whether played in a 100,000-capacity stadium or in the streets of the barrio, it’s a sport that brings together millions of obsessed fans across the continent. This level of enthusiasm has often been transferred to their national team’s World Cup success rate over the eras, with Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), and Brazil (5) lifting the cup nine times in total combined. 20th-century legends such…
Rising up majestically into the sky across Venezuelan, Brazilian, and Guyanan borders, the so-called “Floating Island” is so unique that scientists are still trying to understand its intricate ecosystem. Shroud of Cloud Standing 9,220 ft tall at its peak with an average cliffside elevation of 1,300 ft, these cloud-shrouded cliff edges appear to drop sharply into oblivion, giving the whole plateau an otherworldly feel about them. It’s not surprising then that kind of vista makes for a popular choice with intrepid adventurers seeking Indiana Jones-style landscapes. A Rock In The Ocean Also known as ‘tepuis’, strange geological formations like this are among the oldest plateaus in the world. Tepuis like Mount Roraima form differently from traditional mountains which generally forge when two continental plates collide. Here though, sand settled and became rock at the bottom of ancient oceans a colossal 1.5-2 billion years ago – bearing in mind Mount Everest only formed about 60 million…
People from Asia arrived in the Americas at least 15,000 years ago, but by the European arrival in the 15th century, many South American civilisations had either disappeared or would later fall to new empires. There were still many, however, which were vast and thriving, constructing incredible monuments that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy today. Read on to find out more about these societies’ fascinating histories below. The Caral-Supe Civilisation The Caral Supe are the oldest known advanced civilisation in the American continents discovered to date, dating back to 3000-2500 BC. Nearly twenty separate villages have been identified in north Peru, with a centre in the urban community at Caral. The city of Caral included enormous earthy platform mounds, which for centuries were considered just to be low lying hills, until more modern archeological techniques uncovered their true origins. Nazca Civilisation The people of the Nazca…
Imagine a continent with over 300 national parks to choose from, ranging from rugged rocky peaks to palm tree-lined beach forests! To help narrow such an astounding choice down, we have handpicked ten of the most incredible national parks in South America to help you get started. Argentina Tierra del Fuego National Park This 245-square-mile park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Argentina’s only coastal national park. Just outside the park’s border you’ll discover Puente Quemado (“the burned bridge”) and Macarena Waterfall, plus the Pipo River, which flows into the park and runs alongside the peat bog, giving the Laguna Negra (black lagoon) its colour and name. Inside the park, sits the sixty-five-mile-long Lake Fagnano which offers views of Andes Mountains. Los Glaciares National Park At a whopping 2,800 square miles, this is the largest national park in the country and another one on UNESCO’s list. As the park…
