Tales from our travels

Read stories that inform and inspire, shaped by travel notes our team collected on the road.

An alpaca stands on stone terraces at Machu Picchu, with ancient walls and green mountain slopes beyond in Peru.
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What to know before hiking Machu Picchu

Explore the planning required for a successful Inca Trail through-hike, and learn about some equally scenic but lesser-trekked routes in the Sacred Valley.

7 minutes

Rainforest trees and a small thatched hut reflect in glassy water, with soft clouds mirrored across the lake.
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Peru vs Ecuador: Complete Amazon travel guide

The ultimate guide to deciding whether Peru or Ecuador’s Amazon fits your travel style best.

15 minutes

Three vicunas stand on tawny grassland with a snowcapped peak rising behind them in Peru's southern Andes.
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Beyond Machu Picchu: Going south in Peru

A journey aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer reveals a lesser-seen side of Peru, from stargazing on the shores of Lake Titicaca to trekking the ancient terraces of Colca Canyon.

8 minutes

Group of hikers walking along a dirt trail through a dense forest with tall moss-covered trees and mist.
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Journeys into the joy of hiking

Putting one foot in front of the other sounds easy, but often it leads to some of the greatest adventures

8 minutes

A bright blue glacier meets a turquoise lake, framed by autumn trees and mountains.
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The best hikes in South America

Are you ready for the hike of a lifetime? Check out our top picks for the best hiking in South America—in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador.

8 minutes

A rainforest lodge lounge framed by floor-to-ceiling windows at Mashpi Lodge, set in Ecuador's cloud forest.
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Design dreams: The best hotels for architecture in South America

From renovated Peruvian monasteries and Patagonian frontier homes to modernist vineyard resorts and an Ecuadorian cloud forest retreat, here are eight of South America’s most architecturally stunning properties.

7 minutes

Two guests stand on a covered deck at a safari camp, looking over forested hills beneath cool, cloudy skies.
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Our favorite family vacations in South America

An expert guide to traveling South America with kids, from the Sacred Valley to the Galápagos to Patagonia.

10 minutes

Two hikers walk along a rocky trail with snow patches and colorful mountains in the distance.
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Trek Peru's Andes Mountains and stay in some of the highest lodges in the world

Seeing Ausangate is a reward that comes to those who answer the call of the Peruvian Andes, and experiencing it with the local people and their communities of Chillca and Osefina is the most sustainable and transformational way to do so. 

8 minutes

Cusco rooftops and cathedral towers rise beneath layered mountains in Peru, with tiled buildings filling the foreground.
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12 of the most beautiful places to visit in South America

From Cartagena to Torres del Paine, these are the most beautiful places to visit in South America as curated by Extraordinary Journeys destination experts.

11 minutes

A green dome camp beneath snowy peaks and autumn brush at EcoCamp Patagonia, set in Chile's Torres del Paine.
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The best places to go glamping in South America

From canvas tents to geodesic domes, glamping is an exciting way to experience South America’s divine landscapes.

9 minutes

A couple relaxes on a deck overlooking the Galapagos, with distant islands and low water below the viewpoint.
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Best honeymoon destinations in South America: Our top picks

Discover the most romantic honeymoon destinations in South America.

10 minutes