Peru’s history is fascinating with historical wonders like Machu Picchu, the 14th century home of the lost Inca citadel sitting at 8000 ft above sea level, high in the Andes mountains, this is a special experience to savour at altitude. The southern coastal town of Nasca was home to the Nazca civilisation in the 4th century where the “Nazca lines” carved into 500 km2 of desert are one of the great wonders that still get us all thinking, how did they do that? Also, the breathtaking Salinas de Maras, the ancient salt mines located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas are a great experience.

Lima, the country’s capital sits on the Pacific coast and is a wonderful city, with a vibrant food scene and a few world-renowned restaurants, coupled with its lively cultural scene, this is a must visit country.

The Argentinians are a proud nation with a strong national identity, and they are great hosts in their many vibrant, dynamic and lively cities.

To those of us living in northern Europe there’s a predictable list of what Argentina is known for, spectacular steak, gauchos, tango, the Andes, Evita, and let’s not forget football too, and all are great cultural icons. It is a huge country stretching over 2300 miles North to South and its land mass is over 1 million square miles with the vast dramatic landscapes of Patagonia in the far south to the expanse of the pampas in the north and the spectacular Andes. Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast, are our favourites for their abundance of sights, great restaurants and bars, and Mar del Plata for its beaches, tree lined streets and museums. There are more than a few rolling vineyards across the country with some producing the world’s finest Malbec, and of equal quality is the delicious indigenous Torrontés varietal - we always take time out to enjoy a few of these when we visit!

We are asked by some clients whether Mexico City is worth visiting when in South America. We always respond with client feedback, and that is a resounding yes! 

It’s so rich in history, has fantastic natural wonders and its culinary pedigree delivers on both being unique, and delicious. It’s Pacific coast and Caribbean coast beaches are superb. North of the Yucatan peninsula the landscape is breathtaking with waterfalls in Chiapas, Pico de Orizaba is Mexico’s highest mountain and an active volcano at 5,636 mts (18500 ft) and the stunning Copper canyon in Chihuahua. So, despite its slightly negative media coverage, Mexico still remains a top destination for global tourism, and we like to drop in to Mexico City on a jet tour of the continent.

This is a fascinating country to visit with a great mix of experiences to enjoy. Vibrant cities like Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, and Puerto Nariño the eco village on the shore of the Amazon River are all excellent examples of Columbian life. In South America, Columbia is the only country with coastlines and islands bordering both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and as such, offers great beach-based experiences if that’s your thing! With a rich history dating back to the Spanish colonization in the 1500’s, its culture is a fusion of its past with African and Caribbean influences also. As a country that enjoys eating, the food scene is vibrant with local and regional variation evident. Juan Manuel Barrientos’s Elcielo in Medellin is the country’s best known Michelin restaurant, tasting menu’s feature with strong Latin American influences. We have also visited his Miami restaurant in Brickell. Both rate highly amongst our Michelin loving clients.

The country extends around 2700 miles from its border with Peru and Bolivia in the north, to Cape Horn in the south at the very tip of the continent. Its entire landmass has the Pacific Ocean on its western flank. The country is host to many natural wonders including The Atacama Desert, the driest in the world is also where the tallest volcano on earth at 6900 metres is situated. Santiago is the country’s cosmopolitan capital situated on the banks of the Mapocho river. The city is a great place to visit and walk around with many museums and a superb central market, art galleries, a brilliant restaurant scene and nightlife.  

Our pic of the wining and dining scene is Bocanariz, located in the Lastarria neighbourhood of Santiago. This wine bar stands out for its extensive selection of Chilean wines, and they are delicious wines, including rare labels and lesser-known varieties from different regions, with a food offering to compliment the wine – superb!!