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….
A native of Cusco in Peru, Marco Serrano is a professional tour guide with several years of experience leading different groups throughout Peru. Growing up in a tourist city, he was amazed by the stories he read and heard about the adventures of explorers and local people. Here he discusses his love for different cultures and the great outdoors. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what attracted you to work in this role? I have had a lifelong passion for travel and exploration, plus an interest in archaeology, history, nature, and the living culture of the Andean people. At the age of 11, my interest in learning about other cultures began and grew, so I began to study the English language at ICPNA Cusco. Later I graduated from university in Cusco with a Bachelor of Tourism having learned that this activity encompasses many things, which is why…
…with Nicole, Georgia, and Milly For the latest installment of Our Routes series dedicated to sharing travel experiences from our experts all over Latin America, we have a bumper edition to share with you all! Three budding explorers from our team – Travel Specialist Nicole, Business Development Executive Georgia, and Operations Team Leader Milly – enjoyed an incredible trip across Peru during the spring. Read on to hear about their shared experiences in this epic country. YOUR MAIN DESTINATIONS? Peru; Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno for Lake Titicaca, and Aquas Calientes for Machu Picchu. HOW DID YOU MAKE YOUR WAY FROM PLACE TO PLACE? Nicole: We flew from Lima to Arequipa, then drove for half a day to Colca Valley from Arequipa, making many stops on the journey for site seeing. We first stopped off to get Coca leaves and various other local treatments for altitude sickness. When…
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…
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…
At 4,500 miles long spanning the west coast of South America and bisecting seven countries – Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina – the Andes is the longest chain of mountains in the world and includes many of the highest peaks in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. Formations Formed around 45-50 million years ago, the process that created them had already begun 140 million years ago when the largest dinosaurs that ever lived were roaming these lands. This process has continued to this date and causes earthquakes and volcanic activity in the region, and as a result of the subduction of the Nazca and Antarctic Plates beneath the South America Plate, many active volcanoes are located in the Andes Mountain Range. The highest volcano in the world, the Ojos del Salado, is located in the Andes on the Chile-Argentina border. Mount Aconcagua in Argentina is the highest peak at 22,481ft, with…
Neighbours Peru and Bolivia share similar history and geography and are home to some of the best off-the-beaten-track experiences in South America. So if you fancy immersing yourself in their incredible landscapes away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares, then off-road activities are one of the best ways to do so whilst having maximum fun as you go! Peru Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu The Sacred Valley is a magical place for both Inca ancestry and today’s adventurer on four (or two) wheels. Quad biking tours – known locally as ATVs – offer great views of the majestic Andes with stop-offs at local attractions such as the salt mines in Ollantaytambo. Archaeological Incan gems await via the multi-day trek options to Machu Picchu, all of which take you through breathtakingly scenic jungle terrain where you can witness alpacas and condors, indigenous people, plus glacial lakes and ice-capped mountain…
Lake Titicaca is the highest and biggest navigable lake in the world, lying at 12,500 feet above sea level and 50 miles across at its widest point. In the distance, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise up to add a stunning backdrop to this Inca Holyland. Water Ways The lake is split into two national sides, Peru and Bolivia. Taquile Island and Amantani Island in Peru offer tourists the chance to live like a local by the piercing blue waters of Lake Titicaca, but the lake is best known as the home of the Uros Floating Islands and Isla del Sol. Visitors can take a day trip from Puno to any of these islands, or stay the night on Amantani and Taquile with a local family homestay. Taquile Island Isla de Taquile textiles are renowned for their quality and colours, so much so that UNESCO has recognised their artfully…
In a continent filled with a variety of magnificent man-made structures spanning the centuries, we’ve put together our five favourite examples to give them the spotlight they deserve! Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia Our Lady of Las Lajas is a Roman Catholic Basilica church in Colombia built in the state of Nariño, on the border with Ecuador. Its stunning Gothic Revival construct sits over a 160-foot-tall bridge over the Guáitara River which connects the church to the other side of the canyon. Bahá’íTemple of South America, Chile The Bahá’í Temple of South America is located just outside of Santiago, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This unique project represents the last of eight continental temples commissioned by the religious Bahá’í Community – each meant to embody “technological innovation and architectural excellence”. Teatro Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil Located in Largo de São Sebastião in downtown Manaus, this theatre was born from the riches of…
