A bit about me
My Latin America journey began in Brazil when my dad took me on a grand expedition deep into the Amazon jungle. From watching pink river dolphins from the window of our floating lodge to celebrating my 14th birthday tracking jaguar in the Pantanal I think its fair to say I was instantly obsessed with the country, and vowed to conquer the whole continent – though driven more by curiosity than lust for spices I was more Colombo than Columbus.
After return trips to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru I made my home in Chile and wisely or unwisely put off returning to university to teach English at a University and explore the continent. Over the years I’ve made to almost every corner of Latin America as a backpacker and a luxury traveler by plane, boat, car, and horse, and there is still so much to see!
My favourite place
Chile was my home for years and it is so difficult beat the spectacular grandeur of Torres Del Paine or the desolate beauty of the Atacama, but for a sheer otherworldly experience that astonishes at every step, it has to be the Galapagos Islands. I would recommend a combination of cruise and land visit to make sure you don’t miss a single spectacular sight.
My most memorable experience
The chilling excitement of a night hike in the Costa Rican jungle surrounded by the thick dark, the noise of the jungle thrumming in your ears, and hidden denizens of the night never too far from the light of your torch
My top tips
- Keep a diary of your experiences – the indelible memories of monolithic mountains, creeping jaguars and swimming with penguins will never leave you, but you will be surprised how much joy there is in looking back on the smaller moments and remembering the name of a fantastic guide, a story from a fellow traveler or the taste of your first Costa Rican cup of coffee.
- Do not leave a bag full of biscuits you were saving as a nice treat for yourself open at the Iguazu Falls – Coatis will get into your bag and steal them!
