Not So ‘Pura Vida’
Sun and sea yes, but sex tourism, in Costa Rica? Behind the image of the Caribbean’s cleanest and most civilised tourist hotspot, lies a murky world, fed by foreign sex tourists, of exploitation and poverty.
...MEDELLIN No.1... 'Flirting with the narcos'
The first of our series of city scenes, our 'postcards from...' take snapshots from different Latin American cities, painting a picture of the continent's urban landscape like you've never seen. This one is…
Meet the Prince and Princess of Whales
As whale watching season in Patagonia nears, Sorrel Moseley-Williams, who witnessed the amazing scene last year, describes what any visitor can expect from this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
Take the Slow Road in Eco-Ecuador
Hannah Bewley delights in the efforts and charms of an unknown coastal eco-village off the beaten track in Ecuador.
Bilbao: the heart of the city
Although the Guggenheim Museum has been a genuine tourist magnet, it’s the local life that leaves the lasting impression, says Anna Ward.
PANAMA’S CHARM (just keep it to yourself!)
Amaranta Wright explores the unspoilt joys of Panama, from the friendly faces and swing of the capital to the stunning archipelagos of the Caribbean.
SURVIVING BAHIA'S CARNIVAL
Sweaty grabbing men, cheesy electric guitar music, trance-enducing drumming and plenty of piss: how our girl in Salvador de Bahia got lost in the frenzy that was Brazilian Carnival 2010 and managed to come out to tell the tale.
The Day That Time Stopped: The Springs of Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is one of Guatemala's most beautiful natural monuments: a natural 300 metre limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabón River, and a series of the most incredible turquoise natural pools. It is, according…
The Magnificance of Salamanca
Is it that first stumbling across the dazzling Plaza Mayor? The towers of the cathedral against the backdrop of a perfect blue sky? The grandeur of the prestigious university, or the ever-present buzz in the streets? Whatever it…
Copán: The jewel on the southern tip of the ancient Mayan Empire
Located in western Honduras only an hour from the border with Guatemala, Copán was an ancient Mayan city that dominated trade and commerce in the area. It holds great importance in Mayan history due to its geographical position,…
Dancing Salsa like a Nicaraguan (Not)
The Carnival in Granada occurs once a year and each year people from all over the country flock to the city to celebrate. One of the biggest events in the Nicaraguan calendar, Candela decided to hop on a float.
MADRID - Europe's cool cousin
How to sum up Madrid? No Eiffel Tower, no Colosseum...How about that Madrid is the younger, cooler cousin of its European counterparts. What differentiates it from its arguably prettier, more historic sister city, Paris? Since…
Looking for Che: Bolivia's Revolutionary Road
Sixteen years after translating Che's 'Motorcycle Diaries', made famous in the Hollywood movie with Gaél García Bernál, Ana Wright goes on the hunt for Che in Bolivia as she seeks inspiration whilst translating a…
Breathing the Buenos Aires
¡Qué estupidez! I’ve only gone and given this article a misnomer for a title. A visit to the Argentinian capital will not result in breathing the Buenos Aires – because this city is utterly breathtaking. From the tranquility of…
Fuerte Apache, BUENOS AIRES
Our Candela visitor finds more heart than hostility in the notorious gangland estate on which Carlos Tevez was raised, as she visits the famous mural, homage to Fuerte Apache's favourite son.
Only in Buenos Aires....a TRULY alternative guide!
Having great and varied FREE things to do is the mark of a world class city and, if you look under the surface, Buenos Aires is up there with the best of them. Ana Wright challenges the view that Latin America is expensive and…
Granada: The Jewel in Spain's Crown?
It's embarrassing to admit that landing in Granada was a total fluke. Yet, if its true that the best things are discovered by mistake, Granada is an absolute gold mine of an accident; undiscovered by the masses and yet with…
Andalucia's Feria de Sevilla
Come rain, crisis or shine, Sevilla is always ready for a party.
...Guatemala
From a mansion to a school trying to make ends meet, this couch surfer found a warm welcome in Guatemala.