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Central & South America

Central & South America

How many points should you get when there’s an active shooter at your hotel?

This is not something that we thought we would ever have to consider, let alone write about.  To us, there is something peculiar about the whole thing, but maybe it's just modern living. A few months back, at Mexico's Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun, several active shooters landed on the resort’s beach. Two of the shooters…

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Image: ANA PAULA LUSTOSA

Anthropological soup

Sometimes, you never know when you'll have an epiphany.  In this case, please form an orderly queue for the Brasilian surprise, Biatüwi. Located in Manaus, this unasuming eatery has burst into the limelight over this past year as the place to eat.  After much soul-searching, Clarinda Ramos (holding her breath) opened when enough friends, family…

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So says the National Geographic

If ever there was a venerable institution (especially in the USA) it would be The National Geographic (affiliate friends of ours.)  Decades old, the organisation has always been known for its global approach:  it makes no distinctions nor proffers favouritism in its activities.  In the past, it has opened doors to worlds that many people…

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HOTacama

Within the Andes Mountains, the San Pedro Hot Springs is a place to press pause and contemplate, which interrupts a transnational highway between Chile and Argentina. Although these natural pools became a public landmark within the route, they eventually fell over time into a state of abandonment and deterioration as a result of the constant…

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Aire o’ Mexico

Mexico City is an exciting, sprawling, tangled, vibrant, diverse, crazy, inspiring and unforgettable place.  If you've been, you know.  Maybe you've even been able to cover a lot of ground there.  With almost 10,000,000 inhabitants, there is a lot going on.  You've got to be tough, but, boy, is it worth it. If you haven't…

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Dominican-do!

Like other locales hard-hit by the events of the past 18 months, the Dominican Republic is focusing on rebuilding and recovering. But that doesn’t mean travel has to slow down. In fact, destinations in the Caribbean are very attractive all year round due to their warm weather and turquoise blue beaches. Click here to learn…

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Chiribiquete

When people think of Colombia, it is usually of marvelous places such as Bogota, or Cartegena or Medellín - all genuinely wonderful destinations that you must put on your list. But, there is a relatively unknown part of Columbia that goes beyond into an almost magical realm:  Chiribiquete. Chiribiquete National Natural Park is the largest national…

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Misty mountain crop

Peruvians living in one of the world's driest areas may have a solution to their water crisis - "fog catchers" that catch droplets through thick, swirling blankets of mist. It's a beautiful, but tough environment to live in.  But, as always, humans will improvise and improve.  And, in this case it doesn't involve complex technology. …

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Sin presión

There are records of tortilla production in the country going back as far as 500bc, so it’s fair to say that what the Mexicans don’t know about corn isn’t worth knowing. El Pastor restaurant co-founder Crispin Somerville shares his inside track on the tastiest snacks. Read more here courtesy of CNN.com Sin presión = no pressure. Southwest…

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Quito is neato!

With a rich pre-Colombian history, Ecuador's capital was founded on the ruins of an Incan city but offers everything a modern traveller might need. It remains the least-altered historic centre in Latin America and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quito’s important sites include baroque gems like San Francisco and Santo Domingo monasteries, as…

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Juan O’Gorman

Walking through the quiet old streets of Mexico City’s San Ángel, a neighborhood hugged by old ash trees and immense colonial style buildings, there’s one edifice that doesn’t quite fit in. Two square houses, one blue and the other one red, are linked  by a narrow bridge and fenced in by immense cactus plants. Most…

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NO PRESSURE: the coolest streets in the world

Havana, and all of Cuba (in our opinion) are at the wrong end of the stick when it comes to US sanctions.  The people have suffered enough under decades of embargos and bans.  Cuba is a jewel to behold. Deep in the lanes of southern Old Havana, where trailing plants and drying clothes drape from…

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From Alto Cedro I go to Marcané

If you're a music fan, then you certainly must know of the Buena Vista Social Club, 1999 documentary film directed by Wim Wenders. The film follows renowned guitarist Ry Cooder and his son, Joachim, as they travel to Cuba and assemble a group of the country's finest musicians to record an album. But, even if you…

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Every breath you take, every move you make

Those with tin foil hats, look away now. People are people and, therefore, unpredictable.  Sometimes that's fine (and fun) but when it comes to wrangling millions of us at a time, that can be . . not fun. In the UK,  Transport for London is using aggregated and anonymised data from its wi-fi network to provide real-time…

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Cruising Colombia

Politically, Colombia has its ups and downs, let's face it.  But, during the calm times, this country will make your jaw drop. Featuring geuninely kind people, stunning  mountains, overwhelming lush forests and unspoiled coasts, Colombia should be a must-see on your list. And now, Ama Waterways are making it easy for you with luxury cruises…

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The Candy Museum (Museo-del-Dulce)

Our first question, when we discovered this magical place was - how can candy stay around long enough even to end up in a museum?  That seems to go against human nature. But, sure enough, it did and it will make children and adults alike squeal with delight when they see what they're seeing .…

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Right, said Fred

We're happy to announce that Matouring is now an affiliate of Fred Olsen cruises. One of the things we like about Fred Olsen is the playful approach they have to cruises and touring.  They're a not the biggest name in the cruise industry, but being family-run, they can do things the way they want, and…

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Yes, you get the Holbox to yourself.

https://matouring.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Palm-Trees-Ocean-Breeze-Square-Video.mp4 Flamingos and pelicans and herons…oh my! Holbox Island is beloved by bird nerds for its population of exotic avian life. Perched near the Yucatan Peninsula, the island is also a hot spot for whale shark viewing, and kiteboarders love the shallow waters and wide beaches. The white sand streets are relatively unspoiled, as most tourists…

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Things could get Messi

Can you believe this?  On June 14, 2021, the Hard Rock venues turned 50 and that doesn’t happen every day. To mark this day, they want to share with you their new campaign. It is built on the principles that have guided Hard Rock since the beginning – providing a fresh approach and a call…

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