Japan Rules
Though I'd already lived in Asia, some of Japan's rules were simply lost on me. And as predicted, it was a tough country to explore on my own. Tricky transportation, swarming tourists and wild weather were a challenge to navigate.
Elephant Watching in Pinnawala
Pinnawala is a village near Sri Lanka's capital city of Colombo. The small village is special because of its elephant orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants. Pop over for a night and grab a room overlooking the elephant's watering hole.
Chasing Waterfalls in Cienfuegos
Located on Bahía de Cienfuegos, a bay on Cuba’s southern coast, Cienfuegos is a peaceful town oozing charm. Known for colorful colonial-era buildings, the town is a chief seaport for sugarcane, coffee and tobacco.
Machu Picchu: A Dream Come True
At almost 8,000 feet above sea level, Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Set above the Urubamba River valley, the site was built in the 15th century and later abandoned. Even today, it carries an air of mystery with its exact purpose still debated.
Cobblestone Streets of Trinidad
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 because of its historical importance as a center of the sugar trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, Trinidad is also one of the most well-preserved cities in the Caribbean.
Old Havana
Founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, Havana has had many lives. The city is celebrated for its vibrant culture, rich history and mix of architecture, including Colonial, Baroque and Neoclassical. The tropical climate helps give way to beautiful parks and al fresco dining.
Once the Capital of the Inca Empire
Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is famed for its rich history, culture and architecture. Cobblestone streets lead visitors to Plaza de Armas, alongside archaeological remains like the Twelve-Angled Stone. It's also the spot for freshwater trout ceviche and the perfect jumping off point for Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain.
Sacred Valley & Peru's Andean Highlands
Sacred Valley is a region in Peru's Andean highlands known for fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages, stretching from Pisac to Ollantaytambo. Together, with Machu Picchu and the nearby city of Cusco, they formed the heart of the Inca Empire in the late 1500's.
Near-Death Experience on Rainbow Mountain
A two hour drive from Cusco, Vinicunca, also called Mountain of Seven Colors, is a mountain in the Andes of Peru with an altitude of 16,522 feet above sea level and extremely harsh conditions. The seven colors come from mineral composition but are only visible during Augusts’s dry season.
Hiking Peru's Epic Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a river canyon in southern Peru famed as one of the deepest in the world. It’s a trekking and rafting destination with canyons, valleys and remote traditional villages honring terraced agriculture that predates the Incas. The giant Andean condor can often be spotted from viewpoints like Cruz del Condor.
The White City of Arequipa
Known as the “White City” because of its baroque style buildings made of sillar, a white volcanic stone, Arequipa, Peru feels warm and welcoming and is filled with live music, spicy food, antique stores and a vibrant historic center. The town is also surrounded by four imposing volcanoes.
Dune Buggy Rides & Wine Tastings in Huacachina
Sunsets, sandboarding, lagoons and dune buggy rides. Huacachina is a tiny village and desert oasis west of Ica in southwestern Peru. Its center is filled with emerald green waters of the Huacachina Lagoon, thought to have therapeutic properties.
Islands Made of Rock & Tropical Deserts of Paracas
Known for its sandy beaches, unique wildlife and sunny weather, Paracas is a special little beach town on Peru’s western coast. It’s also an incredible area to explore the Ballestas Islands, Paracas National Reserve and Nazca Lines.
24 Hours in Lima
Founded in 1535 as the Ciudad de los Reyes, Lima is a coastal city full of life on Peru’s west coast. Surfing, paragliding and dancing, cathedrals, parks and museums, nightlife, restaurants and plazas; Lima has it all.