Our very first experience with altitude in the Andes came sooner than we would have liked: a trip to Quilotoa Lagoon in Ecuador. We set out the very next day after arriving in Quito. In hindsight, not our best idea. …
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Iconic Places
Spotlight guides to the world’s headline sights—waterfalls, islands, craters, hot springs, and other natural standouts.
Each article focuses on the practical side: how to get there, trail details, fees, timing to dodge crowds, safety, and what to pack, plus honest tips from the ground and the best viewpoints.
Salinas Grandes: first encounter with a salt flat
On our first visit to Argentina in 2022, we drove from the small town of San Antonio de los Cobres toward the Chilean border. The Andean crossing over the Paso de Jama lay ahead, with San Pedro de Atacama as …
Mejillones Peninsula: Where the Desert Meets the Ocean
Our journey across Chile enters its second half, and after crossing the Andes we finally reach the Pacific—specifically the port town of Mejillones, just north of Antofagasta. The town itself is low-key, but one look toward the water makes it …
Valle de la Luna: lunar landscape near San Pedro de Atacama
After visiting the lagoons of the Salar de Atacama, we head back toward the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Our second stop of the day is one of the area’s best-known attractions – Valle de la Luna. The name …
Laguna Chaxa: Flamingos in the Heart of the Salar de Atacama
We only had two nights in San Pedro de Atacama, so we didn’t have much time for longer outings. We opted for places nearby, and first up was Laguna Chaxa. To be honest, I was skeptical at first—expecting an overpriced …
Cerro Tres Kandú: Climbing Paraguay’s Highest Peak
Our climb to Paraguay’s highest peak doesn’t begin in the mountains, but on the road. Following the maps, we head for the trailhead—first the highway out of the capital, Asunción; then main roads, side roads, and finally a rocky dirt …
The Secret Behind PT-109
It all began innocently enough. It was one of those easygoing evenings on our journey through the Solomon Islands. Brano and I were on Gizo, in the island’s namesake town. The daytime bustle had faded, and hunger was quietly catching …
Torre de Chochís: the rock tooth of eastern Bolivia
Bolivia isn’t just the Altiplano, its high plateaus, and snow-capped Andean peaks. In the east, the land softens into the warmer, greener, far flatter region known as the Chiquitania. Here, just outside the small town of Roboré in the Santa …
Veliko vrilo: A stop at the source of the Cetina River
On our way into Croatia, before boarding the ferry to the island of Dugi Otok, we made a quick early-morning stop at one of inland Croatia’s best-known natural sights. We were headed to the source of the Cetina River, specifically …
Ålesund: Norway’s Art Nouveau icon
After days spent mostly in nature, we slept in and didn’t set off for Ålesund until the afternoon. We’re not aiming for a full city tour here—just a short stop to break up the rhythm of a road trip that, …