South America

I finally made it to Colombia in February. Woohoo! Viva Colombia! Aaaand, 12 hours after landing I immediately became so deathly ill, that I barely left my bed for 5 days. BIG boo. But — there’s a bright side…

Perched 11,000 feet up in the Andes, Cusco took my breath away — quite literally. I’d heard tales of how captivating Cusco is, and the stories resonated. Tucked amidst dramatic mountain peaks, Cusco’s red tile roofs, cobbled streets and colonial architecture leave most travelers smitten — I was no exception.

Wanna know a little secret? Machu Picchu is positively TEEMING with tourists. Here’s what to know to avoid the crowds and make the most of your bucket-list trip to the iconic ruins.

When a city is described as similar to being “inside the belly of a dead whale,” I’m intrigued. Such was Lima.

Exploring Northern Brazil’s coastal wonders on a day trip from Natal to Pipa includes stops at Praia do Amor, Madeiro and the epic Cacimbinhas Beach.

In just a few weeks, the U.S. men’s soccer team will be playing one of their World Cup 2014 matches in Natal, Brazil. What can visitors expect?

Yes, the good Lord rose, and so did the spirits, voices and boombox volume of the entire town. It was a party for the ages — eating, drinking, and, you guessed it, dancing.

Today, tourists meander along Paraty’s cobbled streets, admiring this remarkably charming Colonial outpost along Brazil’s epically scenic coast.