Artwork in Salvador

13 Culturally-Rich Things to Do in Salvador Brazil

During the transatlantic slave trade, millions of Africans were shipped to Brazil to work on sugar plantations, many of whom were sent to Bahia. To date, Brazil has the highest Black population outside of Africa. It was remarkable to witness the preservation and promotion of African culture in Bahia. Here are 13 things to do in Salvador Brazil to get a flavor of its culturally-rich heritage, categorized by neighborhood:

Fireworks in Rio during New Years

Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro

Besides the Brazilian Carnival, one of the largest events in Rio de Janeiro is Réveillion, the New Year’s Eve celebration. This famous party happens on the iconic Copacabana beach. Millions of people come from all over the world to join in on the festivities that include a variety of traditions. Here’s a guide to this grand celebration:

Crowds near Christ the Redeemer

5 Failed Picture Attempts with Christ the Redeemer

One of Rio de Janeiro’s most recognizable landmarks is Christ the Redeemer. Wherever you go in Rio, you will see this glorious statue watching over the city. It attracts 3,000- 4,000 visitors daily, or over a million visitors each year. People from all over the world travel to come and do the most to get a picture with the statue. However, as you can imagine, with such a popular attraction, picture taking is a challenge! Here are 5 of the 100s of hilarious attempts I made at getting a half-way decent shot with Christ the Redeemer:

Beach in Rio

Brazil Packing List for the Adventurous Traveler

My winter will start off a little warm this year, as I’m spending a couple of weeks exploring Brazil!  We plan on spending the majority of our time in Rio, Salvador, and Iguaçu Falls, which will be hot, humid, and rainy at times. While Brazil is known for its beautiful beaches, this packing list doesn’t focus on how many bikinis or shorts you should pack. Here’s the packing list for travelers who want to explore Brazil in a more adventurous way:

Rio park

7 Unique Rio Experiences Worth Leaving the Beach For

Internationally known for its barely there bikinis (and not there at all waxes), Brazil has become synonymous with sand, sea, and sun. Nowhere is this more true than in Rio de Janeiro, home to some of the world’s most iconic beaches. While there’s no denying the allure of days spent lounging in the sun, Rio has a lot more to offer than miles of pristine white sand. Here are 7 ways to have an amazing Rio de Janeiro vacation beyond visiting its beaches:

Park in lima Peru

4-Day Itinerary for Peru

Last fall, my best friend and I were mulling over where to visit for the winter holidays. We’re both big on travel and hadn’t taken an international trip in ages but deciding where to go was really tricky. Europe? Nah, too cold. Caribbean? Zika…yeah. South East Asia? Way too far for our short trip. And then it hit us: Peru! It’s summer time there and, surprisingly, it isn’t in the thick of their tourist season. Looking back, I’m so happy we went – it was the perfect mix of activity, culture, and leisure. I still remember our train ride through the Andes mountains to Machu Picchu and I seriously miss the amazing food (one word: ceviche!). 

Salento Valley Palm Trees

7 Unique Places to Visit in Colombia

Colombia is the most biodiverse country on earth. From flourishing cities to lavish landscapes, the country offers a taste of everything for the multifarious traveler. You’d be remiss not to experience everything the country has to offer. Yet, the average traveler knows little about the bountiful secrets that Colombia has in store. If you want to experience the country fully, check out these 7 unique places to visit in Colombia.

Guide to Backpacking in South America

Guide to Backpacking in South America

Our route ended up being based two things: a plan to hike Machu Picchu for four days in November, and the cheap flights we found around the continent. We would spend a month in Brazil, fly to Peru, take buses south to Cusco, hike Machu Picchu, take more buses south to Bolivia, fly to Chile, and take buses across the continent to Buenos Aires, where our return flight headed back to DC.