South America articles

Visit Chile observatory
Travel Briefs, December 2013 issue.
The Observatorio Astronómico Andino, or Andes Astronomical Observatory (Camino del Bollenar 21.974, Lo Barnechea, Santiago; phone +56 02 -221 514 59) outside of Santiago, Chile, offers tours of the facility.

Easter Island festival
Travel Briefs, December 2013 issue.
On Rapa Nui, aka Easter Island, the Tapati festival will take place Feb. 1-15, 2014. The festival has competitions based on ancient sports, which include a triathlon and horse racing.

From snowcapped mountains to the rainforest, Bolivia is a land of contrasts
Cemetery of the Aymara, with graves dating back to the 1700s, backed by Chacaltaya Peak.
Features, November 2013 issue.
A 23-day private tour of the country reveals a land of natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage

Did not find big-bus touring ‘leisurely’
Travelers' Intercom, November 2013 issue.
I took the “Cultures & Contrasts of South America” tour offered by Grand European Travel. It was scheduled to take place Dec. 15-31, 2012, traveling for about five days each in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, with an optional day trip to Colonia, Uruguay.

“Peru Highlights”
Tours, November 2013 issue.
15 days/14 nights, April 16-30, 2014. Highlights: Walking tour of Lima/at Iquitos, motor canoe trip on Amazon/Arequipa/visit Inca terraces/sail to floating islands of the Uros on Lake Titicaca/train trip through mountains/Cuzco/Sacsayhuamán/at Machu Picchu, climb Huayna Picchu.

Gondola over Quito
Travel Briefs, November 2013 issue.
In Quito, Ecuador, the Quito Teleférico climbs 3,609 feet to the summit of Cruz Loma, a starting point for hiking the peaks of the Pichincha Volcano complex. 

Quito hop-on / hop-off bus
Travel Briefs, November 2013 issue.
Quito Tour Bus (phone 2435 458 or 2458 010), the city’s first double-decker tourist bus service, allows passengers to hop on and off at 12 bus stops throughout the city. 

Easter Island with Road Scholar
Travelers' Intercom, October 2013 issue.
I read the subscriber’s letter “Did Not Find Expected Amenities on Easter Island” (June ’13, pg.

“Train Trip Quito To Guayaquil”
Tours, October 2013 issue.
4-day/3-night train/coach tour in ECUADOR.

Ecuador / Galápagos with Lifebound
, September 2013 issue.
I took an incredible 18-day trip, “Ecuador Including the Galápagos Islands,” June 10-28, 2013. This was my second trip with Lifebound Tours (Fallbrook, CA; 760/742-3455).