Where to stay in Buenos Aires: an area-by-area guide

(Rough Guides) One of South America’s most cosmopolitan and culturally rich cities, Buenos Aires sits on the western bank of the River Plate, a 78-square-mile block divided into 48 barrios or neighbourhoods. Argentina’s capital has been nipped and tucked over the past decade. The introduction of Metrobus bus and cycle lanes (including free bike hire) has helped […]

Tasting at the top of the world

(Selector magazine) I’m in a ute driven by vintner Claudio Zucchino, bouncing along a stone track when Finca Moya, finally comes into view. At 3,329 metres above sea level, it is the world’s highest vineyard. Claudio’s cellar, housed in a disused mine 400 winding metres further up the mountain, shares the same accolade. That’s where we’re […]

The best beaches in Argentina

(Rough Guides) While Argentina isn’t known for powdery white beaches and transparent warm waters like some Latin American countries, it does boast 4,989 km of coastline as well as lakes, streams and rivers. What Argentina lacks in tropical vibes, it more than makes up for in rugged natural beauty. Keep that in mind as you check out our list […]

Guadalupe García uses her filmmaker’s eye to capture every last detail at Casa Cavia

(Freunde von Freunden) Relaxing in a 1920s-inspired garden over a cortado, Guadalupe García surveys the mid-morning bustle in Casa Cavia with her filmmaker’s eye. Staff prep behind the bronze and marble bar, blooms are gathered together at the petit florist, and young women are brunching on fruit platters accompanied by homemade granola and yogurt. This […]

King crabbing in the Beagle Channel, Argentina

(Rough Guides) “Keep pulling,” shouts fisherman Sergio Carrera, to make himself heard above Patagonia’s ubiquitous wind. “There’s about 80 more metres of rope to go!” On board a small inflatable craft in the middle of the Beagle Channel, I’m about to catch my first centolla (king crab or spider crab), an orange-hued decapod crustacean prized by chefs […]

10 of the best warming winter drinks around the world

(The Guardian) A selection of Christmas drinks that go beyond  mulled wine; our pick of the best winter tipples, from hot beer in Krakow to Chile’s pisco eggnog.  Cola de mono, Santiago de Chile Cheers: ¡Salud! Merry Christmas: ¡Feliz navidad! Translating as “monkey’s tail” (or, more crudely, “arse”), cola de mono is Chile’s quintessential Christmas and new year […]

Mendoza is the grape capital of South America – and the food is just as good as the wine

(MIC – Out of Office) Visiting Mendoza, the wine capital of South America, is a sensory experience: The Andean region is pure eye candy, with hundreds of acres of vineyards tucked close to the mountains. Between a weak peso and increased international flights to Mendoza’s El Plumerillo International Airport, it’s an ideal time to visit Argentina’s glorious wine country. You’ll want […]

Colombia’s top sommelier Laura Hernández Espinosa on fermented fruit wine and a passion for pairings

(The World’s 50 Best) While a political science degree led Laura Hernández Espinosa to undertake diplomatic missions, her heart knew better and she ditched embassy life to fuse her real passions: social development and gastronomy. Since 2009, the head sommelier at Leo in Bogotá has also been executive director of FunLeo, a foundation set up by […]

10 of the best hotels near the sights in Argentina

(The Guardian) With the peso dropping 50% against the dollar, Argentina is affordable again, including characterful hotels and hostels in Mendoza, Patagonia, Buenos Aires and other hotspots. Hacienda de Molinos, Salta This 17th-century former governor’s residence is a comfortable stop-off on Ruta 40 through the Calchaquí valley in the rugged north-west. The hotel is reached […]