By Maureen Valentine

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One of the best parts about travelling to new lands is diving into their unique cuisines – stimulating the taste buds, while plumbing new aspects of the culture. For the foodie in search of a real gastronomic frolic, the city of Salvador, located in the state of Bahia, Brazil, has more than its fair share of good eats.

In a coastal city like Salvador, seafood is prevalent in the cooking. The way Brazilians spice it up is what draws in gourmands from all over the world to feast on Bahian cuisine.

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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The Church of the Divine Providence in Avenue Providencia of Santiago, Chile, suffered structural damage from the tremors. This photo was taken a few hours after the earthquake. (Photo by Santiago Vanegas)

At 3:30 in the morning on Saturday, 27 February, I was sitting at my dining room table in my home in central Santiago, Chile, with friends having some drinks… when something peculiar started to happen. My house started to shake. There was a split second when I thought “Am I crazy or is the table moving?” and then I locked eyes with one of my friends with a mutual communication of “GET OUT!”

Everyone jumped up and started running toward the door, screaming as the walls continued to move for an excruciating 90 seconds. The entire neighbourhood flooded into the street for fear of their houses collapsing.

Throughout the early morning of the 27th and the rest of the day, we continued to feel aftershocks. There were so much that sometimes we couldn’t tell if it was our imagination or the ground was actually moving. Nevertheless, by midday, our electricity and internet access had been restored, which gave me the opportunity to find out exactly what had happened and if it was something my family back in North Carolina would see in the international news. I quickly discovered that the earthquake had measured 8.8 on the Richter scale and a top news story worldwide.

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Posted under Chile, General, countries, responsible traveller, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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The diamonds that were once harvested from the national park of the Chapada Diamantina (or Diamond Highlands) are only the tip of a precious natural resource iceberg in the northeast Brazilian state of Bahia. In fact, until recently, Chapada Diamantina was perhaps Brazil’s best-kept secret, trade from tourism having been on the rise only since it became an official national park in 1985.

Brazil's Chapada Diamantina landscape is known for the mesa-like features called 'tepuis'. In the Pati Valley (pictured here), hikers are rewarding to stunning vistas over the national park after a bit of serious legwork.

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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Off Panama’s Pacific coast lies Isla Gobernadora, a peaceful and natural haven practically untouched by modern preoccupations. For the local inhabitants, primarily fishermen, island life tends to revolve around the seasons and tides, and the absence of roads and cars means that people get around by boats or boots. This hasn’t however prevented outsiders from beating a path to the famous surfing point of Santa Catalina or establishing a base for diving trips into Coiba National Park or nearby Isla Cebico.

Boats on the Isla Gobernadora shore await use in this ideal diving area. The beautiful waters of the Pacific off Panama draw some of the best divers in the world.

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Posted under General, Panama, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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Off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela lies Los Roques, a remote paradise, where stretches of picturesque beach meet a crystal-clear sea teeming with schools of colourful fish. Over the centuries, this near-utopia archipelago has seduced many tourists into full-time residence with its isolation, charm and stark beauty. It was even once described by Christopher Columbus as ‘heaven on earth,’ and has continued to amaze Venezuelans and international holidaymakers alike as they take a break from the routine of everyday life.

The turquoise waters and marine wildlife diversity of the Los Roques archipelago make it an ideal location for diving and snorkelling. Close encounters with sea turtles are common.

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Posted under General, Venezuela, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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Found off the coast of southeast Brazil, Ilha do Mel, which means Honey Island, is about as far from life’s chaos as serene nature can get. Hikers, surfers, bird watchers, stargazers and nature lovers alike are in awe of all that this little Atlantic island has to offer. In fact, many agree that Brazil’s most pristine beaches are located right here, where, until the 1970s, the local economy was dominated by fishermen and the lack of traffic spared the land as an ecotourism haven.

As Ilha do Mel is an island of fishermen, this colourful pier is always full of activity. Sampling the abundance of seafood available in the eateries from the daily catches is always a treat.

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Posted under Brazil, countries, local tips, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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The city of Cusco, Peru – gateway to the world-renowned ruins of Machu Picchu – is said to be the oldest still-inhabited city in South America, as it was the capital of the ancient Inca Empire many moons ago.

A group of residents from the Cusco region gather to learn more about the installation of the cleaner burning stoves in their homes. An overwhelming majority of the population immediately recognise the benefits and sign on with the project.

In fact its very long history and rich culture are windows into Andean mores, Peruvians still proudly adorning themselves with the colourful wraps and bowler hats of years passed and giving any outsider an exciting sense of cultural immersion into something quite different from the norm.

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Posted under General, Peru, responsible organisations, whl.travel newsletter