It's Malbec Day!
As we mark World Malbec Day on April 17th, consider this: in 1995 the Malbec grape, first introduced with such success in the mid 19th century, was in the doldrums, with only 9,746 hectares in production: that was 4.6% of…
Easter parades in Argentina
If you're visiting Argentina this week, I hope you've already sorted out your hotel, as it's one of the busiest times of year. If you don't already know, it's Semana Santa, or "Holy Week", culminating this weekend with Easter Sunday.…
Bolivia Mirror Lake - 9 Interesting Facts About Salar De Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni is one of the most amazing sights in South America. Located in the heart of the Bolivian salt flats, and easily accessible by tour vehicle, this incredible salt flat basin is a must-see. If you’re the adventurous…
Driving me crazy
This is slightly off piste for my blog which, naturally, is mostly about tourism: this might be of more interest to expats living in Argentina, or those looking to spend Sabbatical time here. But since I know several Americans…
Best restaurants in Argentina
The new gourmet dining experience in Jujuy province is Flor del Pago, 10 minutes drive from the city of San Salvador, on Route 9, the main road north to Bolivia. I’ve been following Flor del Pago on Instagram and…
Wine harvest 2023
Back in the days before the "gap year" became part of the leisure industry, one of the best jobs to pick up towards the end of the British summer holidays was grape picking for the wine harvest in Europe. I…
Atacama desert tours
After more than three years without visiting the Chile Atacama, we at Poncho Tours have now been across the Andes four times in three months (and I’m off again in February). As you’ll already know if you read our…
Hiking in north west Argentina
"Before we go any further, we have to ask for permission". We'd just started hiking through some of the most spectacular landscape in north west Argentina, close to the famous Seven Coloured Hill in Jujuy province. Oh yes, of…
Argentina's famous empanadas
Food again, after my ruminations on the Andean potato. (I try to write this blog first thing after breakfast, when I'm not hungry, but it doesn’t always work out that way). Empanadas, as the Brits who have joined Poncho…
The sport of kings
My only experience of polo was as a young journalist when I was sent to cover Prince Charles in the first flush of his marriage troubles with Diana, and the press pack was chasing him around the country. It…