The Inca trail in Argentina
North West Argentina is particularly rich in pre-Hispanic history, as it was one of the most heavily populated parts of the continent when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. The formation of the Andes between 12 and 15 million…
From Brazil to Salta
The airline industry was just about tottering to its feet and making baby steps after the Covid-19 shutdown when Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, prompting a world fuel and cost of living crisis, in addition to the tragic and…
Guide to Buenos Aires
I don't spend a huge amount of time in Buenos Aires, as I'm normally passing through rapidly, hot-footing it back to my home country of the UK, or returning to my adopted city of Salta in north-west Argentina.You can see…
Salta nightlife
When you are organising your tour of Argentina, after enjoying a tango show in Buenos Aires, you musn't miss the most typical feature of a night out in north west Argentina: the peña.A peña is traditionally a gathering of any…
Argentina re-opens to tourism
The Prime Minister of my home country, Boris Johnson, unwisely dubbed it "Freedom Day" when the UK liberated itself from most Covid-imposed restrictions on July 19th this year. The result was an uptick in infection rates despite mass vaccinations, and…
Torrontes: the real emblem of Argentine wine
Torrontes is the emblematic variety of Salta province, a superb white wine with a floral bouquet and a crisp, dry finish.Its origins are mysterious and have nothing to do with the Torrontes variety from La Rioja, Spain, with which it…
The Holy Leaf
When you visit northwest Argentina, you may notice some people in the street have cheeks as fat as a hamster preparing for hibernation. They’re chewing coca, following an age-old ritual in the Andean region used to combat fatigue, hunger…
Hands across the Andes
After the longest Covid lockdown in Latin America, I'm delighted to report that this weekend Chile is fully re-opening all its frontiers (Sunday 1st May). Chile locked down with Argentina in mid-March 2020, but while my adopted country fully…
World Malbec Day
Why is World Malbec Day on April 17th?As I’m sure you all know, Malbec is a French variety, principally grown in the Cahors region 200km east of Bordeaux, close to the Pyrenees. In the last few years, Malbec, once almost…
Vendimia
The Wine Harvest Trail from Salta to MendozaI have just returned from a trip to Mendoza at the very best time of year: vendimia, or harvest time, when activity in the wineries is at its busiest, full of great smells and…