I lived in Lima for a year, and visit often for work trips — and the best part by far, is the food. Peruvians are obsessed with food in a passionate, compulsive, borderline clinical way. It is the base of their culture, their favorite pastime and topic of conversation. I am a SEAFOOD lover & eat almost no meat —- so this list is heavily seafood skewed, but when in Lima, I think that’s a great bias. Lima is a great place to stop for a few days before heading to see the rest of the country. It is worth splurging to eat well. Keywords: South America, Peru, Seafood, Lima, Restaurants, Foodie

My favorite restaurants in Quito, Ecuador. Quito is a great place to stop for a few days before heading to see the rest of the country. Keywords: South America, Ecuador, Andes, Backpacking, Quito, Restaurants, Foodie

Patagonia, Salta, and a little Buenos Aires. When flying within the country from Buenos Aires, you can use the Newberry Aeroparque airport (AEP) inside the city rather than the international airport (EZE) which is about an hour outside. Money tips: Bring USD and exchange locally at the “blue rate” which is 2x the official rate. As of Dec 2022 credit cards (at least visa) are also charging at the blue rate, which makes travel way easier! If not, you can also send yourself money using the Western Union website which has a rate closer to the blue rate. The Remitly app is also a good option if you need to make a cash deposit for anything.

I got these hikes from the local tourism office, which was also very helpful via WhatsApp with other recommendations Website https://www.villalaangosturaturismo.gob.ar WhatsApp +54 9 2944 24-1678 Email turismo.mvla@gmail.com

Cuenca is my favorite city in Ecuador by far. The city feels very European — gorgeous colonial architecture, beautiful public spaces along the river to walk along, the city is clean, traffic is orderly, and you can even drink the tap water! This guide includes my tips on: - Arriving in Cuenca (Transportation) - Sightseeing & shopping - Best restaurants (including an affordable tasting menu you absolutely CANT miss!) - Places to stay - Daytrips - Weekend trips Many North Americans retire in Cuenca for the comfortable quality of life. It’s a great place to recharge your batteries if you need a break from bussing and adventuring. Don’t forget to pack a jacket and a beanie! Even if the daytime is beautiful with sunny blue skies, temperatures often drop down to the 50s at night. Keywords: South America, Ecuador, Andes, Backpacking, Cuenca

History, colonial architecture and good food up in the Andes - great place to fly into and spend a couple days before exploring the rest of the country