Ayngelina Brogan South America Travel Blog

Unbelievably I spent 12 months planning my long-term travel in South America. During the day I was researching specifics such as vaccinations and safety tips but at night I was reading novels set in South America and that was the real inspiration to travel.

These books were what kept me motivated to build my savings account, learn Spanish and focus on a trip South. Stories of how Ernesto "Che" Guevara shaped the countries and the people after him painted a picture of the culture and an introduction into the politics.

If you're interested in reading about this subcontinent check out out top 7 books set in South America. While not all of the books are 100% factual, the blend of history and fiction give you a taste of the South American culture. Some stories are inspiring, others funny and some are full of sorrow.

If you have any other suggestions please comment below and let us know your favorites.

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The Catholic Church has a very strong influence in the history of Ecuador up to present day. It shaped the beliefs of the population, the holidays and even the creation of the city. With the first monastery being established just weeks after the founding of the city, today anyone giving directions often refers to a church of monastery as a marker.

You don't need to be a devout Catholic to appreciate the many monasteries of the city. The architecture and stories behind the history of these structures are fascinating and well worth visiting. If you are creating a to-do list for your visit to Quito don't miss out on our must-see list of Monasteries of Quito.

(c)John Coletti/The Image Bank

Quito is a large city and has many museums documenting the art, history and culture of Ecuador. But there is one museum that is most popular and for a good reason. The Central Bank National Museum documents in history of Ecuador from 11,000 B.C. to present day.

But have no fear this isn't as daunting a task as you may think, you don't need a week and lots of coffee to get through this museum. The area is sectioned into 5 different eras, you can choose to visit all of them or what interests you most. In addition to artefacts and artwork, there are dioramas and other scenes to help explain how the lives and beliefs of the people in Ecuador changed over the years.

To check out what you would most like to see our post on the Central Bank National Museum.

Image (c)Jeremy Woodhouse/Photodisc

South America is home to many great museums but Quito is a special place for museum lovers as you can spend entire days exploring the art, history and culture of Ecuador.

But many traveler's don't have a major in art history and want to sample some, but not all of the country. For those looking to get a taste of the country's best we have picked out our top museums in Quito. We have selected a wide range from the quirky Mitad del Mundo where many travelers get their photo at the monument the French built to celebrate the middle of the earth to the interactive Museo de la Ciudad, an interactive depiction of Ecuador's heritage

With so many museums in Quito there is definitely something for everyone!

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Well the truth is there is no bad place to spend Semana Santa, also known as Holy Week or Easter. South America has a strong but diverse celebration that balances pagan rituals with Catholic traditions.

But some locations have larger, more elaborate festivities, such as Ouro Preto in Brazil, featured above and others celebrate with smaller activities. Wherever you are, make sure to check out out best places to spend Easter in South America.

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Here's the news you can't miss from our South America travel team:

Brazil

Patricia reviews a great family-friendly getaway near São Paulo

Argentina

Skye has questions about El Chaltén, Patagonia and reaches out to a few tour operators.

Peru

Tony shares a great tip on where to find free Peru street maps.

South American Food

Marian shares a delicious sandwich recipe for the chivito in Uruguay

Ecuador has a great culinary heritage, strong in indigenous influence. Discover the regions of Ecuador through its food.

Hope you had a great week!

Image ©Zoetnet

While Ecuador is one of the smaller countries you should not be surprised to hear that the food is actually quite diverse. This is due to the different geography of the nation and in particular the food along the coast is quite different than from the highlands.

For example if you love great roasted pig, you may not want to hit Montanita, and instead head to Cuenca. But if seafood tickets your fancy you need to head straight to the coast for delicious fish cooked in coconut milk. If you do not eat meat do not worry, Ecuador is very vegetarian friendly with a lot of traditional meatless dishes.

If you are heading to Ecuador you cannot miss out on our guide to Ecuador`s regional cuisine.

Here's the news you can't miss from our South America travel team:

Brazil

Patricia updates on a charming place to stay in Transcoso, Brazil. Soleluna, owned by an Italian photography, now has bungelows.

Argentina

The public transit system in Buenos Aires can be tricky, Skye shares an interactive map that makes it easy.

Peru

Tony let's us in on his secret of the best places to get information on Peruvian food.

South American Food

Marian has written about a lot of different kinds of empanadas but this week she shares the delicious Chilean empanadas de pera.

Shopping is on almost everyone's travel itinerary, especially when traveling somewhere as exotic as South America. This week I list the best markets in South America.

Hope you had a great week!

Image ©Zoetnet

South America is home to many great wine regions and while Mendoza enjoys worldwide acclaim for its great food and robust red wine, many people do not realize that there are other wine regions in Argentina.

Cafayate, located in Northern Argentina in the Salta province, is a wine lovers haven on a budget traveler's dream. Here there are a number of vineyards, including an organic vineyard, that produces fantastic wine such as Amauta, Laborum, and El Porvenir.

Northern Argentina is only a few hours from the Atacama Desert in Chile and a day trip from Bolivia, if you tempted by great wining and dining check out out Ultimate Guide to Experiencing the Best of Cafayate.

Image (c)picturegarden/Getty Images

South America can be a great shopping destination, especially if you are looking for woven goods, alpaca clothing and other handicrafts. What makes this region so special is that most of the markets were originally for indigenous communities to buy and sell wares. Today you can find both tourists and locals alike enjoying the weekend market, looking for a good deal.

My personal favourite is the Otavalo market which is very popular on Saturday's but the area is also great to explore during the week and warrants more than a day trip to the area.

While you can't go wrong with any of these markets, we have chosen a few of our favourite. Check out the latest post on Best Markets in South America.