Nowhere on Earth makes it easier to reconnect with the natural world than the Amazon rainforest. I caught my first glimpse of that truth 27 years ago, the moment I set foot beneath its canopy. Like so many places, our idea of the Amazon is shaped by headlines and documentaries—and almost always for the worse. […]
We fear what we don’t know. In travel, as we grow our curiosity for the world, overcoming fear, misconception and unawareness are often part of the process. Few places embody this tension more powerfully than the Amazon. A vast, unknowable river world. A land of abundance and promise. A hostile and dangerous wilderness. Constant risk of […]
The G_ family has been traveling with us for over 20 years. They have been nearly everywhere, so picking their next destination wasn’t an easy task. In fact, they had no intention of visiting Brazil until we planted the idea in their minds of boat trip on the Tapajós River in the Brazilian Amazon. I […]
The first time I attended a piracaia was during my honeymoon. What my spouse and I expected to be a festive dinner with local food and local music felt much like remarrying just a few days after our wedding. The word piracaia is formed by the junction of two tupi words: “pira” = fish and […]
It’s been a bit over a year now but a picture of a loving couple of hyacinth macaws still displays as my phone’s background, just as the powerful roar of a male jaguar protecting his territory reverberates through my diaphragm like a carnival-inspired beat. It’s not that I want any of these memories to fade, […]
Cariocas like the Carioca way of living. So the last thing you want to do in Rio is look like a gringo, or seem lost in the multitude of social interactions and signs so particular to this city. You’ll want to mingle and feel part of it, sure that Cariocas will be very welcoming and […]
The clock strikes 9:15 AM in Rio de Janeiro. It’s April, and the heat is not excessive, so the weather allows for a lazy Saturday morning. Yet, there is an urge to explore the vibrant streets of the city and pay homage to the ever-present sun. I get up and take a quick shower, while […]
When I was a child, I was mad at my parents for buying a family van instead of a horse. I refused to understand why using a horse to get around the suburbs of Toronto was not a practical choice and that a van would be much more suitable for our family. As you can […]
Ibitipoca. Tough to pronounce; hard to get to; but well worth the effort. Here goes: Ibitipoca is pronounced “ee-bitch-ee-pokah” (sounds like a palavrão I know). But it actually comes from the indigenous Tupi-guarani language in which “ybytyra” = mountain, and “pok” = burst, a combination of words the natives used to describe the intense roaring […]
Next week I embark on my annual canoe trip with a group of close friends. We typically stick close to Algonquin Park, as our cottage is located there, making it an easy jumping-off point. Plus the joy of a post-trip ice cold beer in the sun on the dock is hard to pass up. Ontario has […]
Let this be an ode to the non-tactile senses. To the joy of looking and seeing, the richness of listening and hearing. To being still long enough and staying put long enough to enjoy some of the world’s subtleties. About 15 years ago, I had burrowed my way into the professional world of travel. In […]
Brazil is so darn gigantic that there are many ways to access the confusingly vast Amazon region. Of the four or five main entry points to reach this marvel of mother nature, the most popular one is Manaus. From here you can visit the Amazonas Opera House and take a seaplane to one of the great land-based lodges, like the Anavilhanas. […]
When our friends at Best Made asked us to help locate a rugged & timeless location to test their gear and shoot their next catalog, we stumbled upon an adventure we simply had to share. A newly developed trail, accessible only on horseback, connecting mountains to sea in a particularly blessed little corner of Brazil. Now Trufflepig […]
There’s probably something you look for immediately on your first day exploring a new destination. Maybe it’s the most interesting museums, delicious street food, local markets; everyone has their go-to travel highlights. As for me, after a long journey to a new city, I often steer myself toward the places where people rest—eternally, that is. […]
Many people ask which spots would make for a good family holiday in Latin America. The truth is, the Latins love children; the answer could be anywhere. But of course some countries are more geared up for keeping little ones entertained than others. Here’s our rundown of travel plans to keep the whole family entertained—big […]
The Winter Olympics are over. What’s the next international competition that the world is willing to wake up to watch at all hours of the night? The FIFA World Cup, of course. Rio’s final samba school has finished the Carnival parade route, and now just 83 days remain (fifa.com has a countdown, naturally) until nationalistic […]