Art and Culture

El Mirador is a former Maya city, located deep in the jungle of Guatemala. It must have been the biggest city in the Mayan empire with the largest temple (72 meters) ever built by the Mayans. The city has been completely taken over by nature, and can only be reached by helicopter or multi-day trip, where you spend the night in a tent in the jungle. In this article you’ll read all about my visit to El Mirador, with many practical tips for the El Mirador Guatemala trek and helicopter tour, including the best time to travel and a packing list.

Tikal is one of Guatemala’s most visited destinations. Due to its mysterious atmosphere and amazing location in the dense jungle, it is one of the most impressive archaeological Maya sites. A visit to Tikal National Park is an unforgettable experience where you will learn more about the fascinating Maya history and enjoy the beautiful jungle environment around you with countless monkeys, coatis, butterflies and species of birds. Read more about a trip to Tikal, including the highlights, lots of useful tips for a day tour, how to visit and where to stay.

Yaxha is a smaller and less visited Maya site in Peten Guatemala, located at the Yaxha lake. From Temple 216 you can enjoy beautiful views during the sunset. Even though more and more tourists find the ancient Maya city, the big tourist crowds stay away and that is what makes a visit so special. In this article you will read everything you want to know about Maya city Yaxha, a tour including the highlights and useful tips for your visit.

Are you dreaming about traveling to Mexico? To discover the history of the Maya, Aztecs and other ancient civilizations? Mexico is famous for its impressive temples and pyramids, each of them located in a different part of the country: In the jungle, the savanna, on a hilltop, in the rainforest and at the beach. Nowadays you can visit these archaeological places, stroll through the ancient cities, climb temples, observe glyphs and learn about the fascinating history. Discover the best ruins to visit, including tips for the famous Yucatan Maya ruins in Mexico in the next article.

Most people know about the Incas and the Maya, but what about the mysterious Tiwanaku culture? Where the Maya and Incas only ruled for a couple of 100 years, the Tiwanaku empire existed for more than 3000 years. In this article I am taking you on a journey to the former capital of this empire: Tiwanaku, located in Bolivia.

Do you like to get inspired by art around the world? Art is a nice way to understand more about a country and culture. This is a list with some of my favorite Latin American painters, I got to know during my travels through Central and South America. From Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador.

Rajasthan, is a state in India and means country of the Maharajas. These kings ruled the country for more than 1000 years and build amazing forts and palaces, presenting the finest architecture and artistic achievements. In this article I am taking you to the most beautiful palaces and forts in Rajasthan.

Are you a travel lover and looking for ways to discover a culture and country from home? During my travels, I’ve collected different books from all over the Latin American continent. This is a list with my favorite books. Including classic novels, modern authors, famous poets, interesting and inspiring stories. From Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Peru.

Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999) is one of Ecuador’s most important artists. The art of Oswaldo Guayasamín can be seen in all the major museums of modern art throughout Central and South America. During my first visit to Ecuador in 2001, I encountered the work of this famous Ecuadorian artist. I was impressed by the absurd shapes, his use of color, and especially the intense emotions on the faces of the figures he portrayed. In Quito, the capital of Ecuador, you can find his most important works in the Fundación Guayasamín. Read more about the life and work of Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín in this article.

Thousands of years ago, the southern part of Colombia was home to a mysterious civilization. This civilization built several burial mounds in which they placed beautiful statues. In this article I’m taking you on a journey to the mysterious statues and tombs of San Agustín in Colombia