With family dotted around the world in such incredible destinations as New York, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago, my passion for travel was ignited from a young age. I embarked on my first trip to South America after graduating from the University of Liverpool, spending six months traveling through Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. I was instantly enthralled by the sheer beauty of the landscapes, the culture and the vibrancy of the people.
Since then I have been lucky enough to revisit the region on many occasions and each time I'm astounded by just how much there is to discover. Some stand out out memories are walking the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, seeing a family of giant river otters at Lake Sandoval in the Peruvian Amazon, witnessing the three peaks of Torres del Paine emerge from the mist in Patagonia, and experiencing the unique vastness of the Bolivian salt flats at Salar de Uyuni.
I have been working as a Latin America specialist for the past eight years and I am eager to share my passion for this region with those who wish to see and experience all that it has to offer.
Q&A with Graham
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
Peru has undergone a huge gastronomic transformation over the past few years and boasts some of the best restaurants in the world, namely Central in Lima. One of my favourite Peruvian dishes is Anticuchos de Corazon or ‘beef heart skewers’, marinated in spices and smoky chillies. Ceviche is the national dish and consist of raw fish marinated in lime juice served with a red onion salsa and crunchy corn chips.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
Spending a week in the Peruvian Amazon was an unforgettable experience. From the upper level of a 40 metre (131 feet) canopy tower at the Refugio Amazonas, we scanned the vista of ancient Brazil nut trees, acacias and ceibas to spot toucans and howler monkeys, while macaws, parakeets and parrots flew by at eye-level. The cacophony of noise was astounding. I was lucky enough to stay at the Tambopata Research Center which is home to the largest clay lick in the world and is the best place see macaws congregate in the wild. We spent an hour here surrounded by macaws, parakeets and parrots.
Your best piece of travel advice?
When travelling through Peru and Bolivia a lot of your time will be spent at altitude. For the first day at altitude it is always recommended to keep hydrated, eat light meals and travel at a leisurely pace. Coca tea is often available at hotels and, although it has an acquired taste, has been proven to help.