By, fran armitage
2 min read
Byfran armitage, fran armitage
To tread on South American soil is to start a journey that will leave you forever hooked. No visit to Brazil would be complete without a stop in Rio de Janeiro — Brazil’s capital until 1960. Despite handing this title to Sao Paulo, it remains one of the most culturally and economically important cities in the country. Flights to this dramatic location take just under 12 hours from London and, once here, you won’t want for much else; it has views, beaches, nightlife and a lively local scene, set to the rhythm of bossa nova and samba.
The Jewish community in Rio is Brazil’s second largest (after Sao Paulo) but still small on a world scale. You will find kosher food at the Gutessen restaurant in affluent Leblon or Kosher Planet in Copacabana.
Stretching more than 4,000km north to south but only 350km at its widest point east to west, Chile is a slither of South America, offering a spectrum of experiences. Start in the cosmopolitan capital of Santiago de Chile, where the streets are alive with European influences and eating options. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Andes, before heading north to the Atacama Desert. As the sky becomes a glittering black canvas, it will be clear why this is one of the world’s best stargazing destinations.
Alto Atacama Desert Lodge and Spa, a luxurious all-inclusive resort which can cater for kosher guests, is tucked into the terracotta mountains. A stay here involves scaling volcanoes, visiting hot springs and discovering ancient Incan ruins, as well as all the finer things you would expect from a deluxe dwelling.
The Lost City of the Incas is Peru’s biggest draw and Machu Picchu’s reputation precedes it. A bespoke journey in Peru highlights this 15th-century citadel, but also some of the country’s other incredible areas, such as Lima, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon rainforest, where a stay at Posada Amazonas or Refugio Amazonas plunges you into the midst of the jungle.
Explore Lima’s significant Jewish community in Miraflores and tour the Museum of the Inquisition.
Dine at Hotel Sonesta El Olivar before heading out of the capital and towards the serenity of Lake Titicaca.
Touching down in Buenos Aires is an experience you won’t forget — passion, history and energy bounce off the streets here.
Argentina has the largest Jewish population in South America and the sixth largest in the world. Most members live in Buenos Aires, so it is no surprise that the Paris of the South is abuzz with kosher restaurants, synagogues, schools and groups.
The Alvear Icon hotel in the modern waterfront area of Puerto Madero is a good base; it has a kosher dairy bar called Milk & Co, serving classic family recipes as well as Glitter, a deluxe glatt kosher restaurant.
Fran Armitage is PR executive for Chimu Adventures, a South America expert with offices in Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina. The company offers bespoke tours such as a trip focusing on the history of Jewish life in Buenos Aires, chimuadventures.com