Our Story

Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences was born in 2004 as a boutique travel firm built as an alternative to the cookie cutter style approach of tourism in South America. We knew there were more stories to tell, more places to discover, and emotions to connect. As curious travelers ourselves, we are on a mission to share our findings with the rest of the world.

We are passionate about food, wine, design, and how they are expressed through the exquisite craftsmanship in the region. From stylish lodges to fine wines, spicy olive oils, or a colorful handmade textile, the intention of every journey is to indulge your curiosity while finding meaning and honest flavors. Knowledge, care, and attention to detail are what you get.

We constantly scout South America to vet every experience that goes into our journeys, the same way chefs, wineries, coffee roasters, and chocolate makers source their precious primary ingredients. When we fall in love with an ingredient, we want to know about its provenance and its journey of transformation to become what it is. We learn from the artisans about their craft and then design how it will fit into your own journey.

The Founders

Liz Caskey & Francisco Ramirez are a couple in life. They have been working together in luxury travel for over 15 years. She cooks and writes while he photographs. They both love to muse over fine wine together. She is American; he is Chilean. Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences is the expression of their tango together through travel, food, wine, art, design, and life. Their two young children, Micaela & Leonardo, have also joined them on this beautiful journey.

Searching for flavors; the honest
and the meaningful

Press

Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences has been praised by international media outlets as one of the foremost travel curators specialized in food and wine in South America. They were named a “Top Travel Specialist” by Condé Nast Traveler and have been listed as the expert on Food & Wine travel in South America during five consecutive years on the Travel + Leisure A-list. Their curated trips, recipes, wine selections, and travel philosophy have also been featured in publications from Forbes to Afar Magazine and more!

Condé Nast Traveler

“TOP TRAVEL SPECIALIST FOR SOUTH AMERICA”
​April 2020

Doré

“EXPLORING THE ATACAMA”
December 2018

Forbes

“THE NEXT GREAT DESTINATIONS: 8 Places to Beat the Crowds this Summer”
March 2018

Travel + Leisure

​”THE BEST TRAVEL AGENTS for Mexico and Central and South America”
August 2017

Travel + Leisure

“A-LIST”
2013-2017

Forbes

“THE MOST UNDERRATED CITY IN SOUTH AMERICA: Santiago, Chile”
May 2015

Forbes

“2014 TRAVEL WISHLIST”
2014

The Yellow Table (Blog)

“WANT TO GO TO SOUTH AMERICA? Liz Caskey shows us how”
September 2013

Afar

“MORE VOLUNTEER VACATIONS”
March-April 2012

Luxury Magazine

“THE LOST WORLD”
December 2011

New World Review

“Q&A WITH Liz Caskey”
August 2011

inWines Magazine

“FIVE-STAR WINES”
December/March 2011

La Tercera

“NOMADS OF THE SEAS launches a new tasting cycle Chile”
August 2010

Globe Pequot Press

“SOUTH AMERICAN COOKING”
July 2010

Lancaster Online

“QUAKE CONNECTIONS”
February 2010

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations

“CHILE” Season 5, Ep. 11, Local Fixer & Production
July 2009

Food Arts

“HUNGRY FOR TRAVEL”
April 2009

Frommer’s Travel

“ORGANIZED TOURS IN CHILE’S WINE COUNTRY”
2004-2008

Frommer’s Travel

“SPECIAL-INTEREST Vacations in Chile”
2004-2008

Frommer’s Travel

“ORGANIZED TOURS IN SANTIAGO”
2004-2008

Celebrated Living

“A TASTE OF SOUTH AMERICA: CHILE”
Fall 2008

PBS/Gourmet Magazine - Diary of a Foodie

“CHILE: Mixing Land and Sea” and “DRINKS: the Golden Age of Spirits”
May/June 2008

The Pennsylvania Gazette

“A TASTE OF CHILE”
November/December 2007

Travesias

“CHILE, Tours Gastronómicos”
October 2005

Capital Magazine

“LA REINA DE LA FERIA”
November 2004

National Geographic Traveler

“RED HOT CHILE”
July – August 2004

LA CAV Magazine

“LA GRINGA DEL BARRIO Brasil y su tour gastronómico”
November 2003

From our Journal

IN SEARCH OF FLAVOR, EPISODE 40: Ray Isle on Sustainability & The Human Element in Wine

In this episode of ‘In Search of Flavor,’ Liz chats with renowned wine writer and wine editor of Food & Wine Magazine, Ray Isle, to discuss his recent book “The World in a Wine Glass” and his journey from academia to becoming a prominent figure in wine journalism. Ray shares his insights on sustainable, organic, […]

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A Local’s Guide to Visiting Napa

  Nestled in Northern California an hour north of San Francisco, the Napa Valley is renowned worldwide for its exceptional wines and picturesque landscapes. Spanning approximately 30 miles long and 5 miles wide, this verdant region boasts over 400 wineries. The Mediterranean climate and diverse soils create ideal conditions for growing premium wine grapes, particularly […]

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IN SEARCH OF FLAVOR, EPISODE 39: Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone through Travel

In this solo episode, Liz shares about navigating an uncertain life moment and confronting that fear of the unknown. How can travel sharpen these life skills on the road and at home? We dig into that in this episode. Travel provides the ultimate opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. From […]

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