Travel + Leisure readers (and our guests) have just named IE one of the Top 10 “World’s Best” Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters! To qualify for the awards, tour operators were judged on six criteria, including the food. And while our small-group journeys remain committed to exploration, even confirmed “foodies” will find meals worth raving about in Earth’s wild regions.

You’ll work up quite an appetite during daily excursions. And whether it’s sampling restaurants in Lima, Peru, or local fare in India, or settling down for a sumptuous meal in the heart of Laos, you’ll enjoy meals to satisfy every palate. Plus, whenever possible, we use locally grown food to stimulate the economy and give you a fresh taste of the local culture and cuisine.

Some of the true culinary treats IE offers guests include opportunities to dine in a restaurant featured on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on our Vietnam vacation, and an exclusive sunset meal at the Miraflores Locks — a Frommer’s Top 5 dining experience on our Panama tour.

Selection of Restaurants:

Anh Tuyet’s (Laos & Vietnam)
Featured on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations series, Anh Tuyet is a well-known local chef and artist.  The restaurant is famous for all kinds of local delicacies but most famous for their roast chicken, which you will sample.

International Miraflores Restaurant (Panama)
As an exclusive treat for International Expeditions’ guests, one dinner in Panama City will be at the fine International Miraflores Restaurant at the Miraflores Locks. Named one of Panama’s “Top Five” dining experiences, from the terrace and dining room we watch ships navigate on their way through the Panama Canal.

Petra Kitchen (Wings Over the Nile)
The Petra Kitchen (pictured) is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of a chef. Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course — all typical Jordanian dishes. You glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.

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Just 1.5 million years before humans began taking leisurely dips in the ocean, the waters were home to an immense shark “Megalodon” (formally known as Carcharocles megalodon). Despite coming in at more than 60 feet long, young C. megalodons would still have been vulnerable to other predators of their time, much like young great whites are today. According to a new study published in PLoS One the “mega-toothed shark” may have protected its young by delivering them in nurseries.

“Over the years paleontologists have identified several sites relatively rich in juvenile C. megalodon teeth, including the 10 million year old (Miocene) Gatún Formation of Panama. The marine fossil site preserves a shallow habitat containing numerous C. megalodon teeth and a relative paucity of whale bones (prey for adult sharks that their young probably would not have fed on), and for the first time a team of paleontologists have tested the idea that his place was once a haven for the young predators.”

Learn more about these prehistoric shark nurseries.

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Think you know everything in the world? Test your knowledge with our new Travel Trivia questions!

Simply e-mail your answer to our trivia question to eharley@ietravel.com. One winner will be selected at random from the correct answers to receive a prize (books, IE t-shirts and more!). There’s a new question every week, so keep trying!

What role did Panama’s Emberá Indians play in the U.S. Space Program?

Need a hint? Expedition Leader and renowned Naturalist Ivan Hoyos talks all about his country in our recent online presentation. View IE’s Insider’s Guide to Panama

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Think you know everything in the world? Test your knowledge with our new Travel Trivia questions!

Simply e-mail your answer to our trivia question to eharley@ietravel.com. One winner will be selected at random from the correct answers to receive a prize (books, IE t-shirts and more!). There’s a new question every week, so keep trying!

What role did Panama’s Emberá Indians play in the U.S. Space Program?

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