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This Week on Indagare: Mapping out the best Venice restaurants, what to know before planning a trip to Peru; jewelry made in Kenya that helps save the elephants; and share your favorite 2011 travel finds in our Indagare Yearbook by submitting a postcard. Plus: the Indagare Souk travels to Dallas in October.

Dream. Plan. Book. Our bookings team’s favorite trip of the week: A birthday celebration and week-long adventure aboard an amazing private expedition boat in Chilean Patagonia. The cruise will be followed by touring in Buenos Aires and time in the Atacama desert. For help with your next trip, contact our team.

Best of Italy Dining: Venice

Unlike in, say, Rome and Vienna, where even the simplest restaurant delivers, it is remarkably easy to end up with a bad meal in Venice, especially in the more touristy sestieri (neighborhoods). Who has not had the unfortunate experience of wandering around mobbed San Marco, desperately looking for a lunch spot that doesn’t look overly touristy with a throng of hungry family members in tow? Divided by neighborhood and major sites, the third installment of our Best of Italy Dining series focuses on Venice’s top spots for al fresco lunches, dinners with a view and rejuvenating snacks along the way. If you recently traveled to Venice and made new discoveries, please share them with the community by email. If you are planning a trip, get Mapped Out: Venice, a three-day itinerary and map that includes many of the picks that made our list. Read Best of Italy Dining: Venice.

Just Back From…Peru

In July, Indagare’s Barkley Hickox traveled to Peru —exactly 100 years after explorer Hiram Bingham made Machu Picchu world-famous—and returned full of insider advice on how to plan a balanced itinerary and who should go (Peru can be a memorable family destination). “From mountain biking through the snow-capped Andes to jungle-walking in the Amazon with a local shaman, each day brought us closer to Peru’s fascinating local cultures and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes,” she writes about her 10-day journey that included time in Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, as well as an exciting Amazon river cruise aboard Aqua Expeditions’ luxurious Aria. Read Peru tips everyone should know: Just Back From Peru. For customized trip planning, contact our Bookings Team.

Indagare Exclusive: The Elephant Collection

Since inception, the Indagare Souk has championed the Shompole Collection, an expertly crafted line of jewelry designed by Kenya -based jewelry designer Elizabeth Gilbert. The new Elephant Collection, takes the visionary designer’s commitment to giving back a step further. Sold exclusively on the Indagare Souk Web site, the Elephant Collection’s bracelets and necklaces are made with diamonds, 18-karat gold, bone and black and white cow horn. Ten percent of all profits are being donated to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, dedicated to the protection of Africa’s wilderness, in particular to the rescue of orphaned elephants. “Wearing these pieces means taking part in the preservation of Africa’s wildlife and beauty,” says Indagare founder Melissa Biggs Bradley. Read the interview with Gilbert, including her favorite places in East Africa, and shop for the exquisite jewelry online.

Indagare Community: Member Postcards

One of the most-read departments on Indagare.com is the Postcards section, featuring discoveries, highlights and disappointments made by members on their journeys. The tips are always personal, passionate and helpful to others considering the same destinations (recent postcards included finds in the Aeolian Islands, Elba, Sardinia, the Greek Isles, Bangkok and the Grand Canyon). To facilitate how members can send in their travel dispatches, we are thrilled to introduce a new feature: Submit a Postcard. Logged-in members can go to this page, type out their postcard (long or short) and hit Submit to send it to our editorial team (you can choose whether to submit your full name or just initials).

Try this new feature and contribute to our next edition of the Indagare Yearbook by sharing your top finds in 2011: What was your favorite trip this year? What was your favorite hotel/resort? What was your favorite new discovery (restaurant, shop, gallery or museum)? Submit Your 2011 Favorites.

Save the Date: The Indagare Souk travels to Dallas this October (4–5). The two-day event will feature exquisite products from Kenya, Argentina, Cambodia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, India, Peru, Rwanda, and more. An invitation and details will follow. For more information, contact the Indagare Souk.

Also New on Indagare: A member discovers the beauty of Italy’s Aeolian Islands and questions about what not to miss on Maui.