Apart from the many famous destinations on the tourist route, Colombia also boasts plenty of less-known yet gorgeous places scattered all around the country. Real traditional markets, forgotten colonial cities, isolated archaeological parks – these are just few of the list. If you’ll ever visit Colombia and decide for a more off the beaten path…

After a gorgeous 3-day tour in the wilderness of the Andes and crossing an isolated border outpost, it was time for us to leave Bolivia (for which we were guests for only couple of weeks) and start our adventure in Chile. Our first stop in Chile was San Pedro de Atacama. Even though both Uyuni…

After the easy yet full of scams border crossing of Kasani here we are, the time has come to leave Bolivia and start our adventure to Chile. Once again, crossing into Chile might seem hard (many regulations, strict police officers) but it really is a piece of bread. Similarly to when we crossed into Peru…

For every traveller, stopping at Uyuni and taking a tour into the gorgeous salt flats is a must on ones Bolivian road trip. That said, the salt flats are not the only attractions around – wild flamingoes, geysers, coloured lagoons, hot springs, active volcanoes – are just few of the unique sights to enjoy while…

For many travellers, heading to Uyuni to see the famous salt flats is probably the last stop on their trip to Bolivia. Some people might opt for taking a night bus from La Paz (or even farther) but if you ever happen to travel the road that connects Potosi to Uyuni by day, you’ll realize…

There are several activities to do during your stay in La Paz but one of the most unique, interesting and arguably entertaining ones is something very uncommon: Cholita Wrestling. Similar to the Lucha Libre in Mexico, this type of fighting show developed not long ago in the country with the aim to empower indigenous women…

The gateways to Lake Titicaca, a.k.a. Puno and Copacabana, are for many people either the first or last stop on their trip visiting the countries of Peru and Bolivia. Even though the Lake is spread over a huge area, these two touristy hotspots, conveniently located at just 3-4h bus ride from each other, are the…

Trying to live off a tight budget in Ecuador might not be an easy task for the casual backpacker but with a bit of research and careful spending, travelling around the country can be cheap. Even though Ecuador is mostly known for the Galapagos Islands (budget at least 100€+/day per person there) and have embraced…

Away from the city noise of La Paz, right on the coast of the Lake Titicaca, lies the city of Copacabana, also known by many as the more touristy version of Puno. Similarly to Puno, the city is the weekend gateway for nationals but also a brief destination for the passing-by travellers. Apart from a…

While travelling around Peru you might slowly get used to the typical meal a.k.a. soup, rice, potatoes, salad and a type of meat, but this country is also home to some interesting street-foods that could make it among yours “weirdest food” list.

After spending a couple of days around the Lake Titicaca visiting Puno and the floating islands of Uros, it is time for us to start a new chapter of our trip: Bolivia. Even though it felt we barely scratched the surface of Peru in over a month that we were here, the idea to see…

For many travellers, spending a couple of nights in the Lake Titicaca area around Puno is usually the last stop in Peru before entering Bolivia. The unattractive city of Puno might not be your ideal destination but it undeniably is the starting point to organise tours in the region. But apart from Lake Titicaca most…

If you wanna know more about whether you can trek the Colca Canyon on a tight budget or not, this is the right article for you! Don’t forget to read our Ultimate Guide to Hike the Canyon. Considering that we started our 2 days/1 night trip from Arequipa, over the length of the two full…

Once in Arequipa we only had own thing on our minds: trekking the Colca Canyon. Lots of people we met on the way sometimes didn’t even mentioned the city but the canyon right away. Surely something you can’t miss if you’re around! On a relaxed sunny afternoon, after doing our deal of research online, we…

Whether before or after visiting Cusco, chances are that the white city of Arequipa will be among your destination list. The city features some nice activities and a decent night-life but what most of travellers really look forward to see, or better to hike in, is the Colca Canyon. Even though a 4-6h drive separates…

At some point, in every traveller’s itinerary through Peru the city of Cusco pops up as a destination. It’s the perfect base for visiting the Sacred Valley, start your trip to Machu Picchu and do some of the best hiking in the country a.k.a. the perfect basecamp. That said, Cusco’s enchanting hispanic architecture is something…

Yesterday, our trip in the area of the Sacred Valley up north of Cusco was a relaxing half-day trip but today we’re planning to spend more time visiting sites, pretty much like we did on our first day. The idea is to visit all the leftover highlights in the east area of the Sacred Valley,…

Visiting Rainbow Mountain is currently one of the hiking highlights of the Cusco area. But whether you’re planning to do it by yourself or with a tour, before you see those unique colors and desolate landscapes, there’s some things you need to know to make the most out of that hike. Here our list of…

If you’re visiting Peru chances are that you’re also planning to visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu, nothing but one of the new wonders of the world. At first, there might not seem to be many possibilities to get there but with a bit of digging, even those with on a backpacker budget can…

Yesterday the journey through the north-west area of the sacred valley was surely a long one but for today we’re planning to do a shorter route. The idea is to visit all the important archaeological sites just on the northern city limits of Cusco, these being Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Cusco to Sacsayhuaman…

Discovered just over a couple of years ago due to melting of the glaciers, today visiting Rainbow Mountain is nothing but the pinnacle of the hiking tourism around the area of Cusco. Up above at 5100m over sea level, the seven different colours in display are an incredible sight for all those looking to see…

After renting a car yesterday evening, this morning we’re ready to start exploring the beautiful Sacred Valley. Today, the plan is to visit all the sites West of Cusco e.g. Chincero, Maras, Moray, Urubamba, Yucay and finish up with Ollantaytambo before heading back to Cusco for the evening. We rented the car for three days…

When visiting Lima, you’ll more than likely stay at hostel, hotel or homestead located inside the Miraflores district. Over the years, this seaside neighbourhood has been improved a lot up to the point to become today’s most famous backpacker hub. You can find shops, nice parks and several others activities to do but most importantly,…

If you’re heading to Peru, you’re most likely be landing in Lima, the capital of the country. After spending sometime wandering Miraflores, seeing the colonial centre and enjoying the beautiful Malecon you might be looking at the next stop. And if you’ve come all the way to Peru, who isn’t planning to visit the gorgeous…

After visiting Chachapoyas, we headed to the coast to see a bit of archaeological sites in the cities of Chiclayo and Trujillo. We didn’t really have limited time and for that reason decided to go and visit them both to see what the coast of Peru had to offer. That being said, if you do…

Wandering around Colombia was a great opportunity to see the country from a traveller’s perspective. Needless to say that during our two-month stay, we were lucky enough to be able to make those perspectives ours through the viewfinder and while we took a lot of photos, here follows just a small collection showing the beauty…

Following on the coast of Peru, a “short” 4-hour bus ride bring us to the city of Trujillo, a unmissable stop for those looking to know more about Peru’s culture and history. Even though the city might seem as chaotic as Chiclayo at first, strolling around the Plaza de Armas and seeing the cathedral is…

After a while in the Northern Sierra of the country spent visiting archaeological sites and nature hiking, it was time for us to move onto the coast to a warmer (or at least we thought so!) destination: Chiclayo. On a misty cold morning of August, which got us thinking we took a night bus to…

Colourful cities, traditional markets, unspoiled nature and loads of hiking: Colombia won’t be easy to leave. Especially because this is one of those countries where traveling on a small budget is not difficult to achieve. Cheap food, sort of cheap accomodation and plenty of opportunities to visit places on your own are nothing but the…

Even though many people come to visit the famous Galapagos Islands, just few take the time to visit the amazing beauty that the Ecuador mainland holds. From gorgeous colorful architecture, unique wildlife to amazing landscapes: having the chance to snap around this country was a great experience full of opportunities to train more than one…

The city of Chachapoyas is one of the famous destinations found in the north of Peru. Even though the city itself might not have a special charm, the several archaeological sites scattered in the surroundings are something worth visiting. (August 2018) At time of writing the city centre and many of its streets (including the…

Among the most beautiful archaeological sites to see while in Chachapoyas sits Karijia, a small but rewarding reminder of the long-gone indigenous people living in the area located in the village of Cruz pata. While the site itself can be visited in less than 30min, the entrance price is very small (5 soles/pp) and getting…

One of the full-day activities to do from the city of Chachapoyas is organizing a visit to the Fortress of Kuelap. The fortress, built by the chachapoyas indigenous people (a.k.a. warriors of the clouds) back in the 6th century BC, lies on the top of a huge hill close to the villages of Maria and…

It’s not everyday that you get to see one of the waterfalls listed among the tallest top ten waterfalls in the world. The Yumbilla waterfall is located at a short hike from the Cuispes, a small village just next to the town of Pedro Ruiz Gallo, a very known stop before reaching the touristy Chachapoyas….

Right in the heart of the Valley of Longevity there’s the small town Vilcabamba, an usual stop for all those on the way out of Ecuador from the little known border crossing on La Balsa. Nice mural near the central plaza After coming back from out trip on the Pacific Coast (Puerto Lopez and Silver…

Nowadays, the most travelled border to cross into Peru from Ecuador is known as Macarà and it’s very well-connected to the city of Loja with buses heading all the way to the city of Piura in Peru. Even though, only the most avid adventurers have been using the lesser known border of La Balsa things…

Everybody knows about the famous Galapagos Islands but not everybody can afford spending 100$+ per day, especially all of those who fit into the backpacker category like us. Luckily, Silver Island (the name derives from a legend of pirate Drake, very much like Amapala) is a great and much cheaper alternative to see some of…

Back in Tierradientro, when a fellow Austrian traveller told us about Puerto Lopez and surroundings, he completely bought us (thankfully he was not a travel agent!). Initially, we were not sure whether the 8-hour side journey from Cuenca was worth the time but how can you say no to… whales! Town and Fish Market Now,…

Spending a relaxing day out exploring the Playa Los Frailes in the Machalilla National Park is a great budget-friendly activity to see more of the surroundings around the “left-behind” village of Puerto Lopez. Even though the beach is located just at a short 10min bus ride from the village, getting to it by walking the…

Ecuador might not be like Europe but after spending a while in Cuenca this could change your mind. The city’s modern vibe features a great night life backdrop, a great variety of activities for any liking and nothing but an architecturally gorgeous historical centre listed in as a UNESCO heritage site. Not a bad place…

Even though the small town of Baños de Agua Santa is quite pleasant, the surrounding area around the once-active volcano Tungurahua and the Pastaza river offer plenty of activities for all those adventure junkies looking for some adrenaline. A swing on the top of the world, plenty of zip lining, hiking, canyoning, rafting, rock climbing…

One of the best activities to do on your own in the small city of Baños is cycling on the Waterfalls Route a.k.a Ruta de Las Cascadas, a stretch of mostly downhill paved road that starts from town and follows the Rio Pastaza until Rio Verde. Even though this route can be done as a…

#1 Load up with snacks As mentioned in the Short Guide for Quilotoa Loop, all of the hostels will include breakfast and dinner in the nightly rate therefore you only need to get enough snacks to munch over at lunch every day. Even though small local shops can be found at each small village, stacking…

Even though hiking the Quilotoa Loop has become one of Ecuador’s best highlights, you could say that its still a relatively cheap activity that would fit the average backpacker budget. This is a short summary of what we spent during our 5 days / 4 nights hiking in the area. Riding in the back of…

Hiking the Quilotoa Loop sits comfortably among the best things to do while wandering around Ecuador. Encompassing the villages of Sigchos, Isilnivi, Chugchilan and Quilotoa (and its beautiful Lagoon), this multi-day hike is the perfect activity for those looking to discover a relatively tourist-free heart of the country. And believe it or not, the costs…

Organising Transport, Accomodation & Food on the Quilotoa loop can be quite hard as information about how and when are still difficult to find on the web. Here’s the most complete up-to-date information on bus schedules, hostel prices and food options we gathered from our beautiful 5 days hiking adventure. Let us know if there’s…

After spending a while exploring Colombia, we decided to move on to the next country and hit Ecuador. Like many other people before us, our plan was to do cross over from Ipiales, a small town very close to the border, which host what has been described as “the most beautiful” church in Colombia (the…

One of the most interesting archaeological sites in Colombia is found just next to San Andres de Pisimbala, a tiny tiny village (not even 1000 inhabitants) tucked away in the middle of the hilly countryside. The site’s name has a history that goes back to the first conquistadores who explored the region and while on…

Hiking around the archaeological park of Tierradentro is a unique opportunity to discover the mysterious indigenous past of Colombia. On site there are five different sites where you can visit anything from artifacts, tribal idols, statues and hypogea (a.k.a underground tombs) while enjoying gorgeous landscapes. While statues and artefacts might not be the most exciting…

And here we are in the “White City” of Popayan, a medium-sized city known for its whitewashed buildings, many churches and a huge hill from which to enjoy a gorgeous sunset over the rooftops. Walking around the city center is pretty nice but even though there are not many other activities, here are three reasons…

Every Tuesday in the andean town Silvia, the local market fill up with indigenous Guambiano people coming from the surrounding villages to sell, buy or trade goods of all natures. On this occasion, spending a whole morning scouting around the streets bustling with vendors is a unique opportunity to discover a new cultural aspect of…

Nicaragua is without doubt THE most budget-friendly country in the Central America. Think about a budget you considered low until now and cut that by half: this is what we mean! Food is cheap, accomodation is ultra-cheap and transport might not be the most comfortable but guess what… yep, cheap was well. Imagine that there…

Wandering around Guatemala for about a month was a great experience full of opportunities to bring memories back home through the viewfinder. From the huge metropolis of Guatemala City to the little lakeside towns of lake Atitlan, every corner was a street-photography heaven. Don’t like street-photography? Well, just hike a couple of hours up to…

Once known by its troubled past of drug lords and street robberies, nowadays Cali is a nice stop for all those wishing to spend a couple of days learning about salsa and discovering the cultural panorama of this beautiful city. After having watched the action Netflix series Narcos, it was hard imagining to leave out…

Welcome to Salento, a small village full of colours in the heart of the Colombian Coffee Region. We set off to discover the Quindío region to see what this well-known town and its neighbouring wax palm valley (Valle de Cocora) has to offer. That’s why its so special! After leaving Jardin in the morning, around…

If after spending a couple of days strolling around Jardin and are now looking to find a way to visit Salento’s wax palm valley, then this is the right post for you! Here follows a detailed article on how to move from Jardin to Salento all using local buses.

Who hasn’t read about the famous wax palms of Colombia? Located at a short jeep-ride from the well-known town of Salento, hiking the Cocora Valley is a must for all those loving hiking and breathtaking landscapes. Here follows our all you-need-to-know guide for having a blast in this beautiful place. How to Get There The…

After our stay in Medellin, trying to figure out next step of our trip was quite challenging. We knew we wanted to spend sometime away from big cities but Colombia is so full of amazing places but choosing which is hard. Thankfully, the evening before a chit-chat with the hostel manager cleared our mind and…

The city of Medellin has changed a lot in time but over the last few years has really become one of the most visited cities in Colombia. Thanks to the newly built metro, moving around the city has become quite easy for all those wishing to sleep outside the center (most preferably in Poblado or…

Colombia is surely a place with beautiful landscapes but you’ll find very little similar to what the locals call “La Piedra”. We might have used “feeling on the top of the world” a bit too often but climbing to the top of La Piedra de Guatapé has never made such statement more true! The “Peñon…

Bogotá is a fascinating metropolis full of surprises at every corner. How couldn’t we fall in love with it? Discovering the murals of La Candelaria, checking out the amusing Botero Museum and overlooking the city skyline from the height of Monserrate are just a few amazing activities to do in Colombia’s capital. This morning we…

Among the things to do in Bogotá, visiting El Salto de Tequendama and enjoying the beautiful views of this waterfall (definitely not the smell) from one of the many miradores, is something worth half day of your time. When trying to reach El Salto by ourselves is was not quite the easiest city adventures and…

Nestled up in the mountains just an hour away from Tunja, the little town of Villa de Leyva is the perfect spot for those looking to spend a relaxed weekend of adventure sports, trekking and beer tasting. At an altitude of 2500m above sea level, this is also the place where to finally enjoy a…

Guatemala is a country that among others in Central America is very budget-friendly to travellers, especially backpackers. Finding cheap accomodation, food and transport can be easily accomplished as long as you stick to locals places instead of touristy areas often named “international” zones. Here follows a collection of our budget experience during our one-month roadtrip…

Surrounded by mountains and cut in half by a river we’ve finally reached San Gil, a touristy village with much to offer. A beautiful town center, friendly locals and up & down roads san francisco style are just a few things which makes this place worth exploring for at least a couple of days. Today…

Following the Camino Real to its final destination, the Chicamocha Canyon, can be an incredibly rewarding experience for those wishing to take up the challenge. Small gorgeous villages where time stopped long ago, old ghosts towns isolated from the world and breathtaking landscapes are just a small part of what you will experience. About the…

The excitement to leave Santa Marta for the small town of Santa Cruz de Mompox is real! And there we are, once again after an infinite bus journey (which included a “short” stop at a mechanic to fix an issue), the lights of Mompox can be seen at the horizon. Tonight, we’re staying at La…

Santa Marta, located on the coast of the Caribbean Sea of Colombia, its a port city that has deceived us a lot. We can firmly say, that this was definitely one of the worst places we’ve been in the last 9 months! At least the place has a pretty name! Sadly enough, even before reaching…

As mentioned in the Complete Guide to Tayrona National Park if you’re planning to spend more than just one day wandering around the Park then you’re doing the right thing! During our time there, we trekked around the park for 3 days (2 nights) and we absolutely loved every little part of it. Some paths…

Featuring breathtaking landscapes, pristine white beaches and flourishing jungle, the Tayrona National Park is a must-visit for all those wishing to see some of the Colombia’s best. Situated at a short bus ride from both Santa Marta and Palomino, the park has been developing fast over the last few years, becoming a more touristy-friendly destination…

On our flight from Panama City to Cartagena we didn’t even have the time to close our eyes that in less than 45min we’ve already landed in Colombia. And that is it, after 8 months of wandering Central America, below us Cartagena de Indias welcomes us to South America. After a quick security checkpoint, there…

The old city center of Cartagena is full of nice spots where to relax, have a tasty Colombian coffee, enjoy some free wi-fi, cool down with a bit of AC and spend a couple of hours working on your PC. If you’re looking to find out where this hidden gems are keep reading our article…

Have you ever wondered what are the transport options to travel from the Cartagena to Santa Marta? Whether you’re looking to use buses, taxis or private minivans, we have it all covered! Just keep reading our post and you’ll discover the fastest and cheapest route that connect these two beautiful cities. By Bus If what…

Panama City is an interesting mix between modern and past history. Whereas the business area known as Obarrio is nothing but skyscrapers, malls and offices, the old city center, known as Casco Viejo, is full of beautiful alleys, coloured houses and buildings of a time long gone. Finding accomodation just outside the city center in…

After our long stay zig-zagging throughout Nicaragua, we decided it was time to stop for while, possibly work to get back our finances and change from the day-to-day moving around routine. This is how we ended up in Tamarindo, a small Costarican party town on the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. The reason why we…

Are you planning in spend sometime working and living in Tamarindo? This is the post for you! Keep reading and you’ll find out how we managed to keep the costs low during our long-term stay of 3 months in this expensive beach town. Read our post on Living in Tamarindo! From accomodation to shopping costs…

Working abroad sounds cool right? But there are a few things to consider before you step into this world of foreign 9-5 routine, just… keep reading! The Permit The first thing you’ll have to figure out is the working permit. Technically speaking, you need a working permit to work in any country of the world…

After living sometime in Tamarindo its time for us to get back on the road and keep backpacking like we used to be. Unfortunately, whilst enjoying the life of the party town we realised that Costa Rica was very expensive for our current budget and agreed to leave for a future trip. In the future,…

Belize is definitely not a budget-friendly destination for those deciding to visit the country for a little or long while. The absence of hostels in most cities/towns and the high transport price will make your budget levitate but as usual cooking most of your food will save you a good penny. Here follows a collection…

After celebrating a beautiful New Year’s Eve in Antigua and having explored the North of the country, we finally end up in the capital of Guatemala. The choice of leaving it last on our trip was due to the fact that all buses headed to El Salvador could only be taken there and hence why…

Finishing off our last day in Belize with a visit to Caracol was simply great but this morning its time to move on: we’re ready to cross into Guatemala! After taking a ride back to San Ignacio from Santa Familia (the place where we were volunteering on workaway), getting a bus to the border with…

Arriving in Granada, one of the most important cities in Nicaragua, we are gifted with a beautiful surprise: today started the XIV International Festival of Poetry! Every year around the 15th of February, poets from all parts of the world meet here to share and celebrate the beauty of poetry. But there’s more! This year,…

How did it all started? In the past Cuba has always had a rusty relationship with USA but amazingly enough the currency that could have been used around to pay goods in Cuba were the National Peso (CUP) and US dollar (USD). In 1994, the Cuban government introduced a new currency named the Cuban Convertible…

#1 Infotour your best friend This travel company is state-owned and has the sole purpose of helping tourist to travel around Cuba. Here anyone can fetch maps for the most known locations within Cuba but also ask for tour prices, Viazul times and much more ! #2 Beware of the many fake guides/tour operators A…

Travelling around Cuba on the usual backpacker budget is nothing easy to accomplished. Due to the closed economy of the country, the absence of hostels (which are substituted by homestays called casas particulares) and a whole transport system created for tourists, everything ends up being a little more expensive than your average latin america country….

#1 The mystery of the green buses If you are wild enough to venture and use public buses you’ll also have to be brave enough to stop them! In fact, in India there is little info on where buses are going and at what time they are passing (in most towns apart from big cities)….

You could spend ages travelling through India and leave the country with the feeling of having missed out on way too many things. Needless to say that during our – short – month trip we never stopped a second taking in all the beautiful sights that unfolded in front of our eyes. It was hard…

Since the first few moments we landed in Tamil Nadu (southern region in India), we knew Hindu temples would have been the norm for the rest of our trip. A couple on the main street, five more around the corner and a last hidden one that nobody knows its precise location – those were…

India is definitely one of the most budget-friendly countries in the world. Independently of what you’re willing to spend, you can be sure that there’s gonna be the right option for you. Living with less than 10$/day, this including transport, food & some occasional tours, is possible. Here follows a collection of our budget experience…

The first difficulty of this hike was finding a tent to rent in Leon. Amazingly enough, even though pretty much every tour company offers overnight camping tours on the Maribios Volcanoes Chain, only “Volcano Day” tour operator allows people not on a tour to rent a tent for one or a couple of days (we…

And here we are at the border with Nicaragua waiting for our passports to receive the approval from the main immigration office. Apparently, we were supposed to send an entrance request at least one week ago, weird that no traveller nor border agent has ever told us. Finally, we manage to officially enter in Nicaragua…

After spending some days in one of the warmest cities in Nicaragua, you might wander where could you go next. Thankfully, the city of Leon is not only the gateway to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala but is also extremely well connected with the rest of the country. Whether you’re planning to explore canyons &…

With our basecamp in Matagalpa, today we’ve decided to go visit the Selva Negra and Jinotega. The bus from Matagalpa to Selva Negra (13C and 30min ride) drop us off at the official entrance of the Reserva Natural Selva Negra on the main road but from there we still have to walk a 15min more…

After visiting Somoto and its marvellous canyon, the next step on our schedule is to spend a couple of days in Esteli before leaving again for Matagalpa & Jinotega. At a first glimpse, the small town of Esteli is a very laid-back town that can be easily visited in less than a day. From the…

We decide to finally leave Los Naranjos, a small village on Lake Yojoa, and keep following toward the south: next destination Comayagua. The bus that connects Los Naranjos to Tegucigalpa (and stops in Comayagua) passes through town at 6:20am, leaving you the time to enjoy a beautiful sunset from the bus stop. Once the bus…

Welcome to León, one of the most important & well-known cities of Nicaragua! On top of being a hub for colonial architectural, it’s also surrounded by volcanoes and national parks ready to be explored! The chicken bus from Matagalpa leave us at the northern bus terminal which luckily enough is just a couple of blocks…

This morning we finally leave the Hotel Liberteño (what a horrible but cheap place to stay) and head toward the Texaco gasoline pump in just outside the city centre of Comayagua. Although so far everybody has told us that there are no buses going down south without having to change in Tegucigalpa, we see the…

Tiger Islanda.k.a Amapala, is located just off the south coast of Honduras in the Pacific Ocean and shares the gorgeous Gulf of Fonseca with several other islands belonging both to El Salvador and Nicaragua. Read also our post on Tiger Island! In the past, stories say that Sir Francis Drake (an english corsair later named…

On the way to discover the Lenca Route in the south of Honduras, we also decide to make a stop in Gracias. This time the little town is very laid-back, the streets are colorful, the central plaza is pretty and all around the city there’s a lot of cool little spots to visit. Here we…