Today was a most wonderful exploration. Today, I had one of those rare experiences when the travel of my imagination aligns with the travel of reality. We set off around noon after a phone call from Jon's friend inviting us to try out a new zipline nearby. We met said friends, a lovely Brazilian couple … Continue reading Zipline over jungle
“We loved each other so much we felt it necessary, in preparation, to say good-bye our whole lives.” -- The Art Lover by Carole Maso Tonight was a beautiful night. Saturday 25th April, 2015. We sat outside as Jon made strong cocktails from rum and limes: caipirinha. The crickets and cicadas chorused around us, while a ghostly … Continue reading Rum & lime
We decided to tackle the infamous Machu Picchu as part of a longer trail - the four-day Salkantay trek, which is a popular, challenging and beautiful alternative to the Inca Trail. We booked a trek after doing some research around the numerous agencies in Cusco's main square. We paid $210 each, to include rented sleeping … Continue reading Machu Picchu: a paradise in the clouds
The Colca Canyon in southern Peru - the second deepest in the world - is three hours from Arequipa by bus, meaning we had to wake up at 2:30am in order to arrive at sunrise with our tour group. A bumpy journey and some local breakfast later, we were greeted with breathtaking views from 5,000 … Continue reading Trekking the Colca Canyon
Today we undertook the most difficult, but rewarding hike of my life so far: a seven-hour gruelling trip to Laguna 69, an incredible azure lake nestled high in the Huascaran National Park deep in the Andes. We took a three-hour bus ride over bumpy dirt roads from our hostel in Huaraz at 5am, arriving shivering … Continue reading Feeling high at Laguna 69
After a seven-hour overnight bus we have arrived into bustling Huaraz, getting closer by the day to southern Peru where the most eagerly-anticipated adventures (Nazca lines, Colca Canyon and, of course, Machu Picchu) await.But there is much to entertain the eye here, and so after a nice breakfast of omelettes on the roof terrace of … Continue reading Walking among clouds
I have never seen beauty like the National Parks of southern Ecuador. The Cajas National Park near the colonial city of Cuenca is truly astonishing - a rolling Middle Earth of steep valleys and broad mirror lakes, an untamed wilderness with temperatures to rival an English winter and a landscape which shifts as much as … Continue reading The wonder of Ecuadorian national parks
We visited some awe-inspiring ruins today, just outside the city of Trujillo on the coast. It's one of Peru's biggest cities and the ruins were fascinating. I finally got to put this song into context! We were driven by our guide to some stunning desert temples to learn about the civilisation which built them. The … Continue reading Going back in time
