South America rewards slow travellers. We’ve climbed to Machu Picchu, watched sea lions doze on Galápagos beaches, sipped coffee in the fincas of Colombia and wandered the cloud forests of Ecuador. From Andean peaks to Pacific shores, these are the trip reports, packing lists and honest cost breakdowns from our travels south.
Warm days; chilly nights. Rain downpours; blazing sunshine. The Inca Trail has six different microclimates making the weather changeable and unpredictable. Packing for the Inca Trail is a challenge even for the most experienced travel packers due to changing weather…
Lima, Peru’s coastal capital, is worth visiting for its unique gastronomy, fascinating history, and vibrant neighbourhoods. Most travellers will find enough to do to occupy at least a long weekend, but we think a short weekend is enough time for…
Hiking the Inca Trail is a dream come true for many an intrepid traveller. This wanderlust-inducing trail through the Peruvian Andes takes you along ancient stone paths, high into the mountains and down through cloud forests.
“Dolphins!” shouted the captain, as he banged on the side of the boat. Everyone, including the crew, rushed to the front of the boat in time to see an enormous pod of dolphins launch themselves out of the water. We…
Cuenca is the prettiest city in Ecuador. Expect curved, narrow streets dotted with cute cafes, more patisseries than you’ve seen in the rest of Ecuador put together, and historic churches and squares.
Quito’s UNESCO-listed old town is a sight like none other. Distinctive green and gold domes, grey-faced churches with glittering baroque interiors, indigenous street sellers with stacks of avocados, cherries, mangoes and blueberries and endless buses spewing petrol fumes combine to…
Eating out in Ecuador can either be dirt cheap or surprisingly expensive, as restaurants seem either to be holes-in-the-wall or high-end. Our favourite local dishes were quinoa soup and llapingacho (a potato, cheese and egg concoction), as well as arepas…
The Amazon rainforest in Ecuador is an adventure you’ll never forget. Take the spiralling mountain road from Quito into the deep, lush Amazon rainforest for a weekend or longer. Lace up your walking boots and find yourself immersed in dense…
Is Colombia expensive to travel? We backpacked Colombia for under $40 a day.
Hike your way through the Andes mountains, around the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador. This 36km winding track takes you through green valleys as clouds descend on the mountain tops, past fluffy alpacas (though more sheep and cows than alpacas) and…