We visited Easter Island for a week during October, 2015. We had wondered whether to include it in our itinerary at all, as it would certainly take a huge bite out of our backpacking budget. But, what were the chances of us being back in Chile any time soon? We just had to bite...
The king of all mountains – Our tour of the mines of Potosí, Bolivia
Some time has elapsed since our tour of the mines of Potosí. What started out as a brief explanation of our curious experience has turned into something more in-depth. The more we wrote, the more we realised that we needed to write, in order to make sense in our minds of the history and...
What no one tells you about the Salar de Uyuni salt flats tour. Our tips and advice.
Sure, you are going to go to some amazing places and come back with some mind-blowing pictures, however it’s the little things in life that are important, right? Here are some truths about the 3 day classic Salar de Uyuni salt flats tour. Uyuni is a desolate lonely place in the desert. OK, this...
Our Salar de Uyuni salt flats adventure
Not without some trepidation, we chose to take a 3 day Salar de Uyuni tour from Uyuni in Bolivia to the border with Chile at San Pedro de Atacama. Judging by reviews and reputation, the tour promised to be gruelling, but we knew that we would be treated to some of the most dramatic...
The Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca – Puno, Taquile & Uros
Puno For many tourists and travellers Puno is either the last stop in Peru before they move on to Bolivia, or their first taste of the country, having arrived from the somewhat more chaotic Copacabana on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. A cheeky Peruvian told us that although the lake belongs to both...
Machu Picchu, the crowning jewel of the Inca Empire
Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is beyond any doubt the most famous of Inca ruins and of the most iconic places in the world, due to its spectacular natural setting; 2,400 metres above sea level, perched between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. Built in the 15th century, probably by the...
Inca sites of Cusco and the Sacred Valley – Totally Incaed out!
The Boleto Turístico is the best way to see the many tourist sites in an around Cusco and the Sacred Valley. It is valid for 10 days, and is available to purchase at any site. The cost is S130, (about £26). It is non transferable and non extendable. Partial tickets for fewer sites are...
Colca Canyon Peru – Land of Vicuñas , Llamas, Alpacas and Condors
While in Arequipa, we chose to take a two day organised tour to the Colca Canyon region, which would allow us to see the dramatic volcano dominated landscapes, the vicuñas (precious wild camelids), typical valley villages and, of course, the famous Andean condors. Colca means ‘storehouse’; the region used to contain many cave-like storehouses...