Getting from Antigua to Tikal and Flores via the “delightful” holiday destination (for Guatemalans only it seems) that is Rio Dulce wasn’t easy as the roads are not particularly well-kept and there is always the sneaky, unannounced speed-bump to look out for that may outright destroy your car. Nonetheless, we managed to make it...
A Picture Post – The Maya ruins of Quiriguá
As we passed through the department of Izabal in the south-eastern Guatemala, we decided to visit the lesser known Maya archaeological site of Quiriguá of the Classic Period. We’d heard about this site whilst we were visiting Copán in Honduras. Quiriguá was once a dependant of Copán, but following a battle during which the...
Copán Ruinas – Entering the land of the Maya
We didn’t have much time to get through Honduras to reach Copán Ruinas, but we knew that we wanted to start our Mayan adventures here. The town is in the north of the country near the border with Guatemala, and it certainly involved an epic, (and boring) multi-day journey to get there. From Esteli...
Kuelap, lost city in the clouds
There is so much more to Peru than the Conquest and the Incas, and we are certainly still learning about the fascinating range of cultures that have sprouted and prospered in this area of the world. Kuelap, in the highland Amazonas region of Peru is a pre-Inca fortress of the Chachapoya culture. A relatively...
Our guide to Easter Island in 2 days…or more!
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...
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...