検索条件をリセット
South America AdventureSouth America Adventure
衛星ルートを編集

South America Adventure

5月 - 7月 2023
Lu and Angus take on South America! もっと詳しく
  • 38足跡
  • 6国
  • 81日間
  • 684写真
  • 22動画
  • 28.0千キロ
  • 17.3千キロ
フォローする カレンダー 共有 死ぬまでにやっておきたいことリスト
日付の昇順
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    2
    日30

    Day One: Inca Trail Begins

    2023年5月31日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    "The Journey is the Destination"

    This was the motto for our four day trek through the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This trek has been the number one bucket list item for me since grade seven and to have fulfilled this dream is so special to me. Over the next few posts, I will try to sum up the indescribable beauty and adventure that we have experienced over the past four days. This was an exhausting yet unbelievably rewarding trek... But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning.

    Day 1: we wake up at 03:00am in order to be ready for our 03:30am departure time. We are hiking the Inca Trail using the company Alpaca Expeditions. We meet our two guides Marisol and Lizandro and hop on a bus for 2.5 hours until we are out of Cusco and into the town of Ollantaytambo. In this town we get our first breakfast and a chance to get to know the other 14 people we will be hiking with. We then continue for 20 mins to the start of the trail.

    The first section of the trail is very flat and easy for about 1.5 hours. This is what is considered the warm up to help you get used to using the hiking poles. We then had 2.5 hours of Incan flats... which aren't actually flat. They are just constant alternating uphills and downhills; however they are not very steep. During this part of the hike we stopped a few times to learn some history about the towns we were walking through and about the Inca trail as a whole. We then continued to the lunch spot and had a delicious meal before continuing for our final 2 hours of hiking for the day. These two hours were constant uphill and were the most difficult part of the day. We got into our campsite at around 4:30pm.

    We then relaxed for about an hour before starting happy hour... Which is where you drink tea and hot chocolate and have popcorn while chatting with the rest of the group in the dining tent. We then had dinner and went straight into the tent for bed. One of the other travelers in the tent next to us was one of the loudest snorers I have ever heard. I had to listen to music to try and drown him out and sleep... Luckily I was so tired from the day I passed out pretty quickly.

    The Inca Trail is just as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. You have to motivate yourself to keep putting one foot in front of the other even when you're tired, sore, and blistered and you have been hiking for 5+ hours already. For me day one was the toughest in that regard. While it was not as physically demanding, whenever we were on a tough section of incline it was a bit daunting thinking of day 2 (which is the notoriously difficult day where you have to summit two peaks and hike uphill for 6+ hours). That being said, I had a great first day. The guides were hilarious and so helpful and the porters and cooks were phenomenal. Everything was very well organized and the views were beautiful.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    2
    日31

    Day Two: Two Peaks and Tired Legs

    2023年6月1日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Having conquered day one, I was feeling prepared yet nervous for day two. This day was known as the most challenging day as we had to pass through two peaks. The tallest peak, called Dead Women's Pass, was 4200m in elevation and required us to hike about 900m in elevation gain. The second peak, called the Gringo Killer, was about 500m in elevation gain but was basically all very steep stairs. All in all this day was set to be 4 hours uphill to summit Dead Women's Pass then 2 hours downhill to lunch then 2 hours uphill through the Gringo Killer and finally, 2 hours downhill to the campsite. My mindset at the 4am wake up call was, if I can complete today, then the rest of the trek will be easy.

    After breakfast we set off on the trek up to Dead Women's Pass. The hike was constant uphill but I was able to keep a slow and steady pace. At the half way mark, we took a break as a group and got to use what would be our last decent bathroom (and when I say decent... There was no toilet paper or toilet seat but it was more than just a hole in the ground)! We then continued for the last 2 hours. At this point I was not feeling too bad! It was tiring but I was feeling motivated to make it to the top and I kept thinking, once you reach the top, the hardest part is complete! The last 200m of the Dead Women's Pass was the most difficult on the hike. It was incredibly steep and at high altitude making it quite challenging. What was very cool to me was how supportive everyone was of each other during the hike. Random hikers, not even in my group, would provide words of encouragement and cheer you on as you went. Once I reached the top, all those already at the top cheered to celebrate making it! It was such a great feeling and we were rewarded with beautiful panoramic views.

    The hike down to the lunch spot was quite challenging and steep, especially having just hiked so much uphill, but overall it was not too bad and we made it down without any issues. We were served a delicious lunch and given an hour to just rest before we returned to hike the Gringo Killer.

    At this point I was already feeling very tired but once we started hiking again, I felt more motivated and I found the hike easier than anything so far. Now this is not to say the hike was easy. I was still slow and needed to take breaks but the stairs section was supposed to be the most difficult part of the trek as it was literally constant stairs for 2 hours (and very steep and uneven stairs); however, I was able to get into a good rhythm and made it up the Gringo Killer feeling pretty great all things considered. The top of the second pass had beautiful views and it was nice to just sit up there for a bit knowing the hardest uphills of the trek were now behind me.

    The 2 hour trek down was steep and my legs felt like jelly at that point but we made it down to the bottom. About 25 mins before our campsite we had the option to take a short 10 min trek to an Inca Site which offered stunning views and was well worth the extra 150 stairs or so! Arriving at our campsite was an amazing feeling! I felt so proud that I finished day two. We were treated with a lovely sunset and then happy hour and dinner before bed.

    This day really made me appreciate the porters. They carry 25kg on their backs while literally running past you on the trail. Once you arrive at camp or lunch, everything is set up for you and the food is made (and delicious). Porter's are honestly super heroes, I truly don't know how they do it! Fun fact: the fastest recorded time to complete the Inca Trail was by a porter and it only took them 3 hours and 38 mins. To give you some context, this trail took me 23 hours across 4 days (although we did stop at some Inca sites but even still 3h38min is insane). I truly do not think it is humanly possible to complete this trek in that time and yet a porter managed to do it! They are incredible!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    2
    日32

    Day Three: Cloud Forest and Lost Ruins

    2023年6月2日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Today we got to sleep in as we only had to wake up at 5:30am. Day three is known as the easiest and most beautiful day of the hike so I was very excited to start today and see what the trail had in store.

    We started the hike with 1.5 hours of Inca flats and then proceeded to have 2 hours of steep downhill and finally 1.5 hours of casual downhill. The steep downhill was quite challenging and painful on the joints even though it was not the most tiring. The hike itself was pretty good but nothing compared to the epic views.

    Today we were hiking in a cloud forest and it felt very unique and other worldly. Honestly, the coolest part of the Inca Trail was all the different microclimates and terrain we got to hike through. Cloud forest had lots of different plants and flowers to look at on the way as well as beautiful views of the Salkantay mountain. We also stopped at an incredible Inca terrace view point on the way! It literally took my breath away.

    We finished today at the lunch stop and after lunch, completed a short hike to a beautiful Incan site. This site was massive and it was so cool to explore because there was hardly anyone else there except our group. It was such a special experience to have that time to just appreciate the beauty of the site and the surroundings.

    After happy hours and dinner our chef baked us a celebration cake and we were given shirts that say 'I survived the Inca Trail'. We got ready for our next day and our early wake up to conclude our journey to Machu Picchu.

    Overall, this was one of my favourite days. It was so beautiful to see so many mountains and forests and Incan sites. Honestly one of the things that has surprised me the most about the Inca Trail has been the beauty of the trail, mountains, and Inca sites. Coming into this, I had only ever seen photos of Machu Picchu and so I had no idea what to expect for the rest of the time. I can honestly say that 'the journey is the destination' rings true as I would've loved this hike even without the added bonus of Machu Picchu at the end.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    日33

    Day Four: Machu Picchu

    2023年6月3日, ペルー ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Finally, the day is here. I have dreamed about this moment since grade seven. I have been hiking to get here for three days. I have imagined this moment in my head countless times. And now, finally, I will be arriving at my first ever wonder of the world: Machu Picchu.

    We wake up early... very early (3:00am) in order to be the second group in line to enter into the last stretch of the Inca Trail and hopefully be one of the first to the Sun Gate. We waited for 2 hours in line (Angus and I just sat and played cards) before we were actually able to begin the hike. Today we only have two hours to go. Two hours stands between me and Machu Picchu! And let me tell you, these two hours flew by!

    The first hour was on Incan flats through cloud forest in order to reach the final staircase up to the Sun Gate. This final staircase is steep... Like so steep you use your hands to help pull you up. We take it one step at a time until we finally, after 15 mins, reach the top. The Sun Gate is the first place on the Inca Trail where you can see Machu Picchu. It's a small Inca site built with a perfect view of the sunrise during the summer solstice (not happening while we were there). The Inca people worshipped the Sun as a god and thus, the sunrise and consequently, the Sun Gate was very important. Arriving at the Sun Gate was magical. It's a view that you do not see in the pictures and postcards often but honestly, I think this view meant the most to me this entire trip. It was the culmination of so much hard work and the panoramic views of Machu Picchu surrounded by the mountains were breathtaking. I loved being able to just sit at the Sun Gate and appreciate what we had just accomplished and how lucky I am to be having this experience and adventure.

    We then had a casual 45 mins downhill before we finally officially made it to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is composed of agricultural terraces, Incan temples, and Incan homes. Only 65% of the site is uncovered and the rest still remains overgrown on the mountain (this is to preserve the site and prevent erosion). We had made it and we're overlooking the postcard view point of the ruins. And what a view point it was. To be able to see the ruins and the mountains surrounding it was so special. This moment was made all the richer by the journey it took to get there. While Machu Picchu itself is beautiful, being able to spend 3 days walking the path the Inca's walked and learning the nature and history of the route along the way makes Machu Picchu mean so much more.

    We then spent the next two hours exploring the ruins. Our guides explained how things were made, why they were built a certain way, and so much more. There were some sections that were very busy, but luckily since there were protests in Peru earlier this year, tourism was down and thus, the site was not as busy as usual. We got to have many areas to explore and learn about with just our group without others getting in the way (although some temples were more busy)! The ruins themselves were very impressive and it was interesting to see things pointed out to us by the guides that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise (such a difference in the quality of polish on the rock indicates when a new generation of builders began). The theory of Machu Picchu is that it was built in the mountains to protect against invaders and natural disasters. It was an important place of worship and when the Spanish came to Peru, it was abandoned in a rush and unfinished to prevent the Spanish from finding it and destroying it (to prevent them from worshipping their gods). It was then lost for almost 400 years. It is truly something so special to learn about and see.

    Overall, the Inca Trail exceeded my expectations in every way. Alpaca exhibitions were incredible and made the experience so fun and stress free. The trail itself is so beautiful. It is hard to put into words but honestly, something everyone should experience if they are able. And Machu Picchu itself is absolutely stunning and definitely worth the many, many, many hours of hiking. I am coming back from this trip tired and sore but with my heart full of joy. So grateful for this adventure.    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    2
    日36

    The Amazon

    2023年6月6日, ペルー ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    After taking a night bus from Cusco (the same day we finished the Inca Trail... we were very tired and smelly 😂), we arrived in Puerto Maldonado. This city is the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. We spent the first day there resting and hanging out by the pool before embarking on a 3 day Amazon tour.

    The first day of the tour had a driving to the edge of the Tambopata River and then boating down to the jungle oasis where we would be spending the next few days. The oasis itself was very cool as it was surrounded by rainforest! After lunch we spent some time cooling off by the pool (the rainforest is very humid)! We then went on our first activity which was a rainforest walk to a look out tower for sunset. During this walk we got to go into the rainforest for the first time and try and spot some wildlife! We luckily got to see some howler monkeys and some toucans! Our guide Rodrigo used this portable telescope thing to zoom into so we got a closer look at the animals... We also used this to get some epic photos throughout the trip! The look out tower was very tall and allowed us to be above the trees for an incredible view of the jungle and the sunset. We then walked back to reserve to start our second activity. For this activity, we were in the boat at night looking for caimans. We got to see a few different caimans, some tiny baby ones and one bigger adult one! One of my favourite parts of this activity was the stars. It was one of the best places to see the stars I have ever been to! We then had dinner and went straight to bed! It was cool getting to fall asleep to the many sounds of the rainforest.

    The next day we had an early start at 4:30am. We got into the boat and went for 45 mins along the Tambopata River to arrive at the clay licks. This is an amazing natural phenomenon where hundreds of macaws and parrots gather on this clay wall in the morning to lick the minerals off of it for food. This was probably my favourite part of the trip (though it is tough to choose a favourite because everything about the rainforest was epic)! It was so stunning to see all of these birds in their natural habitat. There were so many types and different coloured ones and the sounds were crazy. This was such a special and unique experience and I loved just getting to sit and watch the birds for a few hours. We then had a picnic breakfast before going for a wildlife spotting boat trip. We saw another caiman and about 14 capybaras! These were so fun to see in the wild and we were able to get close to them in the boat as they relaxed on the shoreline. We then returned home for some free time before lunch. Afterwards we set out for our second activity of the day: kayaking. Angus and I shared a two person kayak and then paddled down the river. We tried going upstream for a while but made hardly any progress 😂 so we paddled downstream the rest of the time. We had more paddling experience than the rest of our group so we got quite a bit ahead of everyone, which was amazing. It really just felt like us and the Amazon. We had so much fun just paddling, chatting, looking for animals and birds, and just enjoying the view. We then stopped at a little island where we were able to swim in the river! The water was very refreshing and we both loved getting to swim in the Amazon! Our final activity for the day was a night hike in search of nocturnal animals and insects. We saw lots of spiders and bugs and even a tarantula! I was paranoid about the snakes above my head the whole time (we didn't see any snakes though so that was good) so I was looking up at the trees instead of down for insects, which ended up being a good thing as I spotted a sloth! I felt so satisfied cause everyone else walked past it except me and the whole group were so impressed that I found one!

    The last day began with a boat ride and then a hike. On this hike we got to see lots of different plants. We saw the life tree, which was massive! We also drank water from this bamboo tree (it was actually really good). We ate a termite (tasted minty and better than expected) and this sugar cane type thing that everyone thought was too sour and I thought it tasted like candy! We also had some of this leaf and our guide didn't tell us the use until afterwards... It is used as a local anesthetic so it makes everyone's mouth go numb for a few minutes! We also saw some more monkeys on this walk! Overall it was a really nice hike. We stopped at a mammal clay lick but didn't get to see any mammals. After the hike I went for one last swim in the river before packing up and going home!

    Overall, we LOVED the rainforest. Angus and I both agree that we want to come back and have 2 weeks just to be in the rainforest the whole time. The wildlife was beautiful and just the vibe of the place was awesome. Absolutely loved my time here.

    This was our last stop in Peru and while writing this, we are currently in Bolivia. I loved Peru. I felt like we got to see and experience so much yet I also feel like there is so much more I want to do! Like Ecuador this is definitely a country I will be coming back to. I loved how we could be surfing on the coast then in a desert then in the mountains then in a rainforest all in one country. There was great infrastructure for tourism which made traveling and busing here very easy. The food was great and the people we met were very kind. Overall, Peru was beautiful, fun, and so diverse. Sad to be leaving but excited to keep the adventure going in Bolivia!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    32
    日40

    Copacabana and Isla del Sol

    2023年6月10日, ボリビア ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    We have arrived in Bolivia! We had heard getting into Bolivia across the border would be challenging but we had the easiest time getting across. We then took a taxi into the town of Copacabana... This is not the same Copacabana from the song but that did not stop me from singing 'at the Copa Copacabana' every five minutes 😂.

    Copacabana is located on Lake Titicaca, which is both the highest navigable lake in the world and an important place in Incan culture. The Incas believed that the origin of the sun and the first people on earth emerged out of Lake Titicaca. It holds a special place in their culture and is often still a place for worship. After being in Copacabana, I can understand why they believed this to be the origins of the sun. Since we are at such high altitude here, the sun is very strong and bright and it shines right over the lake. The lake is incredibly sparkly due to the sunshine and seeing it shine was beautiful. The sunsets here are also stunning as the sun sets right in the middle of the lake.

    We spent a lot of time relaxing, playing cards, and just enjoying the view from our hotel (which overlooked the lake). We hiked 45 up a large hill to a look out point surrounding the city. This hike is actually a religious pilgrimage and provides many places for worship along the trail. The views from the top were very stunning and we then got to sit back and watch the sunset!

    On our last full day in Copacabana, we decided to take a boat to the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). This island had amazing hiking and we were able to see some incredibly beautiful views from the miradors (look out points) throughout the trail. We also visited the Sun Temple, which is an Inca place of worship for the Sun God. Overall this was such a beautiful day.

    On our final morning we said goodbye to Copacabana and now are heading for a short put stop (1 night) in La Paz!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    2
    日42

    La Paz

    2023年6月12日, ボリビア ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    We were only in La Paz for about 24 hours on our way to Uyuni! That being said it was a very cool city to get a little glimpse of (though it was impossible to get a taxi to stop for you)!

    In this 24 hours we walked down what is called the witches cove, which is basically a very cool and nicely decorated touristy street. We also had a delicious curry meal which was so filling it was challenging to walk back up the hill to our hotel 😂. We also spent some time on the rooftop of our hotel which had an epic view of the city! All in all La Paz seems very cool and is a place to come back and spend more time in one day.

    At this point in the trip, Angus and I were both feeling ready to leave the high altitude and head to the warm beaches, thus, our time in La Paz was shorter!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    32442
    日44

    Salt Flats

    2023年6月14日, ボリビア ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    After departing La Paz, we stopped in Uyuni to book a 3 day tour of the Salt Flats and surrounding area. I didn't really know what to expect for this tour but it was very epic and stunning.

    The first stop of the day was at a 'train graveyard', which was basically just a lot of trains that were no longer in use that we could climb on. After that, day one was spent almost exclusively at the Salt Flats called Salar de Uyuni. These are the largest salt flats in the world and are such a unique site. It was so flat so it really looked like the salt flats went on forever. We took some cool perspective photos and then just got to enjoy the salt flats. We walked around and just marveled at the view. We also stopped at Cactus Island which was literally a random rock island in the middle of the salt flats that were covered in Cactuses... And these cactuses were massive. After exploring the island, we watched the sunset over the flats and then went to our hotel for dinner. We were staying in a salt hotel where literally everything (except the mattresses) were made of salt.

    Day two started around 6:30am as we departed the salt flats and headed towards the desert! This day has lots of stops to look at rock formations and stuff in the desert. We saw volcanic rocks, volcanoes, and lots of Lagunas. My favourite Laguna was the Red lagoon which really did look an epic red colour. We also saw lots of wildlife on this day. We saw hundreds of flamingos, 2 ostriches, dozens of vicuña, llamas, and chinchillas. The last stop of the day was at geysers which were cool to see but VERY stinky... like a strong rotten egg fart smell was in the air (it was so bad that it literally made one of the British dudes in our group puke 💀). We then headed for the hotel which was next to a natural hot spring. This was my favourite part of the day. We ran through the cold for about 5 minutes (and by cold, I mean it was -3°C outside) in our bathing suits down to the hot springs. We then enjoyed the very hot hot springs overlooking the stars. This was the most incredible night sky I have ever seen, we could even see the milky way. We saw this epic orange shooting star with a tail that went across the whole sky! Such a magical experience (the run back was cold though)!

    The final day had a few stops at some beautiful Lagunas and epic rock formations. My favourite spot was at this marsh look out surrounded by rock faces. It was a very cool spot. Most of this day was spent journeying back to Uyuni. We also got to see the Atacama desert today as we were right near the border with Chile!

    Overall this was an epic few days with some beautiful and unique spots that we visited. We are leaving Bolivia and overall, I really liked it here. The people were lovely and the places we visited were beautiful. That being said, we are excited to continue our adventure at a lower altitude and in a warmer location. Bolivia is definitely somewhere I will want to come back to one day as there is so much more I want to see!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    5
    日50

    Buenos Aires

    2023年6月20日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Getting to Buenos Aires was a significant challenge. We originally were planning on bussing but after a short bus ride to a connecting town took 12 hours instead of 4, we opted to fly instead. Argentina is the most expensive country we have been in and thus, we decided to only spend a few days in Buenos Aires.

    These few days were lovely. We didn't do much other than walk and explore the city and try lots of bakeries and food. Buenos Aires is the city that felt most similar to Canada and we both agreed it would be such a nice city to live in. I loved our few days here and feel as though we only got a taste of what this city has to offer. When planning this trip, Chile and Argentina were places that we decided were more expensive and very long (longer bus rides) and consequently we decided to save them for a later trip. Having said that we had to go through Argentina to get to Brazil so we got a few days in Buenos Aires. I'm glad we got to see a bit of the city even though I know that I want to come back for more!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 旅行者South America Adventure
    22221
    日51

    Iguazu Falls: from Argentina

    2023年6月21日, アルゼンチン ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Today we visited the Iguazu falls from the Argentinian side. This was one of the places I was the most excited about and it did not disappoint. Iguazu is the most beautiful set of waterfalls I have ever seen and honestly one of the most stunning natural phenomena. This place should be on everyone's bucket list.

    On the Argentinian side of the falls there are 3 main hiking circuits to do. The first one we did was called the Devil's Throat and it brought you to the largest and most intense part of the falls. You had the option to take the train there and back but we decided to do the hour-long walk on the way there. Boy are we glad we did! On this walk we saw a beautiful toucan, coatis, and monkeys! The monkeys were so fun to see as they climbed so close to us that we could make eye contact with them! They were jumping between trees and climbing around! It felt like we were in an episode of planet earth. This trail was rarely walked so it was nice to have the whole place to ourselves (most other trails were a lot busier)!

    Arriving at the Devil's Throat was amazing. The amount of water pouring over the sides was crazy and you got to be right up close to it! We were so close that we were getting soaked by the mist the whole time! The special part of Iguazu is that it's not just one waterfall but dozens of falls. This meant that everywhere you looked you could see a stunning waterfall! After enjoying this viewpoint we continued back via the train (we were afraid we wouldn't have time to do the other two trails before they closed).

    The second trail we did was the lower circuit which gave panoramic views of the different sections of the falls! This was a very lovely trail with some of the best views of the many falls! We also got to stop at a few other falls that are not part of the bigger section on this trail. After this trail it started pouring rain for about 10 minutes which is officially the first time this trip we have used our rain coats! However, after 10 mins it stopped and the coats were put away for the rest of the day!

    Our final trail was the upper circuit! This trail allows you to access many different view points on top of the different waterfalls. It is a longer trail with many different panoramic views! There were in theory 2 other trails to do, one of them on the island near the falls which allows you to get very close to them; however, these trails were closed for maintenance while we were there. This gives us a reason to come back!

    Overall, I loved this day and being able to experience such a natural wonder was amazing. I loved how natural the falls still were... At Niagara I find it all so commercialized and while this is still touristy, there are so many hikes through a rainforest and wildlife and stuff to see. Can't wait to see the Brazilian side next!    もっと詳しく

    翻訳をご覧ください
  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • ホーム
  • 当社について
  • ブログ
  • グループ追跡
  • プレス
  • 規約
  • プライバシー & Cookies
  • サポート
  • 印象
  • 日本語