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South America
  • Elizabeth Ward

South America

A 49-day adventure by Elizabeth Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 1, 2023
  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Medellin Day 1

    July 3, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Woke up super early to meet Joe and go on the down town walking tour of Medellin. Learnt about the history of medellin and tasted a very sweet sugar cane drink. Made a friend from New Zealand and had tacos for lunch. Had to run in the rain again. Went out for dinner to a pizza place with a guy from Luton and played cards on the roof terrace and a guy from Sweden thrashed me at shit headRead more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler
    1
    Pablos 🏠

    Guatape

    July 4, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Day trip to guatape and a night out in Medellin!
    Super early start onto a bus, a stop for breakfast which was very odd not a big fan of fried banana. Climbed a big rock and can definitely feel it in my knees today. Visited the very colourful town of guatape. Stopped for lunch at the same place we had breakfast, went on a boat tour and saw Pablo Escobar’s old holiday home (apparently one of the places he kept the hippos). Stopped off and had the best empanadas we’ve ever had. Went to gringo Tuesdays night at the hostel!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Jardin detox

    July 6, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Decided to detox in the countryside to recover from our Medellin night out. Took the bumpiest bus ride ever 3 hours in the mountains of Colombia and pretty sure we nearly died every time we over took the chicken trucks. Had amazing pasta at a Italian restaurant and shared a bottle of wine because we are classy people ( not really detoxing tho?). Had the most amazing sleep in a room just to ourselves. Hiked to some waterfalls and did some swimming. Discovered avocados grow on trees. Came back to Medellin for the night and now all feel shocking again 😭 time for another detoxRead more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Cartagena

    July 7, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    2 nights in Cartagena. Another near death experience were we ended up in a random guys car which we thought was a taxi. Arrived to our hostel which had the cutest cats. Did a free walking tour around the old city walls and the getsemani area. Had some local food for lunch, chicken, rice and beans. Spent the afternoon sat around the pool. Had tacos for tea from a food truck over looking the sea. Decided the infiltrate other hostels because ours was really boring. Met a girl from Ilkeston which I don’t really know if I enjoyed or not. Went to a cool rooftop club and fell off the ladder to my bed when we got back.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Minca

    July 10, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Our trip to Minca started with a very hungover long bus journey to Santa Marta where we arrived too late for our transfer to minca! So had to get a taxi where they strapped our bags to the roof of the car and we stopped to get gas, which is literal gas very strange. We went to the blandest pizza place in the world and went to bed super early. Went on a waterfall hike, first waterfall was super easy to get to and basically had it all to ourselves. Started the hike into the jungle to the next waterfall, got lost and asked a lady which way to go and she pointed in the direction of a dog and said be careful the dog has killed 4 people and handed us a stick. We then tried to back out and go the opposite way and she escorted us past the dog while holding a stick. We were then deep in the jungle and realised this was not a common route for a reason. I then stood on a black and yellow snake!! We then reached the river and had to wade through the rapids to get across. We eventually reached the second waterfall and did some swimming! As we began the walk back this time along the road, the rain started! We were soaked and hungry stuck in the middle of nowhere. We decided to take shelter in a little hut until the rain passed. Once it slowed we began the walk again and just as we reached the restaurant and the rain stopped. The restaurant had a really aggressive cat which did not like me. We had amazing pulled pork with freshly baked cobs. Carried on our walk to our hostel which may be the coolest one we’ve stayed in so far. Went on the sunset walk and returned back to the hostel for the pub quiz! And won!! Which resulted in a free bottle of rum and we took it too far again! Woke up this morning feeling pretty bad again and went for a coffee scrub in the river and now I have the softest skin ever.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Tayrona National Park

    July 12, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    We departed minca to begin our journey to Tayrona National park. Spent an hour arguing with some moto taxi guys who didn’t want us to get on the public bus. Eventually got on our first proper Colombian bus which was still moving as you got on and had a ticket guy who hung out of the door for the whole journey. We arrived to where we thought our hostel and then had to moto taxi up a dirt track and through a river. We were the only ones at our hostel and most of it was still under construction, other wise very cute hut all to ourselves. The next morning we started the 2 hour trek through the national park where we saw centipedes, snakes, spiders, crabs and monkeys! We reached our campsite that was a hut on top of some rocks with hammocks in the middle of two gorgeous beaches. Had a lovely day getting sunburnt on the beach and swimming with lots of fish and Finn met us on the beach! Hardly slept because the hammocks were freezing cold, they were swinging in the wind and I have never worn more layers. Finally got to sleep and slept through the sunset. Woke up feeling dreadful and had to endure the 2 hour hot hike back with suspected food poisoning/ whatever sickness you get from dodgy water and eventually arrived at el rio hostel just in time for our 3pm to 8am party!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    El rio hostel

    July 14, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Arrived at el rio hostel feeling a little worse for wear after our sickness induced hike! We decided to nap catch up on our phones after not having any service for more than 24 hours all while the party had already started at 3pm. We decided to get a grip and get on with the party after some food,some very cool people there and very cool music. Managed to last until 4am before requiring bed unlike the girls in our room who made it till 8am. Didn’t take any photos here was too busy dancing, pretty sure I took some on my film camera but a seriously cool hostel!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Costeno beach

    July 15, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Taxied to costeno beach and to stay at a surf camp even tho we didn’t see any surfers. Was a very very chill place which we definitely needed. Pretty sure Finn slept for 16 hours. We got persuaded into a surf lesson even tho the first guy said it wasn’t suitable for beginners which we made very clear we were. Had two instructors for the 4 of us who definitely spent the whole time laughing at us. We practiced in a river first all seemed good. We then ventured out into the sea, only two of us allowed in at a time so we were one on one with an instructor. Genuinely never been so scared of drowning in my life I felt like I got beaten up by the sea. Was not fun at all, lasted approx 10 minutes in the sea and then gave up. I think I’ll stick to uk surfing. Decided to treat ourselves to a party at another hostel but had to walk along the beach in the pitch black and saw the biggest crabs ever. Did lots of star gazing and had a go at beach volley ball but was pretty bad in the dark. Becca left us early in the morning for Peru and we took another Colombian bus to palomino!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Palomino

    July 17, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    And then there were 3, Becca left us early in the morning and we decided to walk up the dirt track to the bus. Finn got to experience his first Colombian bus and we arrived in the very cute town of palomino. We took a very hot walk down another dirt road and walked past lots of cute little shops and stalls. We decided to chill by our hostels pool for a lot of the days we were there, we needed some serious chill time! We tried to go to a sunset hostel party but it turned out it was the day before. Went to a food market area and got bombarded by menus from every place in the market. Had a lovely chicken tikka masala and ended the night playing poker with some guys we met in Cartagena. We went for breakfast at a vegan place but all has egg omelettes. Decided to chill round the pool and play some pool and we went for a sunset body board, well Finn and joe did I just watched. They both got battered by the waves again but the sunset was amazing. We then met up with our friends from min a for some Lebanese food and decided to play jenga and cards and drink lots of 2 for 1 mojitos. We then ventured down to the beach party which was rubbish until we arrived. We then went to a bar and asked for cocktails and was given a bucket of poison (pure rum). Woke up the next day 30 minutes before checkout still dressed from the night before. Collected all of our clothes from the laundry! Took a chicken cart ride up to the bus and then another Colombian bus to the airport to our apartment that was 100m from the runway! Our final night we ordered burgers that took 3 hours to come!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Final day in colombia and quito

    July 19, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Our final morning with Finn, joe and I left him at the airport in Santa Marta and headed back to Bogotá. Both of us feeling incredibly ill from the altitude we arrived at a very very nice hotel. Had the nicest shower ever and felt the cleanest of this whole three weeks. We went for some nachos and an interesting burrito before meeting Paul and Ollie for some beers and a game of Tejo, ollie thrashed all of us. We played some pool and some cards on the roof of the hotel before having the best night sleep ever. Packed up ready to go again the next morning before meeting some of uncle Paul’s Colombian colleagues who wanted to here all about our travels round Colombia. We then flew to Quito and had some kinda authentic Ecuadorian food. Went on a walking tour of the city and saw lots of Catholic Churches and learnt about the history of Quito. Found an Irish pub that had a pool table and Guinness signs everywhere. We then moved across the road to do a beer tasting. Took a really long Uber back to the hotel and all of us were knackered again so decided on an early night ready for our 5am wake up to start our journey to the Galapagos!!!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    The Galapagos- Day 1

    July 22, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We arrived to the only eco friendly airport in the world on the island of Baltra and met our guide and the rest of our tour. We got on a bus and then a boat across the bluest water I have ever seen to Santa Cruz island and then on another bus to a giant tortoise ranch and a lava tunnel! We saw lots of giant tortoises and walked through a naturally formed tunnel made from lava. Had a lovely lunch and started to get to know our fellow tourers. We then went to the Darwin Research centre where we saw the breeding of giant tortoises and learnt about poor Lonesome George the giant saddle back tortoise who was left on his own for 65 years 😭. We then panic brought rash guards in the gift shops and headed for our boat/ home for the week! Had the rockiest and loudest night travelling from Santa Cruz to Floreana.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Galapagos day 2

    July 23, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We started our day on Floreana with an early morning hike to a lagoon to see flamingos, pelicans and blue footed boobies then to a beautiful beach to see crabs and turtle nests. We returned to the boat and prepared for our first snorkelling. Within the first five seconds of jumping into the water we saw a hammer head shark 🦈 standards were set. We saw sea turtles and so many colourful fish and corals. We returned to the boat and did a quick change and took a boat to the post office, this was actually a barrel where people leave letters and post cards with the hope of someone else picking them up who is going there soon. I’m the afternoon we took a bus to the only fresh water source on the island and learnt about the history of the people who lived there. We also learnt about the work of the National park and the whaling ships who stole tortoises. On our way we saw sea lions, penguins and iguanas!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Bolivia day 1

    July 30, 2023 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    After 22 hours of travelling we arrived in the city of la Paz at 7am, checked into our hotel and decided it was time for bed. Being at 4000m really takes its toll so we eventually decided to get some lunch and tried the Bolivian version of empanadas, salentas. We then started our tour of the city which began in the valley of the moon a dried clay valley eroding away. We took the cable cars across the city and visited the parliament square. We went to the witches market where they sacrifice baby lamas to the earth and make potions. Decided on some sandwiches for dinner next door to the hotel and asked for a tea with milk and received lemon flavoured tea made with frothy milk not amazing but drinkable.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Bolivia day 2, 3 and 4

    August 1, 2023 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    The second day in la Paz and we did a lot of wandering round the city while there was a protest going on and a dancing parade. Decided we’d seen enough of the city and played a lot of pool in an Irish pub. Went out for food where we had a set menu of 4 courses for £10!!!
    Set off early the next morning to Sucre for the night, very pretty city! Went on a walking tour saw them making lots of tapestry’s and had an earlyI’m night ready for our long drive the next day.
    We began our very long drive by stopping off in potosi a mining city at 4200m. Continued through what looked like the Wild West. Squatted to do a wee over some cacti in the middle of nowhere and arrived just in time for sunset in our hotel made of salt!!    Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Boliva day 5 and 6

    August 3, 2023 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Day 5 we explored the salt flats, we visited the very first salt flat hotel. Took some funny photos, visited a volcano and a cave with mummified people in. We watched the sunset again but my phone died because of the cold 😢 the next day we flew to la Paz and I was left on my own. I made friends with a couple from Bratislava and scammed my way into their Uber. I went to a coca museum and went to the bar with some people in my hostel room then had an early night.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Final day in bolivia and entering peru

    August 5, 2023 in Bolivia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    My final day in Bolivia!! An early morning bus to Copacabana, not the same one from the song but the first place to be named it! Was a little stressed cause my taxi driver told me it would be too dangerous to go here at that time but was actually fine! Had the worst sandwich of my life and then fell asleep on the boat ride to Isla de sol! Pretty island saw llamas and alpacas and made good friends with the girl I was sat next to on the bus! Had to walk with our big bags across the Peru border for an hour to our next bus because it was so busy. Some festival where loads of Peruvians go to Bolivia to bless their cars? Arrived in Puno 2 hours late so got a burger from the dogiest food place ever, then slept over night on the bus to Cusco!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Day 1 in peru!

    August 6, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    After a nap in the hostel and watching the netball World Cup final through FaceTime to dad. I went on a walking tour with my friend from the bus! Was very interesting and a very pretty city! Then chilled in the hostel bar and got an early night!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler
    LlamaAlpaca

    Peru day 2- Sacred Valley

    August 7, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Another early start after a shocking night sleep where the girl above me stood on me trying to get into the top bunk. Ended up sat next to this Dutch guy on the bus who smelt really bad but was otherwise nice. We stopped first at Pizac, had lunch and then went to Ollantaytambo to learn about Inca construction. This was when my tour left me to navigate the train to machu pichu on my own so I had a brownie in a coffee shop and a not very nice empanada. Bought a llama jumper! The train was chaos and I arrived in Aguas Calientes with no clue what was happening. A guy shouting my name walked me to a different hotel to what I was told and was greeted by a guide who told me I had to be at the bus station at 6:15 am to buy my bus ticket because the tour had forgotten to buy it. Went to bed in a single room and had the best night sleep ever!!Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler
    Wayanu pichu
    The actual machu pichu mountain

    Peru day 3- Machu Pichu

    August 7, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    An early morning rush to buy my bus ticket and then not finding my guide until half an hour after the allotted time, a bad start to the day! Finally find my tour and everyone on it is Dutch! We took the bus up to entrance of machu pichu and walked to the highest point! Took some really cool photos and then walked round the urbanism area of machu pichu. Learnt that the mountain in the classic pictures is actually wayanu pichu, meaning new mountain and machu pichu means ancient mountain. Learnt about its discovery and the reconstruction of certain areas. Finished the tour and the really nice Dutch family invited me to hike back to the village with them. Very very lovely people. Then I met up with some guys from my tour yesterday for some lunch. Then had 6 hours to kill in a coffee shop before my train as I’d already walked round the town twice! Got on the train and was sat opposite the same people as last night who decided to try and teach me Spanish. I then spilt my bottle of water on the sleeping guy next to me and was very glad we only had 10 minutes left of the journey. Then got a private transfer back to Cuzco with two Americans. Forgot to mention the famous hairless Peruvian dog which is just creepy.Read more

  • Elizabeth WardSouth AmericaTraveler

    Peru day 4- Rainbow Mountain

    August 9, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C

    3am pick up time in the freezing cold was 100% worth it. We were the first to arrive at the mountain and the first to the top and in the red valley so had it all to ourselves! Reached a height of 4045m and had the worst headache ever. Had some lunch on the way back, made friends with a danish girl who was also in my room in the hostel. Had a wander round Cusco then went back to the hostel for a nap. Went out for dinner and then back to the hostel for karaoke and drinks. Was going to go out but decided being up for nearly 24 hours was enough and went to bed!Read more

    Trip end
    August 18, 2023
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