South America

A 71-day adventure by Ailsa Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
August 17, 2017
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
⛅ 39 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Colombia Río Mendiguaca 11.273877, -73.86320511°16’26” N 73°51’48” W
El Rio
August 16, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 39 °C
Tubing. Sore feetsies. Lots of mozzies. Beers. Fan. Group dinners. Hell day in santa Marta. Beachy day. Funny Irish couple. Jungle. Roasty toasty. Beautiful!
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Sunday, August 20, 2017
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 15 m
Colombia Alpes 10.396968, -75.47901910°23’49” N 75°28’44” W
Cartagena
August 20, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Colonial. V hot. V v hot. Spanish lady with big boobies. No AC. Mega fan fights. Pirates of Caribbean. Walled city. Cafe del mar. Cocktails and sunset. Walking between aircons. 15th century castle. Lovely fish lunch. Epoca coffee and most importantly AC. Friendly.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Colombia Punta de Los Gomez 10.17961, -75.74456810°10’47” N 75°44’40” W
Isla Grande
August 23, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Pablos haunt. Scuba Steve and Sarah. Secret paradise. Finally some AC. Morning jogs. Relaxy. 4 books. Pool volleyball. Playa libre. Colombian pals & free hotdogs. Pineapple. Sass-sqotch and her omelettes. Spanish guy allergic to t shirts with rubbish body... Falling out of a hammock. Swimming with luminous plankton. Speedboat. Mangroves. Muscling in on French guys selfies.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Sunday, August 27, 2017
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 1,472 m
Colombia Quebrada La Hueso 6.251632, -75.5758916°15’6” N 75°34’33” W
Medellin
August 27, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Dorm for 2. Snugglies in a single. Big night out... boozying just the two of us. Pizza. Finally some cool air. City in a basin. Mountains. Green. The city of eternal spring. Friendly Colombians. Panceques and waffles!! Annoying America waitress. Touristing. Nailing the metro. Spanglish. Cable car. Escalators and graffiti art. Favellas. Expensive plaster. Coffee in the square. Weird arty statues. Shiny shoes from a cute old man. Cool fruit man. Weird cheesy ball. Annoying American traveller, stealing his olive oil +/- cider vinegar oops.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 12
Monday, August 28, 2017
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 1,975 m
Colombia Salento 4.637433, -75.5733574°38’15” N 75°34’24” W
Salento
August 28, 2017 in Colombia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Coffee! Finally. Cute room. New pals from Lancashire. Pete and Amy. Beautiful town. Cowboys and horses. New cardigan, v snuggly. Lots of crafts. Ailsa trying not to buy them all. Food vans. Jeep willies. Hiking in the Andes. Valle de cocora. Tall trees. Hummingbirds. Rain and mud. Wonky bridges. Lunch with a view. Beers in the sun. Wine in the sun. Sunburn. Indian. Stories. Gunpowder bowls. Girls won! Hangover. Walk. Coffee finca. Poo in the bushes. Pizza. Nightbus to Bogota (fear for our lives).Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 16
Friday, September 1, 2017
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 2,821 m
Ecuador Ichimbia -0.219067, -78.5045950°13’9” S 78°30’17” W
Bogota
September 1, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Sleepy sallys. Lucky bus trips. Macdees. Bloody Barclays. Raging ash at TAME check in. Short trip! Delicious cultural cuisine (Burger King)
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 17
Saturday, September 2, 2017
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 2,832 m
Ecuador Ichimbia -0.219094, -78.5045780°13’9” S 78°30’16” W
Quito
September 2, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Croissants. Helado for 50c. Emptied bank account- galapagos. Planning. Percy and Val. GG hungry adventures in old town. Victorious pub quiz- Ailsa got human body temp wrong. $3 for 2 beers at 2850m.
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 20
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 5,066 m
Ecuador Faldas del Cotopaxi -0.669449, -78.4342160°40’10” S 78°26’3” W
Cotopaxi
September 5, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
Paradise. Lodge. Hammocks. Lots of tea. Lots and lots of banana bread. 5 doggies! New love for daushuands. The love shack/gas chamber/snuggle dungeon. Poo with a view. Jacuzzi. Pizza night (15 slices for ash). Walk to the waterfalls. Giddy up horsey- Jeff and ploddy Moira. Bruised legs. Trotted for about 10 seconds. Bumpy road. Snuggles. 5 blankets. Sunrise over Cotopaxi. Walk up pasachoa (4200m)! Andean plains. Beautiful.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Friday, September 8, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 39 m
Ecuador San Cristobal Airport -0.444528, -90.2732650°26’40” S 90°16’24” W
Galapagos - day 1
September 8, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
A taxi driver that was actually on time. Two flights. Both of us silently shitting our pants we paid 4000 dollars for two pens when no guy with a sign to greet us! 3 course lunch. Charles Darwin giant tortoise centre. Hunners of the buggers. Sea lion on a bench. All aboard the seaman 2... forgot we both get very sea sick. Lots of pills.... making some new old pals.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 24
Saturday, September 9, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 706 m
Ecuador Puerto Villamil -0.973786, -91.3924760°58’26” S 91°23’33” W
Galapagos - day 2
September 9, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Early breakfast and out on a boat ride, first stop had everything pretty much! Sea lion, penguins, turtles, iguanas, pelicans, cormarants, lots of other birds, boobies (blue footed) - ash laughing all day the name. Snorkelling - I saw a shark! Slightly shitting ourselves about that. Very chilly. Volcano lava walk. Mildly annoying other guests. Hot chocolate. Lots of snacks. Eating 7 times a day. Sea sick snorkelling and farts. Snuggles.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 25
Sunday, September 10, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 221 m
Ecuador Cantón Isabela -0.265921, -91.3350010°15’57” S 91°20’6” W
Galapagos - day 3
September 10, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
BEST DAY EVER!! Morning walk to see iguanas and tortoises, dingy ride with some penguins, sunbathing on the deck with galapagos pirate birds, kayaking with a playful sea lion grabbing the rope and the most incredible snorkelling with about 30 turtles! So happy I get to share this all with my favourite person (soppy). A sunset walk up to Darwins crater lake with a beautiful view over the islands.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 26
Monday, September 11, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 78 m
Ecuador Cantón Isabela -0.297442, -91.4394390°17’51” S 91°26’22” W
Galapagos - day 4
September 11, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
DOLPHINS!! Hundreds and hundreds of dolphins jumping around the boat when it was navigating. The pictures don't do it justice. Crossed the equator with a rum cocktail and toast. A beautiful sunset. Snugglies on the roof top. The bumpiest roughest navigation - we were practically airborne in the cabins and ash slept through it all. Swimming with turtles and sea lions. I have forgotten all about any walks we did because all I can remember is the dolphins! Oh and we missed whales because we were napping...it's all a conspiracy I'm sure!Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 27
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 528 m
Ecuador Bellavista -0.184742, -90.8035780°11’5” S 90°48’13” W
Galapagos - day 5
September 12, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Morning beach walk, it was deserted. Watching oyster catchers catch crabs and run away, boobies diving into the water. A rough kayak we did for about 5 mins before returning for some boat snacks. Snorkelling with loads of fish. Holding my breath for about 10 seconds. No sharks 😞 actually not sure I'm that sad about that. Cool lava walk, almost attacked by a heron, lots of baby sealions now my new favourite animal. Ash screaming when he almost stood on an iguana.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 28
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 183 m
Ecuador Isla Rábida -0.410167, -90.7100370°24’37” S 90°42’36” W
Galapagos - day 6
September 13, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Beautiful red sand beach (caused by iron). Still unsure what El Niño means but felt it was a bit late to ask... best snorkel - ash following a giant manta ray and filming about ten mins on the GoPro. Kicking super fast to keep up and it was barely moving and going faster. Incredibly beautiful. I saw a dolphin! He looks me right in the eye!! Back to the boat, no wetsuit but ash jumped back in with the ray and sharks appeared!! Gently encouraged ash to get back in and take some photos...he says I was sending him to his death. Awesome alfresco lunch. Chinese hat in the afternoon. Cold and wavy (described as a 'swimming pool') saw some sharks and followed one! Beautiful sunset walk on Chinese hat in the evening with lots of sealions. SUSHI night by the fabulous chef HenryRead more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 29
Thursday, September 14, 2017
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 94 m
Ecuador Bellavista -0.315907, -90.7240070°18’57” S 90°43’26” W
Galapagos - day 7
September 14, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Back on Santiago, morning lava walk on fresh lava only 120 years old. Cool ropey patterns. Could be art. Morning snorkel along the coast with another shark! Walk up to the viewpoint and most photographed area of Galapagos. Awkward photo with bar lady which I photobombed cos she definitely was going to put on Facebook that ash was her bf. Amazed that the fat Austrian made it, slightly worried might have to do cpr. Big rocks which weighed nothing. Afternoon laze on the beach while ash snorkelled and gave up after 5 mins. Tried to pack but v seasick. Stayed up past 8 with alcohol. Tricky boat Jenga.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 30
Friday, September 15, 2017
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Ecuador Cantón Santa Cruz -0.499836, -90.3290520°29’59” S 90°19’45” W
Galapagos - day 8
September 15, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Up at 6 with promise of flamingoes...no flamingos, probably just a ruse to get us all up on time. Bye bye Galapagos- it's been incredible. Long airport wait and back to Quito.
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 31
Saturday, September 16, 2017
⛅ 8 °C
Altitude: 5,066 m
Ecuador Faldas del Cotopaxi -0.669449, -78.4342190°40’10” S 78°26’3” W
Cotopaxi (again)
September 16, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Early start, crazy Dutchman greeting us for mountain biking. Land cruiser. Two kids being car sick. Sailing up sea level to 4500m in one day. Almost as high as mount blanc. Rather SOB... could of been anywhere cause couldn't see a thing at the top. Gentle start to Ailsa's mountain bike experience ...NOT. Very leaky eyes/sobs. Bail off in the sand. Ash worried for relationship! Uphill slog (actually pretty flat) to beautiful lunch spot (beat annoying Dutch girl ha), tasty brownies from Mrs Dutchman. Knowledgeable Ecuadorean guide ...still unsure of his name. Awesome (ash's words) back to Moira and Jeff. Ailsa glad it over, considering doing a day trip and meeting Ash in Banos. Market fruit tour. Dodgy meats. Hungry bellies resisting deep fried goodies cos we are getting old and can't handle being ill. Cosy night up at Quiltoa Loop, cant breath very well...snugglies!Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 32
Sunday, September 17, 2017
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 3,506 m
Ecuador Laguna Quilotoa -0.862698, -78.8989640°51’46” S 78°53’56” W
Quilotoa crater lake
September 17, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Early start and crunchy eggs for breakfast. Walk down 400m to crater lake. Beautiful view - sheer drop of crater and huge lagoon below. No life in it due to high concentration of minerals apparently! No swimming allowed. Wishing we camped down here. Sandy feet. Horses going down and pooping everywhere. Half way down regretting it cos I'll have to climb back up. Hike was as unpleasant as predicted. Ash racing a 47 year old Dutchman and winning by a minute (very proud). Biking down from there on a tarmac road!! It was bloody great in comparison to yesterday. Uphill slog at the end which Ailsa felt she did not sign up for. Baptism party of whole town. Ash falling out with Ailsa because she doesn't trust him with coins. Then biked down a dirt bumpy road through the forrest and Ailsa actually enjoying herself for first time. Few hours drive to foot of Chimborazo opposite highest train station in Ecuador with bus trains. Awesome cosy homely hostel with cool owner - climbed Chimborazo 42 times. Squinty face llama. Beers and passion rum drink on the porch. Cool german guy called Patrick (Angela Merkels right hand man!n) 3 course meal, funny cards, personalities coming out. Awesome fire and hot water bottles = snugs number 2!Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 32
Sunday, September 17, 2017
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 4,017 m
Ecuador Pilaguin (Pilahuin)-1.400516, -78.8482441°24’2” S 78°50’54” W
Chimborazo
September 17, 2017 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Cloudy start. Stories of the last ice merchant of Ecuador. Hike up to 5100m (drove up to 4800m...) beautiful view of the volcano. Technically highest point on earth... yummy apple and cinnamon cup of tea to delay start biking from Ailsa. Steep biking trail, lots of sand, a lot of screaming and swearing from Ailsa. Ash having the time of his life, inner 10 year old coming out and 28 year old having to remind him if he falls its going to hurt! Cycle past lots of 'yakkas' ash making up names for things again. Beautiful final cycle down the valley to Ambato over 40km (thankfully downhill). Ailsa actually saying it was awesome! Not quite a mountain bike convert yet. Arrived in banos and finally got our 4 weeks of washing done!Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 33
Monday, September 18, 2017
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 28 m
Peru Piura International Airport -5.206351, -80.6184865°12’23” S 80°37’7” W
Banos
September 18, 2017 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Wine destruction at the bus stop. Ash and his queens English telling off a drunk man. Very stroppy. Washing bag in shower...not drinking the other bottle. Very embarrassing laundry request. Chill day with some coffee and snacks, bumped into irish pals, hot springs at night - sweet headwear and packed like sardines, cooked in pool downstairs after ten attempts to get in. Rafting with annoying Spanish man, ash chucked in and going down a rapid outside the boat. Ailsa can't sit on front of boat and very disappointed captain cos I'm so uncoordinated/nube. Awesome. Uno, dos! Free dins. Nappy naps. Stood up at the bar, actually waiting at wrong place...stayed up till at least midnight (party animals). Valley of the waterfalls, ash doing ropey zipline, making Ecuadorean pals. Finally some chocofrutas for Ailsa. Amazing waterfalls, not really the atmospheric herbal essences ad. Rainbow over final one. Beers on the porch. Finally a delicious empanada! Hot spa-ing again - off to Cuenca on the night bus!Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 37
Friday, September 22, 2017
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 30 m
Peru Piura International Airport -5.206317, -80.6184175°12’23” S 80°37’6” W
Cuenca
September 22, 2017 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
V early arrival...playing tig outside hostel for warmth. Nap on the couch. Those pancakes... awesome hostel owners. Finally in a dorm...back to the spa (it had been a few days...) hot/cold/mud/relaxy...damn fine cocktails. Night tour of cuenca...(unintentional) night picked up with cheap burgers and mojitos! Bit sozzled cos I was hungover the next day. Off to the national park parque cajas...ruta 1, getting lost even though signs ever 50m. Kinda looks like Scotland ... bakery snacks from our wee lady. Cheap dinner at cafe moliendo (delicious, ding ding) and snugs in the dorm with Disney...(last night was a wild one...). Football match, mental, right in with the old firm, scary chanting leader clearly a mobster...soaked with a hose, ash running for cover without me the bugger. FaceTime catch ups. Ash leaving pretty much all our valuables in a restaurant!! Thankfully still there despite us having no change for a tip...oops. Night bus onto Peru 🇵🇪Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 40
Monday, September 25, 2017
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 27 m
Peru Piura International Airport -5.206219, -80.6184325°12’22” S 80°37’6” W
Piura
September 25, 2017 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Unintentional longer stay...flight cancelled. Mainly saw the inside of our hotels but they were lovely! Planning planning and a bit of snoozing (ok lots of snoozing).
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 43
Thursday, September 28, 2017
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 3,342 m
Peru Cusco -13.533208, -71.96880813°31’60” S 71°58’8” W
Cusco
September 28, 2017 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Cuscopackers and Dan the man! View over the city. Cocoa tea. A walk around the plaza del arms. Beautiful. Horrible chicken dinner. Ash finally finding churros. Ash doing everything within his will to not go on a walking tour. Salkantay planning. Coffee in the square. Buying a painting 'it's my work' off a street guy. Snuggling in the presidential suite (twin beds). 4am rise and off to mollepata to start the trek.Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 44
Friday, September 29, 2017
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 2,250 m
Peru Machu Picchu -13.16568, -72.53687613°9’56” S 72°32’13” W
The Salkantay Trek
September 29, 2017 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Early start and off to Soraypampa. Argentinian guys- combined arguing with taxi driver. 20 minute walk to 1st campsite. Decide 20 mins doesn't count as a full day hiking. Push on. Decent peg up through pass. Abra salkantay -4600m. Ney air. Clouds close in. Long walk to 1st campsite. Ash not complaining about weight if bag once- legend! Cooking in the dark. Ailsa wanting to eat raw pasta. Scranzilla. Decent kip. Beautiful sunrise. Ailsa still asleep- no surprises there! Downhill for the day-yes. Beauty through a valley. Slight negative flies and horse shit. Decent peg. Glad ash insisted on peanut butter. Sore feet. Ailsa not complaining..... Nurse ash and compedes to the rescue. Awesome spot for 2nd night. Dinner and amazing coffee from host. Fireflies. Pipe. Hot night. Sweaty tent....yay. Early start. More coffee. More walking. Ailsa living life. Minor cheats......taxxxxiiii! Hydroelectrica to aguas calientes. Awesome walk alongside railway. Slightly under appreciated by 2 weary souls. Arrive. Stinky feet....blissful shower. Pizza. Annoying Ozzy couple. Bloody Machu Picchu website. Sleep. Steps to Machu Picchu. Finishing the walk properly. Machu Picchu......wow. 2hours of selfies. Back down. Burger and beers. Train.....what £100?? Oh well. Ollantaytambo bound.....Read more
0 likes
South America Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 48
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 2,841 m
Peru Zona Arqueológica Quellorajay -13.25949, -72.26581613°15’34” S 72°15’57” W
Ollantaytambo
October 3, 2017 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Snoozy train. Beautiful spot with some Incan ruins as a back drop. Cool hostel. Guess what....JOBS IN NEW ZEALAND!!! 🇳🇿
Cue jumping around and crying a little. Celebratory cocktails! Woohoooooo.
0 likes