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Central & South America
  • Amanda Williamson

Central & South America

Solo Backpacking through 2 continents Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 3, 2022
  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Quick stop in Barcelona 🇪🇸

    January 3, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    My first stop was Barcelona for 3 days to catch my direct flight to Mexico City!

    Day 1: I landed early so had all day to explore. I checked in at my hostel ( St Christopher’s) then went to explore la boqueria market, the cathedral and gothic quarter, la ramblas and the harbour! That evening I managed to find a Christmas market and had an amazing chocolate pancake and listened to some live music!

    Day 2: On the second day I walked to La Sagrada Familia which was beautiful, even with all the scaffolding, and then made my way to Park Quell. The park was really nice to explore, especially with the weather being so nice… I wasn’t even put off by the men popping out of bushes trying to sell bottles is water and bracelets! I ended the day with a sangria and patatas bravas and prepared for my long flight the next day!

    Day 3: Time for the airport!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Arriving in Mexico City 🇲🇽

    January 5, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Hostel - Casa Pepe

    Mexico City. What a place! The day after I arrived I booked on the Xochimilco tour and got drunk on the boat with some amazing people while we listened to the mariachi band play! We ate traditional food and drank traditional beers, tequila and mezcal… the perfect first full day in Mexico!

    I loved exploring the Historic centre where you can get amazingly cheap street food and walk around the ruins and cathedral (which is sinking btw) and then having drinks in the more trendy town of Roma with people from the hostel (one of which wanted to get us killed in a dodgy garage).    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Teotihuacan from above 🇲🇽

    January 7, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Got picked up at 5am from the hostel so we could make it in time for sunrise! There were 2 Colombian couples on my balloon ride so we all roasted marshmallows and watched as our balloon inflated. The ride was amazingly peaceful and the views were surreal!
    We were in the air for about an hour circling the pyramids before landing on the back of a truck and holding on for deal life as we rode back into town!
    The tour then took us for tequila tasting (at 10am) and for some traditional Chilaquiles for breakfast! Then we were able to walk around and explore the pyramids which was really interesting!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Puebla 🇲🇽

    January 10, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Hostel - Casa Pepe

    Puebla is such a beautiful little town! The streets are colourful and full of murals and historic buildings and the main square is full or bars and restaurants! I did the free walking tour around the cathedral, library and many popular traditional shops and markets! I also visited the nearby town of Cholula with some guys from the hostel and we hiked to the viewpoint where I saw my first volcano!Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Oaxaca 🇲🇽

    January 14, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Hostel - Casa Angel

    Oaxaca. In my opinion one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico! The centre of town is covered in colourful flags, artwork and markets!
    Once again I took part in the free walking tour where we were shown the best and cheapest places to get empanadas and tacos! They also took us through the smoking market where all the locals were preparing their stalls… one of while sold bugs. I tried a cricket. It was disgusting. HOWEVER I’m very glad I tried! The viewpoint was impressive, although I think the hike up was more beautiful than the actual view from the top!
    On the way back down I witnessed a traditional Mexican wedding festival where the families and friends all wear traditional clothing and dance through the street! It was incredible!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Puerto Escondido 🇲🇽

    January 16, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Hostel - Selina & Arcoiris

    Day 1: I arrived early after a very long night bus. I couldn’t check in right away so headed to the beach right outside! I grabbed some food and met Sarah, a girl from NYC and we planned to meet up with lil Bettina who I met in Mexico City (Hola Chica 👋) and some other girls that she’d met a few days before! We had drinks on La Punta beach and watched my first proper Mexican sunset 😍

    Day 2: Me and Sarah met back up and caught a collectivo on the main road to Playa Bococho! We then clambered over the rocks to Playa Coral where we spend the rest of the day sunbathing and swimming! That night we met back up with the Puerto Crew and went to Selina karaoke where we sang BoRap!

    Day 3: Witnessed possibly my favourite sunset ever on top of the cliff/lighthouse today! Then we headed for food at fish shack (where I had chicken 👍🏼) and then had drinks and played games at one of the local hostels in la punta!

    Day 4: Released baby turtles at Playa Bococho today with the 2 Dutch girls! Amazing experience… until the seagulls came 👀 My little Shelly managed to make it all the way into the ocean though so good luck to her!

    Day 5: The day the boat sank. As if getting sea sick on the boat party wasn’t bad enough… one of the boats got so overcrowded it literally tipped over with everyone’s stuff on it and sank! Our captain drove off and left everyone stranded so god knows how that story ended!

    Day 6: Moved into my new hotel today with Sarah, Monica and Trung and the view was incredible! In the evening we went for drinks, ended up at a beach rave where the cartel took my heart burn tablets, we got free tequila shots, me and Betty got tattoos and she stole the cartels pizza… so very successful night 👌🏼

    Day 7: Woke up with a tattoo. Me, Betty, Monica and Sarah went for breakfast which turned into cocktails and then I went horseback riding, which was absolutely amazing! Then we headed out to a beach BBQ where we got small hands to steal us free pasta.

    Day 8: Final day in Puerto was a chilled pool day and tacos at the beach before catching my night bus to San Cristobal!🥲

    I 💛 PUERTO ESCONDIDO    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    San Cristóbal 🇲🇽

    January 25, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Hostel - Snail

    San Cristobal was a really nice town in Chiapas state. The town was colourful with lots of markets and street art! The church in the centre of town had an amazing view and there was so much to see and do! I also took a trip to Sumidero Canyon where we first went to the view point to see the canyon below before getting on a boat to cruise around the canyon where we sew crocodiles, monkeys and hundreds of different birds!Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Palenque & Ruins 🇲🇽

    January 28, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The ruins in Palenque are some of the most impressive I’ve seen! You don’t need a guide and can go off and explore yourself, learning the history and exploring the different areas! Palenque itself didn’t have an awful lot to do but the ruins made it worth the visit!Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Bacalar 🇲🇽

    January 31, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Hostel - Che

    The journey to Bacalar was a rough one! I finally arrived at 5am after having no sleep on the bus and went to the hostel. I was unable to check in because of the time so they kindly let me lie down on the freezing outdoor sofa and listen to cockerels for the next few hours! Betty arrived in the afternoon and we decided to go on a boat party where we got taught how to twerk and drank too many shots!
    The next morning we decided to get up for sunrise which was beautiful.. and then we walked to an area where we could hang out by the lagoon for the day with another girl from our hostel! The lagoon was so many different shades of blue, it was unreal! We spent the rest of our time in Bacalar cooking pasta, feeding the stray dogs and walking around town!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Tulum 🇲🇽

    February 3, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Hostel - Straw Hat

    BETH’S HERE 💛

    I met her at the bus station in Cancun and we headed straight to the bars for drinks and a needed catchup! The next morning we headed into Tulum where we stayed in the old town! We got Beth’s first Mexican tacos and went around some local bars in the area then got an early night ready for a day of exploring!

    On our first full day in Tulum we hired bikes in so we could explore further. We went to 2 cenotes which were incredible! One even had turtles swimming around! Then we rode to the free beach and saw a dead body 👍🏼

    The rest of our time in Tulum was spent dancing in the local clubs, eating Mexican food and exploring the local areas!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Merida 🇲🇽

    February 6, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Merida is a really nice old town with lots of cathedrals and architecture. The streets and colourful and you can get amazing cocktails for about 60p, so what’s not to love 🤷🏼‍♀️ We enjoyed walking around town and exploring the different areas before heading to a local bar where we met 3 local Mexican people who then took us to a really local karaoke bar where everyone was singing Spanish, except us who sang Shania Twain obviously!
    The next day we went on a tour where it rained all day but we did manage to swim in one of the most beautiful cenotes I’ve ever seen! We also managed to witness all the local towns perform a dance in the centre of town which was amazing to see!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Chichen Itza 🇲🇽

    February 8, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    One of the wonders of the world… though I find it hard to see why. Very over priced for what it actually is but it was still a good time!
    Also possibly the most rain we’ve ever seen in all our lives and we spent the rest of the day absolutely dripping wet 👌🏼Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Isla Holbox 🇲🇽

    February 9, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Hostel - Mayab

    Day 1: The day started off chaotic when me and Beth managed to miss our ADO bus to the ferry port, causing us to have to sit in the bus station for a couple of hours to wait for the next one. Luckily we got the ferry before it was dark and arrived in Holbox. We checked into the room when we finally found the woman from reception and then went off to go and meet Sarah and Betty who were also on Holbox at the same time!! We went for drinks at a couple of bars, had a drunken photo shoot with the Holbox sign and then called it a night!

    Day 2: Today we walked out to a sand bank called Mosquito that you can only get too be wading through the ocean until you can finally walk along the sand banks! It was beautiful and the water was amazingly clear. It’s also famous for kite surfing which was fun to watch on the long walk. We hung out and sunbathed with the Holbox gals until the sea came in and we decided to walk back before we had to swim back 😂
    We went on a walking tour with the beautiful Nadal and learnt a lot of interesting stuff about the island. He took us to watch the sunset and then we headed to hot corner, a bar that everyone hangs outside off with beers from the local shop.

    Day 3: Today Me, Beth, Betty, Sarah, Stefanie and Nicola hired a boat that took us out to some different areas of the island, we went bird watching, to a view point, saw dolphins and went to a cenote where we bumped into a local crocodile 👀 When we got back to the main area of Holbox, Me, Beth, Betty and Sarah walked to a different beach to have a beer and watch the sunset. We ate some street food while watching Nadal and his friends play basketball at the local court!

    Day 4:Today we found a local dog shelter where you can walk the homeless dogs for a few hours. Beth’s dog wouldn’t walk to we just ended up with Sammy. Bought him some chicken and a whole pack of ham and he threw up on the way home 😅 ALSO mine and Beth’s room flooded and the guy from downstairs came up and started kicking off about the electrics. Reception did nothing and we just had a puddle in the middle of our room for the next few days 😂

    Day 5: Today was our last day chilling on Holbox! We had a beach day and then went for a nice meal and swapped valentines gifts! I received a crocodile magnet and some CIDER 😍

    Day 6: Today Me, Beth, Betty and Sarah caught the morning ferry back to the port and jumped on the bus back to Cancun for the night!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Cancún 🇲🇽

    February 14, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Hostel - Selina

    We spend our final time in Mexico in Cancun. We went for drinks around the area and found a food market.

    Me and Betty said our goodbyes to Beth and Sarah and then spent the evening eating McDonald’s and watching live is blind before our early morning flight to GUATEMALA 🇬🇹Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Isla Mujeres 🇲🇽

    February 15, 2022 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today we took a trip to Isla Mujeres, just off the coast of Cancun. We found a spot on the beach and just hung out there for the day. We found a local shop that sold cider and we bought every single one of them. We spend the day dancing and drinking to music and Beth had her first wee in the sea 🤌🏼😂Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Guatemala City 🇬🇹

    February 17, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After our first stress free boarder crossing, we arrived in Guatemala City. We decided to spend the night before our bus to Flores the next day and after discovering they had Uber we decided that Guatemala City was the best place in the world. This thought lasted about half an hour until we discovered it’s actually an unsafe place with a lot of homelessness and crime. We went for a walk around the city and grabbed a local beer in one of the nicer areas before making a delicious meal of noodles and hanging in the hostel for the night.Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Flores 🇬🇹

    February 18, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    The bus from Guatemala City was like something from a nightmare. We walked to the bus station with a local Guatemalan man and got our tickets. The bus was nothing like the incredible ADO busses of Mexico, my seat wasn’t even working and so I had to lie down for the entire journey. The bus was supposed to take about 8 hours and ended up taking about 12 due to it stopping every 30 seconds for no reason at all. When we finally arrived and jumped in a local taxi, we discovered the handles on the passenger seats had been removed so we instantly assumed we were being kidnapped we started screaming. The driver assured us it was to stop the car from being stolen and we went on our way.

    Flores itself is a quiet little place with not a lot to do. We got a boat to a place called Jorges Rope-swing and hung out there swimming for the day before meeting 2 girls from Mexico City for a drink. We Walked around the small town and found a pool with a bar to hang out in for a day!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Tikal 🇬🇹

    February 20, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Tikal National Park are the most famous Myan ruins in Guatemala and some of the most famous in the world! We spend the day walking around the area, climbing some of the local pyramids and taking in the incredible history and views!Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Semuc Champey 🇬🇹

    February 22, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Hostel- Greengos

    After a bumpy bus journey we arrived in Semuc Champey. The hostel was in the middle of nowhere so they provide all the meals and drinks in their own restaurant/bar so we decided to play beer pong with some new friends we made.

    The next day we decided to do the hike up to the viewpoint of Semuc with the hostels 3 legged dog as our guide. It was a steep climb for someone so hungover but I managed after throwing up in a tree trunk 😂 After that we walked back down and went for a swim in the waterfall. The water was freezing which was needed after the sweaty hike up.
    ‘Tedddd… we have your BAGGGGGG!’

    The next day, Me, Zara, Rob and Ted decided to go to the cave. As we were walking in, a girl walked out crying because she broke her fingers inside… not a good sign. We were given a candle and began walking through the cave. It was pitch black other than our candles and the water was up to our waist. We had to climb up slippery ladders and crawl through small gaps. Next thing we knew they took our candles off us and made up sit on the edge of a ledge then drop into the water below. It was all a very stressful experience but really funny to look back on! After the cave we decided to to tubing down the river to relax. Little did we know we were all about to die. Our guide was about 12 and didn’t tell us we were going to hitting rapids until we were already in the middle of them. I fell straight out of my ring into the rapids and began to drown, losing my sunglasses in the process. I began crashing through the rapids into rocks until they finally came to an end. Zara had managed to grab my ring but before I could get back into it we crashed into rapids number 2. This time Rob and Ted came out their rings and went crashing into rocks. I managed to stay afloat, my legs and body hitting rocks all along until they came to an end. I finally managed to get back into my rubber ring before rapids 3 approached. When they finally ended, battered, bruised and exhausted, we walked back to the hostel and met Betty at the pool to tell her about out near death experience.

    We had a few drinks at the bar and played some games before getting ready for our bus the next day to Antigua.    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Antigua part 1 🇬🇹

    February 25, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Hostel - Selina

    Oh Antigua. The most incredibly beautiful place to ever exist. Our first few days in Antigua was spent on walking tours, hunting for cider, dancing salsa, walking to viewpoints, eating some incredible food and singing karaoke .Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Acatenango Volcano 🇬🇹

    February 28, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Acatenango. The most popular hike for backpackers in all of Guatemala. The chance to spend the night on top of an active volcano.

    The hike itself it difficult. Incredibly difficult. The steep incline over the 6 hour trek up is made even more challenging with the risk of altitude sickness. Luckily the incredible guides on our tour allowed us to go completely at our own pace and take as many breaks as possible. Even luckier for me, I had an experienced Austrian hiker in Betty who stuck with me the whole way, even though she could’ve ran up there in 2 hours 😂
    Fortunately once you make it to the top, the view of Fuego erupting in the distance makes you forget about everything and just take in the incredible, once in a lifetime views! Sitting by the fire with a hot drink and watching the sunset is something I’ll never forget. The cold is also something I’ll never forget. Hat, Scarf, Gloved, Hoodie, 2 jackets, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of socks, a sleeping bag AND 2 blankets and it’s still bitterly cold in the cabins… not to mention when you have to get up in the night for a wee!

    Waking up and watching the sun come up over Fuego was one of the top highlights of the whole trip! The hike down was easy as it’s all down hill so before you know it you’re back at the bottom and ready for a well deserved sleep in a warm bed!    Read more

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    Antigua Part 2 🇬🇹

    March 2, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After an exhausting hike up Acatenango, we decided to hang out in Antigua for another few days. We met back up with Monica, Rylan and Tom and spent most of our time in our favourite place, EL BARRIO 💛

  • Amanda WilliamsonCentral & South AmericaTraveler

    San Pedro 🇬🇹

    March 4, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    San Pedro was our first stop on Lake Atitlan. After a very hungover, bumpy boat ride we decided to check into our hostel and then explore town. The next couple of days were spent exploring the local markets, museums and view point before starting out week long home stay!Read more

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