Exploring the Americas

August - October 2022
  • Jan Henle
Esther and Jan's trip through South and Central America Read more
  • Jan Henle

List of countries

  • Mexico Mexico
  • Belize Belize
  • Guatemala Guatemala
  • Ecuador Ecuador
  • Peru Peru
Categories
Around the world, Backpacking, Couple, Hiking, Sightseeing
  • 10.5kkilometers traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight5,629kilometers
  • Walking-kilometers
  • Hiking-kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Car-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Bus-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Motorboat-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Ferry-kilometers
  • Cruise ship-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
  • 56footprints
  • 59days
  • 639photos
  • 113likes
  • Arequipa

    August 20, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After our first night bus (on which we unfortunately didn't sleep too much), we arrived in Arequipa. Peru's second biggest city is also called the white city due to many buildings built with white volcanic rock. We met our guide Johselm who will take us to Colca Canyon the next days and went to a local market. Afterwards we explored the historic city center, most notably the convent of Santa Catalina, a "city within the city", where nun lived secluded for 400 years and still live to this day.Read more

  • Colca Canyon

    August 21, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Next up is a two day one night hike in the Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and the major tourist draw card in Arequipa.
    We had to get up at 12:15am (yes, basically midnight) to drive 7 hours to the start of the trek - driving times are crazy in Peru. We chose a guide who led us to a side arm of the canyon, so we were the only tourists all day. The scenery was quite spectacular. The hotel for the night had natural hot pools, where we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.
    The next morning we went out of the canyon again to spot condors (success!), enjoy the views of the terraces, try "Colca Sour" (Pisco sour made with local prickly pears) and drive over the Colca pass (4900m) again back to Arequipa to catch our flight to Lima.
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  • Lima stopover

    August 23, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    As you can't travel directly from the south to the north, we had one day in Lima before catching the night bus to the Carrillera Blanca mountain range.
    We stayed late in our hostel and then did a foodie tour. As a bonus, when walking by the presidential palace, we did see the actual Peruvian president, who was taking part in a military funeral ceremony.Read more

  • Caraz

    August 24, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    In order to explore the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, we didn't choose the more obvious hub Huaraz, but based ourselves in Caraz nearby. The village is nice, and there was a 4500-year-old ruin just 500m down the street, which has almost not been excavated yet and people literally live on top of the ruins - but I guess there are so many ruins in Peru, you can't shape up all of them at the same time.
    The highlight was our hotel though, IntiRumi Inn, with a gorgeous garden and delicious food, where we spent most of the day.
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  • Laguna 69

    August 25, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    After a relaxing day, we once again got up at 5am to drive into the mountains themselves to hike to the famed Laguna 69, a mesmerizingly blue lake surrounded by snow-covered peaks.
    Unfortunately I had some stomach problems and we were both not as acclimatized as we had hoped, so walking 15km back and forth from 3800m-4600m was...we have done more enjoyable things.
    The Laguna (and the scenery on the hike) were all worth it though.
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  • Laguna Parón

    August 26, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    After yesterday's near-death experience, we were sold when we learned there is another Laguna nearby with a road right up the shore.
    Laguna Parón is the biggest of the Lagunas in the area and surrounded by a number of majestic peaks, one of which was the model for the logo if Paramount Pictures.
    We only hiked up a little to the viewpoint and then kayaked on the lake for a change.
    Overall another otherworldly view, definitely one of the highlights in all of Peru. We could easily stay in the area for another few days and explore more, but it is off to the coast to Trujillo tonight.
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  • Huanchaco

    August 27, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    To get from the Cordillera mountains to the rainforest in Chachapoyas, you need a stopover at the coast in Trujillo. Instead of the big city, we stayed in the fisherman/surfer village of Huanchaco (you guessed correctly: More Ceviche restaurants for Esther...). Huanchaco has a relaxed vibe and a beautiful seaside promenade.
    We still went out to visit both Trujillo city center with its beautiful main square and pedestrian street, as well as one of the many ruins in the area. A number of Pre-Inka civilizations left their mark, such as the Chimú, Sipán and Moche. The temple of the moon and sol (Moche) is made of adobe (the material, not the Software company), but has beautifully colored murals. Even cooler is the fact that excavations are still ongoing. On the very informative tour, we saw equipment in place as well as sections that were only uncovered a few weeks before.
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  • Chan Chan

    August 28, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    With only a half day to spare before a grueling 16h night bus, we explored the ruins of Chan Chan in the morning.
    Chan Chan is entirely made of adobe again, and apparently used to be the largest city in all of the Americas before Columbus with 60000 inhabitants.
    You need a little imagination, as much was washed away by the rain over the centuries (the Spanish abandoned chan chan and built Trujillo nearby) and quite a few sections were rebuilt. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the visit. Almost as much as the final Ceviche we had afterwards, as we will not return to the Peruvian coast.
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  • Chachapoyas

    August 29, 2022 in Peru ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    The 16h night bus was less excruciating than expected, as we had once again splurged and got the 160° seats. Nonetheless, our first day in Chachapoyas was set to be more relaxed. Chachapoyas (meaning "cloud forest people") is yet again another town/language/region/Pre-Inka civilization. Officially already part of the Amazon, Chachapoyas is set in green hills, sports a nice centro histórico and is surrounded by numerous sights. The first we explored on arrival was the Sonche Canyon, apparently deeper than the Grand Canyon. A notable highlight for dinner was a cocktail with ants:)Read more

  • Kuelap

    August 30, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Kuelap, also called Machu Picchu of the North, was a Pre-Inka city beautifully located on a mountain top surrounded by lush green hills.
    Recently equipped with the first cable car in all of Peru, it is unfortunately closed for tourism until further notice as one of the walls collapsed, so you can only go to the site but cannot enter.
    We went anyway, as the scenery was still supposed to be worth the trip. Unfortunately the weather lived up to the "cloud forest" name of the region, i.e. we didn't see a lot. Regardless, we don't regret we went, we could still see how this place is amazing if the weather were nice and you were able to enter the site itself
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