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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
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  • Flight5,629kilometers
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  • 56footprints
  • 59days
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  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas

    Galapagos Cruise III: Española

    September 10, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Next up: Española. The only island you can only visit with a tour and not independently. The morning was spent at Gardner Bay with a small boat ride into a cave and snorkeling from the beach (meeting the usual suspects, turtle, shark, rays).
    The afternoon was quite spectacular: A hike at Suarez Point, amongst others famous as the breeding ground for albatrosses. Not only did we see tons of albatrosses in the air, we also saw very young chicks as well as small ones trying to lift off into the air (not always successful) and doing their mating dances.
    As on every island, sea lions with cute cubs, boobies (these times "masked" boobies - by the way, booby means foolish, as they were not afraid of humans when the first settlers came and simply caught them by hand). Also, we saw a humpback whale from the shore.
    Overall, a spectacular day and the highlight of our cruise!    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas

    Galapagos Cruise IV: San Cristóbal

    September 11, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    San Cristóbal was the last island we would see, and luckily with a good night's sleep to start the day.
    Pitt Point is the easternmost point of the Galapagos Islands and amongst others, breeding ground for the third kind of boobie (the red footed this time). We went for a hike along the cliffs and then snorkeled from the beach. During lunch, we drive over to Cerro Brujo, which was in itself great as we finally had proper sunshine and could make use of the sun lounges. A flock of fregate birds was cruising mere meters above our heads.
    Cerro Brujo mainly featured a cool beach that we walked along, after which it was snorkel time again for the last time during the cruise.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas
    1

    Galapagos Cruise V: Return to Quito

    September 12, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We had spent the last night on boat near San Cristóbal. In the morning, we explored Lobos Islet before breakfast to see some nesting frigate birds, hoping to see some of the famous res pouches.
    After breakfast, we docked in San Cristóbal for 1h free time before going to the airport.
    The cruise verdict: The boat and crew was great, the agenda each day neither too full nor too slow. Unfortunately, Esther was sick most of the time as she didn't react well to the food, and we didn't sleep too much during the nights we travel. Galapagos overall is something not to be missed. If we were to do it again, we might base ourselves on land instead of a cruise and only do day trips (more diving).
    The journey back went smooth, flying to Quito was a stopover in Guayaquil, taxi to hotel and a dinner in a local restaurant followed by some planning, as we are about to leave Ecuador and head over to Guatemala.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas
    1

    Quito to Isinlivi

    September 13, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Since we only had a half day, we did not explore the inner city of Quito, but instead went up the "TeleferiQo" - a cable car that takes you up from Quito's 2800m to 4000m. Up there, the highlights we several viewpoints and the "swing in the sky".
    Then, we headed south to catch a bus to the village of Sigchos and then to Isinlivi, three hours south of Quito, to hike the Quilotoa trail the next day. Our accomodation was the famed Llullu Llama Lodge, with beautiful cabins set in a beautiful landscape.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas

    Quilotoa Loop I: Isinlivi to Chugchilan

    September 14, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    The next morning, we chatted a while with our fellow hikers, but then start the first day of the hike. Leaving Isinlivi village, we first went downhill to the Taochi river and then went up the canyon wall again for some spectacular views.
    After four hours, we arrived in the next village, Chugchilan, or, more specifically, the Cloud forest hostal. A bliss was a private sauna/turkish bath - followed once again by a communal dinner    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas
    12

    Quilotoa Loop II: Chugchilan to Quilotoa

    September 15, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    The next morning, we started early to walk the 1000m difference in altitude that separated us from the Quilotoa lagoon, the volcanic caldera lake which is the main draw card of the region.
    Once again walking down and then up again a canyon, we were lucky to reach the ridge before the afternoon clouds rolled in. Spectacular views.
    Continuing to the less charming village of Quilotoa, we managed to arrange transport back to Quito, so that upon return we even had time to explore Quito's Mariscal neighborhood before dark and have a fancy Ecuadorian dinner.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas
    1

    Quito

    September 16, 2022 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    On our last day in Ecuador, we finally explored the historic center of the capital, Quito. Walking from our hostel through the adjoining parks, we did a great Free Walking Tour with Iván, who not only showed us the must-see plazas and churches (too many to list here), but also went to a market to let us try some medicinal herbs and fruits, gave a chocolate and an ice cream tasting and let us enter courtyards and rooftops otherwise not accessable. A very good one day insight into all things Quito and Ecuador.
    Afterwards, we went up the Basilica tower, which offered amazing views and a cocoa juice served on a swing in the 14th floor of the clocktower - overlooking the city and the afternoon clouds rolling in. After dark, we had some drinks in a rooftop bar.
    Overall an amazing city, possibly our favorite in South America, and together with the Quilotoa loop our highlight in Ecuador.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas

    ++ Guatemala++ Antigua

    September 18, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    After a great last day in Quito, we had an early flight the next day to Guatemala (via Panama). Quite proud we managed only carry-on baggage:)
    Since Guatemala city is considered neither safe nor too pretty, we got a direct shuttle to Antigua, the beautiful former capital of Guatemala.
    A complete change of scenery with jungly hills all around. Unfortunately I got sick upon arrival, so the rest of the first day was spent in the hotel bed (only with a short lunch break). Still not at 100%, we then explored the town the next day. Every street is prettier then the next (colorful houses) and there is a ton of old churches and convents/monasteries, some of them in pretty bad shade as they were not repaired after the 1773 earthquake which convinced people to move the capital to nearby Guatemala city. Still, the city was very vibrant and seemed very much alive. A highlight for Esther was the 2h chocolate class, where we made our own chocolate bars and learned everything about the process on the way    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas

    Acatenango

    September 20, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    One of the most spectacular things to do near Antigua and in all Guatemala for that matter is climbing Acatenango. Itself a volcano (one of many in the area), it is most famous for watching eruptions of nearby Mount Fuego.
    Even though I was still a little sick and weakened from the two previous days, we set out with a group of fifteen for an overnight trek. The hike to "base camp" (huts, not tents, luckily) is only 6km but 1400m in altitude, especially with the beginning being very steep. The hike itself however was beautiful, going through fields, rainforest and then along the mountainside. As it is rainy season, the usual afternoon clouds had rolled in by the time we came to camp, so we couldn't see the eruptions of Fuego, but luckily, it cleared by nightfall, so we managed to see some impressive eruptions in the dark.
    They did return though, so we could not approach the volcano and the lava flows any further at night. Instead, we hiked up to Acatenango's summit to watch the sunrise (another 400m altitude at 4am - yay), also quite a view to behold. After breakfast in camp, we hiked back down, had lunch with some of the group and then set out for our next target - Atitlán.
    What made the trip special on top was the group and the guides, as everyone contributed to a good mood despite the weather.    Read more

  • Jan HenleTravelerExploring the Americas
    2

    Atitlán I: Santa Cruz & San Juan

    September 21, 2022 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Straight from Acatenango, we had driven 2.5h the day before and arrived at Guatemala's second tourist highlight: Lake Atitlán, a huge volcanic lake, ringed by mountains and picturesque villages. We had chosen to base ourselves neither in the main town, nor in the most touristy/party villages but rather in pretty Santa Cruz, or a small resort with its own little pier nearby to be more precise. 200 steps up the pier in a private cabin to be even more precise.
    We started the next day with a hike along the shore to the main village pier and then up, as the village itself is on the hillside - with beautiful views of the lake. Our initial plan was to relax and go stand-up paddling, but as waves were high and clouds deep, we switched plans and took a boat to nearby San Juan - another beautiful village known for souvenir shopping. For all this, we used public boats, as this is the only mode of transport to reach most villages.
    In the afternoon, back at the resort, we used the onsite jacuzzi and sauna to relax before dinner.    Read more

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