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¡Hola! I’m an adventurer at heart, constantly seeking new horizons and experiencing different cultures. I wander in Spanglish, allowing my feet to lead the way to the extraordinary! Read more Newcastle, Australia
  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 84

    Cycling Death Road to La Senda Verde

    October 24, 2023 in Bolivia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After Perú, Nath and I arrived to La Paz to take on Bolivia's Death Road on bikes – what a ride! Pedalling on the narrow path, we were on the side of a mountain with views that went from amazing to kinda scary at times. 😬

    We went through muddy spots and past waterfalls, navigating sharp turns and steep hills. It was a mix of excitement and nerves as we rode from high plains to the lush Yungas region. Even though they call it Death Road, it was surprisingly fun and our guides made sure we were safe while we tackled the downhill. 🚲

    Going around each curve, the joy of biking on this famous road was made even better by the beautiful views (even with the smog) and visiting a beautiful animal reserve at the end where we got to see deer, monkeys, pumas, etc.

    These memories will stick with us long after we stopped riding. It started as a bit of a scary journey but Death Road turned into an awesome adventure we'll always remember!    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 81–82

    Floating on the Islands of Puno

    October 21, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    After leaving Cusco, Nath and I headed to the floating islands of Puno, hoping for a peaceful stay. Upon arrival, we met our host, Cesar, who shared the challenges of the two-year drought affecting the lake. The water levels were visibly low, further impacted by the pandemic and recent local protests, which had taken a toll on tourism.

    During our first night at Samaraña Uta Lodge (aka La Casa del Descanso), we had a lovely time sharing stories and laughs over dinner with other guests. 🍽️

    The next day, Cesar guided us through the islands, offering insights into their construction and the local way of life, which felt like a step back in time. We admired their simple yet challenging lifestyle, involving island maintenance, fishing, duck hunting and egg collection.

    When we got back to our cozy island spot, we enjoyed a simple lunch and spent the afternoon by the lake, painting and sipping wine. 🎨

    The day wrapped up with another delicious dinner among good company as we would leave very early the next day to La Paz. 🎣

    Staying on the floating islands was the perfect way to unwind and recharge for the next leg of our journey! It also felt very humbling to be there, being thanked for picking a native local for our stay. 🤍    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 80

    Machu Picchu: the Lost City of the Incas

    October 20, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    An unforgettable day! Not just because I got to see one of the new Wonders of the World, but because I shared this incredible experience with a dear friend 👯‍♀️

    Nath and I arrived at Machu Picchu early in the morning with our group, and initially, the weather wasn't promising. After four days of hiking to get there, the cloudy sky wasn't what we expected. Fortunately, slowly but surely, a beautiful blue sky and radiant sun emerged, making the day truly memorable. ☀️

    As the morning went by, we were thrilled walking among magnificent structures which seemed unreal on that mountainside. Our awe reached new heights when we got to the starting point of the climb to Huayna Picchu. ⛰️

    It took us 45 minutes to go up the "death stairs", but the breathtaking views made it all worthwhile!

    On our way back, Nath suggested the steep trek down to Aguas Calientes. That's when the weather changed and we got caught in a bit of rain. I wasn’t thrilled going downhill but it was a small price to pay for the amazing day we enjoyed and will forever remember.

    Gracias Pachamama! 🙏    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 79

    Salkantay Trek Day 4: to Aguas Calientes

    October 19, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Walking distance: 22km, approximately 8 hours of hiking.

    Our mornings were finally warmer so we didn’t get woken up with tea in bed but we got our first glimpse of Machu Picchu!

    The day still started super early and with a long uphill to Llactapata to enjoy incredible views of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, which Nath and I would be hiking tomorrow! ⛰️

    On the way up, we enjoyed a pit stop at the giant mountain swing and indulged in a couple avo sandwiches, seriously delish! 🤤

    After all this, we still had a couple hours of going downhill to Hidroeléctrica, where we had lunch before walking the last stretch along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes. It was a long but great day!

    After dinner, we enjoyed a restful sleep and wished for great weather!    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 78

    Salkantay Trek Day 3: to Santa Teresa

    October 18, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Walking distance: 16km, approximately 5 hours of hiking.

    Today, we were woken up again around 5:30am with warm coca tea in bed.

    The day started with a leisurely hike along the Salkantay river and a beautiful rainforest landscape, where we spotted a hummingbird and many waterfalls! 🐦

    At the end of the trail, a van awaited to transport us to our camp with a few pit stops along the way. These breaks treated us to a mix of experiences: from savouring fresh fruits to sampling unique concoctions of alcohol infused with intriguing ingredients as well as local coffee. ☕️

    Once at camp, we got to enjoy lunch and rest for a bit before heading out to the Cocalmayo hot springs. The remainder of the afternoon was a blissful relaxation, creating unforgettable memories in this breathtaking setting and on the journey back! 🪩

    This was probably the day our group truly bonded 😊    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 77

    Salkantay Trek Day 2: over the pass

    October 17, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Walking Distance: 22 km, approximately 9 hours of hiking.

    The day begun with a gentle wake-up call at 5:00 am, with the cooks serving us a cup of hot coca tea… in bed!! ☕️

    We would need the tea to cover over 20 kms and reach the trek’s highest point at an altitude of 4,630 m.a.s.l. 🥾

    Salkantay (salka meaning wild) is the second highest mountain in Cusco and the journey through the pass was a very slow 4-hour uphill hike with incredible vistas! 🏔️

    At the top, we learnt about the revered mountain gods, and took part in a traditional Andean ritual to honor Pachamama and the mountain god. Lucky Nath and I had brought a very Aussie offering! 😅

    After this memorable experience, we had a 4-hour downhill hike, pausing for a well-deserved, delicious lunch.

    The second camp, Chaullay, was nestled at an altitude of 2,900 meters and marked the entrance to the Peruvian Amazon. It was fascinating how the landscape had changed so much over 2 days. 🌳

    While we waited for dinner we got to enjoy hot showers (it was literally hot for Nath 😣) and painted for a bit.

    Another rewarding day on this beautiful trail!    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 76

    Salkantay Trek Day 1: Cusco > Soraypampa

    October 16, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Walking Distance: 13 km, approximately 6 hours of hiking.

    Today was one of the earliest starts since my Camino days (4:00am!). We left Cusco bright and early towards Soraypampa, where we begun our two-hour uphill hike to the mesmerising Humantay Lake, its name deriving from “huma” for crest and “tay” for closeness.

    Beside the lake, we got to enjoy some downtime and learn about landscapes and Incan culture from Abel, our guide.

    We learnt that Humantay and Salkantay are special borders in the range, covering a lot of diversity in terms of nature and wildlife. Peru overall has over 80 of the 104 ecosystems/microclimates that exist in the world and and today’s trek covered 10, insane!

    From the lake, it was an easy two-hour downhill hike to the Quiswarniyoc campsite, where lunch including mango ceviche awaited. 🤤

    In the afternoon, we had a another gathering to learn more about our surroundings and hear Abel’s captivating thoughts.

    Our campsite was nestled at an altitude of 4,100 meters and thanks to the slower pace of some in our group adjusting to the altitude (thanks Nath!), we were treated to the luxury of staying in the glass igloos, with their breathtaking mountain views and an illuminated night sky - an unexpected reward for a slower ascent. 💁🏻‍♀️

    Just the first day and it was already filled with unique experiences!    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 73–76

    Indulging in Cusco!

    October 13, 2023 in Peru

    A trip that was plannned over a 3 hour flight to Cairns was finally underway! Nath and I had both arrived to Cusco and we spent a few days here to climatise before going on the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. ⛰️

    We both had very long journeys to get here so the first night we grabbed some dinner and called it a night.

    On the second day, we started off with brekkie at our lovely hotel and then off we went to wander the lively streets of Cusco! We walked, shopped, walked some more, lunched, walked and then spent the afternoon and evening at a bar with epic views of the city indulging on the pisco sour happy hour! After way too many piscos and laughs doing lots of catching up, we needed some food and ended up somewhere eating pizza. The bill is a hazy memory! 🥴

    The following day was another fun one exploring the town some more, indulging in more shopping and eating, and a heartwarming dinner with Maria before our Salkantay briefing session. It was lovely seeing Maria again and wrapping up our stay in Cusco packing for the next few days. 🥾    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 71–72

    An impromptu visit to Paracas

    October 11, 2023 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Maria and I had both gone to Huaraz to do the Santa Cruz trek but it wasn’t in the cards for us. So after a rest day, we redirected our journey towards the south of Peru to Paracas.

    I figured it’d be nice to enjoy some time by the beach before going to Cusco and Cesar had also gone there the day before so the three of us were excited to reunite again!

    The main beach in Paracas was underwhelming but I got to enjoy the best ceviche ever with lovely water views and a tropical vibe—twice! 😋

    The only night I spent in town led us to a lively karaoke session in one of the hostels where we also bumped into Lauren and her friends! The night was super fun with lots of singing and dancing!

    I had planned to leave the following day in the afternoon to Cusco so Maria and I went on a cruise in the morning to the Ballestas Islands (aka the poor people’s Galapagos) to see some wildlife in their natural habitat! Despite the commercialised tour, the sight of so many sea lions, birds, and a couple of penguins in their natural habitat brought us immense joy! 🤩

    After my second ceviche, I went to catch the bus knowing that Maria and I were likely to see each other again in Cusco but with Cesar it was a bittersweet farewell.    Read more

  • Traveler2023 Passport Chronicles
    Day 69

    A day in Laguna 69

    October 9, 2023 in Peru

    Waking up at 4am today was not easy but it was totally worth it!

    We spent a few hours on the bus to the start of the trail and our journey led us through a scenic pit stop at Valle Llanganuco where we were mesmerised by the turquoise waters of Laguna Chinancocha.

    The 14km return hike in Huascaran National Park, which has Peru’s highest peak at 6,700m, started at 3,900m, with a 700m elevation gain to Laguna 69 at 4,600m.

    Most of the way was a gradual winding uphill, with most of the elevation gained in the last (very steep) kilometre. It was drizzling the whole way and the altitude was a bit tough so there wasn’t much conversation happening with the lovely french gals. 🥖

    The last Km was particularly tough for one of the girls who was starting to battle altitude sickness but once she made it to the top, she was all better! 😮‍💨

    It also stopped raining then and the sun came out shining on on the lake! We were so lucky to enjoy our lunch with the most amazing of views ☀️

    The whole way down was also full of sunshine and the clouds cleared to show some of Peru’s majestic peaks! And this beautiful weather only added to the jaw-dropping scenery! 🏔️

    After we got back, a well-deserved dinner in town marked the end of a day where altitude demanded its toll. 🥱    Read more

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