2023 Passport Chronicles

Ağustos - Aralık 2023
  • Salma T
Embarking on an epic five-month adventure across multiple Spanish speaking lands to reset my cultural chakras! I’ll be collecting stamps, walking countless miles and creating lasting memories solo and with beloved travel companions. Okumaya devam et
  • Salma T

ülkelerin listesi

  • Meksika Meksika
  • Arjantin Arjantin
  • Bolivya Bolivya
  • Peru Peru
  • Almanya Almanya
  • Ispanya Ispanya
  • Fransa Fransa
  • Tümünü göster (10)
Kategoriler
Dünya gezisi, Doğa yürüyüşü, Ev, Doğa, Yalnız seyahat, Tatil
  • 72,6bkilometre seyahat etti
Ulaşım araçları
  • Uçuş60,8bkilometre
  • Otobüs5.660kilometre
  • Araba1.998kilometre
  • Tren1.358kilometre
  • Yürüyüş959kilometre
  • Yürüme222kilometre
  • Bisiklet109kilometre
  • Deniz motoru22kilometre
  • Otostop20kilometre
  • Cable car1kilometre
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  • At-kilometre
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  • 86ayak izleri
  • 151günler
  • 955fotoğraflar
  • 43beğeniler
  • An impromptu visit to Paracas

    11–12 Eki 2023, 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.
    Okumaya devam et

  • Indulging in Cusco!

    13–16 Eki 2023, 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. 🥾
    Okumaya devam et

  • Salkantay Trek Day 1: Cusco > Soraypampa

    16 Ekim 2023, 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!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Salkantay Trek Day 2: over the pass

    17 Ekim 2023, 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!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Salkantay Trek Day 3: to Santa Teresa

    18 Ekim 2023, 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 😊
    Okumaya devam et

  • Salkantay Trek Day 4: to Aguas Calientes

    19 Ekim 2023, 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!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Machu Picchu: the Lost City of the Incas

    20 Ekim 2023, 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! 🙏
    Okumaya devam et

  • Floating on the Islands of Puno

    21–22 Eki 2023, 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. 🤍
    Okumaya devam et

  • Cycling Death Road to La Senda Verde

    24 Ekim 2023, Bolivya ⋅ ☁️ 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!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Flat out amazing: Salar de Uyuni

    27 Ekim 2023, Bolivya ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, was next up on the list of amazing places to visit and explore! 🧂

    We spent a full day in Uyuni mostly chillin (enjoying delish food, painting and playing cards) before starting the tour which had us passing through a train graveyard and a small town where we learnt about salt production in the region until we finally had our first glimpse of the flats! 🚂

    While our lunch was setup, we got to ride bikes and experience the surface. And talk about lunch with a view!

    The journey continued cruising on an endless sea of white where we took a break to indulge in a perspective-bending photo session, a must at the salt flats. Think riding miniature llamas, optical illusions and playful poses adding to the fun memories. 📸

    We didn’t think this day could get any better until we reached Incahuasi Island, a cactus-covered oasis in the middle of it all. Simply wow! 🌵

    From there, we traveled some more until we found ourselves completely surrounded by white again with the sun setting, the moon rising, and the landscape completely transformed before our eyes again (or maybe it was the wine?). 🍷
    Okumaya devam et