Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the love of my life! Since Kees and I share the same birthday week, for the past few years we’ve done a traditional birthday holiday. This year Kees decided to go with his African drumming band “Tranzulu” to Terschelling, a northern Dutch Island, to […]
I had initially planned to write a “2015 Travel Highlights” post but had to split it into two parts, because there were just too many. Don’t miss My 2015 European Travel Highlights! This post includes My top 2015 South American travel highlights as well as some personal highlights […]
Wakened by a knock at our door, I leapt from my bed in a frenzy. Grabbing my phone, “What? It’s only 2:50a.m. They’re early!” Shouting through the door, “We’re coming!” We were downstairs within ten minutes, but the bus was gone. Oh no! This was the ONLY chance we […]
Overland travel is always my favourite mode of transport, not only because I hate flying, but because I love to see the countryside. In this case, the downside of Peru was the scenery along the coast. It just wasn’t as captivating as I would’ve hoped and reminded me […]
After a quick stay in Ica we headed southeast to Nazca to see UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Nazca Lines. Once again, the landscape was very desolate. It amazes me how after visiting more than 100 countries, everywhere is different and yet similar. The drive to Nazca reminded me […]
If we had stuck to my original 6 week Peru/Bolivia itinerary, we would be on a 10 hour bus ride from Cusco to Lake Titicaca (12,555ft), the world’s highest navigable lake. Instead of getting off the plane in Cusco from Puerto Maldonado (main town outside of Tambopata Rainforest), […]
“If I hear the word ‘activity’ one more time, I think I’m going to cry,” Kees said, speaking my mind perfectly. Having risen that morning at 4a.m. for the first activity, we arrived back at the lodge at 10 am, given just a couple hours free time before […]
Nocturnal creatures were still active in their shenanigans as the rest of the world slept on. We peeled ourselves out of bed at 3:30am to meet Jair in Refugio Lodge’s common area. Slipping into our gum boots at the front entrance, too tired to check for nested critters, […]
From the moment we were greeted at the airport by Rainforest Expedition staff I knew we were in good hands. It wasn’t until setting eyes on the lodge hidden deep in the rainforest that I realized we were about to spend five days in paradise. Upon arrival at […]
From high above, we watched as the arid Andes turned rapidly to a thick carpet of green with wrinkles of chocolaty rivers. Climbing down the plane’s steps onto the tarmac in Puerto Maldonado, the humid heat hit us like a wet glove. After the crisp and cool atmosphere […]
Giancarlo, the manager of Sacred Dreams Lodge, welcomed us back with open arms and we couldn’t have been more appreciative. The three of us had a lot of fun and great laughs together when we first met. We discovered the area, joined town riots and balanced three of […]
There’s something about standing up on the edge of a windy mountaintop ABOVE Machu Picchu, that makes you truly feel on top of the world. Whether it’s your very first trip or like me, you’ve been travelling for the past 10+ years, there are always expectations before visiting […]
Waking up at 5am we had our last breakfast by the crackling fire in Urubamba before taking the one hour drive to Ollantaytambo where we would catch the train, the only way to reach Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. The train company, Perurail, really disappointed me […]
The mountains rose up out of nothing and towered over us as we cruised through the rolling hills. Local women were herding sheep, standing amongst perfectly stacked and harvested hay in the fields and visiting nearby villages on foot. They wear their thick black hair in double braids, […]
During our walk through the market and town of Urubamba with Giancarlo, the manager of Sacred Dreams Lodge , we bumped into the hotel’s bar tender Francisco. He’s a really friendly, young guy with long black hair and an endearing smile. After a quick chat Francisco pointed us […]
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