Travel moments that sparked joy
When you close your eyes and think of your travels, those happy moments, those places that sparked joy, the smile that the memories create… where are you? Here’s where those moments take me:… Continue reading
Category Archive: South America
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12 Days of Christmas – the travel edition
Here’s my top pick for the best destinations around the world that I’ve been to that would be great at Christmas 1. New York, New York Though I went a bit early at… Continue reading
3 Years on.. Places I can’t get out of my head
Back in 2015 as part of the monthly bloggers linkup I shared my passion for Africa as the place I couldn’t get out of my head. Three years on and is it still… Continue reading
Journeying into the unknown
This month’s travel blog linkup is all about Journeys, somewhat appropriate for me since my entire life feels like a journey! For me a journey is discovering the unknown around the world and… Continue reading
Top 10 tips for solo travel
I’ve done my fair share of solo travel, also group travels and travels with friends. My most epic solo journey was probably 6-7 months through South and Central America, though there were still… Continue reading
Travel Fears and Scares
Note: Probably don’t read this if you’re about to head off on a solo trip to a dodgy foreign country… read it when you get back. This month’s blog linkup is a goodie…… Continue reading
The ultimate travel menu of locations
As part of this month’s travel blog linkup, I’m sharing my ultimate travel menu of locations. From an entrée (short haul) to a main (long haul) and a memorable desert. This menu will take… Continue reading
Hidden Gems of Travelling
It’s those places that you never considered visiting. Those spots that you stumble upon. Those aspects that etch away at your mind, heart and soul. Those places that you can never forget. Those… Continue reading
Hitting the sandy slopes: A Top Travel Experience
77km/hr. Steep sandy slopes. Helmet, board, GO! Sandboarding is not for the faint hearted. It will test your fear of heights, fear of speed and fear of falling and injuring yourself. First time… Continue reading
Near-Perfect Travel Experiences: Travel Linkup
Well, nothing in life is ever perfect… right? At least my travels are never perfect. I think that’s what makes them some of the best stories I have to share! So this month… Continue reading
Meeting Condors in Colca Canyon, Peru – A Top Travel Experience
One of those moments. You know the moments. The ones that you pinch yourself that you can’t quite believe you’re seeing. And experiencing. This was one of those moments. I’m a world away… Continue reading
Wildlife volunteering: Top Travel Experience(s)
Getting down and dirty, deciding there’s no point in washing your shorts because you’re on enclosure cleaning yet again or it’s just so wet and humid, why bother? These are the joys of… Continue reading
Hiking up Machu Picchu Mountain, a Top Travel Experience
When I think back about this experience, I think of the shaky legs, the deep breathes of fear looking down the side of the stone steps as I climbed the highest mountain in… Continue reading
Travelling food for thought!
This month’s travel linkup is all about your best food experiences while travelling. I couldn’t rest on just one, so have picked my top three from three different continents. So, sit down, get… Continue reading
Salt Flats of Bolivia: Salar de Uyuni, a Top Travel Experience
A bit of cold. A few early mornings. A lot of rain. A bit of a Non-English speaking Bolivian driver getting lost. A bit of altitude sickness. And a memory to last a… Continue reading
10 Top Tips for Travelling South America
Just over a year ago I returned from an epic adventure around South and Central America. I’m still often pinching myself with the memories I have from there, some of which I can’t… Continue reading
Delving into the Jungle and entry to the Amazon: Pampas, Bolivia – A Top Experience
It seems so long ago, yet so vivid, the memory of travelling down the Yacuma River in Bolivia after torrential rain that could have blocked my journey to the Pampas. The steaming sun… Continue reading
Best waterfalls in the world: Iguazu – A top travel experience before I’m 30!
I’ve seen my fair share of waterfalls in my life. Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls were both pretty impressive, but it wasn’t until I visited Brazil and Argentina and saw Iguazu (or ‘Iguaçu’ as… Continue reading
Unexpected Places
Consider for a moment a place you’ve never thought you’d visit. Is it dangerous? Is there some strange noises that you can’t quite comprehend? Do you find yourself holding a baby baboon in… Continue reading
Greatest Travel Experience #6: Immersing myself in Patagonian nature
Whales, penguins, seals. Glaciers that grow. Snowcapped mountains to hike amongst. Beaches. Where else could this fantastic destination be? None other than the Chilean and Argentine wonder of Patagonia. On my long backpacking… Continue reading
A Greatest Adventure: Cruising around the Galapagos
Picture this: Waking up in the morning in a king size bed, strolling out to a balcony, gazing out over warm clear blue water, watching the odd turtle or stingray swimming by… that’s… Continue reading
10 Things I love about travel
This month’s travel linkup is all about love… here’s 10 things that I love about travel: 1. Waking up in the middle of nowhere and pinching myself that I’m actually there 2. Being surprised… Continue reading
One Year. 20 Locations. A year of memories
On this day last year I left my home of almost 5 years, London, to begin a world adventure and return to my homeland of New Zealand. It’s hard to believe it’s been… Continue reading
10 realities of returning home from travel / life abroad
A few months ago I returned back to my home country, after 7.5 months of travelling through Africa and Latin America and close to 5 years living in London in the UK. I… Continue reading
Farewell Latin America
So there it went. The end of my time in Latin America. I started at the beginning of December 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I quickly moved to Argentina (for my safety… Continue reading
Caribbean Coast of Colombia: Cartagena and Tayrona National Park
If colour, heat and beaches is what you’re after then the Caribbean Coast of Colombia won’t disappoint! Flying into Cartagena, the first thing that hits you as you get off the plane is… Continue reading
Colourful and scenic region of Guatape, Colombia
Colour, colour, colour everywhere! This is the South America I imagined! Guatape is an easy day trip (or overnight trip) from Medellin in Colombia. After just 2 hours on a bus you can… Continue reading
Salento, Valle de Cocora Palms and the Coffee Region
Stunning countryside to say the least. Salento did not disappoint. The bus ride alone was stunning through the mountains of the coffee region. Arriving in Salento, myself and a another couple stayed at… Continue reading
Bogota and the Graffiti of Colombia
Coming into Bogota at night it can seem a bit dodgy, but in the bright daylight (if you manage to avoid the rain) it holds a few treats. Colourful houses and churches Stunning… Continue reading
The end of my time in Ecuador
Ecuador was a tricky country for me. The moment I arrived I was surrounded by lots of green banana trees for miles. I had hope of a fantastic time in the countryside. I… Continue reading
Santa Cruz, Galapagos
More iguanas, tortoises, a pier that lights up at night, sea lions that laze about and some white sand beaches. Santa Cruz is an expensive, but nice spot to stay in the Galapagos.… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 4 – Rabida, Santiago and Baltra Islands
Santiago Island Walking on moon-like rocks to creep up on the playful Galapagos fur sea lions you feel like you’re a long way from home… or at least I did. The fur sea… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 3 – Fernandina and Isabela Island
The Western Galapagos Islands continued to excite me, despite the incident with the sea urchin… Fernandina Island on day 5 was incredible. Definitely a highlight for many people on the tour. Back… Continue reading
Cruising Around the Galapagos: Part 2 – Western Isabela Island
Lava rocks, pink flamingos, iguanas and wildlife all around. This is what I came to the Galapagos for. To be honest, the Galapagos wasn’t as abundant in wildlife as I had expected or… Continue reading
Cruising around the Galapagos: Part 1 – Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands
Put together 16 random people from all over the world on a first class boat for 7 days. It could go one way or the other. In our case it was a fantastic… Continue reading
Visiting San Cristobal island in the Galapagos
Red, Blue and Nazca Boobies – birds that is. Male Red Frigate birds with their bright red chest ballooned out. Green, Grey and Leatherback turtles. All just a few of the amazing wildlife… Continue reading
Volunteering at Yana Cocha in Ecuador
For two weeks I was recently based on the edge of the Amazon jungle in Puyo, Ecuador, volunteering at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre called Yana Cocha. The centre is home to a… Continue reading
Cities in Ecuador
The start of Ecuador hasn’t been easy for me, but I have visited some pretty nice cities over the last few weeks, so here is a little insight into them! Guayaquil Underrated Guayaquil,… Continue reading
The turning point in my solo travels
It’s okay to change plans. It’s okay to concede that long term travel isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s okay to stay put for awhile to recover and regroup. When I… Continue reading
Heading up the coast of Peru
Sand Dunes, fancy cities and swimming with turtles – what more could you want? Gone were the ruins, onwards to sea level (no altitude issues) and sunshine. First up was Huacachina, then onwards… Continue reading
Visiting the Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines have always been a bit unknown, so on my journey up the coast of Peru I figured I’d stop by and check them out. It was a very short, sickly… Continue reading
Machu Picchu mountain hike and city
Wandering out from the bush and stairs I see an oasis of flowers, bushes, butterflies and finally one last hill promising the end is in sight! A few weeks ago (I know I’ve… Continue reading
Planning Machu Picchu (without the trek in)
Heading to Machu Picchu in February means you can’t do the Inca Trail as it is shut, but there are other treks you have the option to choose from. However, with my knee… Continue reading
Pisac in the Sacred Valley
Finally as a practise run for Machu Picchu mountain, I headed up to see the Pisac ruins in the Sacred Valley. I caught a local bus for about an hour or so from… Continue reading
Ruins ruins and more ruins around Cusco, Peru
After a bit of a rough start to Cusco (getting kicked out of a hostel for writing an honest review of a past hostel) I was determined to organise my trip in and… Continue reading
Exceeding expectations at Colca Canyon
Just a few hours out of the quaint town of Arequipa, after seeing the not-so-nice edges of town you can head out to see the world’s deepest canyon: Colca Canyon. Given my knee… Continue reading
Arequipa and the Monasterio of Santa Catalina
Amongst the white washed old buildings of Arequipa lies a nice Cathedral and a beautiful church, but the highlight attraction is the monastery of Santa Catalina. This was one of those moments where… Continue reading
Bolivia, diverse and surprising at every corner
As I left Argentina/Chile a few weeks ago I was a bit down in the dumps for various reasons. I was determined to cheer up and appreciate what was ahead of me. Leaving… Continue reading
Lake Titicaca, Isla del Sol and the Floating Islands
Altitude increase again, heavy breathing and I was standing on my balcony (of my hostel room) staring out at the blue waters of Lake Titicaca from Copacabana in Bolivia. A truly stunning spot.… Continue reading
The Pampas, Amazon region in Bolivia
The rain started and didn’t finish for over 12 hours. Torrential downpour is an understatement. Trugging out in the mud and rain from my hostel, I walked to the office where the adventure… Continue reading
Salar de Uyuni
After spending the night in a salt hotel, freezing after a luke warm shower and hearing rain pounding down, we weren’t sure if we would be able to get to Salar de Uyuni… Continue reading
Roughing it in Bolivia
Colourful mountains from Chile. Colourful lagunas. Pink and white Flamingos. A bit of altitude sickness. All part of the 3-day adventure from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to Salar de Uyuni in… Continue reading
Farewell Argentina, how you have changed me
After almost a month and a half in Argentina (and 3 months into my entire trip) I bid farewell to the lovely diverse country and will be heading north into Bolivia. It’s interesting how travel changes… Continue reading
Rocking it up in the last of Argentina
Okay so that sounds more exciting than it actually was… to be honest Salta was a mix of tiredness and frustration where things continued to build and go wrong. However, I did have… Continue reading
Wining and dining in Mendoza, Argentina
3 hours. Yes 3 hours. 3 freaking hours at the border crossing from Chile to Mendoza in Argentina. Welcome to summer! Trust me to cross borders a few days after New Years. It… Continue reading
Daytrip to Valparaiso
Colour. UNESCO. Views of the ocean. Culture and art. What more could you want from a city? Taking a bus from Santiago (just under 2 hours each way) I ventured out to the… Continue reading
Ringing in the New Year in Santiago
Fireworks were lighting up the sky in typical New Year fashion for a good 20 minutes in Santiago, Chile. Yet it was a quiet one this year. A few beers and champagne on… Continue reading
Christmas in Bariloche
Christmas can be a lonely time for the solo traveller. This year I opted to choose a nice hostel (Penthouse 1004) and participated in the shared Christmas Eve dinner that they organised. So… Continue reading
Hiking in El Chalten
Having been in Buenos Aires for what felt like far too long, I was excited to come to Patagonia and get some hiking in the fresh outdoors. I’d had the chance to spot… Continue reading
The travel and adventure year ahead
As you may realise, I’m on an eight month stint of travel around Africa, South America, Central America and even a brief visit to North America. As we begin the new year I… Continue reading
A day in Chile at Torres del Paine
Five layers were never enough. Ten minutes outside was too long. It was safe to say Torres del Paine was freezing. I gave away the dream of doing the W Trek in Torres… Continue reading
Merry Christmas to all!
Here I am, spending Christmas all alone this year in a new town in a new country on a new continent that I’ve never visited before December. I’m travelling solo until June next… Continue reading
Hitting the ice at Perito Moreno Glacier
First you hear cracking. Then you hear a shudder. Then you hear crashing. That’s ice falling from Perito Moreno Glacier. Taking the afternoon bus from El Calafate in Patagonia, Argentina, my newfound friend… Continue reading
Whales, seals, penguins, all in a day at Peninsula Valdes
Just a few minutes out from shore and we’re surrounded. All around us are families of Southern Right Whales. From babies (that are still massive) to super long mothers. These whales bob up… Continue reading
Colour, culture, taste and life in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina is Passion. Colour. Food. Coffee (Cafe). Style. After about a week I’ve seen many sides to Buenos Aires in Argentina. It’s not what I expected, but its still a vibrant and interesting… Continue reading
Being awestruck at Iguazu Falls in Brazil and Argentina
Stepping foot onto the first viewing platform in Brazil after a long (slightly torturous) nightbus experience, I couldn’t help but open my jaw in awe at the sheer size and volume of Iguazu Falls.… Continue reading
Crossing the globe back to New Zealand: The travel plan
As I mentioned in last week’s post, I’m leaving the UK to travel the world back to my home country of New Zealand. What lies ahead of me for the next 8 months is… Continue reading