At last! After three nights sleeping cozily near hundreds of people in a hammock on a boat, we had arrived to the Brazilian Amazonas capital of Manaus, also known as “The Gateway to the Amazon” which can only be reached by boat or air. The city, most notable for its peculiarly placed pink opera house and Amazon research centers, sits on…
From Pasto, we continued north for another seven (should have been five) hours to the capital of the Cauca Department (state) called Popoyán. Now, we must admit, this had us on edge un poquito because Cauca itself is still not the safest, but we also heard and read that if we stuck to the Pan American Highway corridor, and Popoyán…
From Ipiales, we took a very roomy and comfy collectivo about two hours to the city of Pasto. Most backpackers, typically the ones who make it to this part of Colombia, only stay for a night here en route between Medellin and Ecuador, but we’re really glad we gave it a couple so we could visit the extraordinary Laguna La…
Balanced in the ravine of a very different ColOmbian River Gorge than the one in Oregon, one can find a sincerely stunning spectacle of god meets nature near the Colombia/Ecuador border. The Neo-Gothic Catholic church, built between 1916-1949, has a powerful legend, which led to it being built in the most dramatic setting we’ve ever seen a religious structure. It…
The Market Town of Otavalo From Mindo, we headed two hours east back through Quito, and another two hours north on a bus so new that the plastic was still making obnoxious noises on every seat when you shifted. We were heading to the famous market town of Otavalo for a night of which would be our last stop in…
Folded within the lush Ecuadorian cloud forest, and only two hours by bus from Quito, one can find the sparkling jewel of Mindo Valley. It is known for being replete with natural beauty, chocolate tours, adventure activities and enough wild and bird life to fill its own Audubon book. Where we Stayed We arrived for two nights and chose Hostelería…
Widely believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, Ecuador's capital (population 2 million) sits high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850 meters (9350 feet) and was constructed on the site of an ancient Incan city. It is well-known for its preserved colonial center, which was designated an UNESCO Cultural Heritage City in 1978…(along…
Day One: Sigchos to Isinlivi For those who have been following awhile, you may remember our disastrous and slippery sludge down Peru’s Salkantay Trail last March. This is when Mandy began a six-month war with her right foot. As of May 2023, we’re quite happy to say that she completed her first multi-day trek since of 36 kilometers and although…
