Blog
How to do Machu Picchu on budget
03 July 2017
The day before we started our rail trek to Machu Picchu we were a bit nervous for some reasons. We weren't sure if the micro bus Veronica really departs from the place in front of the market in Ollantaytambo. And if we would have enough time to walk 30 km to Aguas Calientes from the train station on km 82.
Ollantaytambo & Sacred Valley
28 January 2016
Southern Peru is a big touristy attraction and you feel that almost everybody is trying to rip you off. Especially the tourist agencies are charging too much for tours. Let us give you this advice: it's always cheaper to do it on your own. Though it might be difficult sometimes, because of the lack of information on internet. If you speak Spanish, ask locals about alternatives, use micro buses and collectivos.
Cusco
06 January 2016
Before we went to Cusco, we had spent three days in the Urubamba district with a Couchsurfing host and his girlfriend. We loved being in the nature again, cooking, eating, relaxing and talking with them about the alternative life style. The house is in a remote area, close to a river. One night when we were having dinner Andrea asked if there are any snakes around, as she is very scared of them.
Paracas & Huacachina
20 December 2015
We jumped in to the buggy and we drove off to the dunes. We arrived at the dunes and the driver tried to drive uphill, but the engine could not deliver its full power and we started to go backwards. He tried it once more with a longer approach. No success, there was obviously something wrong.
Lima
14 December 2015
We were hungover, thirsty, hungry and trapped in a house of a person that we just met last night. A few conspiracy theories crossed our drunken minds. After a while a car parked in front of the house. Finally our friend reappeared, it took him "only" 75 minutes. He told us, that he had to pick up food for his father.
Huaraz
27 October 2015
Andrea didn't struggle with high altitude, so on the 3rd day of the Santa Cruz trek, she decided to do an extra hike to the Arhuaycocha glacier lake. Because we didn't have enough time and energy, we didn't do the Laguna 69 trek. We heard that it is a difficult one day hike, with a spectacular view of the Laguna. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to see something similar.
Mancora
26 October 2015
We have just arrived to this beach town and we wanted to try some street food. We crossed the town two times and we couldn't find anything. On the end, at dawn, we found one woman cooking meat and rice... very innovative."What the heck, let's try it". We ordered two plates and we were... not pleased with the flavor.
Cuenca
23 October 2015
We came to Cuenca to visit the beautiful natural park of El Cajas. As usual we didn't want to go with a tourist guide. We came to the entrance office to get a map. Unfortunately they didn't have any printed maps, so we took a few pictures of the map on the wall.
Montanita & Isla de la Plata
18 October 2015
After the never ending 10 hours ride on a bus, we got off in the hippie village of Montanita. We booked our hostel in advance on Hostelworld, because we knew that we will be tired after this long journey. Little did we know, what a big fail it will be. At the bus stop was a line of hostel employees to offer us accommodation for less money and/or in better location. We rejected all the offers.
Banos
02 October 2015
On our first day in Banos, we decided to rent a buggy and explore the area. In the office they recommended us to visit the waterfalls. We were very excited about the trip, so we jumped right into the buggy and went for a ride. We passed by two beautiful waterfalls. Each time we parked our rented buggy, made some pictures, started the engine again and left. That wasn't the case when we visited the fourth waterfall
Latacunga & Cotopaxi volcano & Quilotoa lake
22 September 2015
We booked a downhill mountain bike tour from the Cotopaxi volcano in our Hotel. The next morning a guide with a jeep picked us up. We asked where the bikes are. To his surprise he assumed we want a walking tour. The receptionist confirmed that a mistake was made with our booking.
Quito & Otavalo
26 August 2015
On our way to Quito we stopped in Otavalo to visit the biggest handcrafts market in Ecuador. As experienced travelers, we are aware that every additional weight in the backpack turns out to be very inconvenient. We did not plan to buy anything, but then we arrived at the market and our promises disappeared into thin air.
Salento
26 August 2015
We stop at a small view point to get some rest and to shoot pictures. Suddenly we see something moving in the bushes close by. A few seconds later a small bear like creature appears very close to us.
Medellin
21 August 2015
Party in Medellin never stops. We partied every second day till morning. It reminded me of my home city, Prague. We liked the city so much, that we considered the option to move to Medellin.
Tayrona
07 August 2015
I went for a walk to the palm tree forest behind the beach, trying to find a fresh coconut. As I am walking under the trees I can hear coconuts falling down all the time. I must have picked up at least fifty coconuts to find out that all of them were either empty or rotten. Frustrated as I was, I went deeper to the forest to accomplish my silly mission.
Santa Marta
03 August 2015
Lying on the Playa Blanca close to Rodadero, reading the first five pages of the Spanish-German text book, a local approached me. Andrea was swimming in the sea and with the little Spanish words that I know I had no clue what this person was talking. My first impression was that it is yet another annoying merchant offering souvenirs or a lunch in the beach restaurants.
Minca
30 July 2015
There is something about eating fresh handpicked fruit, full of taste and juice. It reminds you of the good old times spent in grandmothers garden. The taste of childhood that you can hardly find anywhere else. We felt like little children eating mangoes that we found on the ground directly under the tree. For the first time in our lives we tasted real fresh mangoes.
Taganga
20 July 2015
Taganga is a party place. You will meet interesting travelers and hippies and you will probably extend your stay like we did. You plan to come for few days and you might stay for few weeks, like many of the guests we met at the hostels, or as one of the locals explained to us: "You come to Taganga normal, you leave crazy, you come to Taganga crazy, you leave normal"
Cartagena
08 July 2015
The historic center is small and is surrounded by city walls. The architecture is similar to southern cities in Spain. The buildings have nice, refreshing patios and the balconies are covered with flowers. Just take a camera and get lost for few hours. This district is posh and bit more expensive then the rest of the city.
Bogota
01 July 2015
Street art in Bogota is nowadays well established and recognized by its citizens, landlords and shop owners. Street art is present everywhere but especially in Candelaria, where artists can even work by daylight in safe zones. Some landlords choose to commission international artists to avoid having their facade being tagged. Once the facade is covered with a piece, other artists respect it and they don't paint over it.
Berlin
26 June 2015
When one of our best friends moved to Berlin, we knew that sooner or later we will come to visit him. Andrea has never been to Berlin before. She loves techno music, art and good food, so for her Berlin was a must-do-trip. Berlin is incredibly cheap, provided you eat on the street, drink beer (not cocktails) and you stay in a hostel rather then a hotel.