When couple travel becomes solo travel; breaking up on the road
We broke up. We broke up in a stuffy, low-lit hostel room in León, Nicaragua, tearily telling each other it was going to be alright whilst internally grappling with the thought of a lonely, uncertain future. Of all the things we had expected for this 2-year trip, a break-up whilst travelling was not one of them. But after 5 years of friendship and then 5 years in a relationship, we decided it just wasn’t working anymore, and that’s ok. Sad, but ok. While saying goodbye as I got into a taxi to Granada was one of the most heart-wrenchingly painful…
11 tips for remote working during Coronavirus (from a digital nomad)
Coronavirus is pretty much all everyone is talking about these days, and I wouldn’t judge you for being bored of it before even having to begin any kind of quarantine. However, 14-days of self-isolation are a very real thing for…
Falling in love with shrimp stew on the catwalk of alcohol: Porto Seguro, Brazil
The first thing that hit me when we arrived in Porto Seguro, Bahia, was how COLOURFUL it is. Every house is painted a different colour, and the vibrant hues continue into the centre where you’ll find streets lined and lined…
Nicaragua backpacking tips (and why now is the best time to travel Nicaragua)
Nicaragua backpacking was the part of my Central America trip that I was most looking forward to. Luckily, it had been saved to the very end of my 2 years and 2 months in Latin America, and what a way…
What’s the cost of living in Colombia in 2020?
Well, it’s good! For Europeans or North Americans, expect the cost of living in Colombia to feel pretty cheap. You do need to check your expectations though; I once saw a disgruntled expat complaining that he’d been told he could…
Cananéia & Ilha do Cardoso; São Paulo state off the beaten track
Cananéia, a small town with colonial beauty at every turn, is situated 3.5 hours from São Paulo by car, and Ilha do Cardoso is just over the river from that, amidst national parks and protected lands. If driving up to…
5 top destinations in Latin America to get the most out of your Christmas money in 2020
As backpackers with no real need for material gifts during the last 2 years of travelling, our families and friends have often struggled to know what to get us for Christmas. Many of them instead decided to gift us funds…
The best neighbourhoods to stay in Rio de Janeiro
If you’ve followed our adventures for a while, you’ll know that although we like to travel slowly, we also like to break up our time in a city into stays in different areas so that we get a broader feel…
The best neighbourhoods to stay in Rio de Janeiro
If you’ve followed our adventures for a while, you’ll know that although we like to travel slowly, we also like to break up our time in a city into stays in different areas so that we get a broader feel…
8 easy phrases to make you sound better at Spanish than you actually are
Learning a new language is hard. Like, really hard. But if you’re travelling within the Spanish-speaking areas of Latin America, the good news is that Spanish is one of the easiest languages for English natives to pick up. While the…
Going slow on Caye Caulker, Belize’s chilled out island getaway
Let’s cut to the chase here. Caye Caulker is hands down THE FRIENDLIEST place we have ever been to. You can’t walk a few yards down the street without someone wishing you a happy day, whether they’re trying to sell…
If we only had 2 weeks: Belize itinerary
Luckily, we'd say Belize is one of the few countries in Latin America that doesn't need months and months of travel to explore everything. 2 weeks in Belize is actually a pretty nice amount of time.
Lake Yojoa & Peña Blanca; small town life around Honduras’ largest lake
We thought Lake Yojoa (Lago de Yojoa), the largest lake in Honduras – which is very close to Pulhapanzak Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Honduras – was going to be more of a tourist attraction than it is. It’s still…
Backpacker vibes meet boutique luxury in Tulum, the Bali of Mexico
Apparently Tulum is a pretty hot destination right now – though admittedly we didn’t realise until people back home started messaging us excitedly about how great it looks all over the internet. Though we normally skim over the Insta-hotspots, we…
Chicken buses in Belize: a survival guide
For those of us travelling on a budget, chicken buses in Belize are by far the best way to get around. They’re usually one of the fleet of American school buses that were sold onto Central American governments when they…
9 things to know before you travel in Belize
You know what’s sad?! How many people skip Belize during their Central America travels. Admittedly, the first time we backpacked around this part of the world, we scrapped our plans to travel in Belize, too. We were told it was…
Best bars, rooftops & clubs in Cartagena, Colombia in 2020
Much like the array of food options in Cartagena old town and Getsemaní barrio, there are soooo many places to be considered for the best bars in Cartagena. We’ve broken them down into three categories – our favourite bars to…
The best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia in 2020
Cartagena de Indias has a rich array of options for food & drink, given it is the #1 tourist spot in Colombia, popular not only with local visitors from Colombia but also its fair share of backpackers and American holidaymakers…
Stop pronouncing these South American place names wrong!
If 18 months in South America taught us anything, it’s that travellers are in desperate need of a Spanish pronunciation guide to get them saying South American place names right 😉 Pronouncing words in a foreign language is a difficult…
The Beer Guide: Brazil
Where to start with beer in Brazil? Somewhat of an anomaly among Latin America due to its status as the sole Portuguese-speaking nation and also its sheer size – it accounts for just under half of the population and land mass of South…
What is The Beer Guide?
During our trip, I (Andy) have decided to write a beer guide for each country we visit, in which I will look at partying trends, interesting beer brands, how to navigate the beer market in each country and top it…
If we only had 2 weeks: Uruguay itinerary
Uruguay is teeny enough that the longest bus you’ll have to take is 5 hours from Montevideo up to Punta del Diablo, which is on the border with Brazil. So don’t panic when you see ‘travel day’, it’s never going…
2 years in Latin America: 14 most unforgettable experiences
Over the last 24 months, we’ve had some fairly insane experiences in Latin America so far, so in light of our 2-year travel anniversary we thought we’d sit down and reminisce on all the most unforgettable. Some are because of…
Holiday the Colombian way on the Caribbean island of San Andrés
Everything you need to know about where to stay on the island, where to eat, what to do and how to go about renting a buggy on San Andres. At 6000+ words, this San Andres, Colombia guide is going to…
If we only had 2 weeks: North Brazil itinerary
When planning your 2 weeks North Brazil itinerary, you need to factor in increased travel times to account for its sheer size, as well as the fact that routes between cities can’t always be assumed to exist, even if they…
El Valle, Bahia Solano: where the Colombian jungle meets the Pacific Ocean
Though not yet on the international radar as such, Bahia Solano and El Valle whale tours have made the area famous around Colombia. For 5 months of the year, humpback whales come to the area to breed and rear their…
Bogotá Eats: Brunch, lunch and dinner in Colombia’s capital
Well, it goes without saying that the 7 months we’ve spent in Bogotá have left us plump and content. There are so many restaurants in Bogota to choose from that we have never felt like we’re scraping the barrel for…
Rainbow Mountain, the Cusco day-trip that will leave you breathless
Breathless not just in the sense of its beauty – the 5200m altitude of Rainbow Mountain will quite literally have you gasping for oxygen. Don’t worry though, it’s totally worth all the effort to get there. You’ll need a couple…
How to book a Death Road tour from La Paz
The Death Road cycling tour is one of the most popular things to do in La Paz. As with many activities in Bolivia, it can be hard at first to navigate just how to book a Death Road tour from…
If we only had 2 weeks: South Brazil itinerary
Remember, Brazil is GINORMOUS, like almost the size of Europe ginormous, and plane or bus transport internally tends to be both long & relatively expensive compared to the Latin average. Brazil needs a bit more travel prep than other countries…
Florianópolis, Brazil: The city with an island escape
Florianópolis – if you hear it also being called Floripa, please know that that is exactly the same thing – strikes as a strong favourite for travellers in Brazil, and was officially named the best place in Brazil to live…
Bank ATMs for free cash withdrawals in South America & Central America
We spend the first hour or so of being in a new country hunting around for ATMs that a) work and b) give us the cheapest/free transactions. We've made it easier for you by making a list of banks we've…
Isla Barú & the Rosario Islands, Colombia’s Caribbean Gems
There are many islands to visit within a couple of hours' boat ride of Cartagena, the most popular ones being Isla Barú and Isla Grande of the Rosario Islands, Colombia. You can do day trips to both, but we really…
San Gil, Colombia’s hilly adrenaline capital
San Gil, Colombia’s adrenaline capital and a great place to see Colombian life outside the big cities. We’ve now been twice to San Gil, one on a weekend break from Bogotá and the other incorporating San Gil into Santander exploration…
Otavalo, Ecuador – more than just South America’s biggest market!
One of the best Quito day trips on offer, Otavalo is an indigenous stronghold, famous for the Otavalo market, an everyday occurrence that’s said to be the largest in South America. Tourists flock in just to see this market in…
Salento, a vibrant town in the heart of Colombia’s coffee region
For those visiting both Medellín and Bogotá, a stop-over in Salento, Colombia’s coffee region gem, between them is a must. Deep in Quindío, Salento is a small town that has managed to maintain its misty mountain charm. Two of the…
Best places for your first time in Latin America if you don’t speak Spanish
Travelling to a new place can be nerve-wracking, and when a whole region is your oyster it can be difficult to know where to start. Even for those who have travelled extensively in Asia or Europe, Latin America can present…
Best places for your first time in Latin America if you don’t speak Spanish
Travelling to a new place can be nerve-wracking, and when a whole region is your oyster it can be difficult to know where to start. Even for those who have travelled extensively in Asia or Europe, Latin America can present…
Filandia, a less touristic alternative to Salento
The coffee region in Colombia remains Andy’s favourite part of the country. Imagine rolling green valleys, colourfully-painted balconies and little old men wearing traditional hats riding their horses down country paths. Oh, and the occasional howler monkey, too. As Salento…
Colombia travel with a teen: all you need to know
In all our 7 months of life and travel in Colombia so far, we’ve been pretty much always in the presence of just adults. However, the arrival of my (Lozzy’s) auntie and 13-year-old cousin, Luca, in August 2019 forced us…
Essential UK life admin to tackle before you travel full-time
When you’re on your way to quitting your job and going full-time travelling, it’s likely that all you’ll be thinking of is trip-planning, destination-browsing and clothes-buying. However, there are a few life admin tasks before you travel full-time that we’re…
Lençóis Maranhenses: sand dunes ‘n’ lagoons in Brazil
Whoa, whoa, whoa MAJOR HIGHLIGHT of Brazil right here! Lençóis Maranhenses was our last adventure of 3 months in Brazil, and it was the perfect way to end our trip on a high. The sight of the sand dunes almost…
Pipa, North-East Brazil’s wild dolphin haven
Despite the fact that you can swim and kayak with wild dolphins in Pipa (yeeeah you read that right), it isn’t as world famous as we would expect. However, it’s still a very popular holiday town, with a very developed…
The Highs and Lows of 3 Months in Brazil
Our 3 months in Brazil has shown us what an incredible part of the world this is – it’s truly a country like no other. Nowhere else have we experienced such vibrance and energy. Here are our highlights are low…
Best weekend breaks & day trips from Bogotá (without flying!)
As with any huge city, one of the best things about Bogotá is being able to get out of Bogotá. That's why for Rolos, the city's natives, day-trips and weekend breaks from Bogotá are so important.
Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso’s waterfall capital
Chapada dos Guimarães, a town nestled in a national park, is not yet popular with international tourists – or even with tourists from other Brazilian states – and instead is mostly a weekend retreat for people who live and work…
Maragogi, a chilled alternative to Porto de Galinhas, North-East Brazil
We found Maragogi beaches to be clean – not postcard perfect immediately in front of the town, but a short walk to some very relaxing, litter-free sands with blue water. There are a few well-known things to do in Maragogi,…
Curitiba, Paraná: Brazil’s most sustainable green city
European architecture and modern street art blend perfectly together, and the centre of the city has lush parks from which to watch the world go by. Curitiba, Brazil ’s first ‘green city’, continues to be its most sustainable.
Arraial do Cabo; Brazil’s answer to the Caribbean?
Known as the Brazilian Caribbean, this fantastic little town is surrounded by white sands and turquoise waters in every direction. Arraial do Cabo beaches are famed for their beauty, and we completely, utterly, unequivocally understand why.
14 best things to do in Rio de Janeiro when it’s not carnival
Guys, THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN RIO DE JANEIRO. Use this guide to work out what you want to prioritise, and plan your days around the best time to visit Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, the two…
Mompóx, Colombia, a pueblo frozen in time
Though it’s been on people’s travel radars for a while, there aren’t many tourists in the town still. When you read on to the "How to get to Mompox" section, you’ll understand why. There isn't that much to do in…
Cuppa to Copa Travels
Exploring the best of Latin America
