Fantastic places to stay in Cartagena, Colombia 2022: For any travel style & budget
To begin my guide to the best places to stay in Cartagena, Colombia, let me first explain that the city is split up into 4 main areas for consideration – the old town within the walled city, just outside the…
How to experience the magic of Valladolid: Cenotes, ruins and tequila on the Yucután Peninsula
As it’s inclusion in the official collection of Pueblos Mágicos might suggest, there’s something real magical about Valladolid, Mexico. Deep in the Yucatan region but still not far from the paradise coastline of Quintana Roo, it feels worlds away from…
Granada, the Nicaraguan beauty that offers a bit of everything for everyone
I fell absolutely head-over-heels in love with Granada, and ended up returning twice during my month in Nicaragua. To me, this is Nicaragua’s best city by a long run. It’s a hub of crazy adventure, beautiful architecture, backpacker vibes and…
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…
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……
Curitiba: Brazil’s most sustainable green city
Curitiba, Brazil, is a melting pot with a really interesting history. First, were the Tupi-Guarani indigenous people of the region, then came the Portuguese, then in waves came the Germans, the Ukrainians, the Italians the Polish, the Russians, the Japanese,…
Mompóx, Colombia, a pueblo frozen in time
Mompóx, Colombia (pronounced MomPOSH or MomPOSS, and confusingly sometimes spelt Mompós) is a town frozen in time. Beautiful yellow colonial architecture, cobbled streets and chalupa longboats taxi-ing people across the river make this a special place to see for yourself.…
Puerto Misahuallí: An accessible slice of the Ecuadorian Amazon
Puerto Misahuallí, Ecuador, is a small town perched on the point that Río Misahuallí meets Río Napo. It really buzzes with local life, and while there aren’t many international tourists, on the weekends seems a popular destination for people from…
Amazing things to do in Bogotá, Colombia’s highly under-rated capital
Bogotá totally took us by surprise during our travels. From other travellers’ reviews, we expected to hate this orange-bricked metropolis, but after our first 2 weeks in Bogota, using it as a base to have a normal working life during…
Villa de Leyva: Colombia’s stunning white pueblo
The jewel of Boyacá! Just 3-4 hours from Bogotá, Villa de Leyva is a well-preserved step back in time. It’s a popular city break from Bogotá, and whilst being a chilled place with fresh air it’s also packed … Continue…
Barichara: How to have an enchanting time in Colombia’s prettiest town
Welcome to Santander’s Barichara, Colombia’s prettiest town. While some places can seem over-hyped once you actually get there, with Barichara we can absolutely see why it was given this title. Unlike other pretty pueblos that have stunning centres but plain-looking…
Guatavita, the lake that inspired the legend of El Dorado
Guatavita is the name used to describe both the lake at the centre of the legend of El Dorado (seen the film?) and the small, peaceful town that sits nearby, on the edge of the Tominé Reservoir (which some people…
Vibe-guide to the towns around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
When we first got to Guatemala, we had no idea there would be so many different towns at Lake Atitlán to choose from. When people talk about going to the lake, they rarely get specific about which towns around Lake…
Ipiales, home to Colombia’s most striking church
Right on the border with Ecuador, Ipiales is one of the first towns you’ll get to if entering Colombia via bus. If no buses are around, a taxi from the border office into town should cost no more than ……
Cartagena, Colombia’s enchanting Caribbean burst of culture
We ended up spending far too long in Cartagena, Colombia (full name Cartagena de las Indias), but loved it anyway. A hotspot for cruises with direct flights from Miami, it has a very different feel to the rest of Colombia.…
Santa Fe de Antioquia: An easy Medellín day-trip to a characterful Colombian pueblo
Not often visited by tourists, but still with enough of an eye for tourism to cater to non-residents, Santa Fe de Antioquia is an excellent day trip from Medellín if you’d like to see more of small town Colombia. With…
The 9 best bars in Antigua, Guatemala
For a relatively small place, Antigua is bursting with great bars, restaurants and cafés (check out our guide to the best cafes here). There’s a really good nice of locals, expats and tourists passing through the city’s drinking … Continue reading
Cusco: The beating heart of Peruvian culture
Ahhh, Cusco, the heart of Peruvian tourism! The main tourist area centres around the Plaza de Armas, and with it’s stunning churches and gardens it’s easy to see why. Cusco is culturally still actively influenced by its indigenous roots, which…
Puno, Peru: visiting the unique floating islands on Lake Titicaca
Puno is a small but vibrant town on Lake Titicaca, and although its fame comes from the nearby floating islands of the Uros, the town itself makes for a very pretty stay (whilst not being too marred by tourism). If…
Arequipa, Peru: Stunning architecture & the world’s second deepest canyon
Known as the White City, Arequipa has got to be one of Peru’s most beautiful destinations. Surrounded by mountains and steeped in history, Arequipa is a masterpiece in terms of architecture. Indigenous and colonial cultures collide within the very walls…
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