Mindo is a small chilled-out town in the middle of a high-biodiversity cloud forest about an hour and a half north-west of Quito. There are lots of things to do there, but because I was feeling like some down-time, I only managed to do two things in 3 days. I could easily have stayed a few more! […]
Santuario de Cascadas – Mindo Read More »
What is the most obvious thing to do when you’ve spent 1 day at altitude in the last 18 months, haven’t been on a pushbike at all for about 9 years and have never mountain biked? Do a 3-day mountain bike tour of the Ecuadorian altiplano with the Biking Dutchman of course! I came across
Biking Dutchman – mountain biking Ecuador Read More »
The Viñales valley (you guessed it – yet another UNESCO location) is about 2 hours away from La Habana, really chilled out and really beautiful. It is one of the biggest tobacco growing areas in Cuba where traditional cultivation techniques still dominate, and is renowned for its mogotes – dome-like limestone outcrops that rise abruptly
Caught the 2:40am ViAzul bus (that didn’t leave until 4am) from Camagüey to Trinidad and experienced a huge internal-to-Cuba culture shock! Up until this point in my trip, I’d been in the eastern part of Cuba, which is far less touristy than the parts closer to La Habana. I saw more souvenir shops and
Trini-topes – Trinidad – Cuba Read More »
Unfortunately Wendy and I had to part ways in Baracoa – she was headed to the beach and I was headed back the way I came and through to Bayamo, the jumping off point to visit La Commandancia de la Plata where Fidel Castro, Che Guevara Pico Turquino from La Commandancia de la Plata – Cuba
Bayamo – La Commandancia de la Plata Read More »
After 4 days, Wendy (Belgian lady I travelled with for several days) and I escaped the hassle of Santiago de Cuba and caught the ViAzul bus to Baracoa. This trip (which in theory takes 5 hours, but in practice takes more like 6 due to all the unscheduled bus stops) passes through the infamous Guantanamo
Hiking and Swimming in Baracoa – Cuba Read More »
My trip through El Salvador was timed to ensure that I would be in Juayúa (one of the towns along the Ruta de Flores) on the weekend so I could explore the Food Festival that they hold there every week. The other key attraction of Juayúa is a 5 hour hike called the “Siete Cascadas” or
Siete Cascadas – Juayúa Read More »
The main reason most travelers come to Santa Ana in El Salvador (apart from staying at the best hostel ever – Casa Verde) is to visit Cerro Verde National Park, the starting point for hikes up Volcán Santa Ana and Volcán Izalco. If you don’t have your own car and/or if you don’t want to pay for
Volcán Santa Ana – El Salvador Read More »
While in La Palma, Andre and I decided to head up to El Pital – the highest point in El Salvador, on the border with Honduras. We started out at 6:20am taking the 119 chicken bus to San Ignacio. From there we switched to the 509 bus that headed up the mountain. It’s an impressive
El Pital – El Salvador Read More »
One of the most advertised things to do in Suchitoto is visit a local waterfall called Los Tercios, 2km from town. I wasn’t going to bother (there wouldn’t be any water) but decided to join André when he said he was going to do it. The tourist office organises a free, accompanied trip to Los Tercios
Los Tercios – Suchitoto Read More »
