Costa Rica (18th August)
Its rainy season here at the moment, we had to circle around San Jose airport for an hour due to the weather!
Left San Jose that evening to get to Nicoya Pennisula, paid a heavy taxi rate from the airport to terminal Punta Arenas, to get the bus to the port town of Punta Arenas. If you can don’t stay here it’s a shithole, stayed in probably the worst hostel ever, pretty dodgy area port towns! Got a early ferry next morning to get to Montezuma, took two local bus rides to get there.
Montezuma (19th – 20th)
Stayed in hostel Pension Jenny, pretty nice place, 4000 colones beside the beach. The water temperature in the ocean is amazing, the wave breaks are really high and powerful, this is definitely a surfers paradise. Just chilled on the beach before heading to Santa Teresa.
Santa Teresa (20th – 21st August)
Another surfer spot here with beautiful weather, good waves and hot girls. Stayed in an apartment for the night, 12 dollars each, chilled out and just watched some dvds. Good place to eat here is called Burger Ranch, good burgers and kebabs. Did a surf lesson with a cool American dude, learnt that I’m goofy for sure! He had some ncie herbs Rented a 4*4 Rav jeep with Budget travel for the rest of the week, easiest way to get around on the pacific coast line.
Playa Samara (22nd – 23rd)
Got here late at night and accommodation was very expensive so slept in the jeep for the night beside the beach! Rented out boards for the day, easy waves to catch.
Tamarindo (24th – 25th)
Stayed in the only hostel in town here called Coral Reef, 8 dollars a night for a dorm bed. Very Americanised here, hotels are amazing and very expensive, fast foods like Subway exist here. Meant to be spring break atmosphere here but found it pretty lame, main club is called Agua, but most girls here are working girls! Beach is pretty nice and seen an amazig sunset here aswell. Another day drove out to Playa Avenella to work on the tan!
Conclusion:
Overall this country, just on the pacific side alone s beautiful, so many beaches to see and even though its rainy season its very warm in the morning time. Very expensive though and up north not too backpacker friendly but well worth a visit, especially if your into surfing.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ecuador
Montanita (July 31 - 4 August)
First stop over the border was here, nice village could do some good surf here but it was the weekend i guess so party time! Stayed in Tiki Limbo hostel which was located in the heart of the action, had some great cocktail stands at ngiht time and ended up going to an electronica rave festival on the beach til the early hours, met a cool girl here aswell from israel Noah.
Puerto Lopez (4- 5 August)
Went whale watching here for 15 dollars, was well worthed, they put on a great show. No need to stay here though just do that during the day and then get out of there. Interesting ride then up the coastline to get to Canoa, took three buses one boat and a taxi ride to get there! Notning much happening here so rented a board for the day, soaked up the sun and then off to Banos.
Banos (6th August - 12)
Stayed in a really nice hostel called Plantos y Blancos, 6.50 a night. This town is activity city at the bottom of an active volcano! Rented out quads for 20 dollars for three hours, was lucky for once as i got the best quad up the volcano trail, was really good fun. Next day did grade 4 white water rafting , for only 28 dollars including dinner after. Was exactly what i was looking for, great rapids, at one stage hit a serious rapid and everyone fell out even the guide and I didnt sweet!
Weekend here is not too bad, on a Sturday many people from Quito come here to chill out. Hate to say it but Leprauchan is the main bar here, in between the other two and thats bar zone! Monday went downhill biking on a competition trail, was way too technical for me and the bikes werent that good, fell over a few times!!
Had our 6 month anniversary here in the swiss restaurant, really nice food and a good session! Did the bridger jump that morning for 15 dollars, only 150m but my god am I scared of heights! Just had to go for it, or Ill never be able to do the ones in new Zealand. Niall took two turns to jump, thanks to my riveting speech he went for or I would have never been able to let it go after Torres del Paine!
Quito (13th August – 18th)
Stayed in hostel called El Centro del Mundo, really laid back hostel and really sound people there. Met two lads from Banos there aswell, had a great time with them. One of the days went to old town and had a great view of the city from the Basilica church. Another day went to Mitael del Mundo to see the solar museum at the equator line, really cool experiments, even got a certificate for balancing the egg on the nail! G Spot Hamburgers is a really good restaurant near the hostel and Coffee tree for breakfast and coffee. Went clubbing in Bungalow 6 which was pretty good and Blues. Met up with a cool Ecuadorian girl here, pity I couldn’t stay longer!
Conclusion:
Ecuador is actually pretty expensive for a backpacker! The beer Pilsner is not that great also, buses are pretty efficient, but still had a good time in this country, would have loved to have gone to Colombia though.
First stop over the border was here, nice village could do some good surf here but it was the weekend i guess so party time! Stayed in Tiki Limbo hostel which was located in the heart of the action, had some great cocktail stands at ngiht time and ended up going to an electronica rave festival on the beach til the early hours, met a cool girl here aswell from israel Noah.
Puerto Lopez (4- 5 August)
Went whale watching here for 15 dollars, was well worthed, they put on a great show. No need to stay here though just do that during the day and then get out of there. Interesting ride then up the coastline to get to Canoa, took three buses one boat and a taxi ride to get there! Notning much happening here so rented a board for the day, soaked up the sun and then off to Banos.
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| From Puerto Lopez, Ecuador |
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| From Puerto Lopez, Ecuador |
Banos (6th August - 12)
Stayed in a really nice hostel called Plantos y Blancos, 6.50 a night. This town is activity city at the bottom of an active volcano! Rented out quads for 20 dollars for three hours, was lucky for once as i got the best quad up the volcano trail, was really good fun. Next day did grade 4 white water rafting , for only 28 dollars including dinner after. Was exactly what i was looking for, great rapids, at one stage hit a serious rapid and everyone fell out even the guide and I didnt sweet!
Weekend here is not too bad, on a Sturday many people from Quito come here to chill out. Hate to say it but Leprauchan is the main bar here, in between the other two and thats bar zone! Monday went downhill biking on a competition trail, was way too technical for me and the bikes werent that good, fell over a few times!!
Had our 6 month anniversary here in the swiss restaurant, really nice food and a good session! Did the bridger jump that morning for 15 dollars, only 150m but my god am I scared of heights! Just had to go for it, or Ill never be able to do the ones in new Zealand. Niall took two turns to jump, thanks to my riveting speech he went for or I would have never been able to let it go after Torres del Paine!
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| From Banos, Ecuador |
Quito (13th August – 18th)
Stayed in hostel called El Centro del Mundo, really laid back hostel and really sound people there. Met two lads from Banos there aswell, had a great time with them. One of the days went to old town and had a great view of the city from the Basilica church. Another day went to Mitael del Mundo to see the solar museum at the equator line, really cool experiments, even got a certificate for balancing the egg on the nail! G Spot Hamburgers is a really good restaurant near the hostel and Coffee tree for breakfast and coffee. Went clubbing in Bungalow 6 which was pretty good and Blues. Met up with a cool Ecuadorian girl here, pity I couldn’t stay longer!
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| From Quito, Ecuador |
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| From Quito, Ecuador |
Conclusion:
Ecuador is actually pretty expensive for a backpacker! The beer Pilsner is not that great also, buses are pretty efficient, but still had a good time in this country, would have loved to have gone to Colombia though.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Peru
Cusco (22 - 26 June)
Made it here for the Inti Raymi (winter solstice) festival, was full of tourists but a really nice town, in the morning we would go to the market which was only 90 cent for three smoothies, good start to the day! Stayed in Point hostel as Loki was full, for a party hostel it was pretty lame, spend most of our time in Loki at night time as it had a good happy hour plus i knew some friends from La Paz there, Nightlife in cusco is pretty decent, Mama africas and down town are the main clubs. Even though its pretty high up this inca capital, really nice and warm during the day.
Got a gorgeous roast dinner one day in McCoys even had real stuffing and cheese and cauliflower, really good restaurants here.
Arequipa (27 - 30 June)
South of perus is this really stylish city, again stayed in Point hostel but this tie was managed alot better, better music and bar and good hammocks to chill out on. the real reason we went down there as to chill out before the inca trail but seeing as it was the weekend that was not going to happen!!
Nightlife is really good here, and the girls are smoking aswell! Went to a club called Deja Vu and another night went to a bar near the swedish one on Calle San Francisco which sold whiskey buckets, well close enough!
For the first time in south america found a good doner kebab shop, and my god were they amazing for 1.50EUR each!!
Cusco (1st July - 3rd)
Just rested up here in Point hostel for two days before the inca trail, nuff said no alcohol for me.....
Inca Jungle Trek (July 3 - 7)
By the eway this fun trek only cost 160 US dollars, compared to the classic inca trail that can cost from 500 - 1000 dollars!
Started off from the hostel at half seven in the morning to get a bus to Abra Malaga to start our descent on the mountain bikes. Myself and niall wer always flying down waiting for the rest and before we got to Santa Maria at a stop point, waiting around my poor ankles got bitten alive by sand flies! Really good cycle though, at one stage went stragiht through a rgiht angle turn and had to take the next dirt turn luckily to keep on course! By the way Santa Maria was washed away by Rio Urubamba and the to be redeveloped up stream.
Styaed in a hostel that night and up at six in the morning to start our long trek through the jungle. Part of the trek was the inca trail, fabalous terrain and landscape, even had lunch in the jungle! Seen many spiders, bananas, avocado and lemon and lime trees. Funniest thing to see was an old lady with a monkey selling Powerade on the trek, shows how commerical its getting (In BOD we trust!) Got to the hot springs in the evening time for an hour of relaxation, then a one hour trek to the town of Santa Teresa, had a funny night there, went to a local club and used a carrot as a pipe, nuff said....
Then the third day a little worst for wear, a pretty monotonous walk along the railway line to Aguas Calientes. Then we arrived in Aguas Calientes very touristy town at the bottom of Maccha Piccu had one hour for lunch and then straight up Happy Mountain (not sure of the name!) deep ascent up steps and even ladders to the top but well worth the view.
Went to bed pretty early in Aguas Calientes as up the last day at four. Pretty dark morning our ascent up to Maccha Piccu but adrenalin was kicking in. Got up in lots of time to take pictures as buses were only just arriving. Queued up for Wayna Pichu, usually takes an hour but we made it up in 20 mins and were the first five to arrive at the top, the view of Maccha Piccu is amazing. Had a tour of Maccha Piccu in the afternoon and at this stage there was many tourists, the tour itself was pretty interestig but alot of theories exist as to why it was deserted.
Overall was a really good hard trek, thoroughly enjoyed the climbs and the views of Maccha Piccu.
Cusco (July 8- 11)
Came back after the trek to got on the lash in Cusco. Stayed in Loki hostel which was really good fun, decent bar and good chill out area. Spent most my time going out in Extrema bar first for cocktail happy hour on Plaza de Armas, then afterwards either Up town or Mama Africas. Bumped into some girls from La paz i knew working there and had a great time!
Huachina (July 12 - 13)
This is a small place on the coastline near Ika famous for its sand dunes. Stayed there for a night in hostel Casa de Arena and did sandboarding and dune buggies. Was really good fun, our drivers were pretty crazy over the dunes, great adrenalin rush!
Lima (July 14 - 25)
Where to begin! Stayed in Barrancos in Point hostel for a few ngihts and just went clubbing. Met some cool people there including a crazy ozzy dude and nights out organised by the hostel were great, even gave you free glow sticks one night!! Lima is really good for its electronica music. Then moved to Miraflores and stayed in Loki hostel for the weekend as they were celebrating independence weekend there with a parade. Just partied around Larcomar and Barrancos, did seven nights in a row, shattered!!
Tequila Rock on a sunday night and Gothika were the best clubs i think. Happened to get in one surf aswell, swallowed alot of sea water tho! Seen the new batman movie aswell, awesome!!
To conclude lima is brilliant for partying and the girls here are the hottest i seen in south america! Favourite beer was Cristal and the supermarkets here Metro are really good, even give you free alocohol sometimes...
Mancora (July 26 - 30)
Up the coastline before Ecuador is this smalll surfing town on the coastliine. Weather was really nice here and there was alot of hot peruvians there aswell for independence weekend. Didnt do any surf though as the waves were too small. Travelled with two english girls lauren and amy and had a great time with them, bar street is nothing to write home about. Had an interesting incident with the cops tho and a good session in Loki that wasnt even open then!
Made it here for the Inti Raymi (winter solstice) festival, was full of tourists but a really nice town, in the morning we would go to the market which was only 90 cent for three smoothies, good start to the day! Stayed in Point hostel as Loki was full, for a party hostel it was pretty lame, spend most of our time in Loki at night time as it had a good happy hour plus i knew some friends from La Paz there, Nightlife in cusco is pretty decent, Mama africas and down town are the main clubs. Even though its pretty high up this inca capital, really nice and warm during the day.
Got a gorgeous roast dinner one day in McCoys even had real stuffing and cheese and cauliflower, really good restaurants here.
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| From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa |
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| From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa |
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| From Copacabana, Cusco, Arequipa |
Arequipa (27 - 30 June)
South of perus is this really stylish city, again stayed in Point hostel but this tie was managed alot better, better music and bar and good hammocks to chill out on. the real reason we went down there as to chill out before the inca trail but seeing as it was the weekend that was not going to happen!!
Nightlife is really good here, and the girls are smoking aswell! Went to a club called Deja Vu and another night went to a bar near the swedish one on Calle San Francisco which sold whiskey buckets, well close enough!
For the first time in south america found a good doner kebab shop, and my god were they amazing for 1.50EUR each!!
Cusco (1st July - 3rd)
Just rested up here in Point hostel for two days before the inca trail, nuff said no alcohol for me.....
Inca Jungle Trek (July 3 - 7)
By the eway this fun trek only cost 160 US dollars, compared to the classic inca trail that can cost from 500 - 1000 dollars!
Started off from the hostel at half seven in the morning to get a bus to Abra Malaga to start our descent on the mountain bikes. Myself and niall wer always flying down waiting for the rest and before we got to Santa Maria at a stop point, waiting around my poor ankles got bitten alive by sand flies! Really good cycle though, at one stage went stragiht through a rgiht angle turn and had to take the next dirt turn luckily to keep on course! By the way Santa Maria was washed away by Rio Urubamba and the to be redeveloped up stream.
Styaed in a hostel that night and up at six in the morning to start our long trek through the jungle. Part of the trek was the inca trail, fabalous terrain and landscape, even had lunch in the jungle! Seen many spiders, bananas, avocado and lemon and lime trees. Funniest thing to see was an old lady with a monkey selling Powerade on the trek, shows how commerical its getting (In BOD we trust!) Got to the hot springs in the evening time for an hour of relaxation, then a one hour trek to the town of Santa Teresa, had a funny night there, went to a local club and used a carrot as a pipe, nuff said....
Then the third day a little worst for wear, a pretty monotonous walk along the railway line to Aguas Calientes. Then we arrived in Aguas Calientes very touristy town at the bottom of Maccha Piccu had one hour for lunch and then straight up Happy Mountain (not sure of the name!) deep ascent up steps and even ladders to the top but well worth the view.
Went to bed pretty early in Aguas Calientes as up the last day at four. Pretty dark morning our ascent up to Maccha Piccu but adrenalin was kicking in. Got up in lots of time to take pictures as buses were only just arriving. Queued up for Wayna Pichu, usually takes an hour but we made it up in 20 mins and were the first five to arrive at the top, the view of Maccha Piccu is amazing. Had a tour of Maccha Piccu in the afternoon and at this stage there was many tourists, the tour itself was pretty interestig but alot of theories exist as to why it was deserted.
Overall was a really good hard trek, thoroughly enjoyed the climbs and the views of Maccha Piccu.
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| From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu |
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| From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu |
 |
| From Inca Jungle trail to Machu Picchu |
Cusco (July 8- 11)
Came back after the trek to got on the lash in Cusco. Stayed in Loki hostel which was really good fun, decent bar and good chill out area. Spent most my time going out in Extrema bar first for cocktail happy hour on Plaza de Armas, then afterwards either Up town or Mama Africas. Bumped into some girls from La paz i knew working there and had a great time!
Huachina (July 12 - 13)
This is a small place on the coastline near Ika famous for its sand dunes. Stayed there for a night in hostel Casa de Arena and did sandboarding and dune buggies. Was really good fun, our drivers were pretty crazy over the dunes, great adrenalin rush!
Lima (July 14 - 25)
Where to begin! Stayed in Barrancos in Point hostel for a few ngihts and just went clubbing. Met some cool people there including a crazy ozzy dude and nights out organised by the hostel were great, even gave you free glow sticks one night!! Lima is really good for its electronica music. Then moved to Miraflores and stayed in Loki hostel for the weekend as they were celebrating independence weekend there with a parade. Just partied around Larcomar and Barrancos, did seven nights in a row, shattered!!
Tequila Rock on a sunday night and Gothika were the best clubs i think. Happened to get in one surf aswell, swallowed alot of sea water tho! Seen the new batman movie aswell, awesome!!
To conclude lima is brilliant for partying and the girls here are the hottest i seen in south america! Favourite beer was Cristal and the supermarkets here Metro are really good, even give you free alocohol sometimes...
Mancora (July 26 - 30)
Up the coastline before Ecuador is this smalll surfing town on the coastliine. Weather was really nice here and there was alot of hot peruvians there aswell for independence weekend. Didnt do any surf though as the waves were too small. Travelled with two english girls lauren and amy and had a great time with them, bar street is nothing to write home about. Had an interesting incident with the cops tho and a good session in Loki that wasnt even open then!
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