Archive for the ‘Travel Info’ Category

Salar de Uyuni is home to the world’s largest salt flats and makes for the most amazing photo shoot backdrop. If you search around the web you can find some pretty creative shots from Salar de Uyuni, so we decided to explore the space and snap some fun pix of our own. As I’ve mentioned before, Salar de Uyuni is one of most breathtaking places I’ve ever had the opportunity of experiencing. Like Machu Picchu in Peru, Salar gives you this incredibly euphoric feeling and makes you appreciate how beautiful this world is. The only thing I can really compare it to visually is a giant frozen lake with a perfectly flat snow cover across the surface. The snow is in fact salt, which covers more than 4,000 square miles. The salt actually carves crazy hexagon-like shapes into the surface because of the freezing and thawing process that exists at …

Read more

Okay so maybe Mars wasn’t in the cards, but the next best thing was Salar de Uyuni in Southwest Bolivia. The incredible scenery, diverse landscapes and remote surroundings make you question what planet you’re really on! Last month, Kiersten and I decided to leave the world we knew behind to venture off on a 4-day, 4×4 tour in and around the famous salt flats of Bolivia. The trip was absolutely mind blowing as we crossed rugged deserts, cut through epic volcano-lined mountain ranges and admired breathtaking multi-colored lagoons along the way. There were flamingos, llamas and more photo ops than a Victoria Secret Fashion show. I’ll give you a little information along the way, but words really don’t compare to the photos, so go ahead and come along with me on a visual ride through 4 days of Mother Nature’s greatest Bolivian creation… Salar de Uyuni! Day 1: Tupiza-To-Paradise The …

Read more

Sucre, Bolivia is the third place I’ve called home over the past two and a half years of living in South America. While the lifestyle here is much different from the bustling Buenos Aires and seductive Medellin, it has been an amazing place to experience life like a local. Sucre is Bolivia’s judicial capital and is nicknamed la blanca (the white) because of all the beautiful Spanish-style, whitewashed buildings that canvas the city skyline.  It’s home to just over a quarter of a million people, which makes Sucre feel more like a small town than a major metropolis. The weather is beautiful all year round, the people are humble and friendly and your money goes a long way. The food is basic, the streets are hilly and travelers don’t venture far from the main square. There isn’t much tourist hype or famous attractions in Sucre – it’s just a peaceful, …

Read more

I’m writing this post from 35,000 feet in the air on my way from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Cancun, Mexico. As I squeeze into the middle-row seat on a 6-hour flight between 2 layovers and an overnight bus ride, nothing can push me off the feeling I have at this moment. The feeling is of complete warmth. One that rushes through your body when something you’ve been working so hard for finally comes to fruition. It’s like that sensation you get on a Friday afternoon when the sun hits your face as you leave the office. This is the feeling I crave and one that constantly drives me. Last Saturday, the BiblioWorks staff, myself and nine other volunteers put on the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia and it went off without a hitch. We had 15 educational institutions participating, 11 corporate sponsors and hundreds of children and adults …

Read more

One of the most frequent questions I receive in the T2T inbox is how I meet and befriend locals while traveling and living abroad. The entire concept of this site focuses on that interaction and I base the success of each adventure on the friends I’ve made and authentic moments I’ve shared with locals. I’m not saying you can’t have the same experiences following the backpacker trail or hanging out in tourist bars, but I do think that while traveling, everyone should make some effort to understand a place and culture through the people who define it. The moments I cherish most while traveling and living abroad are those when taking photos seems inappropriate and an explanation of the scene always falls short of the feeling. They are the times when you feel comfortable being part of something completely foreign. It’s for this reason I’ve gone into every South American …

Read more

After being a bit disappointed with the scarcity of eye-candy in Ecuador, I crossed the border into Peru with high expectations. Although there isn’t as much hype around Peruvian beauty like Colombians or Argentines, I was relieved to find that from Mancora down to Arequipa, the women of Peru held their ground against their sexy latina counterparts. Now as I get settled in Bolivia and start my adventure here, I leave you with my heavily researched and overly biased list of the hottest women of Peru. The list is generated from recommendations by Peruvian friends based on hotness, fame and skills. Enjoy responsibly. T2T’s Top 10 Hottest Peruvian Women 10. Alexis Amore – Porn stars are beautiful too! That’s why I’m kicking off the Top 10 hottest Peruvian list with the lovely and sensual mattress actress, Alexis Amore. Born in Lima in 1978, her award-winning work in adult entertainment has made her one of the …

Read more

Think of Las Vegas and the first images to pop into your head are likely to be the iconic skyline, glittering like a lost oasis in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Neon lights, all night casinos pumped with fresh air, Elvis impersonators, and a hangover you’re unlikely to forget: all great reasons to book Las Vegas flights, but what if you’re not interested in that sort of thing? What if you want to absorb a little bit of sunlight? Exactly what is there to do in Las Vegas during the day? Thrill-seekers should already know that the true heart thumping excitement of Vegas doesn’t take place at a poker table or in an all night chapel. True adventurers will already have done their research, and they’ll know that hidden within the unassuming hotels on the Las Vegas strip are some of the world’s most extreme roller-coasters. The three rides …

Read more

I arrived in Puno, Peru the day after New Years Eve in Cusco to experience the highest lake in the world. Lake Titicaca beats all other lakes in altitude as well as name, say Lake Titicaca 10 times and try not to laugh. My first stop along the great Lake Titicaca was visiting the floating islands of the Uros tribe, one which pre-dates the Inca civilization. Learning about how the some 40 floating islands are put together with simple reeds and secured with dense mud-like anchors was absolutely fascinating. The islands are constantly being built-on with additional reeds as rotting occurs and although incredibly secure, you can still feel water soaking through as you walk across the land. The Uru people live a very traditional lifestyle with fishing and tourism as their main source of income. Although only a few hundred still live on and maintain the islands. most have moved …

Read more

Resting high above any good night club, looking down at the shleps who fight for a spot at the bar is the VIP section. A place where the rich and beautiful pop bottles and celebrate life. Back in the day, when Machu Picchu was the most exclusive nightclub in all of the Inca Empire, I imagine Huayna Picchu would have made for the perfect VIP section. Looking down from 1,190 feet above, Huayna Picchu (or Waynapicchu or Wayna Picchu) casts a gigantic shadow over the “lost city of the Incas.” I could only imagine what Inca kings and their constituants did up there during their reign, especially considering it was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins. In this day and age Huayna Picchu still holds the same selective reputation, only allowing 400 people to enter per day. Luckily for me, I knew a guy (my tour guide) who …

Read more

At 4:30am the alarm on my cellphone went off as I laid there staring at it. I hadn’t slept at all. I was just waiting with restless anticipation. The girls and I got dressed quick and met Juan Carlos in the lobby to set out into the darkness. It was day 4 of our trip and this was the final push to Machu Picchu. My adrenaline rushed as we passed a handful of other groups leading up to the trailhead from Aguas Calientes. Within 15 minutes into the hike I found myself alone, flying up the mountain, like I was 13 again, running down the stairs on Christmas morning. Only this time, the stairs were steep, wet, rocks that led straight up and there was over a thousand of them. Sweaty, tired and excited, I reached the main gate just before 5:40am. The doors opened at 6, so I waited impatiently as …

Read more

This was one of those adventures that I will keep with me for my entire life. When I set out on my most recent trip to South America in October, I had no intentions of visiting Machu Picchu. My goal was to pass through Ecuador and Peru as quick as possible to get settled in Bolivia and start working with BiblioWorks. The trip developed, one stop led to the next and before I knew it I found myself in Lima contemplating holiday plans and itching to do something big. As I caught my breath from the first 2 months on the road, I realized that Cusco would be a great place to spend Christmas and that Machu Picchu would be a great distraction from being away from home for Christmas. I was hesitant at first because of all the hoopla around the famous monument. I worried it wouldn’t live up …

Read more

For every tourist who is interested in anything that is connected with legendary historical monuments, miracles of nature and secrets of ancient tribes, Machu-Picchu is a must go place. As it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, there are 7 facts about Macchu Picchu that your guide didn’t mention. According to the most popular theory Macchu-Picchu’s situation is not accidental. Before Incas chose it, they took geophysical, astronomical and geological studies. Only after the ancient tribe made a list of safety requirements they picked the exact place. It was made so because Macchu-Picchu was aimed to become a fortress of religious, scientific and political stronghold of Inca’s government. Macchu-Picchu’s architecture can serve as an evidence that tribe Inca was an extremely developed in technical sphere civilization. When scientist firstly founded ancient ruins they were stunned by reliable structures and accurate planning of the city. What strikes the …

Read more