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Trujillo – Colourful, Ancient Ruins and some Fake Money
Ah Trujillo, it’s a large city where every building in the central area is painted incolourful pastels of red, yellow, brown and blue. Like every city I’ve been through so far in Peru, there’s also an army of council works cleaning the streets every hour or so. If you don’t notice these tireless workers in…
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Cajamarca – Crossroad of the Northern Highlands
The first thing that strikes you on the taxi ride into the centre of town is the number of churches along the way. Not small churches, but in true Spanish colonial style of amazing masonry and architectural design. Of course the inside are the same as every other Catholic church on the planet, and the…
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Leymebamba and on the Road to Cajamarca
After almost 2 weeks in Chachapoyas I knew it was time to leave when the girls in the café next door to the hostal didn’t have to ask what I wanted for breakfast. Or the pub around the corner just gave me a Pilsen without asking. Chachapoyas is such an amazing little town the days…
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Chachapoyas – Caving, Sarcophagi, and Green Fields
I was promptly up, showered and out the front of the hostal to start the 8am tour to explore the Quiocta Cave, the ancient sarcophagi of Karajia and to the Valle de Belen. One thing I’m quickly learning in Peru is that nothing runs on time. A half an hour later we finally filled the…
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Chachapoyas and the Fortress of Kuelap
To say Chachapoyas is a mandatory stop in northern Peru would be an understatement of criminal proportions. Not only is this small town, the capital of the Amazon basin, just brilliant to visit with it’s fantastic cafes and friendly people, it’s surrounded by the most amazing pre-Inca ruins of the Chachapoyas people – or People…
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Welcome to Peru: Quick Update
As I said in the last post, I was still planning on heading out to the archaeological site of Tucume before leaving Chiclayo. Once again there was a drought of any combis signed with Tucume, they all left for a place called Salas. When I was asked if I was headed for Salas, I shook my head…
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Welcome to Peru, and the Oldest Civilisations in South America
The first thing that is immediately noticeable when catching the bus between Piura and Chiclayo was the fact the bus was pretty damn awesome. The girl at the ticket counter asked if I wanted the panoramic seat, so I figured why the hell not. I thought this was just a fancy name for the window seat, something which I…
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2 Weeks in Cuenca, and Goodbye Ecuador
While waiting at the Banos bus termainal to head out to Riobamba, a good portion of people I had met at the hostal made an appearance. They were catching the same bus that I was, some heading onto the buses final destination of Guayaquil, or were changing at Riobamba to another bus into Cuenca. I was…
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Banos
The town of Banos is an adrenaline junkies haven. I’ve not seen so many rafting, climbing, jumping and nature defying tour companies in the one small town. It’s a tourist town for sure, but like so many tourist towns in Ecuador it’s filled mostly with South American (predominately Argentinian) tourists and a handful of gringos. The bus…
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El Oriente
After spending 2 weeks in Canoa it was time to make the conscience decision to leave. This is a lot harder than one would think when you’re surrounded by a beautiful beach, great weather and cheap beer. Finally I summoned the courage to pack the backpack and jump on the bus to Bahia, the main…
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