globalfreeloader

Hola a todos! I´m now on the homestretch of my Latin American adventure and reflecting on a series of amazing experiences. In retrospect, I must say that the last month has been one of the most unique and outstanding I have ever spent. I finally pulled myself out of the big city and made it to my intended destination of Villa Tunari, a small village in the Bolivian tropical rainforest and home to the animal refuge known as Inti Wara Yassi. Here in the Parque Machia situated in the thick Amazonian jungle I spent an incredible 30 days that is hard to put into words. First, a little background on the refuge: Inti Wara Yassi is a non-profit organization founded by two kind-hearted Bolivians concerned about the welfare of wild animals in the country´s diverse ... read more

It has now been over 2 months that I´ve been living and working here in the crazy city of La Paz. My spanish has improved immensely, my salsa moves are shakin´and I´ve learned and experienced a great deal from a part of the world vastly different from what I´ve known previously. And while adventures in the concrete jungle have been quite exciting, I have to run to the hills every so often to keep myself sane. Thus, I´ve found great ways to get my adrenaline fix in high places thoughout the Cordillera real, and have been happy to escape the smog and get small doses of exercise outside the city walls. Shortly after arriving a couple months ago I learned of a popular mountain bike ride operated by a local outfit called Gravity Assisted Mtn. Biking. ... read more

Forget what they say about robberies, kidnappings and violence in South America. Public transportation is the scariest thing about this place. Never before have I employed so many (shady) modes of transportation in 24 hours. Satisfied with the Peruvian experience, Takeo and I began the historic pilgrimage into neighboring Bolivia. From the plaza in Puno we squeezed into a moto taxi that should have been retired a decade ago. With only a 100cc engine towing 500+ pounds of weight we crept uphill at 3 m.p.h. slowing traffic and infuriating motorists everywhere. At least twice I saw our driver hang his foot out the side and try to help push us up the inclines. Once around a corner and headed downhill we learned that the brakes too, were long past their expiry date. Despite the screaming ... read more

What an experience... Hard to recap so many days of activity and discovery, but I'll try to give you a glimpse: From Cusco we joined our guide Edison and other Mayuc staff (highly recommended tour operators) and made a 3.5 hour drive through high farm lands and small villages to the starting point of the famous Inca trail at kilometer 82 in the grandiose Sacred Valley of the Incas. The drive itself was a cultural experience as we passed through very impoverished highlands where subsistence farming was the predominant way of life. Pigs, sheep, chickens, burros, oxen and countless dogs were the roadside norm, wandering as they pleased, and we swerved at least once to avoid cows loitering in the middle of the road. After a hearty lunch prepared by our personal camp chef we passed ... read more