http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/wvDrifters/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from wvDrifters en-us Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:28:03 +0000 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:28:03 +0000 To our delight even though we were getting rained on and hiking up a vertical trail through mud to get to this hostel the Lost and Found EcoLodge turned out to be a GREAT place to stay for a few days The atmosphere there was quite relaxed with many travelers who were there to volunteer or passing through to see the animals and insects. Numerous hikes waterfalls swimming holes horseback rid http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Panama/Chiriqui/David/blog-413158.html After the fun overnight bus we arrived around 530am to the dock where a boat would transport us to Bocas del Toro Island. Nothing like a 50 mph boat ride to wake you up first thing in the morning No coffee required.Once we arrived we strolled around the island to see where we would stay the night. Since it was early early morning no one in the town was really up and about. So we found a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/blog-413156.html We made it to Central America Panama City was VERY MUCH appreciated after the craziness we got ourselves into crossing overland from Colombia to Panama. It was heavenly to see concrete floors and brick wallsAfter heavy interrogation from Immigration at the airport we grabbed a taxi to Luna Castle Hostel in the historic district Casco Viejo of Panama City. It was a perfect hostel so we d http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/blog-413154.html There are three options for traveling from Columbia to Panama although only two of them are popular Many people take a 5 day sailsnorkel cruise from Cartagena to Panama via the San Blas Islands 375 pp or a direct flight to Panama City 250 pp. The third option is the much less traveled overland route involving boats buses and planes which skirts the caribbean coast of columbia cros http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-413157.html It was nearly 6 am as we stepped off the air conditioned overnight bus into the hot already muggy morning air. We were immediately awakened by people moving everywhere. Music smoke food bustling vendors and street people hustling for money. We shoved our way into the crowds to get our bags then haggled with a band of taxi drivers for a 30km ride into town. We wouldn't need a cup of coffee http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-406289.html San Gil Columbia was one of the most scenic and traditional towns weve been to. This area is widely known for the outdoor activities including white water rafting cave swimming tours hiking and 10 bungee jumping Haha After our 5 hr bus trip from Bogota we were wonderfully welcomed by Shaun at Macondo Hostel. No wonder Lonely Planet tells travelers to see him The hostel was comfortab http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/San-Gil/Barichara/blog-406286.html A visit to Columbia was not part of our original travel plans so we were naturally excited Chrissy Id say apprehensive to be boarding a plane headed to Bogota There is an obvious negative stereotype associated with Columbia due to the heavy flow of cocaine and the ruthless history of internal conflict but we met so many travelers who claimed that Columbia was their favorite South American c http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Bogota/blog-406285.html After another overnight bus we arrived in Salvador de Bahia famous for preserving traditional Bahian culture samba music the martialdance art of capoeira Rastafarian religion and for the worlds biggest party known as Carnival We arrived early around 6am then took a cab to Hotel Estrela in Pelourinho the historic district of town. Pelourinho means whipping post in Portuguese and the locat http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Bahia/Salvador/blog-406284.html We left Paraty and were bound for an idyllic surf town in the North of Brazil called Itacare. There was no direct bus so we made the 2 hour trip back to Rio de Janerio which is absolutely stunning at night and then arranged for a 25hr overnight bus to Ilheus. We made a bet about how many times this bus would stop along the way with the maximum number of stops being 10. Lucky for us this pa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Bahia/Itacar-/blog-406283.html In a state of disarray Chrissy and I had no idea we would end up in Paraty until our boat arrived back at the mainland from Isla Grande. We ran into Roey and Nero Israli travelers we kept crossing paths with and they described a quiet colonial town on the Costa Verde green coast only a short bus ride from the port of Angra Dos Reis. Since we had no other plans it sounded perfect Paraty http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Paraty/blog-399550.html After spending a week in Rio de Janerio we were ready for some peace and quiet and a little beach time to recover We were in luck some of Brazil's most gorgeous beaches and exotic rainforests can be found 200 km south of Rio on the island of Isla Grande. Isla Grande boasts over 200 beaches and historically was a pirates hideaway and was later used as a prison. Interesting enough for us We l http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ilha-Grande/blog-399549.html There is a reason Rio de Janerio is famous It is a sprawling city of over 6 million people built amist patches of jungle and lush mountains filled with monkeys and tropical birds. It has world class beaches Copacabana and Impanema magnificent views from both Sugar Loaf Mountain and Cristo Redeemer and a raw none stop night life where anything can and does happen The beaches in Rio are wh http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-399548.html Iguazu Falls stradles the National Border of Brazil and Argentina and there will always be controversy about which country provides the best view. In our opinion you should see both sides BUT if you only have one day... see it from Argentina. The Falls were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and is currently on the list as one of the New Natural Wonders of the World. The Guarani le http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Misiones/Puerto-Iguaz-/blog-399530.html What an excellent recommendation this island was While we were in Cusco Peru back in January we were given a recommendation by a random Brasilian traveler who was sharing our table who said to definitely make a visit to Florianopolis. The Irish surfer Skully and London Bloke Pete from Punto del Diablo made the journey to Florianapolis with us. We would eventually find ourselves with the http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Santa-Catarina/Florian-polis/blog-399528.html What an interesting find. Punta del Diablo is this neat little beach town and we were grateful that we had arrived after the high season. We loved the empty beaches and quiet atmosphere especially after our paradise in Cabo Polonio. It is a town of approximately 500 people but during the high season sees over 20000 per day Luckily for us on the day we arrived at the El Diablo Tranquilo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Uruguay/East/Punta-del-Diablo/blog-399521.html With no directions from our bus driver imagine that we were dropped on the side of the road just after sunset no doubt looking a little bewildered at the 1960s model monster truck parked on a nearby sandy road. We heard there were no official roads to Cabo Polonio and that we would need to hire some sort of alternative transportation to get us there...but this was too much we had to laugh http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Uruguay/East/Cabo-Polonio/blog-399515.html Piriapolis was a short 2 hour bus ride from Montevideo and promised to be a mystical adventure with much of its short history surrounding the ideals of a wealthy alchemist Don Francisco Piria who settled there and attempted to develop the seaside fishing village into a utopian city. Unfortunately for Chrissy and I the lore of this small alchemy town with a kabbalah background seemed more like http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Uruguay/East/blog-399246.html One of our favorite experiences thus far. We highly recommend to anyone who loves being outdoors. After 4 lazy days in Tacarembo we were ready for some work on the estancia which translates to ranch for our english speakers. We met Juan the ranch owner at the bus station picked up 2 other travelers and drove about 1 hour outside of Tacarembo where the spanish style farm house was nestled http://www.travelblog.org//Tacuarembo/blog-389192.html Tacuarembo is a quiet traditional gaucho farm town in northern Uruguay which also happens to be the birthplace of the lengendary Tango singer Carlos Gardel. Chrissy and I were on our way to the Pangea Estancia to work as ranch hands. We enjoyed the pleasant little town for 4 days and got to know the owners of all 3 local restraunts and its only internet cafe very well We were later informed http://www.travelblog.org//Tacuarembo/blog-389190.html Up until this point we have not shared some of the grueling traveling experiences that weve had to date. Today you will get a little taste of how frustrating and confusing Long Vacations can be. As some of you may not be aware getting and activating a Brasilian Tourist Visa is quite complex. IF you want to travel to Brasil from the US you must leave your passport at the Brasilian Embassy f http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-Grande-do-Sul/blog-389188.html