Info, tips, stories, and hilarious rookie mistakes I’ve made around the world
Loja (pictured above) and Vilcabamba. I didn’t stray too far from the conventional backpacker route in Ecuador. I hit the mainstay stops of Quito, Baños, Cuenca, and Montañita. The easy backpacking route in Ecuador takes you from Quito down through the Andes to Cuenca, and then west to...
People from Quito and Guayaquil have a bit of a rivalry with each other. They both think their city is better, and they’ll talk trash with each other about why. One thing they can agree on though is that Cuenca is the cream of the crop. It doesn’t have anywhere near the size of Quito or...
Baños de Agua Santa. It´s one of the most prominent tourist destinations in all of Ecuador. I knew it was a popular spot but I didn’t realize how big it was amongst foreigners. I thought it was just gonna be a beautiful little mountain town, which it is, but I wasn´t expecting to see so...
I had no expectations when I went to Otavalo. I knew about the market on Saturdays but that was it. I took a bus there on a Friday afternoon so that I could visit the market on Saturday and had plans to head back on Sunday. It’s about a 2-hour bus ride or so from the Carcelen Terminal in...
Ohhhh Quito. I didn’t love nor hate this city. Its size is impressive, its altitude is near suffocating (until you get used to it), and its historic centre is scattered with beautifully preserved colonial architecture. Overlooking the centro histórico is the largest neo-Gothic basilica in...
Izhcayluma. The trail that’s hard to say and almost harder to follow. But my God what amazing views it provides if you can find your way to the top. The hike took me about 5 hours in total to walk from the center of town in Vilcabamba and back. If you’re staying at Izhcayluma Hostel, the...
I was sitting in Baguia, Timor-Leste wondering if I should flee the country and return home before borders close. My other option was to ride out the pandemic for however long that may be in the small, remote village. Most of the friends and family I talked to told me it was a no-brainer...
Arriving by plane at night it was tough to tell if it was mountain peaks or clouds that were obstructing my view of the lights far below. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and finds itself nestled in a valley high in the Andes mountains. Surrounded by volcanic peaks on seemingly all sides...
Have you heard of mezcal? Isn’t it the same as tequila? Well, yes but no. Some mezcals might have a similar taste to tequila, but for the most part, mezcal has a more full, smooth, smoky flavour. A good mezcal tastes nothing like tequila. That’s not just me being pretentious – like saying...
Whether you’re going to your 200th country or your 2nd, this checklist doesn’t change. These 7 things will make sure that your trip goes as smooth and comfortable as possible, and that you don’t get turned back at customs. Stay safe while traveling the world. Here are my 21 basic travel...