Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2018 After much research about how best to access the Valle de las Ánimas (Valley of Souls), we decided we wanted to hike up the main canyon. Looking at satellite images from Google, it looked to be the widest canyon with best views. At least that's what the plan was. …
A Bolivian Introduction – part 1
Nov. 27 to 29, 2018 Once we settled back into Arica (the northernmost city in Chile, right on the ocean) from our time in Lauca National Park, and returned the rental car, we started planning our next move: Bolivia Bolivia loomed in my mind like a great impassable mountain. Both with its unparalleled beauty and …
Guatemala’s Holy Grail Birds: the warblers
Feb. 8 to 12, 2020 Every country that has unique or endemic bird species has a few Holy Grail species. The ones that everyone wants to see. They usually are spectacular birds with a reputation for being hard to see, or at the very least, are only from a small area that's hard to get …
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The cloud forest of El Biotopo del Quetzal
Feb. 6 & 7, 2020 The city of Cobán sits in the foothills along the eastern edge of the Guatemalan highlands. With the highlands acting as a natural barrier, the eastern foothill's cloud forest is isolated from the cloud forest along the western slope of the highlands. This means there are a few bird species …
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Guatemala’s Hidden Paradise: Semuc Champey
Feb. 3 to 6, 2020 With our 3-night stay in Tikal behind us, Stephanie and I looked forward to the rest of the country. We were only one week in to our 8 week trip in Guatemala, and we had many more adventures ahead of us. The next one being Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey (pronounced …
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From the Top of Chile – part 2
Click here to read about our first few days in Putre before going to Lauca National Park. Nov. 16 to 18, 2018 Feeling great, we jumped in our rented 2018 Nissan Kicks and headed towards Lauca National Park. I’ll tell you, that spunky compact-SUV soon turned into an old 1986 Nissan Maxima the higher up we …
The Magic of Tikal – part 2
Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2020 The early morning was warm but humid. The kind of humidity that makes you feel cold and clammy even though it's nearly 80 degrees fahrenheit (26C). My phone alarm sounded off from beside my head, but I was already awake. The Howler Monkeys beat my phone to the punch, …
The Magic of Tikal – part 1
Jan. 29, 2020 Imagine you are on an expedition, machete in-hand, slashing through the rainforest. All around you, Howler Monkeys scream like demons of the dark, and birds squawk and screech with unfamiliar songs calling you deeper into the forest. You’re drawn ever further into the forest almost by some gravitational force. Your breath quickens …
Our first taste of Guatemala!
Jan. 26 to 28, 2020 Even before we returned home from South America in the spring of 2019, we were planning our next trip: Guatemala 2020.We chose Guatemala for a number of reasons: cheap flights (because it's closer to the US), it's a smaller country so we will spend less time on buses, cheaper cost …
Torres del Paine
Feb. 22 to 26, 2019 If you Google “Patagonia" and "Chile” together, 19 of the first 20 images that come up are of Torres del Paine National Park. It’s on the cover of Lonely Planet’s travel guide to Chile, and has claimed to be the most visited national park in South America; and with good …