Cuenca 21.07.-17.08.11 On Thursday, 21.07.11 Michaela and Martin from Rosenheim gave me a lift in their rental car from VILCABAMBA to CUENCA. I was supposed to stay with the German Couchsurfer Ludger but as I arrived much earlier than agreed I stored my backpacks in the "Hostel Pousada del Sol". So I went for a quick sightseeing walk through CUENCA. CUENCA is the third biggest city (approx. 470.000 inhabitants) of Ecuador and with its numero...

Vilcabamba 17.07.- 21.07.11 After a 9 hour night bus from Huaraz to Trujillo (Peru), then another bus from Trujillo to Chiclayo, Peru (4 hours), then another bus from Chiclayo to Piura, Peru (3hours), then the next night bus from Piura to Loja in ECUADOR and then another last bus at 7am in the morning for two hours, I finally arrived at 9am in VILCAMAMBA. Puuhhh what a ride….approx. 27 hours and no bed for 6 days as I was trekking and camping before in ...

Huaraz - Santa Cruz Trek 10.07.-15.07.11 I left LIMA on Saturday, 09.07.11 and took the "Crus del Sur" night bus directly to HUARAZ in the north of Peru. HUARAZ is located at the foothills of the CORDILLERAS BLANCAS and with its 22 summits over 6000m it is the highest mountain range in the world outside of the Himalayas. When I arrived at 6.30am I took a taxi straight to my "Hostal Caroline" where I had a reservation. Unfortunately a...

Samaipata 01.06. - 06.07.11 The beautiful village of SAMAIPATA (1.650m) is set in the stunning wilderness in the foothills of the CORDILLERA ORIENTAL in Bolivia. A perfect base to chill, hike or explore the numerous sights e.g. the mystical pre-Inca site of "El Fuerte". I left Santa Cruz just after I had my last "Spanish Lesson" with Gladys on Friday morning, 01.07.11. The only way to get there was by taxi. So I waited at the "...

Santa Cruz 26.06 .- 01.07.11 My original plan was to fly from ASUNCION in Paraguay to QUITO in Ecuador….but as all flights were quite expensive I had only two choices….to either go all the way via bus through Bolivia and Peru which would have taken me probably 4-6 days or buy a cheaper flight to LIMA in Peru. As I definitely didn't want to spend 6 days in the bus I booked a flight from Santa Cruz in Bolivia to Lima in Peru…..and fortunately I foun...