From Honduras to Mexico

In the month of November I was in Honduras and went through El Salvador and Guatemala pretty quick. My goal was to arrive in Mexico by December 1st to spend as much time as possible with my family who lives here.

So after Honduras I took the TICA Bus which goes from Panama to Tapachula, Mexico. Very great service and not too expensive. From Honduras to El Salvador I paid $15; from El Salvador to Guatemala $17, from Guatemala to Mexico $32. Tica Bus is a great way to cross borders because of their good reputation with immigration, it makes the process a lot easier.

The only border that where I was checked more than usual was El Salvador. From the entire bus only two were asked to get off to check their baggage, and I was one of them. I think they thought it was unusual to see a girl on her own traveling. So I took my bag off the bus and poor officer had to go through all my bags. The way I pack to create more space and organization is by putting everything in ziplock bags (good packing tip).

my packing technique!

So to check my backpack took about 30 minutes; the other passengers weren’t so happy about that. I in the other hand did not mind, and actually was grateful that there was some form of immigration checking.

In El Salvador I only spent two days. I spent it eating pupusas, at the beach and with my Salvadorian friend. 

After El Salvador, I was back on the TICA bus on my way to Guatemala. Crossing to Guatemala was simple as well and I was excited to finally see anti-trafficking posters at the border cross. I was impressed that the poster was not only to bring awareness of trafficking but it educates the reader about the difference of Smuggling people and Human-Trafficking.

Anti-trafficking poster

As soon as I arrived to the City of Guatemala I went straight to Antigua, which is about an hour away. In Guatemala I spent only 3 days. My time in Antigua was spent with the indigenous women who go to the city to sale their hand made art. I had an amazing time chatting with them and helping them attract the “gringos” to their stand 😀 Here are some pics of the ladies in my photoblog: RaquelCorina Photography

After Guatemala I took a bus to Tapachula, Mexico in Chiapas. OOOHH and how happy I was to be heading to Mexico. I had a smile the entire drive to Mexico which was about 7 hours. I was so happy one because I have family to see in Mexico and two because the ENTIRE year I was waiting for the moment to step on Mexico land. On the bus I think the reality of this incredible trip hit me. I kept thinking, WOW I cant believe I just crossed South and Central America in a span of one year and most of the way on my own! Its exciting when I think about it 🙂 

So now to Mexico! I will be stopping in Oaxaca, Guanajuato and Chihuahua. If I had more money I would go everywhere in 20 days! But I am in my last dollar so I figured if I go see family it will save me $$ jaja 🙂 

AHH Life is good! 

Next Stop Oaxaca!

Four days in Nicaragua

Me with the Nicaragua flag!

My time in Nicaragua was very brief and only in Managua. I arrived during the evening to Hostel Backpackers Inn, where they charge about $10 the night (no breakfast included). Overall it was a good hostel, with a nice pool and comfy pillow. There was only one restroom that was functioning, so that was a little iffy, but not too big of a deal.

The first day in Managua I spent doing NOTHING, which is so wonderful if you have been traveling for a long period of time. You know how everyone who has a routine life, usually spends Sundays or Saturdays at home watching tv, eating, sleeping and lounging around? Well when you travel that is very hard to do! Since I am being hosted in people’s homes most of the time, I feel like I have to always do something. Or I dont feel too at home to just turn on their tv, prop my feet up and watch endless reruns of friends 🙂 So the day in this hostel of doing nothing was wonderful! I just ate, watched tv and met some awesome travelers. One of which is a Brazilian guy who is doing the same trip as me BUT on his bike!

We spent the day talking about the places we visited and our experiences, trading info and listening to Brazilian music! He has kept an awesome blog and website of his travels, check this guy out! TripdoQuintal. Amazing guy to meet and follow 🙂

My other days in Managua was spent in a Couchsurfers Home, Zamir. What a great guy and what luck I had to find him! He was quite the tour guide and it was great to hear about his country from his perspective. I told him he should write a blog! With Zamir, we shared good conversations, meals and walks. I actually met him through the couch that took me in Panama. So it was a good connection! I actually met his mom who is a SocialWorker. I had a great conversation with her about my passion of Anti-Trafficking works in the country. Next Year, they should start seeing more awareness on the issue.

Couchsurfing Home= My Home

After two nights at Zamirs place I woke up at 3:00am to catch a 5:00am bus to Honduras. Oh the JOYS of traveling 😉

Next Stop San Pedro Sula, Honduras!

Feels like vacation in CostaRica!

Woo feels good to be caught up with the blog, I am writing about CostaRica, while still in CostaRica 😀

I arrived to CostaRica by Plane from Panama City, November 3rd. I usually DO NOT travel by plane but this time it was a must. Once I arrived to Panama, to my luck, there were celebrations and vacation time for the locals. So as soon as I arrived to the Panama bus station to buy my ticket to CostaRica, the lines were a hour wait and there wasn’t any buses leaving that night. I had to arrive to CostaRica by the 3rd to meet up with my cousin at the airport. So I took the plane

The reason why I had to arrive on schedule, was because my beautiful lovely cousin booked a two week long vacation for the both of us; with HOTELS, TRANSPORTATION and FOOD! I am so blessed for her. So for the last two weeks I have been enjoying staying in Hotels with AC, Amazing Beds and amazing food!! It has been a good break from sleeping in my sleeping bag, couches, bunk beds, floors, interesting beds and all with NO AC (which I am use to by now). Also the transportation service has been amazing. No need to go to bus terminals, or to negotiate a taxi price or wait for hours in the terminal for a bus to get there or carry my big backpack in a full public bus and trying to see how to get off my stop while cramming through people! AAAAA the life 😀 I think in ALL my life this is my FIRST “Vacation” of actually staying in hotels and focusing on my comfort! Everything has been SO AMAZINGLY beautiful and I couldn’t ask for more! I have been on a zipline, horseback riding, hot thermal waters, in the jungle, and in amazing peaceful hotels.

So what do I feel the difference is from hotel style traveling or backpacking traveling and which do I prefer? 

I prefer the budget backpacking experience! Of course we ALL need some type of get away and vacation in some point of our lives. However as I backpack on a budget there are sooo many experiences and amazing people that come along my path. I am almost always hosted by locals (for free), through CouchSurfing and usually I get free meals from these amazing people. If I do not have a contact in the city, than I stay in Youth Hostels where I spend about $10/day with wifi, shower, and usually breakfast included.

Its amazing to travel on a budget because of the adventure and to truly experience a country by its people, places, smells, food, weather etc. Instead of taxis I get the local transportation, where most always, I meet an amazing person. I have ridden horses, carriages, wagons, buses, cars, trucks, boats everything!! I love hotels and the comfort don’t get me wrong; but to be able to meet a local, stay in their home, meet their families and make lifelong relationships tops my comfort!

But hey Im not complaining! Im enjoying CostaRica like if its MY vacation! 🙂

Next Stop: NICARAGUA!!

Two Months in Ecuador

From August 15 to October 15, I was in the wonderful Ecuador 🙂 Once I arrived to Ecuador, I went to see my best amiga, Valeria Buendia, from Guayaquil. I spent about a week in her home where I was pampered with amazing food and amazing place to rest 🙂 It was wonderful.

Valeria Buendia

Since Valeria works like most people 😉 I decided to go for a trip until Valeria had some time off of work. So I planned a trip through some known places in Ecuador. Here is a map showing some of the places I visited:

I began the trip in Loja, which is down south. Where I was hosted by an amazing family, Diego Mauricio Rivera and another friend Daniel Alvarez. It took about 8 hours to arrive from Guayaquil. The great thing about Ecuador is that everything is so inexpensive! From all the countries, Ecuador wins for having cheap Transportation. They charge ONE dollar for every hour you travel on bus.

In Loja I stayed for about a week, where I also visited Vilcabamba. Vilcabamba is known to have a surprising amount of people who live to be more than 100 years old. It is believed that the water in Vilcabamba is what keeps them young. Being there I saw that many foreigners also wanted to live long lives; there are many foreigners living in VIlcabamba.

In VIlcabamba

After VIlcabamba I went to Riobamba where I stayed for another week. In Riobamba my goal was to see the famous Chimborazo Volcano. I did just that and along the way I met some great friends who took me to other amazing places.

The Chimborazo Volcano was also an experience. I took a bus from Rio Bamba to the Park which was about 25 cents and an hour long. I started the two to three hour walk, and since it was a Monday it felt as if I were the only one there. I really didnt go to my visit mentally prepared. The walk was more difficult than I thought. I felt the altitude in every step. Thank fully I was able to hand down a truck that was heading the same way. Although it was difficult, I made it to the second refuge which is about 5,000m high!

After Riobamba, I kept north towards Latacunga to see the famous Crater, Quilotoa. I arrived to Latacunga and had booked a hostel ahead of time. I stayed at Hostel Tiana, they charge 10 dollars a night in a dorm. They were pretty decent, they had hot showers and coffee 24/7. The reception service was great, I had questions about getting to Quilotoa. The lady explained different packets they offered, which was over my budget; but than she said that I can go on my own, it is very easy and inexpensive to do so. SOO I chose the cheap and more adventurous route. I woke up early to buy some snacks and to walk to the bus terminal. I caught a bus to Zimbahua for about 2 dollars and than a truck for another 2 dollars to the entrance of the park.

Quilotoa was one of the most beautiful places I have been in South America. It is a beautiful crater filled with aqua blue water. Lots of good energy in this place. I met two germans along the way which was nice for company 🙂

Quilotoa

My German friends 🙂

Quilotoa and Me

After Latacunga I took another bus to Quito. Around this time I was expecting a friend from Texas to come visit for about 10 days. I went straight to the hostel where I was to meet her, Blue House HOstel.  It was $8 a night but in a very busy area. Lots of bars and nightclubs.

With my friend Laurel, we went to several places. We stayed most of our days outside the city in Guayabamba. Where it was easy access to Otavalo, Cayambe and other pretty places. We went to Otavalo to the famous market. Than to Oyacachi to experience the Hot Termal waters, very nice!

Enjoying the Hot Thermal waters in Oyacachi

Than we went to see the Cotacachi Volcano and the Quicocha Crater. Very Very Beautiful!

Cuicocha Crater

Me at the Cuicocha Crater

Cotacachi Volcano and Cuicocha Crater

Cuicocha Crater

Cayambe

 After my friend Laurel returned to Texas, I went back to Riobamba to meet up with a friend. With this friend I went to Alausí where it is known to be the gate to the Devil’s nose, a famous mountain. Most people get to the devil’s nose by train, but thankfully my friend knew the way and we went walking. The scenery to get there was spectacular!

Kids heading home through the tracks

Walking towards the Devils nose

Loving Nature!

the Devils nose mountain.

After Alausí, I went to the ever famous Beach Town, Montañita! Montañita was a lot like a city I visited in Peru, Mancora. Lots of young people, surfers, party animals. I went to Montañita with my friend to go meet up with some other people who did paragliding. I thought it would be very cool to meet these guys and to see if I can get a chance to paraglide! So after a long 8 hours on a bus, we arrived to Montañita and looked for a random hostel that was inexpensive and had wifi. We paid $7 per night. My time in Montañita was short, which I was happy about since I am a more calm person and do not like the party scene much. I was glad I got to Paraglide and take amazing pictures of the beach! 

Thats Me!

The Guys!

that is me up there 🙂

After that I finally met up with my bestie Valeria and her boyfriend Justin, where we spent the weekend in a very lovely beach house! This place was so relaxing and beautiful!!

After my time with my bestie, I than spent some time in Cuenca and Paute where I continued to paraglide and hang out with some awesome people.

Overall my time in Ecuador was one of my favorites! I didnt really plan to spend two months there but something about this country just made me not want to leave! I met incredible people and made incredible friends! I am so blessed to have amazing people cross my path. I hope to come back to this country!!

To see more awesome pics of Ecuador check out my FB photopage: RaquelCorina

Next Stop, COLOMBIAAAA 🙂

Catching up with the Blog :)

Hello friends!

For those who have been keeping up with the blog, have seen that I have not written anything in two months! Ahh!

Well I finally have my computer in my hands which makes it so much easier to keep up with writing and posting pictures. 

The following post will be about the countries I have visited in the past two months: Ecuador, Colombia and Panama. I am currently in Costa Rica! 

Please bare with me 🙂 

A quick trip through Peru

During July, my brother and I finally made it to Peru, after a several days in Bolivia.

We entered Peru crossing Lake Titicaca entering Puno, Peru. We just passed through Uyuni. We had a few hours to spare so we took a little tour through the Isla de Uros.

Isla de Uros is an artificial island made by the Uro people. They live off of tourist coming to their Island to buy artifacts or to take tours around the lake.

Isla de Uros

Isla de Uros

Isla de Uros

Isla de Uros

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a few hours in Puno, we were on our way to the famous Cusco to head torwards Machupicchu!

We stayed 5 days in Machupicchu! We did a tour of 2 days and one night for the Machupicchu tour. It was quite an adventure and expensive. To see the Machupicchu, the regular price to enter is $40, US dollars. We paid $150 for transportation to the city before Aguas Calientes (Where the famous Ruins begin). The tour included transportation, to and from Cusco, food, one night in a hostel and the entrance to the Park.

It was all pretty fast to be honest. We took a 3 to 4 hour van ride to the Electrica city where we walked 2 hours following the rails of the train. We walked with a group of other travelers, where we later became great friends. We arriveda round 8 o 9pm, we were dead tired and hungry! We had a quick dinner and went straight to bed. We than woke up at 4:00am to be at the entrance line at 5:00am. We began the 2 hour hike up to MachuPiccho, where some decided to take a bus. The 2 hour hike is NO JOKE! But I made it 🙂

We stayed a few hours enjoying MachuPichho and being guided around the amazing ruins. After a few hours we walked back down to catch a train back to the Electrica city where a van was waiting for us to head back to Cusco where we rested for another day.

Overall, Machupiccho is quite the site. Amazing amazing place!

Walking through the rain trails

With our friends that we made along the way

The group that we walked two hours with.

PERU

MachuPicho!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the amazing MachuPichho, we took a 22 hour bus ride to Lima! Horrible ride but we were finally in our last stop. We decided than to stay only 2 days in Lima and than take a 17 hour bus ride to Mancora, to get some beach and sun before my brother went back home. My brother stayed about 3 days and I stayed 7 days. It was very relaxing and a pretty good spiritual reenergizer. After Mancora, I than decided to head to ECUADOR!

Mancora, Peru!

8 months and counting!

Time has passed! Its my 8th month now of traveling! Time flies!

Since Buenos Aires, Argentina (which was my last post), I have travelled to North Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and now I am in Ecuador! Wooo..

I wanted to update a bit on the places I saw and people I met along the way. There is so much to say about every place and every day that went by.

So the trip began in Buenos Aires, after the BA, we headed towards Rosario, where we were hosted by Cristian. Great guy who has lived abroad for many years and now opens his amazing home to backpackers or travelers. In Rosario we stayed only for three days and two nights. During this time, I got super sick with a fever. Thankfully, my lovely brother was there to make me soup and tea. Its good to have family when I am sick. Rosario is a popular city because it is the city where two great Argentinos were born: Che Guevarra and Lionel Messi!

We than went north torwards Cordoba where I visited my good friend, whom I studied with in Brasil 2009. It was a great visit!

Than we went to Tucuman where it was COLD! But we saw some beautiful mountains and lots of Lamas.

Than we crossed over to Bolivia through Villazon! What an experience. We arrive around 6 or 7am and it is freezing!! We had to go through immigration to get our visas stamps and pay a large fee in dollars. If you ever cross from Argentina to Bolivia by land, and you a US passport, make sure to take fresh bills. They do not accept torn or worn bills. So we had to walk back and forth from countries to get fresh dollars.

From Villazon we arrived to Tupiza where we stayed only a day than we took a train to Uyuni, the gateway to the salt flats. If I would do it again, I would opt to take the BUS. That train ride was scary and a bit unappropiate with the movies they were showing lol.

We finally arrived to Uyuni around 2am. IT WAS FREEZING! So much so, that my skin was so dry it began to break and I had little cuts around my legs! Now I always put a ton of lotion! Uyuni was great! We went to the Salt Flat and I ate lama! Amazing place.

Uyuni Salt Flats

Uyuni Salt Flats

Than we took a bus to La Paz, Bolivia! In La Paz my brother and I did the Famous death road bike ride! AMAZING bike ride!! Scary as heck but so worth it!

Death Road in Bolivia

After Bolivia we than continued to Copacabana to see the famous Lake Ticitaca! BEAUTIFUL place!

Lake Ticikaka

Ok well I am rushing this blog post because I am in an Internet Cafe. I will come back when I have time to put more details of the people I met and post more photos. I am in Ecuador right now so I am trying to catch up with the travel blog!

CHeck out my photos on my Facebook photopage: https://www.facebook.com/RaquelCorina

Hugs!