The last day of the Quilotoa Loop involves hiking from Chugchilan to Quilotoa. The first two days of the trek are training for today. It’s not only the longest day of the trail, but it’s also the hardest. Today has minimal downhill and more than half of the trail is just one very long climb …
The second day of the Quilotoa Loop involves hiking from Isinlivi to Chugchilan. I found it to be a bit harder than day one, but it’s still pretty manageable. Like every other day on this trail, you’ll hike down to the valley before ascending to an even higher elevation in the mountains of Ecuador. Here’s …
The first day of the Quilotoa Loop is a hike from Sigchos to Isinlivi. It’s the shortest of the three days spent hiking on the Quilotoa Loop, but it still comes with a decent amount of elevation gain. Walk through farmlands as you descend into the valley before climbing back up the mountains as you …
Located in Ecuador, the Quilotoa Loop is a popular hiking trail for tourists. While the exact route can vary slightly, most visitors start in Sigchos and spend three days hiking through the valleys and mountains to reach the Quilotoa Lagoon. The Quilotoa Loop is not the most difficult multi day trek I’ve done in South …
Hiking the Inca Trail brings many emotions. Over four days you’ll ascend into the mountains of Peru to hike over mountain passes and back down as you work your way to the legendary city of Machu Picchu. If you’re like me, you’ll also get added stress and anxiety due to mess ups with my booking. …
Have you seen that tall mountain in the background of Machu Picchu and decided “I think that would have a great view”? Well, you should know that that is Huayna Picchu and you can climb to the top for a fantastic view of Machu Picchu. It’s a tough climb, especially if you’ve just spent the …
There are numerous day trip options from Cusco, Peru, but one of my favorites was a hike through the Ausangate 7 Lakes. Along the way you’ll get views of mountains and glaciers, but the highlight is the walk around the lakes. They are picturesque and each lake is just slightly different, giving you ever changing …
Rainbow Mountain has become famous for its colorful mineral deposits, making it a popular place for people to take that perfect photo for Instagram. While Rainbow Mountain and the surrounding scenery is beautiful, it’s also important to know what you’re getting into. The hike to Rainbow Mountain is at high elevation and because of its …
If you’re hiking the Salkantay Trek from Challacancha to Aguas Calientes, your route will likely include a stop at the gorgeous Huamantay Lake. For those who aren’t hiking the full Salkantay Trek (like me), you can do a day trip to Laguna Huamantay to see it for yourself. Surrounded by towering mountains and gorgeous views, …
The Colca Canyon is located near Arequipa, Peru and is a major draw for anyone visiting the area. It’s one of the deepest canyons in the world (nearly twice the depth of the United States’ Grand Canyon) and is also famous for its nearby condors. While plenty of visitors will just visit the Colca Canyon …
