lesstakendestination

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DESTINATION: SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka, which means “to glitter,” is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. This beautiful country offers large stretches of sandy beaches, lush rainforests, quaint towns, exotic wildlife and ancient ruins. I stayed for about 12 days and will indulge you on the highlights from my adventure!

The route:

After landing in Colombo, my friend and I hired a driver we somewhat randomly met the airport. He was our personal driver for the next 8 days. We learned it is common for tourists to hire a personal driver to take them all over the country. The cost was about $40/day and we found our driver to be trustworthy and knowledgable. Just be wary, the drivers will want to bring you to tourist traps, just kindly say no and stick to your agenda.

From Colombo, we drove for a couple hours to Pinnawala for a one night stay at the Elephant Bay Hotel. The hotel is strategically located along the river where the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage take the elephants to bathe a couple times a day. Here you can have the special experience of relaxing at the pool while the elephants cool off in the river next to you. There was a squad of small school kids who were on a field trip to see the elephants the day we were there. It was a cuteness overload. Pinnawala is very small and we found one night here is all you need.

Next, we headed an hour west to Kandy. Kandy a major city in Sri Lanka; surrounding a lake are sprawling hills filled with tea plants. We stayed at a OZO Kandy, which has a sweet roof top pool and bar. Kandy also has a lot of religious importance. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple holding Buddha’s actual tooth. When visiting the bustling temple be sure to dress modestly, take your shoes off and respect the many Buddhist who come here to worship. Photos are allowed in certain areas. After a long day exploring, catch happy hour perched over the lake at Slightly Chilled.

After a couple days in Kandy, we hopped on a 7 hour train adventure to Ella. This stretch of train is arguably the most scenic train ride in the world. Get your ticket in advance as this train is usually full. While there are first class tickets available that offer air conditioning, you cant open the windows there. In the second and third class cars windows and doors are open and you can lean out to witness the sprawling tea hills and waterfalls. Make sure your go pro is charged! 

Ella was my favorite stop in Sri Lanka. Ella is a tranquil destination located in the cooler climate in the rainforest. We splurged and stayed at 98 Acres Resort, just outside town tucked up in the cloud cover hills. If you stay here be sure to indulge in their spa. Near the hotel is Little Adam’s Peak, an easy hour hike that rewards you with panoramic views of Ella. Also nearby is the Nine Arch Bridge, in epic colonial bridge for the train. There is also a pretty fun zip line for the adrenaline junkies. After all the adventures, sit in a bean bag, listen to cool music, and relax with a drink at Cafe One Love. Be sure to get dinner under the thatched roof of Cafe Chill. 

After the rainforest we switched gears and headed to Hikkaduwa, a small boho town on the southern coast. We asked our driver to stop in Galle, the town next door, to go jewelry shopping. After much research, we decided to buy custom rings at Lihiniya Gems. They are certified by the government, have great customer service, delivered our rings to our hotel 2 days later and gave us paper certificates of authenticity. Our driver tried to take us to other gem factories, but be ware, the drivers get a kick back if you purchase from these dealers and they are often overpriced. 

In Hikkaduwa, we stayed At East Beach Hotel. Here we enjoyed beautiful sunsets, long walks on the beach and hit up the small shops in town. After a few days of being beach bums we ventured back to Colombo via train.

We wrapped up our trip with a couple nights at Marino Beach Hotel in Colombo. After we soaked in the roof top pool we swung by Living Art Tattoo Studio for a tattoo to top off the trip.

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: BORACAY, PHILIPPINES 

Boracay is a small island paradise an hour flight south of the capital Manilla. Only accessible by boat, Boracay offers long stretches of sandy beaches, turquoise water and entertainment late into the night. You’ll fall in love with the friendly people, delicious food and epic sunsets.

Getting there:

The airport closest to Boracay is Catalan. Once you land at the tiny airport in Catalan, walk outside and across the street, you’ll see a booth where you can catch a tuk tuk. They offer package deals that include tuk tuk, ferry ticket and transportation once you get to Boracay. Or you can choose to buy all these steps separately. I did both options. While I might have saved a few dollars buying individual tickets, it was definitely more convenient doing the package deal on the way back. Your hotel may also help with transportation from the airport. All in all it took about an hour to get from the airport to our hotel.

Stay:

Most of the action is along White Beach, a 2.3 mile strip of amazing sandy beach with mild surf. The beach is divided into 3 stations. Station 2 and 3 have the best bars and activities in my opinion.

I came to Boracay mostly to dive and get my nitrox certification so I stayed at Calypso Dive Resort. Calypso is comfortable and small beach side resort and dive shop.  Non-divers will also enjoy this resort as it is close to everything else Boracay has to offer. I especially enjoyed the free breakfast included with the room, it was small but perfect sustenance before a dive. 

To do:

- Scuba dive! While there are better places to dive in the Philippines than Boracay, I choose Boracay because of its easy accessibility, diving and social experience. Boracay has a ship wreck and a plane wreck which is pretty unique. I enjoyed the many turtle, cuttlefish, octopus and shark sightings. I could have done without the jellyfish, alas I was there in March, prime jelly season. *calamansi are a native citrus fruit that will soothe a jelly sting.

- Eat delicious food and enjoy happy hour! See my favorite selection below

- Catch some live music! Happening up and down White Beach after sunset.

- Shop! There are endless beach side shops with great deals to be had. I especially liked the knock off gear. My $2 Louis Vitton Havianas was probably my favorite purchase.

- Hop onto one of the many sailboats off of white beach! You can go island hopping all day for just take an hour for a sunset sail. 

Eat:

Nonie’s - best for fresh organic food. Killer smoothies, rice bowls and all things vegetarian. 

Sunnyside Cafe - best breakfast, coffee and insane waffles.

Aplaya - Craving italian food? Come get your beach front carb fix here.

EPIC - all day happy hour every day, drinks and food. Also turns into a nightclub after sunset.

Cha Cha - another awesome beach side happy hour, tapas and live music.

Everything UBE flavored!

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: HAKUBA, JAPAN

Go on an adventure to the Japanese Alps! Check your skis or rent them there, either way get ready to experience Japow. If your legs get tired, swing by a lodge for some mid mountain sake, sushi or ramen. Soak your sore body in a natural onsen and get ready to go again in the morning.  

WHERE TO STAY:

Herb no Yado Kunugi is a traditional ryokan that offers Japanese style rooms and 3 private onsens. The ryokan is situated in Echoland, the heart of Hakuba, close to restaurants and the bus stop that takes you to the chair lifts. The hosts, Joe and June, are a Japanese couple that have shared their ryokan since the 1998 Olympics in Hakuba. Joe is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the mountains. He can let you know where to rent gear, which mountain has the best conditions and how to get to the mountain. Joe also helped us book reservations for dinner each night and went out of his way to drive us to the bus stop two times! Joe and June also made us dinner one night, it was the best dinner I had in Japan. If you visit Hakuba, you must stay here!

WHAT TO DO:

Hakuba is a special ski destination that boasts 10 mountains! Each mountain is accessible from Hakuba via free shuttle bus. The farthest mountain is Cortina, 45 minutes away. The great thing about Hakuba is if you get bored with one mountain or looking for something else you can hop on the free shuttle and try a different mountain. Each mountain is different which means Hakuba has something to offer for everyone. Below are my personal highlights:

- Hakuba 47/ Goryu: these are technically 2 different mountains but they are connected which means double the fun! I even saw snow monkeys from the gondola. Hakuba 47 has a great park while Goryu has the largest area for night skiing. There is also some very cool un-patrolled tree riding areas for those of you looking to shred that tree pow gnar.

- Happo-one : the biggest of the 10 resorts offers many runs in all skill levels. This mountain also offers a variety of mid mountain lodges offering ramen, sushi and beer from vending machines! This mountain also has a lot of fun nightlife and bars. Snow Machine festival is one of many groovy events that happen on the mountain.

- Cortina is great for back country! - Tsugaike has a great town at the base and also has a really fun park up top. There is a gondola that takes a half hour but goes from the base to the top! I wish I spent more time on this mountain, no one told me how fun this hidden treasure is.

- If you need a break from all the shredding, make a visit to the snow monkeys!

EAT:

-  Takahashike : get your spicy noods here! Pair it with a big draft sopporo beer and crispy goyza! This place is small and quaint and consistently has a line to get in.

-  Izakaya Hie : authentic Japanese food also served in an intimate setting, reservations recommended.

QUICK TIPS:

- Get an Epic pass! I paid $729 for an epic local pass and used my pass for all 5 days I was in Hakuba. It was so easy and efficient! 

- Getting to/from Hakuba from Narita Airport there is an 8 hour bus that costs $90 OR if youre already in Tokyo, the shinkansen (bullet train) + bus is another option that only takes about 3 hours and costs about the same as the 8 hours bus. 

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: BURNING MAN

Okay guys, let’s indulge on the unique ‘destination’ called Burning Man. A destination, culture, experience, event, community - Burning Man is many things to many people. I’m just going to share from my experience. Let’s dive in by laying out the basics.

KNOW: the 10 principles of Burning Man

Radical Inclusion Gifting Decommodification Radical Self-reliance Communal Effort Civic Responsibility Leaving No Trace Participation Immediacy

Leave no trace - pick up your MOOP

You can go with a camp or by yourself. I appreciate the camp experience as you get quality time with friends and make new friends. Contribute to a small community and help each other out. Building a camp with your squad is a pretty incredible experience. It is hard work, but you reap what you sow. Shout out Camp WherElse!

TICKETS. Make a burner profile to register and on ticket day cross your fingers and toes as you wait in a digital line. If that fails, pray to the good karma gods and ask around. There is a ticket out there for you if you are determined and ready to go.

HOW TO GET THERE In a perfect world it takes about 22 hours to drive from Seattle to Black Rock City, Nevada. I recommend breaking the voyage up by spending the night in lovely Bend, Oregon. Make sure you don’t speed and all your bikes and gear are safely loaded on your vehicle, there are many police along the road to the Burn.

WHAT TO BRING - LOTS OF WATER. like 1.5 gallon per person/day - Food! Freeze dried, deeply frozen, fresh... make a plan on how you want to eat for the next 7 days. Also think about how your food is packaged so you can minimize your waste. - I’ve been doing the camping thing in a Kodiak canvas tent with a carport over it to provide shade.  - Look into evap coolers or swamp coolers to keep you cool - A solid cooler! I recommend RTIC brand - A bike and lock! I had an electric bike this year and it was pretty rad. - Energy source. Solar panels and/or a generator + fuel. - All kinds of lights! Solar and battery operated. For your camp, for your bike and for your body. Don’t be a dark wad. - Lotion, baby wipes, essential oils, first aid kit.. all your essentials to keep you feeling fresh. - Trash/recycle bags. Vessels for your gray water. - Gifts! Things to offer new friends or to help someone in need.

WHAT TO WEAR That’s totally up to you, express yourself! When it’s hot, its hot! I was rocking swim suits and leotards most day time. Night gets cold, so bring those fur jackets and onesies. Having layers is a good idea as the weather changes often.

Speaking of weather, bring some heavy duty dust masks and goggles for the white out sand storms that can happen multiple times a day. Durable gloves will protect your hands during camp built and tear down.

Avoid outfits with feathers or loose beads that might fall off and cause MOOP.

DO - Drink water! - Watch The Man Burn - Have a moment at The Temple - Party with Daft Punk at the Trash Fence - Peruse the hundreds of art installations - Hop on an art car! Cruise the playa and meet new friends. - Check out the Rockstar Librarian for the bible of music happening at the burn but don’t try to stick to your plans. - You’ll get a pamphlet of other activities going on when you get your ticket in the mail. - Hit up Reddit for tips and tricks - Pace yourself. Burn is an endurance sport. Listen to your body, sleep when you need to, eat when you need to. Don’t worry about FOMO there’s always something going on.

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: UBUD, BALI, INDONESIA 

After 26 hours of flying I was sooo excited to land in Bali. I purchased decent flights from Seattle for about $800 round trip thru China Airlines. China Airlines isn’t my favorite to be completely honest. I learned to sign up for the veggie meal option before the flight after I got stuck with seafood pasta as my on board meal. My flight from SF > Taipei was 14 hours so this is also a good flight to be sure you have a window or isle seat.

I arranged transportation from the Ngurah Rai International Airport  in Denpasar to Ubud through my accommodation, Bambu Indah, for 400,000 Indonesian Rupiah ($26 USD). There are many taxi options you can get once you land, but after such a long flight I didn’t want to deal with haggling prices with a taxi. My pre-arranged car was so great, I quickly found him holding a bamboo sign with me name and he greeted me with a refreshing drink and snack!

WHERE TO STAY:

I have visited 29 countries and 6 continents and Bambu Indah is hands down my favorite accommodation I have had the pleasure to stay in. It is my favorite for many reasons: comfortable bed, beautiful landscape, unique architecture, free yoga, spa, natural swimming pools, fresh meals farmed on site, friendly staff and sustainable, plastic free culture. The owner of Bambu Indah is actually a Canadian by the name of John Hardy who has lived in Bali for over 20 years. I learned about John first through a friend who recommended me his TED talk, then again by the staff at Bambu Indah (who really seem to like the guy). 

Bambu Indah is remarkably sustainable and it is so inspiring. Meals are served on banana leaves, left overs are fed to the animals or composted, houses are made of bamboo. 

I spent an entire day here rope swinging into the natural pools, lounging over the river in a pod, getting a full body hour massage for $30, eating, drinking and enjoyed some local shopping. Bambu Indah hosts a mini Sunday market with fresh fruit and unique jewelry crafted by local artists. 

TO DO:

While many people rent scooters and check the sites on their own, I opted to hire a driver and chill with the AC and not stress about finding directions or getting in an accident. The staff at Bambu Indah arranged a private driver for the day which cost me 600,00 IR ($40 USD). 

I took advantage of my crazy jet lag and woke up early one morning to check out the infamous Bali swing over the rice terraces. I spent almost 3 hours here learning about and tasting luwak coffee and various local teas (for free), taking advantage of the abundant picturesque photos ops, and swinging in the “mega super extreme” swing. The swing cost $10 for about 5 minutes getting launched over the rice terraces, don’t worry you are harnessed into the swing.

Next, I asked my diver to take me to the ‘water temple’ or Tirta Empul. This is a Hindu Balinese temple where the sacred springs are said to have been created by The God Indra and possess curative properties. Just as at other temples and sacred sites around the island, you will need to put on a ‘sarong’ before entering the premises. The sarongs are available at the temple’s entrance and can be rented for a small donation.

Next stop is the Monkey Forest! Admission is 50,000 IRD ($4 USD), a great price to hang with the over 700 monkeys that live there. These animals are very active and not scared of you! Be sure to keep your shiny valuables in secure locations, these monkeys are known to pick your pockets.

I ran out of time and tragically missed the Art Market so please please go for me!

QUICK TIPS

- Tipping is not the norm here - No visa required before entry if your visit is 30 days or less, but they do require proof of flight leaving Bali - Best weather is May - September, less crowded September - November.

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is truly a bucket list experience. This world wonder is said to be the most bio-diverse place on earth hosting over 2,000 different types of fish and new ones being discovered each year! Sadly, due to global warming, the reef is experiencing bleaching and dying at an alarming rate. I urge you to go experience this magical place while it is still open to tourists. Though parts are suffering, parts of the reef still thrive! I dove along side quite a few reef sharks and was told the more sharks, the healthier the reef.

GETTING THERE: The reef is most accessible from Cairns, Australia which also conveniently has an international airport. The reef is in a tropical environment and has warm waters year round. I visited in January which is wet season & warmest waters. Cairns experienced monsoon rains while I was visiting, but on the reef we had beautiful sunny weather.

STAY: Globetrotters International hostel is 10 minutes from the airport and $50 usd for a private room, $14 bunks, shared bathrooms. This is a chill, not party, hostel with nice communal kitchens, lounge areas, pool and free basic breakfast. My flight landed at 6am and although check in wasn’t until 2, they let me crash on couches until my room was ready. 

I splurged on an airbnb at the end of my stay. While it was a bit outside of town it made up for it in bohemian charm and lovely hosts. I would definitely stay here again. 

DO: I did a 2 night/3 day liveaboard on the Ocean Quest through Divers Den and it was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. I paid $555 for a private room for the 3 days, all meals included and hotel transfer. They are really good about accommodating special diets. From Cairns, you depart on a high speed catamaran to the outer reef/ Norman Reef and hop in the water for a dive before transferring to the bigger Ocean Quest boat. Ocean Quest can hold about 40 guests. Once on board they feed you and take you to your room. Drop your bags and get ready for another dive! There are 5 dives offered each day, 4 day dives and a night dive. You can dive as much or little as you’d like. Dives and equipment are included, $15 extra if you want a guide for your dive. I HIGHLY recommend the sunrise dive and the night dive, both dives are so unique! They move the boat a couple times a day so you can experience numerous different sites with a variety of fish. I was so excited to see stingrays, parrot fish, clown fish, sharks, pufferfish and a particularly big friendly humphead wrasse named Wally.

Divers Den also offers certification classes on board the Ocean Quest. I earned my PADI advanced open water certification while on board. As of now the USD is stronger than the Australian dollar, so take advantage and get certified! 

CONSIDER: - Do you get seasick? Consider bringing ginger supplements or a scopolamine patches - Uber is a thing here! Handy for the airport.

[lesstakendestination]

Destination: Patagonia: Chile & Argentina

The final instillation of my South American blogging ends with Patagonia. Adventuring to Patagonia is certainly a trek and while there are many ways to get there & do it, I’ll share with you my path. From Santiago, Chile, I hopped on a 3.5 hour flight way south to Punta Arenas, also known as the gateway to Antarctica. I spent one night in quiet Punta Arenas and hopped on a bus to Puerto Natales to plan some serious hiking. Patagonia is refreshingly rustic but with that booking travel and (camping) accommodations online before you get there can be challenging. I suggest getting to Puerto Natales quickly to book your things in person if you have trouble booking online like I did. I planned to spend 2 weeks in Patagonia, so I got to Puerto Natales and hustled to book refugios for the W circuit in Torres del Paine. I then had a week to kill before hiking TDP so I booked buses to Argentina to explore El Calafate and El Chalten. Bus, refugio and other helpful info will be listed later on in this post. Long story short I spent 2 nights in El Calafate to see Perito Moreno then headed to El Chalten for 4 days. The vibe in El Chalten is so unique and laid back I wish I could have stayed longer. After my time in El Chalten I bused back thru El Calafate and back to Puerto Natales and embarked on 4 days/3 nights in Torres del Paine. I then headed back to Punta Arenas and flew to Santiago where I spent a couple nights before flying 26 hours back to Seattle.

Highlights: - Torres Del Paine: Hiking the “W”  - Perito Moreno - Hiking in El Chalten: my favorite hike was Laguna Torre followed by the grueling but insanely beautiful Laguna de los Tres. The epic Fitz Roy can be seen from both hikes along with numerous other waterfalls, birds, berries and glaciers. - La Walferia in El Chalten just about took my breath away. You definitely deserve these waffles before and after your hiking! - La Tapera hosted my favorite dinner in my entire 2 months in South America. The Steak and Malbec were exceptional. The atmosphere was so warm and service friendly, do not skip this place!

Where to stay: Punta Arenas: Hospedaje Costanera is a cozy house shared with other coming from and going to adventures in Patagonia. Expect shared bathrooms and simple free breakfast. They have wifi and a printer which is handy to print off any tickets or reservations you may need for your adventures in Patagonia as Wifi is VERY hard to come by.

Puerto Natales: El Patagonico Hostal WOW simply the best hostel experience. Most comfortable beds in South America and perfect location in the heart of town. Solid communal kitchen and incredible knowledgeable staff that helped me plan my last minute Torres Del Paine trek AND helped me figure out some of my plans for Argentina. They also rented me all my gear for my trek; sleeping bag, camp stove, butane, utensils, sleeping pad even waterproof pants. I stayed here on two separate occasions actually and could not recommend this place more. 

El Calafate: I stayed in an Airbnb here, it was ok but not worth a mention. I was scrambling last minute to book things and hostels were full and $90/night, so plan accordingly..

El Chalten: Condor de los Andes was a lovely stay. We had a big room with a hot shower, close to the bus station, cheap beers, not sure what more you could ask for. It was fun to chill in the communal spaces with beers and maps talking with other hikers and plotting tomorrows hike.

How to book:

Refugios in TDP: there are 3 companies that you can book your stay in Torres del Paine through:

-Fantastico Sur -Vertice -Conaf (free camping, books out months in advance)

There is no one right way to hike the W or to explore the park in any way for that manner. (The O hike must be done counter clockwise). Due to the new strict reservation requirements staying flexible and being creative will help you get the most out of the park.

⁃   My ‘W’ trek: Paine Grande> Refugio Gray> Chilano

Here’s some helpful insight on buses in Patagonia.. I’ll also post the company names linked to their sites. 

-Bus Sur -Bus Zaajh -Cootra 

       ⁃       Expect some bus and camping websites to be broken and/or non existent. you must visit their offices in person to book with them (nope, you can’t call them either).

       ⁃       Bus schedules and frequencies depend on the time of year. In low season buses do not run everyday so check when buses run before booking accommodation.

       ⁃       In high season buses fill up 2 or 3 days in advance so book as soon as possible to make the most of your time.

Tips:

       ⁃       January & February is considered high season. The rustic Patagonian infrastructure can hardly handle the hoards of tourist coming to this increasingly popular destination. Book busses and accommodation as early as possible. While I did get away with some bookings made 3 days before for some bus and hostel reservations due to luck, I also missed out on ideal busses and had to be flexible with our plans.

       ⁃       Chile is expensive, whoa! Grabbing a burger and a beer will easily set you back $20. Not to mention all the busses and catamaran tickets. Take advantage of your hostels kitchen or camping stove an cook some meals for yourself. I’m also sad to report I didn’t find much street food so cheap your way out of this problem either.

       ⁃       Since the reservation system is a new requirement for Torres del Paine this year, Fantastico Sur and Vertice struggle to fix broken websites. Hopefully as they get use to this new system their technology will advance and customer satisfaction improve. Again, calling them was also impossible, but showing up to their office in person I was met with very accommodating customer service and hey helped me throw together a special time in Patagonia.

Cheers! Happy adventuring :)

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA

For me, visiting the Bolivian salts flats was a bucket list experience . Visiting January - March is risky since the flats flood in the rainy season, but the water creates a reflective effect that is out of this world. Also, since the salt flats are so large and flat they trick the eye; It is almost impossible to determine where the earth ends and sky begins. Creative juices can’t help but to flow in this bizarre scenery. GETTING THERE: Uyuni is most easily accessible by flight or night bus from the capitol city, La Paz. The bus will drop you off in Uyuni around 7am. If flying, which I recommend, try for the early 8:30 am flight that will get you to Uyuni by 9:30. Salt flat tours leave Uyuni around 10/10:30 am. While we had our tour booked in advance, it is possible to book a tour day of. Uyuni is a small town with a number of quaint hostels but honestly don’t spend more time there than you need to. TOUR RECOMMENDATION: Perla de Bolivia is a new yet fantastic tour agency that provides an array of salt flat/ desert excursions. The 3 day/2 night tour is by far the most popular. I paid $190 USD for my tour which included meals and accommodation. The tour I purchased included an English speaking guide who was very knowledgeable about Bolivia, salt flats, desert and so much more. You can expect to be driven in a Toyota Land Cruiser for 3 days making many stops for photos, bathroom and food. It’s amazing the rugged terrain the land cruiser and experienced driver traverse through; I felt like Indiana Jones. This tour not only includes the epic salt flats, but continues on to various flamingo filled lagoons, geysers, hot springs and star gazing experiences. I truly felt I was on a different planet while on this tour through Bolivia. This tour company also offers transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile for no extra cost, just let them know ahead of time so they can arrange this for you. TIPS: Bring about 400 Bolivianos ($66 USD) with you on the excursion. There are no ATM’s once you leave Uyuni. You’ll want cash for snacks, souvenirs and to tip your guide and driver. There is no WiFi on this trip since you are exploring the remote desert, so get your affairs in order before you leave. The first night of accommodation offers private rooms and hot showers! The second night is more basic as it is inside the national park. I was still impressed by he comfortable beds offered by the eco lodge. Expect limited electricity and no running water. Bring sun screen and props for photos. Also consider altitude sickness medication as you are exploring the highest desert in the world. It is also recommended to bring 4 liters of water with you. Depending on the time of year you go the salt flats may be filled with water which gives you epic reflective photos. Rainy season is also summer spanning from January to April. In the winter tours are still running but often get abbreviated due to extreme cold and snowy conditions. Weather changes often without notice so it is best to try to stay flexible with your plans. Bolivia is one of the cheapest counties in South America, I recommend doing all your souvenir shopping here. Most of the shops in all the countries have similar clothes and trinkets but in Bolivia they are a third of the price. If my text doesn’t convince you, maybe my photos will ;)

[lesstakendestination]

DESTINATION: CUSCO & THE SACRED VALLEY, PERU

Cusco was deemed the capitol of the Inca in the 12th century and today it remains the gateway to the Andean culture. This area has a magical atmosphere and caters to those who have a spark for adventure. From ATV rides through ruins to zip-lining across the Sacred Valley, there are many ways to explore this mythical land.

Getting there: Flying into Cusco is the quickest way to get to this mountainous region. Flights from Lima to Cusco are only one hour long and tickets can be purchased for around $60 USD each way. Traveling by bus will take 26 hours but is a cheaper option. While there are various companies to choose from, spend a little more money for a reputable company. The roads to Cusco are rugged and not for the faint of stomach (google ‘Peru bus accidents’ at your own risk).

Stay: Kokopelli Hostel was one of the nicest hostels I stayed in during my 2 month in South America. Dorms (from $13 USD) offer curtains around each bunk, continental breakfast + fruit and many areas to socialize, great for you solo travelers. I splurged for the deluxe private ($58 USD) and it certainly was deluxe. My room had a hot shower, hair dryer, memory foam pillows, upgraded breakfast, and decent wifi.

Eat:

La Pizza Carlo, in Cusco, is a cozy spot to grab fresh wood fired pizza and Peruvian wine.

Papillon Restaurant, also in Cusco, has great views of the main square and you can get fondue! 

Mapacho Craft Beer & Peruvian Cuisine is the spot to grab a beer and food in Aguas Calientes after you hiked Machu Piccu.

Do:

Machu Picchu: If I had more time I would have loved to hike the Inca Trail. This hike usually lasts 4 days, you hike through many ruins, your luggage is carried for you and i hear the meals are outstanding. Note that the trail is closed in February every year for restoration. I visited Cusco in January during “rainy season” and I didn’t want to risk hiking in the rain for 3 days so I opted to visit Machu Picchu via train. There are two train companies that can take you from Ollantaytambo (in the Sacred Valley): Inca Rail and Peru Rail, both have basic and luxury options. The cheapest tickets are $60 one way, the ride is about 2 hours. Machu Piccu is an expensive adventure. There is a bus option from Cusco for much cheaper but it takes 9 hours on a winding road then 2 hours of hiking. A tour guide is not necessary, but for $10 I found my tour to be rather interesting. You can find a guide at the entrance or hire one through your hostel/hotel. it is worth waking up at 4 am to get in the bus line to make it up before sunrise. You will beat the masses that are too lazy to get out of bed and your photos will have less of those pesky tourist in them.

Sacsaywamán is a quick and easy site to explore in Cusco while acclimatizing to the altitude. This site is historically relevant because in 1536 the fort was the site of one of the most bitter battles of the Spanish conquest. Sacsaywaman also boasts incredible Incan architecture and design. One stone weighs 300 tons and how the Inca got it there is still up for debate.

Ollantaytambo is the heart of the Sacred Valley and lies between the Amazon jungle, Machu Picchu and Cusco. Most of the city is still original Incan with narrow cobblestone streets. There are great markets and ruins to explore.

One of my favorite experiences was ATV-ing from Moray to the salt mines of Maras. Moray is where the Inca grew thousands of potatoes and Maras consists of many pre-Inca salt ‘ponds’. Both are great spots for photos and be sure to buy some salted chocolate in Maras.

Another popular adventure that leaves from Cusco is the Rainbow Mountain trek. Wake up at 3:30 am and drive for 3.5 hours in a mini bus. It’s another 3 or 4 hours hike up and you will reach altitude higher than 5,000 meters. I didn’t take on this journey as weather reports said it was snowing and not very rainbowesque. My advice is to check the weather before you go and be cautious of the altitude.

Tips:

Tourist ticket: A tourist ticket is needed to visit most points of interest in Cusco and the Sacred Valley (including Machu Picchu). You can purchase a partial or full ticket depending on which sites you’d like to visit. If you are planning on doing a few days of sight seeing I recommend going for the full ticket. The full ticket is good for all sites and is valid for 10 days, as opposed to the partial ticket that is only good for 2 days. The full ticket is $47 USD, the partial is $25. Tourist tickets may only be purchased with cash. 

Machu Picchu has a max number of tickets sold per day. Get them well in advance if you are going during high season. When I went in February I was able to buy my ticket a couple days before. The basic ticket costs $47 USD.

Altitude sickness: Cusco sits at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters). Machu Picchu is significantly lower at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). Altitude sickness generally starts affecting people at 8,000 feet or higher. It is recommended to fly into Cusco and directly go to the Sacred Valley for a few nights to acclimate at lower altitude. I did not receive this advice before my trip and I ended up staying in Cusco for 5 days before heading to Machu Picchu. While I did get a few headaches and was breathing hard after ascending a flight of stairs, it did not impede me from exploring. I did, however, take Diamox which I received from my doctor. Make sure to consult your doctor about side effects. Be sure to stay hydrated and avoid alcohol.

You will be bombarded by people selling all kinds of tour packages. The packages are convenient but beware of the 20% agency fee many will charge. For some, paying the 20% is worth the ease of not researching and booking things individually, but you can totally do all the above adventures without a tour or agency.

When to go: Peru's climate features two main seasons. The wet season in the highlands around Cusco is from December to March. The dry season spans June to August, which also is the peak tourist season. Plan a trip around the fringe months of May or September if you want to avoid the crowds.

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DESTINATION: LIMA, PERU Lima is unique in that it boasts a large 10 million in population, located right on the Pacific Ocean and is the second largest desert capital city after Cairo in Egypt. The city is located on a desert strip between the Pacific Ocean and Andes Mountains allowing Lima to have warm weather and fresh seafood year round (just think of the ceviche). Sipping on a pisco sour by the ocean is a cultural activity in and of it self. Lima is a great starting point for exploring the majestic jungles, deserts, beaches and mountains that Peru has to offer. 

Getting there: Fly into Lima’s international airport. While there are hoards of taxis, buses and shuttles, I recommend ordering an Uber! Don’t worry if you don’t have an international data plan, the airport has WiFi. An Uber to popular parts of town such as Miraflores or Barranco should run you about $12 USD. Stay: Barranco is considered the “hipster” part of town, boasting an array of boutique shopping, eccentric art galleries, quaint cafes and sumptuous restaurants. Located just south of the popular Miraflores district and a few blocks from the ocean, Barranco offers a slower pace in the bustling capital city of Lima. Barranco Backpackers Inn is an old colonial mansion turned hostel. The rooms are spacious and the private rooms even have direct TV. My room had a view of the ocean and en-suite bathroom. The hostel is well located next to Parque Municipal de Barranco, Bridge of Sighs and walking distance to bars, clubs, markets, etc. Eat: - Burrito Bar serves up huge burritos and tacos. Made fresh at a good price. - Restaurante Arlotia hosted one of my favorite meals in my 2 months in South America. Get all the tapas. - Get a night cap at Ayahuasca Restobar Lounge! This dimly lit mansion is filled with socialites and THE BEST pisco sours! They serve sweet, tangy, tart, fruity and classic varieties of this very special Peruvian drink. Do: - Catch sunset at Centro Comercial Larcomar. This open air mall is perched cliff side with surfboarders below and para-gliders above. - Admire street art and peruse street vendors around the Bridge of Sighs. - Stroll through Parque Municipal de Barranco at night to catch up with locals and live music. Tips: - $1 USD equals about 3 Peruvian Soles - There is free Wi-Fi at Parque Central de Miraflores

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DESTINATION: MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA

GETTING HERE: From Santa Marta I flew to José María Córdova International Airport, about 45 minutes outside of Medellín proper. You have a few options on how to get into the city. - The first (and most expensive/easiest) option is a taxi. A taxi ride from the airport is a fixed rate of $65,000 COP ($22 USD). - Option 2 is a shared taxi that will take you to the San Diego mall, just outside of town, for $15,000 COP ($5). Then, depending on your hostel, (mine, as are many, located in El Poblado), catch another taxi for about $10,000 COP ($3). - Option 3 is the shuttle bus. The shuttle bus also drops you off at San Diego mall for a cool $9,000 COP ($3). Then like I said before, catch another taxi to your destination. I liked the shuttle because it was spacious, air conditioned and cheap!

All taxi and shuttle’s are easy to locate right outside the arrivals door street side.

STAY: I instantly fell in love with the neighborhood of El Poblado. I was swooned by the lush green foliage enveloping the assortment of boho restaurants, chic shopping boutiques, bars and cafes. El poblado is considered one of the more wealthy parts of town and popular among expats and digital nomads. The metro services El Poblado making it a good hub to explore other parts of Medellín as well. While there are many nice hostels in El Poblado, Casa Kiwi stood out among the rest. With it’s roof top bar and plunge pool, chill hammock terrace, convenient restaurant, pool table, and kitchen, it has everything you’ll ever need. If you do find yourself needing anything, there is a market across the street. My private ensuite room at Casa Kiwi was one of the best hostel rooms I’ve ever stayed in. The warm shower, hardwood floors and balcony made for the best $40/night i’ve ever spent.

EAT: I just about cried when indulging in a pitcher of strawberry lychee sangria and a charcuterie board from Bonhomia. Their selection of fresh meat and cheese is really something special.

Do yourself a favor and kickstart your morning with coffee from Pergamino Cafe. Delicious espresso drinks served hot, cold or frappe. Whether you’re looking for a decadent treat towering high with whipped cream and caramel drizzle or a basic cold brew, they got you. Pair it with a house made pastry and you can’t help but have an awesome rest of your day (which you can plan while using their very fast free wifi).

DO: I hate guided tours.. except the *free* graffiti walking tour of comuna 13 offered by Zippy Tour. The tour is a three hour stroll through one of Medellín’s most gentrified neighborhoods. Your tour guide is a local resident who teaches you of the troubled past and exciting future of this community (in english). You get to view, take photos and learn meanings behind the epic street art and artists. I even got to see a mural being actively painted by one of the communities most prolific artists, Chota. You walk by people’s homes and mini marts where they are selling ice cream and beers that I encourage you to indulge. They are delicious treats and you are supporting the community! While at first I thought I could probably just go to comuna 13 and find the art on my own, I am so happy I chose to participate in this tour. While technically this is a free tour, I recommend tipping your guide (I’m sure you’ll feel the same).

A popular cheap thrill in Medellín is the Metrocable. Fun fact: Medellín has the only metro system in all of Colombia. Since you will probably already be exploring Medellín via metro, take advantage of taking the cable car high up into the hills of the poorer neighborhoods of the city. The cable car ride is included when you buy your metro pass which will set you back about $2,000 COP (not even $1 USD). The cablecar was built by the city to help with accessibility and bring tourism. It’s not a bad stop for very cheap lunch and get a realistic view of life outside of downtown Medellín.

TIPS: - In Medellín it is illegal for taxi’s to not use the meter (unless to/from the airport, which is a fixed price).

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DESTINATION: TAGANGA, COLOMBIA

GETTING HERE: Taganga is a relatively poor, small fishing town that is rough around the edges (but that’s what I like about it). It is mostly untouched by mass tourism and has a bohemian beachy feel. From Cartagena, have your hostel/hotel help you book a ride with Marsol. They are a door to door service that offer transfers between Cartagena, Santa Marta and Taganga daily for a flat rate of 50,000 pesos (about $17 USD). The ride takes about 5 hours, makes one stop for food and restroom, usually includes some popular movie dubbed in Spanish and air conditioning (bring a scarf).

STAY: I stayed in Divanga Bed & Breakfast for 4 nights, the perfect amount of time if you’re interested in scuba diving or taking some day trips to Tayrona National Park’s pristine beaches. After talking with other travelers and walking around town, Divanga is clearly the best hostel in town. Divanga has a chill swimming pool, hammocks, French style restaurant and two roof top hangout areas where you can view the epic sunsets over the ocean every night. The owner, Lucy, is from France and immigrated to Taganga in the 90’s. She has a well established relationship with the local people and employs many to work in the hostel to cook, provide massage therapy and laundry services. Did I mention Lucy also acts as a DJ? On the weekends she livens the atmosphere with melodic house music everyone can enjoy. EAT: Divanga’s French restaurant has some of the most fresh and well priced food in town. My favorite was the steak, cooked to your liking, served with blue cheese sauce, fries and salad for about $8 USD. They also offered great veggie options and a full bar. Baba Ganoush is another excellent restaurant perched above the beach with amazing views. You can choose your own appetizer, main course and dessert for $13 USD. If you want to eat on the beach with your toes in the sand, hit up Taco Beach Bar & Grill, they offer 2 for 1 cocktails all day!  DO: Go scuba diving! There are many highly regarded PADI/SDI certified dive centers in Taganga. Specifically, I cannot recommend Reef Shepard enough! If you are already certified, dive right in! They boat you over to Tayrona where you may swim among exotic coral and plentiful fish including lion fish, angel fish, lobster, big moray eels and so much more. It is also an incredible place to get certified. I earned my SDI Open Water certification for a cool $250 USD in 3 days (class ended at 12 everyday so you can relax in the afternoon). This included equipment, learning materials and snacks! We did a total of 4 dives in Tayrona and the instructors bring gopro’s along to capture all the action. All the instructors were incredibly professional and safety was their priority (shout out to Sebastián). I wish I had more time in Taganga so I could have earned my advanced license as well! Tips: Taganga has no running water, always drink bottler water and help conserve the water they do have. The electricity goes out from time to time, three times one day! It usually takes about 20 minutes to get it back up. Think about bringing a headlamp/flashlight when going out at night just incase. Be careful walking around at night, don’t walk around with your phone or expensive camera in clear view. Stick to the more main, well lit streets. Keep important possessions in the hostel. There is one ATM in town located by the police station.

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DESTINATION: CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

GETTING HERE:  Thanks to my Chase Sapphire Rewards Card I scored a business class flight from Orlando to Cartagena international airport for 35K points. You can also fly economy for as low as 20K if you work United’s low fare calendar. In fact those miles stand true from any destination in North America. At the airport it is easy to find a taxi into the city for about 13,000 Colombian Pesos, or about $4 USD.

STAY:  I stayed just outside the walled city in a neighborhood called Getsemaní at El Arsenal Hostel Boutique. Getsemani is 3 minutes walk to the touristy yet charming centro, walled city. Both areas boast colorful colonial architecture, lively music and dancing at night. I appreciated the bohemian feel of Getsemani. I found interesting street art, delicious street vendors, food trucks and restaurants. I enjoyed walking along the water under dimly lit lanterns hung in the trees. DO:  - Eat street food!       -  Arepa: Sold hot off a stove top cart for about $1, an arepa is a meal unto itself. Made of ground corn dough or flour, arepas con queso (with cheese) are best from street vendors. My favorite vendors offered selection of mysterious sauce bottles hanging from the cart. Sauces ranged from fruity pineapple mixtures to creamy and spicy drizzles.       - Empanadas: Clearly a Colombian favorite as they are readily available on the streets and in restaurants. They usually come fried with ground beef filling though chicken and vegetable options are not hard to find. Salsa picante is offered with this treat most of the time as well.      - I ate the best ceviche ever in a hole in the wall behind the ladies selling dulces in the walled city. After much internet searching I sadly still cannot find the name of this place. It was the best $3 I ever spent on fish.   - Buy fruit from Palenqueras! Palenqueras are vibrantly dressed women carrying fruit on their head. They are a cultural staple who roam the streets and upon request will slice up a bowl of fruit for you for about $5 USD and will also let you take a photo with them. - Don’t waste your money on a guided walking tour of the walled city. You can explore on your own terms (and make as many cerveza stops as you want!). There are many blogs on the internet with suggested routes or just wander the streets and discover for yourself. It is a relatively small city, self contained in a wall, so you cannot get too lost ;)

TRICKS: - Bancolombia ATM’s do not charge fee’s to withdraw cash (though your home bank may still charge you an international fee) - Be wary of buying juices/smoothies/slushies from street vendors as their ice is usually home made and does not use bottled water. - Catch the sunset from a rooftop bar. - Plan to spend a few days in Cartagena but then I recommend escaping the city for a smaller beach town. Stay tuned for the next post on Taganga! 

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DESTINATION: SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, USA.

GETTING HERE:

From Seattle we hopped on an Alaska Airlines flight to Albuquerque. From there you can either drive or ride on the Rail Runner to Santa Fe. The Rail Runner Express is a train that costs $10. It will take a few hours to get to Santa Fe, enjoy the comfortable seats and scenic views. The train also stops in many pueblos you can jump off and explore if you would like. If you have rented a car, I recommend taking Hwy 4, Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway. It takes a little longer but if you have time take a dip in the Jemez hot springs, you will not regret it!

STAY:

We opted for a chic & cozy Airbnb near the Plaza. I recommend staying close to the plaza as this is where most of the galleries, restaurants, bars, and clubs are located.

DO:

- MEOW WOLF was definitely my favorite experience in Santa Fe. Meow Wolf is an explorable, immersive art installation filled with technology, and fantastic environments to inspire visitors of all ages. The wildly imaginative art space is a collaboration of over 100 local artists and is a unique combination of children’s museum, art gallery, jungle gym, and fantasy novel. - Canyon Road is host to over a hundred museums, boutiques and restaurants in just a half mile. - Farmers markets offer delicious local treats and art. Make sure to indulge in breakfast burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. They take sauces serious there, if you ask for spicy you’ll be sweating after a few bites.

TRICKS:

- Altitude! Santa Fe is about 7,000 feet above sea level. Some experience altitude sickness and have symptoms of nausea, headache and fatigue. Bring along an anti-inflammatory such as Motrin and drinks lots of water. - Careful when drinking! One drink is the equivalent of three at sea level. - Higher altitude also means more sun exposure so pack sunscreen. - The dry air + altitude can also cause nosebleeds. Some find relief with netty pots, though personally I’m not a big fan of water boarding.

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DESTINATION: TOKYO, JAPAN

GETTING HERE: From Seattle we hopped on a short flight to Vancouver via Alaska Air then continued on a 9 hour long haul flight via Japan Airlines into Narita International Airport. Narita is about 45 minutes northeast of downtown Tokyo. Another option is to fly into Haneda International Airport, which is about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Tokyo and even closer to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi areas.

STAY: We opted for Airbnb’s in Roppongi and Shinjuku. Hotels can be quite pricey in Tokyo and awkward for a group of 3. It was also nice to have a kitchen so we could make our own ramen when we wanted to save some dollars. I recommend staying in the Roppongi, Shinjuku or Shibuya parts of town, especially if you plan on going out at night. Subways close around midnight and reopen again around 5AM, so if you stay too far you’ll be paying for an expensive late night cab home. Even if you are not a night owl, these areas host many shrines, high rise buildings with views, delicious restaurants, extensive shopping and anything you could ever want for your Tokyo experience.

DO: - Spend a few nights bar hopping Golden Gai. This ‘gai’ (‘district’), known for its 200+ bars compacted into a 6 block radius, is a testament to a 1950’s Tokyo. Bars seat 4 - 20 people, some charge a small cover, some offer food, others karaoke, each with a unique theme and special vibe. - Hop on a bullet train (shinkansen) and get out of Tokyo. Osaka and Kyoto are just 2 hours southwest and offer tranquil gardens, ancient sights and relatively chilled atmosphere. - Eat all the food! I cry a little every time I think back to the salmon sashimi I ate in Japan. Your food list should also include: tempura, katsu, shabu shabu, ramen, wagyu/kobe beef, mochi, green tea macha things… - Check out the impressive (and free) views from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

TRICKS: - Before leaving the airport pick up a pocket wifi, we rented one for about $120 USD/ 2 weeks (fully insured). While I am usually more of a minimalist, disconnected wanderer, I found this accessory very handy when trying to navigate the extensive public transit system, among other things. - Also while still in the airport, pick up a Pasmo or Suica card. These cards are interchangeable and function as your public transit pass for subway, train and buses. These cards can also be used for purchases at vending machines, convenience stores and various other establishments. - Google maps and Hyperdia apps are helpful in providing routes using public transit. - Consider purchasing a Japan Rail pass if you wish to travel via bullet train. Note that this pass needs to by purchased before you enter Japan.

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DESTINATION: BERLIN, GERMANY GETTING HERE: There are 2 airports in Berlin, Tegel and Brandenburg, both about 30 minutes from city center. Personally, I flew a discount airline from Paris to Tegel. While there are reasonable public transit options to get from airport to city, uber exists in Berlin so my cousin (who has T-mobile which has free international roaming) and I utilized this option. STAY I recommend checking out Sunflower Hostel. This hostel is located in Friedrichshain, a neighborhood in ‘east’ Berlin home to a plethora of hip cafes, restaurants for any budget and legendary clubs such as the “Berghain”, “Cassiopeia”, “Maria am Ostbahnhof”, “Watergate“, Matrix”, “Rosi’s” and many others. This hostel offers the perfect starting point for your exploration of Berlin. All tourist attractions are either in walking distance (Karl-Marx-Allee, the East Side Gallery and Oberbaum Bridge), or can easily be reached with public transportation.

I loved Sunflower Hostel for the location and the 23-hour/day bar. The staff was also extra lovely and a wealth of knowledge which is helpful since there is an overwhelming amount of activities to do and see in Berlin. In off season you can score any bed for $10/night while in high season bunks start at $30/night.

DO: - Techno - Thrift shop! There are many shops, Humana was my favorite, towering 5 stories high. This is where I found my rad fur hat for a chill $16. - Note the excessive, impressive and extremely expressive street art all around you. - Eat sausage and drink beer - Check out the wall, soak in the feels. The art on the ‘east gallery’ was a personal favorite.

TRICKS: - Winter is cold but cheap and not many tourists. A good time to techno all night and sleep all day. - If you want to go to Berghain, expect to not get in. Better your chances by wearing only black and going alone and don’t speak a word to the bouncer. When you get rejected, check out Suicide Circus down the street to get your techno fill. - Check resident advisor for events

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DESTINATION: TRINIDAD, CUBA

GETTING HERE: When I went (in 2015), I flew from Cancun into Havana. From Havana some friends and I took a ‘private taxi’ to Viñales where we chilled for a few days then took another ‘private taxi’ for 8 hours to Trinidad. While there are busses between these places, when traveling with 2 or more people it is cheaper and faster to find someone with a car to take you. When I say ‘private taxi’ I mean I asked the people who we were staying with to call their amigo to take us. These taxi’s/friends make their own rates so you should feel around a few different people for their prices. Befriending a local or your host will for sure get you a better deal ;) also be sure to agree upon a fare before taking the ride.

STAY: Forgo the state run hotels and stay in casa particulars (home stays). I found my casa’s by going on trip advisor and simply typing in ‘casa particular’ in desired destination. Most posts will provide a direct email. You should email at least 3-5 casa’s asking if they have room for you (and your party) and the dates you’d like to stay. You pay upon arrival in cash. In Trinidad, I was very impressed with Casa Demarys. Demary was a gracious host who welcomed us with home cooked meals and tasty drinks for reasonable prices. Rooms run about $30/night. We enjoyed the most impressive sunsets and panoramic views of Trinidad from her roof terrace. Her casa is also close to the old colonel center where you can peruse local crafts and art. At night the center hosts live music and salsa dancing.

DO: - Check out Disco Ayala .. I adoringly refer to is as the ‘rave cave’ - Show up early one morning to Marina Trinidad to catch a catamaran. It’s first come – first serve $50 all you can drink booze cruise with snorkeling and seafood paella lunch included! PRO TIP: don’t drink too many mojitos at the rave cave the night before as I did.. you’ll be hanging off the boat feeding the fish and not able to make the most of that all you can drink.

TRICKS: - Get out of Havana. I recommend Trinidad over other beach destinations as there are not many big resorts (yet). - Keep in mind I went in 2015, as of then there were no ATM’s for Americans so bring all the cash you’ll need (I budgeted about $30/day). Also don’t bring USD as they charge an extra 10% to exchange it. I recommend bringing Mexican Pesos or Canadian Dollar. - Cuba has two types of currencies. CUC is for tourists, CUP is for nationals. If you can get your hands on some CUP’s you can score some outrageous deals. 1 USD = 1 CUC. - Coco taxi’s / all yellow state run taxi’s are a rip off. - There is like one street corner of each major town that had wifi. Our American phones couldn’t even connect to the wifi we did find. Maybe that has changed? It’s more fun without it anyways.. truly the Cuban ‘time capsule’ experience. Because of this be sure to get a travel book about Cuba and print out addresses and other important things before you go. - Make this trip sooner than later.