coupleexplorers

[coupleexplorers]

What did we really think of Peru Hop?

What did we really think of Peru Hop?

When we reached Peru we had been travelling for around 8 months through Central and South America. We were both experiencing a little bit of travel fatigue, particularly with the organisation and transport side of things which can be pretty exhausting. When we first saw Peru Hop we were a little apprehensive as it’s definitely not the cheapest option for travel through Peru and budget is…

[coupleexplorers]

Salar de Uyuni are the worlds biggest salt flats which span a whopping 10,582 square kilometers in the southwest of Bolivia. It is estimated that the flats have 11 billion tons of salt! With such vast landscapes and amazing photo opportunities it’s not surprising that it’s a popular place to visit. It’s certainly one of those ‘bucket list’ places.

We had arrived in Uyuni with our hearts set on a 3 day tour of the salt flats ending in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Sadly (well not so sadly in hindsight) this was not to be for us. Uyuni is not the easiest place for organising a tour. Many agencies are shut for half the day, don’t reply to emails or whatsapps, and try not to tell you that the guide only speaks Spanish in the hope that you will forget you asked. That was until we messaged Paul from Got Salt and our luck changed. From the moment we spoke to Paul we knew we were onto something good. Communication was so easy since his English is great and for the first time in Uyuni we felt confident that we knew what we would be getting.

We ended up taking a ‘Sunset and Starlight’ tour and it thoroughly exceeded our expectations. Despite it being an afternoon/ evening tour, we still had plenty of time in the salt flats and did not feel rushed at all (something we were worried about taking a day tour).

So what did the tour involve:

At 4pm sharp we were picked up from our Hostel by Cristo and Liroy (our driver and English speaking guide). They whisked us away straight to the salt flats (Roughly a 30min to 45min drive depending on unique stops), stopping just to see some vicunas (Type of rare Alpaca) that Cristo had spotted near to the side of the road. Then continued our journey. The drive alone through the salt flats is pretty awesome and it wasn’t long until we stopped off at a bubbling lake where Liroy explained how the air is trapped and escapes. Then after a few more pictures we moved onto the famous flags and Dakar salt statue spot. It was a great start to the journey and what we didn’t realise was you could take your own Flag to be planted at this spot. Handy tip if people want to leave a lasting mark on this place.

Moving on from the Alpacas, bubbling lakes, flags and Dakar salt statue we continued driving through the salt flats to find a blank canvas (Somewhere noone else is) to take some fun perspective shots (5 to 10 minute drive). The guides were a great team, one was a great driver and backup photographer (Cristo), whilst the other was the professional photographer and informative guide (Liroy).  Liroy couldn’t have been better. Left a little, forward two steps, arm up a bit… 3…2…1. The guides had lots of their own unique items we could use to take fantastic photos… dinosaurs, saucepans, water, packets, hats and many other things that we could use. We had a real laugh taking various pictures and were very pleased with the outcome of the photos. The guides were patient, professional, knowledgeable, and best of all they did all the hard work, carrying, photo taking and thinking for you. Just do as they say and you get some amazing shots. Or suggest an idea to them and they make it work exactly how you imagined.

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After the ‘stereotypical’ but ‘fun to make’ photos from the salt flats it was now time to visit the reflective part of the salt flats for sunset (A further 5 to 10 minute drive). We got back into the 4×4 and changed into our rubber boots (provided), pleased for the chance to warm up a little on the way as the temperature started to get cooler along the flats. We arrived promptly at the reflective salt flats and OH Wow!! It was absolutely stunning! Again Liroy and Cristo were great with taking photos. We just enjoyed the scenery, fully relaxed, feet in shallow water, beauty all around us and a warm feeling of amazement whilst we studied the surroundings with wide open eyes. It was incredible to see that the floor was a completely reflective surface, there were 2 suns, 2 horizons, 2 sky’s… you get the point. Plus whilst we was taking in the views, our fantastic guides were busy snapping some incredible pictures of us and our surrounding without getting in the way of our blissful experience.

  While we watched other groups disappear from the salt flats, we got back into the 4×4 to wait for the big finale… The milky way! It did not disappoint! I’ve never seen such a beautiful sky in all my life and there’s something really special about seeing the stars reflected on the salt flats floor. It almost feels like you are walking through the universe itself as the stars are below you, as well as above.

Luckily due to such a great company who hires unique and professional guides. We had the advantage of Cristo and Liroy who were able to give us amazing stories, folk tales, history, local culture and share knowledge on the stars. Not only did they share such encapsulating information they managed to capture these views on their camera so we could savour the memories. Plus as an added bonus we got to have more fun with some fantastic lighting effects- wanna be a butterfly? No problem says Liroy!

  And that was that, our trip to the salt flats was finished. We headed back to Uyuni (30 to 40 minute drive), totally buzzing from the experience, photos from Cristo and Liroy in our inboxes before we had even had a cuppa.

Our Final Thoughts:

If the main thing you are looking to see on your tour from Uyuni is the salt flats, you certainly won’t feel hard done by ‘only’ taking a one day or even an evening tour. We were able to see the flats in daytime, sunset and night time, as well as both the dry and reflective sections of the flats (often the reflective part isn’t actually covered on 3 day tours in dry season so that was an extra bonus). We didn’t feel rushed at all.

We had the best time with Cristo and Liroy from Got Salt and would highly recommend this company to take a tour with. The guides speak great English and have some serious passion and knowledge about all things Bolivian (not just the salt flats). Liroy was an absolute pro at taking perspective pictures and had props with him and many ideas. He also encouraged and helped us to come up with some ideas of our own which was great fun. They took some AMAZING pictures of us and the milky way and sent them to us within an hour of dropping us back at our hostel.

Still not sure? Check out their trip advisor page full of 5 star reviews – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g317033-d10532171-Reviews-Got_Salt_Bolivia-Uyuni_Potosi_Department.html

  Trip overview:

Company: Got Salt                         Tour: Sunset and Starz

Pick up time: 4pm, arriving back around 9pm

Cost: Between US$150-350 per vehicle (up to 6 people) depending on package chosen.

You need to bring: Yourself, some ideas for photos and warm clothes

Tours offered: Both private and group tours available. Sunrise/ Sunset/ Stars, full day programs, multi-day trips

How to book:  Visit their main office in La Paz, email on gotsaltbolivia@hotmail.com, enquire via the website or contact Paul directly on +591 74076057

Final Questions?

Have you visit the salt flats in Uyuni? We would love to hear from you!

Hotel Booking Sites for Uyuni

Links below are referral links that give us a small bonus at no cost to yourself. Just click the links, sign up and book what you need as normal. As we are non profit travellers and we hope this information is useful, these small bonuses mean alot to us. 🙂

Booking (Cheapest option) – https://www.booking.com/s/34_6/4b8b8807

AirBnB (2nd Cheapest option) – http://www.airbnb.com/c/garys1958

Hostelworld (3rd option) – https://www.hostelworld.com/

Hotels (4th option) – https://refer.hotels.com/x/Imwv4N

Other Useful Sites

Links below are referral links that give us a small bonus at no cost to yourself. Just click the links, sign up and book what you need as normal. As we are non profit travellers and we hope this information is useful, these small bonuses mean alot to us. 🙂

UBER (Safe Taxi App) – https://www.uber.com/invite/garys3406ue

Google suite (Great cloud storage / cloud office products) – https://goo.gl/mEBYh3

Salt Flats Bolivia with Got Salt Salar de Uyuni are the worlds biggest salt flats which span a whopping 10,582 square kilometers in the southwest of Bolivia.

[coupleexplorers]

🏜️ Playa Roja is just one of the beaches to visit within the Paracas National Reserve... Its red colour comes when an indigenous rock called pink granodiorite breaks against the cliffs releasing a reddish solidified magma which settles on the shore . 🎫 Entrance to the reserve is 15sol per person (£3.50 $4.60) though if you are early enough there may not be anyone there . 🚲You can visit the reserve in several ways. We hired bicycles for 25sol each (£5.80 $7.60) for the day but you can also take guided tours on a bus or quad bikes . 🚌 Alternatively if you are travelling with @peruhop then a tour of the reserve and the entrance fee is included in your pass! . #paracas #peru #ica #paracasnationalreserve #playaroja #redbeach #desert #peruhop . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #keepshining #longtravel #travelingmodel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #leavenworth #agameoftonesexploremore #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad (at Paracas National Reserve)

[coupleexplorers]

🇵🇪 This street art can be found in Barranco, an artsy district in Lima where a lot of backpackers enjoy to stay . ⭐ There are tip based walking tours around the area or you can just meander the streets yourself to discover all the gems of art around . 🌅 The neighborhood of Barranco is also right on the coastal cliffs so is perfect for watching the sunset . #barranco #artsy #lima #perú #artwork #streetart . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #vsco #keepshining #longtravel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #leavenworth #agameoftonesexploremore #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad #earthy (at Barranco, Lima, Peru)

[coupleexplorers]

📷 Before our trek to Laguna 69 we were very sceptical about all the pictures we had seen which show such brightly coloured water... Well I'm pleased to report... it's all true! . 😍 This place needs no filters, it's absolutely stunning and totally worth the tough but beautiful 8km trek to get there . 🇵🇪 You can take this trek from Huaraz in the North of Peru. It's possible to go alone but tours cost a very reasonable 33Sol (£7.60, $10) . #laguna69 #peru #huaraz #bluewater #snowypeaks #snow #nofilterneeded . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #keepshining #longtravel #travelingmodel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad (at Laguna 69- Huaraz)

[coupleexplorers]

📷 Before our trek to Laguna 69 we were very sceptical about all the pictures we had seen which show such brightly coloured water... Well I'm pleased to report... it's all true! . 😍 This place needs no filters, it's absolutely stunning and totally worth the tough but beautiful 8km trek to get there . 🇵🇪 You can take this trek from Huaraz in the North of Peru. It's possible to go alone but tours cost a very reasonable 33Sol (£7.60, $10) . #laguna69 #peru #huaraz #bluewater #snowypeaks #snow #nofilterneeded . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #keepshining #longtravel #travelingmodel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad (at Laguna 69- Huaraz)

[coupleexplorers]

Despite its terrifying name, Death Road is something that thrill seekers won’t want to miss on a trip to Bolivia. Whilst some cycling experience is helpful, it is still possible for the more novice of cyclist to complete the 64km downhill cycle and live to tell the tale.

I mean, who doesn’t want to be able to say they survived Death Road?!

So what is Death Road?

Death Road is a thin, winding and gravely path that connects La Paz to Coroico. It was named ‘the most dangerous road in the world’ in 1995, when it was estimated 200-300 people lost their lives on the road each year. Not surprising seeing as the majority of the road is just a single vehicle wide with unthinkable drops over the edge, the top part often is covered in cloud, and there are no railings! Thankfully in 2006 a new road was completed to divert vehicles away from this death trap. The road still remains open with just a few crazy drivers and cyclists using the now much safer but still adrenaline pumping road.

Our Experience on Death Road

We chose to cycle Death Road with Barracuda Biking (the sister company of Gravity) as they were recommended by some friends of ours and they seemed to strike a good balance between price and safety. We didn’t regret our decision.

The day starts off at a ‘why is my alarm going off now’ kind of early. We met at 6.45 for a pre-cycle fuel up at Little Italy and the guides arrive at 7.30am to whisk you off to the top of Death Road, explaining the process of the day and handing out safety gear on the way. On arriving at 4,700m you are each assigned a bike (which has a name) and have a chance to cycle round and get a feel for the bike and the super reactive brakes. Of course before setting off, you must make an offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth), and beg her to keep you safe. This involves pouring pure alcohol onto the ground, your front tyre, and of course taking a swig or two. Bolivians are very superstitious so it’s best to do as you are told on this one, even if you do think it’ll burn a hole through your throat.

Offering to Pachamama

The first 20km section of road is what they call a ‘warm up’. A nicely paved road to get your confidence up a bit and get used to the bikes. There are a couple of stops along the way with some nice spots for photos- though I spent most of this time trying to warm my hands, its blooming freezing! At the end of this section you get a small taste of the rocky road that lies ahead of you, more than enough to get the adrenaline pumping. If you’ve not cycled on gravel before, believe me- its bloody hard.

First gravel section- thank goodness photos don’t record sound effects!

I breathed a big sign of relief when they said we would get back in the van to cover the uphill part of the day. A chance to warm up, have a well needed snack and psych ourselves up for what was to come.

Before we knew it we were back on the bikes and having our final pep talk and safety briefing before tackling Death Road. I was pretty horrified to find out that cyclists are supposed to stick to the left hand side of the road (the cliff edge) should any cars need to pass. I was seriously wondering if this was a good idea after all! But off I went, keeping my grip firmly on my breaks, trying to look out for the ‘less rocky’ parts of the road where possible and totally ignoring the ‘ride on the left hand side’ instructions. Thankfully no cars decided to come up Death Road today.

We had plenty of stops on the way to recoup and for the guides to explain the twists, turns and waterfalls of the next section of the road (very reassuring). There are some great photo opportunities on the way too and the guides are great at knowing exactly where these are as well as taking plenty of action shots. If at any time on the ride you aren’t feeling comfortable, you can hop back on the van for a little bit/ the rest of the journey. Being stubborn, this was NOT going to happen for me!

Gary speeding ahead with absolutely no fear

Before we knew it, it was getting a lot warmer and we were coming to the last section of death road. I was actually quite thankful of this as I was aching all over and my hands were cramped into a claw position from gripping the brakes so tight. Seriously, I don’t think I let my grip loose once. Our guides warned us to be careful as that this is where 90% of cyclist accidents happen as people become overly confident and complacent.

WE MADE IT: You should have seen the smiles on our faces when we saw the swimming pool at the end of our journey. The perfect way to soothe our aching muscles and freshen up after a difficult and long day of cycling. Barracuda also provided us with a tasty buffet lunch and HOT yes HOT and powerful showers before jumping back on the van to head back to La Paz, with us our t-shirts proving we made it.

  Review of Barracuda

I genuinely don’t have a bad word to say about this company. They offer an awesome service with the most incredibly talented guides who I had every ounce of trust in to do their bit to keep us safe.

The bikes they use are Kono (apparently very good) with dual suspension and they service the bikes after every use. The guides really did take the time to make sure you were happy with the bike, and even changed the brakes for those who preferred them the other way round. They also had a spare bike on the van in case any of the bikes needed any spare parts during the day. All other safety equipment provided was of good quality and if you visit the office in La Paz beforehand, you can try it all on in advance to make sure they have the right sizing for you.

Getting our instructions for the next part of Death Road

The guides were AMAZING. We had a big group of 14 but Cristian and Kenneth were always on hand when needed- we always had one guide at the front and one at the back to keep an eye on everyone. Their English was great and they always kept us informed of what was going to happen next. They took loads of photos of the group which were in our inbox by the next morning. We saw other companies with only one guide at the front, who had no clue that someone from their group was miles back with a flat tyre, or having fallen off! In my opinion, two guides per group is essential. We did have one injury on our trip and both Cristian and Kenneth reacted quickly and efficiently.

The current price to cycle death road with Barracuda Biking is 630Bs per person (dual suspension bikes), and they do offer discounts for groups. It includes all equipment and transport, English speaking guides, 2 snacks (sandwich, chocolate and coke), unlimited water, swimming pool, buffet lunch, hot shower with towel and shampoo, photos throughout the day and a death road t-shirt. It does not include 50Bs per person road tax which is enforced by the villages you pass, tips for guides and driver, or your celebratory beer at the end.

To book, you can visit their website (http://www.barracudabiking.com/en/), email them on info@barracudabiking.com, or visit their office in La Paz.

Our top tips for surviving Death Road:

Do: make sure to have a good breakfast before you leave. You’ll need all the energy you can get.

Do: dress like an onion. At the top its freezing, at the bottom you’ll be happy to de-layer.

Do: Listen to the guides when they are explaining the road layout ahead of you, its really important for your safety.

Don’t: Get over-confident. They aren’t lying when they say it is dangerous. One guy from our group fell and dislocated his shoulder!

Don’t: Go out drinking the night before. You need all your whits about you and a strong stomach given how rocky the roads are.

  Have you cycled death road before? Is it on your bucket list? We would love to hear from you 🙂

Surviving Bolivia’s Death Road with Barracuda Biking Despite its terrifying name, Death Road is something that thrill seekers won't want to miss on a trip to Bolivia.

[coupleexplorers]

💕 Flamingos can be spotted year round in the Galapagos. This one we saw in the brackish waters on Isabella Island . . 🍼 Interestingly, there is no difference in the appearance or colouring of the males and females. They also both help to build the nests, sit on the eggs and nurse the baby chicks. Both the male and female flamingos produce milk for the chicks too! . . #flamingo #galapagos #galaagosislands #ecuador🇪🇨 #isabellaisland . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at Galapagos Islands)

[coupleexplorers]

💕 Flamingos can be spotted year round in the Galapagos. This one we saw in the brackish waters on Isabella Island . . 🍼 Interestingly, there is no difference in the appearance or colouring of the males and females. They also both help to build the nests, sit on the eggs and nurse the baby chicks. Both the male and female flamingos produce milk for the chicks too! . . #flamingo #galapagos #galaagosislands #ecuador🇪🇨 #isabellaisland . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at Galapagos Islands)

[coupleexplorers]

🎨 There's not a single street (that we could find) in Guatapé that's not beautifully decorated with its own individual style and colours . . ⌛ We spent hours wandering around the cobbled streets, admiring all the buildings and enjoying some tasty Obleas . . 🚌 Guatapé is around 2hrs from Medellin by bus. First take the metro to Caribe station (2000cop, £0.50, $0.70) and cross the pedestrian bridge to the North Terminal. Then locate counter 9 or 14 to buy a ticket to Guatape (13,000COP, £3.40, $4.50). If you have time, ask to be dropped at El Piedra to climb El Peñon rock and then walk to Guatapé from here (see previous post) . . #colombia #guatape #elpeñol #beautiful #quaint #colourful . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at Guatapé)

[coupleexplorers]

🌞 A great day/ overnight trip from Medellin is to visit El Peñol rock and the beautiful Guatapé . . 🍍The rock has over 700 stairs to climb but it's totally worth it for the views! The entrance fee is 18,000COP (£4.71 or $6.25) and there are small stalls at the top selling some drinks and snacks . . 🚌 El Peñol rock is around 2hrs from Medellin by bus. First take the metro to Caribe station (2000cop, £0.50, $0.70) and cross the pedestrian bridge to the North Terminal. Then locate counter 9 or 14 to buy a ticket to La Piedra or Guatape (12,000COP, £3.14, $4.17). When they drop you off, follow the path up the hill towards El Peñol rock. . . After climbing, take a stroll (or taxi) to Guatapé, it's such a beautiful town . . #colombia #guatape #elpeñol #climbing #stairs . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at El Peñol, Antioquia, Colombia)

[coupleexplorers]

❤️💙The colours of Comuna 13 💜💚 . . 😁 Once the most dangerous neighbourhood in Medellin, Comuna 13 could not have changed more. Walking around we were constantly greeted by locals with smiles on their faces, and children who wanted to practice their English . . 🎫 We would recommend first seeing Comuna 13 as part of a tour as its great to put some context to what you are seeing and it's a little difficult (though not impossible) to find your own way around. There are both paid and tip based walking tours available to chose from to suit all budgets . . #comuna13 #medellin #streetart #colourful #colombia. . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #keepshining #longtravel (at Comuna 13, Medellín, Colombia)

[coupleexplorers]

📷 These stairs are the perfect background for a band photo 😂 Or just a nice place to chill with a coffee . . 🎨 Just another example of the amazing Street art in Bogota, which we learnt about with @bogota.graffiti on their donation based walking tour . . ⌚ The tour runs 10am and 2pm daily, is in English and meets at Parque de Los Periodistas. Yes can reserve your spot on their website. They recommend a donation of 20-30,000COP (£5-7.50) . . #bogota #colombia #streetart #graffiti #graffititour . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at Bogotá, Colombia)

[coupleexplorers]

❓Thinking about visiting a salt mine while in Bogota? You have two choices, Nemocón (pictured) or Zapiquira. . . 📍Although Nemocón is slightly further away from Bogota, the entrance fee is cheaper (26,000COP £6.70) and there are many less tourists visiting- we had the place to ourselves! A guided tour is included in the entrance fee too. Though we can't speak for Zapiquira, we really enjoyed visiting this functioning salt mine and thought it was well worth the visit . . 🚌 To get there, buses leave every 20-30mins from Portal del Norte to Zapiquira and take around 2hrs, then from here take a second 20minute bus to Nemócon. It is possible to see both salt mines in one day, but be prepared to get up early! . . #saltmine #nemocon #colombia #bogota @minadesaldenemocon . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #vsco #keepshining #longtravel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #leavenworth #agameoftonesexploremore #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad #earthy (at Mina de Sal de Nemocón)

[coupleexplorers]

⛪This gothic style El Carmen Church can be found in the Candelaria area of Bogota and is certainly unique both inside and out . . 🏗️ It was built in 1927 and declared national monument in April 1993 . . The church is just round the corner from the Botero Museum which has loads of art, not only Botero. Both are free to visit so great if you have a spare few hours . . #church #gothic #colombia #bogota #botero #art . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #coupleofexplorers #travelphotography #slowtravel #instagood #splendid_earth #vacationland #earthspirit #travelingphotographer #vsco #keepshining #longtravel #lovewhatyoudodowhatyoulove #leavenworth #agameoftonesexploremore #getoutdoors #travelnow #lifeabroad #earthy (at Bogotá, Colombia)

[coupleexplorers]

🎨 Probably one of the most iconic pieces of street art in Bogota . . 🎫 We went on a donation based graffiti tour with @bogota.graffiti and would absolutely recommend them. It was fascinating to learn so much about the artists themselves along with some of the political issues that Colombia has/ is still facing. . . 💜 Even better is that some of your donation will go directly to the artists who regularly retouch their work or make new pieces around town . . 😶 Sadly at the moment a lot of these beautiful murals are being erased as the Mayor is attempting to restore Bogota back to a colonial town... Currently, the street artists are winning... As quick as the walls are being erased, they are putting up new work! . . 💲NB the suggested donation is 20,000-30,000COP (£5-8) . . #bogota #streetart #murals #graffititour #colombia #bogotagraffititour . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #leavenworth #paradisefalls #traveltheglobe #vacationlife #travellife #fantastic_earth #paradisedynasty #journeys #lifeisanadventure #adventurepic #lifehappens #adventureinspired #mybudgettravel (at Bogota Graffiti Tour)

[coupleexplorers]

🏞️ Chicamocha Canyon provides stunning scenery when travelling between Santa Marta and San Gil. You can come and just admire the views or visit @parquenacionaldelchicamocha as a day trip from San Gil. . . 💰Entrance to the park is 25,000COP (£6.50) or 50,000 with the cable car which is one of the longest in the world! Beware, it is quite commercialised now and for activities within the park you have to pay more. We still enjoyed it though! . . 🚐 To get there from San Gil take a collectivo from the corner of Carrera 10, Calle 17, asking to get off at the canyon or it may also be called 'Panachi'. The ride costs 18,000COP (£4.70) and takes around an hour depending on how many stops the bus makes. . #panachi #chicamochacanyon #canyon #cablecar #sangil #colombia . . 🌍 Website: www.coupleofexplorers.org . 📱Facebook: www.facebook.com/coupleofexplorers/ . . #explorers #travel #coupleofexplorers #backpacking #locationindependent #lifeofadventure #liveauthentically #beautiful #travelblog #nature #naturephotography #beautifuldestinations #journey #travelingtheworld #aroundtheworld #igtravel #travelphotography #travellove #culture #tranquility (at Chicamocha Canyon)