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Chile

5 Spots in Chile’s Patagonia You Cannot Miss

by Andrea
written by Andrea

There is a saying in Patagonia that goes “El que se apura en la Patagonia, pierde su tiempo” which can be translated into, “ If you rush in Patagonia, you lose time”. Planning is very important when visiting this area. Outside of a few areas like Torres del Paine, there is limited bus schedules, flights, and places to stay.

So where do you start? Well, I certainly can’t tell you that but I can suggest my list of 5 spots in Chile’s Patagonia that you cannot miss! They are not in any special order, in case you were wondering. ENJOY

5 Spots in Chile’s Patagonia that You Cannot Miss

Number 1: Lookout of Torres del Paine:

Location: Torres del Paine National Park, Magallanes, Chile

I’m sure that is one of the places that you already had your eye on and it’s for good reason. It’s absolutely breathtaking! Torres del Paine is definitely top of people’s bucket list and let me tell you, the pictures you’ve seen are nothing compared to what you’ll see in real life. You can go for the day without reservations or plan ahead and spend the night in a variety of places from hotels to campsites. From Puerto Natales you take a bus that will bring you the entrance of the park at “Laguna Amarga” and you must pay an entrance fee of 18.000 CLP for foreigners. From there you can start walking or take another bus that will bring you 7km closer. Take that bus (it’s only 3,000 CLP) and you’ll save energy and time instead of fighting with the dust. Once you arrive at the welcome center, you have anywhere from a 4-6 hour hike depending on your fitness level and the number of times you stop to take pictures. The whole way there you’ll pass several rivers and experience different landscapes. It’s quite a fun, long, but amazing day.

Number 2: 2-Day Hike with Estancia La Peninsula:

Location:  Peninsula Antonio Varas, 30 minutes from Puerto Natales, direction Monte Balmaceda where the glaciers Balmaceda and Serrano are located.

Located right outside of Puerto Natales, this place is a perfect getaway from the crowds and you’ll see what the region really has to offer. Estancia la peninsula has an area that covers a little more than 45,000 acres and currently uses about 10,000 of those acres on farming and tourism. Our guide, Trish, was amazing and took us to an amazing 360 viewpoint of all the fjords in the area. You’ll see a variety of landscapes that will leave you a bit perplexed about why or how it’s possible; fossils, rivers, driftwood, mud, marsh, mountains and views that will leave you breathless. Everyone here just laughs and says, “That’s Patagonia”.  You have to cross some rivers, nothing difficult, or least I thought. Check out my wipeout on Facebook. Your overnight stay is in a beautiful simple cabin that looks out to the water. The next morning you get up and make your way towards these caves that once had Kaweskar children dating back to about 250 years ago. Our day ended with a delicious Patagonian Lamb BBQ and then a shearing demonstration. This hike is totally different than the Torres del Paine National Park and should be up there on your list because I honestly felt like I got to see a part of the region that most people don’t have the time to do. For more info about the trek and how you can make a reservation, click here.

 

Number 3: Maqui Waterfall

Location: Puerto Guadal, Aysen, Chile

This spot has been a well-kept secret for the people of Puerto Guadal for quite some time. When you start the hike, you think it’s like any other hike. You’re walking through bushes and trees as you make your way up; the view is beautiful because you can see the General Carrera Lake the whole time. The trail isn’t very well marked so it’s best to go with a guide. I went with Felix, a German who has been living in the area for some time now and works with TerraLuna Lodge just around the corner from this waterfall. Then you finally arrive at a canyon where you see water is flowing so we followed it until we reached the waterfall. Our guide took us to the where the waterfall begins and lead us all the way back down to where it ends in the lake. It’s amazing how something that you might have thought wasn’t going to be too impressive actually takes the words out of your mouth. I’m not going to tell how many falls I saw but I will tell you that if you go during the months of January and February, there is a high chance you can take a dip in the natural infinity pool.

 

Number 4: Lake Jeinimeni National Park

Location: Chile Chico, Aysen, Chile

This untouched piece of nature is an outdoor lover playground right outside of a small town called Chile Chico.  The national park is the 4th largest in Chile covering 1.6 million acres. You can come out for the day or spend a couple of days on their campsites. There is a wonderful 7.5 km trek, which you can do on your own but I would recommend going with a guide because there are a lot of historical points throughout the hike to learn about. After the trek, we had lunch by Lake Jeinimeni of grilled Salmon and some local craft beer. After lunch, we took a 1-hour bike ride towards the green lagoon. There are a few rivers that you need to cross. They are not difficult but because I have a thing with the rivers, I fell. And of course, it was recorded. Check it out here. If you want to do the same tour I did, check out Patagoniaxpress.

Number 5: Carretera Austral road trip:

Location: Aysen Region, Northern Patagonia, Chile

Grab a car and hit the road. You’re looking at 1240km from the starting point in Puerto Montt all the way down to Villa O’ Higgins. The majority of the road is gravel so you need to drive about 40km per hour and has several curves and smaller lanes. You’re not going to mind driving this slow because the views are so beautiful you’re going to want to stop constantly. Every 100 km on average you have an opportunity to sleep, eat, and/or explore the area. Most people can do the entire thing in 15 days but you can definitely take your time and stay longer. I was there for only 7 days and it left me wanting more. My detailed post about this road trip is coming soon. I’m working hard on it!

 

So that’s my top 5. I’m sure you’re going to want to do them all so the question is, which one are you going for first? Let me know if there is a place in Chile’s Patagonia that I missed. I know that Patagonia is shared with Argentina, but that’s a whole different trip that I haven’t visited, yet. You’ve got to visit one place at a time.

Please reach out to me if you have questions because I would LOVE to help you plan your visit to Patagonia.

Remember, when you give good you get good.

 

 

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THE USA LIST
USA

The USA List

by Andrea
written by Andrea

USA List

I like to make lists. Lists make me feel organized. Who doesn’t like lists? They keep me focused and help bring order to my chaotic life. Sometimes my lists are as simple as getting my daily tasks in order and other times, my list is never ending and challenged to complete. Do you know what I love most about making lists? Getting to cross off or place a check when I completed the task.

I want to share my travel Lists with you.  These are the points that I personally want to see that will fully encompass the culture, landscapes, and diversity of each Country. Since I’m a slow traveler, I like to take my time to understand each country I visit and then share those experiences with you so that your trip can reach its full potential.

This is my United States of America List.  As always, I break things up by region as I find that this is the easiest way to tackle when planning to visit each destination.

North East

  • Explore Casco Bay Islands
  • Say hello to Lady Liberty
  • Crack into some fresh main Lobster Tail
  • Eat some New England Clam Chowder
  • Feel the power of Niagara Falls
  • Watch the sunset from the Lincoln memorial center
  • Eat the Magical Rainbow Bagel at The Bagel Store in Brooklyn, NY

South

  • Skydive over Kennedy Space Center
  • See if Gator Tail really taste like Chicken
  • Take an Airboat tour through the everglades
  • Go on a jazz crawl in New Orleans
  • Meet an astronaut at Kennedy Space Center
  • Road Trip through the best beaches of Florida
  • Visit the outer banks of North Carolina
  • Boogie down in Memphis, TN
  • Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway

MidWest

  • Hang out in a dude Ranch
  • Attempt a Snowboard in Colorado
  • Admire the view from the Skyscrapers of Chicago
  • Drive through Route 66
  • Check out the trendy food scene in Detriot
  • Photograph the architecture from the Chicago River
  • Attend Lollapalooza

West

  • The Grand Canyon and the lessers Canyons, Havasu falls
  • See Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park
  • Drive Big Sur Coast Highway, CA
  • Hike Mt. Hood in Oregon and have fresh Dungeness crabs
  • Catch a fish at the Pike Place Market, in Seattle WA
  • Great Salt Flats in Utah
  • Hug the Sequoia Trees
  • Eat like a local in Los Angeles
  • Explore the Moaning Caves in California
  • See the last light shine on Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park (Only in February)
  • Check out Glass Beach in Northern California

Outside the continental US

  • Sleep under the Northern Lights
  • Surf the waves in Hawaii
  • Learn about the Hawaiian culture
  • Cruise around the Glaciers
  • Climb the stairway to heaven

I know there are a lot more spots in the US to visit but these are the ones that I feel that represent the diversity in the US. What does your list look like? What would have added?

Want to travel outside the US? Check out my Chile and Colombia lists too!

Remember, when you give good you get good.

 

 

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Bogota, Colombia
Colombia

How to Spend 24 Hours in Bogota, Colombia

by Andrea
written by Andrea

The capital city of this beautiful country is filled with art, culture, and traffic. Bogotá is turning into a prime tourist stop in South America as tourist discover the natural history, incredible landscapes, and the modern lifestyle of the Bogotanos.

Let me fill you in with the areas that are MUST SEE to get an essence of how incredible this city is there is so much ground to cover in Bogotá and my time was very limited. I only had 24 free hours in the city. 

Let me warn you now. The traffic in this city is horrible and saying ‘horrible’ means that I’m just being nice. Every large city in the world has problems when it comes to traffic, but I’ve never seen anything like this. The Bogotanos that I spoke to told me that there is no underground subway system and it’s been largely debated for about 60 years about how to correctly implement one. Yes. 60. Years. That’s a long time. In 2000, the bus system called Transmilenio has helped some, but this city has a long way before it gets better. I would plan an hour to two hours to get anywhere in the city during peak hours.

Bogota

8 AM

I was invited to take a city tour, which started in the historic La Candelaria area. around 10:30 AM (yes, I started my day with 2 1/2 hours of traffic. My hotel was far from this area) Most of the buildings in the neighborhood are from the colonial era and have been preserved to its original state. This area is filled with history, small cobblestone streets, and beautiful graffiti art.

My favorite thing to do in a new city is walk through the streets and capture its history. I like to imagine the types of people who walked through the same area 5, 10, 50, 250 years before me. The Plaza of Bolivar is incredibly large and was overflowing with pigeons. I am indifferent to them, but I would definitely steer clear of their path as they leave little presents on anything and on anyone.

12 PM
Botero MuseumGold MuseumSan Alberto Street

We made it right in time before the rain started to pound through the city and visited two museums. La Candelaria is also home to the some of the most important museums of Bogotá. I was able to visit The Gold Museum and The Botero Museum. I’m never one to go directly to a museum on my first day of getting to know a city, but they were both really interesting. I learned a lot about how Gold and Fransico Botero played an important role to Colombia.

3PM

Simon Bolivar

We also visited the Quinta de Bolivar, resident of Simon Bolivar, Colombia’s first president during 1820-1830. The house has been changed several times and was used for diverse purposes throughout the years. The Colombian Historic Society and the Embellishment Society of Bogotá began a national fund-raising campaign in order to buy it to transform it into a museum with artifacts from the independence times including objects belonging to Simon Bolivar. It is also used as a venue for diplomatic and cultural events.

4 PM
Cerro MoserateCerro MonserateCerro Monserate

For the last stop of our tour, we went up Cerro Monserrate. This beautiful green mountain dominates the skyline of Bogota. It rises a little over 10,000 feet and let me tell you the view is AMAZING. I completely forgot that I was hungry; I didn’t care anymore about the traffic, this view made everything worth it. There are two ways to get to the top; funicular (an elevator that hugs the mountain) or by teleferico (two cable car that takes under 4 minutes to ride).  You used to be able to climb to the top but they have closed it until further notice due to safety concerns.

6:30 PM

The tour was over and it was time to take a break at my hotel to recharge phone batteries and rest a bit. I was getting hungry and decided to go out with some friends that I made at my hotel 

8PM

Andres de Res

We took a cab to the Zona Rosa, or “The Bogotá Pink Zone”. This neighborhood is filled with pubs, malls, restaurants, and clubs until all hours of the night. I would say the most popular place in the area is the restaurant Andres D.C. The original Andres Carnes de Res is just outside the city, but this one was closer to our hotel.  It’s a place like nothing I’ve seen before and is a MUST SEE. They say that if you didn’t experience Andres, then you didn’t come to Bogotá.

It’s pure chaos but in a good way. There are 5 floors, each with a different atmosphere and of course a full-service bar while you wait. We missed our reservation due to the traffic and thought that waiting wouldn’t be so bad. While we had an amazing time, after waiting two hours, we decided that our hungry bellies couldn’t wait anymore and we left. I definitely need to come back and try the food. 

1130 PM

We ate at a restaurant nearby and walked around the area to check out some of the salsas bars. Let me warn you now, Colombian men and woman are so charming and they all have excellent dance moves. It’s easy to get swept off your feet.

230 AM

Arrived back to my room and dove right into bed! It wasn’t a complete 24 hours out, but almost!

Things to Note:

While I got a lot done, I would suggest to anyone visiting to stay for at least another 24 hours.  The traffic in this city eats up so much of your time. I would also recommend you stay in the historic center area such as La Macarena or between Calle 68-70 and Carrera 7-8-9-10 close to Zona G.

What would have I done with an extra 24 hours? I would have definitely done a graffiti tour because I love that kind of stuff and visit the Salt Cathedral just outside of Bogotá.

The other thing I would have done is hang out with the team from 5bogota.com This travel startup offers unique tours with a local point of view. And ya’ll know that I’m all about this, showing the best of the city from the eyes of a local. The next time I swing by Bogotá, I’m definitely going to do the Food by foot Tour and Salsa like a local tour. I loved everything about them.

I promise Bogotá, I will come back and explore the city with the time it deserves. My Colombian Bucket list has started thanks to this 24 hour stunt in Bogota.  Get ready Colombia; I’m coming for you.

Remember, when you give good you get good

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before you go to San Pedro de Atacama
Chile

Know before you go: San Pedro de Atacama

by Andrea
written by Andrea

San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in the north part of Chile. If this is your first stop in Chile, let me say that this town is a wonderful introduction to endless possibilities. If San Pedro is a continuation of your journey throughout Chile, let me say that this small town will not disappoint.

San Pedro de Atacama is built around a rare oasis in the driest desert in the world, The Atacama desert. It’s perfectly located between volcanoes, salt flats, sand dunes, lagoons, and geysers. At night you can witness some of clearest skies in the world and star gaze through some one the biggest telescopes available in the world. So if you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right spot.

On the surface, you might think that San Pedro is just another tourist destination but if you look beyond the main street of Caracoles, you find there is so much history just waiting to be told.

 The town is named after its patron saint, San Pedro (Saint Peter), who are honored each year along with San Pablo (Saint Paul). There is a weeklong festival at the end of June featuring regional music, traditional foods, and a parade that ends with a special mass in the town historic Church. This area is the official archaeological capital of Chile so you can imagine what kinds of fossils, mummies, and hieroglyphics can be seen around the area.

When you compare tourism in Chile to Bolivia and Peru, you will find it can become quite expensive. However, you can find something for all types of travelers from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels. You can organize your tours prior to arriving in Chile with several agencies or shop around for the best deal once you arrive.

In my experience in San Pedro, the agencies that allow you to pre-book have been around the longest and provide better customer service and their guides are the most knowledgeable.  The competition runs high between agencies because, at the end of the day, they are all selling the same 4-6 tours. 

I personally recommend using Denomades.com. Their site is super user-friendly and they work with some of the best agencies throughout Chile and surrounding countries. You can book everything you could possibly want all in one place. Sounds easy enough right?

If you’re the kind of person who likes plan the tours once you arrive, I would recommend you go speak with Juan from Vive Atacama Travel Agency. They are really professional, their guides are extremely knowledgeable, and I loved my time spent with them. You can book directly through their site as well or through their offices. I put the location in the map which you can find at the end of this post.

There are four popular tours: Geysers del Tatio and high planes lagoons with or without Red Rocks that can only be done via Van or a 4×4 Jeep. The Moon Valley and Laguna Cejar can be visited via van/bus, 4×4, bike, or hiking if you’re really feeling up to it. At night you must go see the starts with an astronomy tour.  You can also try sand boarding down Death Valley, relax in the Puritamas thermal baths, or hike up the mighty volcano Licancabur.

Most tours are half day tours so you can schedule two in one day or if you want to take it easy, just do one a day and relax within the town.  Most guides and agencies speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese but when it comes to restaurants and shops you’ll find that most people only speak Spanish. So it might be time to brush up on your español if you haven’t already

If you want to learn about the history of San Pedro and how it has evolved throughout the years I would definitely recommend taking a free walking tour with Tours 4 Tips. Tours are every day at 10 am and 3 pm and they meet right next to the church. Tours last about 2 hours and then you just tip them what you feel is correct. Most people tip between 5,000 and 10,000 CLP. 

I’m sure you’ll get hungry and there are countless restaurants that offer great daily menus for lunch. Make sure you try Pataska, a traditional indigenous dish that can roughly be translated into Mother’s Leftovers.

When you want to cool down from the dry desert air you must try the ice cream. It’s fantastic. Ask for Rica Rica, Chañar, or Algarrobo, flavors if you want something from the region. They are quite different than anything else I’ve personally tried and very delicioso. 

When you get thirsty, you must try a Pisco Sour Rica Rica which is Chile’s national cocktail infused with the Rica Rica herb.

The nightlife here in San Pedro is quite interesting, as it has become against the law to dance. Remind anyone from the story plot of Footloose? The reason behind it isn’t because of religious reasons. The local people of San Pedro don’t want the town to become a huge party destination. Remember, the focus here is the adventure, you can still find something fun to do! There are several places that will play live music and even have karaoke. Come hungry, because you cannot buy a drink without ordering food and make sure get there early because everything closes between midnight and 1:30 AM.

What else can I prep you with? Remember, you are in the driest desert in the world so that means water is scarce. Take your showers quickly and make sure you stay hydrated.  Sunscreen will be your best friend and take the time to get to know the locals. They love sharing their stories of their town with people around the world.  

Want more?

I’ve written two other posts about San Pedro and the Atacama Desert. Check out the 7 things you must do and the best way to get in and out of town.

I’ve also created a Google map with my favorite points throughout the town and surrounding areas which I feel helps you get an idea on how far things really are from each other. 

Remember, when you give good you get good.

Pin for Later!

 

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Chile

5 Reason Why You Must Visit Chile’s Northern Patagonia

by Andrea
written by Andrea

Cerro castillo

I was able to discover this region thanks to the incredible invitation from recorreaysen.cl All opinions are my own based on my experience.

The Patagonia is a vast area filled with magic. Glaciers, mountains, firjods, rivers, fill the end of the world and in my humble opinion is one of the worlds most beautiful destinations. Chile’s Patagonia is so large that it’s difficult to explore it all if you’re crunched for time. Torres del Paine is the Patagonia’s most popular destination with approximately 250,000 visitors a year. If you’re looking for something a little more isolated or something new, I want to highly recommend exploring the northern part of Patagonia in a region called Aysen.

Here are My 5 Reasons Why:

Cerro castillo lookout

Number 1: Perfect Road Trip Destination

Who doesn’t love a good trip? Turn up the tunes and explore Patagonia on one of the most iconic routes of South America. Starting in Puerto Montt, the Carretera austral hugs along the mountains and goes through 1240 km of the Aysen region until reaching Villa O’ Higgins. It’s recommended to take about 15 days to do the entire route. This gives you enough time to drive explore different towns. If you’re pressed for time, 7 days will allow you to only explore only one side of the route. Which one is the best? That’s a tough question that only you can only. Each side has so many things to offer and is completely different than one another.

Number 2: It’s Full of Outdoor Adventures

Many of you might already know about the marble cathedrals in this area. While they are beautiful, this attraction is just one of the countless outdoors activities available in the region; trekking, horseback riding, kayak, boat excursions, helicopter rides, fly fishing, natural infinity pools, white water rafting, waterfalls, the list goes on and on.

San Rafael National Park

Number 3: Did I Mention Glaciers?

This region is the beginning point of Chile’s Ice fields which has some of the most breathtaking glaciers that must be seen before they are gone. (Climate change is real people). San Rafael national park is the most popular place to see a glacier up close. However there are several opportunities to see more glaciers in the northern and southern region. You can explore them by foot, boat, and even by helicopter.

Number 4: Southern Hospitality is Out of This World

I’ve found that southern people, no matter where you go in the world, are the most welcoming, friendliest, and warm hearted people on earth. The southern people of Chile definitely has its charm. They are so proud of their region and want to show you everything and go above and beyond to make you feel at home. Don’t even get me started with the food. Want a real southern home cooked meal? This is the place to go.

Number 5: Untouched by Mass Tourism

This region has so many places that haven’t been developed yet by huge corporate agencies. There are so many family businesses that are passionate about what they do. I don’t know about you but When i visit family run business i feel like im treated better, I’m not just another number, the service is much more personalized and I leave the place, tour, restaurante knowing that the money I just spend there goes directly to support that family’s small business and the local people.

Have I convinced you yet? You really need to come to the Patagonia to understand how beautiful this place is. I spent 7 days in the region and I’ve fallen in love. This is definitely a destination that I’ll be visiting more than once in my lifetime.

For more information about this region please check out recorreaysen.cl they have an overwhelming amount of information about things to do, how to move around, and places to stay.

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CaliforniaUSA

Less Than $50 a day: Los Angeles, California

by Andrea
written by Andrea

I have taken it upon myself to see if I can spend less than $50 a day when traveling. I usually try to stick to this budget but I’ve never really actually tracked down every single Penny or swipe from my credit cards to see if I actually keep my word. Travel can be affordable if you save up, search the deals, and go to destinations that are realistic to your budget.

How do I know if a destination is realistic to my budget? Well, I wrote a neat post about that which you can read here about it, Research is the keyword. Before I go into how I spent my $50 a day I want to mention that this budget does NOT include flights and accommodations, but I did spend very little on both.

Where Did I Start?

I found a deal to LAX on Frontier airlines for $97 to fly direct from MCO (Orlando, FL)! Yes, you read that correctly! On SkyScanner.com you can set up deal alerts that will notify you when a flight that you’re interested goes up or down in Price. Every couple of days I would get alerts and I soon as I saw it was under $100, I booked the flight right away. I didn’t purchase any luggage as I was going to be in LA for a long weekend and the weather was requiring dresses and sun hats.

Next, I started to look where I was going to stay for free or at a very, very low cost. On Facebook, I am a part of an amazing community of women travelers called Girls Love Travel. We empower each other to travel more, share our best tips, and connect with women all over the world. They have teamed up with overnight to create a space where women and stay “overnight” with other GLT women. I searched around and remembered that one of my friends, Pachi, from Chile was studying at UCLA (a fellow GTLer) so I reached out and she told me that her Couch had my name on it as long as I cooked some of her favorite meals for her. Done.

Now that I’ve spent $97 and promised one morning to cooking, it was time to explore the city.

I reached out to GLT again and asked what should a first timer like me on a budget do in LA. I also did research on Pinterest and Trip Advisor and before I knew it, my schedule was full! Remember that the prices you see are per person as everyone was paying their own way. Here is what I did:

 

Day 1: Part Travel Day/part Explore Santa Monica:

LA FreewayGLTWestwood

Uber to MCO Airport. I made sure to pack lots of snacks (whatever I had in the house, thanks dad) and an empty bottle of water to fill up once I passed TSA.

Cost: $9.50

As soon as I arrived a friend of mine picked me up from the airport and we went straight to Santa Monica for happy hour.

Cost: $16.00

After that, we explore the Santa Monica Pier and just wandered around the area. By then it was pretty late we were pooped. So we went back to my friend Pachi’s house that lives in Westwood. We spilt the Uber fare between three people.

Cost: 4.50

TOTAL DAY 1 COST: $30

Day 2: Downtown LA Area

The Broad
The Broad
Downtown LA
Downtown LA
Grand Park
Grand Park
Arts District
Grand Central Station
Grand Central Station
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo
Downtown LA
Downtown LA

This is going to be full day 1 for us and we got up early to take advantage of the day. We had a good breakfast of eggs, toast, and coffee (such an amazing host) and then we meet up with some of her friends that have been living in LA for over a year and the love to show people around Downtown LA. Just my luck right? We could have taken a bus to downtown but it would have taken over an hour, so we just spilt the fare of an uber.

Cost: $5.50

We went everywhere: Disney Philharmonic center, Bradbury Building (Where Blade runner was filmed) City Hall, The last bookstore, MOCHA, and stopped into Grand Central Market for lunch. All for free

I chose to eat at Lunch at Mad Capra, which serves farm-to-table falafel sandwiches & unique drinks. I ordered the orange sandwich with a Mexican coke. It tastes different because its make from sugar cane sugar and it’s served in a glass bottle.

COST: $16.50

For dessert and motivation to keep on walking so we grabbed an ice cream from McConnell Fine Ice Cream Shop before leaving Grand Central Station.

COST: $5.75

The odds were in our favor and we went into The Broad (free). Spent about an hour or so inside. After The broad, we wanted to check out the Art District and so we walked because it wasn’t too far. Plus we made a quick stop in Little Tokyo. It was so cool. I wish I were hungry to eat something. Definitely, need to go back and hang out more in that area. Didn’t spend a dime.

We walked around the Art District and discovered an amazing gallery by Lili Lakich who creates amazing art using neon lights. She doesn’t have visiting hours of her gallery, you just have to roll the dice and hope that she is around. Let me tell you, it was amazing to see everything in there. We visited a few more galleries before ended up for a cold beer at Angels City Brewery. The place was packed for a Friday afternoon.

COST: $7

The sun was setting and it was time to start planning for what we were going to do at night. So those friends who gave us a city tour drove us back to Pachi’s house. One of her classmates from the Law Program she is doing at UCLA was celebrating their birthday and her house has become the party central since she has this amazing rooftop terrace. Everyone was bringing something to the party; Pachi and I made Sangria for everyone since it is one of our favorite things to drink when we were both in Chile. Want that recipe and cool story? Check it out here.

COST: $15

TOTAL DAY 2 COST: 49.75

Day 3: Saturday Recover Mode Beach Style.

Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach
Inn N Out
Inn N Out
Stout Burger
Stout Burger "Califresh"
Venice Beach
Venice Beach
Santa Monica Beach
mangos on Santa Monica Beach

We wake up in the morning completely exhausted. Officially, I will say it’s because we walked 8.6 miles around Downtown LA. Unofficially, we went to bed at 7 AM(that sangria gets you going and no one wanted to leave).

We turned our Saturday into a beach day and spent the whole day in Santa Monica and Venice Areas. Before heading out to Santa Monica, we had to recharge our energies with the famous In-N-Out Burgers that everyone on the west coast raves about. Animal Fries and all.

COST: $9.75

Our bellies were full and it was time for a nap on the beach. So we jumped on the Bus and headed towards Santa Monica. Once we woke up, we walked down to Venice beach along the coast to check out a free music concert that was going on.

COST: $1.25

Pachi and I got hungry again, so we meet up with her classmates for, you guessed it, another burger. This one was a little fancier and I decided to try the veggie burger (Califresh Burger) and it was out of this world. Served with a Kellerwise Wheat Ale and split a serving of tater tots with Pachi.

COST: $25.80

We all headed back (someone had a car) to the house to Chill and drink the leftover beers from the night before.

TOTAL DAY 3 COST: $36.80

Day 4: Museums and Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Berlin Wall LA
Berlin Wall
Getty Museum
Getty Museum
Original Farmers Market
Ice Cream at the Original Farmers Market
Griffith Observatory
Sunset at the Griffith
LACMA
Lamps at LACMA

I’m not the biggest Fans of Museums but Los Angeles has so many good ones that I had to give in and check them out. Most of them have great walking tours that are free so you’re hearing the story behind the artwork instead of just pondering about art. Pachi and I first to an uber to the Getty Center.

Cost: $4.30

Then we got hungry and took another uber to the Originals Farmer Market. It was very similar to the Grand Central Market but with a more homey feeling to it.

COST: $4.30 (not a mistake, just a coincidence)

Our lunch was fantastic. We wanted to eat the Brazilian Pampas place was the line was so long that we didn’t want to wait. So we settled for the next best thing, The Jumbo Pot, and it didn’t disappoint. Plus we got an ice from for the road.

COST: $17.25

We saw on the maps that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA, was pretty close. General admission is $15 but there are lots of things to see outside for free; the tar pits totally surprised me and of course, the famous Lamp Posts right in the main entrance. If you cross the street from LACMA you can find the longest stretch of original Berlin Wall outside of Germany. Definitely worth seeing. In total, we went about an hour there and then got uber to the Griffith Observatory.

COST $4.45

There is a reason you should save this for last, especially in the evening time. The Sunset is spectacular from here. You can see the Hollywood sign from the distance. Once you go inside the Observatory, there is so much to do. We had just missed the last viewing of a tour through the universe film that cost about $7. Would have totally done it. We also waiting in line to look through the telescopes (free) and I saw Saturn and the moon. To get back to Pachi’s house we decided to take the bus. It was going to be the same time as uber, so we wanted to try it. There is a Dash Bus that takes you up and down the hill for .50 cents and then the bus that drops us off 1 block away from Pachis for 1.75

COST: $2.25

TOTAL DAY 4 COST: $32.55

Day 5: Cooking/UCLA

UCLA
Pachi Showed me UCLA
Korean BBQ UCLA
Korean BBQ
Diddy Reece
The best Ice Cream Sandwich at Diddy Reece
Gushi
Gushi UCLA

I promised Pachi my home cooking in exchange for a place to stay so this was the day that we had scheduled to cook. Before cooking, we went out to UCLA to check out the campus and she showed me where she went to class and I also got the chance to say goodbye to her classmates.

We had to grab some Lunch and I ate Bi Bim Bam at the local Korean BQQ Spot near UCLA. My goodness, it was SO GOOD

COST: $11

On our way back to the house, you guessed it, we stopped for ice cream. Diddy Reece is famous for its amazing cookies. So what did I get? An ice cream Sandwich. I WAS IN HEAVEN. The best 2 bucks spent on this trip. No Joke!

COST: $2

The rest of the day was spent cooked and chatting until it was time for me to go. I found out there is LAX Flyaway bus that will take you to LAX for $10. They leave every hour on the hour from different points in LA. I decided to Uber pool because it was only $5 more and I wanted to spend as much time with Pachi as I could.

COST: 15.80

TOTAL DAY 5 COST: $28.80

So, How did I do? Did I accomplish my goal?

I sure did. I managed to stay under budget. YAY for me!!! In total, my trip was well under $300 and on average I spent $35 a day. I’m sure that I could have lowered my daily spending if I would have taken the bus or not eat out as often as I did. But I am personally proud of myself. You have to enjoy your vacation and I have definitely enjoyed my self to the fullest. I wouldn’t have changed a thing and I know I need to get back to LA ASAP. I didn’t grab a good souvenir. I know that this city has so much more budget-friendly things to do that I can come back 3-4 more times and not repeat anything.

I hope ya’ll are able to pick up and few things from my time in LA. Let me know if you have any questions or want to suggest a place for my next visit.

Remember when you give good, you get good.

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San Pedro de Atacama
Chile

7 Things you must do in San Pedro de Atacama

by Andrea
written by Andrea

The Atacama Desert is filled with adventure and lots of outdoor activities. There is so much to do that you can easily spend a week in San Pedro de Atacama. I spent 10 days in the desert and my life is now forever changed. OK, I may be exaggerating but my time in the desert was truly unforgettable. You can visit any time of the year as it only rains about 30 days out of the year. Now before I give my list of things you must do, I want to mention a few tips:

  • Tours do not include entrance fee’s to the national parks. Each park has different fee’s but it’s anywhere between 3-15 USD
  • Bring water and sunscreen. At least 1 liter per person and minimum 30 SPF You’ll need it.
  • Have fun!

Ok, now here’s the list. Enjoy!

NUMBER 1: Watch the sunset from Valley de la luna

Moon ValleyMoon ValleyMoon Valley

If you’re a sucker for sunsets like me, this must be the first thing you do. There are several ways to get to the moon valley (Valle de la Luna in Spanish) but I opted for a tour because it seemed like the easiest option plus I wanted to learn about the area. My guide Leo was awesome and he took the group through three famous spots throughout the valley. During the first spot, we visited the great Dune, The three Mary’s, the finally finished at Coyote Stone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sunset like that before and the place really makes you feel like you’re on another planet.

If you want to do the same tour I did, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 2: Watch the sunrise from the Tatio Geysers

Tatito GeysersGeysers TatioTatio Geysers

The best time to see this geothermic field is right at dawn. Not only will you see the geysers at its strongest moment but you will also see a beautiful sunrise. Close by are thermal pools, which you can swim in if you brought your suit. The tour I opted to take also took us through a small town called Machucha which has a really old and beautiful church with a cool story. There is was so much to see and since we got up so early, we were back to San Pedro around 1230, ready for lunch.

If you want to do the same tour, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 3: Swim in the Laguna Cejar

Laguna CejarLaguna CejarLaguna Cejar

Grab your swimsuit and get ready to experience something totally different. The Laguna Cejar is in the middle of the Atacama Salt Flats, Chile largest salt flats. There are several lagoons that have a high density of salt, which gives you the feeling that you’re floating similar to the Dead Sea. Once you’re done swimming, there are restrooms where you can change back into dry close and continue exploring the area. Before heading to the big Tebinquinche lagoon, we made a pit spot to see Maria’s eyes, two natural sinkholes within the salt flats. We ended our tour with a delicious pisco sour and some yummy treats as we watched the sunset. The day I went, the sun was not shining so you can see the volcanoes in the pictures but in real life, they had a mystery to them, that I couldn’t stop staring.

If you want to do the same tour, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 4: Sand board down Death Valley

Death ValleyDeath ValleyDeath Valley

So I’ve been wanting to Sand Board since I knew that it was possible to take a snowboard to a sand dune. So when I found out that this was an option, I knew that I just HAD to do this! Being from Florida, we don’t have many options of snowy mountains, sand dunes, or even hills to climb my experience is quite limited. The only other time I had tried something like this was in Lake Tahoe, snow boarding when I was 14 years old so I was quite excited about this.

My instructor was very patient with me; he even had to show me how to strap on my shoes. That’s how much of a beginner I was. They gave me boots, helmet, and a board, all I needed to do was to leave my fear in the car and just go. And I did. I loved it! I would do again in a heartbeat! This was by far the best thing I tried

If you want to do the same tour, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 5: High Plateau Lagoons

high plateau lagoonhigh plateau lagoonhigh plateau lagoon

This may be one of the most popular tours in the Atacama Desert. My tour included a stop to Toconao, a village which has homes and a beautiful church built with volcanic stones, before heading to the first lagoon called Chaxa Lagoon. You’ll see a wide arrange of animals like flamingoes, reptiles, and insects. You continue to 4,200 m above sea level to visit the Miscanti and Meñigues Lagons with the beautiful Andes mountain range in the background before heading back to San Pedro.

If you want to do the same tour, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 6: Trek through the rainbow valley

Rainbow ValleyRainbow ValleyRainbow Valley

This tour was a pleasant surprize. I learned so much about the region that I didn’t learn from the other tours that I visited. We headed towards the Domeyko Mountain range and we were surprised with a huge flock of guanacos (typical animal from the area) before arriving at the pre-Columbian ruins of Hierbas Buenas, famed for its ancient petroglyphs. Our guide took us through time and explained the significance of each one. It felt like time stood still in that place, it was quite the experience.

Once we finished, we were on our way to Rainbow Valley, named for the multicolored rocks that get a variety of colors from the mineral makeup in the mountain range. There are several trails you can explore throughout the valley. Our guide let us wander freely for about 45 minutes. I believe that this tour isn’t one of the most popular ones but I highly recommend it.

If you want to do the same tour, you can reserve your spot here!

NUMBER 7: Try a Free walking tour through the town:

San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de Atacama

I don’t know about you, but when I start planning a trip I always check to see if there are free walking tours available in the city. They help get your feet wet in a new place and you get to learn about the history of the city you’re visiting. San Pedro’s free walking tours are no different. Just head out the Plaza next to the Church and you’ll see guides dressed in red and white stripe shirts from Tours 4 Tips. They offer two different walking tours and they are both amazing! If you only do one thing from this list, I would say that this is one you MUST DO.

Check out the free tours available in San Pedro here.

So there you have it! There are more activities you can do in San Pedro such as the Puritama Hot springs, climb Licanabur Volcano, and check out an astronomical tour. I just ran out of time and didn’t have a chance to check them out myself. I’m already planning my trip to come back and visit.

Remember when you give good, you get good.

When are you going? Pin this post for later!

 

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Chile

I went to a Chilean National Reserve and This is What Happened

by Andrea
written by Andrea

As you all already may know, I’m tackling my Chile bucket one destination at a time and over this past weekend, I got to cross another one off the list. I visited the Chilean National Reserve Radal Siete Tazas located in the 7th region of Chile, about 180 miles away from the capital of Santiago.

What Happened?

7 Tazas
Salto Leona

I grabbed my tent and a couple of friends and we were off to explore. Most Campgrounds and Cabins don’t take reservations in this area so everything is on a first come, first serve basis. I had a feeling that this was going to be complicated because we were in February and we were a large group of 20 people. Yup, 20.

We wanted to stay in the “Parque Ingles” of the reserve because it was the closest to the waterfalls and hiking trails that we wanted to see during the weekend. Little did we know that 2,000 other people wanted to stay in the same area of the reserve. It was going to be almost impossible to organize 4 cars with no reservation and different arrival times for each car.

Side note: The month of February is the best and worse month to come to Chile. It’s the heart of the summer season and every single region has something for any kind of travelers. The only thing you can’t do is Ski, its too hot. It’s also the month where huge percentages of Chileans take advantage of the weather and go on vacation. Some take a weekend for a short get-away, others take their 15-paid business days and completely disconnect. Anything that is less than 5 hours driving distance from Santiago is usually overflowing with people and Sunday traffic back into the city can be a nightmare.

To make a long story short, let me fill you in with details that you need to know if you’re planning on coming to this area.

Number 1: Get Here Early

To help on crowd control, CONAF (National Forest Corporation) will only allow people to go into the park up until 3 pm during the month of February. If they see that the place is starting to overflow earlier than three, then they will limit the access to the park and wait for vehicles to leave so that new cars can come in. Once you are actually in the park, the majority of the road is just a one-way street. Just imagine what can happen when cars park in places where they aren’t supposed to and a 45-passenger bus is trying to get out. Yea…

Number 2: Be Patient

15 miles before reaching the park, the roads are no longer paved. Drive slowly, respect others around you if you have to wait in line to get into the park, and understand that everyone has different fitness levels. I saw people taking their 2-month-old baby on this hike and I saw 75-year-old grannies walking down to the lookouts.

Number 3: There is Room for Everyone

It may not be inside the park, but every mile there were campsites or cabins that you can rent. You can definitely come to the reserve, but like I said in my first point. Get here early. Prices can range from 2.500 CLP (5 USD) to 10.000 CLP (20 USD) per person/per night. Everything must be paid for in cash.

 

We made it to the 7 tazas

We ended up finding the most amazing place just around the corner from “Puente Pancho” (which is about 10 miles from the entrance to the “Siete Tazas”) called Cabañas “Ya llegue” which is translated to “I’ve arrived”. A lovely woman named Elena who was happy to take us in and let us use all her green area to set up camp greeted us. She had a private access to the “Claro” River, which ended up being one of the best spots of the weekend.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfbLW4uBc5t/?taken-by=mujicaaandrea

 

We grilled, we jumped off cliffs, we went to the National reserve for the day, we swam under an amazing waterfall, and the weather was amazing. We didn’t get to camp out in the place that we originally planned for but we ended up finding something even better. We had such a great time that we didn’t want the weekend the end. You may think it’s hard to organize a trip with 20 people…but we’ve been doing it for years that it’s just second nature.

If there is anything that I have learned after all these years living in Chile is that things rarely happen the way you plan. Just go with the flow and everything will work out the way it’s supposed to be. The Monica-like tendencies in me struggle with this every day but I don’t think I have a time, place, or moment in Chile when things don’t work out in my favor. And for that, Chile, I am grateful.

https://www.facebook.com/whereshegoesTODAY/videos/1665858043507450/

It looks like we are going to be going on a lot of short weekend adventures. Don’t miss out on any of them by making sure you follow me on Instagram. I’m always uploading Insta-Stories and let me tell you, I’m quite the hoot.

Remember when you give good, you get good.

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Chile List
Chile

The Chile List

by Andrea
written by Andrea

Chile List

As a natural planner, I like to make lists. Lists make me feel organized. They keep me focused. They bring order to my chaotic nomadic life. Sometimes my lists are as simple as getting my daily tasks in order and other times my list is never-ending and challenging to complete. Do you know what I love most about making lists?

Do you know what I love most about making lists?

Getting to cross off or place a check when I completed the task. Yes, it’s that simple. I love seeing a list of all its checks placed in all its boxes.

I want to share with you, my travel lists. Since I want to see everything in the Americas I can’t possibly just have one list. This list will focus on beautiful Chile. Believe it or not, but I still have a lot that I need to see but I want to cross a huge chunk of this list by the end of 2017.  Click over the crossed out item if you want to read more about it.

North

Central Valley

  • Visit all three houses of Pablo Neruda
  • Ride the Valparaiso antique funiculars
  • Eat a Chilean Empanada
  • Attempt to Ski
  • Visit a central valley winery
  • Skydive along the Andes Mountains
  • Hike through the National Park Siete Tazas
  • Kiss a Giraffe at Rancagua’s Parque Safari Chile

Santiago

  • Watch a performance at the Teatro Municipal of Santiago
  • Ride the funicular and Teleferico at Cerro San Cristobal
  • Eat a completo
  • Drink a Piscola
  • Try a terremotto in La Pijoera 
  • Check out the view at Sky Costanera
  • Bike Ride through a vineyard
  • Trek a couple of mountains
  • Admire the Open Sky Museum
  • Watch the sunset from the Bai Hai Temple

South

  • Attempt surfing in Pichilemu
  • Visit the hot thermal baths in Chillan
  • Visit all 16 churches on the island of Chiloe (I’ve only seen 2)
  • Have a craft beer in Valdivia
  • Hike to the Salto del Itata
  • Drive through the Valley de Itata and experience one of the oldest wine routes
  • Drive around in the lake district
  • Hug some of the oldest trees in Chile in the Lake Districts

Extreme Austral Areas

What does your list look like? Don’t have one yet? I hope that this list got you thinking about the wonderful places you would like to see. Remember it’s never too late to start traveling. Just put your mind to it, save little by little, and in no time you’ll be getting on that plane so you can cross off your item!

Remember when you give good, you get good

 

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Orlando
FloridaUSA

5 things to see in Orlando, FL

by Andrea
written by Andrea

“You’re from Orlando? You must go to Disney all the time!”

This is the first thing that comes to people’s mind when they think of Orlando. I know, it’s the most magical place in the world and yes;  it’s right in my backyard. I grew up in a part of Orlando where I could see the fireworks from my backyard at night and hear people screaming from the roller coasters as I was on my way to Geometry.  

To answer your question: No, I don’t go all the time.  

There is so much more to Orlando than people realize. If you only stay on Disney’s property or stay around the “tourist bubble” then you really haven’t seen Orlando.  Go past International Drive, go past the outlets, and go see what Orlando is really about.

 I want to show you a whole different side of Orlando and show you 5 places that you should definitely take the time to visit and see why they call Orlando “The City Beautiful”:

Number 1: Historic Lake Eola

Lake Eola

If you ask anyone from Orlando what to check out, the first place they are going to tell you to check out is Lake Eola. It’s located in the heart of Orlando and it’s a perfect place for a picnic or a stroll around the lake. Bring your kids; you can feed the famous swans that have been around longer than anyone who can remember why they came to the lake in the first place. You can also ride on a swan-shaped paddle boat at $15.00 per half hour. Every night at the fountain has a 6-minute show with music that changes every season between 8:30 and 9:30. Downtown Orlando is right down the street, Check out Church Street Station, a historic train station. 

Sunday’s is the busiest day for Lake Eola. The Eola Sunday Market is becoming one of the best farmers markets in Central Florida. Location on the Southeast corner the market is filled with fresh fruits and veggies, local food, beer, and artwork.  If you’re feeling like a Sunday Funday there are a bunch of places that offer bottomless mimosa and a good brunch menu. I’d recommend Stubborn Mule located at 100 S Eola Drive.

Number 2: Winter Park

Winter Park

If you’re hungry and in the mood to see something different, go to Winter Park. It’s a nature lover destination filled with swaying palms, cypress trees and a variety of gardens like the Sculpture gardens and Kraft Azalea Gardens. Take the Winter garden Scenic boat tour and ride on Winter Park’s chain of lakes. You’ll see some beautiful homes, a gator or two, and learn about the history of this beautiful city.

 Take a walk down Park Avenue and you’ll soon see that it’s a foodies dream come true! With 40 restaurants to choose some, you’re bound to find something that will meet your need and you won’t be disappointed.

 Don’t forget to check out Rollins College, named one of the most amazing college campuses in the US by The Best Colleges. The architecture is breath taking and you’ll soon be left in awe. Winter Park also has a large variety of Museums worth checking out like the Cornell Fine Arts Museum (At Rollins) and the Winter Park History Museum.

Number 3: Sporting Events

Orlando City

Orlando is becoming an important player in the game of professional, collegiate and amateur sports.  The Amway Center is a sport and entertainment center in Downtown Orlando and home to the Orlando Magic of the NBA.  Check out the schedule for events, concerts, and games happening during your visit here.

Orlando is also home to the Orlando City Soccer Club of the MLS. In 2017, they inaugurated a new beautiful stadium that any soccer fan would be proud of. Expect the stadium to be loud, as all four sides are designed with a metal deck canopy that just amplifies everything. There is also an all-standing section, the first in major American sporting venues, where the true fan and supporting fans come and bring everything they have to field.  You won’t be disappointed with a game, check out their schedule.

Number 4: Mills 50

Hawkers

This is an area of Orlando that has been around forever and lately the residents and members of the local government are committed to making the area pedestrian friendly.  Nearby you’ll find the Orlando Science Center, the perfect place to take the kids all day. Save this for a rainy day.  The science center has so many things too; movies, interactive experiences, performances, and classes which show how science impacts everyday life. 

 It’s a small part of Orlando but filled with great places to eat.  My favorite place is Hawkers. Its Array of Asian street food, you’ll find something for everyone. Plus they have a great beer and wine menu. Go check them at 1103 N Mills Ave.

Number 5: University of Central Florida

Lazy Moon Pizza

Did you know that Orlando is home to one of the largest University in the US by enrollment? Yes, this part of Orlando has grown tremendously through the years and is plenty of things to do.  If you’re around football season, Go out on a Saturday and tailgate on campus. Play beer darts. 

If you’re not into tailgating, just walk around the campus and see how the student’s campus life is like. If you want to see UCF students in their natural habitat, go to Knight Library or grab a huge slice of pizza at Lazy moon.

Before you go:

Now, this a great way to start exploring what Orlando is all about. There are so many places that I left out, what do you think should have made the cut?

Want more? There is a page on Facebook called Orlando Weekly and you should totally check them out before heading on your trip. It’s a great source for finding out what is really going on in Orlando. 

Remember when you give good, you get good. 

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