Take the Long Road from Lima to Cusco – It’s Worth It

Headed to Cusco? Many people fly into Lima and then straight to Cusco. But there's another great way to get to Cusco that is totally worth the extra time. Not only will you get to experience more of the Peruvian desert and the Andes, but you will probably arrive in Cusco a little more acclimatized to the high elevation.

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Guanacos on a mountain hill in Patagonia, Chile
Guanacos on a mountain hill in Patagonia, Chile

Patagonia: the Ultimate Travel and Hiking Guide

Patagonia is a huge region of South America covering both Argentina and Chile. With so much to see and do, including hiking, trekking, boating, skiing and snowboarding, touring historical sites, and more, we had to send someone down there to find out everything about it. And now our ultimate guide to Patagonia is awaiting those who yearn for more adventure in this beautiful and inspiring area. Come check out our guide and start planning your trip today!

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Machu Picchu, Peru
The ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru

The Many Faces of Peru

In our opinion, if you are going to visit another country to get an authentic experience, you must learn about the country’s culture. And the best way to learn about a country’s culture is to understand their past. If you are interested in learning about history and ancient cultures, Peru is the perfect place for you! Not only do they have a rich history, they also have modern attractions and world class outdoor activities as well.

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Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan

Over Yonderlust: Erica and Shaun

As fellow citizens of Austin, Texas for the last year, we first met Shaun and Erica during the planning stages for Austin's Meet Plan Go event. We quickly learned that we had a lot in common, specifically a mutual love for travel. Not too long ago, Shaun and Erica made their dreams a reality: they quit their jobs, sold off most of their stuff, and took the road south from the U.S.A. with no plans to come home anytime soon. It sounds pretty incredible, especially since they gave up dream jobs working for a popular video game company. But now they are wandering through Honduras, living the long-term travel dream.

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Tran with Leandro
Tran with Leandro

The Truth About Travel

In July 2010, Matt and Tran of Backpack Forever left their settled lives in Houston, Texas to embark on a five-month journey to Central and South America. Their trip led them through Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Guianas, Brazil, and Argentina. They’re back in the U.S. for now and have agreed to share their thoughts on "the truth about travel."

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Towers in Torres del Paine, Patagonia
The Towers in Torres del Paine, Patagonia

Hiking Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile

Torres del Paine is a national park in Patagonia, Chile. It is known for some of the most spectacular hiking in the world. I met many people as I hiked the park - people doing it on many different budgets. There was Joe from Chicago who camped and lived on porridge for nine days - surely that’s the cheapest it can be done. There were others who stayed at the Refugios with breakfast, dinner and a box lunch included for the trail. In between there was me: I camped, ate one meal at a Refugio, had drinks at the bar during happy hour (when they were half price) and ate a lot of nuts, dried fruit and other easily portable food.

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