The craft beer industry is booming in Europe and the US. During our trip around South America, we were pleased to find its popularity on the rise there too. So, during our 7 months in South America, as well as supping on the national drinks of each country, we also spent some time seeking out the local craft beers. Here our our favourite beers, microbreweries and places to drink.1) Bogota Beer Company (BBC), Colombia. We found the BBC bar in…
Long distance bus travel is likely to form a central component of any South American trip. For cash-strapped backpackers, an overnighter also helps save money as it gives you a nights accommodation as well as the means to get from a to b. The level of comfort (and safety) of South American buses depends on the country you’re in and the bus company you go for. On one bus, we were served champagne (yes! champagne) after our meal (yes! we were served a…
We crossed a number of land borders throughout our 6 and a half months in South America – quite a novelty for two Brits! Here are some of our border crossing photos. Leaving Peru, we were pleased that the border crossing was well marked with the iconic Peru sign and a big bottle of Cusquena beer! We walked across the border into Bolivia and were less delighted with the queue for Bolivian immigration that we were confronted with. We left Bolivia…
Pisco Sour: Peru and Chile One of our favourite foodie discoveries from South America was the Pisco Sour. Pisco is a grape brandy made in both Peru and Chile. In Peru, lemon, angostura bitters, sugar or syrup and egg whites are added to the brandy to make a Pisco Sour. Traditionally in Chile, the egg white and the bitters are not added. First Pisco Sour! It is the national drink of both countries and both lay claim to have invented…
Arriving in San Pedro de Atacama over the salt flats from Bolivia, we were pleasantly surprised to find a town in the middle of the desert stuffed with a range of good restaurants – all of which had tasty veggie options, which is not always guaranteed in South America. Aside from trusty (and yummy) pizzas, the options were quite varied too, including quinoa risottos, stuffed peppers and stir fries. Just walk up and down Caracoles – the main street in town –…
The courtyard at Hostal Iquisa San Pedro de Atacama – The small family run Hostal Iquisa is a quiet and relaxing hostel, 10 minutes out of town. Several reviews on hostelworld complain about the distance into town. While it definitely is a 10 minute walk, it really isn’t a big deal, and is quite a pleasant walk! However, it is a little dark getting back at night and so maybe not one for solo travellers. When the weather is warm…
A paddle in the Pacific 1. Lima: Our first South American sunset was in Peru’s capital Lima, where on day one of our 6 month trip, I enjoyed my first ever paddle in the Pacific Ocean as the sun went down. We then walked up the path from the beach to Barranco – the arty area of town we were staying – to enjoy a cold one as the sun disappeared below the horizon on our first day away. The Peruvian…
Pretty Valpo Known as ‘Valpo’ to its friends, this bustling, chaotic port town was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2003, after locals petitioned the international body to try and stop the building of a very modern glass cube on top of an old colonial building in one of the city’s main squares. They failed to stop that particular development, but were successful in achieving world heritage status. This has been a mixed blessing. While it means new developments have…
Cochiguaz Valley Fresh (?) off the bus from our adventures in San Pedro deAtacama, on arrival in La Serena, we decided to head straight into the Elqui Valley – where grapes are grown to make Pisco (mmm … Pisco Sours). Small villages are dotted around the pretty valley and it is a common weekend getaway for locals and foreigners alike. We made straight for the town of Pisco from La Serena bus station. The town changed its name from La Union…
There’s lots to do in San Pedro and the surrounding areas. Here are some top tips for making the most of your time there!For more posts on San Pedro de Atacama, see: Hanging out in San Pedro de Atacama and Trying to escape from San Pedro de Atacama1. For an amazing view into the Valle de la Muerte and over the town, walk or hire a bike and cycle out to the Quitor de Pukuara. Its only 3km out of town and pretty…