PERU
Country Overview:
"Arequipa, the white city of Peru and the gateway to the Colca Canyon, offers travelers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty."
Located in the heart of southern Peru, Arequipa is a city that showcases the best of what the country has to offer. From its stunning colonial architecture and rich cultural heritage, to its beautiful natural surroundings and delicious cuisine, Arequipa has something for everyone. Arequipa is a hidden gem — it's a place where you can experience the very best of Peruvian culture and history, all while enjoying the beauty of the Andes mountains and the Colca Canyon. Whether you're looking to explore the city's historic center, sample its delicious cuisine, or simply relax in its peaceful surroundings, Arequipa should definitely be on your travel list.
I lived in Arequipa, Peru from September 2011 to November 2012. I taught English, practiced Muay Thai, and got really into learning Peruvian slang. I also visited Lima, Cuzco, Colca Canyon, and Playa Mollendo.
Central America
Although I lived in El Salvador in 2011 and traveled through Central America before I had my blog, I found a write-up I emailed to a friend.
Here’s how my girlfriend at the time and I did Central America:
From Santa Tecla, we took Ticabus to Guatemala City and found a taxi that took us to Antigua. He helped us find a hotel and was patient with my sub-par Spanish. Antigua has some American bars and is a bit touristy, but they have an awesome market, and I bought a lot of soccer jerseys for cheap. We were there for some political campaigns - FMLN & others - so it was cool to watch those processions. We stayed in Antigua for a couple of days, then took a minibus directly from our hotel, crossed the border into Honduras and went to Copán Ruinas. We stayed in Copán for a few days, which was nice. They had street fairs with delicious food, and the locals were helpful in directional assistance. The ruins were amazing. Then we took a school bus (not ticabus) from Copán to Tegucigalpa and stayed the night there (the bus didn’t leave until the next morning). Tegucigalpa wasn’t very clean, and we didn’t go out because the locals told us it was too dangerous. From there, we took Ticabus to Managua, met a couple from Australia, and took a taxi from Managua to Granada (it was cheaper than a bus and faster). Granada was awesome. We stayed in a hotel for a couple of days then took a bus from Granada to Rivas, then a taxi directly to San Juan Del Sur. Easily the most beautiful place we visited. We were in San Juan Del Sur, about two blocks from the beach. The ocean was about 60-65 degrees and gorgeous. We stayed for a few days then took Ticabus to San Jose, Costa Rica, to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The day after the concert, we took a 19-hour Ticabus from San Jose back to San Salvador and then a taxi back to Santa Tecla.
Ticabus tickets -$18 or so per person
Hotels - $20-$25 a night average for both people (one bed)
Food - Cheap and delicous
Souvenirs - We bought a lot, street vendors are everywhere with jewelry, toys, etc.
Alcohol - Cheaper than the states
I loved every place we visited, and Ticabus is an affordable and convenient way to get through Central America. I think we took a King quality bus at least once and it was nice as well - tv, toilets, big seats. I loved traveling through Central America. I’ll never forget the trip I had, such an amazing experience.
