Current price for climbing volcanoes

In August 2011 I climbed Cotopaxi with a company from Latacunga. The price for one person (with one guide) was at that time $280 and that included all equipment, sleeping bag and extra clothes that I needed.

I just looked at the webpage of a travel agent in Quito for prices to climb Cayambe. Their price for going alone with a guide is $676 (they have the same price for Cotopaxi) and this price doesn't include sleeping bag, gaiters and any extra clothes that you need.
It is so much more money than what I paid for the climb in 2011.

So now I wonder what you have paid recently for climbing Cayambe, Cotopaxi or Chimborazo (or any other volcano).

Rent/buy a motorbike in Laos

Hi fellow travelers,

I'm planning a three weeks trip through Laos (begin of next year) and thinking about traveling by motorbike. The route would be Huay Xai - Luang Namtha - Luang Prabang - Phonsavan - Vientiane - Pakse.

I'm having a few questions regarding the motorbike part (which I hope you will be able to answer):

• Is it easier to rent or to buy/sell a bike for the tour? What costs should I calculate?
• In which of the cities will I be able to buy/rent a bike to start the tour?
• Is there a speed limit in Laos?
• What's road conditions can I expect on this route?
• Does any of you know (trusted) bike rentals/sales (where I can pickup and return the bike in different cities)?

Are buses running directly fr Riobamba to Banos or must I change in Ambato?

Thanks in advance for your reply!

how do i active an unlocked cell phone when i arrive in SJ

Hello all-
We will be arriving at SJ airport at 5 am on a Sunday morning. I plan to purchase an unlocked cell phone prior to my trip, and I know I will need to purchase a SIM card as well as a card for minutes. My question is about how to do this on a Sunday morning. Is the shop going to be open at that hour or at any time on a Sunday for that matter.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

ATMs that are guaranteed to work.

Hello all
I am off to Myanmar for the whole of July. I am slightly worried about having to bring cash to keep me going for a whole month. Do you know of any ATMs that are definitely working? I can’t really take a change and then find they are broken and I am out of cash.
I am going to all the usual places Yangon
Inle
Mandlay
Bagan
Thanks loads.

Itinerary - Thailand Laos Cambodia and back to Thailand

Hi

Hopefully seek some useful advice from you with regards to my trip to three above south east asian countries next month.
so to be exact 29 days all together.

My plan is as follows

Chiangmai (straight away after BKK arrival date) 4 days - Chiangrai 5days -Luang Namtha (cross to border to Laos) 4 days - Luang Pranbang ( 4 days) - Cross border to Cambodia (I would like to visit Siem Reap 3 days) - then back to Thailand BKK or preferably beach Krabi or Ko Samui island there 5days - BKK 4 days.

1. I wonder whether this is too much for a month??
have to come up with the travel plan that lets me reset enough days (15 days) by land as I need to go back to Thailand from Cambodia.

2. Is there any bus/boat trip from Luang Prangbang (Laos) to Siem Reap (cambodia)? it might be a little big jump though. what do you recommend? How long should I expect its travelling ti... more »

4 weeks trip - some suggestions ?

I'm planning a 4 weeks trip to Brazil, July / August.

I have been there 12 years ago (Cuiaba / Pantanal, Salvador (during Carnival), Rio, Florianopolis). Now I will go with my girlfriend, who was never there.

We will visit someone in Sao Paulo and want to include Rio and the Amazonas jungle. We do NOT want to "rush thru" but stay a few days at every place. So we have time left for one or maximum two spots. Large distances we will fly.

My questions are:

(1) Salvador de Bahia was beautiful, but is there an alternative, that I don't know yet?

(2) Is it worth to visit Iguazu Falls? Sounds like a silly question, but we have seen the Niagara Falls and the Victioria Falls in Africa. If Iguazu is not SO much different, we might skip it.

(3) We are considering two or three days at Ilha Grande / Paraty, seems like a nice stop between Sao Paulo and Rio. How is the weather in ... more »