Hi all!
I planning to backpack around Peru, boliva and Chile for 2 months (feb-march) next year. It has been a big dream of mine and decided I need to get out of my comfort zone and do this as my first solo trip. I want to see much of these countries as possible and the biggest thing I want to do is the machu Picchu trek.
I would appreciate any help/suggestions where I should start my trip from, main sights too see and any recommendations for reputable tour company for my trek? I'm flying from London so the easiest cities to get to would be Lima... would also consider Buenos Aires as many blogs have mentioned this as there starting/end point.
I've been reading alot of blogs...but still don't know where to start.
Many thanks
Sonia
With a taxi or transfer service, you can get from Placencia to the airport in about 3 to 3.5 hours. I don't know the cost, but would guess over US$150. A bus is cheaper, but takes longer, plus the US$25 taxi ride from Belize City (where the bus terminates) to the airport.
Have you considered flying from Placencia to BZE? Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are the two domestic airlines in Belize -- schedules & fares on their websites.
Thank you for the information. I am planning to get a bus from Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn. And then a bus
or buses from Puerto Madryn to Ushuaia. I know that the bus needs to be changed at Rio Gallegos. Or so I've been told. Then I plan to fly back from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires directly. I have plenty time for the journey as I will take 1 month in Argentina.
Sept. 6, 0500 PDT
Oh, joy. Twiddling my thumbs in the airport at this godforsaken hour, and I see there are two new fires
Red Bank
Northern California, in a remote area west of Red Bluff. 6000 acres and no containment. Right now, in a remote area not usually visited by travelers.
Tenaja
Southern California. West of I-15, more or less north of Temecula. No road closures now, but keep an eye out for changes.
Background:
I am traveling to Belize in January with my mom. I am 22 and an experienced solo traveler; my mom is 51 with less experience. I am more spontaneous and pretty low maintenance but I think my mom would prefer something a bit more planned out and higher end (ie. taking shuttle transfers as opposed to local buses).
Rough itinerary (only flights and Cahal Pech resort have been booked):
We are flying Southwest from NYC on 1/16 and will be heading straight to Cahal Pech resort for 2 nights from BZE. We plan to do the Cahal Pech ruins and the ATM caves while staying there. We will then spend one night at a cheaper inn in San Ignacio proper and plan to do an overnight in Tikal from there. After that we will return to Belize and head to Caye Caulker. Is this itinerary doable? I am leaving on the 24th and my mom on the 22nd.
If we choose this itinerary, I need advice on the following:
-best ATM caves tour from San Ignacio
-best way to reach Tikal from San Ignacio
-best way to reach Caye Caulker from TIkal (I am assuming head to Belize City and transfer to ferry--but how to get to Belize City from Tikal?)
-where to stay in Caye Caulker?
-where to stay in Tikal?
-do I need a tour once inside Tikal?
I found an option to transfer from SI to Tikal for just $45 pp which seems pretty reasonable. I know there are cheaper bus options but I don't know if my mom would be up for that as opposed to an air conditioned van.
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I'm curious if you already visited Santiago/Valparaiso, and what did you think?
Buenos Aires is going to be very similar on numerous levels. MexDF is probably going to be less expensive, have more options, but also comes with more challenges.
Those are nutshell impressions as a fluent traveler. I would likely have very different impressions if I visited from the point of looking to relocate and had minimal Spanish.
Nov. 1 12:00 noon PDT
**Kincade Fire **
68% contained. More evacuations lifted.
Maria Fire
Location
Expanded evacuation area. Reports of new structure fires. Air quality unhealthy for sensitive people.
