Useful travel info for Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia

Altitude sickness while traveling in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador What you need to know while travelling on high altitude locations When you travel to Peru, Bolivia, or Ecuador, you are likely going to travel at an higher altitude than your body is used to. One of the things you have to be prepared for while you travel to higher altitudes and/ or climbing mountains in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia is altitude sickness or “soroche”.  The cause of altitude sickness is because on higher altitude there is less oxygen in the air around us and usually the air is drier. Our body needs to make more red blood cells to compensate the lesser amount of oxygen. For most people the process

Information about Machu Picchu and joining Machu Picchu Tours: If you want to visit Machu Picchu, but don’t know yet where to start, we can recommend reading the following useful and interesting information about Machu Picchu. The Machu Picchu ticket price for only entering the archaeological site of Machu Picchu is at the moment of writing (April 2025) still 152 Soles, around 40 US$. This ticket is officially only valid for max. 2h 30 min. while following one of the 10 designated walking circuits. To climb either the Huayna Picchu, or Machu Picchu Mountain, you need to buy a special ticket for 200 Soles (around 52 US$)! When you hike the Inca Trail it is NOT possible to climb either

The Fairtravel4u Guide to the Galapagos Islands Information Lying 970 km (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coast on the equator, the Galapagos Islands consist of 6 main islands, 12 smaller islands and over 40 small islets. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands that originated about 10 million years ago. Since their formation 10 million years ago, to their discovery in 1535 by Thomas de Berlanga, the Spanish Bishop of Panama, the Galapagos Islands were completely isolated from the mainland. Throughout the millennia, a large number of birds, reptiles, insects, and plants drifted or flew to its shores, creating the unique flora and fauna found in the Galapagos today. The Islands have never been connected to a

Amazon Jungle Info This post provides you with more information about the western Amazon Rainforest, including: Madidi National Park Beni Biosphere Reserve and Serere Sanctuary in Bolivia Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, close to Iquitos, Peru Manu (Biosphere) Reserve Tambopata Candamo Reserve and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park in Peru Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuni National Park in Ecuador Madidi National Park Was created in 1995. Officially The PN (Parque Nacional) and IMNA (Integrated Management Natural Area) Madidi covers 18,957.5 km2 (1,895,740 ha, or 4,5000,000 acres) of which 12,715 km² come under the heading of National Park and 6,242.5 km² are categorized under the Integrated Management Natural Area. This area ranges from the Amazonian lowlands of the rivers Heath and Tuichi, at 200

14 Quick Travel Safety Tips to Travel Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia These safety tips will help you to prevent many potential problems during your travels in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia Our first important travel safety tip is not to worry too much while traveling. A careful but relaxed mindset will already prevent most problems. Read also our separate articles with extended information and tips about safety in Peru and safety in Ecuador. 1- Make pictures Before you go traveling, it can be very useful to make photos of your most important documents and send them to your mailbox, in case you get stolen from everything. If you arrive in a new country it is also useful to make a copy

Volunteer Work in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia Recommendations to find Volunteer work If you look on the internet you can see that ‘volunteer work’ is growing fast in popularity and many tour agencies have noticed this. Even big tour operators now offer 3 weeks Peru, during which their customers can see the highlights of the country and do a few days of volunteer work… You can argue that even a few days of help is better than no help, but our experience with sustainable volunteer work is that you already need several days to actually get to know the job. Our biggest complain however is that several travel agencies offer volunteer work to earn more money. Volunteer work is becoming

Bolivia trips for senior travellers Many senior travellers are cautious about planning a trip to Bolivia. Most of them worry about safety in Bolivia, the significant elevation changes, long travel distances, and limited comfort. These are all valid points to consider. But with the right itinerary, thorough travel planning, and helpful local support, traveling in Bolivia can be enjoyable for all ages! Bolivia is an Authentic Travel Destination for Travelers Bolivia is probably the most authentic country in South America. Estimates of its indigenous population vary from 38% to as much as 62%! This depends on how and when someone is classified into one of the 36 official ethnic groups. I can recommend to watch the Origenes Show in Sucre

Ecuador Trips for Senior travellers Many senior travellers are cautious about planning a trip to Ecuador. They often worry about safety and the significant elevation changes in Ecuador. But with the right itinerary, thorough travel planning, and helpful local support, tours in Ecuador are suitable for all ages. Furthermore, Ecuador is a popular destination for retired Americans who no longer wish to live in the United States. This demonstrates accessibility for seniors in Ecuador. Ecuador Travel for Seniors: A Complete Guide for a Wonderful and Safe Travel Experience As the name suggests, Ecuador lies on the equator. This creates a temperate climate and a wealth of biodiversity! Despite being one of the smallest countries in South America (yet seven times

Peru trips for senior travellers Many senior travellers are still a bit cautious about planning a trip to Peru. Most of them worry about safety, high altitude and long travel distances. But with the right tour itinerary, good travel planning and helpful local support, traveling in Peru can be enjoyable for all ages! Peru Trips for senior travellers: A Complete Guide for a Safe and Enjoyable Travel Experience Peru is one of South America’s most enchanting destinations, famous for its many ancient civilizations, dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. Each year, thousands of elderly travellers explore Peru—and many report it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. With thoughtful planning and the right pace, Peru can

Protests in Bolivia While traveling in Bolivia, you have to be prepared to adjust your travel itinerary in order to avoid protests in Bolivia. Road blocks and protests against the Bolivian government are not uncommon. Luckily, as in Peru and Ecuador, they are usually announced in advance, so people can take their precautions. The protests often involve mine workers, transport companies, farmers and other indigenous people. Bolivia is divided Almost 50 precent of the Bolivian population is of indigenous origin, but they are only sparsely represented in Bolivia’s national politics. This often causes lack of confidence in the government and protests against the government. Between Bolivia’s independency from Spain in 1825 and 2006, Bolivia had even more different presidents, than

Protests in Ecuador While traveling in Ecuador, you have to be prepared to adjust your travel itinerary in order to avoid protests in Ecuador. Road blocks and protests against the Ecuadorian government are not uncommon. Like in Peru, they are usually announced in advance, so people can take their precautions. The protests often involve transport companies, farmers and other indigenous people. CONAIE CONAIE (the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), is Ecuador’s largest indigenous rights organization. They are also the most vocal and powerful group when it comes to protests in Ecuador. Many of its members are hard working farmers and craftsmen/ women who live below the official poverty standards. When its members are really opposed to decisions from the

Protests in Peru While traveling in Peru, you have to be prepared to adjust your travel itinerary in order to avoid protest in Peru. Road blocks and protests against the Peruvian government are not uncommon. As in Ecuador, they are usually announced in advance, so people can take their precautions. The protests often involve farmers, mine workers, drivers and/ or students. But in 2017 there even was huge protest from teachers, who demanded better salaries. Corruption in Peru That the people in Peru aren’t happy with their government, shouldn’t come as a surprise. Peru’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) remains low. Besides that, 81% of Peruvian citizens believe that corruption has increased in the past six years. And

Should I use AI to plan my vacation? Should you use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to plan your vacation? More and more people use ChatGTP and other forms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them with a wide range of tasks. This year we even had our first clients who used ChatGTP to plan their travel itinerary in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. To be fair, at first sight these travel itineraries looked like they were copied from a travel website. But a closer look revealed small, but significant flaws in these itineraries. Flaws in AI travel itineraries for Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia Yes, the travel route was possible. And these routes would allow you to visit the main touristic highlights during

Train to Machu Picchu: PeruRail vs. Inca Rail The travel distance between Cusco and Machu Picchu is around 118 km (73 miles). Some travellers take the bus and hike to Machu Picchu, but by far, most travellers take the train to Machu Picchu. Or, more correctly, they take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes and then take the bus, or walk the last 8 km to Machu Picchu. Two companies offer reliable train services to the town of Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo): PeruRail and Inca Rail Both provide a variety of options to suit different travel styles to Machu Picchu, from budget to luxury. The railway from Cusco to Aguas Calientes Many Peruvian railroad

Cueva de los Tayos: From Neil Armstrong to Will Smith – A Cave of Enduring Mystery Hidden beneath the dense Ecuadorian Amazon lies Cueva de los Tayos, one of the most mysterious and fascinating cave systems on Earth. Known for its enormous underground chambers, legends of lost civilizations, and whispered tales of alien contact, the cave has drawn adventurers and researchers for decades. Among them are two unlikely figures: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, and Will Smith, Hollywood actor and global icon, who visited the cave as part of a National Geographic docuseries.Their visits — separated by nearly half a century — underscore the enduring mystique of this remote location and highlights its unique place

The origin of cacao and chocolate When I first brought chocolate from Ecuador back to the Netherlands, some people would ask me: Chocolate from Ecuador, is that any good?” When you know the answer, it seems a strange question, but before I went to Ecuador, I might have asked the same question. In Europe we refer to Belgium and Swiss chocolate as being the best chocolate. But when you think about this, it is actually odd. The main ingredient of chocolate is the cacao bean, which doesn’t grow in Belgium or Switzerland. So where does cacao come from? The origin of cacao Although there were genetic signs that the cacao tree comes originally from South America, it was long thought

Ecuador, a Top Mountain Climbing Destination! Ecuador is a top mountain climbing destination, with 18 peaks above 5000 meter (16404 feet) altitude! This includes one volcano with 9 peaks above 5000 meter high! The different mountain climbing routes vary from easy to hard, for both beginning and experienced mountaineers. Maybe best of all is that all these Andean mountain/ volcano peeks are located at relatively short distances from one and another. These short travel distances makes it easier to plan multiple summits in one travel itinerary through Ecuador. Would you like to reach the highest peak on the Equator, summiting one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and climb towards the highest point on earth? In Ecuador you

The different Machu Picchu tours in Peru Almost everyone who wants to travel to Peru will also look online for available Machu Picchu tours. And when you do this, you will find many, many options. But how do you pick the best Machu Picchu tour for yourself? For many travellers their best Machu Picchu tour will depend on their budget and the physical shape. Below I will give several tips that can help you to choose the best tour for you. Important information about visiting Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is located at an altitude of 2400 meter, 8 km away from Aguas Calientes (2000 meter altitude). Aguas Calientes is now officially called Machu Picchu Pueblo) and can only be reached

Train to Machu Picchu in Peru Machu Picchu is located on a mountain, surrounded by other mountains and valleys and there is actually no train to Machu Picchu. But most visitors travel by train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This is the new touristic name of Aguas Calientes, a small town at the feet of the mountain that carries the archaeological site of Machu Picchu. There are no roads to Aguas Calientes, therefore your will either have to take the train or walk to reach this town. Those who want to walk, will have to start at the train station for the Hydraulic power plant on the other side of the mountain that carries Machu Picchu. You can take local/ tourist

Popular Peru trips Peru trips belong to some of the most popular tours in South America. This is not surprising, because Peru has something to offer for almost every type of traveler. You can undertake impressive mountain hikes in the area of Huaraz and Cusco; You can explore various nature reserves in the Amazon Rainforest feeling like a real explorer; In Punta Sal you can lie in the sun on the beach, while Huanchaco and Chicama are ideal destinations for travelers who love surfing. You can also hike to the 771 meter high Gocta Waterfall in Chachapoyas, the north of Peru. This is the third highest waterfall in the world! Lack of time while traveling Yes, Peru trips are popular

When people plan their tour into Bolivia they frequently ask us about the current safety conditions in Bolivia They are worried about getting robbed, or getting stuck behind road blocks. To be honest, traveling in Bolivia is more adventures than in many other countries and yes, there are realistic risks of getting stuck behind a road block. Although the last few years it is happening less than in the past, the Bolivians still like their protest and road blocks. It is almost part of your cultural experience while traveling in Bolivia. And as for robbery, the risks are just as big, or small as in many countries around the world. However, there is another risk, which is much more likely

The safety in Ecuador is currently a hot topic for travellers who want to visit this beautiful country. So naturally one of the first questions people ask us when they want to book a tour in Ecuador is: “How safe is it to travel in Ecuador?”. They are worried about getting involved in gang violence, getting robbed, or getting stuck in a protest with indigenous people. Although these risks exist, it is not common that tourists in Ecuador get involved in any of them. However, there is another risk, which can affect your holiday in a negative way if you don’t prepare well. This risk is called altitude sickness in Ecuador and start for some travellers already when they arrive

When people plan their tour to Peru they frequently ask us about the safety conditions in Peru. They are worried about getting robbed, or getting stuck in a protest. Although these risks exist, like almost everywhere in the world, most tourists in Peru will not encounter any of these problems. However, there is another risk, which is more likely to affect your holiday in a negative way if you don’t prepare well. This risk is called altitude sickness in Peru. Altitude sickness Altitude sickness is caused by there being less oxygen in the air at higher altitudes. And usually the air is also less humid. Our body needs to make more red blood cells to compensate the lesser amount of

Recently a student who is writing a thesis about promoting tourism in Ecuador asked me: “Why Ecuador?” It is the main goal of her thesis, to find the best way to promote Ecuador as a great tourist destination for Dutch tourists. It is a very interesting question. I love Ecuador, but even after visiting Ecuador for 20 years now, I still don’t know the best way to promote tourism in Ecuador. Why Ecuador struggles to be recognised? Maybe we can answer that question by looking at the way how neighbouring countries Colombia and Peru represent themselves? A good example are the travellers I used to meet in Peru and who were on their way to Colombia. They were often discussing

Who says “Ecuador”, says “Galapagos Islands”, but this is only one of the many tourist destinations in Ecuador. If you ask a random traveller about touristic highlights in Ecuador and he/ she knows where Ecuador is, then they will likely answer: “The Galapagos Islands, the train ride along Nariz del Diablo, the Quilotoa Loop trek, the Saturday market of Otavalo and the active Cotopaxi Volcano. But Ecuador has so much more to offer! Visiting this relative small country is literarily visiting the whole world in a nutshell. From west to east and north to south, you find four different world full of touristic highlights. Below I will mention my own favourite known and lesser known tourist destinations in Ecuador. The

When travelling in Bolivia it is usually not really the safety in Bolivia that you have to worry about. A popular saying in Bolivia is: “Todo posible, nada seguro”. This means that in Bolivia everything possible is, but there are no guarantees. It means that when you travel in Bolivia you have to be flexible and be prepared that travel schedules don’t always go as planned. Safety questions about Bolivia What about safety in Bolivia? How safe is it to travel by bus in Bolivia? Are overnight buses in Bolivia safe to travel with? Is it safe to travel by myself? Is it safe for me to travel through Bolivia as a solo female traveller? It are all questions we

What about our safety in Ecuador? Is it safe to travel around through Ecuador? How safe is it to travel by bus in Ecuador? Is it safe for me to travel in Ecuador as a solo female traveller? It are all questions we receive frequently and they don’t surprise us. If you consider that Ecuador has mainly been negatively in the news the past few years. Huge (indigenous) protest, road blocks, gang violence and recently even the killings of political figures who wanted to do something against the recent gang violence. With all this negativity it is only natural that people are currently a bit anxious to travel to Ecuador. But in general the gang violence is not aimed against