They say Lima is big, loud, and smoggy and they are right. The place has a level of chaos we hadnt experienced in quite some time and we were thankful to have found a hostel close by to the bus station in the old part of town so we didnt have to deal with a taxi or otherwise figure out getting across town with all our stuff. We strolled into the 1900 Hostel and dropped our bags before immediately heading back out for some much needed food. We had one thing on o...

We awoke bleary eyed in Casma after a long overnight bus ride down from Mancora. Our dazed stupor quickly morphed into irritation as we were dropped on the side of the road instead of at the Bus terminal which is where we had been told we would be delivered. The problem with being left on the side of the road is that you are at the mercy of the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and therefore, more often then not, liable to be screwed in some way...even if only mildly. Thi...

It was another exciting 9 hour bus ride between the adorable, colonial mountain town of Cuenca to the dusty, run down beach-town of Mancora. Beginning bright and early at 7:15am, the trip was made even worse by a shady move, or so we thought, made by the bus company. They dropped us at the immigration check-in office to Ecuador, not Peru, which was where we needed to be. There was no way to stamp out of the country and enter Peru at this office. Without an idea...

Our march south through Ecuador continued with a stop in the very charming colonial town of Cuenca; Ecuador's 3rd largest city. After another joyful day on a bus we pulled in and grabbed a cab to Alternative Hostel... a more then descent spot, priced right and not too far from the action. We headed out for our customary wander through town to orientate ourselves and grab some food. We are getting good at packing reasonable lunches and snacks for our bus trips, bu...

Quito had treated us so well, I was almost sad to see it go, however, of all places Baños is not a terrible concession prize. Four hours by bus from Quito and you can find yourself in Baños. We arrived with little difficulty and found our way to the charming guest house called the Princess Maria, where the owner's son, Francisco, gave us a long detailed introduction to the guesthouse and Baños, giving us all sorts of information on the many activities to get i...