• Banos: city of rain [26/50]

    Banos: city of rain [26/50]

    A few hours south of Quito is the spectacular mountain town of Banos, nestled under the active volcano, Tungurahua. Volcan Tungurahua tends to errupt frequently, including relatively recently, but the locals always come back, minus a few relatives, limbs and layers of skin. There are many adventures to be had in Banos, mostly focused upon…

  • The Quilotoa Loop, Ecuador [25/50]

    The Quilotoa Loop, Ecuador [25/50]

    South of Quito, the picturesque capital of Ecuador, and near the mighty volcano Cotopaxi, there is a loop that connects many small indigenous communities via road. Many intrepid travelers walk the loop, or take the bus, but David and I decided to do it on the moto. We spent the first night in Latacunga, a…

  • The erupting hat of volcano Cotopaxi [24/50]

    The erupting hat of volcano Cotopaxi [24/50]

    The past week after leaving Colombia I have been in Ecuador where I met my friend David loitering within the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’ in a small village called Cotacachi. I missed Colombia as soon as I crossed the border, especially the soldiers on the side of the road decked-out in full combat gear, adorned with…

  • The temperatures of Colombia [23/50]

    The temperatures of Colombia [23/50]

    Colombia has one of the most diverse climates of any region that I have ever encountered; from tropical beaches, to cool cloud forests, to misty towns in the mountains, to dusty lawless deserts fit only for banditos. Riding a motorcycle over this geography is challenging as it is almost impossible to predict what the temperature…

  • Get your motor running…[22/50]

    Get your motor running…[22/50]

    I have taken one bus so far in South America, it was only for four hours between Cartagena and Santa Marta, and it sucked. The thought of traveling the next 6000-8000 KMS by bus to Santiago in Chile made my heart sink as there is nothing particularly adventurous nor romantic about the autobus. I was…

  • Keeping my nose clean on the Caribbean coast [21/50]

    Keeping my nose clean on the Caribbean coast [21/50]

    After spending three weeks in Bogota in a sprawling colonial – style house in the Chapinero district, I decided that my Spanish was workable enough to tackle this vast continent (well, I can communicate the important things, like ordering food and beer, but then it gets a tad complicated). And I must say, having cafés…