Two Backpackers

Mendoza Argentina Wine Pictures

| by Jason | 30 Comments » | Argentina, Photo Essays, South America

One of the most popular wine regions to visit in Mendoza, Argentina is Maipu.  Maipu is easily accessible from Mendoza by local bus or your own transportation.  The entire Mendoza wine region is most known throughout the world for it’s Malbec wines.  Experience the thin skinned grapes in a variety of vineyards serving the intense red Malbec wines.  The greatest reward for tasting wines in the Mendoza region is the dramatic landscape featuring the Andes (Los Andes) Mountains and high plains.

This compilation of Mendoza wine travel pictures was taken during our visit to the Maipu wine region in 2024. (more…)

Machu Picchu Pictures

| by Jason | 40 Comments » | Peru, Photo Essays, South America

The Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru is perhaps one of the most spectacular sites you can visit in South America. From the complexity of building the city on top of a mountain ridge surrounded by mountains, to the unbelievable story of how it remained intact and untouched for hundreds of years all contribute to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This compilation of Machu Picchu pictures was taken during our visit to the cultural Inca site in 2024. (more…)

10 Things to Love About India

| by Alastair | 61 Comments » | Asia, Guest Post, India, Photo Essays

Is India the most colourful, mad, exciting country in the world?  Probably.  Alastair Humphreys shares India with us through his lens.

Here are ten things I love about India.

1. Surprised, Confused or Amused

There’s never a dull moment in India. Wherever you look, at all times of day or night, you will see something that surprises you, confuses you, or amuses you.
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Neolithic Presence in Jersey, Channel Islands

| by Ana | 9 Comments » | Guest Post, Photo Essays, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Jersey (Channel Islands) is a small island off the coast of Normandy in the English Channel.  It has been inhabited since prehistoric times.  Nowadays, one can see traces of those first dwellers almost anywhere.  One of the things I loved doing the most during my time there was to put on my walking boots, grab a map and explore the island in search of ancient monuments.  Let me share my discoveries with you.

Ville-ès-Nouaux

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Discover Quito Ecuador

| by Jason | 20 Comments » | Ecuador, Photo Essays, South America

Quito is the capital city of Ecuador and stands 2,800 m (9,186 ft) above sea level, making Quito the second-highest capital city in the world behind La Paz in Bolivia.  Its official, less popular name is San Francisco de Quito.

Quito is most often visited for it’s proximity to the celebrated middle of the world, equator line (La Mitad del Mundo).  In addition, Quito’s old city (Centro Histórico), also boasts the most exquisite Spanish colonial architecture that attracts photographers from around the world.  Cathedrals dot the landscape and the Andes mountains wrap the city valley.  Looking off into the distance at the 45 m (148 ft) tall aluminum monument of a madonna that stands overlooking the city from a hilltop, I felt I was in a special place. (more…)

10 Weird Things From Latin America

| by Jason | 84 Comments » | Central America, Photo Essays, Reflections, South America

One of my favorite things about traveling is being humored by things that seem strange or awkward to me.  We’ve traveled extensively through Central and South America and noticed many different customs, products and behaviors that don’t exist in the United States.  Each individual country does have distinct cultural norms when compared to their neighbors, however, we were still able to observe some common weird things across them all.

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Otavalo Market In Ecuador

| by Aracely | 15 Comments » | Ecuador, Photo Essays, South America

The Otavalo Market is one of South America’s most grandest and famous markets.  The best day to experience the market is on Saturdays.  From Quito, it’s a 2 hour bus ride to the city of Otavalo.  Passengers will start to get off the bus at several stops after you enter town, but be patient and you will arrive at the bus terminal.

Within five minutes of walking the vendor lined streets,  Otavalo made my top 5 most interesting places I visited in South America.  The energy felt while browsing the endless market is uplifting and fun.  It evokes curiosity and an uncontrollable desire to shop once immersed in the chaos.

We have chosen pictures that best provide an idea of what the Otavalo Market is all about.  To be fair, I feel as though this is one of those cases where you really need to experience the market to know what it’s truly like.

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