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Category: South America

Work at Inti Wara Yassi in Bolivia - Volunteering in Bolivia - Fabulous Travel Guide

Volunteer at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia

[ 0 ] July 2, 2011

Looking for volunteering opportunities in Bolivia? Parque Machia, 3 hours from Cochabamba, is a small animal sanctuary that needs volunteers on a regular basis.

The park, which is part of the Inti Wara Yassi organisation, specialises in small cats, spider monkeys, tejons and birds. Travellers can turn up any time without prior notice and start the next day – the only catch is that you must stay a minimum of two weeks.

Volunteer at Parque Machia in Bolivia - Inti Wara Yassi - Fabulous Travel Guide

It costs 1,400 bs (£124) and includes basic accommodation with shared bathrooms. Food is not included but the cafe serves super cheap food and there are plenty of places in town.

What to expect

Early starts and long hours! Some days you’ll start at 6.30am and work until 6pm. Typical duties include feeding the animals, cleaning out cages, cutting up fruit and lugging sand bags up to the Mirador.

Work at Inti Wara Yassi in Bolivia - Volunteering in Bolivia - Fabulous Travel Guide

Unfortunately you can’t choose which animal you work with. You’ll be placed wherever is needed. However, those who sign up for a month are more likely to work with a cat or monkeys.

What to wear

There’s a second hand clothes shop on site selling cheap t-shirts and trousers. Anything you wear will be ruined after a couple of days so wear your oldest clothes and hire wellies (10bs)! Socks, t-shirts, toothpaste, toilet roll etc can be bought in Villa Tunari, just over the bridge.

Looking for more things to do in Bolivia? Try Death Road in La Paz and don’t miss the incredible salt flats! Get more travel tips and advice by following us on Twitter!

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Where to eat in Cartagena, Colombia

[ 1 ] July 1, 2011

Looking for good restaurants in Cartagena? We’ve hunted down the best places to eat, from sunny street cafés to delicious pizza joints.

Cartagena travel guide - Best restaurants in Cartagena, Colombia - Fabulous Travel Guide

* Media Luna café

Located next door to Media Luna hostel, this restaurant serves up great pasta, large pizzas and cheap breakfasts. Service tends to be slow but guests at the hostel receive 10% off.

* Australian Fusion

This tongue-in-cheek restaurant is a great choice for those who like big portions and a quirky vibe. Go for the spicy lamb curry, nachos or the beef pie.

* Café Lunatico

With the slogan ‘Made with crazy love’, this cosy little café prides itself on homecooked food served with a smile. Try the Thai cuisine or keep it simple with a big salad and chicken wrap.

* Pizza Reine

This pizza joint, located in the old town, is easily missed so keep your eyes peeled. Don’t leave without trying the chocolate, strawberry and cheese pizza and the Thai chicken.

* Café del Mar

Watch the sun sink below the horizon as you sip beers on terrace. Get down there early to grab a good seat.

Looking for more things to do in Colombia? Check out the Lost City trek and visit the beautiful beaches of Tayrona National Park.

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Visit the dinosaur park in Sucre, Bolivia

[ 0 ] June 29, 2011

Planning a visit to Sucre? Don’t leave without hopping onboard the dinosaur bus for an unusual afternoon at Parque Cretacico.

Enthusiastic guides greet you at the gates and take you up to museum where you’ll see the impressive titanosaurus scultpure and over 5,000 dinosaur tracks on the limestone wall of Cal Ork’o.

Parque Cretacico - Dinosaur Park in Sucre - Fabulous Travel Guide

It’s thought there are at least 8 species and 462 individual tracks so make sure you take your camera!

See over 5,000 dinosaur footprints on the limestone wall of Cal Ork'o in Sucre

Tickets cost 30bs (£2.70) and you can catch the dino bus from the main plaza (17bs return). They leave regularly throughout the afternoon, the last at 2.30pm.

Looking for more unique things to do in Bolivia? Visit the working mines in Potosi or visit the salt flats in Uyuni.

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Animal magic in Bolivia

[ 1 ] June 26, 2011

Fancy working at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia? Parque Machia, near Cochabamba, rescues small cats, bears, birds and monkeys.

We fell in love with Pedro - one of the cutest macaws we’ve ever seen! For more info on volunteering check out the Inti Wara Yassi website.

Parque Machia - Inta Wara Yassi - Bolivia

Looking for more travel pics? Check out our photos and see what else there is to do in Bolivia.

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Discover The Lost City in Colombia

[ 5 ] June 23, 2011

The Lost City trek is one of Colombia’s best-kept secrets – a 5 day hike that winds its way through indiginous villages, rumbling waterfalls and tropical jungle.

When you’re not waist-deep in water, you’re clambering up steep cliff faces, sludging through orange mud and eating fresh fruit on the mountainside. Finally you’ll reach Ciudad Perdida – an abandoned city carved into the mountainside.

The Lost City trek in Colombia - Ciudad Perdida, Colombia - Pictures of the Lost City in Colombia -Fabulous Travel Guide

The Lost City trek in Colombia - Ciudad Perdida, Colombia - Fabulous Travel Guide

What to expect

While it may not be as gob-smackingly beautiful as Machu Picchu, it’s still an astonishing site. You’ll spend the afternoon wandering around moss-covered plazas, hidden ruins and a net of tiled roads. It’s eerily quiet and strangely peaceful – quite the opposite of the Inca Trail.

The Lost City, Colombia - Ciudad Perdida, Colombia - Fabulous Travel Guide

Expect tonnes of mosquitoes, plenty of rain and slippery trails. You’ll be sleeping in hammocks so strong insect repellent and warm clothes are a must. TOP TIP: Pack plenty of socks – there’s nothing worse than having damp feet!

Booking your trek

You can book The Lost City trek in either Santa Marta or Taganga. Tour operators will offer hostel pickup and return transportation to Teyuna. Prices cost from 500,000 cops (£170) – and you can choose whether you do 4, 5 or 6 days .

Find out the history of Ciudad Perdida and check out our photo gallery! Looking for more things to do in Colombia? Visit Tayrona National Park and learn to scuba dive in Taganga.

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Visit the cooperative mines in Potosi, Bolivia

[ 1 ] June 20, 2011

Plannng to visit the cooperative mines in Potosi? Prepare to be shocked as you experience the terrible working conditions that thousands of men endure every day.

Many work in total darkness for 12 hours straight – usually without food and water – extracting minerals such as silver ore and zinc. They use only basic materials and are exposed to toxic chemicals that can lead to silicosis pneumonia, an almost certain death.

A worker prepares to squeeze into a tiny hole in the cooperative mines in Potosi

Booking your tour

Tours cost from 80 Bs (£7) and include hostel pickup, transport to the miners’ market where you can buy cocoa leaves, drinks and cigarettes for the workers, a tour of the refinery and a 2-hour crawl through the mines themselves.

Good companies (such as Koala Tours) will provide a helmet, head lamp, protective clothing and English-speaking guides (if needed). Make sure they explain all the risks and give you plenty of time to ask questions. If possible book with an ex-miner – this way you’ll be in the best possible hands if something goes wrong.

Be warned! You are in a fully working mine where accidents happen on a daily basis. Don’t do this tour if you have any medical problems or are prone to claustrophobia. You’ll be 60m underground with no easy way out!

Already feeling the adrenaline pumping? Death Road in La Paz is another awesome adventure. Get more travel tips and advice by following us on Twitter!

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

[ 2 ] June 16, 2011

Planning to visit the Salt Flats in Bolivia? Don’t miss the spectacular Laguna Colorada, 25km east of the Chilean border.

Home to the Andean flamingo, this isolated corner of the world surprises even the most experienced of travellers. Head up the mirador to check out the rainbow-coloured landscape in all its glory – you’ll be blown away.

Pictures of Laguna Colorada by Julia Pernitz - Fabulous Travel Guide

Love Laguna Colorada? Check out volcano-ringed Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and don’t forget to see what else there is to do in Bolivia!

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Ballestas Islands – tours from Pisco

[ 0 ] June 12, 2011

Can’t afford the Galapagos Islands? The Ballestas Islands off the coast of Peru are condsidered ‘the poor man’s Galapagos’ and are home to hundreds of seals, penguins, pelicans and sea lions.

Speed boat ride to the Ballestas Islands - Pictures of the Ballestas Islands - Fabulous Travel Guide

Boat trips leave from Pisco at 7am and take about 1.5 hours to reach the islands. On the way you’ll stop to see the three-pronged Candelabra, a giant figure etched into the sandy hills (pictured below).

The Candelabra is approx 595ft long - Ballestas Islands, Peru - Fabulous Travel Guide

After a quick photo stop, you’ll cruise the Ballestas Islands for several hours observing scores of noisy seals, sea lions, penguins, boobies and pelicans.

Spot seals and sea lions on the Ballestas Islands in Peru - Ballestas Islands in Peru - Fabulous Travel Guide

Looking for more things to do in Peru? Go sandboarding in Huacachina or visit the infamous Machu Picchu. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more updates!

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Riding a bike into a swimming pool

[ 0 ] June 8, 2011

After taking on Death Road in Bolivia, Sherryll Catindig thought she could take on the pool….

PICTURES: Riding a bike into a swimming pool - Funny photos - Fabulous Travel Guide

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Riding a bike into a swimming pool

Moral of the story? It’s NEVER a good idea. See video of Julia Pernitz attempting the same thing. Be warned: she came out bleeding. And laughing.

Travelling around Bolivia? Death Road is both terrifying and amazing – see which are the best tour operators and see pictures of the world’s most dangerous road.

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SEE PICTURES: The Colca Canyon, Peru

[ 1 ] June 6, 2011

Travelling through Peru? The Colca Canyon is a fascinating combination of snow-capped mountains, dusty roads and indiginous villages – and it’s almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.

One minute you’ll be admiring fields full of alpacas and llamas, the next you’ll be watching condors swoop through the sky. Check out our favourite pics of the Colca Canyon and book your trip to Peru now!

: The Colca Canyon, Peru – Pictures of the Colca Canyon – Fabulous Travel Guide

Buses leave from Arequipa and wind their way north through the mountains until they reach Mirador de los Andes, the valley’s highest point at 4,910m (pictured below).

Surrounded by towers of piled stones, known as ‘apachetas’, this region is as intriguing as it is beautiful. It’s thought the statues were left behind as offerings to the Gods. Superstitious? Build your own mini statue – it will bring you good fortune!

Mirador de los Andes - Colca Canyon, Peru - Fabulous Travel Guide

Next stop on the tour is the provincial capital of Chivay (pictured below), where most travellers stay overnight. Eat at one of the traditional restaurants, soak in the hot springs and order super-strong Pisco sours!

Chivay, Colca Canyon, Peru - Pictures of hotels in Chivay - Fabulous Travel Guide

One of the highlights of the trip is watching the Andean condors swoop into the valley at Cruz del Condor. With a wingspan of 3.2m, these birds attract crowds of tourists every day so get there early to get a good spot.

The Colca Canyon, Peru - Watch the condors - Fabulous Travel Guide

Love outdoor adventures? Go trekking in Colombia, climb Machu Picchu or go sandboarding in Huacachina.

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Page 3 of 5«1 234 5 »

Category: South America

Volunteer at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia

Where to eat in Cartagena, Colombia

Visit the dinosaur park in Sucre, Bolivia

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Animal magic in Bolivia

Discover The Lost City in Colombia

Visit the cooperative mines in Potosi, Bolivia

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

Ballestas Islands – tours from Pisco

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Riding a bike into a swimming pool

SEE PICTURES: The Colca Canyon, Peru

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