Charlene's Globetrooper News Feed

Charlene Hey, Yes I am, although I haven't booked anything yet. When are you going? I'd love to go to the Galapagos Islands, but it's so expensive. Who are you going there with? Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia were my priorities. The rest will depend on my funds

Noreen I'm looking to head out on 30th Dec and return Eastertime. I know the GI are expensive, but think while I'm there ... Looking to travel most of it on my own - hoping friends will come out and visit while at GI and Brazil but will see! My main priorities are GI, Peru and Aregentina. For Peru - will be looking at doing Inca trail, Nazca and lake titicaca. And will probably start looking into booking the inca trail trek in the next month or so

Charlene Just before New Years? I was probably going to leave in January some time. What tour company will yo do the islands and inca trail with? I want to do the inca trail definitely. Why do you want to do it alone? The reason I signed up on here was to find someone to travel with. Where will you go first?

Noreen Well dates arent really decided upon so will see (depends if friends are up for going out to GI with me re NYE) Don't know what tour company will go with yet, still looking into them really - have you seen any good ones? No, I didn't mean it like that - I don't want to do it on my own, its more about meeting up with others along the way than anything :) I'm going to look to fly to GI first and then head down to Peru.

Charlene Quite an expensive trip for your mates to pay out for. Wish my mates wanted to travel. I haven't looked into it properly but all the ones I have seen are pretty expensive. Will you not bother seeing any of Ecuador then? Let me know if you find a cheap way of going to the islands. You do know that the Inca Trail is closed in February right?

Todd Hey there, just a quick tip about the Inca Trail, it's important to book many months in advance. We had to do an alternative route because we didn't have advance notice. It was still nice and very challenging, but not the classic Inca.

Charlene yes I know this Todd. A bit of a pain isn't it. Thanks

Charlene hey Noreen, Alison says you're doing the inca trail the last week of Jan. Which tour company and what date are you going?

Charlene are are you still heading to the GI on Dec 30th?

Noreen Hey Charlene - Yes Im doing the trail on the 20th Jan with Peru Treks, not going till 6th Jan to the GI's now, managed to get an 8 day cruise :) Hows your plans coming along?

Charlene oh cool. that's the company i told you about isn't it? which company r u going to the GI with? will the inca trail b the first thing u do then and what u doing after the islands? so many questions! i've still got nothing definite because i'm waiting for some news here first. will know in 2 weeks

Noreen I'm going to do the GI first and then head down to Peru after that to do the Inca trail. Booked GI through Happy Gringo

Charlene yep sorry. How much did you pay for the GI tour? was that company recommended to you?

Noreen i ended up paying $1800 USD which while still expensive is a lot less than some agents were charging me. Guess it would always be cheaper to book a tour while in Quito ... I the company was recommended on travbuddy website, seems a lot of people rated it. You need to contact them to see what boats are available.

Charlene ok thanks for letting me know. I still don't know what I'm going to do yet but will hopefully be able to make a decision next week. I might wait until I arrive there and then book i if I do go

fijiaaron Hey Charlene! We're going to Ecuador at the beginning of January. The biggest challenge now is getting rid of all our stuff. After that, we'll have to decide what we're actually taking with us. We seriously considered a shipping container. The cheapest way to go to the Galapagos? Become a resident. We might do that in the long run, but you've still got to go as part of an official tour group, so prices are high.

Charlene cool well good luck with packing. become a resident on the islands? i found someone on couch surfing who lives on the islands and she says you can just get a plane there and that you don't have to go on a tour

fijiaaron I meant that it is discounted for a resident of Ecuador.

Charlene Hey Alison, Good to hear from you. What are your plans for South America?

AlisonK I'd like to hit up Venezuela to the Angel Waterfalls, Machu Picchu in Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, wineries in Chile, maybe a boat trip to Antarctica, wine/food/dancing in Argentina and end up in Rio for Carnival in early March.

Charlene wow, you've got a lot planned for just over 2 months! I will be taking it a bit slower as I like to get a feel for the countries I'm in as well as seeing all the sights. I was planning on travelling around Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, inclusing the galapagos islands if I can afford it. I will also head to Chile if I have enough money and easter island as well if I can afford it. I haven't got enough money to do Argentina and Brazil this time and I don't want to try and cram too much into a short time. I think I'd need at least 6 months to do the whole continent. Were you planning on starting in Venezuela then and then going to Peru? I've been told the inca trail is closed in February for maintenance

AlisonK Agreed! I'm not married to going in any particular order. I figured about 1 week in each country, just go as I feel. I might need to cross over to Rio for Carnival and then keep going to the other places, that's really the only timing thing. Otherwise, if I can afford it I'll go as slow or fast as things happen! GI wasn't really on my list but the Antarctica thing is very pricey, so I understand. Yes, I think Venezuela first then Peru, makes sense geographically. Inca trail would have to be in January then or March...

AlisonK P.S. You can still get to Machu Picchu in Feb on a two day trek or take the train.

Charlene yeh I would like to go to the carnival but as I was planning on being on the other side of the contitnent it doesn't really make sense. When is it again? The Inca Trail is the top must thing for me so I would want to do the 4-day trek. I'd probably start in Ecuador as that makes sense geographically for me to start there and head south through Peru, Bolivia and then possibly Chile. Where do you live?

glothy Yes. Working on getting everything in place. Not certain about crossing the border in El Paso due to the problems there. Advice/suggestions would be welcome

Guppy Just drove through Mexico a couple months ago and at points it was kind of scary but if you stick to the main highway you should be fine. Get like 1 hour from the border then leave at dawn so you can get a full day of driving in past the border, which is the worst part. Only drive during the day. Always, always stick to the pay roads. It'll cost a bit more but save you way more money in time and gas, plus much much safer. Sleep at well lit, walled in places on the main road. There are lots of corrupt cops and people posing as cops and you'll run into lots of checkpoints. They'll threaten you with bogus charges if you don't pay them a little gift. I suggest just paying. If you cause them trouble they'll radio to their buddies who will pull you over further down. Do not flash your money though. Keep most of your cash hidden, only carry a little bit in your wallet. That way you can be like "oh I only have $10 not $40" and they'll probably take it. The actual military checkpoints are serious though, so no worries about bribes from them. Once you get in the southern half of Mexico it's much nicer.

jamesbronz love the idea. i live in los angeles and have been to costa rica a number of times and want to move there. your trip definitely moves me and if anything, i would love to travel across latin america in my Land Cruiser, but I would not want to do it alone. also i have to get some money together first..but if anyone is interested...im willing to work something out. let me know in advance. driving thru latin america in a nice land Cruiser would be nice.

Lauren Yes, don't miss Bolivia! It's in between Chile, Argentina and Peru. It was my favourite of South America

Charlene oh, you're very dark skinned though. where do you study? i live near harrow

Charlene have you considered couch surfing?

tal_c i study at london met!! are you on facebook?? no, what is it??

Charlene yeah I am on FB. My email is charlene_a_mitchell@yahoo.co.uk. You've never heard of couch surfing? that surprises me. http://www.couchsurfing.org/ Basically staying in people's couches while travelling. Great way to interact with the locals, get a real feel for the place you're visiting and also save a few quid. I'm considering it because I didn't do it all when I went travelling around Asia last year

Charlene yeah I am on FB. My email is charlene_a_mitchell@yahoo.co.uk. You've never heard of couch surfing? that surprises me. http://www.couchsurfing.org/ Basically staying in people's couches while travelling. Great way to interact with the locals, get a real feel for the place you're visiting and also save a few quid. I'm considering it because I didn't do it all when I went travelling around Asia last year

tal_c Hi, sorry for the late reply, been away!! that couchsurfing looks really good, will defintely have to join up! hav u looked in to any more of your trip??

Charlene yeah you should. I'll probably do it a bit. Not looked into it much more no. Got other things on at the moment. Will probably start next month or August time. you?

Charlene yeah you should. I'll probably do it a bit. Not looked into it much more no. Got other things on at the moment. Will probably start next month or August time. you?

Charlene sounds like a plan. I live in North West London. How old are you? Are you female or male?

tal_c ahh really, I live in North London!! im 22, how about u?? im male!!

Charlene dam it, was looking for a female travel buddy. You look quite south american yourself in that pic. Where are your folks from? What you studying? I'm 23. Where in north london are you?

Tay2016 Hi Charlene! I think probably around January I'll be in China/Asia... I'm looking at a schedule like this: July-Sept in South America Sept-Feb in Asia March-May in Africa May-Sept in Europe

Charlene Hey, Yes, that is the plan. Do you know when you're planning on leaving? I'll probably be going for a few months. Depends on how long my money lasts really. I haven't plannned anything yet. I know I want to do the Inca Trail and visit the Amazon though. I was probably going to do the Inca Trail first because you have to book ahead for a place. Where are you from?

Lauren Remember the Inca trail is closed every Feb, so if you want to do it first then plan for January

Lauren Check out our write-up about the different tracks: http://globetrooper.com/notes/inca-trails-to-machu-picchu-alternative-treks

Charlene Ah yes, for renovation right? Was planning on leaving in Jan anyway and I'd head straight there. Thanks for the link