It’s not every day I find a company that has some of the most beautiful, unique clothing around AND a strong moral compass & mission. MATTER is just that – their mission is to connect designers with artisans, in order to preserve and promote artisan prints and traditions in a sustainable way. They’re also passionate […]
For 3 years all I had was one suitcase and about a week and a half of outfits. I loved the minimalist packing lifestyle, and was a bit worried once I settled down that I might start amassing a bunch of things I don’t need now that I have some closet space. I’m happy to
As a digital nomad and former full-time traveler, I can attest that I am (sometimes too) aware of international wifi roaming options. I’ve lived and worked in 17 countries, and spent lots of time being stressed out about having adequate wifi to meet deadlines and make meetings. Whether you are a digital nomad or a
I’ve been learning Spanish for years now. First in high school/college, then out in my travels, and then pretty heavily over the last 3 years as I’ve traveled full-time in Latin America. I’ve tried lots of language learning tools, some I’ve found effective, and some not so much. But one of the best ways I’ve
I recently found out about a new trip planning tool called Relovate that I’ve been using as my itinerary planner for two upcoming trips. It has some really unique features that I haven’t seen before all in one tool, so I’m excited to tell you more about it! When I plan an upcoming trip, I
When you travel 100% of the time for over 3 years, you learn some things about what things you REALLY need and what things you don’t. I’ve made lots of tweaks and changes to my location independent travel packing list over the last couple of years, including some major ones at the end of last
One of my absolute favorite activities when visiting a new place is simple – wandering the streets with a camera in hand, hunting for pretty nooks and corners. When I was researching what to do in Cusco,I found some good suggestions, but ended up stumbling on others by accident. So I wanted to compile the
When I first found Amantica Lodge online, I immediately fell in love with this Peru luxury hotel. The design of the exclusive villa was everything I look for in a hotel – sleek, hip and beautiful. This seemed like the perfect choice for a boutique hotel Lake Titicaca experience. The stay totally lived up to
One of the very first things I knew I wanted to do when I got to Peru was the Rainbow Mountain trek. This hike is still fairly new on the tourist scene, but it’s splashed all over social media – and I couldn’t deny the unique beauty of the layered and colorful mountain. So when
I feel like my time in the Cusco region of Peru was nothing short of magical – and I don’t say that lightly. For 3 weeks we spent time in Cusco city, Ollantaytambo, and many of the surrounding towns and ruins. One of my absolute highlights of these weeks was our 3 day tour with
15 Ways to Travel Latin America by Bus, Boat, Tuk-Tuk & More! Have you ever felt a little intimidated, or even terrified, to figure out how to navigate the plethora of options for transportation in Mexico, Central and South America? Don’t panic and book the incredibly overpriced private transportation you find online. Take a few
Are you scared of hostels? Do you fear pre-booking a budget hotel, only to walk into the bedroom and find stains on the sheets and cockroaches in the corner? Fear not, there are tons of great budget hotels and hostels in Central America, South America and Mexico. I’ve traveled through this region for years, staying
Cartagena is a Unesco world heritage site located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It’s the one of the oldest cities in Colombia, founded in 1533, and has loads of Spanish colonial charm. The majority of the city’s population are of Afro-Caribbean descent, so the local culture is totally different from the culture inland. Vibrant colors, colonial
Medellin is located northwest of Bogota, in the state of Antioquia. Residents, called Paisas, are much more interested in their local culture than that of Colombia as a whole. Antioquians are very proud of their history, culture, food, and way of life. The city is located in a valley surrounded by mountains. It’s large and sprawling,
Bogota is located almost exactly in the center of the country, high up in the Andes mountains at 2644 meters (8675 feet). It’s a huge city – with 6 1/2 million residents, but surrounded by beautiful natural places that can be reached on day trips or longer ventures. If you go to Colombia, chances are
This is part 2 in my 3 part series about the best adventures in Colombia. Head back to my previous post about hiking epic Valle de Cocora. And stay tuned for the final adventure in the series! Here is Part 2 – Parque Tayrona is a national park on the northeast Caribbean coastline of Colombia. It’s well
My 3 favorite adventures during my month long trip around Colombia weren’t found in the main tourist destinations of Bogota, Medellin, or Cartagena, they were in beautiful remote areas that took some work to get to. One of my absolute favorite days in Colombia was hiking Valle de Cocora, walking amidst the tallest palm trees in the world,
