TravBuddy.com: gopackjo's Northern South America travel blog Copyright 2005 TravBuddy LLC http://www.travbuddy.com/blogs/23336 This is Phil, and I'm back on the road. I plan on visiting Ecuador, Peru, a tiny bit of Brazil, and then Colombia over 24 days. I've got no real plans, but I do want to visit the Amazon and do a cruise on the river. The Galapagos would be nice, but it's a very expensive destination from what I hear, so maybe not. I fly home from Medellin, Colombia on February 8th, so it's good fun until then! en-us Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:35:40 PST Ash Wednesday in Medellin. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Ash-Wednesday-in-Medellin-Medellin-25 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:35:40 PST Ash Wednesday in Medellin. Medellin, Colombia, Feb 06, 2008

Hello all,This morning I was determined to get out and see the sights in Medellin.  From my hotel it is a 15 block walk to the closest Metro s...

]]> Did I do anything today? http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Did-I-do-anything-today-Medellin-24 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:50:13 PST Did I do anything today? Medellin, Colombia, Feb 05, 2008

Hello all, It's been about a week since I had a 'do-nothing day', so I guess that today qualifies.  I ventured out for lunch at around noon a...

]]> Last travel day of the trip. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Last-travel-day-of-the-trip-Bogota-23 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:29:12 PST Last travel day of the trip. Bogota, Colombia, Feb 04, 2008

Hello all, I woke up at about 8am today, and kept thinking about that long bus trip to Medellin.  I heard it was a eight hour bus with s...

]]> Super Sunday is a great day in Bogota. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Super-Sunday-is-a-great-day-in-Bogota-Bogota-22 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:14:26 PST Super Sunday is a great day in Bogota. Bogota, Colombia, Feb 03, 2008

Hello all,It is Sunday in Bogota, and I am very happy to be here.  I got moving very early, perhaps energized by the cooler temperatures.&nbsp...

]]> Last morning in the Amazon. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Last-morning-in-the-Amazon-Leticia-21 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 13:16:29 PST Last morning in the Amazon. Leticia, Colombia, Feb 02, 2008

Hello all, I think the jungle really saps the energy out of me.  I have been very lethargic since I arrived in Tarapoto, Peru six days ago.&n...

]]> I am in Colombia (and Brazil). http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/I-am-in-Colombia-and-Brazil-Leticia-20 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:56:13 PST I am in Colombia (and Brazil). Leticia, Colombia, Feb 01, 2008

Hello all, I heard the rain pounding down on the tin roof outside my window at about 6:30am.  I woke up and scanned the television channels f...

]]> The speedboat to Santa Rosa, and into Colombia. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/The-speedboat-to-Santa-Rosa-and-into-Colombia-Iquitos-19 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:09:08 PST The speedboat to Santa Rosa, and into Colombia. Iquitos, Peru, Jan 31, 2008

Hello all,Today is the day of the big speedboat trip to Santa Rosa.  I woke up to both of my alarms at 4:15am, and started in to my packing du...

]]> Down the Amazon and into the jungle. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Down-the-Amazon-and-into-the-jungle-Iquitos-18 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:05:12 PST Down the Amazon and into the jungle. Iquitos, Peru, Jan 30, 2008

Hello all,Today is the day that I go into the jungle.  I had no idea what to bring.  But rain was predicted for today, so I decided to br...

]]> Checking out Iquitos, and my room. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Checking-out-Iquitos-and-my-room-Iquitos-17 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:00:01 PST Checking out Iquitos, and my room. Iquitos, Peru, Jan 29, 2008

Hello all,I arrived into the Amazon region yesterday with my flight into Iquitos, Peru.  And true to it's reputation, the rain forest is hot, ...

]]> A few hours in Tarapoto, Peru http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/A-few-hours-in-Tarapoto-Peru-Tarapoto-16 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:10:27 PST A few hours in Tarapoto, Peru Tarapoto, Peru, Jan 28, 2008

Hello all, Fresh from my 18-1/4 hour bus trip from Piura, I had tuk-tuk driver drop me off at the LAN Airlines office.  It didn't open for an...

]]> My mistake?? And a long bus trip. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/My-mistake-And-a-long-bus-trip-Jaen-15 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:14:15 PST My mistake?? And a long bus trip. Jaen, Peru, Jan 27, 2008

Hello all, Today's blog starts at about 11:30pm yesterday (Saturday).  I was able to get a short nap in, packed up all of my stuff, chec...

]]> Into Peru... not really a tourist town. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Into-Peru-not-really-a-tourist-town-Piura-14 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:17:21 PST Into Peru... not really a tourist town. Piura, Peru, Jan 26, 2008

Hello all,After my overnight cross-border bus, I slept until about 2pm.  Not knowing anything about Piura, I asked at the desk what there was ...

]]> Tiny town, beautiful setting. Vilcabamba! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Tiny-town-beautiful-setting-Vilcabamba-Vilcabamba-13 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:05:58 PST Tiny town, beautiful setting. Vilcabamba! Vilcabamba, Ecuador, Jan 25, 2008

Hello all,Today I woke up to the sound of a rooster crowing. Problem is, it was about 4:30am. Thankfully I was able to get back to sleep and pull...

]]> Flying south over a volcano. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Flying-south-over-a-volcano-Loja-12 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:01 PST Flying south over a volcano. Loja, Ecuador, Jan 24, 2008

Hello all,Today I woke up early for some reason. I grabbed an early breakfast at the hostal, and then headed out. I needed to find out about a f...

]]> Touristy stuff around Quito. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Touristy-stuff-around-Quito-Quito-10 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:04:24 PST Touristy stuff around Quito. Quito, Ecuador, Jan 23, 2008

Hello all, Today I was determined to get to TeleferiQo, the 4,100 metre high tram overlooking Quito.  Also, since I plan of leaving Quito tom...

]]> The Old Town, and Guapulo in Quito. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/The-Old-Town-and-Guapulo-in-Quito-Quito-9 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:19:58 PST The Old Town, and Guapulo in Quito. Quito, Ecuador, Jan 22, 2008

Hello all,Today is my first full day in Quito, and that means it time to check things out.  I am staying in the New Town area, which is great for ...

]]> Flight to Quito http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Flight-to-Quito-Baltra-8 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:02 PST Flight to Quito Baltra, Ecuador, Jan 21, 2008

Hello all, I had a nice morning packing everything up again.  I tell myself everytime that I travel that I will let myself stay in the s...

]]> Back to Santa Cruz, and Sunday Football. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Back-to-Santa-Cruz-and-Sunday-Football-Puerto-Ayora-6 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:55:56 PST Back to Santa Cruz, and Sunday Football. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador, Jan 20, 2008

Hello All,Alarm clock worked...  Where are the Aleve?  I stumbled out of the room to get some water in the hotel's courtyard and met the ...

]]> Volcano Trekking in the Galapagos. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Volcano-Trekking-in-the-Galapagos-Puerto-Villamil-5 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:48:41 PST Volcano Trekking in the Galapagos. Puerto Villamil, Ecuador, Jan 19, 2008

Hello all, Woke up this morning for breakfast, and by 8:00am we were all packed in a van and ready to go.  The trip today involved a jou...

]]> Galapagos Tortoises Day. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Galapagos-Tortoises-Day-Puerto-Villamil-4 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:28:53 PST Galapagos Tortoises Day. Puerto Villamil, Ecuador, Jan 18, 2008

Hello all, Today was the first full day of my tour in the Galapagos.  The included breakfast was tasty, and after that we went to the Ch...

]]> Galapagos! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Galapagos-Puerto-Ayora-3 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:09:10 PST Galapagos! Puerto Ayora, Ecuador, Jan 17, 2008

Hello all,I set the alarm today, and headed for the airport.  True to my 'fly by the seat of your pants' attitude this trip, I tried something...

]]> A day in Guayaquil. http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/A-day-in-Guayaquil-Guayaquil-2 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:48:31 PST A day in Guayaquil. Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan 16, 2008

Hello All,I slept in a bit today. I woke up just in time to get my free breakfast at the hotel. I had to kick myself into spanish mode for break...

]]> Flight to Ecuador http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/23336/Flight-to-Ecuador-Guayaquil-1 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:43:57 PST Flight to Ecuador Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jan 15, 2008

Hello All,I kicked off the trip yesterday with a late morning flight from Milwaukee to Guayaquil, Ecuador.  I changed planes in Houston, and e...

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