Going north

Peru was fascinating and fantastic. It offers costa (roasting in the sun on the beach), sierra (high cold mountain land) and selva (suitable for long boat journeys). It has old forgotton cultures laying below meters of sand or grown over by vegetation, getting digged out as huaqueros fight with archaeologist to discover remains of old civilizations. From poor rural villages and touristy plaza´s to metropolitan modern cities. Peru is surely worth a visit.

A one day stop on the beach in Màncora, followed by a long bus ride to Quito. Ecuadors capital city. Not large at all, but long, Quito is streched 47km, but only 5km wide. The bus system is briljant, trollies go from station to station on fast bus-only lanes, covering the whole city within minutes of travelling. I rented an apartment for 4 nights, staying with my friends, in the most expensive area of Quito. Boy, did I want to stay longer, but Colombia is screaming, waiting, waving for attention. I have to move on after 5 days. The quickest country visit in (my) history of backpacking was Ecuador in 5 days. Too short.

No cama, nor reclinable seats like some people can afford, but a busy shaky ride to Cali, where we enjoyed the day light, continuing to Bogotà. Colombia is expensive, totally unexpected, but great so far.

wij vonden de bus juist goedkoop , 40 euro voor 950 km. maar ocke moet nu toch volledig gaar zijn na al die ritten . denk ook eens aan het leeftijdsverschil !
en co , die film zegt ons niets. maanden in la paz en nu in een paar dagen door ecuador. hoelang in colombia?

The buses in Brazil were unbelievable expensive, and not even that good. Try Argentina, halve the price for twice the luxery. Everbody takes the bus in South-America, you`re just not used to it. I am by now, 80% converted into a South-American.

Colombia, 1 month?