Here’s our Intentional Travelers collection of blog posts on transformational travel experiences, travel tips and guides for trips in Latin America, South America, and Central America.
As one of the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in the world, with the outskirts of the city extending about a kilometer away from the equator, Quito, Ecuador is a very special city. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be captivated by this expansive capital city, built on the sides of dramatic mountains and…
We were first attracted to Cuenca because of its UNESCO World Heritage designation and its reputation for being one of the most livable cities in Latin America. Active, safe, affordable, with mild weather and local culture, we fell in love with this small city pretty much immediately. We’ve had the pleasure of making Cuenca our…
Jericó is a beautiful small town in Antioquia that makes a great off-the-beaten path travel destination in Colombia. As tourism develops throughout the country, Jericó is one destination where you can still experience authentic, traditional culture. We hope you enjoy the following guide to Jerico, Colombia for independent travelers! About Jerico, Antioquia, Colombia Known to…
Should I cancel my 2022 trip? Should I reschedule my 2022 travel plans? Ever since we created our regularly-updated pandemic travel articles for certain destinations, I have received questions like these from readers again and again. In this post, I’ll share my answer – which applies regardless of the destination – as well as our…
Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and Sig Sig are three towns not from from Cuenca, Ecuador. This is what we learned and saw from taking an independent day trip from Cuenca by bus. Updated: March 2022. Originally published: June 2016. About traveling to Gualaceo, Chordeleg, Sig Sig After our first month in Cuenca, we had heard rumors of…
Ecuador may not be considered a top gastronomic hot spot, but we were pleasantly surprised to find the food to be not only affordable but also really good! During our time living the heart of Cuenca, we enjoyed eating out for almuerzos, a set lunch of the day. For as little as $2.50, you can…
If you’re looking for things to do in Vilcabamba, Ecuador, here’s a quick guide to the valley’s activities, attractions, food, and events on offer. About Vilcabamba Ecuador Vilcabamba is known for being a scenic “Valley of Longevity” where many inhabitants are said to live beyond 100 years. Derived from the Quichwa words “huilco pamba“, meaning…
If you’re like us and have a goal to improve your Spanish language skills, spending time in a Spanish-speaking country is a great start – but you still have to be diligent about practicing. There are a number of tools we recommend for learning Spanish that you can use on your own, at home or abroad….
There are plenty of amazing places to stay in Cuenca Ecuador for a wide variety of budgets. Whether you’re looking for a cute boutique hotel, a cozy bed and breakfast, Cuenca Airbnb or VRBO vacation rental, or a self-catering apartment for rent, read on for our tips on Cuenca accommodations. Cuenca is a beautiful Spanish…
“Imagine if Swiss Family Robinson built a zoo on the side of a hill.” That’s how our friend described the Amaru Bioparque Zoo in Cuenca, Ecuador. As you might suspect, it is unlike most zoos you’ve probably visited. While staying in Cuenca, we kept hearing about the zoo. Once we had seen it for ourselves,…