Camping in Sydney’s backyard

The Royal National Park is the second oldest National Park in the world. It was established in 1879 and only Yellowstone Park in the USA is older (by 4 years).

The Nasho (as it is lovingly referred to) offers lots of activities, from hiking to camping, kayaking and wale watching. We hiked from Bundeena to Otford and camped in North Era so we are proud to present

The ultimate guide to camp in the Royal National Park

How to get there

We drove to Cronulla and took the ferry to Bundeena. The ferry ride itself is beautiful and you can find long term parking at the station. Alternatively you can take public transport to Cronulla to begin with.

The ferry does not accept Opal cards but you can pay by credit card at the café on the wharf.

Boats run every half an hour and we’d recommend catching a boat no later than 7:30 AM. That gets you to Bundeena by 8 AM with lots of time to stop for photos and mini breaks along the hike. 

 Once you get to Bundeena, you will find a map, but make sure you download the AvenzaApp to your phone so you know where you are and where to go. This is a screenshot of the map you get:

You can then follow the trail until you reach camp after (according to our phone pedometers) 20 km. We found the walk super well marked, with signs and posts and even pink ribbon when it was reduced to a trail. There are hills and steps to climb, you will walk across sand, forest trails but there is also a long board walk which is super easy to walk on.

The next day we made our way to Otford to catch the train(s) back to Cronulla. Be aware that the majority of that hike will be uphill. It is much shorter (around 11 km) but you will probably be a bit sore from the day before which does not make the many steps and steep inclines any easier.

It is so worth it though, check out this view:

 

What should I bring?

The below packing lists have been tested and tried, we scrapped things we did not need and found better versions (like a collapsible <a href=”http://Pot” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>pot!) in case you want to shop for new things before you set off.

Camping essentials

(keep in mind that there are no showers, the toilets dry long drops and there is nothing around!)

• <a tent like the FRESH&BLACK TENT (and extra pegs)
• Sleeping bag (we took our trusted silk liners)
• Sleeping matt, wish we had had the Self-Inflating Camp Pad Mat
• head torch + portable light bulb
• Mini Gas Stove
• Cups, Plates, Cutlery (check out this set which includes a multi tool!)
• Multi function knife
• Pot (this one is collapsible!) and a spatula
• Mini waterproof tarp (x 2)
• Black tape
• Water bottles
• Water filter (we swear by our SteriPEN  which comes with a filter to get rid of sediment)
• Dry bag for phones
• backpack cover (waterproof)
• Rubbish bag (never litter!)
• Hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes
• Baby wipes (there are no shower facilities)

Send us a message or leave a comment if you’d like to hear what and how we cooked!

 

Clothing essentials

• Swimmers
• Flip flops
• Sun hat (and glasses)
• Light weight rain coat this one also covers your backpack!)
• Comfy walking shoes
• Hiking socks
• Warm socks for the evening
• Long pants and long shirt (mozzie alert at night!)

 Personal items and first aid

• Phone to take pictures and navigate (remember to download the Avenza Map so you can use the offline map!)
• Go pro camera (we could not take any pics during the rain :(. A waterproof case for your phone might be enough?)
• Portable charger (This one) + this <a href=”http://awesome torch” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>awesome torch
• First aid kit with essentials such as plasters, wound cream, anti itch cream etc.
• Personal hygiene items like toothbrush and paste, face cream and lip balm

Extra tip: use contact lenses containers to save space and weight 

Tinted sun cream (left) and night cream (right)

Travel Hacks

Bring more water than you think you’ll need.

We went in April and caught quite a bit of rain, but before that came down all creeks we walked past were pretty much dried up. We ended up knocking on someone’s door and the lovely lady refilled our bottles. We could have been in trouble otherwise, only got to the next tap the next day! It was almost dried out (got one bottle out of there) so make sure you bring at least 2 litres each to keep you going.

Downsize your pack as much as possible

The walk isn’t super tough but every added weight will keep you down. There are lots of hills and stairs to cover, and walking through sand with added weight isn’t easy either. If you can leave stuff behind, do so.

Check the weather but be prepared for anything

The weather preview said there’d be clouds but only a minimal chance of rain. We ended up walking through a massive thunderstorm for more than an hour. Everything was soaked because we haven’t replaced our rain protectors for the backpacks yet.

When you go, make sure you have your sun hats and cream but also some form of rain protection. We found our cozy tiny tent warm enough for shelter from the storm, but dry clothes would have improved the situation immensely.

Where to eat and stay in Bolivia’s Copacabana

After being bitten to shreds on the Inca Trail, Flo’s ankles had swollen up so much that it hurt her to walk. Not cool. The good news is that it happened in Copacabana – one of the most amazing places you can find in Bolivia!

We decided to stay an extra night to try and recover before hitting the road again and we ate our way through this beautiful place in the mean time.

Swollen ankles after the Inka Trail

Beer and a view in Copa Cabana

[Remember to bring a super well stocked pharmacy when visiting – the local stuff does not always cut it. Check out our packing list for South America HERE.]

Where to stay

Las Olas is so far the best place we have stayed at in South America, hands down! Not only do you get a kitchenette in your super clean private room which is big enough for a couch as well as a bed, you get to enjoy a view of lake Titicaca and the city from that very room. (see main picture, taken from our lawn)

The best thing about it, however, is the tame llamas that live here! They are so curious and friendly that they’ll eat out of your hands. The hostal even provides free food for you to bribe your new friends with.

Where to eat

If you are after a view and don’t mind spending a bit more head to La Cupula Restaurant. This is the restaurant that belongs to Las Olas and their food and views are equally great. It seems to be the place for fondue, so if you come for dinner we’d recommend working up an appetite first. Oh and guess what – you can feed the llamas again before or after your meal… (Sorry, totally lived in the moment and did not take any pictures when we visited. We did take loads of pictures of the llamas though!)

Pan America is the best place for sandwiches, banana bread and pizza. The empanadas here are out of this world and made great snacks for our overnight bus.

Their little place is close to the Plaza 2 de Febrero and the Basilica. We loved the vibe here and the fact that the lovely owners seemed like the nicest people – check what their Facebook page says!

100% of the profits support sustainable economic and agricultural projects for the indigenous people of the Lake Titicaca area.

And just look at these sandwiches!!
If you are looking for cake and smaller pastries head to Pit Stop . Very nice staff (but – let’s face it – everyone we have met in Bolivia this far is super friendly) and they also make a mean cup of coffee.  Here is a pic of their chocolate cake if you are still unsure if you want to head up the hill…

As you may know, Copacabana’s local delicacy is stuffed trout – you can find it in many restaurants. Because of the swollen ankle situation and Flo having to sit down quite a bit we opted for La Orilla, a cute, quiet place with interesting interior and friendly staff that offers super tasty food. Let the pictures speak for themselves;

 

 

 

After this much food you probably want to do some exploring as well. Don’t worry, because our city guide to Copacabana is coming out soon!

Tayrona National Park – All you need to know

Tayrona National Natural Park is a piece of paradise you need to work for. The walk there is not easy, but manageable.

You’ll make your way through a jungle (we spotted monkeys, lots of birds and lizards!), stagger through sand during blistering sunshine and climb over rock formations to then repeat the whole thing again and again.

You’ll sweat like crazy, not because it is particularly strenuous but because you carry your supplies and the humidity makes it feel like you’re walking through upwards of 35 degrees (Celsius).

This is the park’s location:

During your walk, you cannot stop at the beach to swim because every year lots and lots of people die when doing so (super strong currents) and it feels like nature is almost torturing you a little.

No swimming allowed…

But after what feels like forever (1.5 hours) you’ll reach your destination and forget about all of the hard work – you have earned this piece of paradise.

To make your stay as amazing as possible, you will want to be prepared; all supplies kept and sold at the camps have to be carried there by people or horses, there are no cars or roads.

So here is, our packing list based on a 2 night stay:

Clothes For Her

• 2 x pairs of swimmers (love this one piece) + undies + socks for the hike/walk
• 1x pair of shorts (for the hike) like these Patagonia shorts
• 1 x pair of long, summer pants (for after sunset) like these nautical Harem pants
• 1 x short sleeve active wear tee (for the hike)
• 1 x long sleeve top (for after sunset)
• 1 x beach overthrow / beach dress for during the day (love this dress
• 1 x pair of flip flops (beach and showers – Flo swears by her Crocs
• 1 x pair of comfy shoes to walk through various terrain
  • You might want to pack more tops/spare shorts but this will keep your pack as light as possible

Clothes for Him

• 2 x pairs of shorts (like these Patagonia Boardshorts“- each double for hiking / swimming + undies (these Bambooones dry super fast) + socks for the walk
• 3 x t shirts – 1 x for the walk there, 1 x for during the days, 1 x for the walk back
• 1 x pair of long, summer pants (for after sunset)
• 1 x long sleeve shirt (for after sunset) like this Patagonia long-sleeved Tee
• 1 x pair of comfy shoes for the hike/walk
• 1 x pair of flip flops for the beach and showers (like the Crocs Classic Flip)

Additional Items

• Water for the walk – you can buy some along the way but it will be more pricey (twice as much as the supermarkets, sometimes 3 x times as much)
• A water purifier – just in case. Our SteriPEN has been beyond useful. It saves your health and saves the environment from plastic.
• A sarong (beach towel + sleeping blanket in one) or a Microfibre Towel
• Mozzie Spray (!!!) Autanworked best for us
• Sun cream
• Sunglasses
• Toilet Paper -there is NONE but you can purchase some there
• Apple Cider Vinegar (for mozzie bites, sunburn and so much more)
• Plasters for blisters
• Baby Powder (helps your shoes dry quicker after the walk)
• Playing cards (like Monopoly Deal)
• Phone / Go Pro (love the GoPro HERO5 ) something to capture this amazing place + spare batteries + underwater case
• Book (we love our Kindles and the Kindle Oasis is waterproof!)
• Flashlight(s) – save your phone’s battery for pictures!
• Portable Charger(there are no power plugs in the park)
• Vaseline, hand sanitizer (Bronner’s is organic), body wash, toothpaste and brush, hair brush, whatever else you cannot live without

Accommodation at Tayrona National Park

Food Supplies

While you can buy food at the camps/ lodges you will save money if you bring your own supplied. If you are staying for 2 nights it might be a good idea to buy some meals there and substitute with your own.

This is based on what we ate during our stay;

• Loaf of bread or bread rolls (1 per person per meal)
• Peanut Butter
• Cheese – ours melted in the bag which was fine, but keep that in mind if you don’t enjoy melted and then dried up cheese on bread
• Ham
• 2 x tomatoes
• 1 x avocado
• Fresh fruit (2 x bananas, 2 x apples and an orange)
• Snacks – dried fruit and nuts, a pack of crisps
• mini cereal packets + long life milk for breakfasts

Basically, anything you can prepare without relying on a kitchen and fridge! 🙂

This cutie sat under our chairs during all meals

So now that you know what to expect from the trek as well as what to bring, here are some more tips:

• Bring cash – you cannot pay by card anythwere
• Do not rely on finding WiFi or reception- there is none.
• Do NOT book online. We did and got told our reservation does not exist when we tried to check in. We booked a little chalet (this was supposed to be a treat after lots of hostels) which meant we were out by US$66/night. Mother nature made up for it, but DO NOT BOOK ONLINE, it is a scam.
• Pack lightly and leave your big bags behind, you have to carry them yourselves and it might ruin the walk.
• There is the option to ride horses to your destination instead of doing the hike.

An Update about Oats Abroad

This blog was originally created to share our RTW trip with family and friends at home. While researching beforehand and also during the trip, we found that some of the best advise we have received has come from other bloggers or real life people but not so much from guide books or professionals in the travel industry.

With the idea of paying those insider tips forward, a few months into the journey we decided to create helpful content for anyone to read, sharing not only the things we did and saw but also tips and recommendations of where to stay, what to do, what to eat and even what to bring.

Even though our world trip is now officially over, we will still try to continue to see as much of this beautiful planet we live on. So do not worry about us running out of content when we have eventually caught up to all the places we saw within those amazing 7 months.

Questions and comments are always welcome and we will try to be as helpful as possible.

Time flies when you’re having fun! This was 7 months ago.. 

 

Essentials for South America

While there are many lists to tell you what to bring in terms of clothes, we found that  you could just purchase them on the road. You’ll find distinguished leather items in Buenos Aires, warm woollen jumpers all over Peru and Bolivia, bikinis and beautiful summer clothes in Rio, sun hats at every market no matter where you go, locally made items in Medellín and big brands in Santiago de Chile.

 

We travelled through South America for 2 months and reviewed our packed items almost every time we put the backpacks down. You really want to only carry your essentials when visiting this beautiful continent, but there are also some items you will struggle to find along the way. We have compiled the ultimate list of things you will need to bring to South America.

Just a funky picture of a store in Santiago de Chile

The ultimate list of essentials you will need in South America 

– a well stocked travel pharmacy. [Disclaimer, we are in no way doctors or medically inclined or educated] Try to get antibiotics, pain killers, something against the common cold etc. Don’t forget to bring some good old vitamins and probiotics, travelling really stresses your body out and we struggled to find any in Brazil when we had run out.

– A washing line (like THIS ONE ) is worth its weight in gold. You can wash and dry a few things even  without having access to / time to do a big wash.

– A block of soap, yes really. Ditch the liquid body wash, bring a large block of soap and it will last you so much longer without weighing you down or causing waste. We also use it for emergency clothes cleaning (at least it improves the smell of things immensely.) This container is super handy!

– Sun cream and insect repellent from a brand you know and trust. Not only are those items expensive, depending on where you are, but they also do not seem to work as well as the brands you know from home. Wish we had had our Autan with us!

Yep, ankles can swell from mosquito bites. Buy the expensive spray!!

– Sealable plastic bags (or a more environmentally friendly version) They are so handy for many things, from keeping your clothes save from spills to packing snacks for daytrips. You can buy them on the road, but you’ll obviously end up with a whole pack which is more than what you need.

– Keep cups or our beloved STOJO– you’ll do the planet good when you get takeaway drinks and they double as containers for many foods such as oats on the go, minute noodles or soups.

It is so small, it has to fit in!

It even folds up!

Great for coffee breaks at work too

– Apple cider vinegar is great for many things, it can be used as a face toner, helps heal sunburns and stops mozzie bites from itching too much. You can also drink it, a lot of people swear by it for heartburn. We eventually found it in Brasil but would have missed it in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.

– Contact lens containers! Flo filled some with lipstick colours to save space (just smash them in there) and one with Vaseline on the one side and cream for burns and cuts on the other side. The empty ones have not been handy just yet but will be when we reach our friends in Europe to replenish the cream stock. (thanks in advance guys 🙂 )

Lipstick colours and Vaseline in contact lens containers.

– Silk sleeping liners will keep you warm but most importantly relatively clean in those less desirable hostels (or when you find yourself camping even though you had not planned on it like we did in Tayronah). We got a Cheap one like this one but the  organic version sounds awesome!

– Power banks will charge your phones, do not get a solar powered one because they do not charge quickly enough even when you are hiking all day through the sunshine.  Hopefully technology will pick up but we have not been able to find a good enough one. Electronics are really expensive in South America, the bank we bought in the US was 3 times (!) the price here. This one is super similar to ours.

– A ground mat / super light weight picknick blanket can be used for its obvious tasks but it is also a great help in other situations. We have used it to keep mosquitos out of our hut in the amazon jungle by covering the floor cracks. We have this foldable one.

Using our ground mat in Central Park, NYC

– Flo loves her stretch band – after long flights or bus rides it helps your muscles to get back to normal and also takes up almost no space or weight.

-a golf ball is a must, after long hikes (or just walking all day in Disneyland) it works wonders on your feet! Just roll it around and feel the relieve.

– a battery powered water steriliser (SteriPEN) this will save you cash and time because you don’t need to go and buy plastic bottles (bad for the environment anyways) but you can drink purified tap water wherever you are. We were super suspicious at first but it really works!

– travel pillows are your best friend on planes so make sure you invest in an awesome one. We love our Cabeau , they seem to be the most expensive ones you can possibly find but have been so worth it.

Dead after Vegas but the pillows are the best!

– A multi function knife (this one also comes with cutlery!) is a no brainer. You can buy it abroad but if you live in Europe, Australia or America you’ll be better off buying it before you leave. A Spork also comes in handy but is not really a must, it is unfortunately really easy to get plastic cutlery from any restaurant.

– a laminated copy of your passport as well as a simple paper one means that you do not need to carry your most precious possession (OK, maybe it is on par with your phone these days) around but still have it handy.

– Flashlights, travel towels, a foldable day pack, sun hats and sunglasses and adapters for your electronics are obviously a must but can be easily purchased in any of the South American countries we have been to. This portable light bulb has come in very handy for us so far though and we have not find another one.

We used the bulb in our tent in Colombia

And now the things you should buy on the road:

– if you love good leather shoes and can wait until you get there, spoil yourself with a pair in Buenos Aires. They will cost you quite a bit but will be locally made and sourced and so much better than a big brand version. Brazil’s “Mr Cat” is also locally made and a bit more budget friendly

– get hawaiianas in Brazil (again if you can spare them before) they are much cheaper and we thought the collection was bigger

– get a mosquito net from a market if you head into the jungle, they pack up light and small [and you don’t end up with one that could actually let a bird through, never mind mozzies like we did in the amazon jungle]

– we got our beanies and gloves in Peru, while we knew we needed them our Australian winter gear is not really made for actual winter and it was a fun experience to see the markets. You get to support the locals, you get to wear something that is definitely appropriate for the weather you find yourself in and you get to take home a unique memento to remember your trip by.

We hope this list helps you and we would love to hear from you in the comments!

**Please also note that if you follow any of the links you won’t pay anything extra but if you do decide to buy something we will get a small reward. Yay, we all win 🙂

Cusco

We loved Cusco! The city is packed with history, llamas and friendly people. It is the gateway to the Inka Trail, but should not be underestimated. You’d be sorry if you merely passed through in a hurry and missed out on all the colourful amazingness the former Incan capital has to offer.

All the places you can reach from Cusco besides Machu Picchu

When we think of Cusco we remember narrow, cobble stoned streets that somehow function as 2-way roads; colonial style buildings next to Inkan walls; baby llamas with tiny knitted hats, willing to cuddle you for a dollar or two; colourful stores selling trinkets and the like; steps that seem to go on forever; lots of bars, restaurants and chicha morada (a sweet local drink); some of the nicest people South America has to offer; and having an amazing time even though Flo was violently ill for most of it.

Basic Tips for Cusco

1. Not all beanies are created equal
If you have not packed warm enough clothes you definetly have the opportunity to do some shopping here! There are lots of stalls and stores selling woollen hats, gloves, jumpers and the like. We found that prices at San Pedro market were much lower than closer to the plazas or busier (read: more touristic) sections of the town. Be careful when selecting your goodies – we fell for some cheap gloves that were actually made out of acrylic, which means they do not keep you warm at all. We found these tips super helpful, courtesy of Alpaca Expeditions

Touch it- alpaca wool is cool to the touch, acrylic is warmer.

Pick it up – alpaca wool is quite a bit heavier than synthetic.

Check the inside of the garment – when acrylic is brushed it is smooth and soft on the outside and appears much more like alpaca. The inside is usually rougher. Many high-quality products (but not all) do not have inner seams.

Any super-bright colors are going to likely be synthetic. Many alpaca products are made in the natural color of the wool, or only dyed with natural dyes, which are more muted and never fluorescent orange, chartreuse or magenta in color.

How awesome is this beanie?!

2. Most places only take VISA or cash
We had a lot of difficulties finding restaurants and shops that accepted our MasterCard credit card. VISA is accepted widely – for some reason there are 2 different card machines, one for VISA and one for everything else and most stores only accept VISA. You will find that the majority only wants cash.
3. Taking cash out is expensive
We (and many others we spoke to) could only withdraw a certain amount of money at a time because our card is not Peruvian. At the same time each transaction cost us a fee from the ATM as well as the fee from our bank. This and the fact that almost nobody accepted our MasterCard to pay for things meant that we had to adjust our budget for Cusco quite a bit. A much better thing to do would be to bring US dollars or Euros and exchange money for a smaller fee. You can also check with your bank if they have a Peruvian buddy bank.
4. Cusco is great for shopping
When it comes to things like llama key rings, finger puppets, warm clothes and board games (to name a few ‘necessities’) Cusco’s (or Peruvian) prices are way better than what you might find in other South American countries The items are mostly identical (unless you want the city’s name on it off course) so if you are planning on trinket shopping do it in Cusco!

One of Cusco’s many markets

Where to stay

We stayed at Samay Wasi Hostel in a private ensuite room. This hostel offers HOT water 24/7 (trust us, this is important!) amazing views of the city, friendly staff, free storage for your bags when you are off adventuring and decent Wi-Fi. Samay Wasi is on top of a hill and you will have to climb stairs to get there, but we found this to be an excellent opportunity to get used to the higher altitude. In exchange for burning calves you get to enjoy breakfast with a view of Cusco.

Where to eat

There are lots of lunch and dinner deals available in various restaurants in Cusco, but the most authentic Peruvian cuisine for the smallest price was the lunch or dinner deal at Quori Sara. You get a starter, main and desert for a few pesos and the menu changes daily. Be extra cool and order a Chicha Morada – the local drink. It tastes like some sort of fruit juice but is corn based. Make sure you get here on time before the special sells out (lunch starts at midday and dinner at 7 PM when we visited) and bring a translator app of some sort if you do not speak Spanish. The staff are super nice but do not speak English. You can only pay in cash here.

Alpacca, Chicken and Avocado with homemade lemonade and a Chicha Morada hiding behind it

If you miss English or European food, head to Per.UK – a more expensive restaurant that makes up for the higher prices with excellent services and truly amazing food. Alan had the blue cheese alpaca fillet and it was spot on. The small place fills up rather quickly, so if youre a larger group you might have to reserve a spot in advance.

Blue cheese alpaca at PerUK

Jack’s Café is a cute looking place that does not get too crowded, the prices are more sensible compared to Per.UK and you will find a wide variety. Alan loved the burger so much we came back a second time and the soup was a life saver for Flo when she was sick. Their coffee is on point too!

For desert, you can be cheeky and just try lots and lots of chocolate at Tika Chocolates (but please buy some and say hello to the loveliest sales girl from us) or visit the best ice cream shop, called HelArte. They have the classics as well as Unicornio and Coca flavours and their servings are more than generous.

What to do

The best way to see lots of the city and the surrounding Inka sites are day trips. Without giving too much away, our itinerary looked like the below.

An important tip for all tours: make sure you specify if you can or cannot speak Spanish.  There are multi lingual tours and most guides’ English is great so you’d think you’re OK but if you are the only English speakers on a mostly Spanish tour you get 1 sentence worth of explanations compared to an essay in Spanish. If you are, however, the majority the English part will magically become just as important as the Spanish one.
Day 1 – walk aimlessly (you see the best stuff when you don’t have a goal), shop and eat.
Day 2 – Sacred Valley Tour

If you get the choice, ask to have lunch at Tunupa where you can enjoy an awesome lunch buffet, live pan flute bands and a stunning view.

The sacred valley tour offers great first impression of the Inkan ruins, you will stop at Ollyantambo, Pisac and Winay Wanay. On the way there you will also stop at the village of Ollyantambo  where you can get some last minute beanies, scarves or other trinkets.

Day 3 – Maras Moray and the Salt Pools

Maras Moray used to be an important agricultural site where the Inkas used terraces made out of stone walls to “experiment” find out which crops grew best at what temperature. The salt pools have been around for over thousand years (pre-Inka) and are still in use today the same way they were when the Inkas tended to them. Make sure you get some pink salt and locally made salted chocolate when you are there!

Day 4 – City Tour

This includes a bit of the city of Cusco but you will then drive to more Inka sites close by. This is only a half day tour and gives you a nice overview of Cusco, if you are not too badly affected by the altitude we’d suggest doing this one on day 1 instead. However, the Sacred Valley is lower than Cusco and good way to ease into the height difference.

Our city map including notes

Day 5 – (after returning from the Inka Trail) Eat some more great food and do some last minute souvenir shopping

Please reach out to our most amazing guide and helper JAMES. He was not only helpful and friendly but super thorough and caring. He picked us up from the airport, walked us to the busses when we embarked on our day trips, showed us where to eat and what to order and made the best coca leaf tea in his office. If you read this James – we hope you’re well and thank you again!

We hope this guide has helped you to get a better idea of what Cusco has to offer an how to best enjoy your time here. We would love to hear from you in the comments!

Cartagena – the Jewel of the Caribbean

Our stint in Cartagena felt like a holiday from the holiday – we spent time at the beach; wandered the streets to admire the architecture; took the tourist bus around town, because it was too hot to walk much; and cooled down with maybe one too many beers. If you are keen to visit, but don’t really know what to do search no more, but trust the following mini-guide for a few days in the beautiful walled city.

Where to stay

We loved our cozy little place El Genoves – everyone was super nice and the room was clean and decently sized. The rooftop offered views as well as the opportunity to drink the before mentioned too many beers. Cartagena gets really hot so we chose this place because of their pool but be ware that it is teeny tiny so don’t expect to do anything besides chilling by it or inside – no Olympic swimming training possible here!

Tiny yet beautiful balconies

Tiny yet awesome pool

Friends we met stayed at El Viajero – unfortunately we ALL got kicked out of the bar after 10 PM, when we each had a drink in our hands, because as it turns out you cannot bring guests to this hostel. We never came across this rule before and we are unsure if we did something wrong, but keep that in mind if you want to be able to socialise at your chosen home away from home.

Check out this link to Booking.com– there are plenty of cool places around. We would recommend to stay in the old town – it offers anything you might need and is simply beautiful.

What to eat

Let’s start with where NOT to eat – assuming you are watching your pesos – stay away from any of the restaurants located directly at or around the plazas. The markup is crazy! If you must people watch we’d recommend finding a place that offers a good happy hour and enjoy a drink or two amongst it all without paying crazy prices.

Flo opted for Oreos at the beach, does that count as street food?

 

The street food looked awesome and we spoke to people who enjoyed it without any repercussions. We were not as adventurous but this might be our excuse to travel to Cartagena again?

La Molata was our personal favourite – super friendly (and beautiful) staff, delicious food and a really cool vibe. You can only pay cash which was a bit annoying but that seems to be the case in a lot of places.

Ceviche and the Catch of the Day at La Mulata

 

Basilica Pizzeria Café makes good pizzas – excellent compared to other South American versions, but lacking compared to what you can get in Europe or North America. Lots and lots of street cats will vie for your attention, which is both cute and a bit heart breaking. Please give the little ginger one a piece of prawn and tell her we miss her if you end up going!

How to get around

Because it was so so hot when we visited, we “splashed out” and got ourselves 48-hour tickets for the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus. Big Tip: Do NOT buy online but walk to one of the many tourist agents. It costs much less in person compared to the website for some reason.

Our view from atop the bus

 

The bus became our way of public transport instead of taking taxis and offered an awesome overview of the city and its history and the tour guides were ready to offer any help.

Please note – whenever the bus stops in a popular area lots and lots of people crowd it to sell you water, hats, food and random things such as hand drums. Take it as you may; water from them will cost you 3 x more than at the supermarket, but it is cold and you don’t need to carry it with you to the bus stop.

How pretty are the streets in Cartagena!?

 

Other than the bus you can catch taxis anywhere at any time. They constantly advertise their services by beeping at you, almost running you over, winding down the windows to shout at you in Spanish etc. We walked around during the day and also at night, but do be careful as we met people who were mugged at knife point in front of their hostel.

What to do

We read lots of negative reviews about the beaches in Cartagena. Even our guide on the tour bus noted that we should stay away from them as we would get harassed and it would not be worth it. Living in Australia has lowered our expectations a bit too, because our chosen home offers the most stunning beaches ever. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our day at Bocca Grande!

We went to Bocca Chica first, thinking it would be less touristy and hence better, but the beach itself was quite dirty (think lots of algae in the water, plastic and other rubbish in the sand…). We walked to Bocca Grande and got a pair of deckchairs and an umbrella just across from the large shopping center. The beach there was clean and the ocean free of algae and the like. While there are lots and lots of people offering you drinks, ice creams, oysters, bikinis, sunglasses, beach toys, massages and whatever else you can think of they actually walk away as soon as you say “NO, Gracias”. We did not have to snap or get loud, but we kept our responses short and if necessary we interrupted them straight away to say no. It did not feel like we were hassled and nothing was stolen while we chilled on comfy deckchairs for more than 3 hours for an equivalent of $10 dollars.

Obligatory “my-feet-made-it-to-the-beach” shot

I am sure there are lots more cool things to do in Cartagena than just eat, walk around more or less aimlessly and chill at the beach but we loved our stay and what felt like a mini holiday within the holiday. Do be careful with the water and food – Flo got really bad “travellers woes” if you catch our drift and it was not pleasant!

 

Universal Studios Hollywood Itinerary

First things first

Book your tickets online through Universal’s website. This way you get to go into the park an hour earlier and can go into Hogsmead and Hogwarts before most people arrive. Bring your own food and water bottles to save money. Wear sun protection, comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in easily. Get the app so you know where what is, you can even use it to create a schedule – even if you do not have a local phone, the Wi-Fi in the park is super fast and free for visitors.

Good Morning Harry Potter World

Head into Hogsmead, have a quick look around, take lots of photos (trust us, you won’t get another opportunity to do this without lots and lots of people in your pics!) and get yourself in line to Harry Potter’s Forbidden Journey or ride The Flight of the Hippogriff. If you made it in as early the wait times will be minimal. Use the lockers at HPFJ to store your bags – its free! Just put a reminder in your phone so you don’t go over the allotted time. The system uses your fingerprint as a key and you each only get 90 minutes of free storage so try to put your entire group’s belongings into one locker so you can use other members’ access to store stuff later.

Visiting Hogwarts at Universal Studios Hollywood

Get yourself a Butterbeer, queues for them will be massive later on. We shared one; it was great to get a taste but not really for us, so we’d recommend you also share just in case you don’t enjoy drinking liquid butter cola. Check out Olivander’s wand shop – the little show is really cool. We also enjoyed Zonko’s and seeing all the sweets.

Inside Olivander’s

Time to find some dinosaurs!

The best thing to do next is to go to the lower level – we found the crowds did not make it down here this early. Do Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride and use the lockers there to store your things again. Lines should still be quite short, but you can also do the Single Rider Queue here. We were lucky and got to sit next to each other even when we chose that option!

Head over to Transformers – The Ride 3D. As a rule – ALWAYS opt for the Single Rider Line. It is so worth it. Don’t forget to take a photo of / with the super awesomely done Transformers characters outside before it gets too busy to do so!

Scared to meet a dinosaur

Next, check out the velociraptor at Jurassic Park (if it is out there already) and get splashed by Jurassic Park – The Ride. We’d only recommend sitting in the front if you are really keen to get soaked!

Flo’s shirt used to be light blue. Just so you know how soaked she got!

Back to the beginning

It is most likely much busier now – before you take a break for lunch, try to knock over some more things. We did the Simpsons Ride next – you cannot do the Single Rider Lane but the wait is super entertaining. You might even get to meet Homer and co. outside! Either stroll past Hogsmead next to check out just how crazy busy it is now, or head to Despicable Me Minion Mayhem to keep cool and out of the sun. Single Rider Lane is available for this one. The Walking Dead fluctuates a lot – we recommend using the app to check out wait times so you can make your way there when it is not too bad; there is no way to skip the queue.

Lunch Time

Shaded areas are prime property and not plentiful, unfortunately. We had lunch at Moe’s, got a Krusty Burger to share and sat in the bar to eat it. The burger was surprisingly decent and definitely enough for 2 adults (we had crackers and fruit for snacks throughout the day as well) All other restaurants we saw in passing looked nice too, so you are spoiled for choice. They all seem to be self-serving places so don’t plan for anything too fancy. We got a beer at the Mulligans Pub later on, great people watching but steep prices.

Alan at Moe’s Pub during lunch

All we did after lunch was watch the WaterWorld show (it is awesome!) and we took the Studio Tour. We were super lucky and got picked out from the massive queue for the bus – there is no Single Rider Lane but we somehow managed to skip the queue after standing in the sun for all but 5 minutes. Really no idea how this happened – we recommend to be extra smiley and nice to everyone around you!

Waterworld Extravaganza

Final Thoughts

We left the park at 3 PM to head to the pool because we were super happy about having been able to do all the rides we had planned to. You could definitely see the other shows as well or spend more time taking pictures with the characters etc. but if you get up early and plan your day based on this itinerary, you can most likely even beat the traffic when leaving the park.

Let us know in the comments if you have visited before, if this guide was helpful for your future visit and if there is something we missed.

Park Map – Just follow the arrows

Where to eat in Vancouver

Vancouver has a lot of great food to offer. Check out our tips here:

Breakfast

You may have noticed from our name that we love having oats for breaky. They’re good for you and don’t break the bank. For coffee and WiFi after your home cooked oatmeal head to any of the many cafes that line the streets.

Oats Abroad…

For the budget friendly traveller on the go – opt for a bagel at urban fare. Filter coffee and WiFi + many condiments, jams etc you can help yourself to.

If you’re after a big breakfast that reminds you of Australia (avo toasts, real coffee and the best breaky sandwich ever) head to Green Horn.

 

The farmers markets in West End on Saturdays are amazing for breakfast, lots of fresh options and great coffee, coupled with people watching in what feels like tranquil suburbia.

We did not get a chance to have a typical Canadian breakfast but would have loved to go to forage.

Lunch 

The saviest lunch option would be getting groceries from the supermarket. Safeway actually has a salad and soup bar, a great (healthy) alternative to a sit down lunch. Head to one of the many parks and enjoy! There are lots of fresh berries and fruit available at little corner stores and the beaches.

Hubbub makes fantastic sandwiches and massive salads. We had a pulled pork roll and salad and were not disappointed!

Hubbub lunch in Vancouver

Joey’s grill on Denham street is a typical Canadian diner serving bottomless coffees ($1/refill) and hearty Canadian cuisine.

The best find and a real insider tip is a leafy oasis on the steps in front of the art gallery. You can enjoy wine and beer, sheltered from the sun and the city buzz, yet you’re close enough to watch the busy streets. Grab a sandwich too – the most surprising thing about this is how reasonable the prices are.

Wish we could have made it to miku  for their lunch deal (upmarket sushi at the waterfront) and japadog which just sounds and looks awesome.

Dinner and drinks 

Our favourite meal in Vancouver was dinner with friends and Holy Crab. This is not a budget friendly place but so much fun and the food is awesome! No plates or cutlery, you just crack your fresh seafood open on the table.

 

The food at Holy Crab

Best company

A seafood option that won’t break the bank would be Sushi. Shizenya has brown rice rolls which is apparently not that common in Vancouver.

Timber serves delicious burgers and tasting flights of beer. Check out all the stuffed animals! More great beer options can be found at the dozens of micro breweries Vancouver has to offer. Check out this post on pub crawls.

Timber Burger and Flight of Beers

The best value for money must be Joel Forte’s happy hour. From 4-6 PM this chic rooftop bar overlooking Robson Street offers  $1 oysters and $5 pints and wines. You can also opt for other fantastic looking food options, but we could not get enough of the fresh oysters. Make sure you arrive on time / early to get a spot.

We hope this post is helpful for your Vancouver visit. Let us know what places you found so we can include them when we come back!

7 Reasons to visit Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada, is our first stop on our 7 months world trip. After just a few days we already love this place. These are our 7 reasons why you must visit too:

Vancouver’s outdoorsy culture

There are loads of parks in Vancouver, streets are lined with trees and flower buckets hang from lamp posts on the main roads. You can have a picnic in the middle of the city surrounded by nature. For an awesome half day trip hire a bicycle and trek around Stanley Park via the famous Sea Wall.

Vancouver is super clean

From the paperless “check-in” at the airport to the amazingly organised recycling system (which can get confusing) this city is almost entirely free of litter.

Vancouver bins

Variety

Simply walk a few blocks and watch the scenery change from suburbia to the CBD and vice versa. You’ll find lots of funky stores in one street and hipster cafes in the next. You will see so many different, interesting and super friendly people as well. Lots of Hollywood movies are made here btw, our friend ran into Charlize Theron and her kids on a play date!

 

Mountain Views

Just have a look at this view from Coal Harbour;

Coal Harbour Mountain Views

 

 

The Breweries

In Vancouver, locally brewed beers are delicious and plentiful – restaurants and bars offer flights (a sampling of several beers, usually 4) so you can try more than just one.

Dave and Alan enjoying a flight of beers at Timber.

 

You can walk almost anywhere

It is easy to explore everything by foot – you can safely walk anywhere. The public transport network is well developed as well so you don’t really need to hire a car for further excursions either. Cannot walk anymore? Simply grab a short term hire bicycle (they are everywhere!) and go explore.

Vancouver knows how to make amazing food

 Coming from Australia we are used great food and wide variety. Vancouver offers so many amazing nice places that we dedicated another blog on where and what to eat. Check it out HERE.

The food at Holy Crab

Are you ready to explore this amazing city? Check out booking.com to find the best hotels in Vancouver!

 

*We get a small fee if you decide to book through one of our links, but it won’t cost you extra. It helps to keep this blog going and we appreciate your support*