Trip date: Late July 2025 Introduction Codo de los Andes is an impressive trekking destination in Bolivia’s Eastern Andes. Its name means “the elbow of the Andes”—a nod to the sharp bend in the range that frames sweeping panoramas. We …
By car up Uturuncu: along one of the highest roads on Earth
After a grueling haul from Laguna Salada, we’re finally settled into the warm, spacious dining room of our guesthouse in Quetena Chico. A few hours ago, sunshine kept this space cozy; now, in the chilly evening, a small stove in …
What to Have in Your Car for an Altiplano Road Trip
Traveling the Altiplano often takes you into areas where you can’t rely on infrastructure or quick help. Most of the time everything feels straightforward, but when things go sideways, it’s the basic items you have in the car that make …
Choosing the right vehicle for exploring the Altiplano: practical, on-the-ground advice
The Altiplano is a vast high plateau in South America, sitting roughly between 3,500 and 4,800 meters above sea level. It spans mainly Bolivia, northern Peru, northern Chile and, to a lesser extent, northwestern Argentina. It’s one of the highest …
Licancabur: a two-and-a-half-year dream of climbing an Altiplano icon
About two and a half years ago, we drove from Argentina into Chile via Paso de Jama. On the Chilean side, the monumental bulk of Licancabur suddenly loomed to our right. The sight of this “monster” stopped me in my …
Hiking Cerro Akatí: a short hike before flying out of Paraguay
The day before flying out of Paraguay, I decided to squeeze in a short nature outing. I set my sights on Cerro Akatí, one of the few prominent hills in a country otherwise known for its flatlands. I set off …
Chorro de San Luis Waterfall: an unassuming cascade near Roboré, Bolivia
During our stay in San José de Chiquitos in eastern Bolivia, I headed over to Roboré on a side trip. Roboré sits about 132 kilometers south of San José de Chiquitos, reached via the main RN 4. The town makes …
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain: our experience
So far, we’ve used Madrid’s airport four times—once to fly out to Asunción in Paraguay, once arriving from Santa Cruz in Bolivia, and twice flying in and out of Vienna. We’re talking about Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), one of …
Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asunción, Paraguay: Our Experience
We flew into Paraguay via Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción with our dog Ibo. It’s a relatively small, easy-to-navigate airport where you can get through arrival formalities fairly quickly. Passport control took the most time—though if you have a …
Viru Viru Airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia: our experience traveling with Ibo
We flew into Viru Viru Airport near Santa Cruz de la Sierra from Asunción with our dog, Ibo. It was a direct flight of roughly two hours, so the journey itself was short and with no layovers. Ibo traveled again …