Thailand Travel - Eating Bugs in Phuket, Thailand

As a tourist traveling in Thailand you will inevitably stumble upon a food market, and, in that food market will be some interesting bugs to eat. It won’t be on everyone’s bucket list, but you will find foreigners taunting their buddies to have a try. If eating strange bugs is on your bucket list, start searching for flights to Phuket now, and beat your friends to the victory!

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – Eating Strange Bugs in Thailand 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Beijing Travel - Panda

This baby Panda is laying down resting in between meals. Pandas eat for 14 hrs a day. They are vegetarians, they move slowly, are usually friendly and always incredibly adorable.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – Panda 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Beijing Travel - Lama Temple

We are visiting Beijing, China for the first time and we are only here for one week. Naturally we’ve made it our mission to hit all the important landmarks of the city. This photo illustrates the amazing architecture of the 1600′s in the Lama Temple grounds.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – Beijing Lama Temple 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Florida Keys Travel - Key West Sunset Photo

View more Key West sunset and sunrise photos
It’s difficult to get a bad picture of a Key West Sunset or Sunrise, especially during the winter months when it’s rarely cloudy. This Key West travel photo was taken in March, during a weekend getaway to the Florida Keys.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Key West Sunset 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Ecuador Travel - A Sea Lion Pup hangs out on a park bench in the Galapagos Islands

The wildlife on this Galapagos tour has been incredible as we continue #HangingWithTurtles during our Ecuador travel.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – A Chillin’ Galapagos Sea Lion Pup 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Ecuador Travel - An Ecuador Food Tradition - the Empanada

Top List of Things To Do in Quito, Ecuador
During our tour of the Galapagos Islands, we were excited to come across a street food vendor making fresh empanadas. Empanadas are a food tradition present in most Latin American countries. Each country puts their twist on the fried dough snack, but Ecuador’s were always on top of our list. Our empanadas on this day were stuffed with either cheese or beef and fried right in front of us. During your Ecuador travel, don’t forget to indulge in some Spanish Empanadas.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – Ecuador Empanadas 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Once a thriving species in the Galapagos Islands, with an estimated 250,000 strong, the tortoises almost went extinct, down to 3,000.

Watch More Adventure Travel Videos

The damage was done from hunting for their meat and oils, the introduction of agriculture and other non-native animals such as rats, pigs, cattle, goats and dogs.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Many of the species still can’t breed on their own in the islands, because the eggs are dug up by non-native animals or trampled on by large cattle. And considering tortoises remain very small for several years with soft shells, they are stil very susceptible to their predators.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Today, breeding stations on the islands keep newborn tortoises for 7-11 years before releasing them in the wild.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

With agriculture, tourism and population continuing to grow on the islands, tortoises will continue to remain a vulnerable species. Be sure to experience the giant tortoise during your Ecuador travel.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

2 Backpackers - Ecuador Travel – Giant Galapagos Tortoise 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Bolivia Travel - Sunset at Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

The best of Bolivia

After a full day of hiking from the north part of Isla del Sol island to the south, we took a rest at a restaurant with an amazing view of Lake Titicaca.  The hours passed and the sun began to hide behind the horizon.  The sunset slowly revealed some amazing colors and relfections.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Sunset at Isla del Sol, Bolivia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Costa Rica Travel - Millipedes in the Monteverde Cloud Forest

Can you help us identify what kind of millipede this is? We found it while walking through the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica. We do our best to label our travel photos correctly.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Costa Rica Cloud Forest Millipede 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Heron Bird Flying on Beach in Colombia

In Tayrona National Park, an hour outside Santa Marta, Colombia, Jason and I were hiking to Cabo Beach. We both had camera in hand capturing all the beauty of these beaches during our Colombia travel.  I spotted a heron at the back of the beach near the woods.  I got my camera ready to take a picture. It started to fly and I just followed it with my lens and snapped. I didn’t even think about what setting I was on.  Sometimes you get very, very lucky, and this time I did.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Flying Heron at Tayrona Beach in Colombia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Colombia Travel: Fortress of San Felipe de Barajas in Cartagena Colombia

During the seventeenth century, the Spanish paid for prominent European military engineers to build the fortresses which are today Cartagena’s most significant identifying features. Engineering works took well over 208 years and ended with some eleven kilometers of walls surrounding the city, including the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas shown below. In 1984, Cartagena’s colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Read more from Colombia travel.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Castillo de San Felipe Cartagena Colombia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Basilica de Quito

Top List of Things To Do in Quito, Ecuador

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Basílica del Voto Nacional 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Jason Having Lunch At Valle de Frances Patagonia, Chile

2 Backpackers - Photo of the Day: Valle de Frances Patagonia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Gamez Island in Gulf of Chiriquí National Park, Panama

2 Backpackers - Photo of the Day: Gamez Islands in Panama’s Pacific Coast 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Potosi Bolivia Panorama

Read more… Ethics of Tourism: Mines of Potosi Bolivia

2 Backpackers - Photo of the Day: Potosi Bolivia Panorama 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

My brother has lived in Miami for about 8 years; he is a big Miami Heat fan but has never been to a game… until now.

2011 NBA Finals

We watched Miami play the Chicago Bulls on TV and although Game 7 was in Chicago, the sport networks showed images of thousands of people outside the American Airlines Arena (Heat’s home court) eagerly watching the life size screen. After the game wining shot of Game 7 which secured the Heat’s spot in the NBA Finals, the crowd erupted into a roar. I knew then I wanted to take my brother to watch a championship game.

Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks

If you want to feel the energy of a city, go see a sporting event.

The energy of the crowd is electrifying, an unforgettable experience that I am sure he will remember for years to come.

Priceless Experiences

I remember while in Argentina we met some fellow travelers that went to watch a Bocca match. All they could say about the their experience was, “You have to experience it.”  Unfortunately during our visit to Buenos Aires Boca Juniors were playing away.  Now I have a sense of what they were talking about. Definitely a priceless experience to be had.

2 Backpackers - 2011 NBA Finals Miami Heat – I Went! 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Watch More Adventure Travel Videos

Take a wild volcano boarding ride through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting León, Nicaragua.  In travel video episode #15, we put our adventure face on and surf down the black gravel rocks of Cerro Negro, maybe not the best idea. Enjoy the show!

After crossing 2 borders to get across Honduras, we entered Nicaragua for the first time and traveled to the city of León, Nicaragua. There is a lot of outdoor adventure to be had in León, especially the adrenaline rush of volcano boarding down Cerro Negro, the black volcanic hill. You can book this adventure tour through 2 outfits in town: Bigfoot Hostel and Quetzaltrekkers.

A Volcano Boarding Race

It had been a long travel day for us; we spent 9 hours on the road on six different buses and crossed two land borders.  Jason and I were relaxing over drinks at Big Foot Hostel Bar in León, Nicaragua when we noticed a sign that read, “Volcano Boarding Top Speeds.”  It had two lists of names.  One list of females and the other for men.  Each list had a speed associated with the name.  We asked our friendly bar tender and hostel attendant, Alberto, “What’s Volcano Boarding?”  He smiled and pointed to some pictures on the wall of people wearing orange jumpsuits, goggles and each were holding what looked like laminated wooden boards.  “Why don’t you guys sign up and find out,” he said, “You’ll love it.”  So we did.

Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro with Bigfoot Hostel

For $25 per person Big Foot Hostel offers Volcano Boarding trips any day of the week when they can get enough people to sign up.  The group got picked up at 9:00am in the morning and everyone piled into the back of a pickup truck for a bumpy 45 minute ride to the base of Volcano Cerro Negro.  Along the drive we passed several settlements and waved to the workers leading their cattle to the farms.

Climbing Volcano Cerro Negro

We arrived to a small ranch styled building where each person paid another $100 Cordobas or $5 US dollars entrance fee to the volcano park.  Everyone was then handed an orange bag and a wooden board with a laminated piece on the bottom for speed.  The board was large and a bit awkward to carry so I gave mine to Jason and I offered to carry his light orange bag and our daypack.  Our guide, Danny from England, led us up a rocky path to the top of the volcano’s crater.  As we walked he educated us on Cerro Negro and about Nicaragua’s volcanic chain which we could see in the distance.  Once we reached the top, he instructed us to put on the jumpsuits and goggles.  After taking some group pictures in our silly outfits, he gathered us around for further instructions on how to make it down the mountain fast or safely.

Crater of Volcano Cerro Negro

Jason Surfing in the Wind

“There are two sections to this slope,” he began.  “You will start off at a slower speed and then half way down you hit a 45 degree angle where you will pick up a lot of speed.  You won’t see it approaching, but you will feel it.  To keep from being thrown off your board, you must keep it straight by taping your heels on the gravel one at a time.  Once you hit the 45 degree angle, if you want to go for gold, just hold your legs up and hope for the best. If you want to slow down, continue to tap your heels on the ground in an alternating rhythm.”  He also reminded us the top speeds were around 75km/h for females and 85km/h for males.  We were all a bit nervous, some more than others.  In groups of two we began to volcano board down the black volcanic gravel.

Discover San Juan del Sur Beach Nicaragua

Trip Budgeting for Central America

Photo of Church of Guadalupe in Granada, Nicaragua

Photo of Sunset Over Los Maribios Volcano Chain

Amy, a traveler from New Zealand, and I were ready to go.  My heart was racing.  When I heard Danny say, “Go!”  I gave myself a push by forcing my body forward and I began to tap my heels: left right, left right, left right.  Tiny bits of rock were pelting my face.  The sound of the board sliding against the gravel increased as I gained speed and descended further down the desolate volcano.  The board began to turn and gravel started to burry it.  I tried to remember Danny’s instructions and lifted one leg up to straighten my board, but there was no fixing it; I flew off.

Aracely in Her Big Orange Jumpsuit

I can’t really describe what happened, I was completely disoriented.  I told myself, “Look for the board, get back on and keep moving.”  Once I found it I mounted the wooden plank and continued to slide down the volcano: left right, left right, left right. I felt myself picking up speed again.  I picked up my feet and began to feel the tiny rocks hitting my face quicker this time; my heart was racing even faster.  Again, gravel took over and pushed me sideways and off again I went!  This time I hit the ground a bit harder.  Completely disoriented I looked for my board and mounted it once again.  I made it all the way down the volcano.  I picked myself up and took a look around; I began to feel a sting on my leg.  I looked down and saw I had a descent size bloody scrape with gravel still in it.  I ignored it and began to watch the others fly down the mountain.  Amy had not made it down yet.  I could see her still on the slope trying to make her way to the bottom.  Two by two, the groups began to descend.  I watched everyone flip, tumble and crash.  Everyone had either scratches or bruises when they made it to the bottom, except for the super flier, Andreas from Germany.  He was 1km/h shy of making the fastest male list.

Our Volcano Boarding Crew

A second tour operator stood at the bottom of the volcano operating a speed gun.  Everyone was eager to find out their speed.  My speed was 36km/h, the fastest girl of the day by a long shot and the girl with the biggest scrape too.  Still, I felt a little proud of that.

Volcano boarding is probably not for everyone, but it is definitely an adrenaline rush.  If you decide to go boarding down Cerro Negro, remember that not everyone enjoys it and you will end up with some scrapes and burns to show for it.  Regardless, you’ll have an exciting story to tell.

2 Backpackers - Volcano Boarding in León – Travel Video Ep. 15 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Travel Photo - Crossing the Border between Costa Rica into Panama

Check out Costa Rica Caribbean Beaches.

This photo was taken during our land border crossing during Costa Rica travel to Panama on our way to Bocas del Toro. It was a long day of long boat rides and crowded vans. This bridge ill structured bridge separated the two countries. We looked down through the planks of wood as we walked across the river. To our amazement, a 16 wheel tractor trailer crossed over the bridge also. We never could have imagined that vehicles drove over this thing.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Border Crossing Costa Rica to Panama 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

The most popular multi-day tour available for visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats is driving a 4×4 between Tupiza and Uyuni, Bolivia.  This photo essay will take you through our 4-day tour beginning in Southwest Bolivia and ending with a sunrise over the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world.

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 1

We booked our tour through Tupiza Tours, the oldest, highly recommended agency out of Tupiza. Tours from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile and La Paz, Bolivia are also availabe.  With our fuel, food, and backpacks secured on top of the Toyota Land Cruisers, we began our tour.

Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 Tour Vehicles

Tupiza, Bolivia

Leaving Tupiza, Bolivia in our 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser

Lunch on a Llama Farm, Day 1 of our Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni Tour

All meals are served everyday by a personal cook that accompanies the tour group. They will meet vegetarian needs.

Driving Through Adobe Villages in the Bolivia Highlands

Be conscious of Bolivia’s indigenous and their absolute desire to not have their pictures taken.

In the Direction Where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Were Allegedly Killed

Bolivia's Highlands

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 2

We continue to climb in altitude reaching Bolivia’s unique and varying highlands.  The majority of these tours is spent driving in the 4×4 vehicles.  Consider yourself lucky if you drive with people you get along with.  Each night we arrived to our destination just before dark, so the schedule is tight.  Remember you are in the highlands and night time can be extremely cold.  All accommodations will provide the bare minimum with no amenities.

Early Morning at the San Antonio Ruins

Laguna Morejon in Bolivia

The View of Bolivia's Mountains from our Tour Vehicle

Rock Formations in Bolivia's Highlands

Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Getting Muddy in our 4x4 at Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna

Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Laguna Kollpa in Bolivia

Laguna Kollpa in Bolivia

Salar de Chalviri in Bolivia

Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs) Near the Salar de Chalviri in Bolivia

A hot spring in the middle of the Bolivia highlands was an incredible surprise. Bring your bathing suit and hop in the hot water and enjoy one of the best bath views in the world.  During day 2 the varying landscapes are exposed.  Strange deserts, salt flats, snow capped mountains, unique rock formations and geothermal fields.

Desierto de Dali / Dali Desert in Bolivia

Mountains Near Desierto de Dali / Dali Desert in Bolivia

Laguna Verde and Volcano Licancabur

If the weather cooperates, a blue sky can make the scenery captivating.  We were lucky to have cloud formations that resembled alien spaceships.

Bolivia Mountains and Cool Cloud Formations

Sol de Manana Geysers / Geothermal Field in Bolivia

Smell the humid air of the Sol de Manana Geysers. Get as close as possible without gagging or falling into the steaming pits.

Sol de Manana Geysers / Geothermal Field

Bolivia Mountains and Cool Cloud Formations

Bolivia Desert and Cool Cloud Formations

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 3

During day 3 of the tour we became immune to the excitement surrounding colorful lagoons. After getting out of the truck for 6 different lakes, you can get a little bored, especially if it’s windy and cool out. Our weather was not ideal for glowing lake pictures.  Expect a few vehicle breakdowns during your off-road tour.  We experienced 2 flat tires and a failed fuel pump, which the tour guides were able to fix, evidence of their mechanical skills.

Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Flamingos in the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Flamingos in the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Reflections in Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Arbol de Piedra en Desierto de Siloli / Rock Tree in the Siloli Desert

Rock Formations in the Siloli Desert / Desierto de Siloli

Driving Across the Siloli Desert / Desierto de Siloli

Laguna Ramaditas, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Flamingos in Laguna Ramaditas, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Volcanic Rock Formations in the Desert

Train Tracks Over Salar de Chiguana

Driving Over the Salar de Chiguana in Bolivia

Just as the sun was setting over the Salar de Uyuni, we arrive to our Salt accommodations.  It was a hostel made completely of salt, including the furniture.

Salt Hotel / Hostel on the Salar de Uyuni

Salt Hotel / Hostel on the Salar de Uyuni

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 4

We awoke before sunrise and drove out to the center of the Uyuni Salt flats for the first time to enjoy the spectacular Uyuni de Salar sunrise.  This is a sunrise like nothing else you have seen before.

Sunrise on the Bolivia Salt Flats

Sunrise on the Bolivia Salt Flats

Fun Perspective Photos on Salar de Uyuni

Much of the time on the salt flats is spent taking fun pictures. Each guide will have their own creative poses for you to try. The all white background of the salt flats provide the unique opportunity to take photos that create illusions, or fool the human eye.

All tours eventually make a stop on the unique Incahuasi Island. This island is easily identified as a reef and you can climb up through the ancient cacti for incredible panoramic views of the salt flats. We ate our last lunch here.

Incahuasi Island / Cactus Island in the center of Salar de Uyuni

At the end of the tour, just like the end of a ride at an amusement park, we are courted through an area where salt souvenirs are being sold.

Salar de Uyuni Souvenir Shopping

2 Backpackers - Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Photo Tour 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Iguazu Falls is nestled between the Northeast corner of Argentina and Southwest Brazil.  People often say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but no photo or Photo Essay (even one from yours truly) can do this magical place justice. These waterfalls must be experienced.

Waterfall Views

National Park Iguazu, Argentina has many walkways that take you into an enhanced journey of beautiful waterfall views.  The Argentina side of the falls is much more tourist friendly, providing incredible views and trails for miles.

Get Wet!

You can get yourself very wet on this famous walkway.  They sell ponchos just before the lookout deck.  If the waterfalls are low, you can get close without getting drenched.  It all depends on the season.

Largest Waterfalls in the World

Iguacu or Iguazu Falls are one of the largest waterfalls in the world.  It all depends on how you measure that.  The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers (1.7 mi) of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 meters (269 ft) in height, though the majority are about 64 meters (210 ft).

For those who don’t mind getting soaked or pounded by the force of water rushing down from one of the “weaker” waterfalls, there are boat tours that take you up close and personal to the water action.

The Roar of Devil’s Throat Waterfall

The star of the show is “Devil’s Throat” a U-shaped, 82-meter-high, 150-meter-wide and 700-meter-long waterfall. At National Park Iguazu, Argentina you have back stage VIP access. Get your ears ready to hear The Devil scream.

Depending on the time of year you visit the waterfalls, the water level and volume can change dramatically.  We have visited both the Brazil and Argentina side during different seasons and have seen varying results.

2 Backpackers - Iguazu Falls in Pictures 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.