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Enjoy the best off-the-beaten-path beach in Costa Rica through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Sámara, Costa Rica.  In travel video episode #21, we film the flat, calm, white sand Samara Beach and it’s small island of Isla Chora. Enjoy the show!

Costa Rica Travel – Sámara

Samara is located on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific Coast. Costa Rica is Central America’s most developed country and attracts the most tourists, allowing it to build an improved infrastructure attracting luxury beachfront resorts. As a budget traveler, this can be a challenge. You want to explore the wonderful beaches of Costa Rica, but you also have a travel budget to stick to.

Best Beach in Costa Rica

Have you ever envisioned a wonderful cove beach with subtle waves, endless reefs, nearby cliffs battered by the sea, horses running along the water’s edge, palm trees bending towards the horizon, reefs occasionally sun bathing and a small rock island that beckons you as you rest on the mainland?

Then you better get yourself to Samara Beach, the best off-the-beaten-path beach in all of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Travel - Samara Beach

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Enjoy a boat tour of millionaire homes on Lake Nicaragua through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Granada, Nicaragua.  In travel video episode #20, we tour Las Isletas and Monkey Island on Lake Nicaragua. Enjoy the show!

Nicaragua Travel – Granada

Granada’s colonial heritage is most notable in it’s architecture. The Cathedral stands out in the city above most buildings with it’s bright yellow color and it’s a good marker to make your way to the town’s center. In the center of town is Central Park (Parque Central) where you will find an abundance of vendors selling crafts and possibly a dozen hotdogs stands at any given time. Be prepared, because Nicaragua travel is very hot and humid year round.

• Nicaragua Travel – Volcano Boarding in León Travel Video
• Nicaragua Travel – Zip-Line in San Juan del Sur Travel Video
• Nicaragua Travel – Volcano El Hoyo Trek Travel Video

Nicaragua Travel - The Cathedral of Granada

Lake Nicaragua

Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) is Central America’s largest lake and is a big tourist attraction for those visiting Granada. There are several tours available on the lake, but opt out of swimming, it’s still very polluted.

Nicaragua Travel - Lake Nicaragua Las Isletas

Granada Tours

• Mombacho Volcano
• Las Isletas de Granada (Granada Islands)
• Isla Ometepe
• Laguna de Apoyo

Las Isletas de Granada

This was our choice for a Granada tour, riding on a small boat through some of the 365 small islands in Lake Nicaragua.  Only 3 km from Granada, it’s can be  a short 1-2 hour tour.  Some of the islands are privately owned and include millionaire homes with yachts docked next to them.  There are also a few bars and restaurants where you can relax in a hammock and enjoy a drink on an island.  You can grab a boat ride down at the lake’s edge or book a tour in town.  There are always boats available, just be sure to negotiate your rate.  If you enjoy watching monkeys in the wild, you will love Monkey Island.

Nicaragua Travel - Lake Nicaragua Monkey Island

What to do in Granada Nicaragua

Granada is a happening town, with lots of bars, restaurants and a decent nightlife.  Our two favorite places to hang out include Calle La Calzada and Parque Central.  Parque Central (Central Park) is full of vendors, music, gazebos and small cafes for relaxing in the park.  Around the park there are usually activities going on to entertain tourists, making it an enjoyable hangout.  Calle La Calzada is the place to enjoy gringo bars, restaurants and street entertainment.  Expect to see lots of children begging for money, some asking to finish your meal or offering crafts they make.

Nicaragua Travel - Granada City Streets

Budget Travel Tips

Nicaragua, typically includes a 15% tax on everything in its tourist cities.  Granada, was no exception, and was one of the downsides to enjoying a meal in a decent restaurant.

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After traveling throughout Central America and South America, we have experienced our share of unique cultural norms in Latin America, one of which includes putting home speakers on your car and advertising loudly through the streets. This wasn’t an occasional site, it was a frequent site, often advertising for events, radio stations or products, and also for politicians. We see this in some parts of Miami too, which is not too strange considering Miami is primarily Latin. I’ll have to get some video of that to share. To see more unique cultural norms from Latin America, check out their tricked out custom chicken buses!

In this travel video clip #6, we share some creative advertising methods used in Latin America.

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We celebrate fun Ecuador traditions on New Year’s Eve in this HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Chone, Ecuador during the Holidays.  In travel video episode #19, we join Aracely’s family in her hometown of Chone to experience the chaos that is New Year’s Eve in Ecuador. Enjoy the show!

Ecuador Travel - Año Viejo / Saying Goodbye to the Old Year

Año Viejo / Old Year

Ecuador traditions are wild on New Year’s Eve. More attention is given to saying goodbye to the old year instead of celebrating the new year. Ecuadorians build life-size dummies or dolls that typically represent negativity in the Old Year. Considerable effort is sometimes invested in building your doll, or you can buy them off the streets. Some will build wire frames, stuff them with fireworks and cover them with paper and plaster before finally painting them. Others build stuffed dummies and purchase a famous head or mask to complete their person.

In addition to the traditional aspect of burning a hated figure such as a politician, today’s Ecuadorians also burn characters such as Bart Simpson and Michael Jackson for fun.

• Ecuador Travel – Top Things To Do in Quito
• Ecuador Travel – More to Ecuador than Galapagos Islands
• Ecuador Travel – Otavalo Market
• Ecuador Travel – Discover Chone, My Hometown

Ecuador Travel - Fireworks during New Year

Fireworks, Dancing and Food in Ecuador

The burning of the dolls is the most unique New Year’s Eve tradition, but not the only one. Bonfires of dummies and dolls litter the streets while fireworks and music fill the air until daybreak. As is the case with any Latin holiday, Ecuadorians will dance the night away, only stopping to eat dinner after midnight.

Ecuador Travel - Young Boys Dressed as Widows on New Year

During the day most will parade their creations, the dolls and dummies, around town for everyone to appreciate before the midnight burning. Also, during the day, young boys will dress up as widows (made widows from the burning dolls) dancing in the streets for passing cars as they beg for money. Be careful on the highways, where they hold ropes across the street forcing cars to stop and acknowledge them.

If you looking for a unique, chaotic, loud, but fun experience, travel to Ecuador for New Year’s Eve.

A Special Thanks to Chone, Ecuador

We want to specifically thank Aracely’s family in Chone, Ecuador for hosting us during the Holidays and sharing their Ecuador traditions and homes with us. Being away from home during Christmas and New Year’s Eve when traveling around the world can be depressing, but having met new family made it a unique experience we will never forget. Thank you.

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An incredible display of Christmas lights / Los Alumbrados Medellín in this HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Medellín, Colombia during the Holidays.  In travel video episode #18, we brave the splashing fountains of water and follow our Couchsurfing friend, Claudia, to the Rio Medellín for some holiday season fun. Enjoy the show!

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

Consider Colombia Travel

Colombia was one of our favorite countries to visit during our travel in South America and we highly recommend it. If your still contemplating, read “Why Travel to Colombia“.

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

Christmas in Medellín Colombia

We arrived to Medellín in December, just before departing to Ecuador to spend the holidays with family. To our surprise Medellín has a lot to offer during the holiday season. Lights, lights and more lights!

The Christmas light display is heavily concentrated at the Rio Medellín near Puente de Guayaquil. At this location, tourists and locals flock to grab festival food, view artistic light displays and most importantly, jump around the colorful water fountains. The maze of water displays is incredible. Although crowded, everyone seems to take turns in an orderly fashion. Aracely was brave enough to crowd under one of the mushroom-like fountains.

• Colombia Travel – Beaches of Tayrona National Park
• Colombia Travel – Discover Cartagena
• Colombia Travel – Mud Bath in Volcano Totumo
• Colomiba Travel – Discover Salento

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

A Local Tour Guide

We were lucky to have met Claudia at a Couchsurfing gathering a few nights before and she offered to take us to the Christmas lights display down at the river. Claudia introduced us to salt and lime beer, basically a margarita beer, sweet popcorn, Aguardiente and some sweets that resembled taffy, but was made from cow bones. Very interesting and tasted quite good.

Colombia Travel - Pueblito Paisa in Medellín, Colombia

We know a lot of travel bloggers that are still living in Medellín, Colombia, and it’s doubtful they will be bored this time of season. The Christmas lights are usually on display from December to January.

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Surf lesson tips and a zip-lining canopy tour through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.  In travel video episode #17, take our video camera high above the forest canopy to share some incredible views and fast flying zip-lines. Enjoy the show!

The Beach Cove in San Juan del Sur

Getting to San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua was on our list of must see beaches since we heard about it from other backpackers while traveling in El Salvador.  “This is where you go to surf,” they exclaimed.  From Grenada, we boarded a local bus to Rivas.  At the Rivas bus terminal, which is located in the market, we searched for a bus to San Juan del Sur.  In no time, we were on our way to the coastal town on the Pacific Ocean, in southwest Nicaragua.

Colorful Streets of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Hostels in San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur’s most popular hostel is Casa Oro, which is on the corner of the main street and the street that leads down towards the water.  It’s currently under construction, but still a hot spot for those seeking dorms.  As we exited Casa Oro Hostel, a women on the street asked us if we needed a place to stay.  We replied, “Si,” and she offered us a private room with bathroom around the corner for $20 USD a night.  Sounded perfect to us.  Rebecca’s Inn was clean and comfortable, but lacked a social environment.

Colorful Streets of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

After settling in, we quickly went out for a walk around town.  The town is well developed with lots of hostels, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and surfing shops.  Many tourist shops around town offer shuttle rides to the surrounding beaches for surfing. 

Bars and Restaurants on the Beach of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur isn’t a beach for surfing, but rather your base town for day excursions. The beach is flanked on both sides by mountains and bars and restaurants line the water’s edge, creating a picturesque night life. It’s still low season around here and the night life was lacking during our stay.

Volcano Boarding in León – Video Ep. 15

Trip Budgeting for Central America

Photo of Church of Guadalupe in Granada, Nicaragua

Photo of Sunset Over Los Maribios Volcano Chain

Bars and Restaurants on the Beach of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Nicaragua Travel Costs

Gradually, our expenses have been increasing, and shockingly, Nicaragua has been the most expensive country for us so far.  It was surprising to us considering it’s also the second poorest country in the Americas; Haiti being the first.  Nicaragua, typically includes a 15% tax on everything in its tourist cities.  San Juan del Sur, was no exception, and we struggled to find dinner for under $10 USD.

A Surfer Fixing His Board

Surfing Lessons in San Juan del Sur

We walked back to Casa Oro Hostel to book our surfing lessons for the next morning.  A surf board costs $7 to rent and the lessons were $25 each including transportation to Playa de Madera.  The morning drive to the beach was approximately 45 minutes on a muddy dirt filled road.  We arrived to Tres Hermanos Hostel which resides on the small isolated beach.  The beach itself was rather dirty, lined with piles of drift wood, seaweed and washed up trash.  Unfortunately, it makes the beach much less welcoming even though it is so remote.

A Surfer Working his board in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

The waves break in three stages, providing all sorts of options for surfers of differing skills.  As beginners, we stayed close to the shore, in whitewater waves only.  Initially, Aracely and I both thought surfing was going to be extremely challenging.  I figured it to be similar to snowboarding, which is very difficult to learn. Luckily, surfing is not that challenging.  More specifically, its not as challenging to get up on the board and balance yourself.  It will become much more challenging as we venture out into bigger waves, but Aracely and I aren’t anywhere near that stage yet.

San Juan del Sure Beach & Cove

Fredo, our surf instructor spent 2-3 hours with Aracely, Miguel and I.  The first hour was on the beach, learning where to lie on the board and finding out if we stood regular or goofy.  I always look goofy, but in regards to surfing, I am regular and Aracely is goofy.  Once we got into the water, in only 15 minutes Aracely was up on the board, surfing her way to shore.  She even impressed the teacher.  After we all got the hang of things, we each attempted to surf on our own for the remainder of the day.  At 4:00pm our ride back to San Juan del Sur arrived and we all jumped back in the Land Rover.

San Juan del Sur Beach Cove

After returning to our hostel, Aracely and I realized our ribs hurt and our knees burned.  Seems as if I rubbed the hairs off my knees a bit getting in the standing position.  It was a still a great time, and we can now officially say, “We surf!”

Canopy Tour in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

There are several beaches you can visit near San Juan del Sur for surfing.  If you are looking for something else, try renting a quad or bike on the beach, charter a fishing boat or go searching for turtles.  We booked a canopy tour on zip-lines with Da’ Flying Frog Tours the next day.  We had amazing views of the forest canopy and the coastline all for $30 a person, a fraction of what you will pay in Costa Rica.

Canopy Tour in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur Nightlife

Each evening we hung out at Barrio Cafe and continued to watch the World Series baseball games. Other places we enjoyed a drink or some food were Big Wave Dave’s, Iguana’s Beach Club and El Gato Negro Bookstore Cafe.

El Gato Negro Bookstore Cafe of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

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While visiting León, Nicaragua we decide to visit the Los Maribios volcano chain again for another HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani.  In travel video episode #16, WE booked a 2-day hike with Quetzaltrekkers to the mysterious El Hoyo, the “Hole.” The trek includes another attempt to descend Volcano Cerro Negro at high speeds, a grueling 1 hour climb into the volcanic complex known as Las Pilas-El Hoyo, views of El Hoyo, unexpected cloud cover, a fumarole and a much earned swim in a crater lake. Experience this 2-day trek in the Los Maribios volcano chain of Nicaragua from your computer screen. Enjoy the show!

While visiting León, Nicaragua we decide to visit the Los Maribios volcano chain again for another adventure. We booked a 2-day hike with Quetzaltrekkers to the mysterious El Hoyo, the “Hole.” The trek includes another attempt to descend Volcano Cerro Negro at high speeds, a grueling 1 hour climb into the volcanic complex known as Las Pilas-El Hoyo, views of El Hoyo, unexpected cloud cover, a fumarole and a much earned swim in a crater lake. Experience this 2-day trek in the Los Maribios volcano chain of Nicaragua from your computer screen. Enjoy the show!

León, Nicaragua

We only took a day off to recuperate from our Volcano Boarding experience. The group would be small, Aracely, Anton, two guides and I. I prefer the small groups, it gives us the opportunity to ask more questions and get more personal with the guides and other members. Anton who is from South Africa, endured the volcano boarding with us. The guides, Oli from England and Constance of Germany were the best we could have asked for. Oli was very familiar with the trek and Constance offered great support as she also learned about the area. Constance had been guiding on another hike offered by Quetzaltrekkers.

Hiking to Volcano Cerro Negro

It is a short multi-day hike, but it can be challenging. The weight of 9 liters of water, food and camping supplies will exhaust you as you climb through the volcanic complex known as Las Pilas-El Hoyo. Not only is the weight challenging, but the heat will quickly make you aware of the reason you are carrying so much water.

Volcano Cerro Negro

Smoking Volcano Cerro Negro

You don’t have to go crazy and volcano board down Cerro Negro to explore it. You can book a tour that allows you easily climb to the top and explore the smoldering crater. This I wouldn’t pass up. It’s a unique experience with sulfur gases steaming around you. On this tour, we ran down the side of the volcano on our own two feet. We took giant leaps into the fine gravel picking up speed to a point it was dangerous, but still fun.

Volcano Boarding in León – Video Ep. 15

Discover San Juan del Sur Beach Nicaragua

RTW Trip Budgeting for Central America

Photo of Sunset Over Los Maribios Volcano Chain

The Black Gravel of Volcano Cerro Negro

After Cerro Negro, we prepare for the most difficult part of the 2-day trek. A steep 1 hour ascent with your maximum weight. This was grueling. After the hour, the climbs become less strenuous and the anticipation of spotting El Hoyo, the “Hole”, grows.

Volcano El Hoyo

Volcano El Hoyo Campsite

Watch our video to experience the mystery of El Hoyo and the peace of finishing the hike with a swim in a Laguna Asososca.

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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.

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We record a music video in this travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Alegría, El Salvador.  In travel video episode #14, Victor Manuel Cruz Sosa and his son, José Heraldo Cruz play homage to their hometown of mountains, lakes, flowers and tourism. Enjoy the show!

Alegría is the most beautiful, small town that we visited in El Salvador. Immediately upon departing our cheerfully painted bus in the main plaza, we noticed its cleanliness and detail to landscaping. The red rose bushes were in bloom and the sun flowers seemed to stand tall in pride of their home.

Alegría, El Salvador

The plaza was bustling with souvenir and food vendors, young men and women flirting under the gazebo and most famously for the area, flowers wer being sold. We happily strolled the streets around the plaza in search of a cheap hostel.

Alegría, El Salvador, the City of Flowers

During the evening we enjoyed drinks and food at El Portal where you can find pupusas, chicken and sausage. Musicians will mosey around tables serenading you for tips. One particular gentleman handed us his playlist book so Aracely could choose some of her favorite classics from Ecuador. Victor Manuel played several songs by request and also one of his favorites, a song about Alegría.

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Food Festival of Juayúa, El Salvador

Discover Alegría, El Salvador

Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador

A Music Video from El Salvador

We got the idea that the song would be the perfect musical backdrop for a video of Alegría. We asked and Victor obliged. The next day, we met in the plaza to record the song. This was after we got lost during our hike into Laguna de Alegría, but we gathered ourselves and met our commitments. Victor brought along his son to play maracas and sing background vocals. The plaza was loud, with a lot of activity going on, but we requested a vendor turn down his music so we could get a good recording. The song was perfect, even better with the sounds of nature making their way onto the audio. We tipped Victor, purchased a CD he was selling and said thank you very much, “Muchas Gracias.”

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We get lost while hiking to the Laguna de Alegría in this travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Alegría, El Salvador.  In travel video episode #13, our patience is tested when things go wrong. At one point, we walked with rocks in our hands unsure of our surroundings. Enjoy the show!

El Salvador continued to surprise us. Not with the big cities, which we weren’t impressed by, but rather the wonderful towns and villages we encountered. Between the Food Festivals of Juayúa and the colorful flowers of Alegría, we had come to realize, El Salvador was best explored outside the big cities.

Alegría, El Salvador

Alegría has to be one of the cleanest towns in El Salvador. Waste baskets painted creatively line the plaza alongside endless flowers, hence the name, Alegría. Upon asking our hostel host what made this town so concerned with cleanliness, he explained that the community realized benefits from tourism. As we sit at one of the few restaurants in town surrounding the main plaza, local musicians serenade us for some tips. It’s a relaxing atmosphere with kids playing soccer around the gazebo and local buses dropping visitors off durring weekend flower sales. It’s relaxing until you become lost in the nearby forest of Tecapa.

Laguna de Alegría

While staying in Alegría, El Salvador it’s necessary to visit Laguna de Alegría, a green hot spring fed sulfur lake inside the crater of volcano Tecapa that exudes mysticism.  From Alegría’s town center you can easily walk 45 minutes in sandals along a cobblestone road or hire a guide to take you on a 2-hour hike up and over the crater’s ridge then down to the lakes edge.  Of course, Aracely and I opted for the hike.  Our hostel recommended a local kid to guide us with complete confidence.

We woke up the next morning and ate pupusas for breakfast, packed 2 liters of water and met our guide Tulio outside the hostel at 9:00am.  The hostel owner advised us that we could trek in sandals since the hike was brief and easy.  We didn’t wear boots, but we did choose something sturdier than sandals.  Aracely and I both strapped on our Teva hiking sandals instead and dressed in shorts and t-shirts.  We were told that at the foot of the lake was a tienda selling snacks and drinks, so it wasn’t necessary to pack any food.

7 Waterfalls Video Tour in El Salvador

Food Festival of Juayúa, El Salvador

Discover Alegría, El Salvador

Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador

As we walked away from the hostel, Tulio, our guide, began educating us on the history of Volcano Tecapa.  Coffee farms were plenty and we sucked on a few of the red ripe beans for energy, similar to the ways of the coffee harvesters.  The hike began slowly on easily traversed trails through coffee farms and then prairie landscapes as we neared the top of the volcano.  One of the most beautiful sites along the trail was the constant bright color from flower bushes and trees.  Once along the crater’s ridge we had several views down on the town of Alegría.  We crossed a radio tower patrolled by several military men and then turned left down into the crater via a vague trail.  It was 10:30am and our journey was about to begin.

We seemed to be following a trail for the first 30 minutes down the lush crater walls.  After that we were literally skiing down steep dirt slopes.  It was peculiar considering we were told we could hike in sandals.  A few slips on our butts and hands and the leisurely stroll quickly turned into an extremely difficult hike with no trails.  Our guide led the way with his dull wailing machete.  I laughed a few times and Aracely smiled; we were thrilled by the idea that this was a more challenging hike than we initially imagined.

Lost in a Volcano Crater

An hour after we descended into the crater Tulio alerts us that we are off the trail we intended to take.  He explained that the farmers must have covered the trail with brush or the trail had naturally overgrown.  I guess it’s not traveled much during the low season.  No worries, we were with a local guide.  We moved on searching for the trail that would lead us to the crater lake.  All volcano craters aren’t created equal and this one was covered in thick forest, steep rock walls and was of significant size.  The crater walls were filled with v-shaped valleys, so in order to traverse around the crater in a circle you needed to hike large ‘W’ patterns along the crater walls to avoid the steep cliffs.  During our search we passed grazing horses and cows.  It’s hard to image how thick the forest was considering I just mentioned animals were grazing, but I assure you, I was as stunned as you are reading this.  We continued hiking and it soon became apparent to Aracely and I that Tulio was lost.  Our smiles disappeared, our stomachs growled of hunger and we began to question our guides’ next steps.

It was 12:30pm; we should have arrived at the lake at 11:00am.  We had finished 1 liter of water already, not expecting to hike long.  The trek had become so dangerous that for the first time I was scared not only for Aracely, but for myself.  I couldn’t handle the feeling of being scared and I started to become very frustrated.  Tulio climbed 10 meters up a tree to orient himself with the crater.  He was wearing a pair of jeans and worn through Vans and only carried 1 liter of water.  Looking for the power lines from the radio station that stood atop the crater, Tulio shouted to us that it was only 30 minutes to the power lines and then we can start over on the correct trail.  We faithfully followed his lead, traversing the crater’s walls to the power lines.

Falling & Slipping

I stepped on a log that collapsed like a booby trap and covered my boot in termite infested wood dust.  A black scorpion grazed my hand as I cleared some dirt off a rock for gripping.  Tulio said we were lucky the snakes weren’t out today, because they are extremely poisonous; I was pleased to know that the scorpions were not.  Our Teva hiking sandals were not meant for this hike.  We constantly had to remove them to shake out the dirt and rocks caught between our feet and the sandal’s bottom.  I haven’t figured out what these overly engineered sandals are designed for, besides walking around town.  Even in rivers they seem to trap every little pebble.  Long pants would have also been a great benefit, since thorns gave us cuts and scraps on our legs.  More important than all those luxuries is the need for food and water.  My energy was draining quickly.  We hadn’t eaten in over 5 hours and we stopped drinking our remaining water for fear of not getting out of the forest before the sun set at 5:30pm.

An hour after we began to look for power lines, Tulio, using his cellular phone, called the hostel for advice.  Aracely listened in on the conversation.  He was clearly lost and they couldn’t help him much considering he didn’t know where he was.  I feared Tulio was still trying to get to the lake.  At this point, I wanted out of the forest and didn’t care about the lake at all.  Tulio knew we were upset and he was too.  He kept quiet.  Most frustrating for us was the fact that Tulio did not know this mountain.  I asked Aracely to explain to Tulio that we wanted off the mountain as quickly as possible.  Unfortunately, he was still trying to get us down the crater, so we quickly switched directions and headed straight up.  After 15 minutes we ran into thick bush that we couldn’t get through.  We backtracked, then went up again in a different direction.  This time we scaled a rock wall that tested my rock climbing ability.  I made it, paused and told Aracely we are not going to do anything like that again.  It was too dangerous and getting hurt on this mountain would only make the situation worse.

No Way Out of Laguna de Alegría

We continuously ran into obstacles and couldn’t climb straight up out of the crater.  Tulio received a phone call from the hostel and they recommended he circle back around the inside of the crater, from where we began and search for a road the locals use connecting the towns of Alegría and Santiago de Maria.  That meant it would take another 2 hours possibly to go back in the same direction we came from.  We began to make the journey.  It was now 2:00pm and we were becoming mentally drained.  The hike back was just as difficult, because we couldn’t find the path we had cut initially.  I was carrying Aracely’s backpack at this point and we kept the two water bottles in the side pockets.  During a muddy ascent up a steep wall, one of the bottles fell out.  I decided to take off the backpack and attempt to recover it.  Once I reached the bottle, I realized I needed both hands to scale back up the muddy slope.  Tulio had climbed half way down to where I was so I threw him the bottle.  It was a bad choice.  I should have put the bottle in my shirt.  My throw was short and the bottle fell again, this time farther, to unknown bottom.  Tulio adamantly offered to retrieve it, but I insisted he not.  I know he felt bad about the situation, but it wasn’t worth putting our selves in danger again.  The bottle stayed.  As I climbed back up and grabbed the backpack again I realized it had an 8-inch slice through the main compartment.  The thorns must have cut right through it as it scraped the hedges we crawled under.

After hiking another hour we reached a road!  It was a great feeling of relief and a sure sign we weren’t spending the night on the volcano.  Confidently, we marched down the road to what I believed was going to eventually be the lake.  We came to a few crossroads and our guide hesitantly chose a direction and we went with it.  After only 30 minutes walking along the cobblestone winding road, our guide began to knock on the metals doors of some rural dwellings.  To help put it into perspective, these were extremely primitive huts where peasant families lived on the volcano surrounded by thick forest.  The doors granted access to their property and were sometimes far from the actual house.  There were no answers to our knocks.  We were still lost.

We walked for several kilometers up and down steep grades, passing locals carrying water and wood to their homes on cattle and horses.  I had reached total exhaustion and sat on the road for a rest.  It was clear to me that we needed to collect fruit for the night.  I asked Aracely to communicate to Tulio our need for food and water for the evening.  By his reaction, it appeared that Tulio still felt confident we were going to make it out before dusk.  It was 3:30pm and the sun would be setting in 2 hours.  Our guide stopped as we neared some drum playing in the distance.  Seizing the opportunity to rest, I sat on the road again.  This is not a road traveled by vehicles so there is no risk of being run over.  After speaking with some locals passing by Tulio informed us that we were close to a neighboring city of Alegría, named Santiago de Maria.  Aracely asked if there were buses in Santiago de Maria that we could take to Alegría.  The local responded yes.  This was it… a way out.  As the locals left, Aracely and I were already walking to the next town.  Tulio halted us and explained that the drums in the background came from the homes of bandits.  This was a gut wrenching feeling.  He gave us the choice of walking through the neighborhoods of bandits, risking losing our camcorder and SLR camera and our safety, or heading in the other direction towards what should be Alegría.  Aracely was willing to make the short hike to Santiago de Maria to ensure we escape the volcano before dusk, but I wasn’t comfortable risking our safety and equipment.  I would rather sleep on the volcano than knowingly risk her safety.  Tulio didn’t want to take us the route of the bandits either and was relieved we decided to return in the direction we came.

No Food or Water

As we walked uphill heading to one of the first crossroads we encountered while hiking on the road, Aracely and I continually fell behind Tulio, struggling to maintain enough energy.  After passing fruit trees earlier in the hike, I couldn’t believe there was none to be found when we needed it most.  We arrived at the crossroad and headed down a new route; this time through a locals property with their permission.  She explained that Alegría was about 3 kilometers away and a difficult walk.  A hint of hope began to emerge amongst us.  Tulio was able to find a local to provide him some water, but unfortunately for Aracely and I, we couldn’t risk drinking the local water for fear of getting ill.  It was 4:00pm and Tulio shouts to us that we have arrived.  Arrived at what, we thought.  The area seemed no different than the last 2 hours, with no town in sight.  More specifically, he knew the road, and knew we would make it off the volcano before dusk.  Relieved, we all dropped the large rocks we had been carrying for defense.  30 minutes later, we arrived at the entrance to the crater lake and the tienda for drinks and snacks.  We ordered two sugar drinks and three waters to share between the three of us.  My body changed immediately.  You gain a strong understanding of the importance of food and water during extreme activity.  After regaining strength and mental motivation we told Tulio we had no desire to visit the lake today, we just wanted to get home.

A Hike for Another Day

Along the road back to Alegría, we purchased three oranges from a local girl and savored the sweetness of comfort.  Comfort knowing our challenges were done for the day and no one was injured. We arrived home at 4:45pm, 45 minutes before dusk.  We would return the next day to experience the sulfur lake, known as Laguna de Alegría, minus the 7.5-hour hike.

The adrenaline was high and the scenery was incredible during our jet ski tour in Miami Beach, Florida. Biscayne Bay, Port of Miami and Fisher Island were our stops in this short Travel Video from Jason and Aracely of 2Backpackers.com. Enjoy the show!

Culture and art is best represented in Central America by the old American school buses that have customized and painted in glaring colors. The art on these buses is taken seriously and those details are captured well in this short Travel Video from Jason and Aracely of 2Backpackers.com. Enjoy the show!

Photo Contributors: @travelvice & @ImPedrovski

Old American School Bus

Front Grill of Old American BlueBird School Bus from Antigua, Guatemala

As a kid growing up in the USA, I, like the majority of the student population, rode a big yellow bus to school every morning.  Back then, never did I imagine that later in life I would be making my way down Central America in that same type of transportation.  Only this time, the colors and creative modifications of the bus are kaleidoscopical.

Old American school buses, affectionately referred to as “Chicken Buses,” are the primary mode of transportation throughout all of Central America.  Depending on what kind of traveler you are, you either avoid them or take advantage of them whenever possible.  In our case, Jason and I have a love hate relationship with the chicken buses.  We love them because they are cheap, just as uncomfortable as a tourist shuttle, safe and we get to experience the culture of a country up close and personal.

Cheap Local Transportation

First, let’s talk numbers.  As a concrete example, we spent $33.70 between the two of us on transportation from the entrance of the Salvadorian boarder to the entrance of the Honduran border, which is approximately 228 miles.  In comparison, while in Guatemala, we often traveled in tourist shuttles, with the exception of getting from Monterrico Beach to the boarder of El Salvador.  Only focusing on our trip from Antigua to Panajachel to Semuc Champey, which is about 164 miles, we spent $69.22 in total.  That’s a $35.52 savings and an additional 64 miles distance for riding the local buses.  That’s the value of two nights in a hostel and a meal.  This is what budget travel is about, finding the cheapest alternative.

Little Comfort

A Crowded Bus in Colon, Panama

Second, each time we hopped in a tourist shuttle we were just as cramped, if not more than on a chicken bus.   These transportation companies are definitely not concerned with the comfort level of their passengers.  They will squeeze 5 of us into a 3 seat row bench and most either don’t have or don’t use air conditioner during the 8 hour journey.  Furthermore, if the road conditions are bad, unless you’re in a Mercedes-Benz S-class, your ride will be bumpy on both a chicken bus and a shuttle.

Safety on Buses

Backpacks Stored on a Bus in Central America

Then there is safety.  I have read many chicken bus theft stories on multiple web forums and I am grateful that Jason and I have yet to experience anything like that.  But, I must say that thus far, we have felt extremely safe on the road.  We even prefer the buses over taxis; I guess we just feel more safe in numbers.  Our bags are usually right next to us, near us or in plain view of us.  We do practice precaution and try to be aware of our belongings and surroundings and we carry a money belt for cash, passports and credit cards.  I know that we can’t control every situation and the possibility exists of getting our things stolen, but if we allowed negative possibilities to dictate our life we wouldn’t be traveling in these foreign countries in the first place.

Local Culture on Buses

Finally, riding on a chicken bus is a unique way to experience the true culture.  As I mentioned, this is the primary and daily mode of transportation for locals.  These buses stop everywhere, and frequently, which adds additional time to your journey.  The system acts like veins in a body, connecting the tiniest isolated town to the rest of the country.  To get from one location to the next, depending on how far you want to go, you may have to make several transfers, but it could potentially be the same story with the tourist shuttles.  Everyone rides them including school children, farm workers, teachers, market and street vendors, all making their way to the populous cities.  From what I’ve seen, people transport just about everything on the buses, and I’m convinced they are essential to the economy of these countries. Without these old American school buses, I am guessing 90% of the population wouldn’t go anywhere, since owning a vehicle is a luxury only the wealthy enjoy.

Entertainment on Buses

There is also an entertainment value to the whole experience to be quite frank.  In each bus there is usually a driver and a conductor.  The conductor collects the fares,  helps passengers with their carry on baggage, and hangs off the side of the bus yelling the bus route to everyone passing by.  He also skillfully gets on and off at each stop while the bus is still in motion to help anyone that may need it.   The baggage brought on the buses is anything from a sack of coffee, fruits and vegetables, chickens and anything else that can be sold at a market.  Chicken buses are also habitually visited by street vendors who will ride the bus to the next stop or town while they push their merchandise onto a captive audience.  They are selling everything from beauty product to snacks and cold drinks, and even entire meals consisting of rice, chicken and tortillas, all of which are served in a small plastic bags. The vendors are of all ages from very young children to elder men and women; all are very persistent and persuasive.  When the bus is crammed with people standing in the aisle, the vendors will artfully weave their way down the aisle to offer their products to every person on board.

Love Them & Hate Them

As you might have guessed, I’m an advocate for the chicken buses, but I did mention that Jason and I have a love hate relationship with them.  Hate, because it can be hard work lugging our heavy bags on and off at each connection point.  It’s tiring, hot, uncomfortable and you will definitely feel a sense of culture shock. That said, be forewarned, it’s definitely not for everyone.  If you can spare the cash, you may opt for the tourist shuttles, but don’t expect space or comfort.  If you can spare a little more time, all you need is a little patience and an open mind and you will be guaranteed an adventure on every chicken bus ride.

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We search for a taste of armadillo this weekend in this travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Juayúa, El Salvador.  In travel video episode #12, we join our friends from Norway, to experience the Juayúa weekend food festival. Enjoy the show!

We had just recently finished our 7 Waterfalls Tour in Juayúa and couldn’t believe there was even more to enjoy in this small town surrounded by coffee plantations.

Juayúa, El Salvador

Juayúa was clearly our favorite town in El Salvador. It was small and surrounded by jungle, but it had personality. Maybe that’s because crowds spilled out of the bars during the World Cup Soccer matches, or the live bands entertaining us at night or probably just the awesome weekend food festival. Yea, I think that sealed the deal for us.

Chorizo and Longaniza

Chorizo and longaniza dominate the outdoor grills, and their taste earns them top billing at the festival. The flavors explode as the soft sausage crumbles in your mouth. As expected in El Salvador, tortillas come with your meals.

Juayúa Food Festival courtesy of Pedro & Marita

Rumor had spread that it was possible to eat armadillo at the festival. We searched long and hard to find the rare meat. I was up for the taste test, but Aracely wasn’t having any. Watch the video to see the outcome.

Beer Gardens & Marching Bands

Beer gardens were loud and full of party goers, while the streets surrounding the plaza where pounding with drums as local school bands marched in competition. The food, bands and drunkenness on the streets was enough to keep you entertained the entire weekend.

Juayúa Food Festival courtesy of Pedro & Marita

Marching Bands in Juayúa, El Salvador

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Enjoy hiking in the El Salvador jungle, through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Juayúa, El Salvador.  In travel video episode #11, we trek through muddy, wet slopes just outside of Juayúa to enjoy lunch, waterfalls and crazy cliff diving. Enjoy the show!

Travel El Salvador

When we decided to begin our journey in Central America, El Salvador was the country we decided to avoid. The decision was not based on any specific reason, we simply preferred a more direct route south and planned to travel from Guatemala to Honduras to Nicaragua and onwards. However, with Honduras’ political instability, which was causing some border issues, we decided to take a detour through El Salvador instead.

Juayúa, El Salvador

Small towns and villages in El Salvador surprised us with their cleanliness, friendly people and active community events. Juayúa was the highlight with its weekend food festival, colorful street buildings and amazing surrounding landscapes and towns. If you enjoy coffee plantations, Juayúa is a great base to visit nearby towns to tour and taste coffee beans.

Hostels in Juayúa

Our style of travel thus far has been extremely spontaneous; we do the research of where we are going the day before we get there. It has worked out well so far. As usual, we consulted our twitter followers and fellow travelers for their suggestions in El Salvador and they brought us to Hotel Anáhuac in Juayúa (don’t worry I still have some trouble pronouncing that myself). Once again, we’ve found a gem in an unexpected place.

Hotel Anáhuac in Juayua, El Salvador

Juayúa is located two and half hours from the west coastal Guatemalan border. It’s a small town in the Routa de las Flores (a compilation of picturesque towns) with much local charm and is most widely known for their weekend food fair. The hotel is perfect: it’s very clean, has a gorgeous open courtyard filled with tropical plants, and the walls of the room display varying local art. Anáhuac also provides walking and adventure tours to neighboring natural attractions, one of them was the 7 Waterfalls, which we eagerly signed up for.

Iglesia Juayúa, El Salvador / Juayua Church

7 Waterfalls Tour

Our guide, Mario, met us at Hotel Anáhuac at eight in the morning. He led us through the empty Spanish streets of town towards its outskirts where we would begin to find our way into the thick forest. Before the hike began we stopped at Mario’s house which was at the foot of our hike. Mario and his family live in a small structure built with metal roofing and wooden logs. His brother and five dogs accompanied us on our trek.

7 Waterfalls Tour in Juayua, El Salvador

Coffee Plantations

As we made our way up the path to 7 Waterfalls Mario explained the different plants and vegetation. During our hike we encountered large El Salvador coffee plantations where we learned about cultivating coffee and how elevation increases a coffee’s grade. Mario told us that most of El Salvador’s high quality coffee is exported elsewhere in the world. Only the lowest grade of coffee stays in the country.
Previous hikes have had at a minimum wooden steps or rock laid into steps to reduce difficulty and risks. On this hike not one single portion of the trail is built up and it’s not well maintained. There are large branches to climb over, thorn filled trees to duck under, rivers to cross, rocks to hop over, and waterfalls to repel down from. The reward was majestic views of nature in its purest form.

Waterfall Nature Pictures

Once we arrived at the top of the mountain there was yet another large wall of waterfalls that fed a pool of fresh water where we swam. This area was popular for the locals to picnic, however we never passed any along our hike. We assume they take a different trek. Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of trash around the swimming area. Mario explained the cultural challenge of changing this problematic behavior. Of course, since Mario benefits from tourism in El Salvador directly, he is able to see the benefit of a cleaner environment. We all enjoyed fresh sandwiches filled with tomatoes, onions, avocado, eggs and salt and pepper. They were probably some of the most refreshing simple subs we have ever had.

Chorros de Calera - 7 Waterfalls Tour in Juayua, El Salvador

Ultimate Adventure Tour

As we ate, the local families were jumping from rocky cliffs into the water. Jason eyed the possibility of jumping from the waterfall. Mario escorted him up to a rock that stood out slightly from the wall. He jumped and softly hit the sand in the bottom of the pool. It was only about 9-10ft deep and the area that was safe to jump in was considerably small. Next, Mario climbed another 2.5 meters up the wall and dove head first into the shallow pool. As he entered the water he curled his body immediately to avoid being paralyzed. It was very impressive.

Stick Insect up Close

Water Channel Tunnels

Along the hike Mario also explained to us that there were tunnels or caves we could explore. Once at the pools we realized they were man made tunnels bored for sending the water to a hydro station. At first I was up for it, but when we got to the opening of the tunnel and I watched Mario go in first, I decided to back out. It was very dark, the water came to his shoulders and there was hardly any head room. I knew Jason wanted to do it; I told him I would wait for them at the opening. After they returned and heard about their adventure, I was jealous.

Mario Taking Our Portrait at the Largest Waterfall in Juayua, El Salvador

Just as we began to pack up for our return, clouds rushed into the valley at our elevation and suddenly we were engulfed in clouds full of mist. The scene of the clouds squeezing into the valley seemed very Jurasic Park. It wasn’t a slow process, the clouds came in fast at five miles per hour. I still carry this scene in my mind. We could hear heavy rain hitting the leaves of all the trees in the valley, but we didn’t see or feel any on us. I can only assume it was raining below. We arrived back at Mario’s home where he changed again into jeans and a clean shirt to walk us back through town to our hostel. You won’t find any locals wearing shorts in the streets of El Salvador. The rain did catch up to us during our walk back through town, but it felt simply refreshing.

A Challenging Hike

Although we’ve already been on a few hikes during this trip, the hike to the 7 Waterfalls in Juayua was still unique due to its primitive trails, abundance of rivers and waterfalls and varying terrain. The trek was not difficult from an endurance perspective, but it was a hike that required a lot of focus and caution. It’s muddy, wet, slippery, itchy and wonderfully adventurous. Juayua is a must see in El Salvador, and the 7 Waterfalls hike is their hidden gem.

Weekend Festival in Juayua, El Salvador

How Can You Help?

When Mario isn’t conducting tours to the Seven Waterfalls he is looking for work doing odd jobs in construction, harvesting and anything else he can find. We kept him busy over the next few days, since we highly recommended the tour to every traveler that wandered into the hostel. We booked the tour through the hostel, but you can book the 7 waterfalls tour by contacting Mario’s family directly, providing his family greater income. If you plan to book directly, then please send an email well in advance (doesn’t have access to a computer daily) to douglas.martinez1203(at)gmail.com. I set up an email account for them and taught them how to access their mail. Mario and his brothers William and Douglas were the kindest of people and we encourage you to enjoy their tours and friendship. They speak Spanish only, so please email in Spanish as well.

Image By Jeff Dahl

Neglected in favor of the big game and wild landscapes of East and Southern Africa, West Africa sits largely untouched.  Most travelers will never meet the friendly people of Ghana or hear the mind altering melodies of Mali’s Wassoulou music.  I am on a crusade to change this.  My sales pitch comes in the form of 10 jaw-dropping videos and songs.  Listen to the soulful melodies and explosive polyrhythms of an overlooked region.  If these tunes don’t convince you to visit, I don’t know what will.

Amadou et Mariam (Mali) – “M’bifé”

This blind husband and wife couple from Mali produce some of the most gorgeous music on the planet.  This song and accompanying images will hypnotize you.

Fela Kuti (Nigeria) – “Don’t Gag me”

Fela Kuti was the father of Afrobeat, a polyrhythmic, funky adaptation of highlife music from Ghana.  This video is shot and narrated by Ginger Baker, the drummer from Cream who happened to collaborate with Fela in the 70′s.  Screaming saxophones, pouring rain, off the hook dancing – this is raw.

Nana Boroo (Ghana) – “Ahayede”

While the song and video production are clearly influenced by aspects of Western hip-hop and rap culture, the music is decidedly African.  This song combines elements of hiplife from Ghana with coupe-de-cale music from Cote D’Ivoire.  Listen closely and you will hear lyrics in French, English, and Twi, the language of the Ashanti people in Ghana.

Tiken Jah Facoly (Cote D’Ivoire) – “Ouvrez les Frontières”

Reggae was born in Jamaica, but it’s roots are African.  It is a genre that continues to make trips back and forth across the atlantic.  Tiken Jah, produces some of the most politically charged music on the continent.  A pan-Africanist, Tiken Jah sings about opening up foreign borders in this song.

Sir Victor Uwaifo (Nigeria) – “Ekassa 26”

Overshadowed by Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade, Sir Victor Uwaifo is not well known outside of Nigeria.  Listen to this track and you’ll understand why this is a shame.  If this song does not have you smiling, you may need medication.

Baaba Maal (Senegal) – “Allah Addu Jam”

Not much by way of imagery in this video, but the song itself is unreal.  I dare you to listen to the whole thing.  You will be rewarded with a drop of the beat and backing chorus that will send chills down your spine.

Ali Farka Toure (RIP) and Boubacar “KarKar” Traore (Mali) – “Diarabi”

Ali Farka was well known to prefer natural acoustic environments.  This song and video will blow you away.

Wulomei (Ghana) – “Meridian”

Ghanaian highlife meets the more traditional music of the coastal Ga people.  Elastic guitar, warm polyrhythms, and choral vocals.  Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a fishing village on the beach in Ghana.

Oumou Sangare (Mali) “Yala”

Oumou Sangare is a songstress from Wassoulou, an area south of Bamako.  This is the region of traditional Malian hunter’s music.  In the video, amazing photos of post-independence Mali taken by famous Malian photographer Malick Sidibe, and of course, Oumou Sangare’s soaring vocals.

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

his one is not a song, but it does have a lot of music in it.  It is the trailer for a documentary about the Refugee All Stars, a group of musicians that formed in refugee camps in Guinea during Sierra Leone’s Civil War.  Their story and music are incredible.

You can support many of these artists on Itunes, Amazon, or MondoMix, a world music site.  You can also travel to West Africa and really get to know this music, along with some of the friendliest people on earth.  Ultimately, this is what I hope you’ll do.

Feel free to share any of your favorite music from West Africa or Africa in general in the comments below!

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Enjoy Monterrico Beach Guatemala, through an HD adventure travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while traveling to the Pacific coast of Guatemala.  In travel video episode #10, we show you black volcanic beach sand, rough waves, baby turtles being released into the sea and a beautiful beach sunset. Enjoy the show!

Black Volcanic Sand Beach

Monterrico is located just two hours west of Antigua on the Pacific coast, but the elevation change is enough to make the temperature difference very noticeable; it increases approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Monterrico Beach Guatemala

Monterrico Hostels

We arrived to Johnny’s Place where we had reservations for 2 nights.   The hotel is set right on the beach with beautiful views from the bar, lounge and dining areas.  The coconut tree grounds are well kept with many hammocks surrounding the pools and beachfront lounges.   Monterrico Beach is mostly known for its black volcanic sand and sea turtle breeding program.   The sand is unique in color, but too hot to walk on during the day without sandals.

Johnny's Place Hostel / Hotel

Active Nightlife

The town of Monterrico is small, but doesn’t fall short of restaurants and dance clubs.  The beach is more visited by Guatemalans than tourists, which provides a more realistic glimpse into their culture.  We weren’t able to find Internet access in town, but it’s a beach and you should be there to relax anyway.   Several tour guides offer early morning canoe rides through the mangroves.

Monterrico Beach Main Street Plaza

Big Waves

The ocean waters were extremely rough during our visit, with 10-foot waves breaking in 2-foot deep water.   A steep decline on the beach leads to the water’s edge causing strong undertows, which make for dangerous swimming.   However, Jason loves the ocean and a challenge, so of course he dove right in. He actually conquered a few waves, but not without being pounded and tossed around a few times.

Jason Getting Crushed by Big Waves in the Ocean

Relaxing at the Monterrico Beach

Our 2 days in Monterrico were spent sitting by the bar, soaking up the sun and staring at the sea with drinks in hand.   After baking in the sun for a couple hours we would jump in the pool to cool off for a bit.  Then, we rested in the hammocks and walked the beach in the afternoons.

Soccer & Turtles

After the sand had cooled, local children and adults congregated in front of Johnny’s to play soccer and volleyball on the beach; they take it very seriously too.  Jason and I really enjoyed watching them play, and knew our place well, as spectators only.  

Children Playing Soccer on the Beach Sand

Baby Turtles Being Released on the Beach

For Budget Travelers

If you are on a budget then go to Monterrico Beach.   Guatemala is a cheap country in general and Monterrico is still underdeveloped for a beach town.   You won’t find nice tourist shops selling souvenirs, fancy restaurants or beachfront hotels.  Monterrico is a bare bones destination spot for locals from Antigua and Guatemala City.   Grab a plastic chair, order a Gallo beer and something to eat at the beer gardens that line the main paved avenue.   You can find cerviche being sold on the street and free bonfires outside bars late at night.

Monterrico Beach Sunset

Enjoy a stunning sunrise from Patagonia through a Travel Video from Jason and Aracely of TwoBackpackers.com. In Short Clip 3, we share the colorful skies surrounding the Torres del Paine towers changing as the sun rises. Enjoy the show!

The three towers stand as the icon of Patagonia Chile and attract tourists from all over the world. Some come to earn the right to watch the sunrise over the towers by trekking the complete Torres del Paine Circuit, while others come for one day only. The Torres del Paine National Park has something for everyone.

The full circuit can take up to 10 days and your experience is highly influenced by the weather which can make the trek exhausting.  Depending on the season, trekkers can face brutal, bone chilling winds as they make their way over John Gardner’s pass.  A more brief trek capturing the main highlights of the park, named the “W” is more common amongst hikers and avoids some of the more harsher conditions.

Regardless of how tourists make their way to the towers, all wish to find a magnificent sunrise like the one captured in this short video.  With unpredictable weather conditions you may find your self visiting for several mornings.  A climb up to the lookout in the dark can be the most rewarding sunrise you will ever experience.

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Enjoy Guatemala’s Independence Day as celebrated in Antigua, Guatemala through an HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani while visiting Antigua, Guatemala.  In travel video episode #9, we show you the school spirit as Guatemala marching bands from all the nearby schools march all over town culminating in a competition in the town plaza on Independence Day.  Enjoy the show!

Independence from Spain

During our visit to Antigua Guatemala, we were fortunate enough to experience the celebration of Guatemala’s independence from Spain on September 15th.  For weeks leading up to Independence Day, we were woken up by bands practicing from all the schools in town.  For schools it’s a time to shine and show their school’s spirit by being awarded the best band.

Celebrations start early and bands begin marching all throughout town strutting their stuff to the cadence of banging drums.  Eventually the marching bands make their way to the center of town and parade around the plaza in front of local judges.  It looked like a dance off with instruments as bands competed to out perform each other.

Guatemala Independence Day Celebrations in Antigua

Young kids run all around town blowing whistles as they carry the torch representing their independence from Spain.  This is a newer tradition that has caught on recently and continues to expand each year.

Several countries from Central America claimed their independence on the same day of September 15, 1821.

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Watch Jason get his first tattoo ever in Antigua, Guatemala in an HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Antigua, Guatemala.   In travel video episode #8, we both get some tattoo work done and introduce you to Mike from Antigua Tattoo, who creates tattoos for several of us from Basecamp Hostel. Enjoy the my first tattoo and my first tattoo video!

Antigua Tattoo

It’s stereotypical of backpackers to get a tattoo during their travels away from home.  I fulfilled that stereotype, but I had wanted this tattoo of a burning sun for the last 3 years.

I was in Antigua, Guatemala, the first stop on our 1 year travel journey.  After Aracely was feeling better, we both took the advice from those working at Base Camp Hostel and visited Mike, owner of Tatuaje Antigua (Antigua Tattoo).   Mike had been doing some incredible work on a multi-visit tattoo for Victor, who worked at the hostel we were staying at and we were impressed.  It was an easy decision to choose Antigua Tattoo.

Jason Getting His First Tattoo

Sun Tattoo

I knew I wanted a tattoo of a burning sun with the words, “Carpe Diem.”  The struggle would be making it look masculine enough to center between the shoulder blades below the neck.  I imagine the sun as all powerful for all of nature, including me.  The heat gives me energy and the ability to live life as exciting of a life as I can.   After making several sketches on my own, I presented the concept to Mike.  After a few days, Mike came back with an improved artistic design that Aracely and I both approved of.   I had expanded the words to include the phrase, “Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero” – “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.”   This was the entire phrase from the Latin poem by Horace.

Being my first tattoo, you would think I was a bit nervous, but considering Aracely already had one, a rose on the shoulder that she got when she was 18, I kept my manhood intact by showing no fear!

Mike finished the tattoo in 2 hours.  The results were perfect.  I got exactly what I was looking for, and now, coincidentally fit the backpackers stereotype.

Blue Rose Tattoo

The inking wasn’t done, however.  Aracely originally had her blue rose tattoo done when she was 18 and at the age of 27 it had become quite dull.  Mike took 10 minutes to redo the entire rose, and now it was colorful again.

We returned back to Base Camp Hostel with our warrior badges and shared our experiences with the other 3 that had recently been inked by Mike at Antigua Tattoo.

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We have joined the, “I got sick abroad” club. In this travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, we share Aracely’s story of getting sick in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. In travel video episode #7, we board a bus from Rio Dulce to Antigua, Guatemala, a major tourist town with better care options. We called our travel insurance provider and headed to the hospital. Enjoy the show!

Begins With a Fever

Aracely started feeling ill with a fever while we were visiting Rio Dulce, Guatemala. A fever is basically the start of any number of possible dreaded illnesses you can get in Central America.  Is it Malaria or Dengue?

Rio Dulce is not the most developed city, so she tried to wait out her sickness, hoping it was a short-term bug.  After 4 days of sweating and exhaustion, we decided to pack our backpacks and take an air-conditioned first class bus to Antigua, Guatemala.  Antigua is the main stay for tourists traveling into Guatemala and we felt confident we would find a good place to have Aracely checked out.  This was the first luxury bus we took while in Guatemala and at $8 USD each for a 6 hour bus ride, we actually considered it expensive!

Travelers Insurance

After arriving at Base Camp Hostel, we contacted our travelers insurance provider, World Nomads, for recommendations on emergency hospitals.  World Nomads put us on the phone with a nurse to first evaluate Aracely’s condition and then they suggested we go to Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro, a 24hr private hospital.

A Private Hospital

After wandering aimlessly in Antigua for 45 minutes we finally arrived at the clinic located near the Antigua bus terminal, towards the back of town.  It was on the complete opposite side of town than where our hostel was.

They immediately took Aracely’s temperature and recognized she had a high fever. She was placed in a private room she was submitted to multiple blood tests.  Aracely is not a fan of needles, so this was probably her worst moment.  They recommended we stay overnight, monitoring the fever as they kept her hydrated and gave her large doses of antibiotics.

Aracely Feeling Healthy in Antigua, Guatemala

After 24 hours, her fever had declined and her white blood cell count was back to normal.  Our care at Brother Pedro’s Private Hospital was top notch and the faculty was always very kind.  We submitted our bill to World Nomads and sure enough, the reimbursement process was seamless.

Thank you World Nomads Travel Insurance and Brother Pedro’s Private Hospital (Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro) for taking care of Aracely.