Finding the perfect place to eat has always been a double-edged sword. On one hand, I spend hours reading reviews, scrolling through menus, and overanalyzing Google ratings like it’s my job. On the other hand, I almost always end up at the best spots. So was it really wasted time? (Absolutely not.) Me and my…
Backpacking through Mexico and Central America is one of my greatest joys—and also one of the biggest pains in the ass. Last year, I went on a girls’ backpacking trip with some of my best friends. We knew we wanted to explore Quintana Roo, but then we saw this dreamy little island in Belize, Caye…
Caye Caulker seriously took me by surprise. A couple of my friends had visited and raved about it, so when my three girlfriends and I planned a three-week backpacking trip, we decided to spend a week on the island. Let me tell you—I will NEVER forget this trip. From the best snorkeling I’ve EVER done…
I’ve traveled to Amsterdam many times, it’s always fascinated me. It also happens to be one of the easiest cities to fly in and out of when traveling through Europe, so I’ve ended up spending quite a few weekends (and sometimes weeks) here. To me, Amsterdam is right up there with cities like Rome, London,…
Cusco is probably—no, definitely—the city where I’ve had some of the best food of my life. And honestly, that shouldn’t be surprising. Peruvian food is next level and probably the best in South America (just look at Lima with all its Michelin-star restaurants). I ended up spending about three weeks in Cusco across two trips….
Porto was one of my first solo trips ever, and let me tell you—I learned the hard way how much your location can impact your experience. The city may be small, but that doesn’t mean your neighborhood choice doesn’t matter. Sure, you can walk or hop on a tram, but isn’t it way easier when…
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve planned a trip, searched for itineraries, and found plenty of ideas—but none that fit exactly how I wanted to travel. Maybe it was too rushed, too slow, or just not my style. That’s why I’m putting together this Peru travel itinerary planner—not just a copy-paste itinerary, but…
One of my favorite colonial cities in Peru is Arequipa, but I’ve always felt like it gets way less attention than Cusco. Fair enough—Arequipa doesn’t have massive tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, the Sacred Valley, or Rainbow Mountain. But after spending over a week there, I can confidently say that Arequipa is…
Machu Picchu is for sure one of the best things I’ve done in South America, easily a highlight of my time in Peru. I’ve visited twice now, and honestly, my second trip was just as incredible as the first, even though both were completely different experiences. Figuring out how to get to Machu Picchu is…
Visiting Machu Picchu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, until it wasn’t. I actually ended up going again, kind of spontaneously. But I know that for most people, this is a one-and-done trip, which makes picking the best month to travel to Machu Picchu a big deal. And trust me, it matters. You basically get…