Destination: the Center for Extreme Art (Eduardo Moscoso Prohibito Centro Cultural Arte Extremo) – Cuenca, Ecuador (NSFW)

by Chris | Oct 10, 2016 | Bizarre, Ecuador |

Combine a Trick Art Museum and H.R. Giger’s horrifically awesome world, and you might have something like the weirdest place in Ecuador. Might go without saying, but this one is NSFW and not for the squeamish.  Hidden on the outskirts of Cuenca’s touristy...

Forget about Machu Picchu. Go on this one-day Cusco Archeological Tour, a cheaper and better version of the ‘Incan trail’

by Chris | Oct 5, 2016 | Peru, Unique |

Saqsaywaman, Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay – oh my. Cusco, Peru is best known as the gateway to Machu Picchu, that seemingly exotic and horrendously overpriced destination I’ll probably never visit. This is One Weird Globe, however, which means I’m...

Destination: the bizarre catacombs of Enrique Torres Belon (Lampa, Peru)

by Chris | Oct 3, 2016 | Bizarre, Peru |

This daytrip from Lake Titicaca is about as offbeat as you can get. Despite being relatively close to the world-famous Lake Titicaca, Lampa, Peru is not where you’d expect to find a grand old colonial church or a freaky collection of skeletons. And yet, here...

Where To Go Instead: 9 Famous Places and their Better Alternatives

by Chris | Sep 14, 2016 | Ecuador, Egypt, Seoul, Spain, Tunisia |

Some well-known places are genuinely wonderful. Some just have a good marketing team. Here are nine lesser-known places to check out and have a better time for less money or hassle. Go on, admit it – part of the reason you might travel to a place is to say...

Destination: the Larco museum, the museum with the ancient Peruvian erotic pots (NSFW)

by Chris | Sep 12, 2016 | Bizarre, Peru, Quirky |

Home to the country’s finest collection of Pre-Colombian pots – and some naughty / NSFW works that make it worth the trip. Named after Rafael Larco Hoyle (1901-1966), the collection houses 45,000 pieces in all in a former mansion. It’s easily one of the...

Destination: the equator – and our search to find the middle of the earth in Ecuador

by Chris | Sep 5, 2016 | Ecuador, Quirky |

The country is named after it, after all. With the equator being so close to Quito, we couldn’t help but take in a couple of sites dedicated to it – and naturally, there’s a twist to them. We start the story at the Mitad del Mundo just outside of...

Question from a reader: staying safe in South America

by Chris | Sep 2, 2016 | Places, Questions from readers, South America, Tips |

A friend and reader I’ll call T.D. writes in: I’ve read some almost unbelievable stories on those Quito and Cuenca FB groups regarding what seems to be rampant petty crime, and more. You’re an extensive traveler and I know you’re savvy (and...

Destination: Bogota Police Museum – with our very own police guide!

by Chris | Aug 22, 2016 | Colombia, Quirky |

One of several mainstream but fascinating attractions around Bogota, the Bogota Police Museum (Palacio Museo Histórico de la Policía Nacional) offers up a look at Pablo Escobar’s last hours and a number of other ongoing law enforcement efforts. Although no...

Random pictures: the ‘Nazca lines’ edition

by Chris | Jul 29, 2016 | Peru, Random pictures |

The good ‘ol Nazca lines are best seen by air – but rough, expensive flights aren’t for everyone. Sure, they’re a UNESCO World Heritage site, and they’re one of the few things to see while in this part of southern Peru. You don’t have to...

Destination: Puno, Peru – Lake Titicaca, a temple of penises, and ancient burial towers

by Chris | Jul 22, 2016 | Peru, Quirky | 1 comment

As part of our recent trip through Peru, we took in a city better known by its most famous geographical feature: Lake Titicaca. We didn’t stop there, naturally. Puno holds the world’s highest navigable lake, which also shares a border with Bolivia...