2 November 2009
We headed out to La Liberdad to check out El salvadors world famous surf beaches. All we found were some shit hole beaches covered in rubbish and pretty average surf, there were however some reasonable point breaks where surfers were getting some sweet rides.
Then we checked out Suchitoto a small town close to the capital. We checked out the lake and one of the waterfalls which it is famous for. Karen and I came down with some unkown diseases so we are recovering at the moment.
In the capital San Salvador which has a cool crazy vibe, with markets, churches and shops everywhere. Not a lot to do here so skipping the rest of the country and heading straight to Nicaragua.
Volcan de Santa Ana
30 October 2009
El Slavador has been a little more chilled out than the other countries. We have been staying in Santa Ana the past couple of days, a very nice kinda city with markets everywhere, and 3 shops on every block throughout the city offering a haircut for $1US
Headed up Santa Ana yesterday at 2365m. It last erupted in 2005 so most of the top was fresh rock with a steaming hot light green crater lake. Across a few km to the south was volcan de Izalco which was also smoking. Apparently a guy tried to climb the mountain 3 weeks ago and bandits hiding behind rocks robbed him at the first lookout(apparently happens everytime someone tries to climb it without a police escort)...........so we were stoked to have a guide and police escort on the 4hr return climb
El Slavador has been a little more chilled out than the other countries. We have been staying in Santa Ana the past couple of days, a very nice kinda city with markets everywhere, and 3 shops on every block throughout the city offering a haircut for $1US
Headed up Santa Ana yesterday at 2365m. It last erupted in 2005 so most of the top was fresh rock with a steaming hot light green crater lake. Across a few km to the south was volcan de Izalco which was also smoking. Apparently a guy tried to climb the mountain 3 weeks ago and bandits hiding behind rocks robbed him at the first lookout(apparently happens everytime someone tries to climb it without a police escort)...........so we were stoked to have a guide and police escort on the 4hr return climb
Stolen camera
27 October 2009
Im a bit guttered as my camera was stolen with 1/2 of the holiday pics on the sd card. Added to the $40 departure tax we left belize from Punta Corta by boat a bit pissed off.
After arriving in Puerto Barrios in Guatemala we hoped on a bus all the way down the coast to Chiquimula. It was a lot bigger than I remember when I passed through the 2nd day of my trip.
We had a good look arounf this lively town and laxed out with cable after 2 tiring days of travelling. We have released we are runnning out of time quick with only 5 weeks left so are heading to El Salvador tomorrow fro some more hot muggy weather.
Im a bit guttered as my camera was stolen with 1/2 of the holiday pics on the sd card. Added to the $40 departure tax we left belize from Punta Corta by boat a bit pissed off.
After arriving in Puerto Barrios in Guatemala we hoped on a bus all the way down the coast to Chiquimula. It was a lot bigger than I remember when I passed through the 2nd day of my trip.
We had a good look arounf this lively town and laxed out with cable after 2 tiring days of travelling. We have released we are runnning out of time quick with only 5 weeks left so are heading to El Salvador tomorrow fro some more hot muggy weather.
THE BLUE HOLE!!!!!!!!!!
25 October 2009
After lots of thought we decided to dive the blue hole, one of the most famous diving sites in the world. At sunrise we jumped on a boat for the 2hr ride to lighthouse reef, the whole way there flying fish were scooting along past the boat in the air, some as far as 20 metres. At the reef we dived straight down the lmestone wall to 40 metres to see these massive 2-6metre long stalitites just hanging there on the side of the limestone sink hole. This was my first time down that far and i felt really drunk, you could hear yourself breath and the water was so clear we could look all the way to the surface, it was such a surreal experience. Then out of nowhere all these reef sharks started circling us, i think I counted 10 at one stage as we started rising back to the surface.
The next couple of dives were completly different. We went through a 20metre cave full of tiny silver fish in a big school that darted everywhere as you got close, it was so incredible i didnt know what was up or down. We found lots of coral fish and some big stinkrays hidden in the sand. There were also barracudas, crazy crabs that looked like seaweed and octopuses.
At half moon bay we walked around the island marine reserve and saw hundreds od conch shells and birds (part of the island was a bird sanctuary).
Glad we did it as it was a wicked day out of diving, something i dont think i will see anywhere else in the world
After lots of thought we decided to dive the blue hole, one of the most famous diving sites in the world. At sunrise we jumped on a boat for the 2hr ride to lighthouse reef, the whole way there flying fish were scooting along past the boat in the air, some as far as 20 metres. At the reef we dived straight down the lmestone wall to 40 metres to see these massive 2-6metre long stalitites just hanging there on the side of the limestone sink hole. This was my first time down that far and i felt really drunk, you could hear yourself breath and the water was so clear we could look all the way to the surface, it was such a surreal experience. Then out of nowhere all these reef sharks started circling us, i think I counted 10 at one stage as we started rising back to the surface.
The next couple of dives were completly different. We went through a 20metre cave full of tiny silver fish in a big school that darted everywhere as you got close, it was so incredible i didnt know what was up or down. We found lots of coral fish and some big stinkrays hidden in the sand. There were also barracudas, crazy crabs that looked like seaweed and octopuses.
At half moon bay we walked around the island marine reserve and saw hundreds od conch shells and birds (part of the island was a bird sanctuary).
Glad we did it as it was a wicked day out of diving, something i dont think i will see anywhere else in the world
Spotting mantatees at Caye CAulker
24 October 2009
Belize city wasnt much to look at as we passed through briefly before we caught a ferry out to the island of Caye Caulker. It was strange going back to speaking english here as their national language and the people were not central american, rather carribean islanders.
We did a wicked snorkelling tour today where we swam with a mantatee (very endangered also known as a sea cow) it kind of just sat there and followed Karen as we snorkelled around it. The next spot we got up close to lots of stinkrays and sharks, followed by a snorkell site with heaps of green sea turtles, gropers and moray eels.
Belize city wasnt much to look at as we passed through briefly before we caught a ferry out to the island of Caye Caulker. It was strange going back to speaking english here as their national language and the people were not central american, rather carribean islanders.
We did a wicked snorkelling tour today where we swam with a mantatee (very endangered also known as a sea cow) it kind of just sat there and followed Karen as we snorkelled around it. The next spot we got up close to lots of stinkrays and sharks, followed by a snorkell site with heaps of green sea turtles, gropers and moray eels.
Tikau, best ruins in central america
22 October 2009
We made it to flores yesterday a small town on an island where we caught a 5am shuttle to tikau to check out the best ruins in central america. We treked through the jungles and saw spider monkeys, howler monkeys and even tocans in the trees. Ruins were everywhere, some towering above the jungle canopy to give a view for miles and miles. We heard stories of the sacrifing pyramids where they used to throw people down the temple stairs and stories of tourists falling to theor dealth down the steep scary to climb temples.
We will put some pics up when we can as words dont show how cool it was. Heading to belize tomorrow to the islands
We made it to flores yesterday a small town on an island where we caught a 5am shuttle to tikau to check out the best ruins in central america. We treked through the jungles and saw spider monkeys, howler monkeys and even tocans in the trees. Ruins were everywhere, some towering above the jungle canopy to give a view for miles and miles. We heard stories of the sacrifing pyramids where they used to throw people down the temple stairs and stories of tourists falling to theor dealth down the steep scary to climb temples.
We will put some pics up when we can as words dont show how cool it was. Heading to belize tomorrow to the islands
Bat caves in Lanquin, limestone pools Semuc Champey
21 October 2009
The 12 hours of travelling from mini bus, to mini bus on winding dirt roads by the time we made it to Lanquin. A very cool place hidden in the middle of a forest where we stayed in little huts by the river. Yesterday we checked out Semuc Champey, they swished us into the back of a pick up with 20 guatemalans for 9km up a windy dirt road until we got to these amazing limestone pools. There were really clean calm water pools to swim in where the river disappears underground and reappears 200m downstream.
Lanquin Caves was just as cool as we cruised with a guide around the limestone cave with a gas lantern checking out the formations and then waited at sunset as THOUSANDS of bats that live in the caves during the day flew out.
The 12 hours of travelling from mini bus, to mini bus on winding dirt roads by the time we made it to Lanquin. A very cool place hidden in the middle of a forest where we stayed in little huts by the river. Yesterday we checked out Semuc Champey, they swished us into the back of a pick up with 20 guatemalans for 9km up a windy dirt road until we got to these amazing limestone pools. There were really clean calm water pools to swim in where the river disappears underground and reappears 200m downstream.
Lanquin Caves was just as cool as we cruised with a guide around the limestone cave with a gas lantern checking out the formations and then waited at sunset as THOUSANDS of bats that live in the caves during the day flew out.
Huehuetenango
19 October 2009
It was time to head on and we made it to Huehuetenango a guatemalan town near tyhe border of mexico. It was cool being the only white people and being away from the tourist nagging. We checked out some ruins and then looked around town where they had a big show in the central park of dancing and music.
It was time to head on and we made it to Huehuetenango a guatemalan town near tyhe border of mexico. It was cool being the only white people and being away from the tourist nagging. We checked out some ruins and then looked around town where they had a big show in the central park of dancing and music.
Exploding Volcano SANTA MARIA
18 October 2009
The weather cleared up for us this weekend as we ventured up Volcan de Santa Maria a 3700m tall volcano 15 minutes out of Xela. We caught a shuttle at 4am and hiked the first couple of hours by torchlight. After a 4hr very steep climb we made the summit where we were just in time to see Volcan Santiaguito (sort of a vent of Santa Maria) erupting some massive smoke clouds. The view was amazing and clear and we saw all the way to mexico, the ocean and the other volcanoes. Volcan Fuego erupted several times in the distance and we saw all the way to Volcan de Tajumuclco which we climbed last weekend.
It i9s supposed to erupt every 1 1/2 hours so we hung out at the summit and waited for the next eruption of Santiguito. It blew up again twice in 45minutes and sent some more massive clouds and noises into the air.
It was one of the coolest things i have EVER SEEN being so close and seeing all the steam, smoke and rock fly into the air. We were talking to the guide who said if you cimb one of the neighbouring volcanoes it rains ash from this one.
The weather cleared up for us this weekend as we ventured up Volcan de Santa Maria a 3700m tall volcano 15 minutes out of Xela. We caught a shuttle at 4am and hiked the first couple of hours by torchlight. After a 4hr very steep climb we made the summit where we were just in time to see Volcan Santiaguito (sort of a vent of Santa Maria) erupting some massive smoke clouds. The view was amazing and clear and we saw all the way to mexico, the ocean and the other volcanoes. Volcan Fuego erupted several times in the distance and we saw all the way to Volcan de Tajumuclco which we climbed last weekend.
It i9s supposed to erupt every 1 1/2 hours so we hung out at the summit and waited for the next eruption of Santiguito. It blew up again twice in 45minutes and sent some more massive clouds and noises into the air.
It was one of the coolest things i have EVER SEEN being so close and seeing all the steam, smoke and rock fly into the air. We were talking to the guide who said if you cimb one of the neighbouring volcanoes it rains ash from this one.
Spanish lessons in Xela (Quetzeltenago)
14 October 2009
We started another week of spanish lessons here in Xela. Its a nice city surrounded by mountains with few tourists and so much more chilled out. We are staying with this older guatemalan lady with some other spanish students. Shes a great cook and our teachers are cool so we learning quick.
We walked up a hill for one of the afternoon activities. There was a wicked view of Xela and some mean long slides.
We started another week of spanish lessons here in Xela. Its a nice city surrounded by mountains with few tourists and so much more chilled out. We are staying with this older guatemalan lady with some other spanish students. Shes a great cook and our teachers are cool so we learning quick.
We walked up a hill for one of the afternoon activities. There was a wicked view of Xela and some mean long slides.
Highest mountain in Cental America
Lower reaches of the volcano
Just set up camp before the rain hit us
The rain and cloud came in and we didnt see much more than this all day
At the peak with the sun coming up
Use at the highest point
The sun came out for a few seconds on our decent
View from the camp site when the cloud cleared for a minute
12 October 2009
We got to Xela (Quetaltenengo) and decided we couldnt pass by without climbing Volcano de Tajumulco the highest in central america at 4220 metres. As soon as the bus arrived in Xela we found a cheap place to sleep and got some good zzzz´s for our mission up the mountain. We got a real guatemlan experience when we took a mini bus which at one stage had 23 PEOPLE jamed into it, yes i said 23 people, personal space and flat tyres are no issue for guatemalans.
After 3 hours of buses we started to climb 3 hours to 4000metres where we set up camp. It wasnt long until the THICK cloud set in and it started pissing down. The temperature dropped to like 3 degrees and we sat in the tent playing cards. We got up for a couple of hours before bed for a fire (I have no idea how our guides lit it in cloud with so little oxygen)and were able to roast some marshmallows.
That night we wore every bit of clothing as it dropped below 0 degrees. At 4am we started our hike to the summit for sunrise, it was a slow trek under the moon light as one of the guys got altitude sickness. At the summit we could see the lights some 17kms away on the mexico border. But just before the sun came up above the clouds some massive thick clouds swept through and it stayed like that the rest of the day for our descent.
It was a bit disappointing as we didnt get to see the lineup of all the 5 volcanoes in the area so we are hoping for some good weather after our language classes on saturday when we try to climb Volcan de Santa Maria.
Our first paraglide
View from the takeoff, you can see the rough water in the back of the lake which was wind which we had to wait for
Karen all kitted up in the gears
In the air on a big thermal
The chute
10 October 2009
Karen and I decided we needed to get adventurious and go paragliding. The weather conditions were playing up a bit so we stayed an extra day in Panajachel to see if it would get better. Karen had a shit ride as her guide took her across the mountain in search of thermals that didnt exist. My guide was onto it and the thermals rockeded us a couple of hundred metres above the take off cliff. The view was amazing and we did some cool acrobatics with some strong g´s.
We had a huge mission in the camonette (chicken bus´s) getting to Xela as we turned up late and then it rained with our packs on the roof.
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