by Zachary Houtenville | May 8, 2025 | TREK TALKS
Basílica Catherdal found in the main square of Arequipa. I strolled into Arequipa, my first stop in Peru, after a long journey up from San Pedro de Atacama—officially marking the end of my solo travels. Out of all the countries I hit, I probably missed more cool...
by Zachary Houtenville | Apr 24, 2025 | TREK TALKS
View of Quito from Secret Garden Hostel. Ecuador is a country blessed with some of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever encountered. As soon as you cross the border from Colombia, you’re immediately met with a stunning array of mountain ranges and towering...
by Zachary Houtenville | Jan 14, 2025 | TREK TALKS
La Carbonera Valley in Salento, Colombia. Who goes to Colombia without diving into its coffee culture? I mean, Colombian coffee is practically legendary—I’ve known about it since I was a kid. So naturally, we made our way to Salento, the unofficial coffee capital of...
by Zachary Houtenville | Jan 9, 2025 | Travel Tales
The bus…. before they added 20 more people From the start of this trip, I knew transportation was going to be both fascinating and downright horrific. Southeast Asia was a slog to navigate, and compared to trekking across South America, it’s relatively tiny. And...
