Machu Picchu
Salkantay Trek • November 20th–24th
On May 20th, I left Cusco with a backpack full of snacks, questionable confidence, and the goal of reaching one of the wonders of the world by foot. I chose the 4-day Salkantay trek and the adventure started immediately.
Day 1 took us to the unreal turquoise waters of Humantay Lake. By nightfall, we were tucked into tiny mountain bungalows—cold, cozy, and completely disconnected from the world.
Day 2 began in the dark at 4:30 a.m., headlamps on and legs not fully awake. The climb to the Salkantay Pass 4,650 meters above sea level was brutal and breathtaking all at once. Twenty-two kilometers later, we stumbled into our star domes, where we spent the evening watching the mountains fade into the night sky.
Day 3 started with another early wake-up call (5 a.m. my body forgot what sleeping in was). We visited a small coffee farm, tasted the freshest coffee of my life, and then walked 10 km along the train tracks leading to Aguas Calientes. Jungle, rivers, cliffs straight out of a movie.
Day 4, the final push, had us up again at 4 a.m. for the main event: Machu Picchu. At first it was completely hidden nothing but thick, stubborn clouds. But eventually, slowly, the mist peeled back and there it was. A glimpse of the ancient city that made every sore muscle worth it.
The hike down? Pouring rain. Soaked shoes. Zero regrets.
Four days, countless blisters, endless views, and one unforgettable reminder of why I chase moments like these.
The Amazon — Bolivia Pampas
November 12–16
After a grueling, sweaty 14-hour bus ride from La Paz to Rurrenabaque, we finally tumbled out into the edge of the Amazon exhausted, sticky, and instantly swarmed by mosquitos. The real adventure was about to begin: three days on the Pampas and two days deep in the jungle. The question was… would we survive?
The Pampas were wild in the best way. We drifted down the river past sunbathing caimans, tiny mischievous monkeys, and more birds than I could ever name. We actually swam with pink dolphins… and caimans… and piranhas. Turns of the caimans where vegetarian that day!
Then it was time for the jungle, which felt like stepping into full survival mode. We hiked three hours into thick, humid forest to reach our “accommodation” a dirt patch that doubled as our bedroom.
By the time we escaped, we were completely covered in mosquito bites, absolutely exhausted… and somehow still smiling.
Because despite the chaos, the heat, and the bugs the Amazon was unforgettable.
Huayna Potosí
November 6th–8th
A three-day, two-night adventure designed to test every ounce of your mental and physical strength. Huayna Potosí is a technical 6,088-meter mountain climb.
Day One — Base Camp
You arrive at base camp, perched at 4,700m above sea level. The entire day is dedicated to adjusting to the altitude and learning essential glacier skills: ice axe work, crampon steps, and self-arrest techniques. Standing on the glacier for the first time feels surreal.
Day Two — High Camp
A slow, steady morning eases you into a two-hour uphill hike to high camp at 5,200m. Here, the world feels quieter, thinner, almost weightless. Dinner is served at 6 p.m., and then you attempt to sleep. But truthfully, almost no one sleeps. The altitude presses on your chest, and your mind races with equal parts doubt and excitement.
Day Three — Summit Day
The day begins in the dead of night with a 12:30 a.m. wake-up call. If you’re lucky, you’ll manage a bite of breakfast. I wasn’t I woke up nauseous and immediately threw up whatever was left of last night’s dinner.
At 1 a.m., the ascent begins. Step by step, inch by inch. A burning in your chest. Breath that never feels like enough. Silence except for crampons biting into ice and the distant wind.
And then, after hours of pushing beyond every limit you thought you had, the summit appears.
I have never felt so proud of myself.
Uyuni
October 25th–27th
An incredible three-day, two-night adventure that begins in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, and end in Uyuni, Bolivia.
Day One — Crossing Into Bolivia
We were picked up before sunrise to beat the long line at the border. As an American traveling on a subclass visa, I was terrified something would be wrong with my paperwork but everything went smoothly. No stress. Just like that, I was officially in my 20th country!
The day unfolded with stops at stunning high-altitude lagoons, flocks of vibrant flamingos, and naturally heated hot springs. That night we slept in a hotel made entirely of salt walls, floors, furniture… everything. It sounds strange, but it was honestly one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed.
Day Two — The Rock Day
I’ll be honest—this was my least favorite day. We spent most of the day looking at different rock formations. Interesting? Yes. But compared to salt hotels and flamingo-filled lagoons… definitely the slowest day of the trip.
Day Three — Sunrise & Salt Flats
A bright and early wake-up call brought us to the top of Cactus Mountain to watch the sunrise spill over the world’s largest salt flats. The Salar de Uyuni looked endless just white stretching to every horizon.
We took the classic funny salt-flat photos (you have to), soaked in the surreal landscape a little longer, and wrapped up the trip feeling sunburned, salty, tired… and completely amazed.
Patagonia
October 6th–16th
I spent ten days exploring everything Patagonia had to offer crossing into Chile, hopping back into Argentina, and chasing the landscapes I’d dreamed of for years. But like most adventures, it didn’t unfold exactly as planned.
Snowstorms swept in and forced us to rethink every itinerary we tried to make. Stubborn clouds clung to the mountains, hiding the peaks we had traveled so far to see. Some days felt like a test of patience, wondering if the famous views would ever reveal themselves.
But the magic of Patagonia wasn’t lost.
Not even close.
The hikes were filled with good company new friends from the hostel, conversations that made the miles pass faster, and laughter echoing through the cold air. We played games during long treks, shared snacks, swapped stories, and never once stopped appreciating the wild beauty around us, even when it wasn’t the view we expected.
Despite the weather, despite the challenges, Patagonia felt unforgettable raw, unpredictable, and more breathtaking than any photo could ever capture.
Puerto Montt Glacier
October 11th
It was one of those classic travel days where nothing goes quite the way you planned yet the scenery is so breathtaking that it softens every frustration.
We were supposed to board a ferry and get right up close to the glacier, watching the ice walls rise from the water. But nature had other plans. Thick sheets of ice blocked the docking point, and the boat couldn’t get through.
I took it as a sign from the universe to save my money and maybe as a reminder that travel isn’t meant to be perfect. Sometimes the detours and disappointments are part of the story. And even from a distance, the glacier was still stunning, a quiet blue giant resting beneath the clouds.
Ushuaia
September 30th – October 4th
The city at the end of the world. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a place quite like it snow-dusted mountains wrapping around a tiny town that feels like it’s tucked into the edge of the earth. Ushuaia was nothing short of magical.
I arrived just in time for the last week of ski season. The day I went skiing, I experienced every season in a single afternoon: sun, snow, rain, hail, and winds that felt strong enough to carry me off the mountain. The weather down here has a mind of its own.
That same week, I also got a taste of true Argentine hospitality a thoughtful, homemade asado shared with people who made me feel like family, even at the end of the world..
Mendoza, Argentina
September 24th – September 30th
I spent one dreamy week in the wine capital of Argentina a place where a bottle of red wine is literally cheaper than water. Mendoza has a way of slowing life down in the best way.
Somewhere between the vineyards and the mountain views, I stumbled upon the best Italian sandwich of my life. I swear I’d fly back to Mendoza just to have one more bite.
The week was filled with wine tastings, wandering between beautiful wineries, horseback riding through the mountains, and visiting the little alpine village known as the “Switzerland of Mendoza.”
But my favorite memory by far was the horseback ride three peaceful hours riding through the Andes, followed by a home-cooked asado shared with the entire family. It was one of those moments that felt straight out of a movie
Salta, Argentina
September 19th – 23rd
A dreamy road trip through Salta and Jujuy with people I’d met only hours before in the hostel. Every mile felt like magic the landscape shifted so slowly that if I blinked, it looked like an entirely different world outside the window.
This road trip was made of singalongs, spontaneous street-food stops, “uhh… I think this is the right way,” and some of the most breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen. It was the kind of adventure that reminds you why traveling with strangers often leads to the best memories.
CATS ADVENTURES 