Top 5 things to do in Peru

When people think about Peru, the first thing that comes to mind is the famous Machu Picchu, which is perfectly understandable, but there is much more to Peru than this world-famous attraction. When visiting the country and after seeing the magnificent Machu Picchu, there are several other fantastic activities that you can engage in here to make your trip an experience to cherish forever. The following are 5 amazing things to do in Peru.

Take a Tour of the Amazon Rainforest

The Peruvian Amazon makes up 60% of the country and when combined with the Pacific Ocean and Andean Mountain range, the result is a diverse and unique ecosystem. Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos are the two main entrances into the Amazon Basin and it is highly advisable that a plane is used to navigate these areas, as the roads are in rather bad condition. Floating down the river on a river boat for a few hours is another fabulous way to take in everything that the Amazon has to offer.

Take a Hike in the Colca Canyon

The beauty that this canyon has to offer should not be missed and even if you are the type of person who does not enjoy hiking – this is one hike that you will not regret doing! The Colca Canyon happens to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and offers visitors the most eye-popping scenery. The area is also the home of the Andean Condor, a huge bird only found in this region. Booking an overnight trek can be done in Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru.

Explore the Nazca Lines by Air

When flying over the Nazca Desert, you will see the series of ancient geoglyphs that make up the Nazca Lines. These mysterious lines are made up from geometric designs, wildlife and other elements. The Nazca Lines are one of Peru’s most famous attractions. The best way to take on this adventure is by air and this can be done by means of a small private plane. Tours can be booked in lca, Nazca and Lima.

Discover the Cordillera Blanca by Means of a Serious Hike

This is one of the things to do in Peru that is recommended for the serious adventure seeker! It is not an easy trek, but will be well worth it on completion. This location (Huaraz) is situated about 420km north of Lima and is home to the Cordillera Blanca – the highest mountain range in the Peruvian Andes. It is most well-known for the snow-capped glaciers and peaks. Standing at 6,768 metres high, Huascaran is the third highest of its kind the entire Western Hemisphere.

Try Your Luck with the Waves in Manorca

So where is the best place to go surf in Peru? Well, it depends on who you are asking, but most locals will send you to the beautiful beach town of Manorca. Manorca is famous for its perfect beaches and relaxed atmosphere. What could be better than hanging out on the beach, watching the waves for an entire afternoon? Easy, surfing those fabulous waves! This is something that you have to try at least once in your life.

Conclusion

As you can see, there really is more to Peru than Machu Picchu. Choose one or all of these fun activities and you will surely end up craving for a second trip.

How to Travel and Work

Most people work 9 to 5 jobs and save every month to go on vacation at the end of the year to have a break from the stresses caused by the daily grind of working for months on end. If you are one of these people, then read on, because you are going to find out awesome ways how to travel and work while enjoying yourself every day! There is always blogging and travel photography, but I will cover other ways to travel and work in this article.

Teach English

If English is your mother tongue and you’re planning on traveling to Asian countries, then why not consider teaching English during your stay? This is one of the most common ways to earn money while traveling and a great way to learn different cultures.

These job opportunities can easily be found on the internet and many companies will cover the costs of your flight and an apartment in the country. Japan and South Korea in particular, pay English teachers very well.

Become a scuba diving instructor

If you’re a diving fanatic, then you should consider getting your scuba certification and become a diving instructor. This will give you the opportunity to work in fabulous holiday destinations like Maldives, Mexico, Philippines, Honduras, Egypt and Hawaii, to name but a few.

Imagine earning money doing something you love, by giving tourists diving lessons when you aren’t going diving yourself, soaking up the sun, and just generally enjoying a really laid-back life by the ocean! Could knowing how to travel and work come any better than this?

Get a job on a cruise ship

Cruise ships are like huge floating hotels in the ocean, with many entertainment facilities and offer jobs like chefs, bartenders, receptionists, DJs, hair salon or casino staff, nurses, massage therapists and a whole host more, with salaries varying between $800 and $8000 per month.

The great thing about getting a cruise ship job though, is that your food and lodging is provided while on board and you pay for nothing at all during that time. In other words, you get paid a good salary while you travel to some of the most stunning places on the planet!

Work on a farm

If you enjoy working outdoors, care for the environment and don’t worry about getting your hands dirty, then being on a farm would be the ideal way for you to work when you travel.

You could take a job working with farm animals, doing general agricultural work, picking fruit and vegetables or even picking flowers. It’s a great way to live in the rural areas of a country and you could be picking grapes in Italy, kiwi fruit in New Zealand, or working with sheep in the great outback of Australia!

Become a chef

If you are passionate about food, then why not become a chef when you travel the world? There is a huge demand for season staff in restaurants and holiday resorts all over the world. You can find jobs for chefs on the internet, or simply visit nearby restaurants and holiday resorts during your travels and ask if they have chef jobs available. You will be earning money while you work and keeping customers happy with your creative meals, while at the same time enjoying the country you are visiting.

Conclusion

Knowing how to travel and work means that you can see the world while spending your day earning money doing the things you love.

How to Become a Travel Photographer

Whether you are an avid photographer always willing to travel around or a traveller trying to capture everything that you see in breathtaking photographs, you can do way better if you are aware of some techniques.

Photography is an art, a subject and each image that you capture has a science behind it. If you want to make each of your photographs speak a thousand words, here is a list of the top 6 world travel photography tips for you to follow.

1. Understand the Rule of Thirds – The Rule of Thirds in photography requires you to break down a prospective image into 3 parts both horizontally and vertically. When it is split into different sections, you can place the important parts in these sections and frame the overall image. By following this rule, you can enhance the quality of an image to a significant extent like placing a person in the left grid line instead of the centre. Composing using this rule can be easily done by turning on your camera’s grid feature, which displays the grids directly on the LCD screen.

2. Use Tripods – Lightweight tripods makes it possible for you to set up your camera in a particular position and thereby, making way for the perfect composition. With a tripod, you can also adjust the exposure settings, focus points or use techniques like HDR and panoramas. Tripods enable shooting lower shutter speeds without losing focus and hence, promise greater creative control over your images. So, whether you are capturing sharp landscapes, low-light images, sunrise/sunsets or flowing water, a travel tripod essentially makes a significant difference.

3. Experiment with Composition – Often, the more you experiment with a particular shot, the better is the result. After you have taken a shot standing up straight, experiment with the same one by lying on the ground for a low angle or climbing up something for a higher angle. Similarly, try shooting from different distances too. Another compositional tactic that you must use is Focal Compression. It is a technique by which you can use a zoom lens to trick the eye into thinking that the objects are closer than they really are.

4. The Human Element – Incorporating the human element in the images is always a good idea. Technically, the human element gives a better sense of scale as you can sense how huge the landscapes are. With the humans looking tiny in such massive surrounding, the image gets an overwhelming effect. A photograph becomes more powerful and narrates a story whenever the human element is incorporated into it. In fact, a human image can change the storyline of the photo entirely.

5. Learn the Tricks of Photographing Local People – Portraits of local people in a foreign country makes up for fascinating photographs. However, when you go about capturing photos of the people, it is always advisable to approach them politely and seek their permission. Some may say no while others might just show a lot of interest. Now, once they are ready to be photographed, try to make them as comfortable as possible by speaking to them about their lifestyle, habits etc so that open up without hesitation.

6. Be Patient – Last but not the least, travel photography is all about patience. Photography is about capturing what lies in front of you with your camera, eyes along with heart and mind too. Patience is the key here. You might have to wait for hours for a photogenic object to appear. For instance, if you are trying to capture the clouds, think about whether it will be in a more eye pleasing spot in the next hour or so. Basically without the patience to try, you will miss out on what could be a memorable photograph.

Keep these tricks in mind and set about exploring places and keeping them safe in your camera.

Exploring Argentina’s Top Sites

Argentina covers an area of 2,780,400 km2 and due to those huge dimensions, it is rather difficult for travelers to have an idea of where they should go. The amount of beautiful sites in this country is unlimited but this article puts together the top sights of Argentina.

Iguazú falls

Of course, we had to start with the most popular waterfalls not only from Argentina but also from America. This waterfall isn´t called the “Devil´s Throat”, “Garganta del Diablo” in Spanish, for no reason, the water makes a peculiar sound when finally lands after a fall that can reach 82 meters.

It has a total of 274 individual drops and are all under the protection of UNESCO. The beauty of this waterfall has been captured in several movies and films such as “Mr. Magoo” in 1997 and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull” in 2006.

Buenos Aires

When coming to Argentina, it is inconceivable to go back home without spending some time wandering in the streets of the capital. Coming out from the wild nature for an instant and discovering new modern artistic influences will make you appreciate even more all the things that Buenos Aires has to offer you.

The last 150 years, this city has been a recipient of immigrants from all over the world, making it rich in cultural aspects. You can find all kind of architectural styles, ideologies, ethnicities, religions and even languages in Buenos Aires. That is what makes it so special and personally enriching.

Glaciers National Park

Perito Moreno is one of the most remarkable hotspots inside The Glacier National Park. You will be able to see a huge glacier wall and various icebergs flouting around “LagoArgetino”. A breathtaking view combined with the thunder-like sounds made from glacier pieces tearing apart. Is something that you have to experience it yourself to understand the magnitude of it.

Another glacier located near Perito Moreno is Upsala. Unluckily, this glacier is known for its rapid retreat due to global warning but for now, it is still impressive to see its dimensions.

Talampaya National Park

This National Park is also inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site, to protect some highly important fossil and archaeological rests. It is said that dinosaurs used to walk around here only 250 years ago, that’s why is so important to keep this land protected.

Apart from that, the landscape of this National Park is full of weirdly shaped rocks and gorges; all of them with a colorful reddish tone. It is mind-blowing to find such different sceneries like Glacier National Park and Talampaya National Park without having to go out from Argentina.

Tierra del Fuego

Also know as the end of the world; this place has a very special mystic feeling. It’s a place where it doesn’t care the direction you are looking out because all its surroundings are spectacular. Moreover, it is the furthest way you can reach in the country, which makes people wonder what they will find there.

This place owns uncountable histories from shipwrecks, tribe extinctions and failed explorations. Maybe that’s the reason why so many visitors are curious to come and wonder in those terrains while feeling the mystical energies.

Conclusion

Argentina is a place full of natural treasures, mystic places and cultural wealth. Definitely, a place to be and experience.

Tips for Travel Photography

What can be a better way of preserving memories from a trip than capturing them in the form of images! It allows you to create stories from far and across and share them with other travel enthusiasts. Whether you intend to start your professional career in travel photography or just like to click some random shots, the following tips will prove to be extremely helpful.

Do Your Research:

Before you go on a tour, carry out some research about the location. Read some guides to get up-to-date information of places you can visit. The more you know about your destination, the better opportunities you will have to capture some memorable shots.

If you plan to go to another country, some know-how of the language spoken there will be extremely helpful. It will allow you to interact with locals and know about some off-the-track locations that are worth a visit. You can also capture their stories with their permission.

Keep Your Gears Ready:

When backpacking for a trip, plan for the photograph gear you will need. You don’t want to regret forgetting important items at home. Whether you intend to use your smart phone camera or a modern DSLR, make sure that you don’t forget essential equipment at home. You may need your camera, lenses of varying focal lengths and a tripod stand. Don’t forget its flash, or else you may not be able to capture amazing scenes in dim light.

Know Your Camera:

No matter what type of camera you are going to use on your trip, do some research on its features and functionalities. A good understanding of its settings will help you capture some of the best shots. Moreover, additional batteries will help you use your camera for long. Take your laptop with you to keep a backup of images and to edit them later.

There are four major elements that define the quality of an image. ISO refers to the sensitivity of lens to light, shutter speed is the amount of time the lens allows exposure of light and aperture is the hole through which light enters the sensor. White balance is the adjustment of colors with respect to white light.

The lower the lighting conditions, the higher ISO and shutter speed you will need. However, a higher ISO also increases noise in your image. Therefore, adjust all settings accordingly to improve image quality. Beginners usually opt for Auto focus mode. However, a clear understanding of camera settings will allow you to take control of all aspects. You can get in-depth knowledge with the help of YouTube tutorials.

Choose the Right Time:

As suggested by expert photographers, an hour after sunrise and the hour just before sunset are the most suitable times to capture some shots. However, you should also know that there is only one rule of photography, that there are no rules. Try out different perspectives and angles to capture images of a location. The lesser you think about capturing the best shot, the more opportunities you will have to go for a good shot.