Zee Lilani

Laguna Quilotoa is an incredibly scenic and relatively easy place to do a day hike in Ecuador. The hike down only takes ~30 minutes and views of the turquoise lake make it impossible to not stop every 2 minutes. Although it's a popular place to visit by the surrounding indigenous people, Laguna Quilotoa is still off of the gringo trail, for now. Part of the reason for this is because getting to...

For those in Banos, Ecuador who want to get their ass kicked with a good day hike, this is the one. The trail begins at a set of stairs up to a small cross. From there the trial turns into a series of switchback for about 1.5 hours, if you're in good shape. In all it takes around 3 hours to get to the actual swing and it's all grueling uphill. So why do the hike when you can just take a city bu...

Mount Fitz Roy is one of the most iconic mountains in the world and is still relatively undeveloped, allowing visitors to experience the landscape without the massive hoards of people. The best place to start the trek is in the town of El Chalten. I would recommend coming to the town with plenty of cash and backpacking food. The town is very rural and most of the grocery stores do not carry the...

This is one of those hikes I'll be telling my grandchildren about. Heck, I'll be taking my grandchildren here just so I can do it again!  Hidden in the Cordillera Blanca lies a turquoise lake fed by snow packed mountains and tiny waterfalls. This is not a hike for the faint of heart. Beginning at 3,800 meters, you must already be acclimatized otherwise you will deal with the consequences that h...

If you're in Northern Colombia, you've probably heard of Tayrona National Park because of it's lush greenery, stunning turquioise water and relative ease to get to for tourists. From Santa Marta just tell anyone working at your hostel you want to go to Tayrona and they will direct you to the mercado de Santa Marta, where plenty of buses leave for Tayrona everyday of the week. The bus will drop ...

The 'Q' Circuit is simply the 'O' plus the 17.5km section between the Serano Visitors Center and Refugio Paine Grande. To reach Serano Visitors Center simply take the same bus used to do the 'W' or the 'O,' but stay on the bus until the third stop. It may feel strange as half of the people will get off at the first stop ('W') and then the remaining 95% of people will get off at the second stop ...

This is truly the definition of an adult playground. Although it requires a four wheel drive to get to, once you're there, the possibilities are endless. In true desert fashion, there really are no trails, just endless slot canyons to go through, and countess mountains to climb. The area is vast, so once you're done exploring an area, just drive a little further on the road and go explore anoth...

Mount Piltriquitrón, known as "hanging from the sky" in the Mapuche tongue, is the magnificent mountain that lights up during sunset, as seen from El Bolson. The town itself is famous for its chilled out vibe and awesome handcrafts market. If you want to get a birds eye view of the town and the surrounding mountain range, this is the place to do it. The trailhead begins almost halfway up the mo...

To get here: From the nearest town of Puyuhuapi, go to the Southern most point of town and hitchhike along the Carretera Austral. It should be relatively easy as this is the only road drivers can take to leave town and most locals are very generous with rides. Ask to be dropped off at Bosque Encontado, the entrance is off of the Carretera Austral. Make sure to come early so you can leave the pa...

Like most places in Patagonia, the adventure begins the moment you decide on your next destination (if you don't have a car). The start of the hike is in Villa Cerro Castillo. However, because the town is barely 2 streets and only one bus stop, you will have to ask the bus driver to stop at this town before leaving the bus station. Most routes go from Puerto Rio Tranquilo to Coyhaique, or vice ...

Another day, another Patagonian gem waiting to be discovered! Backpacking along the Carretera Austral is perhaps the most magical experience of my life. After having done the trek through Torres Del Paine and Fitz Roy, I thought the best was behind me... until I reached Northern Patagonia. Parque Nacional Queulat is one of those places Lonely Planet has yet to discover. As a result, you can enj...

How to get there: From the nearby town of Salento, 4WDs leave from the main square whenever there are enough people to fill it. Note, if you want to stand on the bumper of a jeep for the ride, be towards the end of the line so you can snag one of those spots. The ride is approximately 20 minutes. I would recommend getting there early, around 10am, because weather is unpredictable, especially in...

The Pisac ruins bear a striking resemblance to Machu Picchu, just on a smaller scale. Fascinatingly, the drainage systems and agricultural terraces built in 1440 along with the rest of the ruins are still in use today. The Pisac ruins are believed to have defended the Southern entrance to the Sacred Valley from Spaniards in the 1500's. To reach the ruins, you must endure the 1.5 hour uphill hik...

Patagonia is known for its outer worldly mountain ranges, stunning blue lakes and unharmed forests, but the largest lake in Patagonia is also home to a geologic formation so incredible it'll make your jaw drop. The marble caves were formed by wave action over the last 6,200 years. The best place to start this adventure is in the little town of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. There are a few hostels but I...