My Hostel Work Experience

Jazz working at the hostel

Introducing Jazz! Jazz is a scholarship winner who will be blogging about her placement in Esquel, Argentina…way down in the Patagonia! Welcome Jazz!

It is finally time to experience my REAL HOSTEL WORK placement.YAYYYY  I was accepted into the hostel work program with a placement working at the at reception desk in Esquel, Argentina and received a REAL BLOGGERS scholarship. It is an exciting process because of all the options to go to your preferred locations, what kind of hostel work you want to do, and the opportunity to publish your blog at www.realhostelwork.com .

My first step was to think about which cities and countries I wanted to travel to in South America. Yep, I have been in different cities in Argentina as a backpacker, but I have never been in Patagonia.  So, I filled in the application form and a letter (consisting of about 250 words) about why I wanted to work in South America. Then I was informed of a job vacancy which matched my location and abilities. I read different reviews of the hostel on different platforms and the content of the job that my advisor sent me, and decided that this was the hostel for me. My REAL advisor, gave me contact information for my possible employer to have an interview. That was very important to understand my new job responsibilities and meet my new colleagues. If you are fluent in speaking English and intermediate level in Spanish, you will have no problem being accepted into the program. The REAL hostel work exchange program was founded by backpackers...keep reading

New Article

Hey I just wanted to let everyone know that I just wrote a new post read it here: www.realhostelwork.com/info

Your Alcohol Guide to South America!

Here are some typical cocktails from South America, check out their full descriptions here !

Colombian Aguardiente

Burn Water...find out how the Colombians drink it!

Peruvian Pisco

Pisco....mmm What's the mix?

Chile

Jote, Piscola, Terremoto... how to mix it up in Chile

Argentinean Fernet

A taste of Italy... read more

Bolivian Chicha

The Elixir of the Incas... what is it?

5 Best Hikes in South America

Below we have posted the most incredible hiking experiences to be had in South America. Whether your a beginner or an expert climber South America has a trail for you. Read the full story: Backpacking in South America

El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina

The village of El Chalten is a little
enclave of hikers, climbers, and nature lovers. Protected from the
Patagonian winds by the surrounding cliffs the village’s lodges,
hostels, restaurants and gear outfitters create a perfect base camp
community.
Read the full story: Backpacking in Argentina

Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

Ifyou have researched this hike you will have definitely heard of the infamous ‘W’. The cool people rock the reverse ‘W’ these days. Why? The normal W circuit takes you up to the “Torres” the first day, which is great; however experiencing “the main event” in the first few hours renders the rest of the trail rather anti-climatic. Instead of walking away from the peaks of the park constantly keep them on the horizon with the reverse ‘W’. Find out more: Backpacking in Chile

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

Yes, its true you
can hire porters to carry your bag. Yes, its true you don’t have to
cook your own food. Yes, its true that tents are pitched and your
camp is made before even arriving to that nights site. What’s wrong
with that? Machu Picchu is nothing without experiencing the Inca
Trail. With each step your heart rate increases, adrenaline throbs
thick in your veins, and eager anticipation rises as you draw nearer
and nearer to the mystical ancient city. Check out our tips: Backpacking in Peru

Quilotoa Loop



Downtown Quilotoa

The Chugchilan hike is nothing without
the journey getting there! Latacunga is a moderately sized city where
buses depart for the nearby town of Saquisili, whose Thursday market
is a splash of colorful sights, sounds, and smells into the little
village. Returning back to Latacunga you can grab a bus heading
towars Quilotoa. After a stomach turning zig-zagging road which
climbs the mountains you’ll (eventually) be told to get off the bus
only to discover that the bus doesn’t actually go to Quilotoa, but
rather continues along the ‘highway’. You will need to ask a local
for a ride (don’t worry they will be waiting for you) and after a 20
minute or so drive along the prairies, picking up other campesinosalong the way, you
will arrive to the ‘town’ of Quilotoa (make sure you discuss the
price of your trip with your driver before accepting the ride!). From
Quilotoa you can hike into the deep crater lake of the slumbering
volcano and kayak in the huge lagoon- its depth has not been
discovered, so try not to fall in! Another hike is the volcanic cone
circuit which is a sloping 7hr circle providing 360°vistas of the surrounding landscape, the volcanic lake below is your constant companion as its kaleidoscopic blue-green palette of water colors changes with every glint and glimmer of the sun. Finally, the hike from Quilotoa is not to be missed! Read More: Backpacking in Ecuador

Ciudad Perdida, The Lost City, Colombia

Receiving only as
many visitors in one year as Machu Picchu receives in a day, the path
is a little less beaten than its Peruvian counterpart. Both ancient
and contemporary history influence the culture of the trail as
one-time coca farmers tend banana and coffee plantations next to
neighboring Kogi tribes, the descendants of the Tairona. The trail to
the Lost City has amazing views of the Santa Marta range, whose snowy
peaks descend to the sunny Caribbean sea. From well worn campesinotrails to hardly trodden
traditional pathways the Lost City is hidden amongst dense jungle
whose fluvial arteries must be crossed several times but also offer
the chance to swim amongst waterfalls. The ruins themselves maintain
an ancient mystique as quiet clouds of fog rest on the tree tops and
the green expanse of jungle lays beyond. Read More: Backpacking Colombia

Fastracking it down from Bogota to Buenos Aires, on bus in less than 1 month...

'Chiva': Typical Party Bus in Colombia and Ecuador

Easy and Cheap, detailed guide to busing it down the West coast of Latin America; this is in the hope of giving you a bit of a budget, stops, and list of great hostels in South America. 

*You’ll notice as you get further down South the buses and hostel price get more expensive. I suggest you spend more time in Ecuador and Peru if on the real cheap ;).

Backpacking Colombia

Bus advice:
1. The roads in Colombia are winding and hilly- take nausea tablets and be prepared for a bumpy ride!
2. Spend the extra dollar and ask for the most direct route.
3. They are longer than what you expect: they will tell you 2 hours and it can be up to 4 hours....Why? Colombians are very friendly and they will pick up passenger on they way..Therefore it is very common to have many unexpected stops
4. Try to take day buses, especially from Bogota heading to borders. Many ‘dangers’ can be avoided by riding during the day.

Bogota - Cali
Date: 11th-12th of Feb, 2011
Bus: Expresso Boliviano, Time: around 12 hours, Price: $54.000(Col) each
Stayed: Iguana Hostel, Price: $9 (USD) private each
Info: Cali is known for its nightlife, its the Colombian hub for salsa and home to some of the most beautiful women.
Cali-Ipiales
Date: 12-13th
Bus: Trans Ipiales, Time: 12 hours, Price: $40.000(Col) each
Stayed: Hotel don Lucho(breakfast + T.V.) Price: 28.000 (Col) for room
Recommend: Santuario ‘Las Lajas’. One of the craziest cathedrals in Latin America, it is perched on inside a canyon and spans high above a river!
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Border Crossing Between Colombia and Ecuador

BORDER CROSSING, COLOMBIA TO ECUADOR
1st- Grab a taxi from hostel to Colombian Immigration, get stamped out
2nd- Walk across bridge
3rd- Enter, Ecuador walk to Ecuador Immigration(get stamped in)
4th- Taxi to Bus terminal $1



Backpacking in Ecuador
Tulcan-Quito
Dates: 14th- 16th
Bus: Flota Imbambura, Time: 4hours, Price: $5 (USD)
Stayed: Aubergue Inn (Excellentent) located between old and new town, $9 each
Recommended Teleferico and hiking
- Equator monument and GPS Equator Interactive Museum
- Museums and old town
-Gringolandia

Quito - Latacunga
Bus advice:
1. It is really cheap to travel by bus, basically $1 an hour
2. Travel times are relatively short as Ecuador is so small
3. Be carefull in Ambato bus stop, when you get off and you are grabbing your backpacks people are known to spill water on it, then they ask to help you; during the confusion someone can take off with your bag. Keep an eye out on your backpack, if something is ‘spilled’ on it don’t ask for or accept help; get into a taxi and worry about it when you get to hostel.
Date: 16th-17th
Bus: time; 2 hours, $1.50
Stayed: Hotel Cotopaxi (excellent comfort, T.V. + Breakfast), $8 each private
Latacunga-Saquisili
Bus: $0.30, 20min- day trip
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Hitching a Ride in Quilotoa

*Recommended: The coolest market ever! Thursday morning like 6am...selling live cattle (including llamas) its a mad house!
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Latacunga - Quilotoa
Date: 18-19th
Bus: 2 hours, $4
Recommend: hike 4 hours around volcano crater
-descend to bottom of volcano, kayak in the deep blue water (it feels like been back in the prehistoric times!)
stayed: Hostel Chosita (a small lodge/house run by local Quechuas, they give you traditional dinner and breakfast-real authentic experience! a must) (high altitude, freezing at night! bring lots of layers)($10)

Latacunga - Ambato - Baños
date: 19th- 21st
bus: 45 min($1) to Ambato (need to go there to get bus to Baños), 1 hour to Banos ($2)
stayed: Hostel Transalvania, has T.V with private bathroom and breakfast ($9)
Recommend: local hot water pools
-rent buggy rides
-alot of adventure sport stuff

Banos - Ambato - Loja
Bus: 1 hour(need to go to Ambato to get bus to Loja, 12 hours ambato Loja ($12) (Santa Bus company)


BORDER CROSSING- ECUADOR TO PERU
Loja (Ecuador) to Piura (Peru)(nothing interesting to see here)
Date: 22nd-23rd
Bus: Trans Loja Internacional, price: $10, time: 7:00am-4pm, 9 hours
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Waiting...

Backpacking Peru
Bus info:
1. The buses get better, Sur del cruz is high class, recommend for the long bus rides (15 hours more). Gives you food, drink, and BINGO!
2. Buses are actually ‘direct’ and less winding then their northern neighbors





Piura - Chiclayo
23rd-24th
Bus-Trans Linea, 3 hours, 13 soles ($4 USD)
Stayed: Hotel Tumi de Oro (not very good) private 50 soles ($18).
Recommended: Anacy Tours: anacy_@hotmail.com
1. Museo Tumbas reales de Sipan
2. Museo Brunning
3. Piramides de Tucume
Price: 25 soles

Chiclayo - Trujillo - Huanchaco
Date: 24th-27th
Bus: Linea, time:4 hours, Price: 14-17 soles
-got bus from Trujillo- Huanchaco 10min
Stayed: Mamacoha Hostel (cool little hippie place, owners very welcoming, they sang and played guitar at night) 15 soles private each
Recommend: hanging out at the beach
-surfing
- Chan Chan Ruins

Trujillo - Lima
27-28th
Bus: Linea, Time: 9 hours, Price: 45 soles
Stayed: Pariwana, Miraflores
Lima-Ica- Huanachina( little Desert Oasis)
1st-2nd
Bus: Cruz del Sur, time: 4 hours, price: 30 soles
Huancachina- 10 min taxi ride from Ica
stayed: Huacachina, 30 soles (no matter where you stay, bargain using accommodation, transfers, buggy rides, guides)
Recommended: Buggy through desert + sand boarding, 45 soles
- wine tour, 20 soles

Ica - Tacna
Bus: Cruz del sur, time: 16 hours, price; 102 soles


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Bus Terminal in Arica, Chile

BORDER CROSSING- PERU TO CHILE (Tacna-Arica)
1st- go to international bus terminal in Tacna
2nd-get an international taxi that crosses the border and takes yo to Arica. This will be 3.000 pesos.
3rd- The taxi driver get you to fill in the exit paper. Basically you drive 30min get to Peru immigration, get out of taxi, get stamped out and then get back in the taxi, drive 5min, get out of taxi, get your stamp in to Chile(make sure to keep the little paper with you entry!!! very important to get out).
4th- Get back in same taxi and head to Arica


Backpacking in Chile
Arica
Date: 2nd-4th March
Stayed- Arica Surfhouse- This is where I did my work exchange. It was great to visit Kurt and Nicole again. They looked great! Of course they let me stay with them for free! They became family while I was there.

Arica - Santiago
Date: 4th-6th
Bus: Tur bus, about 30 hours, Price: $27.700 ($55)
This is extremely long!! If you are good with sleeping in buses you can do it. If not break it up. I recommend La Serena or Iquique.
Or buy a flight with TAM Airlines for around $100(USD)
Stayed: Bellavista Hostel, dorm of 4 ($17USD)
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Winding Road Between Chile and Argentina

BORDER CROSSING- CHILE TO ARGENTINA
The crossing is one of the easiest! You get off and get stamped out and in at the same time, while customs deals with your bag. Easy! But sometimes there is a whole line of buses and a lot of people crossing through.

Santiago - Mendoza
Date: 6th- 7th
Bus: CATA Internacional, time 8-10 hours (this depends on the month, if it is in winter it can be delayed even longer or the crossing can be closed because it is snowed in) The plus for land travel is that you don’t have to pay the visa of $100 dollars when you fly in!. Price: 380 ARG pesos ($94 USD).
Stayed: Trotamundos, price: $12 (dorm 4)

Mendoza - Buenos Aires
Date: 7th-9th
Bus: Andesmar, time: 14 hours, Price: about 400Arg ($100 USD)

Coming soon.
Until then, check out:



www.realhostelwork.com