Hey! I’m Leah.
Hyper-caffeinated, hyper-observant, and a lover of all things travel. Native to the great state of Washington and an aspiring nomad. Want to know more? Click here.
Category Archives: South America
Emails from Abroad #16: Holidays in the Southern Hemisphere
The final travel email before finally starting The Mochilera Diaries. Maybe meeting the lovely Alex from Alex in Wanderland was the final push I needed! Written from Cusco, Peru, December 15th, 2013. “I knew you were all dying to know what … Continue reading
Posted in Emails from Abroad, South America
Tagged Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Huacachina, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Paracas, Puno, volunteering in a hostel
2 Comments
Cusco, Peru: A Foodie’s Paradise
Peru is well-known for having some of the best food in all of South America, and the high-altitude city of Cusco is no exception. The city is overflowing with superb dining options, and it’s certainly not limited to traditional Peruvian cuisine. Don’t … Continue reading
Posted in South America, Travel
Tagged best Cusco restaurants, dining out in Cusco Peru, Marcelo Batata, Peru, Peruvian cuisine
Leave a comment
Climbing Venezuela’s Mount Roraima – Part 2
When we left off in Part 1, our group of five along with our guides Jose and Roni, had just summited Mount Roraima after a grueling battle with the Trail of Tears on day 3 of our 6-day trek. We … Continue reading
Posted in South America, Travel
Tagged Mount Roraima, Punto Triple, trekking in South America, venezuela
9 Comments
Climbing Venezuela’s Mount Roraima – Part 1
In August of 2013, upon completing four weeks of a volunteer placement with La Fundacion Aldeas de Paz in Santa Elena de Uairen, Venezuela, I was presented with a unique opportunity to visit one of the country’s most famous natural … Continue reading
Posted in South America, Travel
Tagged Angel Falls, hiking in South America, Mount Roramia, trekking, venezuela
2 Comments
Venezuelan Arepas
This recipe for arepas venezolanas is one I picked up during the month I volunteered with La Fundación Aldeas de Paz in Santa Elena de Uairén, Venezuela, which lies on the southern border near Brazil. Arepas are savory corn pancakes; … Continue reading
With A Grain Of Salt
Before I set out on my journey to Latin America last July, I was armed with some vague ideas of how it would progress–i.e. where I would begin, which countries and cities I would visit, and what I wanted to … Continue reading
Posted in South America, Travel
Tagged Ecuador, Latin America, Quito, travel, venezuela
Leave a comment
Buenos Aires: A City That Aims To Please
Every traveler has a unique style they employ when exploring a new part of the world. There are the DIY travelers–the ones who prefer getting to know a city without the help of guided tours or activities–perhaps on foot, local … Continue reading
Posted in South America, Travel
Tagged Buenos Aires, food, La Boca, La Recoleta, Palermo, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, steak, travel, wine
2 Comments
A Lonely Trip to Iguazú Falls
There’s a lot to be said for solo travel–I will even go so far as to say that I truly feel it’s something everyone should strive to experience at least once in their lives. Understandably it’s not for everyone, but … Continue reading
Adventures in Wine Country
As I left Córdoba to make my way to Mendoza, the principal city of western Argentina and a world-famous wine region, I tried for once to be a prudent traveler and book a hostel in advance of my arrival. I’d … Continue reading
Skydiving in Argentina
With the end of my current travel adventure in sight, I realized that it was time to do some serious prioritizing to really squeeze the maximum amount of fun out of my remaining days in Argentina. I arrived in Córdoba … Continue reading
The Mochilera Diaries 