Most Inspirational Moment
We had the chance to stay 2 nights with a local family in Trinidad, and although they did not speak English well and my Spanish was limited I spent a wonderful hour showing photos of my family and explaining about life in the UK. They have very few material possessions and were fascinated by the photos. 3 generations live in the one house. The rooms we had were surprisingly good. Bring small gifts like biscuits or chocolate. You are staying in a private house
Thoughts on Group Leader
Laz was brilliant and kept us amused with his stories anecdotes and general enthusiasm. He has a vast knowledge of the country and its history, and explained everything about the day beforehand. From teaching us dancing moves to problems in the hotel, he never tired and I can cannot recommend him highly enough. Tuna and Manuel the 2 drivers were also excellent and great fun on the dance floor.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Forget internet, and WiFi, unless you really have to. Most hotels do have a terminal but it was mostly down or so slow it wasn't worth the effort. WiFi did not exist even in the Melia in Santiago. Cell phones work for messaging, but not data. Food was better than expected but some meals can be a bit bland. Definitely bring snacks. Soy sauce for the endless rice. The cycling was generally flat and easier than other trips like Vietnam/Kerala. Day 9 the challenging day was actually quite easy, although very hot.