Half a World Away: Travels in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia

It's not every day that you buy dynamite and coca leaves and venture into an underground mine. But that's South America for you. It's unpredictable, breathtaking and addictive. During their 90 day adventure, Alistair and his wife travelled through Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. In the Amazon jungle they joined a conservation group and taught English to villagers. After work they'd float down the Amazon on makeshift rafts, or head to a jungle bar to meet the locals. In the Andes, they warmed up for the Inca Trail by hiring donkeys and a guide called Carlos, to take them through a remote mountain pass. They never expected to get chased out town by the Bolivian army, or find the graveyard of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Nor were they prepared for the awe inspiring sight of Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world. Everyone who ventures into South America returns with a compelling story. This is theirs.