I'm Esther Ruiterman; photographer, blogger, traveller and creative thinker. Interests are: marketing, visual design, travel, photography, skiing and more.
Sometimes you have big plans for a fun trip, but it just doesn’t go according to plan. My big plan was some fun independent travel by moped from the town of Chivay to Colca Canyon. Getting to Chivay The town Chivay is a 3.5 hour ride from Arequipa, and the base to visit Colca Canyon…
Arequipa is the 2nd largest city of Peru and the base for visiting Colca Canyon and other outdoor activities in the area. Coming from Lima, it’s also the first place with a higher altitude, as Arequipa is situated at 2300m, it’s a starting point to slowly get used to the higher altitudes in The Andes.…
The Canyon of the Lost From Huacachina I booked a tour to Cañon de los Perdidos. I’m usually not a fan of tours and prefer to explore independently, but sometimes it’s the only option. First stop at the canyon was a viewpoint from the top, looking down. Next was walking through the canyon itself. Around…
Huacachina is an oasis in the middle of the desert. Also a true backpackers town, as I suddenly was surrounded by many fellow travellers. The must-do in Huacachina is the buggy and sandboarding tour. The buggy drove us through the desert like a wild roller coaster ride. From the top of the sand hills we…
As I hop on the bus departing from Lima, it feels like my travel adventure is now actually beginning. Islas Ballestas Most people visit Paracas for the Islas Ballestas, an island group with the nickname “the poor man’s Galapagos islands”. For 40 soles one the many agencies take you on a 2 hour boat tour…
A month ago life decided I suddenly have an open calendar. For me that translated into a direct opportunity for long-term travel, the only question was where? Considering multiple destinations with its pros and cons, the winner was South America. South America has always been on my to-go list, but the long distances and travel…
First I would like to start off by mentioning that Apple Airtags are true lifesavers. This Monday was one for the personal history books. Due to circumstances I recently decided to do a 2-3 month backpacking trip to South America. To get in the mood and for inspiration I cycled to my favorite bookstore in…
Each winter the Amsterdam Light Festival brings the city to life with various illuminated works of art throughout the city center. Visit the Amsterdam Light Festival from 30 November 2023 until 21 January 2024. Each day from 17:00 – 22:00. It’s totally free of charge to explore and interact with all the different light installations.…
October is the perfect time to visit Sicily. The extreme heat of the summer is gone and fewer tourists are on the island, making it perfect for traveling. A direct flight from Amsterdam brought us to Catania airport at 10 PM. Here we picked up the rental car at Centauro and luckily only a 15…
Visiting Sicily and getting around the island is definitely most convenient by car! Yes, the Sicilians have a bit of an enthusiastic driving style, but don’t let that put you off! I always love the freedom of my own transportation, and simply adjust your driving style to the local ways. Renting a car For renting…