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For part two of my Ultimate Bucket List For the Next Decade And Beyond (but really, I’m shooting for a decade) I’m heading to Central and South America. Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of knocking off a considerable number of my adventure bucket list.
I’ve visited Cozumel, Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile, and Easter Island, but it’s time to branch out even further. Since I’m a bit of a completist, wanderlust is taking me beyond the confines of the Caribbean and the Western coast of South America, into parts unknown.
MY ULTIMATE TRAVEL BUCKET LIST PART II
4. Monteverde Cloud Forest
Nightmares come to mind when one thinks of getting lost in the forest. But getting lost on purpose? Sounds like a dream come true! Nestled in the northwestern corner of Costa Rica lies a magical forest- a cloud forest, containing an abundance of two of my favorite things: orchids and exotic birds.
Yes, I’m easily impressed by a fancy feather or a pretty petal. A guided tour will ease you along the many elevated bridge pathways suspended high above the forest floor, between the tops of trees. If it all goes to plan, I might encounter Aztec royalty in the form of a Quetzal sighting. I’ll try not to scare it away by yelling, “Pretty bird!” Maybe a whisper instead.
5. Salar de Uyuni
I have a preference for landscapes. Photography is a big reason I love to travel so much. It’s a challenge to capture the perfect shot in an instant; a picture that will simultaneously evoke the smells, the sounds, and the adventure of a sliver of time in your life. I’ll admit that in the past I’ve focused on perfecting the shot and not living in that moment.
Salar de Uyuni presents a unique challenge due to its remote location in southwestern Bolivia. The sea of flat terrain allows an unobstructed horizon. Sporadic pools of water create a mirror effect. Hopefully, as I dip my toes into the reflected sunset, I can preserve the moment in my mind before I even reach for the camera.
6. Perito Moreno Glacier
Previously, I mentioned seeing glaciers from the relative safety of my balcony suite on an Alaskan range cruise. Now it’s time to walk on one. It just got a lot colder in here all of a sudden. As a lifetime southerner, ice hikes combine two of my least favorite words, but I like a challenge.
Although this item on my adventure bucket list would require another cruise, but this time on a smaller boat through Glacier Alley. Once on land, I’d take several hundred deep breaths before embarking on the hike of a lifetime. The stunning views will help take my mind off the fact that I can’t feel my face.
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