Episode 12 - Monica Irauzqui: Nooks & Crannies
In this episode we speak to a travel industry expert who has been running her own tour company, Yampu Tours, for 23 years alongside her Peruvian husband. Since then, she has travelled extensively all across the globe, offering tours on all continents. Now living in California after spending time in Hawaii and Paris, her aim is to take the stress, not adventure, out of holidays.
Monica strongly believes in getting to know every nook and cranny of a place, rather than ‘collecting countries’. She shares some great anecdotes from a city that gives you altitude sickness and why might want to avoid the local cocktail, to the country she believes serves the best food at service stations. We also touch on some less-positive experiences including getting tear gassed and an altercation with a mechanic in Mexico.
Some great advice is offered about where to explore next when the world opens back up, as well as giving us the lowdown on choosing the right safari for all types of travellers and budgets.
Country No.1: Peru
Activity: Cusco
Food: Lomo Saltado
Sacred Valley
‘Second Machu Picchu’
Pisco Sour cocktail recipe
Country No.2: Italy
Activity: Drive around Tuscany
Food: Ragu, red pesto
Country No. 3: Kenya
Activity: Masai Mara
Food: BBQ
Anything else/links….
Samburu tribe
Amboseli National Park
Masai Mara
Wildcard: Ethiopia
Top Travel Tip:
Get to know the locals. Visit a local community that the company supports and see where they live.
“When you travel anywhere, try to relax, and be kind and try to get to know the locals”.
Do your maths [when converting currency].
Best Souvenir:
Beaded necklace from Kenya
Prayer beads from Brazil
Blankets from Peru
Other links:
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
Monica Irauzui
Insta: @MonicaIrauzquiExperiences
Twitter: @MonicaIrauzqui
Yampu Tours
https://www.yampu.com/
Travel Bubble Film Club
Into The Storm: Surfing To Survive, Peru (2020)
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