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As someone who is so Type A and always planning ev As someone who is so Type A and always planning every detail of our trip, it was so nice to let the stress of planning go and let @JetBlueVacations handle everything! 

We bundled our flight, hotel and airport transfer and our local insider booked our excursion. I was finally able to relax before and during my vacation knowing everything was taken care of for us. My fellow planners, take a break and let JetBlue Vacations handle everything for you! 

Use code: HAMBRICK for $200 off flights + hotel!
Book by 12/10/23 for travel 12/15/23-11/1/24 Min. $3,500 spend & terms apply
Plus there were options to Johannesburg, Mumbai, S Plus there were options to Johannesburg, Mumbai, Seychelles, Hong Kong, & Manilla for like $250RT from not only JFK but Chicago, Dallas, DC, San Fran & LAX. 

Definitely the best flight deal I’ve ever booked but since then I have gotten some other amazing ones. $540RT to Sydney, $400RT to Marrakech, $60RT to Denver, $150RT to Guatemala. Love a points deal too, 70k Skymiles RT to Tokyo, 60k miles RT to Egypt & more!

So where can you find these deals?

Going: A subscription based site that emails you immediately anytime a deal pops up. It has 3 levels: Limited deals (free), Premium ($49/yr), & Elite ($199/yr). Comment LINK & I’ll send you a link for $25 off Premium or Elite!

Secretflying.com: For my international community this is the best site for you. They provide deals daily from every country in the world but you have to search for them.

Google Flights: You have to search yourself here by typing in the airport you want to fly from but you can put an entire region (Europe, Caribbean, Africa) and the dates you can travel and the map will populate with the prices in all those places so you can see the cheapest places to go.

Skyscanner: This site allows you to put your home airport, select anywhere as your destination to find the cheapest flights during the dates you can travel or you can put your home airport & destination you want to travel & find the cheapest dates to fly there. This is my favorite site to use for school/work holidays.

Theflightdeal.com: Just like secretflying but only for flights from the US.

What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked? Any other places you use to find deals? Comment LINK & I’ll send you a link for $25 off Going on their Premium or Elite levels!

#flightdeals #pointsandmiles
The thoughts that go through my head on flights ar The thoughts that go through my head on flights are irrational! Don’t even get me started on what happens if there is any bit of turbulence 😭😭.

If you sit next to me on a plane just know the likely hood of me grabbing your hand at some point is extremely high whether I know you or not 😅. 

I can’t be the only one, can I? And listen I will take all the tips because I have tried everything but seeking professional help, but maybe I need to!

Flight anxiety, fear of flying
Please do not tell me “but we’re only sleeping Please do not tell me “but we’re only sleeping there, we’ll be out all day”. When I get in after a long day I need to be comfortable and not afraid to touch things! In my 20s it did not matter but I’m too old now, I like what I like! 

Have you ever checked into a hotel and then got to your room and immediately checked out 👀?

1. Team book anything, I’m just sleeping there!
2. Team the hotel matters no matter how long the stay 
3. Team I’m somewhere in between

#hotelmatters #travelhumor
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! Match It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! Matching holiday pajama time that is and @littlesleepies has picture perfect options for you to wear for your holiday card photo shoots! I love how soft they are and that they come in a wide range of prints and sizes from preemie to 3X. And yes they even have matching prints for your pets! Every purchase gives back to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation for childhood cancer. Y’all know matching PJs sell out QUICK for the holidays so hurry up and order now! 

Use code TravelingChild15 for 15% off regular priced items. So when are you bringing out the holiday decorations 👀?

#LittleSleepiesPartner #matchingpjs #matchingpajamas
Everything you need to know about Rainbow Mountain Everything you need to know about Rainbow Mountain (save + share this post):

1. Rainbow Mountain is a 3 hour drive from Cusco. 

2. The majority of tours leave at 3am but I like sleep & booked with a company that has 7:30am tours. This was much better as when we arrived most groups were walking down from the mountain so when we reached the top the crowds were minimal.

3. Rainbow Mountain’s elevation is 17,000 feet. It’s imperative you stay in Cusco (11,151ft in elevation) a few days prior so your body gets used to the altitude. 

4. The hike is roughly 4.5 miles RT, most of it is flat but the last stretch is steep and you will get short of breath, needing breaks. I def thought I wasn’t going to make it!

5. Wear lots of layers. It was warm at the base of the mountain but towards the top & especially when the wind came through it’s cold! 

6. The best time to hike Rainbow Mountain is the dry season April-Oct.

7. You can rent a horse for the majority of the hike, but the steep part you have to hike yourself as horses aren’t allowed there. The cost is about 70 soles (roughly $17 at the time of this post).

8. Vendors at the base of the mountain will stamp your passport for 2 soles. They actually do this at Machu Picchu too but I forgot to get mine stamped there.

9. If you traveled to Peru 10 years ago you would not have been able to do this hike because Rainbow Mountain was just uncovered around 2015. Prior to it was always covered by snow but global warming has caused the temperatures to rise & the snow to melt.

10. Most popularly called Rainbow Mountain the original name is Vinicunca, which comes from the native Quechua word meaning mountain of colors. The 7 colors of this mountain come from mineral compositions and depending on if it rained recently or not the colors vary in their brightness.

Have you heard of Rainbow Mountain? Would you do this hike?

#rainbowmountain #solotravels #bucketlistadventures
There are so many beautiful places on this earth t There are so many beautiful places on this earth to see. #VSP_Partner. Often, our eye health is overlooked, but it is important to keep your eyes top of mind so you can see the world through healthy eyes and clear vision. To help you see a new part of the world, I’ve partnered with @vspvisioncare to give away travel items to put towards your next trip:

✈️ $2,000 in gift cards to Hotels.com, Southwest, and VISA

✈️Two (2) pairs of sunglasses to wear on vacation

This giveaway runs from November 3–10, 2023 and the winner will ONLY be announced via DMs from the @vspvisioncare account on November 10, 2023. Be on the lookout for scammers!

How to Enter:

🏆 Like this post

🏆 Follow these accounts @vspvisioncare and @thetravelingchild

🏆 Tag two (2) friends that you want to take on this trip! (More tags = more entries.)

🏆 Fill out the entry form at the link in my bio. (Entry form will be hosted on Rafflecopter.)

*Eligibility: Must be located within the 50 United States and District of Columbia and be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. See full terms and conditions at the link in my bio.

#Sweepstakes

The Traveling Child

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Pedra do Telegrafo: A Must Hike in Rio de Janeiro

April 9, 2019      Brazil, Destinations, South America

This blog post is in partnership with Backcountry.com. All opinions are my own and true!

When planning our Rio de Janeiro vacation visiting Pedra do Telegrafo was a must. We’d seen photos of the optical illusion photos of people “cliff hanging” all over Instagram and wanted the same. We knew it was in Rio but we didn’t understand the logistics of getting there. It wasn’t what we expected so we want to share our experience. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Pedra do Telegrafo.

Pedra do Telegrafo couple kissing

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

How to Get to Pedra do Telegrafo

When planning our visit to Pedra do Telegrafo we had no idea it was actually a 90 minute drive from the Copacabana area. There are three ways to get there, you can take the bus, take a tour, or hire a private driver. For ease, comfort and budget we chose to hire a private driver but here’s how to take the bus to Pedra do Telegrafo if you’re feeling adventurous. I honestly don’t recommend this route unless you are comfortable speaking Portuguese and understand you may potentially wait a long time for a bus.

From Rio de Janeiro you will need to get to Terminal Alvorada. When you get to Terminal Alvorada take one of the blue express buses to Malto Alto station. Once you arrive at Malto Alto station you’ll need to take the local bus 867 towards Barra de Guaratiba. You will get off the bus at the Barra de Guaratiba stop and walk towards the yellow church. There are a set of stairs besides the church leading to an alleyway. If you’re unsure if you ask any local you see they will be able to point you in the right direction. The alleyway is where the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo starts. You will soon see yellow painted footprints on the ground which will guide you to Pedra do Telegrafo.

What to Expect on the Hike to Pedra do Telegrafo

While the official start of the trail to Pedra do Telegrafo is 1km there is about a .2km hike prior to arriving to this sign. Most people take about 40-45 minutes to make the hike but since we were traveling with a 3 and 4 year old it took us an hour. If my 4 year old can make the hike up and down by herself you can definitely make it so don’t be intimidated by the amount of time it takes.

Pedra do Telegrafo Hike

The Rio sun is no joke so thankfully the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo comes with plenty of shade to block you from the burning rays. Hiking up  there will be some steep and tight areas so be prepared for those. This not the activity to wear sandals or flip flops, you need sneakers.

If you get tired and need a break there are plenty of places to rest on the way up to Pedra do Telegrafo. Lucky for you these places are typically on a rock that has an epic view of the beach below. We also came across a gentlemen at about the halfway point that was selling water and snacks.

Pedra de Telegrafo Rest Area

Like most hikes there are no toilets on the way to Pedra do Telegrafo. If you need to use the restroom you’ll have to find a hidden place off the path and be one with nature. Be sure to hike with toilet paper and a bag to put any trash in.

Once you make it to the top you can expect the most breathtaking view you’ve ever seen. However, depending on the time you arrive that view could be obstructed by a massive line of people waiting to get their own optical illusion cliff hanging photos! We finished the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo at 10:00AM and the line was already quite lengthy. I read the line can sometimes be 6 hours to take a photo and we thought by leaving Rio at 7AM we’d beat the crowd. When we saw the line we wished we had arrived to the start of the hike at 7AM. We waited about 45-60 minutes until it was our turn to take photos.

Pedra do Telegrafo View

If there is one than one person in your group you can switch off waiting in line while the other person sits in the shaded area. There is another person here at Pedra do Telegrafo selling snacks and water for you to enjoy while you wait.

Pedra de Telegrafo Snack Stand

How to Get the Perfect Photos at Pedra do Telegrafo

Before getting to Pedra do Telegrafo I stalked other people’s Instagram photos to see what type of fun shots we wanted to take. While I knew what we wanted I honestly wasn’t too sure how we’d take them at the right angle to get the death defying effect we’d seen all over the internet. Luckily we didn’t have to worry about that! There is a photographer stationed at the top ready to take your pictures.

Telegrafo

The photographer is a pro at capturing these photos at the right angle. When we went he was charging $5 for 10 photos taken on his Nikon. Not only did he take pictures on his camera he takes them with your phone if you’d like a well. There was no obligation to purchase his professional pictures even if he took some for you on your phone. He did such a great job, I don’t know why you wouldn’t purchase them or at least tip him. He tells you exactly what to do and really we got great photos. Here is what the whole area really looks like.

If you choose to purchase the professional photos he will give you his business card with his website. You’ll be able to download your pictures that night after 9PM. He does put a small watermark of the left hand bottom corner of the photo but it is extremely easy to crop it out.

What to Bring on the Hike to Pedra do Telegrafo

You will need plenty of water to make the hike to Pedra do Telegrafo. While there is someone selling refreshments once you get to the cliff you’ll need water on your journey. CAfter our many hikes on our Southwest road trip and in Costa Rica we learned carrying large water bottles is annoying. This time we invested in the Osprey Hydration Backpack and I’m glad we did.  You can fill it with 2.5L of water and comfortably carry it on your back. There is a long straw attached to the pack allowing you to easily drink without removing the backpack. The backpack can also hold items like extra clothing.

Backcountry.com Hiking Gear

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

When I’m hiking my clothing typically doesn’t have pockets to store items like my phone or keys. This was true for our hike to Pedra do Telegrafo and that’s why I always hike with my Herschel fanny pack. To me it’s more convenient than having to constantly remove my backpack to retrieve my items.

If you are traveling with young children like we were I highly recommend using a carrier. If you’re child can’t walk or gets tired of walking you won’t want to carry them in your arms. Our favorite hiking carrier is the Dueter Kid Comfort III. We love how easy it is to get your child in and out, that is comes with a shade, and so many other features.

We got all of our hiking gear from Backcountry.com. You can use promo code HAMBRICK15 for 15% off your first purchase.

Dueter Kid Comfort III Hiking Carrier from Backcountry.com

Hiking to Pedra do Telegrafo was one of the highlights of our Rio de Janeiro vacation. When you’re done with your hike you’ll probably want to cool down and relax. There are three beaches that you will pass driving back to the Copacabana area of Rio de Janeiro. It’s a good idea to make the Pedra do Telegrafo hike an all day adventure. You can relax on one of the nearby beaches afterwards, they are much better than Copacabana beach. Grumari Beach is good for swimming, Prainha is great for surfing and Macumba Beach is good for swimming and surfing. 

We love using our Skullcandy Barricade XL Speaker at the beach. Not only is it Bluetooth capable, there are USB plug so you can charge your phone and it’s waterproof. You don’t have to worry about it getting wet and you can feel free to take it in the ocean with you! We also got it from Backcountry.com and you can use promo code HAMBRICK15 for 15% off .

I hope you get the most epic cliff hanging photos at Pedra do Telegrafo. You’ll want a good meal after this hike so check out the best restaurants in Rio. Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!

This blog post is in partnership with Backcountry.com. All opinions are my own and true!

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Comments

  1. Shever says

    April 13, 2019 at 1:46 am

    Awesome information. You made this adventure so attractive, it is now a must do on my bucket list.

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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