Over just the past few months, hundreds of Cubans have been crossing half way across the American continent in an attempt to arrive on US soil.

The majority fly to Ecuador, one of only two countries which, along with Guyana, doesn't require Cubans to have an entry visa.

From there they cross eight countries in an exhausting journey which leaves them with few good memories.

During the three days that our Al Jazeera team documented their journey, we learned that the typical Cuban migrants have a different profile than what one might expect.

They are highly educated and they have money or relatives who finance the journey which makes them virtual cash machines for con men and assailants along the way.

Our team followed a group of five men and two women, some of whom had been travelling constantly for two and a half months.

Angel Fernandez, 25, worked in a mobile phone store in Cuba and earned the equivalent of $10 a month. He hadn't spoken to his parents since he left Cuba, and they still don't know that he is en route to the US.

Israel de la Rosa and his wife Joani sold their house to finance the journey. They left behind several children, the youngest of which is only nine. The couple crossed the jungle in Colombia, hardly eating or drinking for days.