Before You Go
Galapagos Cruise Ship Categories: How to Choose
by Tom Shearman on
The Galapagos Islands— and Galapagos cruise ships—offer visitors the chance to get close to incredible and tame wildlife, on land and in the sea, among a backdrop of dramatic volcanic landscapes. The islands are a living laboratory, marrying preservation and conservation to create life-changing holidays. This year-round destination’s ever-changing seasons ensure every visit is spectacular, …
Perito Moreno Glacier Day Tour Options from El Calafate
by Tom Shearman on
Day Tour Options from El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier There are many Perito Moreno Glacier day tour options from El Calafate. Read through our suggestions to help you choose the best Perito Moreno trip for your travel style. We can include any of these trips as part of your Patagonia itinerary. In our guide …
Travelling To and Around the Galapagos Islands
by Gill Christie on
Travelling to and around the Galapagos Islands You’ve booked your cruise or land-based trip to the amazing Galapagos Islands. But you still have a few questions about how to fly there and what you need to do at the airport before you check in for your Galapagos flight. This guide to travelling around the Galapagos …
Galapagos Islands Travel Update
by Tom Shearman on
Galapagos Islands Travel Update, May 2024 The increasing popularity of the Galapagos Islands keeps it at the top of many people’s must-visit lists. The Galapagos Park Authorities is responding to the boom, particularly hotel-based trips, by doubling the park entry to $200 per person from 1 August 2024. The entry fees have increased for the first …
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes
by Tom Shearman on
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes The wildlife guide to Peninsula Valdes will help you decide the best time to visit Argentina’s number one animal haven. Peninsula Valdes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its role as a marine mammal and bird sanctuary. The peninsula offers some of the world’s best whale-watching opportunities. There’s …
Know Before You Go: Peru Trekking and Hiking Travel Tips
by Tom Shearman on
Peru Trekking and Hiking Travel Tips Peru, one of the most diverse Andean nations, offers a feast of trekking and hiking routes that showcase the country’s beauty. The Andes Cordillera runs the length of Peru. Its soaring peaks and satin-white glaciers frame many trekking routes as they course through remote villages, many unchanged since Inca …
Amazon Rainforest Know Before You Go Travel Guide
by Kathy Jarvis on
Amazon rainforest know before you go travel guide: enjoy a life-enhancing adventure. Our Amazon rainforest travel guide takes the pressure out of planning your Amazon visit. You’ll find what you need to know before you go with these travel tips. We cover everything from the big questions like when to go to the details like …
What Do I Need To Know Before Going on a Galapagos Cruise?
by Tom Shearman on
A Galapagos Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Follow Charles Darwin’s footsteps through a wildlife-rich and dramatic volcanic landscape. So take the pressure out of planning your Galapagos cruise with these travel tips. You’ll find everything you need to know before you go to this paradise. We’ll cover everything from the big questions like when to …
Hidden Gems: 8 Alternative Buenos Aires Day Tours
by Tom Shearman on
You’ve seen the traditional tours. Now try alternative Buenos Aires day trips. Classic day trips include a walking tour, a great way to take in the highlights, Recoleta cemetery, a tango show, and the antiques on display at the Feria de San Telmo. Opera fans may visit a show at Teatro Colon, and football fans …
Best Time To Visit Guyana: Weather and Seasons
by Tom Shearman on
The best time to visit Guyana is during one of its two dry seasons: February to March or late August to September. Like most destinations, the best time to visit Guyana may depends on travel preferences. Weather is never defined simply and Guyana’s seasons are a little more nuanced. Many people visit all through the …
Nibeko Aike Estancia, El Calafate, Argentina: Travel Review
by Tom Shearman on
Nibeko Aike offers a genuine Estancia stay near El Calafate. Patagonia is synonymous not only with incredible landscapes and high winds but also with the Estancia and Gaucho cultures. Here, a hundred years ago, people started a new life working the land, including at Estancia Nibeko Aike. Now, visitors can live the Estancia experience with …
A Guide to Spotting the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)
by Tom Shearman on
Seeing the night sky dancing during an aurora is on rightly many people’s bucket lists. Watching solar activity painting the Earth’s atmosphere shades of purple, green, red and white is an unforgettable experience. Aurora hunters often head to northern countries to glimpse this natural phenomenon, to destinations like Iceland or Canada. But the north’s Aurora …
A Guide to Eco-Tourism Holidays in Guyana
by Tom Shearman on
Eco-tourism comes as standard in Guyana. This is a country whose lands are 75% covered by lush, verdant forests interspersed by mighty, life-giving rivers. Indeed, Guyana’s original name, Guiana, means land of water. Wildlife as diverse as jaguars, giant river otters, and black caimans traverse these watercourses in one of South America’s best-protected natural landscapes. …
Travel & Money in Argentina: The Blue Dollar
by Tom Shearman on
Travel Money in Argentina: Currency Exchange, Best Rates, and Blue Dollar (Updated March 2024). The Argentine Peso has been experiencing a volatile time on currency exchanges for several years. The country’s rampant inflation and unstable currency do indeed make it a little more complicated to pay for things in Argentina, but the latest devaluation of …
Amazon Rainforest Travel Guide
by Tom Shearman on
The Amazon rainforest is the world’s most famous wildlife habitat. This iconic forest covers 6.7 million square kilometres, making it twice the size of India, and spans eight countries. Some 10% of all species on planet earth live in the Amazon, and more than two million indigenous people call this rainforest their home. Join them, canoeing …
Galapagos Animals: Wildlife Spotting Tips and Checklist
by Tom Shearman on
Galapagos animals help make the Galapagos Islands unique. Tame wildlife on land and sea makes it the perfect destination for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and families. Fascinating animals share their dramatic volcanic landscapes with visitors, often pulling photogenic poses while they check out their human guests. Every Galapagos island has flora and fauna distinct from their …
Galaxy Galapagos Cruise Review
by Tom Shearman on
Choosing the right cruise for your Galapagos holiday is always tricky, so we do our best to see the boats we sell. Kat decided she was up for writing a Galaxy Galapagos cruise review. It was a sacrifice, but Kat was lucky enough to recently cruise the Galapagos Islands on the lovely Galaxy. Here’s her …
Animal Wildlife Guide for Bolivia’s Madidi National Park
by Tom Shearman on
The steamy Amazon rainforest is the world’s most incredible living laboratory, a biodiversity hotspot and home to thousands of unique species. Land-locked Bolivia is home to unique and varied Amazonian wildlife. Just over half of the country is rainforest, with two-thirds considered primary rainforest. Bolivia’s most important jungle area is Madidi National Park, where jaguars, …
Travel Review of Mindo Cloud Forest Lodge, Ecuador
by Tom Shearman on
Where is Mindo Cloud Forest? The town of Mindo lies in the cloud forest north of Quito. It is a small, relaxed place that boasts a range of cafes and restaurants. More importantly, it lies in one of Ecuador’s most beautiful cloud forest areas. Kat’s Mindo Cloud Forest Adventure We asked Andean Trails’ Kat …
Day Trips From Santiago de Chile
by Tom Shearman on
Most people travelling to Chile will pass through its capital, Santiago, at some point during their trip. Santiago’s official name is Santiago de Chile. This stunning city has some fantastic day trips for those who linger longer. Excursions vary from wine tasting to skiing to street art. Such variety stems from Santiago’s dramatic geography — …