The Llama Travel Blog

At the meeting of two continents and two oceans, Panama is a small country full of history, wildlife and culture. Earlier this year, I visited Panama City as an extension to my FAM trip to Costa Rica, which you can read about here.

I travelled on Llama Travel’s Best of Costa Rica + Panama City 14-day tour, and by the end of my time in Costa Rica I felt like I'd already experienced so much that I wasn't sure how Panama could compare. If I'm honest, before visiting I knew very little about the country beyond the Panama Canal (although I quickly learnt just how important it has been to Panama's history and economy) and Panama hats, which, despite their name, actually originate in Ecuador.

It's safe to say Panama City and the Panama Canal completely exceeded my expectations. More than anywhere else I visited in Central America, Panama felt like a fascinating mix of old and new, where modern skyscrapers sit alongside colonial streets, and Latin American culture blends with North American influence. Having travelled through Costa Rica before ending my trip there, I found when I arrived that Panama was definitely different from its neighbours. Here is a brief rundown of my time in Panama.

If you've never travelled to Latin America before, Costa Rica is the perfect place to start. Despite only taking up around twice the landmass of Wales, it's packed with lush rainforests, natural hot springs, incredible wildlife and beautiful tropical beaches, making it easy to experience so much in one trip.

One phrase you'll hear everywhere in Costa Rica is Pura Vida (‘Pure Life’). It's much more than just a national slogan, it's a way of life! Locals (known as 'Ticos' and 'Ticas') use it in all kinds of situations, whether they really mean ‘thank you’, ‘you're welcome’, ‘sounds good’, ‘yes’, or simply expressing happiness and appreciation. While it literally translates as ‘pure life’, its meaning is different for everyone. At its heart, though, it's about slowing down, enjoying the moment, and appreciating the simple things – something you'll quickly find yourself doing when in Costa Rica, too.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica on a FAM trip, and it completely exceeded my expectations. From misty cloud forests and unforgettable wildlife encounters to incredible places to stay and some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen, every day brought something new. Above all, though, it was the country's Pura Vida way of life that stayed with me long after I came home. In this blog, I'll take you through some of the highlights from the 11-days my group and I spent exploring Costa Rica. While it's impossible to fit everything into a single blog post, I hope it gives you a taste of what makes this country so special.

Brazil occupies almost half of the South American continent, giving it a wonderful cultural diversity and rich geography. A trip to Brazil can often feel like combining many destinations in one, and with our multi-centre holidays, that often is the case.

At Llama Travel, we have years of experience selling Latin America, and we only sell direct, so you always have the chance to speak to an expert and pay the lowest prices. Here are 7 more reasons to visit Brazil with Llama Travel.

Colombia continues to undergo a rapid transformation after political turbulence throughout the 20^th century; its colourful cities, hospitable welcome and lush landscapes are unlike any other in the world.

At Llama Travel, we have sold holidays to Latin America since 2002, and guarantee flexibility, security and great value for money across our destination portfolio. Here are 7 reasons why our Colombia holidays are no exception to that rule.

Panama is a small Central American country that punches above its size when it comes to travel experiences. It starkly contrasts colonial quarters and an old-town feel with high-rises and a pivotal role in global trade courtesy of its world-famous Canal.

At Llama Travel, we create high-quality holidays that offer flexibility, security, and great value for money. Here are seven reasons why our Panama holidays really are better.

Bolivia is located in central South America, with much of the country situated in the high Andes Mountains, making it a wonderful destination to combine with nearby Peru. It is one of the region’s most authentic regions, where incredible landscapes are home to traditional ways of living.

We have crafted high-quality holidays to Latin America since 2002, and guarantee flexibility, security and great value for money. If you’re already convinced, you can view all of our Bolivia holidays here, or continue below to find out why Llama Travel holidays to Bolivia are better.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, which makes it a fantastic addition to a holiday in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia. Once known as ‘the jewel of Africa’, much of Zimbabwe is covered by national parks, mountains, and the Limpopo, Save and Zambezi rivers. The latter converges on the border with Zambia to form Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls and probably the country’s biggest attraction.

Llama Travel’s Zimbabwe extensions, applicable to a number of our African itineraries, are a fantastic way to conclude a trip with a visit to the spectacular Falls while uncovering even more of the destination’s wonderful wilderness and wildlife.

Botswana is one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations, known for its vast open plains and exceptional wildlife viewing. From the waterways and floodplains of the Okavango Delta to the wildlife-rich parks of Chobe and Moremi, travel here is about slowing down and spending time immersed in the bush. Game drives are relaxed, camps are comfortable and well-located, and the focus is entirely on the natural world around you.

Llama Travel’s Botswana holidays have been designed to ensure you make the most of your time in this incredible destination. Here are 7 reasons why you should visit Botswana with Llama Travel.

Uzbekistan’s Silk Road history, vibrant culture, and UNESCO-recognised architecture are earning it growing renown as one of Asia’s outstanding destinations. For this blog, we caught up with Otto, one of our in-house Travel Experts, about his recent trip to the destination to unpack the highlights and provide you with some pointers if you are planning to visit. 

If you want to talk directly to one of our Travel Experts, contact us here, or order a brochure here to browse our full range of holidays and further details of our 12-day Uzbekistan tour. 

For many people, a safari holiday is one of the most aspirational travel experiences on earth. It can, however, be daunting, too. In Llama Travel’s nearly 25-year history of selling holidays, we have heard many customers’ concerns about visiting a new place or experiencing a different kind of holiday for the first time. The most common questions from first-timers considering a safari holiday often relate to wild camping, the heat on the plains, and the early wake-up calls for game drives.

Libby, a Product Executive on Llama Travel’s expert team, had many such concerns before her first safari experience. In this blog, she breaks down her experience as a first-timer on safari, addressing some of the common questions and concerns our customers voice before committing to a safari holiday—and, more often than not, having an excellent experience when they travel.