The Llama Travel Blog

For a bit of light-hearted fun and distraction from everything that’s currently going on in the world, we've created a special Llama Travel quiz so you can test your knowledge of Latin America. There are five rounds (photos, anagrams, multiple choice, flags and food) with seven questions each and you'll find the answers at the bottom - no cheating though! Let us know your score (out of 35) on the Llama Travel Facebook page. ¡Buena suerte!

Although we can't travel yet, there are still plenty of ways we can fill our time and be inspired for future trips. From books and films to cuisine and music, the influence of Latin America has really taken off across the world, including the UK. Maybe you'd like to reminisce on a Latin American country you've already visited, or perhaps you're dreaming about your next adventure and want to get in the mood. Either way, read our blog for some inspiration. 

Latin American food has become increasingly popular in the rest of the world, including the UK, in recent years. For many people, trying new cuisine is an essential part of travel. Just because you can't go to Latin America right now, it doesn't mean you can't get some inspiration for the future, or recreate fond memories of past trips. Now that many of us have got more time on our hands, it's a great time to get a taste of Latin America by creating some of these classic dishes in your kitchen. You can find recipes for all of them online. 

With over a quarter of the land dedicated to national parks and reserves designed to protect and preserve Costa Rica’s vast ecosystems, it’s hardly surprising that the Central American country has an abundance of natural beauty. Renowned around the world for its conservation and sustainable tourism efforts, Costa Rica is home to 4% of the world’s biodiversity. In Costa Rica, there are 28 national parks, many of which are filled with volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls and an impressive variety of wildlife. You can spot monkeys and sloths in the treetops by a palm-fringed beach on the Pacific Coast, watch turtles hatching on the Caribbean coast and relax in hot springs with an impressive volcano backdrop.

Beautifully located in the driest desert in the world, San Pedro de Atacama is a small town in northern Chile made up of narrow streets lined with adobe buildings. The town thrives as a tourist hub mainly due to the surrounding area which is full of barren moonscapes, fiery red canyons, vast salt flats, unique rock formations, turquoise thermal lakes and rising geysers. The area is also Chile’s most important archaeological site, with ruins of the pre-Colombian cultures still visible in the desert. Plus, the Atacama Desert is cloudless almost all of the year, sits at a high altitude and lacks light pollution which can interfere with astronomical observations. This makes it one of the best places in the world for star gazing – there are many astronomy tours that can be booked locally. The desert is even helping NASA better understand what life may be like on Mars, as most of the life in the Atacama Desert are microbes, the only living organisms capable of living in such dry conditions. Keep reading to find out how to spend your time in San Pedro de Atacama. 

Despite being almost five times smaller than the UK, Costa Rica hosts an astonishing 4% of the planet’s diversity. From sloths and four types of monkeys on the Pacific coastline to caimans and sea turtles on the Caribbean side, the country is brimming with wildlife. Not to mention the 890+ species of birds found in the cloud forests and jungles. If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, keep reading to find out what you might spot.

From dense jungle and soaring peaks to ancient archaeological sites and colonial cities, Central and South America boast a variety of destinations that appeal to many walks of life. Depending on your interests you might prefer to relax on a rainforest-fringed beach or visit a traditional community in a remote location. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks for 2020.    

There are many factors to consider when travelling to the Galapagos Islands. You can go land-based and stay in a hotel on Isabela or one of the other islands, or you can choose from numerous yachts, catamarans and larger vessels. Whilst these are both fantastic options, in order to reach the most remote parts of the archipelago, a cruise is essential. One question we often get asked is whether passengers are likely to get seasick, and which types of boat are more likely to cause it. In short, this shouldn’t keep you from taking the trip of a lifetime. Keep reading for some Galapagos seasickness FAQs and top tips.

As an emerging and growing tourist destination, the beautiful country of Colombia is sometimes overlooked on a South American bucket list, as travellers prioritise leading destinations such as Peru, Patagonia or Costa Rica. Until recent years, travelling to Colombia was not recommended and the country’s lingering negative reputation leaves tourists feeling cautious and apprehensive about choosing Colombia for their next adventure abroad.

In reality, many parts of Colombia have now been declared safe for travel, and although it is advisable to stick to the well-known tourist spots, visiting Colombia can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. In fact, travellers to South America often name Colombia as the highlight of their trip. So, what are the draws of this resilient nation, and why should it be on your travel list? Here are just a handful of the things that make Colombia so special…

Iguazú Falls is an impressive collection of over 270 waterfalls spanning almost three kilometres through lush forest on the border of Argentina and Brazil. With the possibility of visiting Iguazú from two countries, people often ask the question “but which side is better?” Fortunately, here at Llama Travel our tours include a visit to both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of Iguazú so you do not have to choose between them – but what are the differences?