The Llama Travel Blog

When you begin planning a trip to Chile, Patagonia may be the destination that springs to mind first, however heading to the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile offers equally picturesque but somewhat contrasting landscapes from the southern experience. Explore expansive desert landscapes, active geysers, diverse wildlife and unique rock formations here in the highest and driest desert on earth. Find out the Top 5 Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama.

Renowned for its world-class textiles and artisan treasures, Latin America goes hand in hand with souvenir shopping. You’ll find markets of all shapes and sizes in most major cities, towns and even the most rural areas, serving as an important trading place for the locals. Piles of fruits and vegetables lining the pavements, vendors in traditional dress chanting their prices, craft stalls laiden with alpaca jumpers and colourful textiles, locals tucking into hearty soups and slow-roasted meats - these are all common sights throughout the continent. Instead of just passing through each place, by visiting a market you will be rewarded with a more authentic experience, knowing that you are helping with the development of a local community. With this in mind, we’ve put together a selection of some of our favourite markets in Latin America, plus some top tips.

One of our customers, Mr Kilner, visited Peru and Easter Island as part of a spectacular 19-night South American adventure with Llama Travel. Have a scroll through his photos to see some of the spectacular sights he explored including Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the mysterious volcanic island in the Pacific, almost 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile. 

I was impressed as soon as we arrived in the Galapagos. We got to Puerto Ayora port on the island of Santa Cruz and there were several sea lions sleeping on the benches, and some lazing around on the jetties leading out to sea, plus rays and sharks and sea turtles swimming around below us. We were transferred across the bay in a little dinghy to our home for the next few days – a sailing boat gently rocking on the crystal-clear water. Our cruise itinerary took us to the western side of the archipelago, around the seahorse-shaped island of Isabela, which meant visiting some of the most remote parts of the islands which you could never get to on a day trip.

Known for being the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Peru’s tourist capital is nestled in the Andes at 3,400 metres above sea level. The historic centre of Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has a mix of colonial and Inca architecture, making it a truly fascinating place to visit. As well as the 500 Inca sites and museums, the city boasts excellent opportunities for shopping, eating and trying one of the many adventure sports in the vicinity. 

The main reason the Galapagos Islands have become such a popular tourist destination is because of the ability to observe so many species of animals at such close quarters. Galapagos wildlife is fearless and will come right up to you, so you can snorkel with sharks and turtles, play with sea lions, learn about fascinating finches and walk amongst giant tortoises and iguanas. Read our blog to find out which wildlife can be found on which island. 

The vast Peruvian Amazon covers over half of Peru and offers spectacular biodiversity, with incredible vegetation, birdlife and wildlife. Puerto Maldonado is a small jungle town in Southern Peru, close to the Brazilian and Bolivian borders. Located on the Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers, the nearby jungle lodges we work with offer excellent opportunities to explore the surrounding scenery. Staying in a jungle lodge allows you to experience the Amazon in relative comfort, while guides take you on excursions to explore during the day.

Visiting the Galapagos Islands is an item on the bucket list for many people – and for good reason. Consisting of 19 islands and located 926km off the coast of Ecuador, this magical archipelago is home to an abundance of endemic species and the human footprint has been kept to a minimum. While a Galapagos adventure can be rather costly, this unique destination makes for a trip of a lifetime and is well worth the cost. Take a Galapagos cruise, or stay in a Galapagos hotel – which option is best for you?

Taking the train to Machu Picchu but you’re keen to take a crack at hiking whilst at the ruins? Walking the Inca Trail but you’re up for one final trek? Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain offer unparalleled birds-eye views of the ruins, as well as panoramic vistas of the surrounding peaks and valley. While both hikes are difficult, arguably making the decision of which mountain to climb is the biggest difficulty of all.

Planning a holiday to Latin America is an exciting time, and the continent offers endless opportunities for all ages, from backpackers in their early 20s to couples and solo travellers in their 80s who want to tick Machu Picchu off their list. For many reasons, travelling in your older years is the prime time. However, the thought of travelling may raise a few concerns – will I be fit enough? Is it safe? Will I be lonely? In this blog we go through some common queries that people have when travelling in their mature years.