We know one of the most important parts of travelling is immersing yourself in the destination. This allows you to give back to the communities you visit, whether it's buying fruit from a market in Cusco or supporting a local artist in Rio de Janeiro. South American cities are fascinating, but they can often blur into one if you don't do them properly. With this in mind, we’ve reviewed our tours of cities and towns to see how we can give more of a flavour of the local culture. This means more walking tours and less getting in and out of vehicles. Plus, more visits to markets and neighbourhoods to experience the local colours, tastes and aromas, so that getting to know cities is more than just learning about church after church. Read this blog to find out the improvements we’ve made and the new tours we are offering, from trying local snacks on a walking tour of Cartagena to experiencing the excitement of Lucha Libre wrestling in Mexico City or learning how chocolate is made in Costa Rica.

Although none of us could have predicted how 2020 would pan out, one of the silver linings for Llama Travel has been the time we've been able to dedicate to improving our holidays. We’ve just added a fantastic range of active excursions. So, for those who want to try something more adventurous when on holiday, this is possible. But for those who prefer taking things at a more relaxed pace, you can still do that. It’s your choice.

Scroll down for some of the new activities we now offer, from kayaking on Lake Titicaca, to horse riding in Patagonia and white-water rafting in Costa Rica. And if you fancy delving deeper into the local culture, we’ve added options so you can now make an authentic Pisco Sour cocktail in Lima’s oldest hotel, experience Rio de Janeiro like a local or cook up a three-course feast in Mexico.

Welcome 2021 and farewell 2020. It’s been… interesting.

I know that I am no different to many others in that the end of 2020 has brought about a period of reflection on the difficult circumstances of Covid-19, and plans for how things will be different in 2021. I am focusing on the positives of the past year, and would like to share these with you, along with what we can do in the coming year to make Llama Travel a better company, regardless of general circumstances.