The Llama Travel Blog

Over the past year, we've been busy preparing fascinating new destinations to pin on the ever-growing Llama Travel map. We are excited to announce a whole new continent: Europe. We've worked hard to put the Llama Travel touch on these, with the same combination of high quality, excellent value and small group tours that we offer in Latin America and Africa. Our Europe holidays will offer the same mix of fascinating history, rich culture, beautiful scenery and great food.

Look towards the East for one of our first European destinations: Romania. We will be launching our Romania holidays in the next few weeks, but we want to give you a sneak peek now.

Here’s what Paige, a member of the Llama Travel sales team, saw during her time in Romania - all the photos in this blog are her own. 

Perched at 2,800 metres above sea level with a beautiful backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the city of Quito is a great place to spend a few days before discovering the rest of Ecuador’s mainland or the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Whilst three days is generally a good amount of time to see the city’s best bits, it is good to have some insider knowledge.

During my six months living in Quito, I explored the ins and outs of the city, and got to know the places that aren’t on the tourist trail. The thing I love about Quito is the variety of neighbourhoods – in La Floresta you can meet owners of local art galleries and have a coffee in a beautiful old cinema, whilst in Parque Metropolitano you can hike on nature trails with views of Quito. Ecuador is small so day trips from Quito are also a great option, whether it’s perusing South America’s largest indigenous market or spotting rare bird species in the cloud forest. 

 Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most iconic cities, and arguably the most vibrant city in South America. From the world-famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and the colourful carnival processions to the striking Christ the Redeemer statue, the Brazilian city has it all. Rio’s natural beauty is something to behold – the tropical rainforest of Tijuca, the golden sand and turquoise water of the famous beaches and the panoramic viewpoint atop Sugarloaf Mountain. Rio also boasts many manmade landmarks, most famously Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue with its outstretched arms waiting to embrace all visitors.

Here are the top ten things to do during your holiday in Rio de Janeiro.

The Classic Inca Trail is a popular bucket list item for millions of people worldwide. But for those who want to visit Machu Picchu without the commitment of having to hike for four days to get there, there are many excellent alternatives to the Inca Trail. One of these is the Short Inca Trail, which follows the same network of trails as the Classic, and the final part of the two walks is the same. The difference is that you only have one full day of walking, you get to stay in a comfortable hotel rather than camping, and you still have a full day to explore the Machu Picchu ruins.

Sandwiched between the United States and the start of the Northern Triangle/Central America lies Mexico, a wonderfully rich and proud country that boasts some incredible destinations and features that any traveller wishing to explore Latin America should be keen to indulge in. This blog will highlight the main attractions of this adventurous and beautiful country which can all be experienced on our holidays to Mexico.

Thirty years ago, the family-run Rovos Rail began operating luxurious train journeys through South Africa and beyond. Riding on the opulent Rovos service from Cape Town to Pretoria is a fine way to witness the transformation of South Africa’s landscapes; from the semi-desert of the Karoo, to green winelands, to sweeping mountain ranges. The three-day journey covers 1,600km, with sightseeing stops in the attractive village of Matijesfontein and the diamond mining town of Kimberley.

So, what exactly can you expect when spending a night on the Rovos Rail?

Over the past year, walking has taken on a new meaning for many of us. Whether it's multiple laps around the local park or a day-long hike in the countryside, it's given us a chance to connect with nature and stay grounded in the midst of restrictions. There's no better way to discover the beautiful landscapes of Latin America and Africa than on foot. From nature reserve trails in South Africa and volcanic lake hikes in Ecuador to epic Patagonia treks and the iconic trails to Machu Picchu, there are options to suit everyone. Keep scrolling to find out which walks and treks suit your budget and ability, so you can start planning something to look forward to.

Can I tell you about a very special day, my 65th birthday?  We had booked our second trip with Llama Travel having previously enjoyed a holiday in Peru & Machu Piccu.  This time was to be Ecuador & the Galapagos. I wanted it to be special so booked a two day (one night) trip to the Bellavista Reserve to enjoy some bird life, especially the hummingbirds, and flora.  This is my story of the trip.

As concerns about the sustainability of our current lifestyles grow, the tourism industry has seen a strong shift towards greener travel. This is very important to Llama Travel (you can read more about what we do here), and our partners around the world are doing everything we can to support this, from eco-lodges in Costa Rica and Botswana to rhino conservation in Kenya and sustainable projects in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In honour of Earth Day last week, we have compiled a list of eight of our favourite sustainable properties in Latin America and Africa that do their bit to help the planet.

Shortly before the first covid lockdown, I was lucky enough to travel to South Africa on a family holiday. Now, after a year of no travel, I have been reminiscing about this adventure and can't wait to send passengers on a Gondwana safari trip so they can experience the amazing wildlife and beautiful landscapes for themselves when restrictions allow. 

Having spent much of the past twenty years travelling throughout Latin America, this was a fantastic chance to get to know somewhere new. Cape Town was a big hit with all of us, and we loved the journey along the Garden Route, especially the whale watching in Hermanus and getting up before dawn to see the meerkats pop up out of the red earth near Oudtshoorn. But the highlight for all of us was the safari in Gondwana, a game reserve in South Africa's Western Cape, a four hour scenic drive from Cape Town... read my blog to find out why.