The Llama Travel Blog

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.

I recently got back from a trip to Botswana, where I spent time in Kasane, the Savuti Marsh area and then embarked on a Letaka mobile camping safari in the Khwai concession.

The Rovos Rail is one of the world's most famous and luxurious train journeys, allowing passengers to travel in style across the unfolding landscape of South Africa. In March of this year I was lucky enough to take the two-night journey between Cape Town and Pretoria.

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?

Embarking on an African safari but you’re not too sure what to pack for the trip? Whether you are taking a safari with us in Botswana, South Africa or Namibia, these are ten essential items to include on your packing list in order to have a comfortable experience. 

Costa Rica, a tiny country in Central America, has become known across the world for its rich biodiversity and sustainability. In an area only two and a half times the size of Wales, you’ll find smoking volcanoes, verdant rainforests, stunning tropical beaches and beautiful cloud forests. There are activities to please everyone – from spotting monkeys and sloths in the lush jungle and soaring over the treetops in the cloud forest, to white-water rafting with a view of Arenal Volcano and watching baby turtles scurry across the sand in Tortuguero. Here are just ten of many reasons to visit this charming country. 

A holiday in southern Africa is sure to include some incredible wildlife experiences, with countless opportunities to encounter a large number of diverse species in a range of habitat types. From the long-necked kudu to the nimble klipspringer, the wide-eyed ostrich and the spotted cheetah, the biodiversity of southern Africa is impressive and a treasure trove for any wildlife enthusiast.

Here, we have chosen a selection of the greatest experiences in the region, all of which are featured on Llama Travel’s programme of small-group tours.

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.

One of the iconic images of Namibia is the huge rolling sand dunes found in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. They are some of the highest dunes in the world, and have developed over many millions of years. Visiting these characteristic orange dunes from the region of Sossusvlei was one of our Product Manager’s standout highlights from his trip to Namibia. Read on to find out about Scott’s experiences of climbing the aptly named ‘Big Daddy’ and exploring Deadvlei. 

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.