News and infomation

Planning a holiday to Latin America is an exciting time, and the continent offers endless opportunities for both young and old travellers. However, as you get a little older, the thought of travelling may raise a few concerns – will I be fit enough? Is it safe? Will I be lonely? Here we go through some common queries that people have when travelling in their mature years.

We've been sitting on this news for a while now, but it's finally time to let the (big) cat out of the bag. We’re launching a new destination - Africa!

Our formula of flexible small group tours gets great feedback in Latin America, but we know you love travelling and there's a whole world beyond Latin America to explore. That's why we're excited to announce southern Africa as the next pin on Llama Travel's map.

Come mid-2019 we'll be offering holidays to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Victoria Falls. 

Our product manager, Scott is back from the first of our destinations, Namibia. He's got some fabulous photos which give a hint at what this region has to offer.

 Here at Llama Travel we pride ourselves on being experts in Latin America, having all travelled extensively throughout the continent. It's hard to choose a favourite from such a diverse range of locations, but here are a few of our personal highlights. 

It’s tricky to sum up such a diverse continent in a few words, and equally difficult to select one of the endless destinations to visit. From the majestic Andes to the laidback beaches and deepest depths of the jungle, each place has something new and exciting to uncover - whether it’s a different culture, cuisine, landscape or activity. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of a few of our favourite locations for 2019. Have a read to get some inspiration and start planning the next adventure.

Across Central and South America, the 31st of December is about taking part in special rituals to see in the new year and say goodbye to the last one. From burning effigies to eating grapes and lentils, each one symbolises something different. Here are a few of Latin America’s weird and wonderful traditions.

The annual British Airways flight sale has kicked off, with fantastic flight deals to some great Latin America destinations. You can already save up to £300 per person using our discount vouchers but now you can save even more! Get amazing flight deals and discounted premium economy upgrades on selected dates.

Most people are drawn to South America for its mind-blowing landscapes, diverse culture and outstanding nature that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. However, while these are all undoubtedly great reasons to visit, the continent’s cities have a lot to brag about too, each one holding something special and unique. From colonial architecture to exotic coastlines and mountain backdrops, these places are well worth spending a few days in. Here are a few of our favourites:

If you are considering a visit to Latin America for the first time, you might not be fully aware of just what makes this region so wonderful. Numerous travel companies exist purely to show the world Latin America, so it must have something worth writing home about, right?

Indeed. It’s tricky to sum up an entire continent in a couple of points, particularly when that continent is as diverse as South America. However, there are certain threads which run the length and breadth of the region.

The Amazon Jungle. Whether you visit it from Peru, Ecuador or Brazil, you will find that it is lush, and dense, and filled with lots of different plants and animals – the reason you are presumably visiting. You will also find that it can be very damp, if not outright wet, and brimming with insects. Make the most of your Amazon visit by being prepared. 

So you’ve decided that you want to go on a wildlife holiday in Latin America, but as you do more research, you realise that there are more options than you thought. Here we break down the main options, as well as the pros and cons of each.

The joys of rural hospitality seems to be a theme which runs the length and breadth of the world. The further outside the cities you get, the friendlier the people become, and oftentimes, the more inviting the landscapes become too. Latin America is a friendly part of the world to begin with, and boasts a diverse set of landscapes capable of inspiring awe and setting one at ease simultaneously.

Apart from that though, spending some time outside the cities provides a glimpse into a different side of the place you’re visiting. Perhaps this is why hacienda (or estancia) stays in Latin America are becoming ever more popular. We now offer 3 separate opportunities for you to get a taste of hacienda life, ranging from an afternoon excursion to a 3 day/2 night visit. And here they are…

We're delighted that airlines are twigging on to the magic that is Latin America, and as the region's popularity grows, so airlines are responding. It is now easier than ever to get to Latin America from the UK,  with direct flights to various destinations throughout South and Central America. The latest flight announcement comes from British Airways, whose direct flight to San José, Costa Rica starts on April 27th 2016, and the direct flight to Lima, Peru starts on May 4th 2016. Both routes originate from London Gatwick. 

Strolling up the street towards the local market, the din of buyers and sellers negotiating deals gets louder as you approach the entrance. On the block leading up to the large covered area, the pavements burst with temporary stalls and once inside, the intensity of a local market in full swing hits you.

A stall laden with colourful fruit catches your eye, and next to it, one astonishes you with its variety of root vegetables. Further down the aisle you can buy fruit smoothies and milky drinks and then you turn a corner and are suddenly confronted with a hunk of meat hanging off a hook, a pig head resting on the corner of the counter and the distinct smell of raw meat.

All travellers passing through the US are required to fill in an online form to obtain authorisation for a US Visa Waiver. The form can be found here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

This will take you the US Department of Homeland Security web page where you can apply. Once there, please click on the New Application button and follow the instructions. 

Although this can be filled in up to 72 hours before travel, we recommend that you fill in this form as soon as possible so any issues can be identified immediately. Please make sure that this form is filled out for all the passengers on your booking.

Please note that although you can fill in all the details requested on the online form only the fields marked with a "*" are required. If you have any questions about this please don’t hesitate to contact us.