Colombia is a vibrant, multicultural country with a rich and tumultuous history. From the beginning, the geographic location of Colombia made it a main port of travel for Caribbean and Mesoamerican people - it was always an ethnically diverse place. Any Colombia Tour would be remiss without some exposure to the incredible history, culture and traditions of this country.
After 5-6 hours of flying over the Pacific Ocean, you are rewarded with your first glimpse of Easter Island. Maps help give an idea of the distance between Easter Island and South America, but without setting foot there, it is hard to understand its true seclusion. As your plane touches down at Mataveri International Airport, and you walk across the tarmac to the small terminal, you begin to grasp how remote and special this place is. The near treeless landscape alludes to the island’s history of deforestation and allows for sweeping views dotted with moai (famous monolithic “Easter Island heads”, which are actually full bodies) in many directions. These views also hint at the ecological crises the island suffered in the past.
I have always said that guides can make or break your trip. This is even more true when it’s an experiential adventure in Peru! Group tours can be a great fit for some, but especially in a country like Peru with its long and complex history and intricate culture, traveling with a private specialty guide is definitely the way to go when there are more than 5000 archeological sites to potentially explore during your Peru Tour!
Whether you’re whitewater rafting down the Trancura River or sipping a locally-brewed beer overlooking Lake Llanquihue in the charming colonial town of Puerto Varas, Chile’s Lake District offers high adrenaline pursuits, complete tranquility, and everything in between. Often overlooked by North American travelers, who tend to head straight down to Patagonia after a brief stop in Santiago, the Lake District offers plenty of scenic beauty and outdoor pursuits worth including in any Chile adventure tour. This region of Chile is a land of shimmering lakes, winding rivers, snow-capped volcanoes, scenic waterfalls, hot springs, and shady forests. Add to that the local indigenous Mapuche culture and food, as well as the German influence mainly seen in architecture, street names and the delicious kuchen (fruit pies and crumbles), and you’ve got yourself a destination worth experiencing.
The Galapagos Islands are a prime example of how ecotourism can be used as a tool for conservation. As one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world, this archipelago boasts over 76 species of native and endemic animals. While sea-based tours have traditionally been the primary method to explore the islands, in recent years the development of new lodges, hotels, and safari camps has led to a rise in land-based tours.
