The best way to explore an off-beat destination

Carrera Lake, Argentina and Chile. The freshwater lake is the second deepest lake in South America, reaching 586 m depth. It is also one of the most beautiful natural lakes in the world. The lake stretches for 1,850 km² through two countries. It is of glacial origin, surrounded by Andes mountains and is fed by Pacific Ocean and Baker River. Carrera Lake fascinates with its clear water, which colors vary between emerald, turquoise, aquamarine and azure. Moreover, the Marble Caves, formed due to the wave action, surround the lake. The unusual natural network is called Marble Cathedral and attracts many visitors. Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown [symple_googlemap title=”General Carrera, Čilė” location=”General Carrera, Čilė” zoom=”10″ height=250]

Full disclosure: Lia is a cat person, Jeremy is a dog person. But we’re both animal lovers, regardless of preference. So, when we discovered that Lima is home to a cat park, we immediately added it to our Peru bucket list! If you’re as obsessed with animals as we are, you have to visit Parque Kennedy in Miraflores, Lima. Table of Contents Visiting Lima and discovering Parque Kennedy in Miraflores Why we loved Parque Kennedy in Lima First impressions of Parque Kennedy Parque Kennedy Cats Can you play with the cats at Parque Kennedy in Miraflores, Lima? Practical Information about Parque Kennedy in Miraflores Visiting Lima and discovering Parque Kennedy in Miraflores Parque Kennedy, also known as Parque Central, is situated slap bang in the middle of the Miraflores district in Lima, Peru. We spent over 2 weeks in the city and after doing a self-guided walking tour and overindulging in some of the best coffee we’ve ever had, we have to admit that visitin...

Between Botswana ending its five-year ban on elephant hunting and giraffes being considered for the endangered species list, there’s good reason to be concerned about wildlife conservation in the face of climate change, poaching and overpopulation. Yet there are conservation success stories to tout, too – and eco-conscious wildlife tourism certainly plays a part. Natural Habitat Adventures is a global leader in responsible nature travel and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund. It takes travelers to destinations where some threatened and endangered wildlife species are actually doing better in recent years. According to the United Nations, travelers are a driving force for positive change when it comes to sustaining biodiversity. The revenue from tourists’ park fees, permits and donations made in-destination contributes to greater conservation achievements. The increased appreciation for nature that comes with seeing a gorilla or a tiger in person...

I can finally say I’ve been to Peru. I’ve seen the glorious Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, I’ve scaled the steep stairs in the city of Cusco, and I’ve eaten myself into a potato-induced-coma in Lima (Peru has over 3,000 different types of potatoes). But I didn’t do my research before I arrived, because all the thinking was done for me by booking a tour with Trafalgar. However if you’re doing it on your own or want to research before your tour departs, here’s everything you need to know! Visiting Peru for the First Time When to Go Though travellers visit Peru year-round, the best (and most popular) time of year to visit is the dry season, which runs from May-October. If you plan to visit Peru during this time and wish to hike (there are some great day hikes aside from the 4 day Inca Trek), be sure to book in advance as permits book out 6 months in advance. Where to Go: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu You might have heard from other ...

(This post contains affiliate links, for more information read this  privacy policy ) If you are traveling to the Caribbean coast of the country there are a lot of activities to do, especially around the Santa Marta area. From there you can visit Tayrona National Parque, travel to Minca or Palomino or go on the Lost City Trek if you have enough time. The Lost City Trek is a 4, 5 or 6 day trek to the ancient Ciudad Perdida (Lost City, also known as “Teyuna”) located within the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The place is even older than Machu Picchu in Peru and can only be reached by foot. Meaning, that the only way to get to see the lost city is by going on a multiple day hike. The hike has a total of around 42 kilometres. Contents 1 How long does the tour take? 2 How does it work? 2.1 17 Things I wish I would have known beforehand 2.2 1. All your clothes will be wet for most of the time 2.3 2. There are actual beds 2.4 3. You get plenty of food 2.5 4. ...

by Alyssa Ramos Flying over the beginning flecks of islands amongst the clear blue ocean, darkened and lightened with depth, I was reminded of images I’ve seen in my undergrad ecology class textbooks. Darwin’s famed Galapagos Islands , whose contribution to evolutionary advances seemed almost mythical when studied in college, was now about to be a real experience. Jump To: Getting to the Galapagos Islands Getting to Puerto Ayora Things to do in Puerto Ayora Cliff Diving at Las Grietas San Cristobal The Charles Darwin Research Station Seeing the Sea Lions Lover’s Canal and Dog Beach Where to Eat Getting to the Galapagos Islands It was only a short flight from Quito , and I felt the culture embrace me as soon as we stepped off the tiny, rickety plane in Santa Cruz , and onto the brutally windy landing strip where we were ushered inside the open-aired airport to be admitted. A separate immigration form from the one I filled out in Ecuador was required, along with an...