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Colombia’s inland cities are worthy trips in their own right, but the country’s Caribbean coast is an idler’s dream. Imagine lounging on a beach towel and listening to the waves while staring at the mountains of Santa Marta. Jungle trekking, river tubing and canoeing are just a few of the ways to get active on this eight-day trip, which traces the shoreline to tick off the first free African town in the Americas, howler monkeys in Tayrona National Park, the Rosario Islands by boat, and peaceful, palm-shaded Palomino.
Machu Picchu has been atop most traveller’s to-do list for as long as travel as existed, but Peru is so much more than just an Inca citadel populated by llamas. An entire day of this trip is dedicated to Peru’s most famous landmark, but ancient history buffs will also get a kick from visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Meanwhile nature lovers can spot condors on a Colca Canyon trek and paddleboard around Piuray Lagoon, while foodie’s will be obsessed with the picanterias of Arequipa and our Peruvian cooking masterclass in Cusco.
The Galápagos: a bucket-list destination for any animal lover. Land and sea set the ultimate stage for the fauna that informed Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in the 19th century. Viewing the archipelago’s endemic species with the naked eye is breathtaking enough; imagine how unforgettable interacting with them will be. This five-day adventure around these protected Pacific islands will see you snorkeling with penguins, swimming with sea lions and walking (very slowly) alongside giant tortoises.
South America’s largest country is endlessly explorable but this nine-day adventure combines metropolis thrills with a two-night coastal chill. We start in ginormous Sao Paulo, where stunning works of contemporary architecture breathe new life into the cities old streets. We’ll explore a vast urban park and a number of trendy neighbourhoods as we get to know Brazil’s largest city. After all that a rural retreat will be a balm for the soul as we escape to the gorgeous old town of Paraty. After a few days exploring the coastal region’s luscious bounties we’ll continue on to Rio de Janeiro, where a samba workshop, sunset cocktails and volleyball on the beach awaits.
Is five days too short for Ecuador? Tack on the country’s Andes and Amazon with this additional eight-day trip. The rich biodiversity and varied landscape of the country deserves exploration in every way imaginable. You’ll learn the ropes at a moderate pace, heading through mountains and rainforest, cycling across the Baños Waterfall Route, hoofing it around the crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa and seeing Cotopaxi National Park on horseback – all worthy ways to work off a chocolate-tasting session in Quito.