Mention Buenos Aires and people think of different things – tango, Recoleta and … La Boca. And it’s as colourful and vibrant as the photos suggest. Our first visit was in the middle of the day – when the sun was at its harshest. This couldn’t drown out the colours though. And it was a stunning visit. So much so […]
I don’t know what I was really expecting on my trip to Antarctica but I did think there’d be some ice, wildlife and rough seas. Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Mid-summer it may be but there was plenty of ice. And being mid-summer, most of the critters were out of the water, on land preparing for or tending […]
If you will be in Latin America this holiday season, or more specifically New Years, we have combined a list of our favorite places to ring in the New Years in Latin America. Cuzco, Peru At midnight join thousands of people gathered at the Plaza de Armas Major square to witness the famous Maria Angola bell on the Cuzco Cathedral […]
The Galapagos is a year-round destination with wildlife everywhere! December through May is the green season in the Galapagos meaning brief, daily rains but very vibrant terrain. In contrast, June to November is the dry season where the weather is sunny and dry but the vegetation has dulled in color. In regards to snorkeling, the waters are calmest from June […]
Songkran – April 13 – 15 – Chiang Mai I hailed a tuk tuk to take me from Chiang Mai airport to my hotel. The three-wheeled taxi raced through a labyrinth of side streets, all vacant. This was not my usual first encounter with a Thai city, where every street, alley and sidewalk is bustling with fiery woks, tantalizing textiles […]
We appreciate the destinations that we offer and know that their history, culture, communities, wildlife, and influence are all extremely important pieces that need to be preserved. We at Yampu are a sustainable company that works towards promoting grassroots efforts and environmentally conscious travel wherever possible. Our company and employees put forth their best efforts to recommend locally owned and […]
I frequently travel with my family to various destinations worldwide. My secret to being happy on the road is being prepared and being comfortable; the more at ease you are traveling, the more likely you are to enjoy your time! In the last decade plane rides have become increasingly more troublesome with restricting regulations and fewer onboard comforts. I suggest […]
At Yampu Tours we have created fresh itineraries that include the new direct flights from LAN Airline. These direct flights run from Lima, Peru to Iguazu, Brazil and from Lima, Peru to Easter Island, Chile. Among other benefits, the new flights will reduce travelers’ expenses and the amount of time spent transferring from one destination to another. The flight from […]
Salvador de Bahia is the largest city on the northeastern coast of Brazil, and a tourist destination under a lot of scrutiny. This beautiful city, lined with bright sandy beaches and colorful colonial buildings, is noted as a culturally rich destination with a local theft epidemic. Let’s not become timid, Salvador de Bahia is a fantastically cultural destination with influences […]
Colombia’s Coffee Triangle was named a UNESCO World Heritage Landscape in June of 2010. This area offers not only the world’s best coffee, but a rich culture and lush landscape. The coffee here is absolutely amazing and has been a process perfected over 100 years. The reddish-colored fruits of the coffee plant are called the “cherries”. It is the seeds […]
Recently at Yampu Tours, we received a letter from a client describing how our company effectively kicked into action during an unexpected travel disaster abroad. The client was in the remote town of Torres Del Paine, Chile when he found he was suddenly unable to travel due to a workers’ strike that shutdown the roadways and airports. Below is a Press […]
Colca Canyon, Peru Colca Canyon in Peru is the world’s second deepest canyon with an average distance of 100 kilometers between the high mountain peaks and the Colca River below. The canyon rests in the southern end of Peru in the Colca Region, originally conquered by the Incas in the 15th century. This natural Peruvian wonder is filled with pre-Colombian […]
Our friends at the ASTA, American Society of Travel Agents, recently put up a blog post with safety tips for women traveling alone. At Yampu Tours we work overtime to ensure that our travelers are always safe, even in unforeseen situations. The issues for traveling alone are different for women traveling alone then it is for men. To that end, […]
Mardi Gras, which falls on March 8, is quickly approaching and New Orleans is not the only city preparing to celebrate. In Brazil, Mardi Gras marks the last day of one of the largest and most popular festivals in Latin America: Carnival. Carnivals are deeply imbedded traditions in the regional culture occurring in several different countries including: Brazil, Belize, Peru, […]
Recently, during the weekend of February 25th, Yampu Tours exhibited at the New York Times Travel Show in New York City. While at the show Vice President and co-founder Monica Irauzqui participated in a panel discussion focusing on emerging destinations and off the beaten path destinations in South America. The presentation and following discussion were a great success and we […]
Buenos Aires While Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is often referred to as the Paris of South America; Monica Irauzqui, Vice President and co-founder of Yampu Tours, feels there is a better description. “Buenos Aires is strong enough in unique culture, art, cuisine, and architecture to stand on it’s own as a top destination. South America is no longer […]
My husband and I bring our kids with us on all of our trips. They have been to almost every country in Central and South America. The other day I asked my son (age 11) which trip was his favorite, and he told me it was the Aqua Expeditions Amazon cruise that we took in Peru. The cruise was amazing. […]
I have always loved Mexican Ceviche but on my first trip to Peru my life was changed by the food. I stayed with a local family and every day was a new culinary adventure. This trip was where my passion for Peruvian food was awakened. Peruvian Ceviche Corvina is the simplest dish, yet I am still not sure why […]