Travel Guides

The only thing better than spending the day surrounded by spectacular natural beauty is combining that experience with a glass of the world’s finest vino. The Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's best wine regions, allows travellers to do just that — take in the great outdoors whilst sipping on a glass of mouth-watering Chilean wine.Known as Chile’s Napa Valley for the stance this region has taken to promote wine tourism in the country, Colchagua Valley boasts some of the best wineries in the country and thus, some brilliant red wine varieties. Located just a short drive from Santiago, you can either take a day long wine tour in the valley or choose to extend it to weeks during your trip to Chile. Discover the art of turning a bunch of grapes into excellent bottled wine at Colchagua. To get started, here are 5 wineries in Colchagua Valley you must visit:

Cape Town is rated as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and comes as a natural choice for most travelers on a trip to South Africa. Situated on the southwest coast of the country, it is a haven of exquisite natural beauty and offers a lot of things to do. Nestled between Table Mountain and the Cape Harbour, the city offers stunning views from almost any vantage point. Some of the top attractions in the area include the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Signal Hill and Chapman’s Peak, to name but a few.Visitors who travel to Cape Town are spoiled for choice with activities ranging from sightseeing to shopping, hiking, surfing, nearby safaris and wine-tasting. Wine tasting in Cape Town includes visits to centuries-old wineries, rich with folklore and historic artifacts, as well as tastefully modern establishments catering to a young, yet discerning, international crowd. Here are our top seven establishments to visit for wine tasting in Cape Town.

Of all the alternative treks to the Inca Trail, the Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu is perhaps the least known. A far cry from the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, on this trek you are unlikely to see any other tourists for the duration of your trip. This is an option that will appeal to those who enjoy being different and who want to attempt a trek that few others will even have heard of.

A trip to Costa Rica just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its most iconic volcano. Inspiring school science projects for years, Arenal Volcano stands majestically as a perfectly symmetrical cone puffing steam into the clouds. While the active Arenal Volcano is the most popular attraction here, Arenal Volcano National Park is actually home to two volcanoes. The other, Cerro Chato, is considered extinct and has long been a destination for adventurous tourists.Sightseeing around the volcanic wonders becomes all the more interesting as you discover the fascinating ecology of the park. Covered by a mixture of vibrant tropical rainforest and open grasslands, this park is rich in flora and fauna due to its fertile landscape. Plan a day trip or stay for a few days. Either way, this national park and the surrounding town of La Fortuna offer plenty of interesting areas to explore.

Looking for a quintessential adventure tour in Costa Rica, but short on time? Or perhaps you’d like to balance your next trip with a mix of land and sea exploration. No matter your travel plans, make sure to visit Manuel Antonio National Park. Lush tropical rainforests, picturesque beaches, mangroves, lagoons, and colorful reef make this destination an excellent bet to sample some of Costa Rica’s unique treasures.Though this park is the country’s smallest among the national parks of Costa Rica, it is packed with rich biodiversity and history. Wildlife is abundant and the vistas are grand. Definitely bring a camera to capture the blissful moments; with scenery this iconic, you might just find yourself making postcards! To help you discover the many gems hidden in this park, read this overview of sites, activities, and tips for visiting.

Rising 1,086m above Cape Town, Table Mountain is the city’s most recognizable landmark. The mountain and its famous plateau look over the city like a strong, silent, protective guardian. But Table Mountain is more than just a representation of Cape Town; it’s also home to an immense amount of flora and fauna, native only to the area. Table Mountain’s abundance of biodiversity coupled with its one-of-a-kind landscape creates a truly awesome experience for visitors.Known for the incredible view of the city the mountain avails from its top, it is definitely a rewarding experience to hike up Table Mountain from the ground below to its sky-scraping height, which is also possible to reach via an easy cable car ride. Platteklip Gorge trail is the most direct and popular trail up the mountain and has been included in our list of best hiking trails in Cape Town. There are also three other trails you can take leading to the top of Table Mountain. Choose as you please.

A trip to South Africa is perfect for anyone who enjoys glorious sunshine, has a knack for adventure, and wishes to explore diverse cultures. The country has so much to offer — from big five safaris, scenic road trips, rewarding multi-day hikes and treks, to whale watching and magnificent golfing opportunities. Hence, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it has been listed as one of the top 10 holiday destinations for 2018. For those who are already planning a trip to the country and wondering where to go in South Africa, here is a guide to some of the South African holiday destinations (in no particular order) that you should not miss.

Can you imagine anything more adorable than an island filled with penguins? Isla Magdalena makes this heart-warming image a reality. Located in the Strait of Magellan, Isla Magdalena (or Magdalena Island in English) is the main part of the Penguins Natural Monument and sits on the Chilean side of Patagonia, on the boundaries of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.The penguins that live on this island have been luring in tourists for some time now. Hundreds of them are scattered in all directions and they have no fear of the humans that walk among them. The effect of this is that visitors can walk across the island whilst simultaneously taking in the views and getting up close and personal with some of the cutest creatures on earth.

Along Lasseter Highway is a magnificent sandstone monolith standing more than 340 meters high and shining bright red. This is Uluru, the red heart of the Australian continent. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a rich connection to Australia's indigenous culture in the past. Just 16 km away is the Kata Tjuta, another geographical wonder, made up of 36 conglomerate rock domes that have existed for 500 million years. The entirety of Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park stretches around 1,300 square kilometers of arid land ecosystems that are home to vast species of flora and fauna only found in dry settings. The park is open all year round, excluding areas closed for privacy of the indigenous families residing there. Tourism is a flourishing industry here, while locals promote their cultural and natural heritage with a unique combination of Aussie hospitality and stunning landmarks. If you're planning to visit Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, you're in for a treat. Here are the top things to do in Uluru, from the thrill of the great outdoors to the laidback viewing of the setting sun.Highlights Hike around Uluru and get close to the red rock's unique geographical marvel Discover Australia's Anangu culture by paying a visit to the park's cultural center Go camping outside the premises of the park or stay in five-star luxury accommodations nearby See the Wakagetti Dancers perform around a bonfire Lowlights Fires are common in this arid location, usually occurring when storms arrive in hot weather The park is isolated from public facilities

What is the best way to combine a love for water, wildlife, and adventure? Diving, of course! Around the world, scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities for travelers, and in Costa Rica, this is no exception. With pristine water and a diverse collection of reefs accessible from both of the country’s coasts, diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica offers awe-inspiring adventures into the aquatic world.

Region de Aysen (the Aysen Region) is an area of staggering natural beauty in the Patagonia region in the South of Chile. Virtually untouched by humanity and with very little by way of civilization, the Aysen Region is nothing but lakes, mountains and fjords as far as the eye can see. If you want scenery that will take your breath away on your trip to Chile, few places on earth can compete with the Region de Aysen. Here are 10 reasons why a trip to this region is unmissable.

For anyone short on time or concerned about their fitness levels but still hoping for a taste of trekking in Peru and a visit to the famed Machu Picchu, the short Huchuy Qosqo trek is the ideal solution. Most versions include two days of relatively easy trekking combined with a visit to Machu Picchu on the third day. While being short on days, the trek still allows for a glimpse of the Andes in a rarely visited part of the Sacred Valley that receives fewer visitors than many of the more popular trails.

For any hiker attempting the Inca Trail, one name inspires a sense of anxiety and foreboding above all, and that is the Dead Woman’s Pass, or Warmiwañusqa in Quechua. At 4,215 m above sea level, the pass has gained a fearsome reputation among trekkers. Everyone starting the Inca Trail is aware that day two will inevitably lead them up and over this infamous pass. Failure to cross the pass will mean being defeated by this classic Peru trek and a return to Cusco without reaching Machu Picchu.

The rain-forested canopies and the remarkable volcanic terrain of Costa Rica are amazing to behold, but these regions offer more than just paradisiacal tourist spots. From the cloud forest highlands down to the coastal towns, guests can revel in the country’s delicious cuisine that proudly displays its Caribbean and Latino roots. To satisfy your sense of taste, we bring you the best Costa Rican food you absolutely must try while on a trip to Costa Rica.

Perhaps Rome is not the first European city that comes to mind when someone mentions fairy-tale Christmas destinations. And yet, the Italian capital can be incredibly rewarding to visit during the cold months. Between the abundance of cultural sights, noticeable lack of crowds, vibrant café and bar scene, and mild climate that allows carefree sightseeing, Rome in winter may just be the ideal Italy holiday destination. Keep reading to find inspiration for what to do in Rome if you plan on visiting the Eternal City during wintertime.