If, like me, you’ve looked on Skyscanner and seen cheap Wizz Air flights to Uzbekistan from London (or anywhere else in Europe for that matter), you might be wondering what that’s like, if it’s worth it and – if you haven’t a scooby where Uzbekistan is – whether or not this country is worth visiting. In this blog post I’ll be going through everything to do with those flights with a fine-toothed comb. An intro to Uzbekistan Is it worth flying with Wizz Air to Uzbekistan? How much would it otherwise cost? Extra costs The route you’ll take What happens if you miss a connection What Abu Dhabi a ..read more

With all its green spaces, London is full of interesting wildlife – made all the more so since the heart of Britain, nay, Europe’s biggest metropolis seems like an unlikely home for animals. One of these curiosities is a family of little owls that lives in Kensington Gardens, not far from London’s centre and the Natural History Museum. These owls are some of the easiest to spot in the wild thanks to a number of things, including the fact that they’re completely used to humans and active even when the sun’s brightly shining. Here’s everything you need to know, and more, about spotting them… Co ..read more

Imagine embarking on an adventure through the mesmerizing landscapes of the W and O treks in Torres del Paine National Park, surrounded by nature’s grandeur, and you’re dreaming the same thing as many other outdoor enthusiasts. But before you get lost in daydreams of this magnificent journey, there’s one challenge you need to overcome: booking accommodation. In this article, I’ll be shedding some light on the intricate process of securing a place to rest your weary feet along these treks. Brace yourself, for it’s no easy task. The web of refugios and campsites that dot the routes may open up t ..read more

Spanning the better part of southern Mexico and nudging the Caribbean, the Yucatan is many people’s first foray into Latin America. With white sand beaches and a warmth that lingers even in the depths of winter, the northern periphery of the tropics has been a magnet for the sun-seeking masses since the advent of commercial flights. Nonetheless, there’s still plenty of natural beauty to appreciate, and the area’s tourist infrastructure and safety make that all the more easy. Wildlife on land is best described as “modest”, at least by tropical standards. Anyone expecting to see towering jungle ..read more

Contents Intro: Writer’s experience The story behind the monarch butterflies in Mexico When to see Mexico’s monarch butterflies Where to spot Mexico’s butterflies on a budget Getting to Sierra Chincua from Mexico City Visiting Sierra Chincua: the experience itself Other wildlife you can see in Sierra Chincua A note on safety Useful Spanish phrases and words to know when visiting Sierra Chincua TLDR: Important things to note Intro: Writer’s experience “Save for the odd chirp from hummingbirds and the sound of my footsteps upon the dusty path, the forest is completely silent. I’ve already s ..read more

Decide how much you want to see penguins here. Travel to San Cristobal island. …and stay there. Where to spot San Cristobal’s wildlife This is where the Galapagos penguins come in. Further money-saving tips Finally, a word or a hundred-odd on cruises around the Galapagos Islands… How much do things cost in the Galapagos? Anything else I ought to know about travelling the Galapagos on a budget? Decide how much you want to see penguins here. Since I am un hombre de su palabra, that’s my first nugget of info. I’ll explain why in a bit. My second one is… Travel to San Cristobal island. If you ..read more

Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of birds of all shapes and sizes – read on to see what I mean by shapes! Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or looking to get started, here are five iconic birds of Costa Rica to keep an eye out for when visiting this biodiverse country. Contents Resplendent Quetzal How to see resplendent quetzal in Costa Rica Scarlet Macaw How to see scarlet macaws in Costa Rica Toucans How to see toucans in Costa Rica Hummingbirds How to see hummingbirds in Costa Rica Three-Wattled Bellbird How to see three-wattled bellbirds in Costa Rica Resplendent ..read more

Tayrona National Park became one of Colombia’s top tourist locations for a good reason: with its forests teeming with wildlife, its pristine beaches and the involvement of the indigenous community in the place’s management, it’s the best place to see how the Caribbean looked before all the development kicked off – though, still modernised enough that a cold beer is never far away. However, there are some things you need to know to avoid the pitfalls – some relate to Tayrona becoming a victim of its own success, and others are just the usual diversions from the path of logic that can ..read more

I like to think I’m my own man when I travel. I’ll go away off the beaten track and follow it closely as and when either suits me, and I’ve passed on more than a few popular attractions during my travels since I just didn’t feel like doing them. Tayrona and the FOMO were winning me over, though. The piece de resistance of Colombian ecotourism, this 15,000-hectare park on the country’s Caribbean coast draws thousands of visitors per year, mainly to its beaches strewn by giant boulders, towering palm trees and thatched-roof cabins. And of course, the possibility of spotting some of Co ..read more

If you visit Cartagena during your travels around Colombia, you need not wait until you get to Tayrona National Park or Minca to get your nature fix. Sandwiched between the city’s two oldest and most visited districts is Parque Centenario, a slither of greenery where you’ll find wild sloths and tamarins lumbering and bouncing respectively through its trees.  Info about Cartagena’s monkeys and sloths With the nearest forest several miles away, how they got to this island of greenery is unclear. One local told me they were rescued from the pet trade by the police and released here. Another ..read more