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 a force to be reckoned with when it comes to wildlife tourism, sitting in the same league as East Africa and the Galapagos. This Wales-sized country has been drawing in biologists and casual wildlife enthusiasts alike since the 1970s when it made a name for itself as the face of ecotourism. From cloud forest-covered volcanoes in the centre to the most biodiverse rainforest in the world down by the coast, they had quite the solid foundation. Costa Rica is safe and easy to visit, though it is quite a bit more expensive than many other Central American countries. Budget travel aroun ..read more

Costa Rica is a stunningly biodiverse country, and its fifty-six species of hummingbird are a prime exhibit A. A delight to observe and photograph with their iridescent plumage, the ample opportunities to watch these energetic birds in action is just one of many things that make Costa Rica a popular destination for wildlife photographers and birdwatchers. Dotted across the country are plenty of sanctuaries and gardens for people looking to spot them, some of which will enable you to capture spectacular photos even if all you have in the way of equipment is your phone. Common Costa Rican hummin ..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

Located a few hours from Medellin and deeper into the mountains, Jardin is a small town nestled slap-bang in the middle of the famous Coffee Triangle. I do mean small: it takes roughly five minutes to stroll from the central plaza to its outskirts, where you’ll find a curious attraction for nature lovers and visitors to this town alike: a riverside house with a large garden, where male cocks-of-the-rock come to lek every day. Contents What is a lek? And what is a cock-of-the-rock? A practical guide to visiting Jardin’s cock-of-the-rock garden Writer’s experience A quick guide to Jardin itse ..read more

Contents How to get to the Colombian Amazon A quick guide to Leticia and the rest of the tri-border area How border crossing between Colombia, Brazil and Peru works How to visit the Colombian Amazon Booking Amazon tours in advance Booking day trips to the Amazon from Leticia Boating to Puerto Narino and booking trips from there Palmari Lodge (recommended option) What activities are on offer? Wildlife in the Colombian Amazon How much does it cost to visit the Colombian Amazon? Lush, green, the world’s largest rainforest, the lungs of the earth and the epitome of the word “exotic” – t ..read more