Adventures Within Reach Travel Blog

Planning your Trip to Chile & Patagonia

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

Here is what you need to know to plan your trip to Chile and Patagonia!

The best time to travel to Chile is November-March. October and April are shoulder season. You can also travel May-September, but this is winter.

Most people do this general itinerary:

Fly into Santiago and spend a few days
Fly to Punta Arenas
Torres del Paine (Patagonia)
Other Tours in Chile (Mendoza, Atacama, Easter Island)
Extend the trip to Argentina

1) Fly into SANTIAGO and spend a few days. Things to do:

City tour of Santiago
Wine tasting – Day trip (Vina del Mar)
Coast (Valparaiso) – Day trip
Tours in Santiago >>

2) Fly to PUNTA ARENAS, transfer to Torres del Paine

It is worth spending an extra night in Punta Arenas to do a day trip to see the Magellanic Penguins (typically, after Torres del Paine), also a fun town.

3) TORRES DEL PAINE (Patagonia)

Most people do 5-7 days in the Torres del Paine area. You can do the famous W Trek, or do hikes and other excursions from your lodge.
All Tours/Treks in Patagonia >>
Patagonia Lodging Options >>

4) The top ADD-ONS in Chile (all accessed from Santiago):

Mendoza, Argentina – 4 days for wine tasting and beautiful mountains
Atacama Desert – 4-5 days, world’s highest desert, amazing scenery
Easter Island – 4-5 days. Flights can be expensive.
Lakes District – 4 days, Puerto Varas, Bariloche

Here is a map to give you a visual on where things are (Easter Island is way off to the left in the middle of the ocean):

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1isbk1FPbcAAfWpEfbKcXTDZ_KUGBpG1M&usp=sharing

5) Extend the Trip to ARGENTINA

If you want to do Chile + Argentina, you would go from Torres del Paine to El Calafate/El Chalten for a 4+ days (Argentina Patagonia), and then up to Buenos Aires for a few days, and home from there.

Argentina Trips >>

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When to Visit the Hidden Pools and Dunes of Lencois Maranhenses (Brazil)

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

See our 4-Day Hidden Pools and Dunes of Lencois Maranhenses >>

There are three primary seasons in the Lençóis Maranhenses:

1) Rainy Season:

The rains start between the end of January and February and generally cease in May (rainy season). This time of year is not recommended to visit given that the sky is generally overcast and the rains make for a less pleasant visit.

2) Start of Dry Season:

Immediately following the rainy season, when the rains cease, yet the lagoons remain very full from the rains. Depending on how much rain has fallen in any given year during the rainy season, this period can vary. But generally goes from June to September/October. October is the end of the mid-season and start of the hotter months, the chance of finding lagoons still with water is high. The lagoons definitely won’t be as full as they would in July of August, for example, but there should still be a good number of lagoons with water. Moreover, October is the low season in Brazil (the highest season is between July and August given school holidays in both Brazil and most countries in the northern hemisphere), thus a visit in this season would offer much more intimacy and less crowds.

3) Dry Season:

With no rains and when the lagoons have mostly all evaporated. Again, this season can vary slightly depending on the rains. For example, on my most recent visit, in late November, 2019, there was still water in some of the larger lagoons, but for the most part the lagoons were dry.

We HIGHLY recommend both sunrise and sunset tours. Independent of the lagoons, the immensity of the Lençóis Maranhenses and the beautiful colors at sunrise and sunset are well worth a visit.

The Dunes and Pools at Lençóis Maranhenses truly are a special place in Brazil!

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Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica

Posted on May 4, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

Read on to find out what you need to know to plan your trip to Costa Rica!

Where To Go — Traveling for 1 Week or Less
Where To Go –Traveling for More than 1 Week
What To Do
When To Go

See All Costa Rica Trips >>

Samara Zipline Costa Rica — Samara Zipline

1) Where To Go — Traveling for 1 Week or Less

On a short trip, most people visit 2 areas like one of these options.

OPTION #1

Fly into San Jose Airport
Arenal Volcano
Beach on the Pacific Coast

OPTION #2

Fly into Liberia Airport
Rio Perdido
Beach on the Pacific Coast

Where To Go in Costa Rica >>

Nighttime wildlife hike in Manuel Antonio

2) Where To Go — Traveling for More Than 1 Week

If you 10 days, you can visit 3 areas. If you have 14 days, you can visit 4 areas. Start with one of the 2 options above and then add from there.

To pick the “other place”, it depends on what is most important to you, how much time you have, and when you want to travel. In particular:

River rafting or surfing or yoga
Wildlife or birding
Active adventures or more quiet
Whales in August-September (Osa Peninsula/Golfo Dulce)
Nesting sea turtles: July-October (Tortuguero)
August-November: Rainy on the Pacific side, but nice at Arenal on the Caribbean side

Where To Go in Costa Rica >>

3) What To Do

In particular, your trip or where you stay will defined if you want to do any of these activities:

River rafting
Surfing
Sea turtles
Whales

Other activities can fit into just about any itinerary.

What To Do in Costa Rica >>

4) When To Go

The main travel season in Costa Rica is mid-November to mid-April.

Mid-September to early November can be very rainy on the Pacific side, but Arenal and the Caribbean side will still have nice weather.

Mid-November to January is more rainy on the Caribbean side.

When To Go To Costa Rica >>

Posted in Costa Rica | Tagged Trip Planning | Leave a comment

Planning Your Trip to Iceland

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

Here is what you need to know to plan your trip to Iceland!

First decide when you want to travel:

Midnight Sun / Summer: March-August (Puffins May-Aug)
Northern Lights / Winter: September-March (Nov-Jan are cold and windy)

The top trips to Iceland are

Quick trip based out of Reykjavik (5 days is a good time frame)
Driving tour around the island (8-12 days)
Cruise around the island (10 days)
Northern Lights (September-February)

Contact us with any questions you have!

1) Quick trip based out of Reykjavik

If you just have a week to travel, or if you are flying through Iceland en route to Europe, you can easily see the highlights in about 5 days.

5-Day Iceland Highlights from Reykjavik

The top excursions around Reykjavik are

Blue Lagoon – Typically done upon arrival to relax after the long flight
Golden Circle – Full day to the south with Thingvellir National Park, geysers, and Gullfoss Waterfalls
City Tour of Reykavik – Can be a private guided tour or a hop-on-hop-off bus

2) Driving tour around the island

The Ring Road can be done in 8-12 days either self-drive or a guided tour.

10-Day Iceland Ring Road (Self-Drive)

In the summer, you can see Puffins, whales, and fishing activity. In the winter, you can see the Northern Lights!

There are so many activities to choose from:

Whale watching
River rafting
Glacier walks
ATV tours
Horseback riding
Hiking
Helicopter tours
Snorkeling/Diving
Kayaking
Golfing
Snowmobiling

3) Cruise around the island

This circumnavigation takes 8-10 days, or 12 days that includes Greenland. They operate May-September. It is a great way to explore the fjords along the coast.

10-Day Iceland Cruise Circumnavigation

4) Northern Lights

You can see the Northern Lights September-February. September, October, and February are the most popular because November-January are cold and windy.

The Northern Lights can be experienced on any of our Iceland tours, but be sure to check out the 8-Day Iceland Northern Lights (Small Group Tour).

Contact us with any questions you have!

Posted in Europe, Iceland | Tagged Trip Planning | Leave a comment

Planning Your Trip to the Galapagos and Ecuador

Posted on April 24, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

Here is what you need to know to plan your trip to the Galapagos Island and Ecuador!

Start your planning with the Galapagos then add your mainland activities.
Pick a Galapagos Cruise or Island Hopping
Beyond the Galapagos — Top Activities in Ecuador
Getting to Ecuador and the Galapagos
When to Go

Contact us with any questions you have!

1) Start your planning with the Galapagos then add your mainland activities.

If you are doing a Galapagos cruise, they start on certain dates, so ideally, you want to pick that first, then add your other activities around these dates. If you book an Island Hopping trip, you have more flexibility. We recommend at least 5 days in the Galapagos (8+ is better!).

Most people do this general itinerary:

Start in Quito and spend a few days there.
Do other activities around the Quito area (Otavalo, Amazon, Cotopaxi, etc.).
Fly to the Galapagos (start with these dates and work around them).
Fly from the Galapagos home (through Guayaquil/Quito).

2) Pick a Galapagos Cruise or Island Hopping Trip

The Galapagos cruises are typically 4, 5, or 8 days long (a few have 6 or 7 day itineraries, but it is not as common). Most boats are 16 passengers. The largest boat allowed in the Galapagos is 100 passengers. They are not what you think of as “cruises”, they are more like “yachts”. We can book any of the boats in the Galapagos.

For us to find the best boat option for you, we need to know:

When you can travel and for how long
What your budget is, or what level of accommodation you prefer (mid-range, first-class, or luxury)
If there are any specific islands or animal/birds you want to see
If you want and specific activities/amenities: sea kayaking, stand-up paddleboard, jacuzzi, yoga, etc. All the itineraries will have hiking and snorkeling. Scuba diving is best with an island-hopping extension.

With an Island Hopping tour, you can start on any day and stay for any number of days. We recommend 5-8 days or more to explore the islands. There are a variety of accommodations to stay at, and we can customize the itinerary. This is also a nice option for multi-generational families that have diverse interests.

See also:

3) Beyond the Galapagos — Top Activities in Ecuador

Quito is a lovely city and worth 1-2 days there.

The other most popular trips around Quito are

4) Getting to Ecuador and the Galapagos

The flights to the Galapagos go from Quito through Guayaquil (on the coast) and then to the Galapagos. The return flights make this same path back. In Guayaquil, you stay on the airplane while some people get off and on.

Most people get their international flight into Quito. It is typically easier and cheaper to fly into Quito, and also there is more to do in and around Quito.

However, if you are just doing the Galapagos and nothing else, you may want to get your international flights into Guayaquil. Quito is 9350 feet in elevation, which can bother some people who do not do well at altitude.

Getting There >>

5) When to Go

You can visit the Galapagos all year!

The hottest months in the Galapagos are Feb-Apr. The nice thing about this is that the water is very warm, and you probably won’t need a wetsuit. However, hiking in the afternoon can be a bit hot.

The coolest months in the Galapagos are Jul-Sep. Nicer for walking, but you will want a wetsuit for snorkeling.

November at Cotopaxi can be rainy.

When to visit Ecuador >>

Contact us with any questions you have!

Posted in Ecuador, Galapagos | Tagged Trip Planning | Leave a comment

Explore Patagonia with EcoCamp EcoDomes

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

EcoCamp is located near the Visitor’s Center in Torres del Paine near the trailhead for the Towers.

The most popular itinerary is to do 5-7 days in Patagonia with the EcoDomes as a base and do hiking or other excursions each day. The next most popular itineraries with the EcoDomes is a 5-Day W Trek or 7-Day W Trek.

There is electricity to charge batteries, but no hairdryers. There is also a safe each dome.

There are 4 types of EcoDomes at EcoCamp:

Suite Dome
Suite Dome Loft
Superior Dome
Standard Dome

1) Suite Dome:

Queen bed or 2 twin beds
28 sqm/300 sqft
Heating with wood stove
Private bathroom with hot water, shower, and composting toilet
Best views

2) Suite Dome Loft:

King bed or 2 twin beds downstairs + 2 twin beds in loft (maximum 4 people)
37 sqm/398 sqft
Heating with wood stove
Private bathroom with hot water, shower, and composting toilet
Best views

3) Superior Dome:

Queen bed or 2 twin beds
23 sqm/250 sqft
Heating with propane heater
Private bathroom with hot water, shower, and composting toilet

4) Standard Dome:

Queen bed or 2 twin beds
10 sqm/108 sqft
No Heat, but cozy blankets
Shared bathroom with hot water, shower, and composting toilet

Contact us to book one of these amazing EcoCamp trips:

See Also:

Posted in Chile, Patagonia, Trekking | Tagged EcoCamp, ecodomes, Torres del Paine | Leave a comment

Antarctica on the Ocean Endeavour

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

With her ice-strengthened hull and advanced navigation equipment, the Ocean Endeavour is ideally suited for expedition cruising to Antarctica.

The expansive decks and outdoor spaces provide opportunities to view the magnificent scenery. There are numerous interior and exterior areas, where you can enjoy the company of your fellow travelers or experience Antarctica in quiet solitude.

This small, well-appointed expedition ship allows you to explore the world’s most remote regions whilst enjoying the class and comfort of a boutique hotel.

The Ocean Endeavour offers an unrivaled sense of space and onboard activities including: spa facilities, yoga classes, sauna, hot tub, salt water pool and gym.

There are a selection of cabins to meet a variety of budgets, and single and solo travelers can take advantage of no single supplement.

ACTIVITIES

Enjoy the onboard wellness activities, including

Yoga classes
Sauna
Jacuzzi
Heated salt water pool
Gym

Or venture further afield with

Shore landings
Zodiac cruising
Hiking
Kayaking
Photography workshops
Snowshoeing
Ice camping

Itineraries:

Posted in Antarctica | Tagged Antarctica cruise | Leave a comment

Galapagos National Park Rules

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

Park Hours are 6am-6pm
Groups are a maximum of 16 people with 1 guide
Groups must stay together
Do not remove or disturb animals or objects (bacteria)
Stay on trails, guide in front
No food or gum, just water
Stay 7 feet / 2 meters from animals
Do not surround animals
No smoking or e-cigarettes
No flash photography
No loud noises, no phone noises
No drones
No selfie-stick, but tripods and monopods are okay
Walking sticks are okay, but no umbrellas, and do not use as a pointer
Use common sense
Pick up trash
No bathrooms, average excursion is 2 hours
No bright colored clothing (wasps)
No spray sunscreen or bug spray
Professional or commercial cameras not allowed
Binoculars are okay and recommended
No flip flops or sandals that fall off

See all our Galapagos Trips >>

Posted in Ecuador, Galapagos | Tagged Galapagos | Leave a comment

4-Day Galapagos Trip on the Galapagos Legend

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Adventures Within Reach

The Galapagos Legend is a 100-passenger ship with swimming pool, jacuzzis, sun deck, twice weekly outdoor BBQ, kayaks, fitness center, yoga, cooking classes.