Here are my go-to travel apps these days. I typically put these in a folder on the first page of my phone so that I can access them easily. Make sure they are downloaded/updated, and you are logged in if you will be out of cell service.
1) WhatsApp / Skype
WhatsApp is used internationally for free texting and calling (both users must have number on WhatsApp). Skype is another option for making international calls — cheap but not free, but you can all any number even if they are not on Skype.
2) Wallet
Keep your airline boarding passes in your Wallet. Also your Priority Pass card if you have one.
3) Airline Apps
Include the airlines you are flying on so that you can check-in and get notified of any changes.
4) Google Translate
A great way to translate menus and even talk with people. Download the language in your area.
5) Google Maps / Rome2Rio
Download the area where you are going in Google Maps so that you can view the map offline. It may have the local bus and train schedules. Rome2Rio can also help figure out how to get between cities.
6) MapMyRun / Strava
If you are hiking, these are great apps to track your hike.
7) Uber/Lyft/Lime/Bolt
Ride share, bikes, and scooters depending on the area.
8) GPSmyCity
This is a tour app for popular tourist cites and towns. It is a great option if you like to explore on your own.
9) PeakFinder/Night Sky
Fun apps in the mountains and in a dark sky.
10) Photos
Create a folder of travel photos you will need — passport, drivers license, travel insurance, travel itinerary, etc.
The main building has the front desk and the Pionero Lounge, which is a large, cozy lounge/bar area. They offer homemade beer and craft cocktails. Lunch is served in the bar. There is also a lounge/sitting area in each section of rooms.
To the right is the excursion area where the guides will walk you through what excursions are available each day. Past that is the restaurant and past that is the spa.
It has 82 rooms and 2 suites. Each room has 1 king or 2 twin beds, closet, desk and chair, large windows that open, bath and shower combo (small tub).
The spa has 1 private jacuzzi, 2 private dry saunas, and 2 massage rooms. Everything is at an additional charge.
There are stables for 200 horses and an organic farm.
There is an interpretive trail by the hotel, which takes about 30 minutes. It is well laid out and interesting.
Breakfast is a large buffet and eggs made to order right in front of you. There is a large menu for dinner.
You receive a gift bag of a metal water bottle, snack bag, and neck pillow.
It is a 2 hour drive from Puerto Natales. At 1hr40m, you reach the park entrance where you show your entrance ticket (driver has). They have nice vans with reclining seats and USB charging ports. It is 5 hours to Punta Arenas and 5 hours to El Calafate.
The Lamb Experience dinner is a special experience where you share a lamb that is slow cooked for 6 hours over a fire in the middle of the room. There are also roasted vegetables, wine, dessert, and hot mulled wine. It is offered every night in high season and every other night in shoulder season. This is for up to 15 people in a separate building. It is included in the all-inclusive program, or it is extra.
Hotel Las Torres Lamb Dinner:
Wine
Grilled Potatoes, Giant carrots, Red peppers, Onions, Apples, Squash
EcoCamp is in the central sector uphill from the Welcome Center and near Hotel Las Torres and the trailhead for the Towers Base.
This is the place to go if you want to be off grid (no cell service, no Wifi, no TV), if you care about lodges that are environmentally friendly, and/or if you want yoga. They have meals that suit all diets, but are the best option if you are vegan.
There are 13 Standard Domes, 4 Superior Domes, and 16 Suites.
The Suite Domes are the largest, have a wood fireplace, and a private bathroom. There are also Loft Suite Domes that sleep up to 4 people.
The Superior Domes are medium sized, have a gas heater, and a private bathroom. They have the best views of the mountains, but there are only 4 of them, so they book up quickly.
The Standard Domes do not have heat, but they are small and are designed to keep heat in, so they are actually pretty comfortable. They will provide extra blankets if you need them. With the Standard Domes, there is a shared bathroom with 3 showers and 3 toilets for each men and women. You are given a towel, and there are racks near the showers for each dome to hang wet towels.
Every dome has coffee and tea, and a safe.
There is a Yoga Dome, and yoga is offered at 7am, 6pm, and 7pm daily. There is also a Massage Dome, and massages cost extra. They offer an Eco Tour everyday at 5:30pm where they talk about how Eco Camp is environmentally friendly. This includes the micro hydro project and solar that produce electricity for the camp, the extensive toilet composting, and the greenhouse.
Breakfast is an extensive buffet with many extras. You will eat breakfast with others doing the same excursion and your guide(s).
At breakfast, you are given a reusable metal container that you put your lunch in. There is a separate table with lunch items. After your excursion, they collect the contains to clean them for the next day.
You will also be given a menu at breakfast to order your dinner. There are typically 3 starters to choose from, 3 main courses, and 3 desserts. There is always a meat option and a vegan option for the starters and main courses. Wine served with dinner is included.
The dining room also has coffee, tea, and snacks all day (small sandwiches and a couple of sweet treats).
You will meet with your guide in the evening to discuss what excursions you want to do the next day. They will tell you what time to meet for breakfast and departure the next day (breakfast 1 hour before departure). Then you eat dinner with the people and guide from the day.
The bar is open 4-11pm. Every night during your briefing before dinner, you get a welcome drink — typically a pisco sour of the day (pineapple or melon or passion fruit) or a juice of the day (possibly beet lemonade) — and a few appetizers.
There are 3 excursions offered every day, and every day of the week is different (but the same every week). Take a look at the schedule to make sure you get to do all the excursions you want. They may also change the schedule depending on weather.
There is Wifi for a fee in the Welcome Center at the bottom of the hill.
Destino Sur is on the north end of town near the trail head for Laguna de los Tres. It is a few blocks from the very center of town, but there are plenty of lovely restaurants and bars very nearby.
There are 37 rooms — Budget, Standard, Superior, Premium, and Superior Duplex. The rooms have the same amenities, but they get larger with each upgrade. Corner rooms are nice because you have extra windows. The Superior Duplex rooms sleep 3-5 people. Rooms have a water kettle and coffee maker with pods.
There is a spa with a jacuzzi, small warm pool, and dry sauna — open 1-10pm. Massages are available at an extra cost. There is a very small gym — treadmill and kettle bells.
There are free bikes to use around town for 2 hours. It is a nice way to get to the ranger office and hike up the ridge.
Breakfast is a buffet with a large selection. Dinner is also served in the restaurant. There is a separate bar and lounge area. The bar also serves espresso/lattes. Wifi is spotty.
2) El Puma (4-star)
El Puma is located near the center of town but up the hill to west near the Laguna Torre trail head. It has a friendly ranch feel.
It has 17 rooms — 12 Standard and 5 Suites. The suites are in a separate building behind the main building, which has another lounge area and a desk area. Two of the suites can be locked off together. All rooms can have 1 king or 2 twin beds and have a tub and shower. The Suites are larger, have a private patio, desk, and water kettle. Rooms have no TV or telephone, and only suites have a minibar.
There is a cozy lounge with fireplace near the front desk with books and games. Breakfast is buffet. The dining room also serves dinner but no lunch.
3) Chalten Suites (4-star)
Chalten Suites is located right on the main street in the center of town.
There are 33 rooms — Standard, Balcony, and Superior. Standard rooms are on the first floor. Balcony rooms are on the second floor and have a very small balcony. They have the best views and can only be a double. Superior rooms are on the ground floor, are a little bigger, and have a jetted tub. All the rooms have 1 king or 2 twin beds and have a large stand-up shower. There are also 3 cheaper basic rooms that are smaller and with no view, and there is 1 handicap room on the ground floor. 2 Standard rooms have a connecting door with 1 double + 1 triple room.
Breakfast is a buffet. Dinner is served in the upstairs dining room with an all-glass room with great views. No lunch is offered, but you can get a box lunch for your hike.
There are no spa facilities, but it is being built for the 2024-2025 season. They have a concierge to help book excursions.
4) Los Cerros del Chalten (4-star)
The Los Cerros del Chalten Boutique Hotel is located near the center of town up the hill to the west. It has great views towards the mountains and overlooking the town.
There is a nice open lounge/bar/dining space with all glass overlooking the area. Breakfast is a buffet6:30-10:30am. Lunch and Dinner are also served.
There are 44 rooms — Standard, Superior, Chalten, and Premium (4). All rooms have 1 king or 2 twin beds, shower, a jacuzzi tub, table and chairs, and a large window to enjoy the view. The upper floors can feel the wind more than other rooms. There are triple rooms but no connecting rooms. The Chalten and Premium rooms have a double-size jacuzzi tub, coffee maker with pods. The Premium rooms are much larger with 2 large windows, dressing room and extra lounge chair. Rooms are either town view or valley view (valley view more expensive).
Rooms have no TV or minibar. There is a large refrigerator by the front desk that guests can use. All rooms have a water kettle.
There is a spa with 2 jacuzzi tubs and 2 saunas. It is open 2-9pm and can be used by up to 6 people at a time for 45 minutes (mixed groups, reservation). There is 1 massage room, and massages cost extra.
The front desk is 2 small desks. There is juice, ice tea, and nibbles at the front entrance. New guests get a welcome drink at the bar. There is a host 5-10pm that will explain all the activities in the area. They also have a wine cellar and sommelier.
This hotel is a few blocks north of the main center of town. There are 50 rooms — 48 Standard and 2 Suites. They all have 1 king or 2 twin beds or can be a triple. They all have a tub and shower combo.
Breakfast is a buffet. Lunch and dinner are also served in the dining room.
There is a spa on the top floor. There is a jacuzzi that you reserve for private use for 30 minutes. It also has a dry sauna, steam room, and small gym. Massages are available for extra. Bikes are available for free.
2) Kosten Aike (4-star)
Kosten Aike is just 2 block away from the center part of town. There are 81 rooms — Standard and Superior (17). Superior rooms are a little larger, but the Standard are still a good size. Rooms have either a city view or a garden view. They all have 1 king or 2 twin beds, desk, table and 2 chairs, and a tub and shower. All rooms can be made into a triple. There is 1 handicap room.
Breakfast is a buffet 6-10:30am. Lunch is served in the bar. Dinner is served in the dining room.
There is a spa with a jacuzzi (reserve for private use) and a dry sauna, open 5-9pm. It has a locker room, robes, and balcony. Massages are available at an extra price. There is a gym.
There is a large game room with pool table, ping pong table, and foosball. It is typically closed June-July.
3) Patagonia Queen (3-star)
The Patagonia Queen is just 2 blocks away from the main center of town. The rooms are not the nicest, but it is cozy, has some nice amenities, and a good location.
It has 20 rooms — 16 Standard, 3 Triple, and 1 Handicap. They all have 1 king or 2 twin beds and some have a balcony. Two rooms are connecting.
There is a large game room with pool table, ping pong table, and foosball. There is a jacuzzi on the top floor that you can reserve.
Breakfast is a buffet. There is no lunch or dinner.
4) Mirador del Lago (3-star)
The Mirador del Lago is on the west end of town. It is further out from the town center than some other hotels, but it offers great views of the lake. Rooms have 1 king or 2 twin.
Breakfast is buffet with a big selection. Dinner is also served in the dining room They have a happy hour 5-7pm with 2-for-1 drinks.
They have free bicycles, which you can use to go into town or go down to the waterfront to look for flamingos. The parilla and Pura Vida restaurants are nearby.
This 4-star hotel gas 242 rooms. All rooms have balcony/patio and shower no tub. All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, coffee maker, laundry available. Most rooms have 2 queen beds, but a few with king beds as available, and there is 1 master suite.
There are 3 pools, Kids Club for 5-12yo 8am-4pm, spa with massages, free secure parking even for restaurants, and tour desk. There are lounge chairs on grass lawn adjacent to beach but beach chairs are an outside concession.
There are 5 restaurants owned by hotel out on main street, breakfast buffet included in hotel price, and the main bar/restaurant on beach.
Room Types:
Sunset Ocean View Rooms — face the beach, have a small pool area, are in a 3 story building, and have an elevator
Tropicana Rooms — quietest area
Family Pool View Rooms — face a huge pool with bridges, swim up bar, lounges in pool
2) Wyndham Tamarindo
There are 104 rooms in 3 connected buildings. The rooms are all basically the same, but the top floor rooms have a bigger TV, nicer minibar, and nicer headboard (Premium).
All rooms have 1 king or 2 twin beds, and they all have a balcony with ocean view. Triple rooms are king + twin bed, and 2 rooms have 2 queen beds. All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, coffee maker, laundry available.
A breakfast buffet is included 7-10:30am. The dinner restaurant is Nauta.
The hotel has a lovely pool and lounge area overlooking the ocean. There is a tour desk and small shop. There is no gym, but they have a free partnership with a beach club/fitness center.
The drive to the Wyndham is narrow and steep, but they offer a free shuttle to town every hour.
3) Capitan Suizo
This hotel has 25 room and is located on north edge of beach (Langosta Beach), so quieter but also away from town. It has a secluded jungle/garden feel. There are some beachfront bungalows. All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, no TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, laundry available.
It has a nice pool, restaurant/bar near pool/beach, lounge chairs next to beach, shady areas, spa (massages), and tour desk. Breakfast included, parking free, good for families.
Room types:
Superior Room Terrace
Superior Room Balcony
Beachfront Garden Rooms (only 2 of them, so usually sold out)
Bungalow
Beachfront Bungalow
Marimba music Mon nights, Mariachi band Wed nights, happy hour at the bar, yoga 5 days/week, BBQ night Fri.
4) Pasatiempo
This is a 23 room budget hotel. It is in heart of town, Near the night market, stores nearby, 4 minute walk to the beach. It has a nice jungle/garden feeling and seems quiet even though it is right in town.
Double rooms have 1 king or 1 queen or 2 twins. Triple rooms have 1 Queen + 1 twin. Quad has 1 Queen + 2 twin. There is 1 Villa with a kitchenette, Q+T+sofabed.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, no telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, laundry available.
Breakfast is included, lunch and dinner are reserved in the restaurant. Bar and restaurant are open-air near the pool. Bar has “open mic” night on Wednesdays, which is very popular.
There is a medium sized pool with lounge chairs.
5) Arco Iris
This is a budget hotel up the up the hill about a 5 minute walk to town. There are 12 rooms, 3 types, 2 stories.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, no telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, laundry available.
6) Hilton Garden Inn Liberia
This is the most convenient hotel for a quick night in Liberia. The airport is a free 5-minute shuttle from the hotel.
It is 5 stories tall. Rooms have 2 double beds (not queen), desk, dresser, closet. All rooms have A/C (loud), ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, coffee maker, laundry available.
It has a nice outdoor pool with lounge chairs and tables/chairs, and they will bring drinks to pool area. There is a small gym. The restaurant serves good food, but not great ambience.
After immigration and customs (put checked luggage on x-ray belt), exit security area and turn right. Then left right before the market. Ask people for the Hilton shuttle – they are helpful. There was a guy organizing people. The shuttle will say “Hilton” or “Tourismo”.
Patagonia Camp is a luxury property located in the southwest corner of the park on the shores of Lago el Toro. The yurts are a nice size, heated, with electricity, and have a private bathroom. Some have a private jacuzzi, and there are family quad yurts. Food and wine are great. You can do the W-Trek in day hikes.
New, modern, and stylish hotel 2 blocks from the beach, restaurants, bars, and shops.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, coffee maker, laundry available. They all have a deck or patio and a big closet. Ground floor rooms have an outdoor shower.
Jungle rooms have a garden view, Pool rooms have a view of the pool area, and yoga rooms include yoga mats and blocks. They have 1 king or 2 queen beds. An extra bed can be added for a child. The Surfer Suite has a kitchenette. The premier rooms upstairs and deluxe downstairs.
All water is filtered, and there are water dispensers.
There is a large saltwater pool, smaller pool with jets, and a kids pool with lounge chairs and pool bar.
They have a large open-air restaurant and bar with terrace and grass lawn. The bar has live music on Sunday and Tuesday nights.
Other amenities:
Gym (mostly for lifting) – included with hotel room
Yoga and Pilates classes ($15)
Ice Plunge Pool ($15)
Co-working space (extra)
Mountain bike shop, including rentals and tours
Spa (massages and facials)
2 Shops
Surf Club right at the beach (rentals, lessons)
2) Lagarta Lodge (Nosara)
This is a quiet and sophisticated hotel located on the hillside with amazing views (not on the beach). To get there, it is up a steep and windy dirt road. They have a shuttle to take you to town and the beach, so you do not have to worry about driving.
There are 2 pools and 3 jacuzzis (one is adults only). It has a lovely restaurant and bar overlooking the pool.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, laundry available. There is a family room that sleeps 6.
3) Nammbu (Samara)
Located on Playa Carrillo 10 minutes south of Samara, and a 5-minute walk to beach. There are a few restaurants nearby, but you will have to drive somewhere if you don’t eat at the hotel.
It is modern and built on a hillside. There are 9 buildings with 7 rooms in each building (63 rooms total). The buildings have 3 levels with spiral staircases.
Deluxe Rooms have 2 queens, Jr. Suites have 1 king, Master Suites have 1 king and jacuzzi tub. There are no closets.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, robes, laundry available.
It has a large infinity pool overlooking the beach. There is a pool bar that also serves lunch. It has lounge chairs, sun beds, and locker rooms/showers.
Breakfast is included. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. There is a separate bar area.
The hotel rents out boogie boards, paddleboards, and kayaks. There is a patio with yoga mats and dumbbells.
The Playa Carrillo beach is a long, lovely beach lined with palm trees (good for hanging a hammock). It has fairly calm water with very small waves. No services (or buildings at all) on the beach except for shaved ice.
4) Tree House Inn (Samara)
The only hotel right on the beach. It is very close to town center. The rooms are elevated (like a tree house).
There are 6 rooms (4 up/2 down). They all have 1 queen bed + 1 sofa bed (queen) for 4 people max. There is also 1 6-person room with 1 queen bed + 2 sofa beds.
All rooms have a full kitchen, A/C, floor fan, no telephone, no TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, robes, no laundry available.
Every room gets a table, lounge chairs, and hammock in the shade. Everyone gets beach chairs and umbrella.
Most people visiting Botswana go to the Okavango Delta. If you are starting or ending in Victoria Falls, you should include Chobe because you can drive from there to Vic Falls. If you have more time, add more areas. You need 2-3 days in each location.
Okavango Delta
Described as ‘the jewel of the Kalahari’, the Okavango Delta – a tranquil and isolated oasis set in the harsh and arid surroundings of Botswana’s bush and desert – is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best safari destinations, with its rich diversity of fauna and flora.
Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve is situated in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, on the south-western border of the Chobe National Park, and covers almost one-third of the Delta.
Savute Region
The Savuti Channel has a fascinating history of flooding and drying up independently of good rainy seasons and flood levels elsewhere – a mystery that has intrigued geologists and other researchers for many years.
The Chobe Riverfront
The Chobe National Park is located in the Northern part of Botswana and lies along the Chobe River, which borders Botswana and Namibia. The Park is the second largest in Botswana and is known for its superb game viewing all year round, as it has one of the largest populations of game on the African continent.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park stretches away from the banks of the Boteti River, through its hinterland of scrub and grassland. The river and the nutrient-rich western grasslands supply the essential water and sustenance for the herds that inhabit the park.
Okavango Panhandle and Tsodilo Hills
This region is the major tributary river system that leads into form the Okavango Delta. The panhandle channel winds its way through tall papyrus thickets and interspersed with beautiful lush islands. To the west of the panhandle the stark dry contrast of UNESCO World Heritage listed cultural site, Tsodilo Hills.
2) What To Do
Activities in Botswana include:
Game drives
Motorized boat safaris
Mokoro excursions (canoe)
Guided bush walks
Fishing
Cultural excursions
Helicopter flights
Sleep out
Let us know which activities are most important to you to make sure we book the right camps!
3) When To Go
Peak season in Botswana is June-October, which is also the most expensive. Shoulder season is November, April, and May. Green season is December-March and is the cheapest time to go. September-October can be very hot.
For Victoria Falls, November-December have lower water levels. This is not the best time to see all of the falls or for river rafting, but it is a good time for the Devil’s Pool.
4) Getting To and From
Most people fly into the airport in Maun, Botswana (MUB) and then fly out from Victoria Falls. You can also do this in reverse, or skip Victoria Falls and fly into and out of MUB. There are daily flight to MUB from Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT).
There are 2 airport in Victoria Falls. Depending on where your hotel is, you will want to fly out of the correct airport.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (VFA)
Livingstone, Zambia (LVI)
5) Before / After Botswana
If you want to extend your trip in southern Africa, you can add
