Travel to the Americas

The Americas

contain over fifty quality locations,

with a vast range of experiences

surprisingly under-developed

Our main focus in the Americas is in South America, which truly is another world, with a totally different set of landscapes, flora and fauna than other continents. It really is worth exploring, perhaps across two three or even more trips.

However, if you have previously been on safari in Africa, then you need to lower your expectations when it comes to travel in the Americas. The quality of the infrastructure you will encounter in most wilderness areas will usually not reach the same high standards.

There are more high quality lodges in the Maasai Mara alone than in the whole of the Americas. In terms of tourism infrastructure, the Americas are probably twenty years behind Africa.

That time lag also means that conservation in many of the wilderness areas is very much in its infancy. For example, farmers are still shooting pumas and jaguars. We are only now managing to establish alternative revenue streams that will lead to a proliferation of change.

We can definitely build great trips, but we do so using a much reduced selection of accommodation options. This means we really do need you to book as early as you can, since availability is so limited.

A shocking consequence of this lack of lodges are the very high prices. A mid-range trip in the Americas is likely to cost the same amount as a high-end trip to Africa and there are precious few good lower cost options, especially in the wilderness areas.

Most of our guests appreciate that here in South America, they are exploring conservation areas which are in their infancy, which brings with it that sense of being a pioneer yourself. It is so uplifting to witness the positive influence of responsible travel in these wonderful places.

Frequently asked questions

Selecting which country to visit in the Americas depends very much on your interests.

The tropical forests areas offer the best wildlife safari; the Andes Mountains and Patagonia areas offer epic scenery and adventure; the highlands of Peru offer remarkable history; the islands of the Pacific are extraordinary.

On the link below, we run through all of the countries that we offer in the Americas.

seven countries to choose from

The best countries for travel in the Americas

The Americas contain around fifty locations which offer significant safari options, with each one offering a unique range of landscapes, wildlife, lodges and experiences.

On the link below, we list twenty of the best and most popular areas.

Beyond the listed locations, there are lots of very interesting lesser-known areas. Once you have chosen your main targets, we can look at combining them with some of these more niche places.

twenty prime locations for safari

The best locations for travel and safari in the Americas

The best times to travel in the Americas are dominated by a number of major weather systems.

South America

In South America, the two thirds of the continent that lies to the northeast of the Andes Mountains, dominated by the vast Amazon Basin, has a tropical climate, with a dramatic rainy season Nov-Mar and a more appealing Jun-Oct dry season.

Also in South America, the third of the continent that lies to the south and west of the Andes Mountains has a more conventional southern hemisphere climate, with a more attractive Nov-Mar summer and a very challenging Apr-Oct winter season.

The high altitude areas of the Andes Mountains are largely dominated by the tropical system, with upper parts of Ecuador and Peru sharing the Jun-Oct dry season. However, higher parts of southwest Bolivia and northwest Argentina (and points further south) are rather too cold at that time, so tend to be visited during the converse months.

Unlike Africa, where the seasonality is heavily affected by wildlife movements, here in South America almost all wildlife events coincide perfectly with the best weather conditions. However, if sightings of pumas, jaguars, orcas and other key species are a priority, then it is important to fine tune the timing of your trip to hit exactly the right spots.

Central America

From Mexico in the north to Colombia in the south, the countries of Central America generally experience a May-Nov tropical rainy season, with a converse Dec-Apr dry season.

The latter period is generally considered to be the best time to travel, but there are considerable local variances which can make certain trips better during converse months.

North America

Virtually all of North America experiences a conventional northern hemisphere climate, with a cool to cold Nov-Apr winter and a warm to hot May-Oct summer.
The key wilderness areas in Alaska and Canada are generally best visited during the summer season.

follow the seasons, but avoid the crowds

The best time of year to go on safari in the Americas

The biggest and most important decision that you will most likely make when organising your trip is deciding which expert travel company to work with.

We hope that you will choose us.

Our aim is, quite simply, to help you discover and create a perfect trip.

Wherever you intend to head in the countries that we offer in the Americas, we will make sure your trip exactly meets your specific requirements.

Most of our guests really appreciate authenticity. We can help you to get beyond the mainstream tourist trails, to remote locations and to unique and characterful accommodation. We can help you to encounter remarkable wildlife and to engage with fascinating people.

You can choose to make your trip more authentic, more adventurous, more luxurious, better value … whatever you want it to be. We are here to make that happen.