AT#857 - Travel to Cartagena and Northern Colombia

Hear about travel to the Galapagos Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Michael from Rochester about doing this bucket list trip as a budget traveler. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here. Why should you go to the Galapagos? Michael says, "It is a world location that should not be missed. And you do not have to be an animal enthusiast or safari adventure type person. That certainly helps to have an open mind about ecology and conservation. The animals, the marine life, and their ecosystem. If you have the opportunity to witness it firsthand, it truly is something that should not be missed. It is a marvel." This version is land-based (with Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island as the base) rather than a cruise, making it more budget-friendly while still offering access to iconic wildlife and landscapes. Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Airport, then transfer by ferry and taxi to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Check into your hotel (e.g., Hotel Fiesta, Puerto Ayora). Stroll along Avenida Charles Darwin: shops, galleries, and restaurants. Visit the Puerto Ayora fish market to watch fishermen unload their catch while sea lions, pelicans, and frigatebirds compete for scraps. Evening walk along the Malecón (boardwalk) where reef sharks can sometimes be spotted under the lights. 7-Day Galápagos Itinerary (Land-Based, Puerto Ayora Base)Day 1 – Arrival in Puerto Ayora ... https://amateurtraveler.com/budget-travel-to-the-galapagos-islands/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Syys 50min

In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, host Chris Christensen talks with Bart from Trip Tailor, a travel agent and former train steward who has been working with European rail for decades. Bart shares his deep knowledge of night trains in Europe, from their practical benefits to the romance of waking up in a new city. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here. Why Night Trains? Bart explains that he first started working on night trains as a student job in the 1990s, and the appeal never left him. Compared to planes, night trains offer: ... https://amateurtraveler.com/night-trains-in-europe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Syys 29min

Hear about a road trip in Oman as the Amateur Traveler talks to Max Walton from Sloths with Latitude about the country he thinks is the best in the world. This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here. In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, we explore a two-week road trip through Oman, a country offering dramatic mountains, turquoise wadis, pristine deserts, and a warm culture rooted in Ibadism. Max shares his favorite country in the world, guiding us through a self-drive adventure with a 4x4, rooftop tent, and plenty of memorable encounters. An authentic Middle Eastern experience, very different from Dubai 2,000 km of coastline, mountains, wadis, and deserts One of the safest countries in the world, often called the “Switzerland of the Middle East” Rich history: oldest independent state in the Arab world Wild camping is legal almost everywhere Why Visit Oman? ... https://amateurtraveler.com/road-trip-in-oman/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 Elo 59min

Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers,  about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia. Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat, a city of Guinness World Records and futuristic white marble architecture, to ancient Silk Road cities and surreal desert landscapes, this itinerary combines history, archaeology, and natural wonders. Why Visit Turkmenistan? Abdylla describes Turkmenistan as a country for seasoned travelers seeking the unusual: Surreal landscapes like Yangykala Canyon and the burning Darvaza gas crater Silk Road cities such as Merv and Konye-Urgench A capital city (Ashgabat) filled with world-record-breaking monuments, the largest indoor Ferris wheel, and the world’s largest handmade carpet Rich traditions of Turkmen carpets and the legendary Akhal-Teke horses Sunday arrival in Ashgabat to experience the Tolkuchka-Basar, a sprawling Sunday market alive with carpets, animals, and handicrafts. Suggested One-Week Itinerary in Turkmenistan Days 1–3: Ashgabat and Surroundings ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-turkmenistan-2/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Elo 57min

In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, host Chris Christensen recounts his immersive experience cruising the Peruvian Amazon on a nine-day "Amazon Riverboat Adventure in Depth" with G Adventures. This small-group journey, involving ~24 travelers, offers a deep dive into the culture, biodiversity, and challenges of life in the Amazon Basin. The trip began in Lima, Peru, and then took the group via domestic flight to Iquitos, one of the world’s most isolated cities, accessible only by air or river. From there, they traveled 97 km by road to Nauta to embark on the riverboat Amatista. For five days, they cruised the Marañón, Ucayali, and Amazon Rivers, exploring tributaries like the Yanayacu ("Black Water") River in skiffs and visiting riverside communities near and within the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Highlights included: Spotting Amazon wildlife such as pink and gray river dolphins, spider monkeys, black-collared hawks, pygmy marmosets, capybaras, horned screamers, long-nosed bats, sloths, and dozens of tropical birds, including toucans, macaws, and herons. ... https://amateurtraveler.com/cruising-the-peruvian-amazon/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Elo 1h 23min

Hear about travel to the tiny country of Andorra as the Amateur Traveler talks to musician Eli Lev about this small country in the Pyrenees Mountains, where he lived for three years. Why should you go to Andorra? Eli says, "I just fell in love with the country. First of all, it's in the middle of these magnificent mountains of the Pyrenees, so that means in winter you've got skiing, snowboarding, Aper ski, lots of festivities. Beautiful. In the summer, you've got these incredible hikes and a really special, like Neverland, nestled in the mountains with a lot of nature and really cool culture as well. So all year round." Day 1 – Barcelona → Montserrat → La Seu d’Urgell Pick up a rental car or budget bus in Barcelona, break the 3–4 hour mountain drive with a 3-hour stop at dramatic Montserrat Abbey for the cliff-side basilica, hiking paths, and Black Madonna shrine. Continue north to La Seu d’Urgell to wander its daily produce market and get a first taste of Catalan culture before the border. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-andorra/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Elo 41min

Hear about travel to the Silk Road as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent trip to the Gansu province of China, Buddhist Grottos, stunning landscapes, barren deserts, and the original Great Wall of China. More than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty sent his prodigy general Huo Qubing to seize the Hexi Corridor from the Xiongnu nomads, founding four fortified outposts—Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang—that anchored the eastern Silk Road. Centuries later, the monk Xuanzang left Lanzhou for India along the same desert corridor, returning with Sanskrit scriptures that reshaped Chinese Buddhism. Following their footsteps today reveals grottoes, Great Wall forts, and rainbow-striped badlands that still echo with the sounds of camel bells and caravan legends. Transfer & check‑in: Fly into Zhongchuan Airport and settle downtown. Yellow River walk: Night flavors: Slurp Lanzhou hand‑pulled beef noodles, then graze at a Night Market for local delights. Historic BackgroundDay‑by‑Day ItineraryDay 1 – Arrival in Lanzhou ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-the-silk-road-in-gansu-china/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Elo 54min

Hear about travel to Beijing, China, and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gansu) as the Amateur Traveler discusses the first half of a recent press trip to China, sponsored by the Chinese Tourism Board. Seven days let you pair Beijing’s imperial centers and Great Wall with the yak‑grazed valleys, monasteries, and soaring limestone of Gannan—history and highlands in a single, unforgettable loop. Morning Land at PEK or PKX before noon. A pre‑booked car or the Airport Express gets you downtown in 45‑60 minutes. Stay inside the 2nd Ring Road to limit traffic headaches. Afternoon Forbidden City (Palace Museum) – Reserve tickets with your passport in advance; allow 3‑4 hrs to navigate the 960 × 750 m compound of 980 buildings. Travel China Guide Exit the North Gate and climb Jingshan Park for the classic rooftop panorama. Day 1 | Arrive Beijing ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-beijing-and-gannan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Heinä 56min