Torres del Paine – Summer Wonderland by Alan Lyall on 13th December, 2012 Torres del Paine National Park The last time I went to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, it was with a group on our Patagonia Highlights tour. We approached the park on a brilliantly sunny day with the wind forcefully propelling us towards this UNESCO Biosphere reserve. On nearing the park, the granite …
Top ten things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina by Tom Shearman on 29th November, 2012 Buenos Aires: Top 10 things to do What’s new, Buenos Aires? What are the Top 10 things to do in Argentina’s amazing capital. Buenos Aires – written about, sung about, loved, despised, paraphrased and generally dreamt about. The rising saps of spring have re-energised this famous city, summer is nigh and the Buenos Aires is bursting …
Are you ready boots? Start walking… by Tom Shearman on 22nd November, 2012 The joy of walking boots Boots. My boots. Ten years we’ve been together, hiking through rain and hail and snow and, of course, the sunshine times. As a team, we’ve walked the Andes of South America – from the windy plains of Patagonia to the high, beastly flanks of 6,000m+ on Aconcagua and Chachani. We’ve …
Top Ten things to do in Lima, Peru by Tom Shearman on 15th November, 2012 Lima: Top 10 things to do Check our Top Ten things to do in Peru’s vibrant capital city – Lima. Here are our Top 10 ideas from our office staff here in Scotland and from our Peruvian friends, on the ground. Enjoy them and let us know if you have any to add…..(we added three …
Our fantastic Peru holiday – Inca Trail, Ausangate and more by Kathy Jarvis on 6th November, 2012 Inca Trail and more Debby Waldron had a dream to trek the Inca Trail in Peru. After persuading two friends – Jane and Rebecca – to come along, the trio set out with not only the Machu Picchu ruins in site, but higher passes. Having just returned from her Andean Trails trip, Debby shares her …
Pisco sour cocktail recipe by Alan Lyall on 1st November, 2012 Pisco sour recipe It’s time to shelve your GnT, grab a Pisco sour and start to plan your South American adventure holiday. Pisco sour is fast becoming one of the most sought after cocktails in the world, and you are sure to come across in Peru and Chile. This is the “Pisco Sour” recipe that has …
Live Namibia safari report – Kathy by Kathy Jarvis on 22nd October, 2012 Namibia safari report Namibia is an exciting country. I fell in love with it many years ago and it has since become the first non-Latin American destination we offer our customers. I am currently travelling in Namibia for a few weeks with my son, checking out some new places for all lovers of wildlife and …
Aji de Gallina – classic recipe by Kat Dougal on 18th October, 2012 Aji de Gallina recipe “I learned to cook the delicious Peruvian food Aji de Gallina when I was in the jungle at the magical Tambopata Research Centre in Peru,” says Andean Trails’ Kat. One morning it was really far too rainy to watch colourful macaws and monkeys swinging from the tree tops because they were …
Aconcagua – climb to the top of the Americas by Tom Shearman on 3rd October, 2012 Climb Aconcagua Andean Trails’ Tom talking about climbing Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. “Not achieving your goal, initially, is difficult, especially if you are used to achieving them. In a clearly hypocritical opening, I never quite made it as an England centre-back/off spinning-opener/rugby full-back, but hills and peaks were always ticked off. Life-affirming! So hot …
Inspirational travel story for older travellers by Alan Lyall on 28th September, 2012 Inspirational traveller Lucilla Butler shares her inspirational story to inspire older travellers to head off to South America on an adventure. Getting to know Lucilla, her sense of adventure and spirit, we couldn’t help but be inspired by her and asked her to write a few words we could share with others and hopefully inspire …
Alan’s Top 10 things to do in Santiago by Alan Lyall on 26th September, 2012 Santiago: Top 10 things to do Andean Trails’ Alan lived many years in Santiago, Chile’s capital, and here he shares his Top 10 things to do there. He says: “Santiago, the capital of Chile, is a buzzing city of nearly 6 million people. It nestles into the Andes with peaks of nearly 6,000m soaring above the …
Viva Ecuador – why I love travel by Kat Dougal on 21st September, 2012 Kat travels to Ecuador “The first time I ventured to South America I ended up in Ecuador,” says Andean Trails Kat of catching the travel bug there. “I say “ended up” because that’s exactly what happened. I’d always had a thing for South America – but where exactly I didn’t really know. I ended up …
Chile’s Fiestas Patrias by Alan Lyall on 12th September, 2012 Celebrating Chile’s Fiestas Patrias “Around this time of the year I get nostalgic for one of my past lives..the one when I lived in Chile – for Fiestas Patrias,” explains Andean Trails’ Alan. “The 18th of September is Chilean independence and it is one of several days celebrating the Fiestas Patrias or National Holidays. It is …
Before you go by Kathy Jarvis on 18th August, 2012 Travel checklist We’ve put together this travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe whilst you are there. Information from the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) of the UK. Before you go: Check out this advice for specific types of travellers for your destination. Check our travel advice pages for …
History of Andean Trails – 1998 to today by Kathy Jarvis on 31st July, 2012 A brief history of Andean Trails I spent much of the 90s working as a trek leader and writing guidebooks on South America and as a result of all that exploring and leading groups, in 1998 I decided this was something I would like to carry on doing, so the idea for Andean Trails hatched. …
