Travelling as a new parent: nappies, sleepless nights and wanderlust by Kat Dougal on 19th December, 2013 Holidays and travel as a new parent Kat has returned to work after maternity leave and looks forward to her new lifestyle with her husband Dave and their lovely wee daughter, Lina. Kat writes: “It will change your life, they told me. And how right they were. In February my daughter Lina was born …
Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu: Standard tour or luxury service? by Tom Shearman on 12th December, 2013 Luxury or standard Inca Trail? The iconic Inca Trail trek to the Machu Picchu ruins in Peru is deservedly the most famous walk in South America. This once-in-a-lifetime hike requires planning, permits and porters – and the decision of whether to go on the standard trek or the luxury trek or, of course, by train. …
Out and about around Santiago de Chile by Alan Lyall on 6th December, 2013 Discovering Chile’s capital: Santiago Santiago, Chile’s capital, is in a privileged location; a mere stone’s throw from the highest peaks of the Andes; a short drive from the Pacific and in the heart of Chile’s wine country. If you are passing through Santiago, take a few days to explore some of the delights the area …
Galapagos Islands holiday: Cruise or hotel? by Tom Shearman on 27th November, 2013 Galapagos Islands holiday: Cruise or hotel? Cruise or hotel? It’s the biggest Galapagos Island holiday decision you will make; Galapagos cruise, or Galapagos hotel based trip? The Andean Trails’ team has used its experience of both trips to come up with a handy ‘Galapagos cruise / Galapagos land based trip?’ guide. The similarities Once-in-a-lifetime, fully guided, …
Sacred Valley: Top 10 things to do by Kathy Jarvis on 21st November, 2013 Top 10 things to do in the Sacred Valley Sacred Valley now rivals Machu Picchu ruins, the Inca Trail and Cusco as one of Peru’s biggest holiday draws. The Sacred Valley offers good weather, great accommodation and a wealth of activities to keep you occupied and active before or after a trip to the famous Inca …
Horse riding in Ecuador by Tom Shearman on 6th November, 2013 Horse riding in Ecuador The final, horse riding part of a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. We are horse riding today, having visited the Ecuadorian Amazon and cloud forest, the Galapagos Islands and Quito, with photos on Facebook too: Horse riding in Ecuador As we approached Otavalo and its colourful …
Ecuador Cloud Forest Travel Advice by Tom Shearman on 4th November, 2013 Cloud forest travel advice The fourth and penultimate part of a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, now in the cloud forest, as part of four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. We are in the Ecuador Cloud Forest today, having visited the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Galapagos Islands and Quito, with horse riding to follow and we have photos …
Top 5 reasons to travel solo by Tom Shearman on 25th October, 2013 Top reasons to travel solo This week, Andean Trails’ Tom exhorts why we should travel solo, and why it’s one of the best adventure holidays you’ll ever take. He writes: “Like going to the cinema on your own, solo travel is often more about how you feel about yourself than how you think other …
Ecuador Amazon Rainforest Travel Advice by Kathy Jarvis on 17th October, 2013 Amazon rainforest travel advice The third part of a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. We are in the Ecuadorian Amazon today, having visited the Galapagos Islands and Quito with cloud forest and horse riding to follow, with photos on Facebook too: Amazon rainforest in Ecuador “Wilson provided us with a …
Galapagos Islands holiday report by Tom Shearman on 11th October, 2013 Heading to Galapagos Islands The second part of a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. We are in the Galapagos Islands today, with Quito featured last week and Amazon and horse riding to follow, with photos on Facebook too: Jane and Greg write: “The …
Ecuador, Quito and Andean life by Kathy Jarvis on 4th October, 2013 A tour around Ecuador This week we start a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. Horse riding, Amazon and Galapagos Islands are all to follow, but we start with their arrival in Quito and some observations of what they saw during …
Family holiday travel tips and advice – travelling with kids. by Kathy Jarvis on 25th September, 2013 Travel advice for a family holiday This week, Andean Trails‘ Kathy Jarvis and Sarah Bennett from Azores Choice share their family travel experiences and top travel tips with kids. Kathy writes: “When my son, who is now aged 6-years-old, was about to turn one we went to Peru for a month. He spent his …
Travel – what MUST you see before you die by Tom Shearman on 13th September, 2013 Travel to which place before you die? The question, the ultimate for people that like travel. Do you go for something remote? Personal? Unaffordable? To impress dinner guests? Where is the one place you’d like to see before you die? Here are the places Andean Trails’ staff want to visit before they die. Where is …
Argentina: Top 10 off-the-beaten-track sights by Tom Shearman on 29th August, 2013 Argentina: Top 10 alternative things to do Argentina has many famous destinations from Buenos Aires to Patagonia. Here we look at 10 of its unknown nooks and crannies to whet your Argentina travel holiday appetite. We can help to arrange any of these trips, contact us for more. Moconá Waterfalls An incredible site. Unique, …
Happy 90th Birthday South America Handbook by Tom Shearman on 16th August, 2013 South America Handbook’s birthday This year the South America Handbook celebrates its 90th birthday, and here we look back at some of the travel advice handed out by the book through the decades. Somethings will never change In some ways, things are reassuringly similar now as they were then. Thomas Cook was operating guided tours …
Who prints holiday photos? by Tom Shearman on 2nd August, 2013 Printing holiday photos This week Andean Trails’ Tom’s sister posted him a collection of real, hold-them-in-your-hand photos of family memories from the last three years. There were weddings, births, parties and forgotten moments, all bringing a smile, and causing Tom to ponder if the post-holiday photo printing ritual has died. Tom writes: “After my …
The best things about travelling by Tom Shearman on 19th July, 2013 The joy of travelling As Andean Trails’ Tom prepares to go on holiday to Spain’s Cabo de Gata, he thinks back to long travels, short travels, all travelling – and what he feels that he misses about them all. He writes: “Some of things that I miss and love about travelling when I’m at …
Magical San Pedro de Atacama desert by Alan Lyall on 12th July, 2013 Discovering Atacama desert This week Andean Trails’ Alan Lyall talks about Atacama and thinks back to Chile, where he lived for more than a decade. He recalls one of his favourite parts of the country, where he has seen space shuttles, 3km-long poems and spouting geysers: This is Atacama. Alan writes: “San Pedro and the …
Journey to Falkland Islands and Patagonia by Alan Lyall on 5th July, 2013 Travel to the Falkland Islands Former RAF man John and his partner Helen recently decided to fulfil a life’s dream and visit the Falkland Islands and Patagonia. They flew with the RAF via Ascension Island to the islands in the south Atlantic – check their photos on Facebook here. John and Helen write: “Ascension …
Top 10 things to do in Cusco, Peru by Alan Lyall on 21st June, 2013 Cusco is one of Peru’s top holiday destinations, thanks to its proximity to Machu Picchu and its own vast array of attractions. Andean Trails’ owner Kathy Jarvis has been visiting Cusco for more than two decades, while Fiona Cameron lived in the bubbly and bustling Inca city for more than 12 years. Here we share …
