Merry Christmas and travel wishes by Alan Lyall on 19th December, 2014 Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one, here’s our travel and gift wish list for Christmasses past and future. Kathy Jarvis What I wish for in my Christmas stocking I think I’d like a neat little suitcase with wheels – I’ve always used back packs …
Choose the best rucksack for trekking in the Andes by Tom Shearman on 12th December, 2014 Choose the best rucksack for trekking in the Andes This week, outdoor clothing specialist Rachel Keir talks us through the maze of which rucksack to choose for which trekking trip, drawing on her experience at Silverfox Travel & Outdoors. She writes: Choosing a rucksack for trekking So you’ve made the decision to book a trekking …
Sacred Valley Via Ferrata zipline by Kathy Jarvis on 28th November, 2014 Sacred Valley Via Ferrata zipline This week, Andean Trails’ Maria lives like a condor – flying atop mountains and sleeping while hanging over a precipice in Peru. Check her fantastic photos on Facebook. She writes: “On the zipline, we were literally flying over and between mountains, stifling those little whimpers that both calm and …
Five star hotels in Cusco, Peru by Alan Lyall on 21st November, 2014 We take a look at Cusco’s burgeoning five star hotel scene this week, for all of which we get good booking rates for our passengers. These hotels are perfect for a treat or to rest aching bones after some trekking on the Luxury Inca Trail or the adventure of the Apurimac. Or …
Giving something back – volunteering at Huchuy Yachaq by Kathy Jarvis on 13th November, 2014 Volunteering at Huchuy Yachaq Our own María Lucas Jaqueti is spending a month taking part in the daily activities at the community project Andean Trails supports at Huchuy Yachaq, Cusco, Peru. Here she shares her first week’s experiences. She writes: “Above the Cusco valley, with a panoramic view of the city, Huchuy Yachaq Community Project …
Top 10 reasons to join a group tour in South America by Tom Shearman on 7th November, 2014 Top 10 reasons to join a group tour in South America Travelling solo doesn’t have to mean travelling alone and we are experts at dovetailing group tours with independent travel – the best of both worlds! In this week’s blog Tom shares his top tips with us. Tom writes: Some people prefer travelling only, …
Cholita Wrestling – the tough ladies of La Paz by Kat Dougal on 31st October, 2014 Cholita Wrestling – the tough ladies of La Paz So you think you are tough? Read on to find out about Kat’s recent encounter with the female Cholita Wrestlers of La Paz, where she met some truly feisty ladies. Kat writes: “I was picked up at my La Paz hotel for Sunday afternoon entertainment …
A day in the life of a guide in Peru’s Amazon rainforest by Kathy Jarvis on 24th October, 2014 A day in the life of a guide in Peru Have you ever wondered what it might be like to work as a guide in the Peruvian Amazon? The following story came to us from one of our most experiences guides, Aldo Malaga … with some great photos on Facebook. Aldo writes: “Whether guiding at …
Spotting whales in Colombia by Alan Lyall on 17th October, 2014 This week our own Alan Lyall waxes lyrical about his recent encounter with humpback whales in Colombia…with great photos on Facebook. He writes: “There are angry clouds in the sky whilst we skim along the Pacific Ocean in a small motor boat off the Pacific coast of Colombia’s Choco province. There is an air …
Puma spotting in Torres Del Paine by Kathy Jarvis on 10th October, 2014 Puma spotting in Torres Del Paine Vicky Brown and Manny Sidhu recall their thrilling and rare sighting of not one, not two, but three pumas while on a Winter in Paine tour in Chile with Andean Trails earlier this year. Vicky writes: “We arrived in Torres del Paine on a cold winter’s morning …
Bolivia & La Paz: Top Tips for families by Kat Dougal on 26th September, 2014 Bolivia & La Paz: Top Tips for families Kat found Bolivia’s La Paz a great place for families as she shares her Bolivia trip memories as well as photos on Facebook. Kat writes: “This was the first time I left my little girl and husband behind. But even as I was travelling without my …
Peru with the kids, Inca Trail, the Amazon, Ecuador and Galapagos by Kathy Jarvis on 19th September, 2014 South America is rapidly becoming a top destination for family holidays. Its mix of adventure, great activities and fascinating cultures take place around dramatic Andean peaks, steamy Amazon rainforest to coastal idylls like the Galapagos Islands, to name a few. Andean Trails’ traveller Sue Daniels and her two teenaged children Geena (15) and Joseph (13), …
Book your South America holiday early or late? by Tom Shearman on 12th September, 2014 Book South America holidays early or late? Early bird catches the worm – or do they – does it really pay to book early for South America holidays? Tom looks at the merits of planning in advance. He writes: “South America is a distant holiday destination. Almost every country is vast and even those …
Top Ten Tips For Taking Better Photographs On Holiday by Kathy Jarvis on 5th September, 2014 Taking better photographs on holiday This week, we have Top 10 Tips on taking stunning nature photographs on holiday from Mark Baber, product & marketing specialist at Panasonic UK. Mark studied photography when he was at Art College and has a huge passion for the form, helping customers make the most of their camera. He writes: …
Nutrition at altitude – how local crops can help by Kathy Jarvis on 29th August, 2014 Nutrition at altitude This week our guest blogger and expert nutritionist, Dr Chris Fenn, shares with us some tips on how to get the most from Peru’s native crops when at altitude. Chris writes: Whilst eating good quality foods for general health is important, there are several key nutrients associated with high altitude acclimatisation. As …
Climb Cotopaxi – making the journey count by Kathy Jarvis on 22nd August, 2014 Climb Cotopaxi – making the journey count Recently two Andean Trails customers returned from Ecuador, having successfully climbed Cotopaxi Volcano, which at 5897m stands tall in the Avenue of the Volcanoes, its beautiful conical shape easily recognisable from afar. Andean Trails’ Kat Dougal reminisces about her Cotopaxi climb. Kat writes: “It took me back to my honeymoon four years ago, …
Life as a Mountain Guide in Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 15th August, 2014 A mountain guide’s tale Rodolfo Oropeza shares his life story, from shepherd to top Peru mountain climbing guide, in this week’s fascinating, true life blog: Rodolfo writes: “When I was a school student, I always wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer and I was not interested in the mountains because they were …
Eat your way to summit success by Tom Shearman on 8th August, 2014 This week Tom remembers how important nutrition is when taking on peaks in cold conditions, all part of a mountaineering course. Tom writes: “The clouds whisped over the creamy white summit of Cairngorm, creating a game of show and tell of the mountain’s lethal mashed potato cornices. That February morning in Scotland’s Highlands was a …
Being at high altitude – expert advice by Tom Shearman on 1st August, 2014 Being at high altitude – expert advice This week Tara Guerin and Georgia Upjohn, performance specialists at the Altitude Centre, share their expert advice with us on going up high. Altitude: Be the tortoise, not the hare. As a mountaineering destination, The Andes offers no end of attractions. The scenery is peerless, and with …
Luxury Train Puno (Lake Titicaca) to Cusco by Alan Lyall on 25th July, 2014 Train travel from Puno to Cusco Pick-pockets, chicken claws and dodgy toilets – Alan experienced a very different Puno to Cusco luxury train journey to that of thirty years ago. This classic luxury train journey can be incorporated into many of our Peru trips. Alan writes: “In the mid 80s, on a family holiday …
