Aida Maria Travel Review: Cruising the Galapagos Islands by Tom Shearman on 10th May, 2019 Les and Heather Bunce booked a last-minute Aida Maria Cruise with Andean Trails to cap off a 5-month tour of South America. Read Les’ excellent blog and pictures from his week in Galapagos. Setting the scene The sea before me is coloured a pale deepening to deep azure blue banded with black volcanic …
Essential Travel Guide to Puerto Madryn in Argentina by Tom Shearman on 19th April, 2019 Our visitor’s guide to Puerto Madryn gives lots of ideas, tips and advice to help plan your holiday to this scenic corner of Patagonia, Argentina. Read first hand advice from our travel expert Tom Shearman who spent 10 days exploring the region. “Puerto Madryn is a fairly large town of around 100,000 souls, first …
Travel Guide to Chalalan, Bolivia’s Amazon jungle lodge in Madidi National Park by Tom Shearman on 28th March, 2019 The journey started with a short, 30-minute and spectacular flight from La Paz (sit on the left), up and over the Bolivian Andes before dropping down into the steamy Amazon at Rurrenbaque airport. A tiny airport increased the special feeling that accompanies visiting a remote area. My backside did not feel so special after the …
Self-drive and self-guided trekking holiday in Patagonia by Tom Shearman on 1st February, 2019 Steve Smith and Karla Miller took a 4-week trip with Andean Trails to celebrate Steve’s 50th birthday. The couple started at the mighty Iguazu Falls then flew to Ushuaia to start a series of treks; Montes Martial, and then self-guided in Chalten and Chile’s Paine W in Torres del Paine National Park. After …
Know Before You Go: Our Top Tips for Holidays to Peru by Tom Shearman on 23rd January, 2019 Thinking about a holiday in Peru? Andean Trails’ Peru travel expert Tom Shearman has visited Peru more than 10 times and shares his top travel tips and what to know before you go. When to go The best months for hiking, highlands and jungle are in the dry season – May …
When to visit Galapagos Islands: weather and wildlife by Tom Shearman on 2nd November, 2018 When is the best time to visit Galapagos? There is no real ‘best’ time to visit Galapagos on holiday as there is always wonderful wildlife and weather to enjoy. Most animals – tortoises, sharks, sea lions and boobies – are found all year round and many of the species here are non-migratory. The Galapagos …
Cusco: Top 10 restaurants and best Peruvian food by Tom Shearman on 12th October, 2018 Almost every tour to Peru will pass through the famous Inca capital of Cusco. Learn which typical plates to taste, where to jump in for a quick and hearty meal and where to and enjoy fine dining. The below is a list of a variety of all types of restaurants to suit all occasions …
Travel guide to Peninsula Valdes National Park, Punta Norte by Tom Shearman on 7th September, 2018 Where can you see almost a millions penguins, hundreds of sea lions, dozens of whales and even orcas, all in one place? Andean Trails’ travel expert Tom describes his trip to Argentina’s wildlife haven – Peninsula Valdes. He writes: “What’s that? Did you see that? Looking like a….Can’t be. Quick, let’s get a …
Incallajta, Cochabamba, Bolivia by Tom Shearman on 23rd August, 2018 Want to visit Inca ruins, far away from the crowds? Then head to Incallajta, write Andean Trails’ Tom, to remote and beautiful Inca ruins that are the largest in all Bolivia. He writes: More than 500 years ago and having conquered much of what are the modern day mountains of Peru and Bolivia, …
Bolivia – its best cuisine and top restaurants by Tom Shearman on 1st August, 2018 What is the food like in Bolivia? Find out in our food and Top 10 restaurant guide, all sampled by our travel expert, Tom. He writes: “Bold, big and burgeoning – the best way to describe the food scene blossoming in Bolivia. Servings are often as enormous as the Andean mountains that define …
Santa Cruz Trek, Northern Peru by Tom Shearman on 2nd March, 2018 Looking for something different from your trekking trip to Peru? Read all about Santa Cruz, one of Huaraz’s best kept trekking secrets, with Andean Trails’ Tom’s personal account: He writes: “Huaraz in north Peru is a trekking and climbing dream, with its multitude of remote trails, ice-clad peaks and famous hikes like the Huayhuash …
Galapagos Islands holiday: Cruise or hotel / land-based trip? by Tom Shearman on 27th February, 2018 Cruise or hotels? With the increase in Galapagos hotel-based trips – also called island hopping or land-based – most people planning to visit Galapagos have to ask themselves: Should I go on a Galapagos Cruise or stay on land in nice hotels? Read our expert advice comparing both types of trips, helping you decide …
Stella Australis review – a day on a Patagonia cruise by Tom Shearman on 23rd January, 2018 Stella Australis review. Andean Trails’ travel expert Tom Shearman describes a day aboard a Patagonia cruise ship, among the fjords of Chile. He spent four days aboard the Stella Australis on the Punta Arenas-Punta Arenas route. Wildlife seen included penguins, dolphins, seals and albatrosses, amongst pristine fjords and mountains. If you need help planning a …
Travel Tips to get you off the beaten track in South America by Tom Shearman on 9th December, 2017 Off The Beaten Track Andean Trails give you top tips on suggestions of where to travel ahead of the pack. Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia Kat Dougal, Intrepid explorer and family travel expert, gives as her hot tip the Toro Toro National Park in Bolivia. She says: “With every year Bolivia is becoming …
Jaguar spotting in Amazon rainforest, Peru by Tom Shearman on 13th October, 2017 Jaguar spotting We’d been cruising upriver for two hours when the engine noise suddenly cut and a whispered word rose above the lapping of the muddy Amazon river water. “Jaguar,”. Ten souls stirred from soporific slumber and eyes started to scan the riverside. Spanish speakers stole a march as the boat captain murmured: “Izquierda, …
Lares Trek – an alternative to the Inca Trail by Tom Shearman on 13th October, 2017 Lares Trek Tom has just returned from trekking in the Lares Valley, in the surroundings of Cusco – and is happy to share fond memories…and check his Facebook photos, too. The beauty of the Lares Valley I can’t believe I’ve spent almost 17 years driving past these wonderful valleys and not known the beauty to be enjoyed …
Lost luggage tales – and advice by Tom Shearman on 13th October, 2017 Lost luggage Tom, who really should know better, tells us about how not to travel, pack or arrive at your holiday destination. He writes: “No clean clothes? Check. No charger for phone or laptop? Check. No sun cream, insect repellent, malaria pills for the coming Amazon trip? Check. Card not working in the …
Getting to Southern Patagonia and travelling around by Tom Shearman on 13th October, 2017 Southern Patagonia Southern Patagonia lies at the bottom end of the South American continent, stradling Chile and Argentina. Patagonia is remarkable and popular for its incredible scenery, granite peaks, glaciers and abundant wildlife. Due to its far flung location, the distances involved and the sparse population getting there and travelling around can take some planning. …
Explore Potosi and Sucre in Bolivia by Tom Shearman on 6th October, 2017 Explore Bolivia A holiday in Bolivia is so much more than Uyuni, La Paz, Lake Titicaca and Amazon. Tom describes two more must-sees in this vibrant and fascinating Andean country – Potosi and Sucre. He writes… The Spanish have a phrase – ‘Vale un Potosi’ – which means something being worth as much as Potosi. The mountain Cerro Potosi …
Luxury holiday in Atacama Desert, Chile by Tom Shearman on 4th October, 2017 Atacama Desert “I’ll just bring you a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc to the Jacuzzi, sir.” The sun was stubbing itself into in an orangey cinder after a day of baking Chile’s Atacama desert. I was recently checked-in at the five star Alto Atacama hotel, thirsty and a bit dusty after an arrival then private tour …
