Thoughtful/lessness of a long distance hiker by Tom Shearman on 30th January, 2014 Tom writes: “Some time ago, when my sister told me hers was a cancer diagnosis, the thought of being half the world away in the Huayhuash mountains of Peru produced two vivid feelings. Firstly, the shame of wanting to hide away from it all overseas; and then the overwhelming desire to see my sister as …
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. …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Journey to Falkland Islands and Patagonia by Tom Shearman 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 …
Patagonia Ice Field trek – the revenge! by Tom Shearman on 25th April, 2013 Patagonia Ice Field trek Tom writes about his South Patagonia Ice Field trek in Fitzroy National Park, Argentina – a tale of hiking, food and revenge…. ¡Raton! ¡Raton! There was hardly time to translate as tent mate Ezequiel sprang towards me wielding his metal water bottle, shouting ‘Raton!’. The first bottle blow was to …
Peru – the best trekking in the world by Tom Shearman on 28th March, 2013 Trekking in Peru – the best! Andean Trails’ Tom Shearman explains why Peru is the best trekking and hiking holiday destination in the world. He writes: Peru is the best trekking country in the world. That’s my humble opinion, and it’s going to take a country of Himalayan hiking proportions to, possibly, change it. I love Patagonia and …
Tips for trekking in the Andes by Tom Shearman on 14th March, 2013 Top trekking tips for the Andes Here, Andean Trails’ Tom gives his top tips and some know-before-you-go advice about hiking in the Andes and trekking in South America in general. Check your fitness The fitter you are before the trek starts, the more you will enjoy hiking. This seems an obvious tip, but it’s …
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 …
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 …
