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 …
Peru Family Fun: holiday ideas with kids in Peru by Kat Dougal on 24th May, 2013 Family fun in Peru All you need to know about a family holiday to Peru, from a family that went… Sarah was aged four and due to start school. Her mum Alison McDonald decided that the best preparation for Sarah was an adventure in Peru. Alison recalls a fantastic family trip (organised by Andean Trails) …
Galapagos Islands Cruise: Alan’s dream by Alan Lyall on 17th May, 2013 Alan tours the Galapagos Islands Alan Lyall has just got back from a dream trip to the magical Galapagos Islands, where he cruised for a week on the Letty, one of the first class Eric, Flamingo and Letty series of boats. Check his photos on Facebook, and read his colourful and honest day-by day account of Galapagos …
Ecuador: Part II of Alan’s tales from Ecuador by Alan Lyall on 9th May, 2013 Alan’s Ecuador tales, part II Alan’s second Ecuador blog sees him think he’s back in Scotland, take a taxi through the clouds and scour Cuenca for a cannily-priced Panama hat…. Alan writes: “Cuenca is a beautiful city in the southern Ecuadorean Andes with a well-preserved colonial centre, and is the home of the Panama …
Ecuador: Alan’s travel tales from Ecuador by Alan Lyall on 2nd May, 2013 Ecuador travel tales, by Alan Andean Trails’ Alan reports back after his first week exploring Ecuador, which has seen him befriend ice cream sellers, cross the equator three times in a day and sleep in a hotel with a plane in the garden…….. Alan writes: “We landed on time and the new airport at …
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 …
Know before you go: Top 10 holiday tips for Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 11th April, 2013 Top tips for Peru holidays Know before you go – read our Top 10 holiday tips for a successful holiday to Peru. Money Take twice as much money and half the amount of clothes you think you need. There are an abundance of markets to buy clothing should you need, as well as launderettes. You only …
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 …
Top 10 things to do in Huaraz, Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 21st March, 2013 Huaraz: Top 10 things to do Here we look at the Top 10 things to do in and around Huaraz, Peru. Huaraz is Peru’s famous trekking capital and is nestled between the stunning mountain chains of the Cordillera Blanca and Negra. Andean Trails’ owner and founder Kathy Jarvis was very much inspired by this region …
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 …
