Adventure Travel & Culture Blog
Latest Blog Articles
Part 1: Trekking from Bolivia to Peru
In the first of a three-blog series, Peter Farrington recalls his journey on Andean Trails’ exploratory 33-day trek through Bolivia’s Andean peaks via Lake Titicaca and up to Peru’s Inca capital, Cusco. Peter begins: “It was a cold dark night at 4,000m. I staggered under the weight of my pack. Within a few …
Travel diaries from South America
A travel diary like no other In the true spirit of adventure travel, Lucilla Butler – aged 70, six kids, 21 grandkids – has sent us a good old-fashioned letter in the post after her epic 68-day journey through South America with us. She describes in candid detail her experiences – much of which she …
Torres del Paine – Summer Wonderland
Torres del Paine National Park The last time I went to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, it was with a group on our Patagonia Highlights tour. We approached the park on a brilliantly sunny day with the wind forcefully propelling us towards this UNESCO Biosphere reserve. On nearing the park, the granite …
Top ten things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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…
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
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 …
Our fantastic Peru holiday – Inca Trail, Ausangate and more
Inca Trail and more Debby Waldron had a dream to trek the Inca Trail in Peru. After persuading two friends – Jane and Rebecca – to come along, the trio set out with not only the Machu Picchu ruins in site, but higher passes. Having just returned from her Andean Trails trip, Debby shares her …
Pisco sour cocktail recipe
Pisco sour recipe It’s time to shelve your GnT, grab a Pisco sour and start to plan your South American adventure holiday. Pisco sour is fast becoming one of the most sought after cocktails in the world, and you are sure to come across in Peru and Chile. This is the “Pisco Sour” recipe that has …
Live Namibia safari report – Kathy
Namibia safari report Namibia is an exciting country. I fell in love with it many years ago and it has since become the first non-Latin American destination we offer our customers. I am currently travelling in Namibia for a few weeks with my son, checking out some new places for all lovers of wildlife and …
Aji de Gallina – classic recipe
Aji de Gallina recipe “I learned to cook the delicious Peruvian food Aji de Gallina when I was in the jungle at the magical Tambopata Research Centre in Peru,” says Andean Trails’ Kat. One morning it was really far too rainy to watch colourful macaws and monkeys swinging from the tree tops because they were …
Aconcagua – climb to the top of the Americas
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 …
Inspirational travel story for older travellers
Inspirational traveller Lucilla Butler shares her inspirational story to inspire older travellers to head off to South America on an adventure. Getting to know Lucilla, her sense of adventure and spirit, we couldn’t help but be inspired by her and asked her to write a few words we could share with others and hopefully inspire …
Alan’s Top 10 things to do in Santiago
Santiago: Top 10 things to do Andean Trails’ Alan lived many years in Santiago, Chile’s capital, and here he shares his Top 10 things to do there. He says: “Santiago, the capital of Chile, is a buzzing city of nearly 6 million people. It nestles into the Andes with peaks of nearly 6,000m soaring above the …
Viva Ecuador – why I love travel
Kat travels to Ecuador “The first time I ventured to South America I ended up in Ecuador,” says Andean Trails Kat of catching the travel bug there. “I say “ended up” because that’s exactly what happened. I’d always had a thing for South America – but where exactly I didn’t really know. I ended up …
Chile’s Fiestas Patrias
Celebrating Chile’s Fiestas Patrias “Around this time of the year I get nostalgic for one of my past lives..the one when I lived in Chile – for Fiestas Patrias,” explains Andean Trails’ Alan. “The 18th of September is Chilean independence and it is one of several days celebrating the Fiestas Patrias or National Holidays. It is …
Before you go
Travel checklist We’ve put together this travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe whilst you are there. Information from the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO) of the UK. Before you go: Check out this advice for specific types of travellers for your destination. Check our travel advice pages for …
History of Andean Trails – 1998 to today
A brief history of Andean Trails I spent much of the 90s working as a trek leader and writing guidebooks on South America and as a result of all that exploring and leading groups, in 1998 I decided this was something I would like to carry on doing, so the idea for Andean Trails hatched. …
