Colombia: Best Beaches & Sleeping in Tayrona National Park by Tom Shearman on 18th February, 2022 Almost every traveller heading to Colombia will make Tayrona National Park’s beaches one of their must-see destinations. Colombia’s Caribbean coast features postcard-perfect crystal waters and beautiful sandy beaches set among pristine tropical forests. This beach paradise is easily accessible from nearby Santa Marta. For many, a day visit is not enough. Luckily, sleeping in Tayrona …
How Long Is The Inca Trail? by Tom Shearman on 17th January, 2022 The Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu in Peru is one of the world’s iconic hikes. Very few walks can match its diversity, history, and appeal. Inca Trail trekkers enjoy cloud forest, sub-tropical jungle, and mountain passes with views of snow-capped Andean peaks en route to the famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. Orchids, condors, …
The Best Hikes & Treks in Chile. by Tom Shearman on 24th November, 2021 Chile’s sleek and elongated geography helps make it one of the best trekking destinations in the world. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best hikes in Chile. The country stretches some 2,690 miles (4,329km) from north to south; South America’s distinctive spine formed thanks to Chile’s mighty Andean mountain ranges. It’s …
Successful High Altitude Acclimatisation by Kathy Jarvis on 15th September, 2020 How do I successfully achieve high altitude acclimatisation? This is the question that anyone travelling to the high altitude Andean areas of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina or Colombia should be asking themselves. Successful acclimatisation will make a huge difference to your visit. It will mean you have a much safer and more enjoyable experience, …
Inca Ruins near Cusco, Peru: Top Tours & Sights by Kathy Jarvis on 25th August, 2020 Visit the top Inca ruins around Cusco, Peru on your adventure holiday. Get our top travel trips about Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Sacsayhuaman and more. You’ve heard of Machu Picchu without a doubt – but what about Pumamarca, Choquecancha, and Quillatambo? These fabulous sounding names are lesser known Inca sites, all within a few hours travel …
Top 10 Things to do With Kids on Holiday in Argentina by Alan Lyall on 17th August, 2020 Argentina is a great country to visit and has a great deal of attractions for families travelling with kids. High mountains, pristine lakes, wildlife filled wetlands, glaciers and waterfalls are just some of the attractions this beautiful country has to offer. Argentina is huge, covering an area more than eleven times that of the …
Bolivia’s highest points: La Paz, Lake Titicaca and Bolivia’s mountains by Kat Dougal on 8th August, 2020 How high is Lake Titicaca? How high is La Paz – and what is Bolivia highest point? One of the highest of all Andean nations, the geography of Bolivia certainly sets some impressive records for life at high altitude. Read our blog to find out just how high Bolivia’s landmarks are. La Paz …
What to Wear: Packing Guide For Your Patagonia Holiday by Kathy Jarvis on 31st July, 2020 Patagonia, mythical land at the end of the earth. What a wonderful part of the world. This is one of my all time favourite places. Patagonia is remote and stunningly beautiful. It is a land of vast landscapes, with sharp granite spires such as Cerro Torre and Fitzroy, big mountain ranges, extensive ice-caps, masses …
When and Where to Go Stargazing in Chile by Alan Lyall on 24th July, 2020 The skies over Chile’s Atacama Desert are blessed with over 300 clear nights per year, ideal for stargazing. These clear skies mean that this part of the country has become one of the world’s principal sites for astronomic observatories. Chile is now a major astrotourism destination. Best places for stargazing The towns in the …
Avoid Tourists: A Guide to Non-Touristy Things To Do in Peru by Kat Dougal on 17th July, 2020 Peru has long been one of the hot spots of tourism in South America, and quite rightly so! However, most of us love an element of off the beaten track travelling, and here’s how you can get away from the crowds with our guide to non-touristy things to do on holiday in Peru. Here’s a …
Providencia Island, Colombia’s Caribbean hideaway by Kathy Jarvis on 10th July, 2020 Colombia meets the Caribbean on the beautifully laid back and remote island of Providencia. Providencia, a 17sq km volcanic cone, rich in history and replete with turquoise waters, is perfect. Relax, snorkel and swim, as well as take in some rum and history. Read our quick guide to this marvelous destination. Local …
Northern Peru Travel Guide by Kathy Jarvis on 29th June, 2020 THE NORTH OF PERU The north of Peru is brimming with treasures and it is much less travelled than the southern hot spots of Cusco and Machu Picchu. Northern Peru travel never fails to surprise and impress, it is a fascinating part of this wonderful country well worth exploring. There is masses to see …
Galapagos Islands Guide: A list of the top 10 birds to see by Kathy Jarvis on 5th June, 2020 The Galapagos is a wonderful place to visit. It is on the bucket list of many a nature enthusiast, especially for the fauna and in particular, the Galapagos birds. Here you will find our guide to the top 10 Galapagos birds. Blue-footed Booby Scientific name: Sula nebouxii This bird is a favourite for …
An Eco-Tourism Guide to Travelling in Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 29th May, 2020 Eco-tourism in Peru is key to ensuring that this popular Andean holiday destination will benefit from the large number of travellers it attracts each year, especially at its iconic sites of Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca and beyond. Here’s our advice on how to support sustainable tourism in Peru. An Eco-Tourism …
Galapagos Conservation Trust and Andean Trails by Kathy Jarvis on 15th May, 2020 The Galapagos Islands are a paradise to holiday in. But they are also a paradise in need of protection and conservation. At Andean Trails, while making your Galapagos holiday come true, we are also supporting the fantastic work of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Read on to find out more… Galapagos Conservation Trust and …
Guide to the Best Glacier Hikes in Patagonia by Kathy Jarvis on 22nd April, 2020 Visiting Patagonia and hiking on the glaciers go hand in hand. Read on for our suggestions of some of the best glacier hikes in Patagonia. Patagonia offers a wonderful array of glaciers: some you hike to, some you trek on top of and other, more remote, glaciers you can only reached by boat. …
Why Should I Visit The Chilean Fjords? by Alan Lyall on 10th April, 2020 The magnificent Chilean fjords stretch down the south west coast of South America. They start in the Reloncavi Sound near Puerto Montt and finish at the end of the continent in Cape Horn. As the crow flies, this is a distance of well over 1,500 km. This length would be equivalent to a …
Best cloud forest lodges in Ecuador by Kat Dougal on 20th March, 2020 Ecuador’s Cloudforest is a magnet for those in search of wildlife, bird watching and the elusive Spectacled Bear. Sustainable eco-lodges in the cloud forest are a fantastic base to explore the flora and fauna and are so easily reached from Quito, being only a 2 hour car journey away. Here’s Andean Trails’ low down …
Things to do in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador by Kathy Jarvis on 6th March, 2020 Puerto Lopez is a vibrant fishing community on Ecuador’s Pacific coast. It lies at the heart of Machalilla National park. The scenery, vegetation and wildlife of the area are exceptional and there are plenty of opportunities to get out of town and explore the area fully. Puerto Lopez itself, although not pretty, can offer excellent …
Guide to the Best Amazon Rainforest Lodges in Ecuador by Kat Dougal on 28th February, 2020 Ecuador’s best rainforest lodges are known for their great location in the country’s Amazon basin, their standard of comfort and the wildlife that surrounds them. When we say “best” at Andean Trails, we try to look beyond comfort and like to focus also on the community projects each eco-lodge supports, the wildlife we find …
