San Pedro de Atacama: Best tours and things to do in the desert by Alan Lyall on 14th February, 2020 What are the best tours to do in San Pedro de Atacama? Here we give you our suggestions of the best things to do in San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama is a small Andean town in the Altiplano of Chile’s Atacama Desert. It is an …
South America: The Best Countries To Visit on Holiday by Alan Lyall on 31st January, 2020 When planning your holiday to South America you may ask yourself; which are the best countries to visit in South America? South America is a continent of amazing contrasts. These range from tropical jungle to glaciers, remote high mountain villages to bustling coastal cities, mountain ranges to endless pampa. The continent is blessed with a …
Top 5 activities to do in the Pucon area by Alan Lyall on 6th December, 2019 Pucon in Chile is a charming town lying on Lake Villarrica in the north of Chile’s Lake District. It nestles into the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica and is looked over by the Villarrica Volcano, a majestic snow-capped conical mountain. Pucon is a place full of activities for all ages and tastes. The area is …
Bahia Bustamante: An off the beaten path wildlife experience in Argentine Patagonia by Alan Lyall on 29th November, 2019 Alan was recently in Patagonia and visited Bahia Bustamante in Argentina. Here he describes the experience of a few days in Bahia Bustamante, comfort, rooms, gastronomy, excursions and wildlife. He writes: “It was evening and the sun has just set when we arrived at Bahia Bustamante, a solitary outpost on the Patagonian coast of …
Santiago self-guided panoramic city tour by Alan Lyall on 22nd November, 2019 The centre of Santiago is dominated by San Cristobal hill in the Metropolitan Park. The park covers an area of over 700 hectares and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. San Critsobal hill is the highest point and is crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary which is lit at night …
Patagonia Park by Alan Lyall on 15th November, 2019 The Patagonia National Park in the Chilean region of Aysen was formed in 2018 and is the combination of the Lago Jeinimeni National Reserve, Lago Cochrane/Tamango Reserve and the Parque Patagonia also known as Patagonia Park in the Chacabuco Valley. The latter was created by Conservacion Patagonica, a nonprofit incorporated in California whose mission …
Buenos Aires Tasting Menu by Alan Lyall on 8th November, 2019 Alan was recently in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, where an important question was what to eat in Buenos Aires. This is the story of his personal experience of an evening of a tasting menu experience. He writes: Tasting menu – a lot of small “funny” dishes designed to confuse and challenge …
Guide to the best beaches in Colombia by Kathy Jarvis on 1st November, 2019 Colombia is famous for some of the best beaches in South America, with fine sands, great weather and beautiful backdrops. Read our beach guide – from the well known and famous to the remote – and make sure you choose the best beach for your holiday in Colombia. Note: For all beaches …
Dream honeymoons in South America by Alan Lyall on 18th October, 2019 Honeymoons are a wonderful cause for a celebration and should provide memorable experiences. South America offers opportunities for all types of honeymoon, something to suit every couple. Here are some picture postcard memories which could be created on your honeymoon. Wildlife cruise and adventure: M/Y Grace, Galapagos Islands Picture this: You are sitting …
Restaurants and Eating Out: Food in Galapagos Islands by Kat Dougal on 11th October, 2019 Eating out choices in the Galapagos Islands have blossomed, with many new bars, cafes and restaurants opening in recent years, as hotel-based holidays have become more popular. Top-end dining has truly yet to arrive at the Galapagos Islands due to its remote location and difficulty in importing ingredients. However, the three main islands, Santa …
Nazca: How Best to Visit and See The Nazca Lines by Kathy Jarvis on 4th October, 2019 Travel Guide to visiting the Nazca Lines in Peru. The Nazca lines are high on the list of places to see for many visitors to Peru. They are World Heritage listed and are one of history’s great mysteries. No one really knows why the lines were constructed nor exactly how. It is thought that the …
Colombia: Weather and best time to visit by Kathy Jarvis on 27th September, 2019 The best time to visit Colombia will depend on the regions you wish to visit and what you are going to be doing. Generally speaking it rains less between December and March. Due to its proximity to the equator Colombia’s climate is warm pretty much all-year round. This makes it the ideal holiday choice at …
Chile, self-drive holiday suggested routes by Alan Lyall on 20th September, 2019 Chile’s long thin geography gives it an amazing variety of landscapes and topography which can be explored in full on a self drive holiday. The country boasts awe inspiring desert landscapes, majestic mountain scenery, craggy rocky coasts, lush forests, pristine lakes and much more. We have put together our favourite self-drive tours, which we …
Self drive – guide to driving a hire car in Chile by Alan Lyall on 13th September, 2019 Chile is the perfect country for a self-drive holiday. Here is our handy guide. In the Central part of the country there is a good network of “autopistas” – motorways/highways. These are good quality, tarmac surface, private and have frequent toll points. The Panamerican highway runs from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in …
What to do in and around Los Glaciares National Park by Alan Lyall on 6th September, 2019 Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia is found nestling into the Andes in South Western Argentina and bordering with Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. It is an area of stunning beauty with towering mountains, glacial lakes and impressive glaciers. Covering an area of over 7,000 km2 (over 2,800 sq miles) it offers the …
Best Walks and Climbs Around Huayna Potosi mountain, Bolivia. by Kathy Jarvis on 30th August, 2019 Climb and trek around one of the most well-known mountain in Bolivia: Huayna Potosi. Read our expert guide to the best trails around and up to the summit. Huayna Potosi is a 6088 metre, non-technical peak, readily accessible from La Paz – three characteristics that make it attractive to novice and experienced mountaineers alike. Snow route up Huayna Potosi This majestic mountain lies at the heart …
The Best Eco Camps and Lodges in Patagonia by Alan Lyall on 16th August, 2019 We’ve compiled a quick guide to some of the best eco camps in Patagonia, from eco-friendly domes to lodges and refugios, perfect for your Patagonian holiday. With many places filling up quickly, it’s important to get places booked up a long way in advance, especially in the busier season of November to March. At …
A travel diary of a day and night on Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni by Kathy Jarvis on 9th August, 2019 Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni has inspired travellers for decades – read our travel expert’s guide to a day and night on these magnificent salt flats. He writes: I woke around 5.30am, put on my down jacket and left the (relative) warmth of my salt hotel to walk down to watch the coldest sunrise …
Best hikes and trails in Bolivia by Kathy Jarvis on 2nd August, 2019 The hills and mountains of Bolivia are much less known than the Cordilleras of southern Patagonia or the high Andes of neighbouring Peru. The Bolivian Andes are beautiful and majestic and offer a wonderful array of multi-day treks as well as some superb day walks, trekking peaks and some technical mountaineering. We sum up just …
Chile family holidays travel guide by Alan Lyall on 24th July, 2019 Chile is a thin long country stretching around 4,300 Km and only 360 Km at its widest point. It is a country of incredible contrasting nature from desert to glaciers and from some of the highest mountains in the Americas to the sea. As such, for adults and children alike, its main attractions are …
