South America
Travelling To and Around the Galapagos Islands
Travelling to and around the Galapagos Islands You’ve booked your cruise or land-based trip to the amazing Galapagos Islands. But you still have a few questions about how to fly there and what you need to do at the airport before you check in for your Galapagos flight. This guide to travelling around the Galapagos …
Colombia: Best Beaches & Sleeping in Tayrona National Park
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 …
Providencia Island, Colombia’s Caribbean hideaway
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 …
South America: The Best Countries To Visit on Holiday
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 …
Best Hikes to Trek in South America
South America is a great destination for adventure lovers especially those who are looking for a good trek. Mountains, forests, jungle and desert provide spectacular backdrops for hikes on and off the beaten path. In no particular order, here are our top 10 treks or hikes in South America. Paine W Trek, …
Travel Tips to get you off the beaten track in South America
Off The Beaten Track Andean Trails give you top tips on suggestions of where to travel ahead of the pack. Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia Kat Dougal, Intrepid explorer and family travel expert, gives as her hot tip the Toro Toro National Park in Bolivia. She says: “With every year Bolivia is becoming …
The best things about travelling
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 …
Ecuador: Part II of Alan’s tales from Ecuador
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
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 …
Know before you go: Top 10 holiday tips for Peru
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
