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 …
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 …
Plan the perfect Patagonia honeymoon by Alan Lyall on 19th July, 2019 Patagonia – remote, wild and inspiring – a unique destination at the end of South America for the perfect adventurous honeymoon between October and May. In her poem “Patagonia”, Kate Clanchy begins: I said perhaps Patagonia, and pictured a peninsula, wide enough for a couple of ladderback chairs to wobble on at …
All You Need to Know About Inca Trail Tours to Machu Picchu by Kathy Jarvis on 12th July, 2019 Our trekking and travel experts share our useful guide to the different Inca Trail tours available from Cusco, so you enjoy the perfect trek and visit to Machu Picchu. What is the Inca Trail? The Inca Trail is one of the world’s most famous trekking tours, a short but tough hike of …
Go Trekking in the Atacama Desert, San Pedro, Chile by Alan Lyall on 5th July, 2019 San Pedro de Atacama, in the heart of Chile’s Atacama Desert is a great place from which to enjoy half day or full day hikes or set off on a desert trek adventure over several days camping in the high Altiplano. Where is and how to get to San Pedro de Atacama San …
A Week In Ecuador and The Best Travel Itinerary by Kathy Jarvis on 28th June, 2019 Ecuador’s compact size and excellent infrastructure means you can pack in many sights and experiences in a week’s holiday, from the Amazon to Galapagos and snow-capped mountains. Our travel expert’s travel guide includes top tips and four outline itineraries to help you plan a fantastic trip of spectacular variety. Introduction to the …
Ecuador Honeymoon Holiday Ideas by Alan Lyall on 14th June, 2019 Are you a nature lover, adventure seeker and culture enthusiast looking for that special honeymoon? Well, Ecuador might just fit the bill. Sitting on the Equator in South America, this small country offers incredible diversity from the spectacular scenery of the mountains and volcanoes of the Andes to the rugged Pacific coast, from the unique …
Visit to Kaieteur Falls, the highest waterfall in Guyana by Alan Lyall on 24th May, 2019 The Kaieteur falls in Guyana are one of the world’s tallest single-drop waterfalls by volume of water. At 226 metres they are almost 5 times higher than the Niagara falls and have an average flow rate of 663 cubic metres per second. They are located in the Kaieteur National Park which is roughly 241 …
Galapagos Islands: Essential Honeymoon Planning Guide by Tom Shearman on 17th May, 2019 What better way to celebrate the biggest day of our life than going to the Galapagos Islands on honeymoon? Our travel expert Tom Shearman explains why this remote archipelago’s blend of adventure, romance and comfort make it the perfect place to visit after your wedding. He writes: “Freshly prepared cocktails on deck, …
Guide to Day Trips from Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands by Tom Shearman on 13th May, 2019 Almost every trip to the Galapagos Islands will take you to Santa Cruz. Read our quick guide to the best full-day tours for your holiday from Puerto Ayora. Discover what to expect to see and do while staying in hotels on Santa Cruz, and check out our advice about travelling to and around the Galapagos …
Guide to Day Trips on Isabela, Galapagos Islands by Tom Shearman on 13th May, 2019 Not sure which day trips to book on your hotel-based holiday to the Isabela in the Galapagos Islands? Read our quick guide to the best full-day tours and find out what to expect to do and see while staying on Isabela. Check out our advice about travelling to and around the Galapagos Islands. Tuneles …
The Inca Trail and the Lares Trek with kids, Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 3rd May, 2019 Kathy, Andean Trails’ director, is just back from a trip to Peru over Easter. “ April is a fabulous time to travel to Peru. We have school holidays around Easter but many people don’t so flights are readily available and there are not many tourists around. The weather was excellent and the countryside stunningly …
Top 10 things to see and do in Buenos Aires by Alan Lyall on 26th April, 2019 Buenos Aires is Argentina’s exciting, enticing and elegant capital city. Flanked by the River Plate on one side and the immense Argentine Pampa on the other, this bustling city is normally the first port of call for visitors to Argentina. It is certainly worth spending a few days there to get a …
Essential Travel Guide to Puerto Madryn in Argentina by Tom Shearman on 19th April, 2019 Our visitor’s guide to Puerto Madryn gives lots of ideas, tips and advice to help plan your holiday to this scenic corner of Patagonia, Argentina. Read first hand advice from our travel expert Tom Shearman who spent 10 days exploring the region. “Puerto Madryn is a fairly large town of around 100,000 souls, first …
