Cycling Sunday in Bogota, Colombia by Kathy Jarvis on 20th March, 2015 Cycling Sunday in Bogota, Colombia Sunday is cycling day in Colombia’s vibrant and burgeoning capitlal, Bogota. A kaleidoscope of people, colour and sights and smells to enjoy from the safety of the saddle, on roads without traffic. Andean Trails’ owner Kathy Jarvis describes her recent, Colombia bike tour, part of our new Colombia Highlights holiday. …
Luxury trekking to Machu Picchu – go glamping by Kathy Jarvis on 6th March, 2015 Luxury trekking to Machu Picchu – go glamping Maria discovers a new way to trek to Machu Picchu: the hike remains the same, but canvas is swapped for comfortable beds, jacuzzis and glasses of wine. She writes: “Back in November, I was in Peru travelling and hiking. I walked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu …
Family trip to Machu Picchu by Kathy Jarvis on 13th February, 2015 Family trip to Machu Picchu Tullio, our Peru-based representative, shares his family’s recent ‘back door to Machu Picchu’ trip. Eschewing the traditional Inca Trail, Tullio used 4x4s, bike and feet to make his way to the famous Inca citadel, powered by mangos and hot baths. All part of the Andean Trails’ service of finding new …
Giving something back – volunteering at Huchuy Yachaq by Kathy Jarvis on 13th November, 2014 Volunteering at Huchuy Yachaq Our own María Lucas Jaqueti is spending a month taking part in the daily activities at the community project Andean Trails supports at Huchuy Yachaq, Cusco, Peru. Here she shares her first week’s experiences. She writes: “Above the Cusco valley, with a panoramic view of the city, Huchuy Yachaq Community Project …
Cholita Wrestling – the tough ladies of La Paz by Kat Dougal on 31st October, 2014 Cholita Wrestling – the tough ladies of La Paz So you think you are tough? Read on to find out about Kat’s recent encounter with the female Cholita Wrestlers of La Paz, where she met some truly feisty ladies. Kat writes: “I was picked up at my La Paz hotel for Sunday afternoon entertainment …
Spotting whales in Colombia by Alan Lyall on 17th October, 2014 This week our own Alan Lyall waxes lyrical about his recent encounter with humpback whales in Colombia…with great photos on Facebook. He writes: “There are angry clouds in the sky whilst we skim along the Pacific Ocean in a small motor boat off the Pacific coast of Colombia’s Choco province. There is an air …
Puma spotting in Torres Del Paine by Kathy Jarvis on 10th October, 2014 Puma spotting in Torres Del Paine Vicky Brown and Manny Sidhu recall their thrilling and rare sighting of not one, not two, but three pumas while on a Winter in Paine tour in Chile with Andean Trails earlier this year. Vicky writes: “We arrived in Torres del Paine on a cold winter’s morning …
Peru with the kids, Inca Trail, the Amazon, Ecuador and Galapagos by Kathy Jarvis on 19th September, 2014 South America is rapidly becoming a top destination for family holidays. Its mix of adventure, great activities and fascinating cultures take place around dramatic Andean peaks, steamy Amazon rainforest to coastal idylls like the Galapagos Islands, to name a few. Andean Trails’ traveller Sue Daniels and her two teenaged children Geena (15) and Joseph (13), …
Luxury Train Puno (Lake Titicaca) to Cusco by Alan Lyall on 25th July, 2014 Train travel from Puno to Cusco Pick-pockets, chicken claws and dodgy toilets – Alan experienced a very different Puno to Cusco luxury train journey to that of thirty years ago. This classic luxury train journey can be incorporated into many of our Peru trips. Alan writes: “In the mid 80s, on a family holiday …
Families in the north of Peru by Kathy Jarvis on 11th July, 2014 Gocta falls with family and kids Peru with the family? Three generations – a grandmother, two mothers and two children aged 10 and 6 – set off recently to explore Gocta Lodge, in the north of Peru. Margaret Jarvis, fresh from her Amazon trip, was determined to make the most of the tour, as was Lorne Blythe, …
Amazon holiday dream realised by Kathy Jarvis on 27th June, 2014 Amazon holiday Botanist and biologist Margaret Jarvis talks about finally realising a desire to the world’s greatest rainforests – the Amazon. She writes: “At 79 I have seen a bit of this planet, including tropical forest in Malaysia and Indonesia, but not the Amazonian rainforest. A longstanding ambition was achieved in April this year …
Typical day in Amazon rainforest of Peru by Kat Dougal on 23rd May, 2014 Typical day in Amazon rainforest of Peru Andean Trails’ Kat describes a day’s holiday in the Amazon rainforest at Peru’s Refugio Amazonas and Tambopata Research Centre (TRC). The sights, smells and beauty of it all takes her back to an earlier time.. Kat writes: “The heat hits me as soon as I step …
Wildlife shock in Amazon rainforest of Guyana by Tom Shearman on 9th May, 2014 Wildlife in Amazon rainforest of Guyana The Amazon rainforest of Guyana brings surprises at every turn, and not just for tourists who venture to this pristine environment. Animals get a shock too – as Tom describes one eventful night in Guyana (and more), many moons afore, in the name of conservation … Tom writes: …
Protecting the Galapagos Islands – a new project by Kathy Jarvis on 28th March, 2014 The Galapagos Islands – a new project Protecting the Galapagos Islands – as well as exploring them – is a cause close to our hearts at Andean Trails. This week one of the charities we support, the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), tells us all about a new online project which aims to get more people …
Naked ramblings by Tom Shearman on 21st March, 2014 Naked Ramblings Security is being stepped up at Machu Picchu – to prevent a rise in streaking tourists at the World Heritage site. Andean Trails’ Tom recalls his own Scottish naked winter ramble of a decade ago in his quest to raise money for charity. Have you ever met a naked rambler? Or stripped off at a …
Charango – the sound of the Andes by Kathy Jarvis on 7th March, 2014 Charango… This week Andean Trails’ traveller Paul Crowther describes his love affair with the Charango instrument and the Andes, with some great pictures on Facebook. He writes: “For me, the charango is the essential sound of the Andes. The pipes and flutes are also typical, but the charango sound is not found anywhere else. …
Thoughtful/lessness of a long distance hiker by Tom Shearman on 30th January, 2014 Tom writes: “Some time ago, when my sister told me hers was a cancer diagnosis, the thought of being half the world away in the Huayhuash mountains of Peru produced two vivid feelings. Firstly, the shame of wanting to hide away from it all overseas; and then the overwhelming desire to see my sister as …
Galapagos Islands holiday: Cruise or hotel? by Tom Shearman on 27th November, 2013 Galapagos Islands holiday: Cruise or hotel? Cruise or hotel? It’s the biggest Galapagos Island holiday decision you will make; Galapagos cruise, or Galapagos hotel based trip? The Andean Trails’ team has used its experience of both trips to come up with a handy ‘Galapagos cruise / Galapagos land based trip?’ guide. The similarities Once-in-a-lifetime, fully guided, …
Horse riding in Ecuador by Tom Shearman on 6th November, 2013 Horse riding in Ecuador The final, horse riding part of a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. We are horse riding today, having visited the Ecuadorian Amazon and cloud forest, the Galapagos Islands and Quito, with photos on Facebook too: Horse riding in Ecuador As we approached Otavalo and its colourful …
Top 5 reasons to travel solo by Tom Shearman on 25th October, 2013 Top reasons to travel solo This week, Andean Trails’ Tom exhorts why we should travel solo, and why it’s one of the best adventure holidays you’ll ever take. He writes: “Like going to the cinema on your own, solo travel is often more about how you feel about yourself than how you think other …
