Author: Kathy Jarvis
Charango – the sound of the Andes
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. …
Best family holiday destination: what to do with kids in Cusco, Peru.
Family holiday destination Best family holiday destination in South America? This week travel expert and parent of two kids Mark Smith gives us his top tips for what to do in Cusco for families and kids. He writes… “Cusco is the best family holiday destination” says our guide Mark Smith. The Essex-born 41-year-old’s opinion …
Out and about around Santiago de Chile
Discovering Chile’s capital: Santiago Santiago, Chile’s capital, is in a privileged location; a mere stone’s throw from the highest peaks of the Andes; a short drive from the Pacific and in the heart of Chile’s wine country. If you are passing through Santiago, take a few days to explore some of the delights the area …
Sacred Valley: Top 10 things to do
Top 10 things to do in the Sacred Valley Sacred Valley now rivals Machu Picchu ruins, the Inca Trail and Cusco as one of Peru’s biggest holiday draws. The Sacred Valley offers good weather, great accommodation and a wealth of activities to keep you occupied and active before or after a trip to the famous Inca …
Ecuador Amazon Rainforest Travel Advice
Amazon rainforest travel advice The third 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 in the Ecuadorian Amazon today, having visited the Galapagos Islands and Quito with cloud forest and horse riding to follow, with photos on Facebook too: Amazon rainforest in Ecuador “Wilson provided us with a …
Ecuador, Quito and Andean life
A tour around Ecuador This week we start a brilliant and in-depth blog from Andean Trails’ travellers Jane and Greg Windsor, who spent four fantastic weeks in glorious Ecuador. Horse riding, Amazon and Galapagos Islands are all to follow, but we start with their arrival in Quito and some observations of what they saw during …
Family holiday travel tips and advice – travelling with kids.
Travel advice for a family holiday This week, Andean Trails‘ Kathy Jarvis and Sarah Bennett from Azores Choice share their family travel experiences and top travel tips with kids. Kathy writes: “When my son, who is now aged 6-years-old, was about to turn one we went to Peru for a month. He spent his …
Magical San Pedro de Atacama desert
Discovering Atacama desert This week Andean Trails’ Alan Lyall talks about Atacama and thinks back to Chile, where he lived for more than a decade. He recalls one of his favourite parts of the country, where he has seen space shuttles, 3km-long poems and spouting geysers: This is Atacama. Alan writes: “San Pedro and the …
Top 10 things to do in Cusco, Peru
Cusco is one of Peru’s top holiday destinations, thanks to its proximity to Machu Picchu and its own vast array of attractions. Andean Trails’ owner Kathy Jarvis has been visiting Cusco for more than two decades, while Fiona Cameron lived in the bubbly and bustling Inca city for more than 12 years. Here we share …
Galapagos Islands Cruise: Alan’s dream
Alan tours the Galapagos Islands Alan Lyall has just got back from a dream trip to the magical Galapagos Islands, where he cruised for a week on the Letty, one of the first class Eric, Flamingo and Letty series of boats. Check his photos on Facebook, and read his colourful and honest day-by day account of Galapagos …
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 …
Top 10 things to do in Huaraz, Peru
Huaraz: Top 10 things to do Here we look at the Top 10 things to do in and around Huaraz, Peru. Huaraz is Peru’s famous trekking capital and is nestled between the stunning mountain chains of the Cordillera Blanca and Negra. Andean Trails’ owner and founder Kathy Jarvis was very much inspired by this region …
Part 1: Trekking from Bolivia to Peru
In the first of a three-blog series, Peter Farrington recalls his journey on Andean Trails’ exploratory 33-day trek through Bolivia’s Andean peaks via Lake Titicaca and up to Peru’s Inca capital, Cusco. Peter begins: “It was a cold dark night at 4,000m. I staggered under the weight of my pack. Within a few …
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 …
Torres del Paine – Summer Wonderland
Torres del Paine National Park The last time I went to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, it was with a group on our Patagonia Highlights tour. We approached the park on a brilliantly sunny day with the wind forcefully propelling us towards this UNESCO Biosphere reserve. On nearing the park, the granite …
Our fantastic Peru holiday – Inca Trail, Ausangate and more
Inca Trail and more Debby Waldron had a dream to trek the Inca Trail in Peru. After persuading two friends – Jane and Rebecca – to come along, the trio set out with not only the Machu Picchu ruins in site, but higher passes. Having just returned from her Andean Trails trip, Debby shares her …
Pisco sour cocktail recipe
Pisco sour recipe It’s time to shelve your GnT, grab a Pisco sour and start to plan your South American adventure holiday. Pisco sour is fast becoming one of the most sought after cocktails in the world, and you are sure to come across in Peru and Chile. This is the “Pisco Sour” recipe that has …
Live Namibia safari report – Kathy
Namibia safari report Namibia is an exciting country. I fell in love with it many years ago and it has since become the first non-Latin American destination we offer our customers. I am currently travelling in Namibia for a few weeks with my son, checking out some new places for all lovers of wildlife and …
