Author: Tom Shearman
Bolivia Salt Flats: Best Things to Do in Uyuni
by Tom Shearman on
Guide to the Best Things to Do in Uyuni, Bolivia Salt Flats The Bolivia salt flats attractions are many. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Uyuni. What Are Bolivia Salt Flats Famous For? Bolivia’s salt flats are called Salar de Uyuni. These are the world’s largest and highest salt flats, …
Galapagos Cruise Ship Categories: How to Choose
by Tom Shearman on
The Galapagos Islands— and Galapagos cruise ships—offer visitors the chance to get close to incredible and tame wildlife, on land and in the sea, among a backdrop of dramatic volcanic landscapes. The islands are a living laboratory, marrying preservation and conservation to create life-changing holidays. This year-round destination’s ever-changing seasons ensure every visit is spectacular, …
Perito Moreno Glacier Day Tour Options from El Calafate
by Tom Shearman on
Day Tour Options from El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier There are many Perito Moreno Glacier day tour options from El Calafate. Read through our suggestions to help you choose the best Perito Moreno trip for your travel style. In our guide we cover everything from the standard Perito Moreno day tour options to off-the-beaten-path …
Guide to Day Trips in and around San Cristobal Island, Galapagos Islands
by Tom Shearman on
Planning on visiting San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands? Read our quick guide to the best half and full-day tours for your holiday, and check our guide to travelling between the Galapagos Islands. Discover what to see and do while staying in one of the many hotels on San Cristobal island. Be as active as …
Galapagos Islands Travel Update
by Tom Shearman on
Galapagos Islands Travel Update, May 2024 The increasing popularity of the Galapagos Islands keeps it at the top of many people’s must-visit lists. The Galapagos Park Authorities is responding to the boom, particularly hotel-based trips, by doubling the park entry to $200 per person from 1 August 2024. The entry fees have increased for the first …
Community Projects Update
by Tom Shearman on
Supporting Community Projects across South America Travelling to South America with Andean Trails will help make a positive impact, as you contribute to our support of several community projects. Your visit is much more than creating local employment. It generates bonds between people and leaves beneficial footprints. We’re proud to financially support several local NGOs …
Be an Ecotourist while on Holiday in Galapagos in 2024
by Tom Shearman on
The Galapagos Islands are a very fragile environment and feel symbolic of a sea change in people’s attitudes to responsible and sustainable tourism. Every year more and more people visit. Some to get there ‘before it’s gone’ and most want to minimise the impact of their visit. Our handy guide gives lots of travel …
How Farming Fights Food Insecurity & Climate Change
by Tom Shearman on
Students Study Food Insecurity & Climate Change in Peru University of Edinburgh students and teachers report back from Peru, where they learned how traditional farming techniques could help prevent climate change and reduce food insecurity. The team visited coastal Lima, the Cusco Highlands, and the cloud forest. For Andean Trails and our local team, it …
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes
by Tom Shearman on
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes The wildlife guide to Peninsula Valdes will help you decide the best time to visit Argentina’s number one animal haven. Peninsula Valdes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its role as a marine mammal and bird sanctuary. The peninsula offers some of the world’s best whale-watching opportunities. There’s …
Know Before You Go: Peru Trekking and Hiking Travel Tips
by Tom Shearman on
Peru Trekking and Hiking Travel Tips Peru, one of the most diverse Andean nations, offers a feast of trekking and hiking routes that showcase the country’s beauty. The Andes Cordillera runs the length of Peru. Its soaring peaks and satin-white glaciers frame many trekking routes as they course through remote villages, many unchanged since Inca …
What Do I Need To Know Before Going on a Galapagos Cruise?
by Tom Shearman on
A Galapagos Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Follow Charles Darwin’s footsteps through a wildlife-rich and dramatic volcanic landscape. So take the pressure out of planning your Galapagos cruise with these travel tips. You’ll find everything you need to know before you go to this paradise. We’ll cover everything from the big questions like when to …
Hidden Gems: 8 Alternative Buenos Aires Day Tours
by Tom Shearman on
You’ve seen the traditional tours. Now try alternative Buenos Aires day trips. Classic day trips include a walking tour, a great way to take in the highlights, Recoleta cemetery, a tango show, and the antiques on display at the Feria de San Telmo. Opera fans may visit a show at Teatro Colon, and football fans …
Best Time To Visit Guyana: Weather and Seasons
by Tom Shearman on
The best time to visit Guyana is during one of its two dry seasons: February to March or late August to September. Like most destinations, the best time to visit Guyana may depends on travel preferences. Weather is never defined simply and Guyana’s seasons are a little more nuanced. Many people visit all through the …
Chile and Easter Island Theories
by Tom Shearman on
Debunking the Myths: Easter Island Theories Explained Rapa Nui’s giant and ancient moai statues have stumped academics and archaeologists for centuries, sparking myriad Easter Island theories. Aliens, rats, and human greed have all been credited with the dramatic collapse in Easter Island’s population and abandoned statues that scatter the land. This triangular island, 14 miles …
A Guide to the Best Festivals in Peru
by Tom Shearman on
Peru festivals are some of the most colourful and spectacular celebrations in the world. Peru festivals include fiestas, parades, and processions throughout the country at various times of the year. Visitors are welcome on many of these special occasions. The main celebrations mark Inca history and the country’s independence whole newer festivals show Peru’s modern …
Nibeko Aike Estancia, El Calafate, Argentina: Travel Review
by Tom Shearman on
Nibeko Aike offers a genuine Estancia stay near El Calafate. Patagonia is synonymous not only with incredible landscapes and high winds but also with the Estancia and Gaucho cultures. Here, a hundred years ago, people started a new life working the land, including at Estancia Nibeko Aike. Now, visitors can live the Estancia experience with …
Self-Guided Paine W Trek, Torres Del Paine National Park
by Tom Shearman on
Chile’s Paine W is on many trekkers’ lists. Patagonia is a trekker’s paradise, Kat headed off on a self-guided hike along the famous Paine W trek to find out where its appeal lies. She came back with everything you’ll need to know about hiking the Paine W. Getting to Torres del Paine …
A Guide to Spotting the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)
by Tom Shearman on
Seeing the night sky dancing during an aurora is on rightly many people’s bucket lists. Watching solar activity painting the Earth’s atmosphere shades of purple, green, red and white is an unforgettable experience. Aurora hunters often head to northern countries to glimpse this natural phenomenon, to destinations like Iceland or Canada. But the north’s Aurora …
A Guide to Eco-Tourism Holidays in Guyana
by Tom Shearman on
Eco-tourism comes as standard in Guyana. This is a country whose lands are 75% covered by lush, verdant forests interspersed by mighty, life-giving rivers. Indeed, Guyana’s original name, Guiana, means land of water. Wildlife as diverse as jaguars, giant river otters, and black caimans traverse these watercourses in one of South America’s best-protected natural landscapes. …
Travel & Money in Argentina: The Blue Dollar
by Tom Shearman on
Travel Money in Argentina: Currency Exchange, Best Rates, and Blue Dollar (Updated March 2024). The Argentine Peso has been experiencing a volatile time on currency exchanges for several years. The country’s rampant inflation and unstable currency do indeed make it a little more complicated to pay for things in Argentina, but the latest devaluation of …