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“Best of Buenos Aires” Food Experiences
“Best of Buenos Aires” Food Experiences These are alternative and great ways to experience the burgeoning fine cuisine and food of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. The Argentine experience Treat yourself to three hours among the finest food and wines of Argentina. This is not a cooking class, but you will learn how to make …
Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park
Bolivia’s Toro Toro National Park On her recent Bolivia trip, Kat was keen to include a visit to little visited Toro Toro National Park. Kat writes: “Travelling to Toro Toro National Park certainly felt like a proper adventure, starting with a bumpy 4-hour journey after my guide picked me up at Cochabamba airport. I …
Cycling Sunday in Bogota, Colombia
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. …
Top 10 restaurants, Santiago, Chile
Top 10 restaurants, Santiago, Chile Andean Trails’ Alan spent nearly two decades living in Santiago and he gives us some of the best restaurants to eat in Chile’s vibrant capital. Where to eat…. 10 restaurants in Santiago If you are spending a day or two in Santiago, here are some top tips as to where …
Luxury trekking to Machu Picchu – go glamping
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 …
Self-guided Quito city walking tour
Self-guided Quito city walking tour Want to see Quito, but don’t want a group city tour – then take a look at our self-guided walking tour. Our rep in Ecuador, Emma Morgan, has lived in the capital for over a decade and shares her top independent walking tour. Go at your own pace, choose which …
Top 5 restaurants, Lima, Peru
Top 5 restaurants, Lima, Peru Peru is one of the world’s most geographically varied countries and it’s no surprise that Peruvian food reflects this dazzling diversity in its many restaurants. Here are Andean Trails’ top tips for places to eat in coastal Lima, fast becoming the culinary capital of South America. Lima is famed for …
Family trip to Machu Picchu
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 …
Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia – backpacker or eco-hotel?
Salt flats of Uyuni, Bolivia Kat compares the backpacker and eco-hotel Salt Flats of Uyuni tour packages in this week’s blog, from a comfort and community viewpoint. Revisiting Bolivia recently allowed Kat to reflect on the changes in her and her travel style, too. She writes: “The Salt Flats of Uyuni are a truly spectacular …
Local guide to Top 5 restaurants, Buenos Aires
Top 5 places to eat in Buenos Aires Argentina: land of steak, red wine and pizza/pasta – and much more. The latest Latin America Best 50 restaurant list contained 15 of the country’s eateries. Our local guide and BA resident, Laura Videla, gives us the lowdown on the top five places to eat in Buenos …
A guide to Floreana Island, Galapagos
A guide to Floreana Island, Galapagos Tom writes about his visit to the remote and sparsely populated Floreana Island on Galapagos. He said: “I’ve left out the much publicised Wittmer history, which you can watch in The Galapagos Affair, because it’s been often told. “These are my impressions of the people and the place, somewhere I’d …
Top 5 Quito restaurants – the insider’s guide
Top 5 restaurants and cafes in Quito Eating out where the locals go in Quito has never been easier – thanks to our off-the-beaten-track guide to restaurants and cafes. One of our staff in Ecuador, Emma Morgan, has lived in the capital for over a decade and sends her top tips for dining in genuine …
A day at Machu Picchu – guided tour & highlights
A day at Machu Picchu – guided tour & highlights Machu Picchu. Peru. The Inca Trail. These ruins inspire people to travel and hike great distances to view a wonder of the world, crossing high Andean passes to reach the mysterious Machu Picchu. Nothing can truly prepare anyone for the moment you first fix eyes …
Merry Christmas and travel wishes
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one, here’s our travel and gift wish list for Christmasses past and future. Kathy Jarvis What I wish for in my Christmas stocking I think I’d like a neat little suitcase with wheels – I’ve always used back packs …
Choose the best rucksack for trekking in the Andes
Choose the best rucksack for trekking in the Andes This week, outdoor clothing specialist Rachel Keir talks us through the maze of which rucksack to choose for which trekking trip, drawing on her experience at Silverfox Travel & Outdoors. She writes: Choosing a rucksack for trekking So you’ve made the decision to book a trekking …
Sacred Valley Via Ferrata zipline
Sacred Valley Via Ferrata zipline This week, Andean Trails’ Maria lives like a condor – flying atop mountains and sleeping while hanging over a precipice in Peru. Check her fantastic photos on Facebook. She writes: “On the zipline, we were literally flying over and between mountains, stifling those little whimpers that both calm and …
Five star hotels in Cusco, Peru
We take a look at Cusco’s burgeoning five star hotel scene this week, for all of which we get good booking rates for our passengers. These hotels are perfect for a treat or to rest aching bones after some trekking on the Luxury Inca Trail or the adventure of the Apurimac. Or …
Giving something back – volunteering at Huchuy Yachaq
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 …
Top 10 reasons to join a group tour in South America
Top 10 reasons to join a group tour in South America Travelling solo doesn’t have to mean travelling alone and we are experts at dovetailing group tours with independent travel – the best of both worlds! In this week’s blog Tom shares his top tips with us. Tom writes: Some people prefer travelling only, …
Cholita Wrestling – the tough ladies of La Paz
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 …
