Top Tips
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Galapagos Animals: Wildlife Spotting Tips and Checklist
by Tom Shearman on
Galapagos animals help make the Galapagos Islands unique. Tame wildlife on land and sea makes it the perfect destination for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and families. Fascinating animals share their dramatic volcanic landscapes with visitors, often pulling photogenic poses while they check out their human guests. Every Galapagos island has flora and fauna distinct from their …
Galaxy Galapagos Cruise Review
by Tom Shearman on
Choosing the right cruise for your Galapagos holiday is always tricky, so we do our best to see the boats we sell. Kat decided she was up for writing a Galaxy Galapagos cruise review. It was a sacrifice, but Kat was lucky enough to recently cruise the Galapagos Islands on the lovely Galaxy. Here’s her …
Travel Guide: Things To Do in Salento, Colombia
by Tom Shearman on
Some of the world’s finest coffee comes from picturesque Salento, a colourful town of 7,000 souls nestled among Colombia’s verdant Andes. Growing coffee beans led UNESCO to bestow World Heritage Site status to the Salento coffee triangle for its contribution to the ‘Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.’ And while this delicious brew is undoubtedly one …
Coral Galapagos Cruise: A Traveller’s Review
by Tom Shearman on
Andean Trails’ traveller Jana Meerman has just returned from the diversity and magic — her words — of the Galapagos Islands. Jana and her folks chose the Galapagos to celebrate her dad’s 60th birthday. They weren’t disappointed. Jana, a travel blogger and photographer, describes their August trip, what to expect, and the wildlife she encountered. …
Plan the Perfect 4-week Trip Around South America
by Tom Shearman on
South America is a vast destination with so many attractions. Often, the question is ” How can I fit in as much as possible — in my 4 weeks in South America?” We have a quarter of a century of experience putting together the logistics for top tours and making dream trip ideas a reality. …
What you Must See on Easter Island and How to Get There
by Tom Shearman on
Easter Island, one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, is once again open to visitors. COVID visiting restrictions have been lifted from this UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed for its towering Moai statues carved centuries ago by Easter Island inhabitants. People can once again visit the island, real name Rapa Nui, and enjoy the …
Tours to See Puerto Madryn Penguins, Patagonia
by Tom Shearman on
The famous Puerto Madryn penguins, where up to a million Magellanic penguins congregate to breed, are not found in Puerto Madryn. While the town is famous for being one of the best places to see penguins in Argentina, Puerto Madryn penguin tours actually take place in Punta Tombo. However, the tours do start in Puerto …
Our Guide to the Top 5 Ecuador Volcano Hikes and Climbs
by Tom Shearman on
Ecuador’s volcanoes offer some of the most exciting mountaineering routes in the Andes mountains. There are walking acclimatisation peaks, technical summits, and everything in between in what is known as Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes. Some of Ecuador’s volcanoes require fully-supported expeditions; others are day trips from Quito or nearby. The variety is astounding, but the …