What to Wear: Packing Guide For Your Patagonia Holiday by Kathy Jarvis on 31st July, 2020 Patagonia, mythical land at the end of the earth. What a wonderful part of the world. This is one of my all time favourite places. Patagonia is remote and stunningly beautiful. It is a land of vast landscapes, with sharp granite spires such as Cerro Torre and Fitzroy, big mountain ranges, extensive ice-caps, masses …
When and Where to Go Stargazing in Chile by Alan Lyall on 24th July, 2020 The skies over Chile’s Atacama Desert are blessed with over 300 clear nights per year, ideal for stargazing. These clear skies mean that this part of the country has become one of the world’s principal sites for astronomic observatories. Chile is now a major astrotourism destination. Best places for stargazing The towns in the …
Northern Peru Travel Guide by Kathy Jarvis on 29th June, 2020 THE NORTH OF PERU The north of Peru is brimming with treasures and it is much less travelled than the southern hot spots of Cusco and Machu Picchu. Northern Peru travel never fails to surprise and impress, it is a fascinating part of this wonderful country well worth exploring. There is masses to see …
Things to do in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador by Kathy Jarvis on 6th March, 2020 Puerto Lopez is a vibrant fishing community on Ecuador’s Pacific coast. It lies at the heart of Machalilla National park. The scenery, vegetation and wildlife of the area are exceptional and there are plenty of opportunities to get out of town and explore the area fully. Puerto Lopez itself, although not pretty, can offer excellent …
Guide to the Best Amazon Rainforest Lodges in Ecuador by Kat Dougal on 28th February, 2020 Ecuador’s best rainforest lodges are known for their great location in the country’s Amazon basin, their standard of comfort and the wildlife that surrounds them. When we say “best” at Andean Trails, we try to look beyond comfort and like to focus also on the community projects each eco-lodge supports, the wildlife we find …
San Pedro de Atacama: Best tours and things to do in the desert by Alan Lyall on 14th February, 2020 What are the best tours to do in San Pedro de Atacama? Here we give you our suggestions of the best things to do in San Pedro de Atacama. San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama is a small Andean town in the Altiplano of Chile’s Atacama Desert. It is an …
South America: The Best Countries To Visit on Holiday by Alan Lyall on 31st January, 2020 When planning your holiday to South America you may ask yourself; which are the best countries to visit in South America? South America is a continent of amazing contrasts. These range from tropical jungle to glaciers, remote high mountain villages to bustling coastal cities, mountain ranges to endless pampa. The continent is blessed with a …
Best South America Tours 2020 by Alan Lyall on 20th December, 2019 As 2019 draws to a close, we in the Andean Trails office are looking forward to a New Year filled with exciting and wonderful South America tours and adventures for our clients and of course ourselves! Kat is also returning in mid January after taking maternity leave. We have much to look forward to! …
Bahia Bustamante: An off the beaten path wildlife experience in Argentine Patagonia by Alan Lyall on 29th November, 2019 Alan was recently in Patagonia and visited Bahia Bustamante in Argentina. Here he describes the experience of a few days in Bahia Bustamante, comfort, rooms, gastronomy, excursions and wildlife. He writes: “It was evening and the sun has just set when we arrived at Bahia Bustamante, a solitary outpost on the Patagonian coast of …
Santiago self-guided panoramic city tour by Alan Lyall on 22nd November, 2019 The centre of Santiago is dominated by San Cristobal hill in the Metropolitan Park. The park covers an area of over 700 hectares and is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. San Critsobal hill is the highest point and is crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary which is lit at night …
Guide to the best beaches in Colombia by Kathy Jarvis on 1st November, 2019 Colombia is famous for some of the best beaches in South America, with fine sands, great weather and beautiful backdrops. Read our beach guide – from the well known and famous to the remote – and make sure you choose the best beach for your holiday in Colombia. Note: For all beaches …
Dream honeymoons in South America by Alan Lyall on 18th October, 2019 Honeymoons are a wonderful cause for a celebration and should provide memorable experiences. South America offers opportunities for all types of honeymoon, something to suit every couple. Here are some picture postcard memories which could be created on your honeymoon. Wildlife cruise and adventure: M/Y Grace, Galapagos Islands Picture this: You are sitting …
Restaurants and Eating Out: Food in Galapagos Islands by Kat Dougal on 11th October, 2019 Eating out choices in the Galapagos Islands have blossomed, with many new bars, cafes and restaurants opening in recent years, as hotel-based holidays have become more popular. Top-end dining has truly yet to arrive at the Galapagos Islands due to its remote location and difficulty in importing ingredients. However, the three main islands, Santa …
Colombia: Weather and best time to visit by Kathy Jarvis on 27th September, 2019 The best time to visit Colombia will depend on the regions you wish to visit and what you are going to be doing. Generally speaking it rains less between December and March. Due to its proximity to the equator Colombia’s climate is warm pretty much all-year round. This makes it the ideal holiday choice at …
Chile, self-drive holiday suggested routes by Alan Lyall on 20th September, 2019 Chile’s long thin geography gives it an amazing variety of landscapes and topography which can be explored in full on a self drive holiday. The country boasts awe inspiring desert landscapes, majestic mountain scenery, craggy rocky coasts, lush forests, pristine lakes and much more. We have put together our favourite self-drive tours, which we …
Self drive – guide to driving a hire car in Chile by Alan Lyall on 13th September, 2019 Chile is the perfect country for a self-drive holiday. Here is our handy guide. In the Central part of the country there is a good network of “autopistas” – motorways/highways. These are good quality, tarmac surface, private and have frequent toll points. The Panamerican highway runs from Arica in the north to Puerto Montt in …
What to do in and around Los Glaciares National Park by Alan Lyall on 6th September, 2019 Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia is found nestling into the Andes in South Western Argentina and bordering with Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. It is an area of stunning beauty with towering mountains, glacial lakes and impressive glaciers. Covering an area of over 7,000 km2 (over 2,800 sq miles) it offers the …
The Best Eco Camps and Lodges in Patagonia by Alan Lyall on 16th August, 2019 We’ve compiled a quick guide to some of the best eco camps in Patagonia, from eco-friendly domes to lodges and refugios, perfect for your Patagonian holiday. With many places filling up quickly, it’s important to get places booked up a long way in advance, especially in the busier season of November to March. At …
A travel diary of a day and night on Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni by Kathy Jarvis on 9th August, 2019 Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni has inspired travellers for decades – read our travel expert’s guide to a day and night on these magnificent salt flats. He writes: I woke around 5.30am, put on my down jacket and left the (relative) warmth of my salt hotel to walk down to watch the coldest sunrise …
Best hikes and trails in Bolivia by Kathy Jarvis on 2nd August, 2019 The hills and mountains of Bolivia are much less known than the Cordilleras of southern Patagonia or the high Andes of neighbouring Peru. The Bolivian Andes are beautiful and majestic and offer a wonderful array of multi-day treks as well as some superb day walks, trekking peaks and some technical mountaineering. We sum up just …