I first visited the Argentine Lake District as a backpacker in 2004. Sitting in a small bar, drinking a Quilmes beer, I missed my flight home to the UK where I was due to begin a Masters degree. Instead, I chose the region’s verdant forests and snowy mountain peaks – and Patagonia’s wide-open spaces for […]

We have a joke in Argentina that when God was creating the nations of the world he gave them all two virtues. France, for example, got wonderful food and avant-garde fashion. Italy received historic monuments and fast motorcars. Saudi Arabia was gifted oil and sand, and so he rattled through the countries. However, when it came […]

I’m lucky enough to have spent eight years of my life travelling in the Andes and Himalayas. Between my trips, I worked in an outdoor shop in Covent Garden, London. I loved it and quickly became one of the top boot fitters in the branch, relishing the chance to chat about trekking and get people […]

There is no wrong way to experience Torres del Paine. Certain people are looking for the classic backpacking experience of an Original W Trek, with four nights spent out at the campsites and refugios along the trail. Others are seeking the amenities of a traditional luxury hotel and will feel most at home with Explora or Tierra as their base. […]

Having travelled extensively on buses throughout South America, I’ve seen it all. Buses with livestock in the bottom compartments, sheep tied to the top, live chickens sitting in people’s laps and the fear of being pickpocketed if I fell asleep. All this couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to public bus transport […]

Known as the land of fire and ice, Patagonia’s untamed wilderness conjures up images of vast and windswept steppes, towering waterfalls and lush forests. The extreme weather of the region is matched only by its stunning scenery and diverse wildlife. After my first trip here I was hooked. Patagonia, for me, was the ultimate trekking […]