Author Archive for Alfonso Tandazo

Alfonso Tandazo is President and CEO at Surtrek Tour Operator. With 25 years of providing travelers authentic custom-designed trips across South America, Surtrek Tour Operator offers some of the best luxury tour services on the continent. Our travel team includes native speakers of five different languages, therefore we can guide you to the “center of the action” as well as “off the beaten track” – while never compromising on your comfort, style or well-being. And rest assured that whatever your destination, Surtrek will work to ensure that your visit makes only a positive impact on the environment, the local community and the area’s economy.

What to look forward to on an Amazon riverboat cruise in Ecuador

What to look forward to on an Amazon riverboat cruise in Ecuador

By on Mar 14, 2023 in Adventure Travel, Cruises & Boat Travel, Ecuador, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel
Winding its way through nine nations and across the heart of South America, the mighty rivers of the Amazon make for the ultimate expedition in a near-mythological realm of unimaginable biodiversity and fascinating cultures.
10 engaging Quito excursions during your Galapagos Islands layover

10 engaging Quito excursions during your Galapagos Islands layover

By on Feb 24, 2023 in Attractions, Ecuador, Going Out, Regions, South America
Much more than a jumping-off point on your visit to the famed Galapagos Islands, the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito is undoubtedly one of the top up-and-coming travel destinations in South America.
The 9 most romantic destinations across South America

The 9 most romantic destinations across South America

By on Jan 22, 2023 in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Leisure Travel, Peru, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel, Uruguay
Based upon years of experience and countless miles traveled, here we’ve picked out what we consider the most romantic destinations across the South American continent.
9 top tips for senior travelers wishing to experience South America

9 top tips for senior travelers wishing to experience South America

By on Dec 18, 2022 in Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel
South America is full of natural beauty, friendly people, gorgeous beaches, and awe-inspiring landmarks. For senior travelers, a vacation on our continent is an excellent way to stimulate the mind, connect with a wider community, and just have fun.
10 cultural tours across Ecuador: From the Amazon to the Andean Highlands

10 cultural tours across Ecuador: From the Amazon to the Andean Highlands

By on Nov 23, 2022 in Ecuador, Regions, South America
A symphony for the senses, Ecuador cultural tours invite you to engage with the intangible magic of this extraordinary country, its history and its people.
8 life-enriching family vacations in Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands

8 life-enriching family vacations in Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands

By on Oct 15, 2022 in Ecuador, Family Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel
Disneyland is fine, but for a family travel experience that's illuminating as well as entertaining, consider South America. Ecuador in particular is a destination that combines sheer fun and fantasy with life-changing encounters.
Our top 12 mainland Ecuador & Galapagos Islands restaurants

Our top 12 mainland Ecuador & Galapagos Islands restaurants

By on Sep 24, 2022 in Ecuador, Going Out, Regions, Restaurants, South America
Ecuador’s high-end restaurant scene draws inspiration from the country’s ancestral past as well as a mix of other nations.
5 Ecuadorian vacations centered on environmental sustainability

5 Ecuadorian vacations centered on environmental sustainability

By on Aug 19, 2022 in Accommodation, Cruises & Boat Travel, Ecuador, Hotels, Regions, Resorts, South America, Speciality Travel
Despite being the smallest contender to make the list of the top ten most biodiverse countries, Ecuador nonetheless packs a big punch in nature-based sustainable travel.
7 eye-opening photography experiences awaiting travelers to Ecuador

7 eye-opening photography experiences awaiting travelers to Ecuador

By on Jul 21, 2022 in Ecuador, Photography, Regions, South America, Travel Equipment
Ecuador is bursting with dazzling beaches, soaring mountain highlands, equatorial forests, eco-diverse rainforests and species-packed islands that wait to be photographed.
15 adrenaline-pumping extreme sports vacations in Ecuador

15 adrenaline-pumping extreme sports vacations in Ecuador

By on Jun 25, 2022 in Adventure Travel, Ecuador, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel
Thrill-seekers love Ecuador – and who can blame them? With its active volcanoes, dense jungles, and the famed Galapagos Islands, you’re never short of breathtaking activities here.
20 inimitable Galapagos Islands wildlife species and experiences

20 inimitable Galapagos Islands wildlife species and experiences

By on May 19, 2022 in Ecuador, Regions, South America
With Ecuador and its Galapagos Islands province now reaching a vaccination rate that’s above 87%, the country has now re-opened to international travel.
5 Ecuadorian yoga retreats and wellness centers offering you inner peace and serenity

5 Ecuadorian yoga retreats and wellness centers offering you inner peace and serenity

By on Apr 14, 2022 in Ecuador, Regions, South America, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel
It’s been a long year; hell, it’s been an agonizingly long two years! At this point, most of us are feeling stressed out as we try to adjust to the ever-changing “new normal.” To fully relax, make time for yourself, and let go of your everyday worries, a luxury yoga and/or wellness tour may well
6 stargazing destinations to complete your South American getaway

6 stargazing destinations to complete your South American getaway

By on Mar 18, 2022 in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Regions, South America
Thanks to its astonishing array of remote landscapes untouched by humankind, South America serves up some seriously surreal stargazing. As dusk settles on this southern continent, prepare to be greeted by a breathtaking blanket of stars peeking through the inky night sky. Owing to minimal light pollution in many areas and the all-round natural beauty
8 must-try South American national dishes

8 must-try South American national dishes

By on Feb 28, 2022 in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Food and Drink, Peru, Regions, South America, Travel Miscellany, Uruguay
Home to almost half-a-billion people, Latin America is a vast continent covering more or less the entire range of climates existent on Earth — from the deserts of Peru to the rainforests of Brazil, from the Andean paramo to the frosty peaks of Patagonia. Like its diverse geography, the peoples and cultures of the region
5 of South America’s headiest wine tours

5 of South America’s headiest wine tours

By on Jan 16, 2022 in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Food and Drink, Regions, South America, Travel Miscellany, Uruguay
Soon, travel will resume at full pace to South America, where you can always discover a certain “magic in the wind, a stirring in the air, and an enthralling glass of wine in your hand.” For experiences such as those, you’ll find that South American wine tours are superb – whether you’re an experienced wine
7 South American countries now open to travel

7 South American countries now open to travel

By on Dec 20, 2021 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Health & Safety, Peru, Regions, South America, Travel Miscellany, Uruguay
Though underreported, the declining COVID case rates in Latin America are a small fraction of those currently experienced in Great Britain, the European Union and the US. What this means is that several of these southern nations have reopened for international tourism in a big way. Foreign travelers are now welcome to experience adventure in