Home > Archives for Alfonso Tandazo > Page 4

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.

5 South American beaches you’ll absolutely love

By Alfonso Tandazo on Jun 15, 2018 in Attractions, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Peru, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel, Uruguay

Bathed by the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and by the Caribbean Sea, South America can boast — arguably — the most beautiful beaches in the world. From remote fishing villages whose charm lies in simple and magnetic nature, to sophisticated and modern resorts with luxury hotels and all kinds of water sports, this

5 qualities of an Ecuadorian Amazon eco-lodge

By Alfonso Tandazo on May 17, 2018 in Accommodation, Ecuador, Food and Drink, Hotels, Regions, Resorts, South America, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany

Some destinations are simply amazing, offering us unique and sublime moments. An eco-lodge in the Amazonian jungle is one of these. Situated in the Ecuadorian rainforest, you can discover a vastly different world, one that provides you the chance to truly experience the jungle but without sacrificing the comforts and security to which you’re accustomed.

5 of the greatest manta ray diving sites in the Americas

By Alfonso Tandazo on Apr 23, 2018 in Ecuador, Hawaii, Leisure Travel, Mexico, North America, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel, USA

Those people who have dived alongside a giant manta ray — witnessing its gentle, elegant and avian-like motions — describe this creature’s actions as the closest thing to flying. A few years ago, contacts with these mysterious creatures were practically unknown on the coasts of Asian countries. In fact, these fish were about to disappear

Ecuador from the air: 10 exceptional flyovers

By Alfonso Tandazo on Mar 15, 2018 in Air Travel, Ecuador, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

Just as there are many ways to experience a destination, today there are many means to do so. One of them — perhaps the most novel, fantastic and adventurous — is a helicopter flyover. In Ecuador, several companies have developed this type of tourism product. These are becoming increasingly popular, since witnessing a landscape from

Experience an Amazon riverboat cruise

By Alfonso Tandazo on Feb 15, 2018 in Cruises & Boat Travel, Ecuador, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

Some 30 years ago, most mortals feared the depths of the Amazon. Hollywood’s images of sweltering jungles filled with human-eating fish, bone-crushing snakes and long-lost tribes ready to spear innocent intruders had an impact. Over these past three decades, however, such illusions have given way to a more realistic understanding. People today are seeing this

5 reasons to cruise the amazing Amazon on the Manatee riverboat

By Alfonso Tandazo on Jan 16, 2018 in Cruises & Boat Travel, Ecuador, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

“All my life I’ve been running around, seeking a moment of happiness, and now I’ve found it, in the tranquility of this riverboat as it goes down a huge river like the Napo, in no rush at all.” This was written in the travel diary of a modern adventurer who traveled to the Amazon on

Want to whale watch? Try the Ecuadorian coast!

By Alfonso Tandazo on Dec 17, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Ecuador, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

The shore that runs some 530 miles to define Ecuador’s Pacific coastline offers pristine beaches, vibrant surfing towns, traditional fishing villages, tepid seawater, exotic wildlife, archeological sites and a supremely bio-diverse abundance of flora and fauna. And every year, from May through September, this Ecuadorian region receives some very special visitors: humpback whales. Following a

Luxury and adventure at the foot of the Andes

By Alfonso Tandazo on Nov 16, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

A trip to South America’s Andes is undoubtedly a challenging adventure. This mountain range that crosses the continent is the longest on Earth, with its vastness matched only by the enigmatic and imposing beauty of its landscapes. Its crystal-clear lakes, snow-capped peaks, endless deserts, lush forests, breathtaking highlands, awe-inspiring glaciers, small indigenous communities and colorful

5 of South America’s most romantic spots

By Alfonso Tandazo on Oct 18, 2017 in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honeymoons, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

For those in search of a romantic experience that’s different from what’s found in a typical vacation package, South America offers some of the most amorous destinations in the world. These getaway havens not only mean dinners by candlelight, long dreamy-eyed walks on the beach, and accommodations with all the creature comforts, they stand apart for

Latin America: a carnival of exotic fruit

By Alfonso Tandazo on Sep 16, 2017 in Regions, South America

For those people visiting a Latin American “farmers’ market” for the first time, the fruit section can be a new and exotic experience for all the senses. A carnival of intense colors and capricious shapes unfolds before your eyes, while the aromas and textures are simply astounding. In the touting of the sellers who try

5 reasons for a Galapagos vacation with kids

By Alfonso Tandazo on Aug 30, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Ecuador, Family Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

In terms of do-ability and safety, a Galapagos Islands family vacation is easily achievable for most households. Plus, such a getaway can have a powerful and lasting influence on kids. Notwithstanding the concerns about traveling with children to the seemingly remote Galapagos Islands in Spanish-speaking South America, there are a number of more powerful reasons

Niche tourism in Ecuador

By Alfonso Tandazo on Jul 24, 2017 in Accommodation, Adventure Travel, Attractions, Ecuador, Going Out, Honeymoons, Hotels, Regions, Resorts, South America, Speciality Travel

The digital age has changed everyone’s life, as well as people’s style of traveling and how tour operators organize trips. Today’s travelers have to deal with an immense, almost unmanageable amount of online information, which poses new challenges for individuals and tour operators alike. All of this means that concepts of specialization, innovation, efficiency, and

Discover the 'camels of the New World'

By Alfonso Tandazo on Jun 19, 2017 in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Regions, South America

When thinking about the Andes, many people picture snow-capped mountains, vast green plains, indigenous peoples …and herds of llamas. And yes, these are some of the main characteristics of the mountainous South American region – including those llamas. In fact, American llamas – and their close cousins (alpacas, guanacos and vicunas) – inhabit the immense

Top 5 Summertime ski resorts in Chile

By Alfonso Tandazo on May 17, 2017 in Chile, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

With 2017 already on line to break the world temperature record, the idea of Summertime skiing might seem a bit far-fetched. Nonetheless, escaping the Northern Hemisphere heat is precisely what can be accomplished at one of several ski resorts in the South American nation of Chile. In fact, from mid-June to early October, Chile is

6 of Chile's finest lodges and hotels

By Alfonso Tandazo on Apr 20, 2017 in Accommodation, Chile, Hotels, Regions, Resorts, South America

Chile is one of those countries that cannot be identified with a single touristic icon. Its geography is so diverse, and its culture so rich, that the images passing through the traveler’s mind are like those of a movie sequence ranging from the mysterious Moai statues of Easter Island and the imposing glaciers of Patagonia,

Top 7 hotels in Bolivia... 'the rooftop of the world'

By Alfonso Tandazo on Mar 14, 2017 in Accommodation, Bolivia, Hotels, Regions, South America

Strikingly beautiful and mountainous, Bolivia has been dubbed the “rooftop of the world” due to the dizzyingly high altitudes of most of its Andean cities – altitudes that can literally take your breath away the moment you touch down. Because of these extraordinary mountainous landscapes and thick Amazonian jungles, European contact with Bolivia was impeded,