Home > Archives for Alfonso Tandazo > Page 5

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.

Top 5 Galapagos diving sites

By Alfonso Tandazo on May 12, 2016 in Adventure Travel, Ecuador, Leisure Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

There are diving vacations… and there are diving vacations. And one of these special underwater adventures can be found in the legendary Galapagos Islands. In this archipelago, each dive promises extraordinary sightings, making it nothing short of a “must do once-in-a-lifetime experience” – whether you’re a beginning snorkeler swimming alongside playful sea lions or an […]

3 Ecuadorian journeys for the senses

By Alfonso Tandazo on Apr 20, 2016 in Ecuador, Regions, South America

If you’re a traveler looking for more than landmarks or monuments, keep in mind that each destination offers alternatives. There are journeys that provide surprising experiences, challenge the senses and invite you to understand a place more deeply. These are travels that bring you closer to the lives of their people, closer to their traditions, […]

5 of the most amazing train experiences in Ecuador

By Alfonso Tandazo on Mar 15, 2016 in Ecuador, Leisure Travel, Rail Travel, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

Air travel is great – though you miss out on the countryside 30,000 feet below. Car trips in a foreign country are also fine – if you don’t mind spending hours cramped behind the wheel trying to figure your way through an unfamiliar environment. Crossing a country by train, though, is a way to get […]

3 great ‘community tourism’ experiences in Ecuador

By Alfonso Tandazo on Feb 18, 2016 in Ecuador, Regions, South America

Community tourism has been described as the difference between seeing and living, as exemplified in the two scenarios below: Scenario one: You arrive in a small Andean town on board a bus full of tourists, drive around, take shots of various landmarks, eat in a upscale restaurant, buy a few souvenirs, exchange a “buenos dias” […]

Top 7 luxury yachts sailing in the Galapagos Islands

By Alfonso Tandazo on Jan 14, 2016 in Cruises & Boat Travel, Ecuador, Regions, South America, Speciality Travel

It’s easy to see why the Galapagos Islands are on most savvy travelers’ “bucket-lists.” With the archipelago being one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, nothing can prepare you for a visit to this exotic masterpiece of Mother Nature. Some travelers prefer to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience on a land-based “land-hopping” tour – eating, sleeping […]

6 of the best hotels in the Galapagos Islands

By Alfonso Tandazo on Dec 20, 2015 in Accommodation, Ecuador, Hotels, Regions, South America

Somewhere near the top of most people’s bucket list, the legendary Galapagos Islands is one of the most diverse and fantastic natural paradises on the planet. Formed more than five million years ago as a result of volcanic activity, the archipelago is the quintessence of nature in its most primitive and pure state. On its islands and […]

6 of the best hotels in Quito, Ecuador

By Alfonso Tandazo on Nov 24, 2015 in Accommodation, Ecuador, Hotels, Regions, South America

For the third year in a row, Quito has won the “Oscar” of the tourism awards. Competing in the World Travel Awards with other attractive destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bogota, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires, the Ecuadorian capital was declared the “Destination Leader of South America” for 2015. Having also been […]

5 of the best hacienda/hotels in the Ecuadorian Andes

By Alfonso Tandazo on Oct 15, 2015 in Accommodation, Ecuador, Hotels, Regions, South America

In the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Ecuadorian highlands you can discover the rustic charm of Andean haciendas filled with Spanish colonial history and natural splendor. Yet, a closer look will reveal that these one-time mountain hacienda/hotels have been converted into stylish boutique hideaways. These chic oases retain their wood and brick rooms, working fireplaces, antique […]

5 of the best Ecuadorian eco-lodge experiences

By Alfonso Tandazo on Sep 14, 2015 in Accommodation, Ecuador, Hotels, Regions, South America

The very notion of luxury travel is being re-worked. Old-fashioned, ostentatious “luxury” hotels are clearly outmoded, as today’s high-end travelers are searching for experiential adventure. They are looking to “get inside” a destination – connecting with the indigenous culture, sampling the local food, and appreciating local designs. These modern-day explorers pursue not just vacations, but […]