Take a look at our brand new Peru Family Adventure trip on our website - perfect for school holidays. This fantastic trip has fixed departure dates with highlights including rafting, hiking, biking, canoeing, trekking part of the famous Inca Trail and spending time with a local family on Lake Titicaca to see their way of life - a truly wonderful experience. The trip is ideal for all ages, click through for more details below and contact me for further information: http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/peru-page42.aspx

Today the BBC News broadcasted that the ruins of an entire city has been found on the Pacific coast of Peru near to Chiclayo. They believe this dates back to the Wari culture which rules the Andes of modern Peru between the 7th and 12th centuries.

An incredibly interesting find, another reason to head to the north of Peru, perhaps visit on a second trip. Contact me to put together a proposed trip including a visit to this region on 01285 885333.

Take a look at our special offers pages for 2009 reductions on some fantastic Galapagos vessels or lovely Patagonian retreats........more reasons to travel in 2009.

Having switched over to Channel 4 last night, I was surprised and delighted to see this weeks Born Survivor in South America focussing predominantly on Patagonia and more importantly the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Seeing Bear Grylls hike over the Glacier with crampons and ascending into crevasses reminded me of my visit last year where I embarked upon a 5 hour trek into the middle of this wonderful Glacier passing vibrant turquoise blue pools, crevasses and waterfalls a truly memorable experience.

At around 250km2 and 5 kilometres wide, it is said that this is one of very few glaciers which is thought not to be retreating, although there is an incredible movement of around 2 metres (6ft) daily.

If you missed the show, I believe you can catch up online on the Channel 4 website, or contact me for further information on the Glacier.

....continues at 9pm this evening on BBC 2. Follow Bruce while he travels from the source of the Amazon through to the ocean on his travels in South America.

Having just returned from Peru, the beginning of the first episode reminded me of my time spent at altitude recently whilst trekking along the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, a truly wonderful journey with Mountain Lodges of Peru.

Bonaire is a great destination to relax after a long trip to Peru or Ecuador, enjoying a great climate year round why not stopover en route with KLM.

Travel Mart Quito brought lots of new exciting hotel and programs such as the new Hotel Arrebol, Puerto Varas, Chile and also the Casa Antucura in Mendoza, Argentina and the Ultra Hotel in Buenos Aires.

Having just selected my appointments for the event in Quito next month, I have realised that the event is rather creeping up on me quite rapidly.

Prior to the event I shall be embarking upon the Lodge-to-Lodge trek in the Sacred Valley, Peru which will be absolutely fantastic crossing a 4,650m Andean mountain pass.

Well, perhaps I really should have been training lots by this stage, but still have some three weeks to go and today is the start of a new week....

I shall hear of lots of new and exciting travel opportunities during the course of Travel Mart and will post details on my blog as soon as possible....

After a 4am wake up call I made my way to the departure point for the clay lick. A walk through the jungle down to the pier awoke an Armadillo crossing the path, he seemed to follow us for around 5 minutes.

Following a short boat ride across the river bank we sat patiently waiting for the show to begin. Silence, then in the far distance we heard the shrieks of Green-winged Macaws making their way to the clay lick for sunrise. Not far behind them were Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws.

Perching in the near by trees awaiting the first Macaws to fly onto the lick. When the first few took their first flight of the morning, others followed, a truly spectacular sight. We were incredibly lucky to witness such a spectacular event and overhead close views of the beautifully coloured birds produced numerous blue sky shots! Still, its such a shame to think without the help of organisations such as Rainforest Expeditions operating conservation projects these beautiful birds may have become extinct.

Having spent 4 nights in the Peruvian Amazon, Tambopata Reserve (which is home to 32 parrot species, 10% of the worlds total), I had been fortunate to observe a number of different species of monkey, frogs, Caimans, birds along with an Anteater and Armadillo.

The Amazon Basin encompasses an area of around 7 million square kilometres, shared with neighbouring countries to Peru such as Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana and Venezuela. Of course the Amazon represents approximately half of the planets remaining rainforests and is disappearing at a rate of more than 3,200 square kilometres every half year and is increasing significantly.

After the Amazon I returned to the Sacred Valley which looked absolutely stunning during the rainy season, incredibly green and lush with lots of beautiful flowers. Visiting Maras and Moray I got a fantastic view of the entire valley, a definite must upon an itinerary! Of course, Pisac ruins, market and Ollantaytambo are also an incredible insight into Peru's culture and history.

Crossing Lake Titicaca I remember thinking how much it looks like the ocean, being so vast. Upon arrival into Suasi Island it was incredible to note the striking flora on the island. Furthermore, it is possible to be observe Vicunas, Llamas, Vizcachas, hummingbirds, cormorants and many other species of bird. A fantastic place to relax and unwind in amongst the beautiful well-kept gardens at Suasi.

Peru really does have so much to offer in the way of wildlife, history and culture, a great insight into Latin America..........

Departing Peru I had a short stopover in Santiago before my return flight home, during which I headed North to visit Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. With 25 funiculars, 12 still in operation offering a walking tour unlike any other, Valparaiso offers several hills featuring colourful tin houses, pastel shades making great coastal views. Just a short distance from Santiago, it is a great addition to a visit to Chile.

Upon arrival into Trelew airport, I was greeted by a dinosaur on the terminal building....in one day I saw so much wildlife from Rheas (similar to Ostriches) to a mother and calf Southern Right Whales. An inquisitive baby elephant seal (still weighing 40kg) came rather close to me whilst I was on the beach at Estancia Rincon Chico.

In the same day I encountered strong hot sun whilst walking along a beach in Peninsula Valdes, to walking through the snow in Ushuaia. Upon arrival into Ushuaia, I kept passing the pier to see when the Antarctic Dream docked ready for my expedition the following day. It was an incredible feeling boarding the vessel knowing this was home for the next 10 nights.

Crossing the Drake passage on the outbound journey to the South Shetlands it seemed I was one of very few onboard the lovely ship! It became apparent when we arrived into calmer waters that the boat was indeed full!

When I disembarked the zodiac for the first landing (wet), I was greeted by a whole colony of Gentoo penguins. I sat down on the fresh snow to watch passing penguins, they are really rather comical and endearing. This is the best way to watch them on land protecting their eggs from birds and gathering gifts in the form of stones for their partners (occasionally taking from another nest next to theirs).

The scenery, wildlife and sheer wild spirit of Antarctica offers is one to remember! Not to mention the distress call we received from the M/S Explorer whilst we were on a rescue mission. Luckily the NordNorge was closer and all passengers were safe.

We knew we got lucky with the Drake on the way out due to being so early in the season and consequently we really experienced this on the way back to Ushuaia. A truly unforgettable experience!