Biography
ENLARGE
Anna graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in French, German and Spanish. A year spent living in Spain and another living in Martinique gave her the taste of travelling and further developed her passion for foreign languages, overseas cultures and ways of life. She then headed to Latin America and visited Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos. Her highlight was volunteering at an animal sanctuary in Bolivia, which involved living in the rainforest, walking an ocelot through the jungle, swimming with pumas and sharing her room with red howler monkeys. Other highlights for her were snorkelling with sea lions in the Galapagos, the Rio carnival and the Amazon rainforest. Since joining Audley she has returned to Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos to experience many of the hotels, boats and guides we use.
My Most Memorable Experience
"I will never forget snorkelling in the Galapagos Islands: the feeling of amazement as a penguin ate from a shoal of fish right near me is one I will never forget.
Also, the giant turtle that gracefully swam past me absolutely made my day! I loved the playful sealions who swam up to me upside down and darted around me at the last moment, then blew bubbles at me and nudged my foot!
Quite incredible experiences which will be with me forever."
My Favourite Destination
"There is no destination quite like the Amazon. It keeps drawing me back as I love the tranquility and alll the exotic sounds, smells and sights.
Waking up and seeing the mist rise from the surface of the mightiest river in the World is a magical experience.
The thrill of the Amazon for me is searching for animals and birds which are often really difficult to spot - this makes sighting them all the more special.
I also enjoy visiting the local communities who live on the river bank - it is a fascinating way of life, so different from ours. "
My Favourite Accommodation
"I love the fact that the Inkaterra Pueblo hotel is eco-friendly and the individual casitas are discreet as they are hidden by plants. The hotel is 100% Peruvian and is all handmade - not one vehicle was used in the construction.
The blankets are woven by local women in Cuzco, so it is very authentic and they also make their own natural products such as soaps and place an emphasis on recycling.
The setting is gorgeous, right by the Urubamba River and the gardens are really something - there are 372 species of orchid as well as many different hummingbirds and butterflies. I also enjoyed seeing the two spectacled bears they had in the grounds which had been rescued.
The rooms are cosy with log fires and the personal touches such as putting a hot water bottle in my bed helped to make my stay here a special one."