Hello my name is Andy James Sawyer. I want to take you on a journey crossing the void over to the other side of southern Spain.

After travelling extensively in mountainous and jungle regions of the world, from the Andes in Peru to the jungles of south east Asia, I still find one of the most captivating regions I’ve lived in and travelled through is the unknown, true side of Andalusia.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why to be honest, but I could compare beaches in the Costa de la Luz to beaches in Australia, and Andalusian high rocky trails to Apache Native American Indian trails in the Appalachian Mountains. I’ve witnessed eagles flying over my shoulder whilst looking out towards the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, and swimming through clear waterfall lagoons; maybe this has something to do with it!

My background and experience in trekking started in the North of England and the Lake District in Cumbria. From challenges such as the Three Peaks Challenge which involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours in icy snowy conditions, to tackling larger Alpine climbs such as Mont Blanc, and the Matterhorn. This turned into a day I’ll never forget, being pushed to the edge mentally and physically. Having trained in the Army reserves Gibraltar regiment, I gained a new level of understanding on completing mental and physical tasks as a team.

I moved to Spain from London full time in January 2015, after spending long spells of time here since 2002, when I first started to explore the mountains and kite surfing spots along the coast. The move was really an escape from London city life where I had an incredible personal training business for 9 years, but to exchange concrete for mountains and surf was unmissable I think. I remember standing on a rainy, cold November morning in complete darkness outside my gym waiting for a client thinking, well Andy man I think it’s time to move on . . . and so I did.

One of the many aspects I enjoy about being a trekking guide, is the bond I see develop throughout the day between complete strangers, when people are away from the pressures of modern society and concrete jungles, deep in the energy of nature they become themselves.

When I first started to explore the region I would often trek following faint rocky trails on unmarked mountain ridges back in the days when mapping and signs in Andalucía were very different, but it’s also the wild rivers which I’ve explored extensively, finding thermal hidden rock pools and ancient Roman and Moorish fortresses along the way.

I take a great interest in megalithic sites which have led me to trek the Inca trails of Peru and deep into Central America. Over the years I have searched for and found many Moorish and Roman settlements in Andalucía.

Come and join one of my treks, you can see sample photos of some of the recent ones here.