Essential Peru

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 63 reviews.

rachel nockels

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written August 2010
The best holiday I have been on yet. Peru is such a beautiful country with very friendly people.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sun come up over the mountains at Macchu Picchu. It made the early start and the hard climb upto the Caretakers house well worth it. Waking up on the island after sailing across Lake Titicaca was great, no car sounds just very quiet and peaceful. Also seeing the Condors flying over head was amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Fabritzeo was amazing, could not do enough to help and it is clear that he is very passionate about Peru. He has an amazing knowledge and made sure we knew what we were doing each day.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Drink lots of liquids when going into the mountains, and try not to use too much energy as the altitude is hard at first but is okay if you keep drinking water.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For anybody thinking about going to Peru DO IT, this is an amazing country that has given me some amazing memories
Judith Huygens

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written June 2010
A comprehensive trip covering all the main sites of Peru and some extras. There was a lot included in the trip which was very well organised (far more so than one of your competitor's trips!)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing Machu Picchu for the first time - you are in the middle of nowhere and it really is an awesome place!
What did you think of your group leader?
Extremely well organised, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and caring. She helped make our trip extra special.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read the trip notes thoroughly before going. Drink lots of water to combat the altitude. Be prepared for long, full days and lots of travelling by coach.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A superb trip which we will always remember!
Adam Wonnacott

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written May 2010
Truly memorable experiences, couldn't have wished for better. Amazing sights from start to finish.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So many moments I will never forget; seeing Machu Picchu, watching condors fly overhead, Most memorable was taking up the challenege of the optional climb up Wayna Picchu - hardest thing i've done, but most rewarding.
Sharing it all with a great group made this holiday even better.
What did you think of your group leader?
Hilda was amazing; very knowledgable, passionate and caring. We always knew what we were doing and where we were going, and she was good fun to talk to. Was hard to function after she left us as she took care of everything!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Drink lots of water and also the Coca Tea to help combat the altitude sickness. Personally I didn't get affected other than shortness of breath, probably because I drank so much.
Do bring plenty of spending money, and I would advise bringing mostly Soles as you get more to the pound and we found that most prices were in Soles rather than dollars.
Be prepared for long coach rides, but this is the only way to see all the sights. The coach is very comfortable and has a toilet.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you want to see all the best that this beautiful country has to offer, you won't find a better trip than this.
Phillip Pomeroy

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written August 2009
Hectic from start to finish. Every day had a "wow!" moment. Lots of travelling, but you do have a lot to see. Going to altitude is a strange experience. An amazing holiday.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
This was not a trip where you can describe an inspirational moment, they came by the dozen. Seeing Penguins on the Ballestos Islands was truly unexpected. Sand boading was exhilarating. Inca stonework was an example of master craftsmen at their best. Being in Machu Picchu was one of the great moments. A place I have known about since being a child, but bein there is incredible. Our afternoon tour allowed us to see the site as it was becoming less busy. Oh! and you get a stamp in your passport. The night on Amantani island and the "walk up the hill" the following day provided yet more unforgetable moments. They may have been near the end of the trip but waiting for the condors to take to the air in the Colca Canyon was another incredible experience. Standing, breathless, at 4900m at the Mirador De Los Volcanes and then two days later flying at the same altitude in a commercial airliner while trying to see the ground way below is somewhat bewildering but makes you appreciate how high you have actually been.
What did you think of your group leader?
I haven't been on many holidays with a tour leader, so this was a fairly new experience. Rene, our group leader greeted us on the first day a 2.30am with the message that breakfast would be three hours later. He had a smile on his face, but he was not joking. We were up early nearly every day but a more attentive leader you could not have. He had a cheery word for everybody, a vast knowledge of his country which covered any topic you care to mention and showed the great pride he had for his heritage and the beauty of his native land. He was an infectious leader who was attentive to the needs of the whole group and could juggle all the competing interests within the party. Dealing with the sick and injured was taken in his stride. I now believe that Coca tea can cure almost anything! He was never wrong! If he said something would happen it did. It was quite a shock to be on our own at the end of the tour without Rene to advise us.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Listen to your group leader. The advice will be worth having. Be prepared to feel uncomfortable when you get to high altitude, but you will be fine. Despite advice that you could use US$ everywhere we found that nearly everything we spent money on was best paid for in local currency. Take a big memory card for the huge number of photos you will take. Be prepared to spend a lot of time travelling. The distances are long, but the scenery is everchanging and completely different to what you are used to in the U.K. You will drink lots of water and be exhausted at the end of the holiday.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is an exceptional holiday. We may have been lucky in being part of a very easy going group that interacted extremely well. We may also have been fortunate in having a superb leader. We were priviliged to be able to visit a truly amazing country with so many places that you only dream of visiting. Nazca Lines, Machu Pichu, Incas, Condors, Lake Titicaca, the Andes. To see all these things in two weeks provides for an unforgetable experience. I have yet to mention the food, or the shopping, or the people you meet. Bartering in the markets or chatting to the children selling hats and finger puppets and watching your wife be taken in by the sweet smiles and infectious humour of the young entrepreneurs is another memorable experience. Deciding what to do with all the hats when you get home is a problem still to be solved. I hope it gets cold soon!
Go! You will not be disappointed!
Jennifer Wilson

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written April 2009
A great trip- a huge country with vastly different landscapes- felt like we experienced it all! I miss all three of the drinks i developed a taste for there- Inca Kola, Coca Tea and even Pisco Sour!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Macchu Piccu was even better than expected. I am really glad I have experienced it.
I also really enjoyed the soaring condors at Colca Canyon and the homestay at Lake Titicaca. The locals were very friendly and hospitable.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene was excellent. He had a good sense of humour and fantastic knowledge of his country and its history. Nothing seemed too much for him. I feel like I have a lot of knowledge now about Peru and the Incas- all thanks to Rene!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Drink the coca tea. Pack clothes for warm, cold and wet weather- you may experience it all. Bring your IPOD for the drives. Bring a small gift from home for the homestay family- they will really appreciate it. Make sure you wear suncream even on cloudy days!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was expecting really early starts and no hot water after reading the reviews of other clients- but I found that I was often awake before the alarm call and I can report hot water in every hotel! It was a great trip and I am hoping to go back to see the jungle next time...
Andy Gibbins

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written February 2009
A great tour of the main highlights of a truly wonderful country. A busy, but very rewarding trip - the early starts are worth it!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Whilst Machu Picchu is an amazing sight, I think the Condors at Colca Canyon had to be me favourite moment. Such magnificent birds flying with complete ease is a fantastic sight - we were really lucky and saw about 15 Condors whilst we were there (feel free to take a look at the photos I've uploaded on here).
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader, Juan, was brilliant - full of local knowledge and tales about Peru in the past. He always made sure that the group were comfortable (even with most of us suffering from altitude sickness at some point!) on the long drives, any queries or questions were dealt with efficiently. Most impressive was his relationship with the local people and in encouraging the group to try their best to interact fully.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be aware that the altitude might affect you - do take up the offers of Coca tea as it really does help!
There are lots of early mornings and long drives. However, the transport used was very comfortable and the scenery is ever-changing so you dont notice the long drives as much as you might elsewhere. Take along a couple of books (I highly recommend 'Inca Kola' and 'Cochineal Red' if you like to read about a country whilst travelling it) and an ipod to ease the journeys a bit more.
If you are, like me, a bit trigger happy with your camera - take plently of memory cards!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Try the local speciality - roasted Guinea pig, its lovely!
Lauren Tan

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written November 2008
It was an enjoyable trip because Peru is an amazing country and the people and guide on the trip were great, however, the trip and experience was unfortunately compromsied to a large degree by the misrepresentations that were made by Exodus regarding the quality of accomodations. Other than the one night of accomodation in Ica, the hotels were of sub-standard, and either hostel or one star quality, when there were plenty of 3 stars hotel available. I would even consider some of the hotels unsafe structually unsafe. Exodus expressly told me that the hotels would be 3 stars or equivalent as it had similarly told everyone else who booked the trip. This was not true except for the hotel in Ica and there were many places that were of 3 stars and equivalent in each destination on the trip. The hotel in Aguas Calienteles was right next to the railway line at the rail depot - and there were plenty of other hotels further up away from the railway line. It would have been a different story if we were in places that did not have better hotels, but this was not the case, and if Exodus has told its customers that they are getting 3 stars or equivalent, then that is what it should provide. It affects the honesty of Exodus and trust - I am not sure at all if I will go on another trip with Exodus because I am not able to trust what it tells me.       This was a 3 stars rather than 4 or 5 stars trip because of the sub-standard accomodations.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
On the first day when we saw the diversity of Peru in a single day, going from the Pacific coast to wild life in the Ballestas islands to the sand dunes and the beautiful sunset at the oasis at the desert. The people of Peru - their smiles, friendliness, and courtesy - is also a constant inspiration during the trip, especially in view of how little material things they have compared to many of us.
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan Manuel Diaz V. is a very professional and top rate guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, reliable and helpful. Could not ask for more from a gudile. Full marks for him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for spending more than $1000 for extra expenses - Peru is actually relatively expensive - the tourist restaurants and all the additonal entrance fees and activity fees (e.g. USD 70 for the Nasca line can add up to about $1200. A meal could easily cost about $20.
This trip is very hectic but it gives you an extensive view of the country. Be prepared for very early mornings during about 80% of the trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Many of us on the trip were very very unhappy with the accomodation and that figures as the top complaint. I booked my trip with Adventure Center in the U.S. and the rest of the group booked theirs in the U.K. It was clear to us that Exodus made the same misrepresentation about providing 3 stars hotel. I hope that Exodus will provide a satisfactory explanation of the hotel situation of this trip, and how it intends to addrsss this issue of accuracy of the representations it makes during the sale of a trip - in short, 'how can I trust what Exodus tells me', if and when I want to sign up for another trip?
Exodus Response
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for posting your review of the trip on the website. I am glad that you enjoyed the trip, but am sorry that you felt that the hotels were not of an acceptable standard. We do not advertise any star ratings for the hotels on the majority of our trips, and so I believe that the information you were given by your travel agent may have been incorrect in this respect.
The Essential Peru trip is our best-value Peru holiday, and it would not be possible for us to use 3-star hotels throughout and still maintain the price at under £2000. Unfortunately hotel prices in Peru are quite high and so changing the grade of the hotels would significantly increase the price of the trip. You have mentioned that they are hostels, but the hotel naming system in Peru dictates that if a property has less than 50 rooms then legally it has to be called a "hostal" rather than a "hotel" - this is no reflection on the quality of the property.
On this trip, we use similar hotels to those used on the majority of our Peruvian trips, and while there may occasionally be problems with water supply (due to the relatively poor infrastructure in Peru, which is still a developing country) we do not consider them to be unsafe or of a poor standard. Our staff members regularly travel to Peru and provide feedback on the properties used on our trips, and our local partner also monitors the hotels closely in order to ensure that our trip requirements are met, but you should be aware that not all hotels in Peru are of the same standard as you may be used to in North America or Western Europe.I have of course passed on your comments to the local agents so that the tour leaders on future departures can continue to check the hotels and highlight any problems with rooms so that this can be followed up with the hotel owners.
Once again, I'd like to thank you for your feedback on the trip - all comments we receive are extremely useful in helping us to continually improve our trips and deliver the best holiday experience possible. I hope that you do travel with us again, but I would certainly suggest asking your travel agent as many questions as possible about the nature of the trip before you travel to ensure that your holiday meets your requirements since we do use varied levels of accommodation on our trips.
Kind regards,
Tim Fearn (trip manager)

- Exodus Staff

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Our Clients’ Reviews

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