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 65 reviews.

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
Graeme Czeschel

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written October 2008
A great holiday that covers most of the well known sites of Peru.Although graded as Leisurely/Moderate in the brochure, there was nothing leisurely about the trip due to the 5am alarm calls and the distances covered on some very long drives.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Machu Picchu exceeded all expectations. No photograph can do justice to the overall setting of the place.
The condors at Colca Canyon were well worth the early start and our patience was finally rewarded as the condors flew very close to the busy viewpoint.
What did you think of your group leader?
Arturo was a good leader who got on well with the group and is obviously very proud of his homeland.
He coped extremely well with the various illnesses that cropped up within the group and also the nationwide strike that forced a slight alteration to our itinerary.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for early starts and long drives.
Joan Powell

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written September 2008
A very well-planned trip especially with regard to high altitude acclimatisation. The accommodation was comfortable and welcoming and the itinerary included all the sites I wanted to see.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the condors rise with the early morning thermals at the Colca Canyon.
What did you think of your group leader?
The local native leader was excellent with an extensive knowledge of the sites as well as the flora and fauna
She was fluent in English and had a good sense of humour.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some early morning starts by going to bed early!
Kevin Darke

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written July 2008
A very well organized and professionally run tour. This was my first organized tour since my backpacking days, however I must admit took the hazzle of travelling away. If you only have a few weeks and want to see alot then this type of trip may be for you.We packed alot in during the two weeks which made it interesting as every day was different but those 5am wakeup calls were sometime a killer
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I think seeing Machu Picchu was the highlight, but it would have been even more rewarding if I had done the Inca trail.
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan our tour leader was excellent. He was very professional and took great care of us. He was very knowledgable especially about Inca history and made the trip very interesting. Thank you Juan, sorry I dont remember your second name.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip took in all the main sights in Peru, but to do that we had some long days on the bus. We clocked up over 3000km in 2 weeks and although the scenary was amazing we under estimated the amount of travelling.
Take lots of books and a ipod for those long drives!!
Heidi Kelly

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written July 2008
Fantastic time, great places, beautiful scenery - but not for those who want a lie in each morning !
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Macchu Picchu is as good as the guide books say - stunning location
Amantani Island stay, especially the night sky, Dancing and the people
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan Diaz was brilliant - looked after the group, very knowledgeable about Peru and all sorts of other things.
Great sense of humour, lots of stories to tell, fitted in with the group very well.
Produced a birthday cake for me at breakfast in Cusco (at about 5.30 am!)
He even escorted my husband to a dentist in Arequipa.
Overall an excellent guide who was always professional and friendly.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Only take new Dollar notes in low denominations - the Peruvians are very fussy about old notes.
Use bug spray / cream at Macchu Picchu its low enough for mosquitoes.
If you go in their winter it gets very cold at night - sub-zero on Amantani island and no heating thus take some warm clothes.
Changes in air pressure with altitude can cause problems with toiletries leaking - make sure they are sealed.
The trip does invlove lots of long coach journeys with early starts, 5 am is not unusual - but the scenery is worth it.
Do the optional sacred valley tour in Cusco.
Take swimwear for the hot springs the one in Chivay is better than the one in Aguas Calientes.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We had a group of 10 that was about right, especially as we had a ~30 seater coach for the long journeys.
This trip lets you see a lot of the very diverse scenery and cultures of Peru in a short time.
If you have the time then do the rainforest extension - the lodge rooms are ace and its just so peaceful - just you and the wildlife.
In hindsight we wish we had done a trip that involved doing the INCA trail, we very much enjoyed the walks we did in the sacred valley and on Amantani Island.
Most of the group suffered some effect of altitude sickness, nothing serious just a few headaches, upset stomachs and being tired / out of breath.
James Amos

ESSENTIAL PERU

Written June 2008
Peru was stunning.The Essential Peru tour was a great way to see the highlights of the country.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking up to the 'sun gate' just as the mist cleared showing mach pichu
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene was a great tour guide, nothing seemed to much work for him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go and see your doctor with regard to altitude sickness before you go.
Take a lot of books as the tour is spent mainly on the bus.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
nope.

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Our Clients’ Reviews

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