Peru Explorer

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 31 reviews.

Elisabeth Cliff

PERU EXPLORER

Written June 2010
Just as the brochure said: a comfortable exploration of the highlights of Southern Peru AND I was able to do the Inca Trail - the perfect combination that exceeded all my expectations. Travelling in comfort and staying in good quality hotels made it possible to enjoy such a busy trip to the full.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It's hard to pick out one in particular as there were so many, but here are a few: wandering round Sillustani was magical; being in the beautiful Sacred Valley for the festival of Pentecost at Ollanytaytambo, watching the colourful processions and dancing; talking with the children at the Rainbow centre; arriving at the Sun Gate on a glorious sunny morning, looking down on Machu Picchu and realising just what the Incas had achieved; sitting in the main squares of Arequipa and Cuzco just watching the world go by and finally, relaxing in the Amazon Rainforest.
What did you think of your group leader?
Holger Davalos is one of the best; what an asset to Exodus and a great ambassador for Peru. He was always attentive, enthusiastic, encouraging, informative, endlessly patient  and has a lovely sense of humour. He also led the Inca Trail trek and together with a great support team, ensured that we all made it round safely whilst benefitting from his vast knowledge of Inca history.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Read the trip notes carefully and check with the office if you are not sure!   Be prepared for all sorts of weather and temperatures - particularly if you are doing the Inca Trail; it rained every night while we were camping even though it was supposed to be the dry season, which meant it was cold and damp at night so take good waterproofs and lightweight thermal layers, a metal water bottle that can double as a hot water bottle, and a good torch.  It was also colder than usual in the Rainforest.
Take trekking poles for the Inca Trail; they really do help on such unforgiving terrain.   I have also found it beneficial to take gingko biloba when walking at high altitude plus soluble multi vitamin and minerals tablets - they make the water taste more palatable too when necessary.
Be prepared to take loads of photos and being tempted to buy local goodies at every opportunity - the roadside stalls are often cheaper than the city shops so don't wait!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just do it! Peru is a wonderful country in every way - lovely people, great food, good hotels; history and culture; every sort of scenery - coastal desert, volcanos, snow-capped mountains, jungles. Go for as long as you can, as soon as you can!
Skye Skye

PERU EXPLORER

Written January 2010
An extremely well organised trip that featured many of the highlights of Peru, which would have been impossible had I travelled on my own. The trip was varied and rich in experiences and remains one of my top lifetime trips!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Memorable would be a better word than inspirational!

Arriving at the jungle. It was a lifelong dream of mine to visit the Amazon, and I enjoyed every aspect of it. From the boat journey and arriving at the lodge through to the 5 minutes contemplation period as the group sat quietly and reflected under a star studded sky on an evening boat trip.

Arriving at Sun gate and gaining my first view of Machu Pichu as it lay out before me bathed in a sheen of golden sunshine. I remained on a high for the rest of the day.

The welcome we received from the People of the Uros islands. I was particularly enamoured by the cuteness of the children there.
What did you think of your group leader?
Holger should be commended for his approach to tour guiding. I was a little apprehensive at what to expect, having never been on a group holiday before. Holger had a relatively quiet disposition coupled with an appealing dry sense of humour. He was always on hand to answer any questions, even if he was asleep! He entered into the spirit of the secret santa that the group organised and even dressed up as Father Christmas. One of the things I liked about Holger was that he retained his own personality throughout. It was clear that he had great empathy for his fellow countrymen and we often saw random acts of kindness from him including giving presents to children we met on our journeys.

I was struck down by the dreaded travellor’s bug on the 3rd day of the Inca trail and Holger encouraged me to keep going and carried my rucksack for me. My pace was extremely slow and the group were miles ahead yet Holger stayed with me and ensured I took regular breaks. He even refilled my hot water bottle during the evening as the tents were particularly cold that night. Later in the trip, I wanted to spend a few days on my own in the Sacred Valley and chose to leave the group and Holger helped me to make the arrangements .
All in all, I was very impressed.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are travelling in the height of winter, consider booking your flight a day early. My flight was delayed and I missed the first 1.5 days of the trip.

Do not consider the Inca trail without walking poles. Everyone in our group used them. Those that did not bring them along ended up borrowing some. They WILL save your knees from the inevitable strain of hiking thousands of steps up and down the mountain trails.

Bring an aluminium water bottle as this can then double up as a hot water bottle, on those cold nights when camping high up in the Andes.

Make sure you bring waterproofs during the rainy season when hiking the Inca trail and two extra set of clothes. There is no means of drying anything on trek and you will always want a clean set of clothes for the night at Aguas Calientes. Take hand sanitiser and travla pro biotics to ward off the dreaded traveller bug.

Allow around £75 - £100 for tips. Bus drivers, tour guides, porters, cooks, boat crew, tour guide...they ALL need tipping. All hotels featured on this trip have a laundry service so no need to over pack.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you are travelling in the height of winter, consider booking your flight a day early. My flight was delayed and I missed the first 1.5 days of the trip.

Do not consider the Inca trail without walking poles. Everyone in our group used them. Those that did not bring them along ended up borrowing some. They WILL save your knees from the inevitable strain of hiking thousands of steps up and down the mountain trails.

Bring an aluminium water bottle as this can then double up as a hot water bottle, on those cold nights when camping high up in the Andes.

Make sure you bring waterproofs during the rainy season when hiking the Inca trail and two extra set of clothes. There is no means of drying anything on trek and you will always want a clean set of clothes for the night at Aguas Calientes. Take hand sanitiser and travla pro biotics to ward off the dreaded traveller bug.

Allow around £75 - £100 for tips. Bus drivers, tour guides, porters, cooks, boat crew, tour guide...they ALL need tipping. All hotels featured on this trip have a laundry service so no need to over pack.

This really is a great holiday if you want to see the highlights of Peru with a degree of comfort. The hotels were all of a high standard, I would say the equivalent of a UK four star. The accommodation actually exceeded my expectations and I would have to say that I was impressed with the uniqueness of each one. The best ones, in my opinion, were the Sacred Valley lodge, the Jungle lodge and the one at the Colca canyon. Exodus really should be commended for picking these. It should be noted that all hotels had a marvellously wide range of dishes at the breakfast buffet too.

Because this was a premium trip, we had the luxury of a spacious coach, equipped with its very own WC.
There was more walking than I expected which pleased me greatly. I am a hard core trekker but also like the comfort of upmarket hotels. This trip is rare in that it manages both. The tour leader on our trip had no qualms if any members had a desire to forge on ahead and did not expect us to stick together.

This a diverse trip, including a wide range of experiences. Obviously it would be difficult to have a group trip that was perfectly tailored to your own requirements but for the most part, this trip does quite well.

I have concentrated solely on the positive aspects and now I will make a few comments on what I perceive to be the negative.
There were rather too many guided tours for my liking and I wasn’t in favour of long bus journeys being punctuated by yet more guided tours. That said, I did not go on this trip specifically to learn about the history and architecture whereas others may well have done.

It did get a little tedious on the city tours and in particular, the Arequipa tour guide left the majority of use feeling as though we were a bunch of school kids being herded from place to place. He insisted on helping us to cross the road which did feel a little patronising at times.

You do need to be aware that quite often from dawn to dusk, you are travelling, eating and walking as a group. You may not gel with everyone on your group and therefore being on such a long group trip can get a little intense and at times, dare I say irksome! That said, I did meet some fantastic people on the trip and had many a laugh! It may not be the conventional thing to do, but you could always leave the group for a day or so, as I did.

In summary, the negative were unquestionably outweighed by the positive and I would not hesitate in recommending this trip to anyone who has a desire to visit Peru in comfort!
Louise Amandini

PERU EXPLORER

Written November 2009
Fantastic trip far exceeded my expectations as learnt so much and saw far more than I would have off my own back. Made the most of the 22 days and covered a lot of ground and saw what a diverse varied land Peru is.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Ballestos Islands were great we saw so many birds and mammals including sealions, pelicans and penguins.
Inca trail is a must do as reaching the sun gate is a great way to approach Machu Picchu and see the wonder for the first time. The building skills the Inca's had was incredible, the stones fit together so well you can't slide a sheet of paper between them.
Going to the rainforest as the noises there, the variety of animals, birds and plantlife are amazing and sleeping in a lodge with candle light only enhances the experience. Even the 3 hour boat ride on one of the Amazon tributary rivers was a wonderful experience as we saw Caimen and monkeys from the boat.
What did you think of your group leader?
Hilda was brilliant. She really made the trip as she knew so much about everything, was really friendly and even was fantastic support with the odd tummy bug (you could tell her about any ailment and she would have advice for you). I would actively seek Hilda out to be a leader if I return to Peru. Without going on a trip like this I would have missed out on a lot as we were always being given snippets of information, there was never a dull moment. She encouraged us as to which local foods to try and how to eat them. All were great experiences from prickly pear to Alpaca to Guinea pig!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go for the trip if you have the money and time to do so as it is a once in a life time chance to visit an amazing country and learn about another culture. Life is too short to ponder over it, do it you will enjoy it. (You don't need to be amazingly fit as the Inca trail is optional and there is loads to do in the beautiful town of Cucso if you are not doing the trek and you join the group in Machu Picchu for a day anyway.)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
One of the best trips ever with a great age range in our group of 14 with folks from the UK, Scotland and Canada. Peru is an amazing country support it's economy by chosing it for your holiday :-)
Nicola Gowan

PERU EXPLORER

Written September 2009
A thoroughly enjoyable and very well organised holiday that exceeded my expectations. I was very impressed by how smoothly it all ran and the tremendous variety of activities that were packed into the three weeks which went by all too quickly.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the phenomenal birdlife of the Ballestas Islands - as well as seeing dolphins on the way out!
Watching condors in the Colca Canyon.
Learning from 3 delightful native women about their life on one of the floating islands of Lake Titicaca.
Firstly, conquering Dead Woman's Pass on the Inca Trail and then 2 days later arriving at the Sun Gate at Macchu Picchu - sweaty and tired but thorougly pleased with myself.
Unexpected things like seeing whales off the Pacific coast, visiting an animal fair, dune buggying near a desert oasis and sitting having a coffee and cake on the balcony of one of the cafes in the main square in Cuzco watching the world go by.

What did you think of your group leader?
I have done a number of Exodus trips and know how much difference a good leader can make. Rene Calancha was one of the best, if not the best leader I have ever come across. He is a total professional and his organisational skills and attention to detail were superb and helped the trip run very smoothly. He did everything he could to make sure that we all had an enjoyable and healthy trip and dealt with patience and good humour with all the questions and problems that we presented to him. He also had a wide knowledge of Peruvian culture, history and wildlife which he was eager to share with us and I was particularly impressed with his tremendous knowledge of birds.
All the other guides and drivers were excellent and very friendly as well.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Listen to what your tour leader says about altitude etc. They are the ones who know what they are talking about!
If you are doing the Inca trail try and get some extra training in before you go. It really helped me and I'm 59 years old! Walking poles are also a great help since there are some very steep steps.
Take plenty of money with you. The trip is quite expensive as regards "extras" and there are loads of places where you can be tempted to buy souvenirs.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you have the time and want to see as much as possible of Southern Peru, go for the three week trip. If you are doing the Inca trail this trip will give you lots of time to acclimatise so that you can enjoy the experience.
Take an Ipod for the long days in the bus.
Make sure you have a good torch for the walks in the jungle.
Be prepared for lots of early starts - this enables you to get the maximum out of the trip.
If you do not want to do the Inca trail there is still plenty to do in Cuzco.
Lesley black

PERU EXPLORER

Written September 2009
Everyday we experienced something different,far outweighing expectations.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Finishing the inca trail in one piece!. Machau Pichau was wonderful. Seeing condors just appearing out of no- where and cruising overhead
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene was a star.Extremely knowledgable and obviously proud of his country,He was attentive to all on the trip without being overbearing--full of good advice gladly accepted. The enjoyment of this trip can be attributed to him,the local guides and obviosly the other travellers.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Listen to the guide--they know what they are talking about.Drink loads of water and plenty of layers of clothes for the ever changing temperature.Travel light as well.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it.First time i travelled alone--no issues would happily do it again.
Don McMastert

PERU EXPLORER

Written July 2009
Overall   we very much enjoyed our experience in Peru. The combination of   magnificent mountain scenery, the jungles, the desert plateaus, the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, the interesting towns and   cities and the unique Peruvean people and Culture   made this a trip well   worth taking. The   accommodations exceeded our expectations for an Adventure Tour.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I really enjoyed hiking the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, which combined  the physical challenge   of hiking at high altitude, inspirational scenic mountains and old Inca ruins. The 3rd Campsite on the Trail was particularly inspirational as it was high in the mountains amongst the clouds. The highlight for my wife who did not hike the Inca Trail were the birds at the Balstra Islands and, of course, the Macchu Picchu site.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was great. He was well organized, showed great knowledge and enthusiasm for  his subject matter, and concern over the well being of all the trips participants   .
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip requires a lots of hiking up and down stairs on the Inca Trail at high altitude ( 3700m)   with low oxygen levels. This can be quite physically demanding, and   can also   cause some negative physical side effects ( headaches, sinus infections, shortness of breath etc). Being physically fit and being accustomed to long periods of aerobic exercise  is   required here. Also, being able to consume a fair   amount of water to combat dehydration and the effects of high altitude;   without the need to to empty   your bladder every hour is also  an asset on the long hikes   and van rides.
Age   need not be a barrier to hike the Inca Trail. I am 58 and I did not find the   Inca  Trail overly difficult; but I do a fair amount of cycling on hilly terrain. Be prepared however to have a few days of some physical discomfort ( headaches etc) becominng aclimatized to the high   altitude
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Overall   we enjoyed our experience in Peru. The combination of   magnificent mountain scenery, the jungles desert plateaus, the interesting towns and   Cities and the unique Peruvean people and Culture   made this a trip well   worth taking.   The accommodation exceeded our expectations.
If we have one complaint it was that while the food in the restaurants   we went out to was   for the most part good to excellent; the food served in some of the Hotels, notably in Cusco, was poor   quality.
The cook on the Inca Trail on the other hand was fantastic and provided meals far beyond expectations. In fact some of the meals in our dining tent on the Inca Trail   were better than the meals in some of the Hotels and Restaurants that we ate in. I particularly liked the   warm wine drink he prepared   one evening called the "Pisco Rocket", made from Pisco Grapes and Oranges, a sure cure to the side effects of high altitude.
Eleanor Cuthill

PERU EXPLORER

Written October 2008
Definately a trip of a lifetime! I admit that as it was my first trip as a single traveller I was a little wary but had no reason to worry. I had a fantastic time from start to finish and it surpassed expectations. The itinerary is very busy but I've come away feeling as though I've seen the most of southern Peru and much more. Wouldn't have changed a thing. It is a fantastic country, a minimum of 3 weeks are required to do it justice.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are a few and its difficult to say. The best had to be seeing the condors in the Colca Canyon as it was such an unexpected highlight for me. It is difficult to describe how awesome those birds are and how close we got to them. Magnificent and worth the very early start.
We were very lucky throughout the whole trip with the weather and it was definately on our side when we first saw Machu Picchu from the Inca Trail. Rene our guide stopped us before the final ascent to the Sun Gate to warn us not to expect too much as often the cloud covers the ruins in the afternoon. But the memory of seeing Machu Picchu as we arrived at the Sun Gate will be with me forever. A magical moment. The faces of the Japanese tourists that had taken the 'easy' way up to the ruins as we emerged at the Sun Gate is a special memory- you'd think they'd seen aliens from space rather than a group of trekkers looking like they'd spent 4 days on the Inca Trail !!
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene was excellent. You cannot fault his organisational skills and knowledge. He knew exactly what was going on, where to go and had loads of contacts if we needed anything, from years of experience in the job. I felt total confidence in him and the drivers throughout the trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip involves a very busy itinerary without much time to rest and lots of early morning starts. Totally worth it but do take an alarm clock. Although the hotels do alarm calls they often got the time wrong.
Listen to your group leader in their advice on altitude. They know what they're on about and drink lots and lots of water.
Watch out for those midges at Machu Picchu! I still bear the scars of 51 bites on my legs even though I was wearing repellent and didn't get biten in the jungle. High deet is the way to go if you don't want to be eaten alive.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you like to be busy then this is the trip for you. Totally enjoyable throughout.

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