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Peru was wonderful, a country of so many contrasts: the colours, the scenery, the wildlife, the people, the flora, all fascinating. We packed in so much in the three weeks, it really did seem much longer, every day held even more amazing things to see.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking up to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu in the morning before the hordes of other tourists arrived was really magical.
...and on the jungle walk, when our local guide dived into the undergrowth and appeared with a very, very long snake in his hands - amazing and beautiful. I felt really privileged to be able to touch this gorgeous creature in its natural habitat.
... and Lake Titicaca - stunning, having read about it in Arthur Mee's Children's Encyclopaedia I had been wanting to go there for probably nearly sixty years!
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene Calancha was excellent in every way - fun, knowledgeable, tireless and, most of all, extremely patient.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't lose your passport!
I did and it is not recommended. Once again, Rene was brilliant and arranged everything for me to be able to return to Lima to get the yellow emergency one (now known as the "idiot's passport").
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Nothing else to say except it was fabulous.
Rita Normand
PERU EXPLORER
Written
Excellent trip. Well worth taking if you want to see as much of Peru as possible. Driving rather than flying between the various points provide a deeper insight into the real Peru. Its well worth the extra time it takes.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The group I was travelling with was awesome as was our guide Rene Calancha. Between them the made the whole trip into an extraordinary experience. There are so many inspirational moments, from visiting a cemetaty on All Soul's day and celebrating with a local family to walking the Inca Trail. It's impossible to pick one highlight.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had the best. Rene has a great sense of humour (an absolute necessity considering the group) and was able to competently deal with some difficult situations that came up. His knowledge of the Inca culture, history and Peru itself was astounding.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you walk the Inca Trail, inform yourself. It is a difficult walk, especially the second day and you should be prepared both physically and mentally for the long steep climbs on uneven stone steps that you will encounter. Wear good trail shoes or boots and bring layers of clothes. The weather can vary from hot to wet and cold in a metter of hours.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Try to eat in some restaurants the locals frequent and try to become involved in or experience somehow the local culture and customs. Our visit to the cemetary on All Soul's Day was an amazing experience.
William Siddall
PERU EXPLORER
Written
A fantastic route through some brilliant sites. Well looked after by Rene the guide and the various local guides and porters / chefs on the trek. Small group size (7) really helped. Strongly recommend the route and Exodus
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking into Macchu Picchu. After four days of enjoyable, if at times draining, walking along the Inca Trail, you really appreciated the effort that went into building not just Macchu Picchu but all the sites along the route.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene was absolutely fantastic. He was informative, entertaining and also exceptionally helpful when things went wrong - e.g. people getting ill.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The Inca Trail is probably a little harder than the brochures let on. Do some training for it, and factor in that the constant climbing and the altitude are going to multiply the effort. You walk about 10km a day, but due to the altitude and climb it feels more like 20km. Pack good waterproofs as well, and has been said elsewhere, layers of clothing.
Pack light. Laundry services are cheap and available in places like Arequipa, Puno and Cusco. Don't get it done at the hotels though, just walk intot he street and find a place for less than half the price.
Money, money, money.... aside from taxis in Lima and one or two other places in Lima which like USD, everyone takes the local currency Nuevo Soles. Its easy to change USD into Soles in all major towns, and you get a good rate, but I would suggest ignoring the advice from Exodus and bring just a few USD to cover Lima and guide tipping, and bring everything else in Soles.
Lima is not the most exciting place on earth. Don't add an extra day on the end to look round.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It was brilliant!
Sandra Hickman
PERU EXPLORER
Written
The Peru adventure was a trip of a life time, to see a large portion of Peru, from the Pacific coast, the Andes, to the Amazon Basin, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Its hard to choose, the Peruvian people are diverse and wonderful, the scenery magnificent, the archeological
sites are a great tribute to a very advanced, complex society that existed many years ago, over a huge area.
The food was splendid, the accomodation good. The porters on the Inca Trail were amazing. The local guides
at the various locations were exellent.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene Calancha was am amazing guide! His vast experience, knowledge and ability to relate to people adde so much to our enjoyment of our Peruvian Experience. He knew how to handle any difficulties that came up. He was essential in gettig me through the Inca Trail after a difficult second day through the high pass.I will never forget him for that.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I would suggest a smaller amount of US$, take more Nuevo sols in the smallest denominations you can.
We found it easy to use Interac to get cash in sols, which were more happily received. Most of the hotels had
internet acess.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would do this trip again in a heartbeat, but I would insist on Rene Calancha as my guide.He was superb,
a great asset to Exodus in Peru. Don't lose him!
Colin Owen
PERU EXPLORER
Written
If you want a relaxing holiday, carefree and pampered, choose something else. Peru Explorer is more of a travel experience and you will need the resilience for some 05.00 starts and long days, climates to challenge your packing, mostly middle of the road, sometimes quirky, hotels, three nights wild camping, and probably a bout of being unwell at some point, as everyone in my group was. What you'll get is the most comprehensive tour of the southern half of this splendid country, all its highlights, an Andean trek, astonishment at the sophistication of the Incas, three starkly different climate zones and, demanding its own mention, the simply world class attraction of Machu Picchu. Yes, it really is as staggering as you're imagining, not over-hyped, and up there with Angkor, Bagan and the Taj.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Mountains are a particular draw for me so I deliberately chose the Moonstone Trek for its views of the lovely glacial cone of Ampata. There's a point on day three where you trek up to the remains of a small Inca temple which stands on a lofty promontory. And there, towering above you as you crest the ridge, is Ampata. Any of you who've scrambled round a rock, pulled open your tent flap, or seen the clouds part to give you that first glimpse of a fine mountain will know the feeling.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rene - he was good and I would recommend him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
1. Think carefully about what you want from this trip. It should include a definite liking for the trek element, a wish to see as much as possible of Peru and a preparedness to tough through bits to achieve. If, though, what you really want is Machu Picchu plus maybe a bit of something else, choose one of Exodus' other itineraries in Peru. If you don't want to trek, weigh up picking a non-trek tour as opposed to choosing Peru Explorer and passing the trek days in Cuzco - you will find yourself in Cuzco for most of a week. Interesting city though it is that's a long time and our Cuzco hotel was nowhere near comfortable or well appointed enough to sustain this.
2. Talk to your travel clinic doctor about acetazolamide (Diamox), specifically to take advice about the option of starting this medication in Arequipa to possibly help with acclimatising to what is to come - a road ascent in part of a day of about 8,000ft from Arequipa over the high pass en route to Chivay. To my knowledge, none of us did this and all of us developed altitude symptoms to differing degrees coming on either at the pass itself or by bedtime in Chivay. I'm a GP, had some acetazolamide left over from last year's Exodus climb of Mts Meru and Kilimanjaro, started taking it in Chivay and didn't look back. Purely personally, starting this pre-emptively in Arequipa rather than Chivay is the one thing I would have done differently.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't think you're too old or won't manage it. If you like the sound of this tour, book it. You need to be able to carry your own bags when necessary, get in and out of boats, manage steps, be more of a traveller than a tourist and, if you are trekking, walk three and a bit days consecutively and sleep in a tent.
The Moonstone Trek is perfectly manageable. I and my two new companions I met on the trek are regular weekend walkers in the UK and we found the walking easy to moderate by our Lakes/Peak District/Snowdonia standards. There's nothing tricky or vertiginous and no scrambling. It's just the altitude of 15,000ft! But by then we were well acclimatised and accomplished it quite easily.
If I'd known then what I know now, would I do it all again? Like a shot.
This was one of the best holidays I have enjoyed. The leader, Rene Calancha, was brilliant, the variety of sights and experiences marvellous, the company great. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Too many to choose one: all the many archaeological sites we visited (Machu Picchu just one!); the museums, notably the Museo de Arte Precolumbino in Cusco; the trip to the Islas Ballestas, and the many birds and herds of camelids we stopped to look at on the plains - and the sea otter I spotted frolicking in the Pacific, and the six foot long tree boa our guide caught in the rainforest.... And the Moonstone Trek, on my own, with Jesus (the guide), the excellent cook (that Andean barbecue!), two horse men, four horses, and a foal... and the night sky in the Andes. Too much.
What did you think of your group leader?
The immaculate Rene! What a star. Just so kind and thoughtful on top of being so organised and knowledgeable (thanks for all the birdwatching Rene!) We all miss him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Not necessary to bring dollars really - cash machines were available in the main towns and I found out (too late) that you can order Peruvian currency here in UK! (Exchanging dollars at Lima airport not recommended - poor rate).
Take your own sleeping bag and liner but don't bother bringing your Exodus kitbag as the ones supplied free to others for trek seemed ok.
The Moonstone Trek is well worth doing, if you are fit, not necessarily 'more challenging' than Inca Trail (bit more altitude but no steps!) with interesting alternative sites (one with mummy included!) It also included more time to explore Ollantaytambo, which was worthwhile.
Read Cloud Road, by John Harrison.
Do explore Cusco well - the Museo de Arte Precolumbino is the most beautiful of archaeological museums and should be high on your list.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do it. This is a superb introduction to the country and even the longest road journeys were absolutely fascinating. As I suspected Machu Picchu turned out to be just one of many astonishing sights in a country with an amazing variety of archaeological remains, of scenery, of wildlife -and of people and languages (oh, and of hats!)
Peru is a very varied and fascinating country, and this trip really packed as much as possible into the 3 weeks. We were lucky to be part of a small and friendly group - just 7 of us, and our group leader - and we had a lot of fun, while at the same time learning so much about Peru.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For anyone who walks it, the Inca Trail is sure to be a highlight of the trip. Our little group made good progress on the trail, so one afternoon we had time to visit an Inca site that was discovered only 5 years ago. It was most inspirational to see the ruined buildings and terraces still largely covered by forest, and without any restoration.
What did you think of your group leader?
Juan was brilliant! He looked after our group very well, and was very good at explaining the history and background to all the places we visited. He has a keen interest in wildlife, being particularly knowledgeable about birds. He took many excellent photos during the trip, which he kindly shared with us at the end.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It is not necessary to have any US dollars. I had no problems using my UK-issued debit card in cash machines, eg. those operated by Scotiabank, to withdraw Peruvian Soles as required.
Use laundry facilities when available during the trip, preferably where the charge is according to total weight, rather than per item. This will help to reduce the amount of clothing you need to take.
Have plenty of layers of clothing available. There can be a big difference between day and night temperatures in the mountains.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The itinerary allows sufficient time to acclimatise to altitude - quite important for full enjoyment of the trip, getting prepared for the trail, etc.
from 29 reviews.
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