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This was a trip that made you feel you had experienced Peru not just had a holiday, this was due to the variety of the places visited and the excellent guides. The trip was non stop and you need to be prepared for the fact that you have early starts and a lot of travelling and not a lot of down time but how else could you see so much in three weeks? I would do it again tomorrow.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Machu Picchu obviously is what most people and myself went to Peru for and it did not disappoint, the achievement you feel when you trek, reach the Sun Gate and look down towards Machu Picchu cannot be described but also the Peruvian people who made us feel so welcome and their smiles were contagious, it is such a colourful country beautiful.
What did you think of your group leader?
Wilbert looked after us all and made sure that we were getting what we expected from the trip and more, he shared his wealth of knowledge, his love for his country, people and beliefs and he was very careing and considerate. We all felt so sad to say goodbye to "Papa Wilbert" as we called him and he will forever be thought of with affection by us all I am sure.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travellers Cheques are difficult to change and I would not take them if I return, also when you change US dollars to Sol ask for small notes at the bank as these are needed and large notes cannot always be changed outside of the cities. We flew from Heathrow to Madrid so to have a few Euros to get a drink or snack if needed is a good idea. Toilet roll is a must as not all toilets have paper and plenty of wet wipes or hand sanitiser. Make plenty of notes on the little things the guides tell you about or things you do, you can read up on other things in the guide book but as you see and hear so much you may forget things, notes can be read when you get home and relax to help you remember the little things that made the trip extra special.
An extra day in Lima at the end would have been a good option as we travelled straight from the rainforest which meant you had an extra flight and travelling time on an already long journey also a nice hot shower before travelling would have been good.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy every moment and don't waste a minute, you can rest when you get home!
Sybil Johnson
PERU EXPLORER
Written
This 3 week trip is sensational from start to finish especially if Wilbert Ramos is your guide. Desert, the Andes and Inca Trail, Lake Titicaca and Amazon rainforest, the Peruvian people, many ecosystems in which the flora and fauna vary considerably, tremendous food even on trek...what's not to love....including the fabulous group of people who were Wilbert's "family" as we travelled.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It's virtually impossible to select one particular moment - there are so many...Lake Titicaca's Uros Islands and people who welcomed us into their homes with open arms; Islas Ballestas for the birdlife; the changing scenery from the coast and desert up into the Andes and then into the Amazon basin; learning the difference between vicuna, alpaca, llama and guanaco; Cusco; the beautiful knitwear and jewellery - I defy anyone to resist temptation!, and the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. All the Inca sites we visited were fascinating, and our guide was able to tell us so much about this period in Peru's history. For me all of these are the defining moments but especially the Inca Trail - reaching the top of Dead Woman's Pass, walking through the most beautiful forests on both the Pacific and Amazon watersheds, almost running up that last flight of Inca Steps to the Sun Temple and seeing Machu Picchu and Huanya Picchu below.
What did you think of your group leader?
Wilbert Ramos is an experienced, mature guide to whom you warm instantly. He clearly loves his country and is passioante about what he does, wanting so much for you to enjoy every possible experience/aspect of your trip. There aren't enough superlatives to describe Wilbert - he's an equal first in quality of guide I've met in many years of travelling. He's caring of his clients and staff driving buses, other guides, staff in hotels and when trekking, knowledgable, goes to extremes to help, nothing is too much trouble and he's tremendous fun to be with. Marks out of 10? 20 at least.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you want to travel in the southern half of Peru then this trip is a superb way in which to see the diversity of the country, meet the people, try out different areas food and to trek - but you don't have to trek, you can spend more time in Cusco. If you want to trek the Inca Trail AND visit the other areas included in this trip then you do need to book early so Exodus can get your permit. Go for it, it's worth every penny.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
What's left to say? I'd go again tomorrow but am currently packing for another trip!!
I'm already looking forward to my next trip to South America - whenever and wherever that will be.
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.
from 31 reviews.
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