The Inca Trail

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...

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  Sarah Bagnall

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written August 2012

  A well planned, interesting and enjoyable adventure. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  A great group of people - age ranged from 16 to 61 - our Guide Disnarda encouraged a team atmosphere to make a great holiday wonderful.

  Getting up Dead Woman's Pass! Up to 4215m, Disnarda paced us so we all got up there together - a real moment of achievement for us all. The third day of the trek is the most scenic - fantastic views.

  Sleeping above the clouds and watching the sun rise over the mountains has to my moment where I really thought WOW!!!

  Maccu Picchu is amazing and walk there puts it into perspective.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Disnarda Aragon - she is amazing. She is thoughful, humorous, kind and regularly reminds you to wash your hands so you stay healthy! She is very knowledgeable about the history, geography, flora and fauna. She is very well organised and is excellent at making sure everyone's needs are met (usually before you have even thought you might want something). She made us all feel very welcome, cared for and safe.

  I was really impressed with her skills and humanity. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Choose Exodus. This is the first trip I have done with them and I was really impressed. The details are amazing - getting woken up with a cup of tea and a bowl of hot water to wash in when you are above the clouds; great food, prepared on a gas ring - made me feel very inadequate but then cooking has never been my thing! 

  Take lots of layers - it is hot during the day (dry season) but can get down to -3 at night. I slept in 5 layers and a sleeping bag!

  Drink a lot of water - Disnarda reminds you of this all the time - and just pace yourself. The walk is tough in places but if you take it slowly and rest regularly (to enjoy the view) it is achieveable by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. The downhill bits can be hard on your knees. Poles are useful if you are used to them. 

  Take a second camera - I took sooooooo many photos my battery ran out on day 3 of the Trail, luckily I had a spare one with normal batteries. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I loved this holiday / adventure. Exodus are well organised, nothing is too much for their staff and your fellow travellers tend to be just the sort of people you want to hang out with!

  Highly recommended - I have started looking at where I can go next (maybe even with kids on one of the family trips) once I have saved up!

   
• 

  Stephen Tucker

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written August 2012

  What a great trip. The scenery was really spectacular, the people so friendly, and as for Machu Piccu itself: breathtaking. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  That first glimpse of Macchu Piccu as we passed through the sun gate is something I'll never forget. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  What a lovely lady. So helpful & she really went out of her way to make this a trip of a lifetime for all of us.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't forget that spare battery for you camera - you'll likely need it!!!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  To quote the ad: just do it!!!

   
• 

  karen britten

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written August 2012

  Everything I had ever dreamed of and more 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Seeing Machu Picchu itself, after a long and hard treak the group arrived at a ridge overlooking the ruins of Machu Picho.  One look and I got so emotional I started to cry, it was amazing and well worth hiking all that way to view.  The next day as you walk round this amazing city and learn about its history the feeling cannot be described in words.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Juan our group leader was excellent.  His knowledge was of the Incas and Peru was amazing.  He quickly made us all feel as ease.  There is no way I would have been able to complete the trip without his help and encouragement.  I had to take at it a very slow pace but Juan gave me the confidence to keep going.  He had a great sense of humour and it just felt as if he was part of the group.  I do not think the holiday would have been quite so memoriable without him as the leader of our group he made everyone feel welcome and as a result I feel we all bonded very well and had many laughs. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Try and get as fit as possible, apart from the altitude and high accents and decents you are often climbing up and down rough trails over large rocks.  There are no flat bit in Cuzco or on the trail so the fitter you are the better.  On saying that as long as you have good stamina you will manage.  Bring trousers that are easily washed out and will dry quickly.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This trip was a dream of mine for such a long time and I never thought it would come true, however my daughters surprised me with it as a gift for my 50th birthday.  I was pretty nervous as I had never travelled much let alone been on a group treking holiday.  On arriving in Cuzco itself I was met by a member of the Exodus team and from then on they looked after me very well.  I was quite nervous about the trail and was definately the slowest out of all the group.  Our group leader Jaun was excellent and after the first day told me to take my time which I did and I had a brilliant time.  Our group bonded together really well and we had such a laugh.  Each time I turned the corner and saw yet another hill I would let out a cry in my Scottish accent 'Oh feck not another hill' and this soon became a group joke.  Some advice when a guide tells you that you only have ten more min to arrive at camp or its just around the corner, do not believe them as  time and distance in Peru are different from everywhere else!!!  This also became a joke between our group as when anyone asked how longer we had to go they would be told ten mins or just around the corner to which they would ask is it a Peruivan corner or a normal one!  At the dinner table at night this became a standing joke.  This indeed for me was a holiday of a lifetime and a memory I will never forget.  I would highly recommend Exodus to anyone thinking of travelling as the trip was very well organised.  To the group leader and all my fellow trekers I thank them for making this an enjoyable, humourous and happy experience I will treasure for the rest of my days.

   
• 

  abigail anderson

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written July 2012

  Everything it says on the tin......and then some! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Reaching Sun Gate and looking down on the prize of the trip....the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  First class - friendly, knowledgable, funny, motivational.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Good camera.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Just do it!

   
• 

  Chris Bayley

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written July 2012

  Quite simply a fantastic trip - itinerary was well balanced, guides first class, facilities on the trek superb. The atmosphere on the trip was one of enjoyment balanced with challenge and achievement - great insight and explanations from the guides to complement the amazing surroundings. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walking through the sun gate to get the first sighting of Machu Picchu was truly inspirational. A real sense of achievement after a thoroughly enjoyable 4 day trek which was topped with the awe and wonder of seeing Machu Picchu.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Juan was top drawer - knowledge, personality, enthusiasm and flexibility was superb. Really helped the whole tour gel together with witty and informative interaction.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for day 2 as it's the toughest part of the trek but take it steady and most people should be fine. Remember you're on holiday and only 'race' up the mountain if you want to!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Thoroughly recommend Exodus as this experience was tremendous.

   
• 

  Gary Houghton

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written June 2012

  What a sensational holiday! I knew it would be amasing, but the scenery was inspirational. What a fantastic holiday and what a great group of people I experienced it with. This is a great holiday which I'd recommend to anyone who's hesitating booking this once in a lifetime trip. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Them most inspirational moment of the trip was watching the sun rise on one early morning above and watching the early morning mist drift past the mountain range- it's so easy to see how the Inca's viewed the area with such spirituality and reverence. The ruins of outposts along the Inca trail were so charged with emotion and charm.

  We were also lucky enough to see a wild deer near to a small lake on the trail, that was at points only about twenty feet away.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  I don't think we could have had a better tour leader than Charlos. He was so incredibly knowledgable and he and Wilson were so patient when it came to waiting for me to take the hundreds of photographs which I took (over a thousand!). The English spoken by Charlos was exceptional, and I think the best I've heard from any guide. He was articulate in explaining the many sights of Peru, it's culture and beliefs.

  Exodus sends its guides and chefs to college and courses to help them create a wonderful experience for the holiday maker. This shows in the fantastic quality of food which was served up on the hiking part of the trip. They prepared three meals a day for the group, which was amasing and certainly helped fuel us for the journey.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Walking poles are a must, and the best time to travel is May/ June, as there are no mosquitos, and the temperatures are lower- a great point considering you'll be excerting so much energy hiking the many steps of the trail. And the gentle breeze we encountered throughout the walk made the hike comfortable and a really beautiful feeling when you reached the top of a long climb. A head torch is also a must, as navigating around the camp at night can be challenging.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Exodus have arranged a great holiday here, which felt far longer than it was as we went to so many places, saw so many sights, and managed to pack so much in.

  I would say, that everyone on the trip did agree that the walk was more difficult then the moderate label that Exodus gave to the trip. But don't let that put anyone off. It's the challege of walking the trail which makes the sight of Machu Picchu that much more rewarding, and the journey is certainly worth the walk. In fact it was difficult to keep up with the others in the group as there were just so many great scenes to try to capture and do justice to.

  The hotel we stayed in was clean, comfortable, the breakfast was basic but good, and the hotel had an authentic feel to it, which made the stay all the better. All the snacks and bars that we were given along the trail helped us so much.

   I think Exodus have organised and executed a great holiday that has so much varity and interest- a totally recommended experience.

   
• 

  steve johnson

  THE INCA TRAIL

  

  Written May 2012

  Great trip, though dead woman's pass is a testing day. Superb guide in Carlos who was very cool and also very informed about the whole history of the trail and the Incas. The sights are stunning as are the mountain views and Machu Pichu lives up to its reputation. Benny the cook did a great job with the food. Exodus let itself down with the hotel in Cuzco: do not let them put you in the Andean South Inn" awful hotel and awful area: we checked out and stayed elsewhere 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The third day with simply stunning views of the Andes and the day in Machu Pichu; rates with Kili and Everest as a sight to see.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Carlos was the best of the group leaders I have had on exodus tours. He was polite, erudite with a nice dry sense of humour. He made the trip and we missed him on the rainforest and lake titicacca extensions

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  don't let exodus put you in the Andean South Inn in Cuzco: they have had previous reports that its not good, not in a nice area and has no warm water. It was the worst hotel I've stayed in with Exodus by some margin

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  its a great trip to do. We did the rainforest and lake titicacca extensions. They are Ok, little wildlife to see in the rainforest and the lake is very touristy; though the trip to the funeral towers was stunning

  Exodus Response

  Hi Steve,

  Thanks for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip but I have asked our local partner to provide feedback from our tour leaders on recent trips which have stayed at the Andean South Inn, as this is a property we have used for several years and it usually gets good reports for both the services and the location. We have had reports about the water supply in the past, but this turned out to be related to a city-wide shortage rather than a specific problem with this hotel. 

  The hotel is in the San Blas district, which has many hotels and is certainly not a a bad area - I have stayed on the same street as the Andean South Inn several times over the past few years and have always felt safe, despite the fact that streets are narrow and not always brightly lit at night. Safety for our clients is of paramount importance, and our tour leaders always recommend that you take one of the city's many inexpensive taxis in Cuzco after dark wherever possible, as petty crime is not unknown - this is true of Cuzco in general, and is not specific advice for San Blas.

  Thanks,

  Tim (Peru trip manager)

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   

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