Ashley and I awake at 6:45 AM for our flight to Cusco. I can't believe how packed the Lima airport is. Good thing we got there early! Fortunately, LAN Airlines impresses once again, and we move through the line quickly and efficiently. After checking in and going through security, we pay the domestic flight tax (20 soles) and move on to the gate. We arrive in Cusco and are picked up by a driver who is holding a sign with our names on it. We takes us to the Taypikala Hotel, which is about a 5-10 minutes walk from the Plaza Del Armas. It's off the main street and quieter than other hotels on the main drag. I'm surprised by how dry and deforested the country is. There really aren't any trees at all. We covered some pretty serious distance on the flight and the entire countryside between Lima and Cusco is denuded of trees, whether from aridity or human influence, I never found out. We met the rest of our group for the walking tour of the city and headed out to Sacsayhuaman, a walled complex outside of Cusco. We spent the afternoon exploring various ruin complexes with our guide and group. I wish we had had more time in Cusco. I think I could have spent a week there. After our tour, we freshened up and went out to dinner with Vidal, our guide. He took us to A Mi Manera, an intimate reservation-only restaurant downtown. The ambiance was perfect. I was glad we had another night in Cusco at the end of our trip, so that we could eat here again! Viva Cusco!
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.