Black water lake, Ecuador (Amazon)A very rude 3:15 am wake-up call prepares us for a 3:45 pick-up for our flight to Lima. Nick actually had a decent sleep but Jake is like a cranky teenager. There are other passengers in our minivan today (same tour company) who have just returned from Peru and are raving about their experience. This lightens our spirits considerably as we get more excited for this final leg of our journey! We leave Quito about 45 minutes delayed due to foggy weather (not uncommon for Quito) and therefore arrive late into Lima and end up running for our connecting flight to Cusco (had to claim baggage, pass customs, recheck bags etc!) As we approach Cusco from the air, you get a sense of the altitude change as the ground extends up to meet the plane instead of the other way around!! Cusco is at 11,000 feet and nestled between the Andes peaks. We are greeted at the airport to a swarm of tour operators, vendors and big bowls of coca leaves for altitude sikness. I have been very worried about how we would react to the altitude as I've heard from some people that it can hit as soon as the plane doors open. Luckily, we are feeling fine apart from being a little breathless. We are met at the airport by our new guide Azul who is friendly and enthusiastic. He is born and raised in the area and I find my initial fears regarding Peru put to rest (Note: while in Costa Rica, we received a travel notice warning of non-essential travel to Peru issued by the US embassy. The warning was since dropped and therefore we decided to proceed with our plans). Ayul takes us to our hotel and then takes us for an orientation walk around the city centre. Like all colonial (Spanish) towns that we have visited, the city centre is built around a large public park/plaza with a large cathedral at one end and a mix of restaurants, cafes and shops surrounding the perimeter. The plaza is charming and the overall setting is further enhanced by the mountain vistas in every direction. Ayul tells us that it is best to have a light dinner to minimize the affects of the high altitude so we have an early dinner and head back to our hotel to catch up on some sleep!
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
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
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
