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Peru Tours - Testimonials



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Manco Multisport

Melissa Sachs-Kohen (Manco Multisport, Jul 2009)
We particularly liked the hotel in Ollyantatambo for its dedication to being green.

Gabriel, from Sandoval Lake, was excellent. He was so knowledgeable about the wildlife and plantlife in the jungle. Vidal was a fantastic tourguide. His English was great, he knew so much about history, culture, politics, anthropology, etc. He made every stop a wonderfully engaging learning experience. Everyone was so helpful and pleasant, even when they had to carry our big packs from Hydroelectica to Aguas Calientas due to the trainworkers' strike. Our cook Victor was terrific. He was very accommodating to the vegetarians in our group too.

Our adventure tour was full of adventures - some of them were not even planned. The strike forced us to walk the train tracks from Hydroelectrica to Aguas Calientas - in the dark. Luckily we knew no train would come. Although we were already exhausted from having climbed Yacta Pata that same day, it was something we will always remember, complain about and ultimately laugh about too. Every worker with whom we came in contact was friendly and helpful. We learned a bit of Spanish, tasted some new and delicious foods and had the experience of a lifetime. Thank you.

Jonathan Wilson (Manco Multisport, Jul 2008)
I can't imagine doing the first part of the trip with anyone besides our guide, Boris Bennett. He was excellent.

I try not to go into these things with a lot of defined expectations, but the trip certainly exceeded any I may have set. Really enjoyed the adventure and was very surprised at the level of physical activity. That was our only concern going in, that it might be too easy, but that certainly was not the case and that was half the fun. The views are always a little better after a hard climb to the top (or bottom in the case of the mountain biking).

Overall everything was great. Especially liked the flexibility of our trip. We were able to change things as we went along that allowed us to fit in, or omit, portions of the trip on the fly. In the Colca Canyon, we were able to fit in an impromptu mountain bike trip from Patapampa to Chivay on trails that were extremely fun and challenging. Our guide helped us set all of it up.

Molly Delamarter (Manco Multisport, May 2008)
We felt very supported as we planned for this trip.

I was very impressed with the accommodations, even the tents, believe it or not, seemed very clean (and bug proof) and it was nice to feel as though things were well planned. Each of the places we stayed were very welcoming and prepared for us.

Our guide Juan Barrios went above and beyond. Starting off by telling us that he was, "our guide, our bodyguard, and our friend" made him instantly likeable, and then his experience made this trip look effortless from our standpoint.

The food was exceptional. The cooks were VERY professional, and we were continually surprised at the variety and wonderful flavors that they provided.

I have never traveled with a tour company before, and the things that surprised me the most were all of the special extras that we could not have anticipated. A short tour here or there that lent insight to the bigger picture as we approached Machu Picchu, the guide's personal thoughts and experiences having lived in the midst of an evolving story of the past, and the feeling of camaraderie as you experience the challenges of this type of high-altitude adventure with your fellow tour-mates. We had an absolute blast!

Molly Delamarter (Manco Multisport, May 2008)
We felt very supported as we planned for this trip.

I was very impressed with the accommodations, even the tents, believe it or not, seemed very clean (and bug proof) and it was nice to feel as though things were well planned. Each of the places we stayed were very welcoming and prepared for us.

Our guide Juan Barrios went above and beyond. Starting off by telling us that he was, "our guide, our bodyguard, and our friend" made him instantly likeable, and then his experience made this trip look effortless from our standpoint.

The food was exceptional. The cooks were VERY professional, and we were continually surprised at the variety and wonderful flavors that they provided.

I have never traveled with a tour company before, and the things that surprised me the most were all of the special extras that we could not have anticipated. A short tour here or there that lent insight to the bigger picture as we approached Machu Picchu, the guide's personal thoughts and experiences having lived in the midst of an evolving story of the past, and the feeling of camaraderie as you experience the challenges of this type of high-altitude adventure with your fellow tour-mates. We had an absolute blast!

Machu Picchu by Train Tour

Trudy Jones (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Guantanamera, Feb 2009)
Our guide, Santiago, in Cusco/Machu Picchu was incredible. Essentially with us 24/7 for part of the trip. It felt like a visit with a very knowledgeable family member.

Lodging and meals were great. Lodging seemed to be in areas that we could a walk-about. I was wondering tho for such a short stay in Lima, if we would have enjoyed staying in old town.

Any concerns that i had were responded to promptly. I felt treated as an individual and not as just one of many tentative travelers.

I am planning a trip to Tanzania and was very disappointed not to see anything on your web site. I would always check Adventure Life first for any future trips!

April Marlow (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Beagle, May 2009)
We loved them all! Sanctuary Lodge was great, mainly because of the location, but also the service and food was outstanding. But we also loved Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo. What a magical place! Beautiful grounds with 3 resident llamas and view of the Inca fortress. And the Mansion Del Angel in Quito is like a Victorian dollhouse! So cute, with roses and roses petals all over. The Beagle is a beautiful ship. We did not see another ship that we would have rather been on. And with only 12 passengers, it was just perfect. We would not have liked to be herded around like the bigger boats.

You were great. When our flight was delayed leaving Cuzco and we missed our flight to Quito, we ended up with 6 hours in Lima. I called your rep and she sent a van for us so we could explore Lima instead of sitting at the airport. Likewise, when we caught an earlier flight from the Galapagos, and ended up in Quito 3 hours early, I called your rep in Quito and she was there in 15 mins with a ride to our hotel, and information on what to do and where to eat. We were all very impressed with their helpfulness, friendliness and professionalism.

We were totally impressed with Marco Palomino. His knowledge is incredible and we learned a lot from him. But also his manner and style was what made the trip. We could not have had a better guide, period. On the Beagle, our naturalist ... Read All

James Storey (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Coral I, Sep 2008)
Our guide in Peru,Teddy Romero, was excellent - a real wealth of historical, archaeological, and naturalist knowledge. The naturalists in the Galapagos were very good too.

The total experience in the Galapagos was fabulous. The boat was very comfortable and the crew was very nice and accommodating. We had day after day of jaw dropping sights and otherworldly vistas. The naturalists were very good and made sure that we saw all the various animals and learned about their habits. There was a good mix of hikes, beach walks and snorkeling. Each island had its own unique wow factor. A real photgrapher's paradise. I was very happy with the way we saw the Inca lands. Some people took the train right from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, but by taking the car trip through the sacred valley, we say far more and got a much better appreciation of how extensive the civilization was. We spent the night in Ollantaytambo and even got to hang out in the town square for the Friday night festival. My compliments to whoever arranged for us to get the two front seats in the train to Machu Picchu - with full plate glass window view!

Honora Bauman (Islands and Incas + Incas and Rainforest + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Apr 2009)
I've been fortunate to travel more than most people so I think it's getting harder and harder to impress me. This trip certainly did the job! As much as you hear about the Galapagos, you have to experience it first hand to understand how special it is. As someone with an interest in nature photography I know I'll never find another place where it's so easy to get amazing wildlife photos. Peru was equally impressive in so many ways. Of course the ruins were amazing and the Colonial cities also. But the people were also wonderful and we loved their crafts, music and food. I'm sure we gave quite a boast to the local economy with our shopping. Our only regret was that we couldn't bring back one of the baby alpacas. But we settled for lots of photos instead.

We worked with Mary, Reilly and Marissa and they were all great about answering our questions and providing some advice.

I can't say enough about the guides. Ivan and Orlando, our guides from the Flamingo were really knowledgeable and so much fun. Teddy was equally knowledgeable and we shared a similar sense of humour. We had a great time with him.

We were particularly happy with the entire crew of the Flamingo. It was obvious that they worked long and hard each day but they were always really warm and enthusiastic. The impromptu concert during dinner one night was definitely a highlight. The staff ... Read All

Paul Lipscomb (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Journey II, Dec 2008)
Responded promptly to all calls/emails. materials provided were clear and turned out mostly to be very accurate.

Most the hotels were very exceptional, comfortable, and great rooms. Cusco/Ollantaytambo and Aquas Calientes were just wonderful. Noisy (neighbors playing music all night) in Quito but place itself was superb. Most of us arrived in Lima for very short time before going to Cusco. Hotel long way from airport...probably closer would be better. Cormorant II was a kick and more than adequate. Good staff on board.

Very good food on boat. Cook was great and served well rounded meals. When we ate out with Peru guide's support/advice, it was great.

Marco Palamino in Peru: over-the-top excellent guide who gave top-notch tour guide info/support and also helped in many practical matters (getting left behind stuff back to us...helping with altitude sick members). Smart...passionate about subject, deeply/personally connected to the places/topic.

In addition: Adventure Life provided clear, timely and consistently excellent service from the first contact through the entire trip. Even to this request for feedback. The accommodations/hotels were really exceptional, and in case of Peru, the guide really more than I had even hoped for. Logistics were never a problem once we 'arrived' and before our final 'departure' from the trip. It made the experience ... Read All

Scot McClellan (Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Jul 2009)
The tour was among the best experiences I have had when travelling. It was active, cultural, and eye-opening. Beyond being enjoyable, the trip touched the soul of both my wife and myself.

The agents at Adventure Life worked with us as we customized our itinerary to meet our wishes. Adventure Life was supportive throughout the process.

Every lodging we stayed at was excellent!

Our guide was Marco Palomino Tocre. Marco was an exceptional guide who was extremely enthusiastic throughout the trip. His passion and knowledge made the trip a truly exciting experience. We learned so much from him.

We ate primarily at lodges, hotels, and restaurants. We had great food throughout. In Cusco, Marco made recommendations that were excellent.

Susan Blake (Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Jul 2009)
I called and spoke to Renee several times with questions and concerns, she was very helpful each time. The literature provided prior to the trip was also very beneficial.

The basic hotels were all satisfactory, I always enjoy staying at small, locally-owned hotels when I travel.

Santiago was great, he not only gave us lots of information about the history of the Incas but also provided insight to the culture of the Peruvian people.

Really enjoyed the highlands - Machu Picchu was amazing, also had fun hiking through the countryside, exploring other Inca ruins, visiting the salt mines near Urubamba, and exploring Cusco and all the other villages that we saw. The Amazon rainforest was an incredible experience.

Alicia Fonseca (Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Mar 2009)
Considering that one week prior to our date for flying to Lima I had felt nothing but apprehension (at this time we were still with our previous travel agent who had NOTHING booked), from the moment I decided to abandon him and find another agency I felt more hopeful. As I started called different travel groups, and hearing nothing but limitations, I began to get worried again. But then after contacting Adventure Life, I felt so much better - the people were great - they didn't mind my many phone calls and requests, and worked to set everything up in the short time alotted. The trip itself, despite some bad weather the first two days, was fantastic once it actually started! The tour guides were great, everyone was really kind, the hotels were super-comfortable, the food was great...for such a rough start, the ending was phenomenal. My mom and I began discussing our next trip with Adventure Life before this one was even over! Thanks for everything!

The accommodations were very nice. My mother and I were surprised at the high quality and comfort in such a setting.

Our guide in Cusco/Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu was really nice. I would have liked that he gave a time frame at the start of each day, but this is a minor request. He was very patient and helpful with my Mom, who was a little unsteady and unsure in the ruins, which we really appreciated. He ... Read All

James Fein (Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Jan 2009)
Tour was great. Concerns (though no problems) about water, food, crime, bathrooms, etc made it an adventure, as this was our first real third world travel (Galapagos cruise was not really the same). The effect of the farmers strike almost made it too adventurous, but we are very happy we went and extremely happy with your people and their support.

The thing we learned is that a good guide may have great knowledge and insights, as Boris B did. However, when you really test a guide is when things start to go wrong, such as the strike cutting the train tracks and blocking the roads from MP. That is when Adv-life, and Boris in particular, really made a difference. Boris and the support network in Lima and Cuzco kept us calm and informed and made the whole trip a positive experience. You have to have full confidence in a travel company- guides, drivers and everybody. Everyone at Adv-life came through for us.

Drivers were great as was Rueban in Cuzco. As noted the trip back at night was tricky and your people really came through when needed.

Inkaterra in MP is well worth the upgrade. San Augustin hotels in Lima and Cuzco were OK, but not great. Room in Lima was tiny and there was no hot food at teh buffet when we had to depart at 7AM. Perhaps there are no good options. Sauce Hostal in Sacred Valley was very nice we had the best room in the place and it ... Read All

Gregory Spindler (Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Dec 2008)
The standard hotels were fine. The upgrade we did for the Machu Picchu hotel was amazing, well worth it, quite possibly the nicest hotel experience I've ever had.

It was a great trip. The local staff was fantastic, always on top of our travel difficulties and ready to help us out. So much to see in Peru, we'll certainly be going back to see more of the country in the future.

Machu Picchu Pilgrimage - Inca Trail

Robert Becker (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Jul 2009)
Reilly, Marissa, and Monika were all very responsive. I kept them busy with almost daily emails close to our departure.

Marco Palomino (lead and during Inca Trail), Pepe (rafting on Urubamba), and Veronica (Lima City Tour) were all excellent and knowledgeable.

The tour was a colorful blend of introspective Inca Culture, beautiful sights of the Andes Mountains and its snow-packed peaks, and 4 days of pushing one's body to its limits on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. A great experience that we would recommend to anyone who has a desire to visit Peru/South America- and the requisite level of physical fitness.

Stephanie Wilson (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Jun 2009)
The trip was wonderful. Our local guide was knowledgable, patient and humorous. He was great at managing our time, and adjusting our schedule based on the group's (3 people) abilities and desires. The trail was more difficult than I expected - the second day's hike to Dead Woman's Pass at 14,000 feet, kicked my butt, but completing the trail and entering Mach Picchu through the Sun Gate was undescribably worth it. This was the first organized tour we have taken and it was a great experience.

Durena Bridegroom (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Apr 2009)
Boris was awesome, so nice and patient. The porters and Miguel were great too. Everyone was very kind and helpful. And fun! We loved the hike and spending time with our porters and cook in camp as much as we did everything else. Such great people!

My daughter and I enjoyed this trip so much. We thought Peru was beautiful and we were so happy to see so many different ruins. We thought Machu Picchu was beautiful, but enjoyed the hike along the way as much. Our guide, porters, and cook, as well as the many people along the trail were just remarkable. Our group was small, but we became "like family" after just a few days. We also enjoyed talking to the children and people around Cusco. Thank you for a great trip. I will recommend your company to others and I will use you again if I have the opportunity to return to South America.

Barbara Schlaefer (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Mar 2009)
Loved all the accommodations, including the tent. I hope that you try to select locally-owned (Peruvian in this case) hotel/hostal owners when possible.

The food selection was obviously modified to meet our needs/requests for less meat and more grains. We were grateful for that. The food was tasty and healthy and plentiful.

I was traveling with my 15-year-old daughter. We were a trek of two, with a "staff" of five porters a cook and a guide. Maybe we were a bit over-staffed? On the other hand, the logistics and activities and service was magnificent throughout the trip. We had hoped to meet a few other travelers along the way, but that ended up being challenging because each of the other groups was self-contained and kept to themselves.

Nathan Packard (Inca Pathways + Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Dec 2008)
Our tour guide for the Inca Trail (Teddy) was excellent. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and had a great sense of humor. Teddy is the best tour guide I have ever met.

We really enjoyed our trip to Peru and are thinking of taking another trip with Adventure Life.

Peter Plackowski (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Sep 2008)
With the pre-departure information, there was plenty of communication without overdoing it and spamming me. I got just what I needed when I needed it.

Our guide, Teddy Romero, is top notch, friendly, enthusiastic and skilled.

I see no reason to use any other travel company in the future. You have all my adventure business as long as you keep this kind of service up.

Burt Magen (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Sep 2008)
Teddy Romero was a great guide and a good person. He was very knowledgeable. Throughout the trip he made adjustments to our itinerary based on our interests, the weather and other factors. I am also very interested in photography and Teddy was constantly pointing out goof photo ops.

The porters on the Inca trail were great. They worked hard, helped us and were very friendly. The cook was great. I was surprised how good the food was.

Adventure Life did a great job setting up our trip. It could not have gone any better. I have already started recommending it to my friends.

Steven Lew (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Sep 2008)
Reilly did a great job at keeping us up to date and in making adjustments to our trip. The support she provided helped to make the trip that much more enjoyable.

Our guide, Teddy Romero, was excellent. He was always friendly and as a group we all developed a good relationship with him.

The trip to Machu Picchu was difficult, but the trip was well worth the hike. Adventure Life did a great job in setting up the trip and with working with our group to make the arrangements. The flexibility and willingness to work with us as situations came up and in adjusting our accommodations helped to make this a great trip. As with all of my trips with Adventure Life they have always come through when issues came up to make the trip that much more enjoyable.

Evan Hughes (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Jul 2008)
Our guide, Ayule, was so passionate and informative and generous. We got along with all the others in our group so well. I definitely would recommend Adventure life to anyone considering this type of trip. This was a truly amazing trip, I think my best holiday/vacation I have ever been on. Physically challenging but so rewarding and getting engaged at Machu Picchu was pretty cool too.

Ena Seltzer (Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Oct 2007)
Alex was one of the best guides we have ever had. He is knowledgeable, friendly and a joy to be with. He was key to our enjoyment of everything we did in Peru, not just on the trail. We would want to be with him again if we returned.

We are very happy we chose the Inca Trail instead of the train to Machu Picchu. The feeling of accomplishment, the bonding with fellow trekkers, the 8 days of sharing with our guide Alex and the friendliness of our cook, porters and all the Peruvian people we met made this vacation a rare rewarding lasting memory.

Islands and Incas - Galapagos & Machu Picchu

Trudy Jones (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Guantanamera, Feb 2009)
Our guide, Santiago, in Cusco/Machu Picchu was incredible. Essentially with us 24/7 for part of the trip. It felt like a visit with a very knowledgeable family member.

Lodging and meals were great. Lodging seemed to be in areas that we could a walk-about. I was wondering tho for such a short stay in Lima, if we would have enjoyed staying in old town.

Any concerns that i had were responded to promptly. I felt treated as an individual and not as just one of many tentative travelers.

I am planning a trip to Tanzania and was very disappointed not to see anything on your web site. I would always check Adventure Life first for any future trips!

April Marlow (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Beagle, May 2009)
We loved them all! Sanctuary Lodge was great, mainly because of the location, but also the service and food was outstanding. But we also loved Pakaritampu in Ollantaytambo. What a magical place! Beautiful grounds with 3 resident llamas and view of the Inca fortress. And the Mansion Del Angel in Quito is like a Victorian dollhouse! So cute, with roses and roses petals all over. The Beagle is a beautiful ship. We did not see another ship that we would have rather been on. And with only 12 passengers, it was just perfect. We would not have liked to be herded around like the bigger boats.

You were great. When our flight was delayed leaving Cuzco and we missed our flight to Quito, we ended up with 6 hours in Lima. I called your rep and she sent a van for us so we could explore Lima instead of sitting at the airport. Likewise, when we caught an earlier flight from the Galapagos, and ended up in Quito 3 hours early, I called your rep in Quito and she was there in 15 mins with a ride to our hotel, and information on what to do and where to eat. We were all very impressed with their helpfulness, friendliness and professionalism.

We were totally impressed with Marco Palomino. His knowledge is incredible and we learned a lot from him. But also his manner and style was what made the trip. We could not have had a better guide, period. On the Beagle, our naturalist ... Read All

James Storey (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Coral I, Sep 2008)
Our guide in Peru,Teddy Romero, was excellent - a real wealth of historical, archaeological, and naturalist knowledge. The naturalists in the Galapagos were very good too.

The total experience in the Galapagos was fabulous. The boat was very comfortable and the crew was very nice and accommodating. We had day after day of jaw dropping sights and otherworldly vistas. The naturalists were very good and made sure that we saw all the various animals and learned about their habits. There was a good mix of hikes, beach walks and snorkeling. Each island had its own unique wow factor. A real photgrapher's paradise. I was very happy with the way we saw the Inca lands. Some people took the train right from Cusco to Machu Picchu and back, but by taking the car trip through the sacred valley, we say far more and got a much better appreciation of how extensive the civilization was. We spent the night in Ollantaytambo and even got to hang out in the town square for the Friday night festival. My compliments to whoever arranged for us to get the two front seats in the train to Machu Picchu - with full plate glass window view!

Robin Storey (Islands and Incas + Cruise on Coral II, Sep 2008)
Teddy, our guide in Peru, was terrific, and the naturalists in the Galapagos were knowledgeable and very friendly. Everyone else who helped us with our travels were wonderful.

Especially enjoyed the barbecue dinner. Food was plentiful - not gourmet but adequate. Snacks following our outings were appreciated!

Important to pack lightly; be prepared for tourista and consider how you'll deal with the altitude (we took Diamox which worked well so we had no problems). While in the Galapagos, you are very out of touch with no news, internet and little cell phone coverage. That can be very relaxing but good for people to know that in advance. Very disappointed with the international cell phone we bought to use on our trip. Make sure you have lots of memory cards for your digital cameras! Fellow travelers were great and it was fun to meet people from all over the world. For most of your time in the Galapagos, there are no stores so don't think you can pick up what you need in a shop.

Honora Bauman (Islands and Incas + Incas and Rainforest + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Eric, Letty & Flamingo, Apr 2009)
I've been fortunate to travel more than most people so I think it's getting harder and harder to impress me. This trip certainly did the job! As much as you hear about the Galapagos, you have to experience it first hand to understand how special it is. As someone with an interest in nature photography I know I'll never find another place where it's so easy to get amazing wildlife photos. Peru was equally impressive in so many ways. Of course the ruins were amazing and the Colonial cities also. But the people were also wonderful and we loved their crafts, music and food. I'm sure we gave quite a boast to the local economy with our shopping. Our only regret was that we couldn't bring back one of the baby alpacas. But we settled for lots of photos instead.

We worked with Mary, Reilly and Marissa and they were all great about answering our questions and providing some advice.

I can't say enough about the guides. Ivan and Orlando, our guides from the Flamingo were really knowledgeable and so much fun. Teddy was equally knowledgeable and we shared a similar sense of humour. We had a great time with him.

We were particularly happy with the entire crew of the Flamingo. It was obvious that they worked long and hard each day but they were always really warm and enthusiastic. The impromptu concert during dinner one night was definitely a highlight. The staff ... Read All

Michael Wood (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Millennium, Mar 2008)
The assistance with the Galapagos flight check-in in Quito (which is complex, confusing and poorly signed) was particularly invaluable. Two guides just dealt with it - one getting the passes and one dealing with the luggage while we just stood and boggled. Amazing service. We also arranged an on-the-fly unplanned city tour when we arrived in Quito. Your local office dealt with it instantly and the guide even called ahead and got a museum to stay open late for us - wow!

I can't praise all the guides enough. Always helpful, always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Their enthusiasm for their countries and their profession was infectious. These were people who enjoyed what they did and were proud to do a good job.

You seem to have a good and well deserved reputation locally. We had an absolutely fantastic time and would unreservedly recommend you to our friends.

Paul Lipscomb (Islands and Incas + Machu Picchu by Train Tour + Cruise on Journey II, Dec 2008)
Responded promptly to all calls/emails. materials provided were clear and turned out mostly to be very accurate.

Most the hotels were very exceptional, comfortable, and great rooms. Cusco/Ollantaytambo and Aquas Calientes were just wonderful. Noisy (neighbors playing music all night) in Quito but place itself was superb. Most of us arrived in Lima for very short time before going to Cusco. Hotel long way from airport...probably closer would be better. Cormorant II was a kick and more than adequate. Good staff on board.

Very good food on boat. Cook was great and served well rounded meals. When we ate out with Peru guide's support/advice, it was great.

Marco Palamino in Peru: over-the-top excellent guide who gave top-notch tour guide info/support and also helped in many practical matters (getting left behind stuff back to us...helping with altitude sick members). Smart...passionate about subject, deeply/personally connected to the places/topic.

In addition: Adventure Life provided clear, timely and consistently excellent service from the first contact through the entire trip. Even to this request for feedback. The accommodations/hotels were really exceptional, and in case of Peru, the guide really more than I had even hoped for. Logistics were never a problem once we 'arrived' and before our final 'departure' from the trip. It made the experience ... Read All

Suzanne Stroh (Island and Incas (Legend), Aug 2007)
I can't say enough good things about our experience in Peru. It is so culturally rich and colorful and such a physically beautiful country. Our time there was handled very smoothly. What really opened our eyes to Peru was our wonderful guide, Washington Gibaja. Actually, he was beyond wonderful! He is pleasant, knowledgeable, thoughtful, considerate, organized, flexible, sincere, and helpful. He has a lively sense of humor, shares his cultural heritage with proud enthusiasm and lives the principles of helping others every day. Washington shared many Inca traditions and stories, gave us both Quechua names, and generally put a human face on what it means to be the descendent of the Inca culture working to preserve the best of the traditional ways in these modern times. I can truly say that meeting him may prove to be life-changing as I think about the ways I might continue to be associated with the principles he shared with us! Visiting Peru with Washington as a guide made me feel that I would return in a heartbeat.

In the Galapagos portion of the tour, the food was excellent and has dining room service to match. The MV Galapagos Legend is the best-run cruise ship I have ever encountered. The ship itself is gleaming white, clean and polished, attractively and comfortably furnished. The transportation back and forth on the pangas is done with ... Read All

Kathie Keane and Grace Becton (Islands and Incas 13-Day, Dec 2006)
Our guides made our trip wonderful!

Casey Kaptur (Islands and Incas -- Beluga, Oct 2006)
The Adventure Life Incas and Islands trip was excellent. Every aspect was as good or better than we had hoped. The Adventure Life contacts were always where they needed to be, pick-ups were prompt, the hotels were very nice, and the tours excellent.

I can't say enough good things about Ayul Acuna. He was a superb guide, but perhaps even more importantly, just a wonderful man who obviously took great pride in his country and his culture. He made our tour of Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Macchu Pichu a tremendous success.

Thanks for a great trip!

Incas and Rainforest - Inca Trail & more!

Cathy Smith (Incas and Rainforest, Dec 2008)
both reuben in the amazon and teddy in cusco and the inca trail were wonderful. we loved teddy. he is friendly and so knowledgeable. an amazing person and man.

i loved peru. i loved cusco. i loved the inca trail and machu picchu. i loved the trip to chincera and the womens weaving cooperative. truly amazing and one of the many highlighs of the trip.

i felt so strong and alive and present. such a gift. i found myself teary a lot the beauty the majesty the ancientness. i felt truly blessed to be there with my 17yo son who also loved the experience. i loved the small group and the intimacy. i am so grateful for the experience. i am looking forward to planning another trip.

Panoramic Peru Tour

Harold and Karen Greig (Panoramic Peru 16 Day, Sep 2006)
Carlos and Marco did more than provide us with services and information. They guided us into the very heart of Peru, leaving an incredible stamp on our souls. This is something that we will never forget. The intimacy of the small group provided a setting for the formation of strong friendships between guides and the members of the group. It allowed Carlos and Marco the time to greatly enrich our tour experience. They were able to go beyond basic historical and cultural information and provide us with alternate theories and mystic philosophies about Incan and pre-Incan civilizations, as well as about life in Peru today. Adventure Life is to be commended for hiring guides that possess courage to speak out in this way. We have traveled extensively since our retirement in 1998, and this has been our best trip so far. We are especially grateful to our guides for being sensitive to our age, and not letting it limit our experience.

Wes Lui and Jodi McFadden (Adventure Pacifica, Jan 2005)
We just returned to Toronto from our trip to Costa Rica and wanted to express what an amazing time we had! Our tour guide Gerardo and our driver Marco were two of the most friendly most knowledgeable people we have ever met. Their incredible interest and passion for what they do, as well as their pride and excitement in sharing their beautiful country with us, made our trip one we will never forget. They were extremely accommodating to our needs and many times went out of their way to make our trip most enjoyable. Also they were quite professional in their conduct while at the same time became good friends that we were sad to leave behind. We would recommend both Gerardo and Marco as a great team to any visitor to Costa Rica and would definitely request to have them with us again for future trips.

On a side note, the trip itself was fantastic. However, we found that our last destination; La Cuisinga, as beautiful and secluded as it was, was a little too much of a change from such an adventurous trip up to that point. As much as we did enjoy the relaxation we would have like to stay longer in Manuel Antonio where we could have the option of enjoying more activities on the beach. We just found that there weren't as many activities at La Cuisinga as the itinerary lead us to believe. Perhaps one day at La Cuisinga instead of three would have been ... Read All

Brower Family (Machu Picchu by Train, Dec 2004)
We had a great time! There was an excellent combination of free/flexible time and formally guided activities. We especially enjoyed the extra day in Machu Picchu. The Adventure Life style suited us very well - a great mix of action, history, wildlife and fun.

Jane Zawacki (Machu Picchu by Train, Oct 2004)
Everything about this trip was great - I really can't thank of any comments other than keep us the great work. Thanks to all of you for answering my pre-trip questions.

Douglas Goldstein (Machu Picchu by Train, Jul 2004)
As an independent traveler my whole life I decided to try an organized group tour/trek for the first time. After my experience with Adventure Life and especially my guide, Wilbur Aparacio, I am hooked! My only 'concerns' on this trip was/were enjoyment - I never had to think about catching the last bus/train, having no place to sleep, getting lost, etc. Everything was taken care of for me by my guide, my cook, and my porters. I was in a small group. Myself and one other hiker. We all (our guide and porters) became a big family along the Inca Trail. We instinctively looked out for one another and bonded like we'd been on the Trail forever. As I sit back in my office in New York, I find myself re-visiting (in my mind) the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and my friends I made along the way and look forward to my next journey full of new adventures.

Chrisy Coughlin (Machu Picchu by Train, Jul 2004)
We were busy - what a whirlwind - and it was great! I felt I really made the right choice. Since I was only there a short time. I felt I got to see so many places (like Moray and the Salt Mines and horseback riding, etc) that I would not have been able to see on my own. Renny knew lots of local areas of interest and was flexible with the various fitness levels and interests within our group. Truly a great time - I hope to return!!

Craig and Stephanie Smith (Excerpts from a 3 page letter ... Panoramic Peru, Mar 2002)
Excellent. Surpassed all expectations. Tour leaders were incredible. We learned so much more than we ever expected to and came home with a great affinity for Peru and its people...We just wanted to let you know how impressed we were with both of our guides during the Panoramic Peru trip. First we had Carlos Lazo. He was fantastic. We formed a bond with him immediately. He was very helpful in so many ways. He helped us to improve our Spanish and gave us the confidence to speak with the locals. He encouraged us to try local cuisine such as ceviche, alpaca, and cuy, as well as our beloved lucma ice cream. He taught us how to play sapo...His knowledge as a tour leader is invaluable. He is a treasure...Amantani Island just blew us away. Valeria and Elias were fantastic hosts. They welcomed us into their home and made us feel so included in their daily lives. Valeria cooked us a fantastic meal and sitting in the kitchen with her was magical. At the dance, she wanted to make sure that we were having fun and wouldn't let us sit out any dances. Thank you so much for coordinating this trip. It has changed our lives.

Inca Pathways - Inca Trail & more

Paul Moroney (Inca Pathways, Aug 2009)
Marco Palomino Tocre was fabulous. I couldn't have hand picked a better guide. It was like having a close friend guide us around Peru.

I have dreamed about this trip for 10 years and, dispite those pent up expectations, the tour delivered more than I imagined. Very rewarding experience. Great diversity of experiences for a "packaged" tour. The family stay on Amantaní Island was a wonderful cultural experience and the island sunset rivals any Caribbean island. Last but not least, the small group sizes offered by Adventure Life made a huge difference. I saw other tours on the Inca Trail with 15 to 20 people and if we were in such a group, we would never know all the things we would have missed out on. The personal touch provided in a small group is priceless.

Nathan Packard (Inca Pathways + Machu Picchu Pilgrimage, Dec 2008)
Our tour guide for the Inca Trail (Teddy) was excellent. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and had a great sense of humor. Teddy is the best tour guide I have ever met.

We really enjoyed our trip to Peru and are thinking of taking another trip with Adventure Life.

Marilyn Bowden (Inca Pathways, Apr 2008)
Teddy Romero could not have been better! He was extremely friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, and was able to get us through some problems because of his contacts and experience.

The food was delicious. The chef on the trek even fixed our requests: avocados, popcorn, and fresh ground coffee!

The adventures were unexpected and awesome! The different cultures at Lake Titicaca were an educational experience we had not anticipated. We felt like we had gone back in time several hundred years to see how these amazing people live. And they were all very hospitible and fun-loving. The actual reason for booking this trip was to hike the Incan Trail, and that was also more fun than we expected. The physical challenge of the hike took a back seat to the beautiful vegetation and the incredible ruins along the trail. And Teddy never hurried us along - we could leisurely enjoy the discoveries along the way. We did not expect such great gourmet meals on the trail, either. The other amazing bonus to this trip was having Teddy Romero all to ourselves! The personalized service we received has spoiled us for any large group trips we might othewise have considered in the future!

John Strange (Inca Pathways, Oct 2007)
What an adventure! Our guide, Vidal, was just excellent. He was patient and very knowledgeable. By the end of the trip, we considered him a good friend. I wanted this trip to be a special experience for my son and I. It met and exceeded all of our expectations. I would definitely recommend Adventure Life to anyone who wants to see the local culture up close and personal.

Monica Marquez (Inca Pathways, Sep 2007)
The 14-day Inca Trail tour was truly outstanding, in large part because of our guide, Marco Palomino, about whom I cannot say enough good things. My partner and I have traveled to several places in the world on our own but had never done an organized tour, so we were a little concerned that it would feel constrained. Instead, we were delighted with our wonderful small group (6), and Marco was simply amazing with the breadth of his knowledge and his passion for his country and its culture and history. He was sensitive to each person's individual needs throughout the trip, and his enthusiasm and sense of humor was infectious. I was impressed with how much we saw and experienced, and even more amazed by how much we learned along the way.

Chuck & Ann Mathewson (Inca Pathways, Oct 2006)
Thank you. We had the adventure of a lifetime. Vidal was wonderful. He not only was our Papa, he took care of all the people with problems on the trail. There was a girl from Australia who sprained her knee. Vidal had a knee brace that he just gave her. There was another girl from Australia that spent the whole time with our group because she said she felt like she belonged with us.

The porters, led by Miguel, were the greatest. You really have put together quite a crew in Peru. The girl in Lima was on top of everything. She even called us in Cusco to make sure everything was OK. The directions she gave us in Lima were perfect.

Thank you all--the crew in Montana and the crew in Peru!

Elinor Petusky (Inca Pathways, May 2006)
Everything went off like clockwork and everyone took great care of us. Our guide was great - knowledgeable, caring, competent, enthusiastic and good company.

Puno, Cusco and the Inca Trail are like stepping back in time. Getting to know the people, the culture and the history was wonderful. To see the Sacred Valley of the Incas - a fertile farm area where everything is done by hand and the irrigation systems date back to the Incas - was quite amazing. The ruins are spectacular, but rubbing shoulders with people in the markets and in towns like Cusco, Puno and Aguas Calientes was the best part.

Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and carefree adventure for me and my friends. We will talk about it for years to come!

Elinor Petusky (Inca Pathways, May 2006)
Everything went off like clockwork and everyone took great care of us. Our guide was great - knowledgeable, caring, competent, enthusiastic and good company.

Thank you for organizing such a wonderful and carefree adventure for me and my friends. We will talk about it for years to come!

Cristine Jewett (Inca Pathways, Apr 2006)
I was extremely impressed! The Peruvian people are very proud of their country and made all of our tours and excursions interesting. The local crew was amazing! Our guide was great and made us feel at home and opened himself up to share his family and how they live their day-to-day lives.

Janie LaBree (Inca Pathways, Jan 2006)
I can't say enough about this experience. It was the hardest thing that I have ever done, but also one of the best trips I have ever taken. While it was a real test of my strength and endurance, it was also enlightening, fun, and a real bonding experience.

To those who feel adventuresome and reasonable fit - I highly recommend this trek. If I had unlimited time and money, and there weren't so many other places to go, I would repeat this trip in a heartbeat! Thank you Adventure Life for the experience of a lifetime. I feel very fortunate to have done this.

Cachiccata Trek - Alternative Inca Trail

William Ross (Cachiccata Trek, Jun 2009)
my tour in peru was the event of a lifetime. i will never forget the scenery, the people (locals, guides, porters, and cook), the culture and the history. my expectations were high and this trip blew them away.

marco was an amazing guide. really allowed us to experience the culture and learn the history.

food on the trek was delicious, can't believe i ate so well while camping.

Kimberly A. McMahon (Cachiccata Trek, Sep 2007)
The hotels were very nice but the hike and camping accommodations were the best of all!

Ayul our tour guide was AWESOME and made this trip the best I have ever been on! You have a great asset in Ayul and you should ensure he is happy and well taken care of as he is a great ambassador not only for Peru but also your company! I can't say enough about the service Ayul provided and his knowledge and passion for Peru! He was the differentiating factor in this trip being a really great for me vs. being the excellent trip that is turned out to be!

Mario, our cook on the hike, was the best. The food he prepared was better than most restaurant food! The porters were also amazing, we never wanted for anything and despite the language barrier with our cook and porters, we felt totally at home, welcome, and secure!

Adventure Life exceeded my expectations, you should consider starting excursions to Africa!! That is my next destination and you have set the bar so very high, I fear I will not find a tour company that will meet your level of service! Thanks for a memory that will last a life time.

David Charles and Carmen Scott (Cachiccata Trek, Jun 2007)
We could not ask for a better bunch of people. Mario, our cook, was terrific and prepared splendid meals. This tour was absolutely fantastic. Luis "Lobo" is so knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and always eager to please. We now have friends in Peru and felt sad to leave them. We will return for sure.

Manu Biosphere

Susan Marycz (Manu Biosphere + Machu Picchu by Train Tour, Sep 2008)
We had two guides - Boris Bonnett and Miguel (don't know last name - at Manu); I cannot say enough about Boris; as a native of Cusco, he was extremely knowledgeable about the city and all of the towns we visited in the area; his depth and breadth of knowledge were impressive; he was very patient as I asked many questions not only about the subject at hand, but about other aspects of the country; as our guide to Machu Picchu, he was exceptional; his interest in and respect for the Incas was obvious; he gave us recommendations for restaurants and every one we tried was excellent; he was generous with his time and knowledge; Boris is an excellent ambassador for Peru; we have been to many countries and traveled with many guides - he ranks at the top of our experiences. Miguel was also very knowledgeable and it was a joy to walk through the jungle with him; his ability to see and hear things that we initially could not was remarkable; he taught us much about jungle discoveries; he had a wonderful sense of humor, which kept us laughing.

The food varied depending on where we ate; for the most part, the food on the first part of our trip, with Boris as our guide, was quite good as he knew all the good places to go; the food in the Amazon was also good, surprising for being so remote.

I would recommend this trip to others, and already have; it was a wonderful ... Read All

Neil Van Steenbergen (Inca Pathways + Manu Biosphere + Nasca, May 2004)
I got back from my 25 days in Peru just a week ago. My enthusiasm level for you and your help was high before I left, it was high during the trip and it continues to be high. I am so happy about my trip and about all that you did to make it happen.

I continue recommending you. Before I left, I asked you to send a catalog to two friends. Please send one to a third friend, you can use my name if you wish.

Back to the trip, I keep thinking I’ll forget something I want to tell you… I am very grateful for your pre-trip help and guidance and handholding. It was a pleasure to talk with folks who were not only knowledgeable and had been in Peru but who also seemed to be genuinely interested in me and care about me and my dreams. Thank you.

I liked the three separate parts of my trip: the Nazca extension was on my own (with support as needed), the Inca Pathways with a group, and Manu alone. It gave me a chance to experience Peru singly and in a group and that was a good balance. Entering solo and leaving solo also gave me a chance to feel comfortable at first with Peru and to leave with a chance to slow down and relax in Manu after the trail. It worked beautifully.

My arrival in Lima was about an hour late at midnight. I walked past the first line of taxis and got one from the second line quickly for $12 dollars, a somewhat broken down taxi ... Read All

Ancient Kingdoms

Brian Ivey (Ancient Kingdoms, Feb 2009)
It is difficult to praise this programme too highly - both for content and for organization, the latter being totally seamless. The guides in Chiclayo, Trujillo and Cusco/Machu Picchu were excellent, were informative, fluent in English, and patient inasmuchas we never felt hurried at any of the museums or archaeological sites that we visited and our questions were answered completely to our satisfaction at all times. We had arranged an extra day in Lima, after our travel day, which gave us a chance to visit two major museums there - the Larco Museum and the National Museum of Archaeology, both of which were thoroughly worthwhile and which should be recommended to future Peru Adventure clients. We would like to express our thanks to every one of the Adventure Life team for a truly superb holiday which we shall never forget. Brian and Alison Ivey, Ottawa, Canada

Salcantay Trek

Elizabeth Buyers (Salcantay Trek, May 2009)
Boris was OUTSTANDING!! He made our trip totally incredible. He rearranged our hiking schedule when he noticed we were fast hikers and took us to some incredible places that were not originally scheduled. His knowledge of all things Peruvian was astonishing. My brother likes to ask at least 100 questions a day and Boris had the answer to all of them. He pointed out all kinds of plants and wildlife along our trek. He did an excellent job taking us to the less touristy places and really gave us the authentic Peru experience.

Wild Tambopata - Amazon Tours

Yael Tsoury (Wild Tambopata, Sep 2009)
For me it was very special adventure. In addition to recognize the river, the rain forests and all the wildlife there, it was so interesting to meet and talk to tha local people, to try another style of life, like no electricity and no phone connection... Our guide Geraldin was the best we could think about. She had the knolage we expect, the ability to feel our needs, and she was the main reason our trip was so succesful