There is no doubt about it – the majesty of Machu Picchu was the highlight of our trip. I thought perhaps the hype and the general overcrowding of such a high-profile tourist site would turn me off compared to some of the more off-the-beaten-track destinations I loved exploring in other countries. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The closest I came to mountains during most of my life was a pass through the Appalachians once every few years. When I moved to Montana, the mountains enraptured me. I can’t get enough of them, and they never cease to amaze me. And yet, the mountains around Machu Picchu make Montana feel like a rolling hill. These mountains completely surrounded me, and I couldn’t stop staring.
Train snacks (Karen DiGangi)Train to Machu Picchu (Karen DiGangi)
The train ride through the Peruvian countryside to the town of Aguas Calientes was beautiful. The trains run like clockwork, with their system of announcements and snacks down to a science. Our arrival in Aguas Calientes was met with swarms of tour guides waiting for travelers and local shops looking to sell every kind of local tourist specialty. These always seem to catch my attention! A short walk to the bus station and we were so close I could taste it!
The bus ride up the mountains was close to making me motion sick, since rapid inclination on switchbacks on a dirt road is not for the faint of heart. A quick bathroom break (for a few soles) and it was time for the main event!
We've used Adventure Life for several trips in the past and have always been very pleased with them. The staff is personable and professional at the same time. Erin put this trip together for us in just a few days, and it has everything we were looking for! I recommend them without hesitation.
benn
1 month ago
I served as the person responsible for planning a trip to Galapagos and Machu Picchu for a group of 14 people. Jane with Adventure Life was very helpful throughout the process. Making suggestions, offering insight, and in the end helped me overhaul an initial plan into something even better. Also, Jane makes all the plans including the flights within and between Peru and Ecuador. Thanks to her this is going to be a stress-free adventure. After making the final decision about the trip, Jane gathered the contact information for all the travelers and sent out the details to each traveler individually with links to pay deposits, upload passport info, and personal preferences. She also ensured a group email was sent out to the entire group welcoming us to the trip preparation process. Our trip is a year from now and we are excited to make this once in a life time trek. I am happy to have organized things through Adventure Life. However, two small issues came up that were a little off putting. First, Adventure Life adds $50 per person to the cost for each traveler as a donation to a Galapagos conservation fund. I think this should he offered as something that can be added at each traveler’s discretion. Instead, it is automatically added, and each person must ask to have it removed if they do not want it included. Second, although the trip deposit may be paid with a credit card without incurring an additional fee, the balance must be paid in another way to avoid a 3% credit card fee. Maybe this is standard with all travel agencies. In the end I would definitely go through Adventure Life for the next big trip.
Brenda Nielsen
1 month ago
I think it was very helpful that Franny and I spoke on the phone. I think she had a better idea of what we were looking for, and she planned a great itinerary for us!
Elizabeth
2 months ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
3 months ago
Easy.
Great work on the follow up and details by Waru.