– What was the highlight of your holiday? Was there a low point?
There wasn’t any part that no-one liked. The itinerary was organised in such a way that it was varied and exciting throughout. Enough time in the rainforest and camping on the Inca Trail rewarded by more comfortable urban stays afterwards. The adults especially loved the homestay village in Willoq as it offers an authentic and friendly piece of rural living. Football against locals was a highlight as well. The biking to Moray was perfect – a little challenging for some on the downhills but exhilarating with incredible views of surrounding glaciers high in the mountains. The Inca Trail is far more sustainable than I had imagined; very few people up until camp 3 and maintained to an excellent standard. Ridiculous views and incredible engineering to build the stone paths. Miraculous meals produced by our team of chefs and porters; their workrate was phenomenal. Macchu Picchu is as good as you would imagine, and I’m pleased that we scaled Huayna Picchu as well – great sense of achievement here.
For a school trip, this fortnight was superb. If kids are prepared for days without TV, days of no wifi and meals they will have to adapt to, then they will have the time of their lives. Safe, challenging and exciting; everything you want in a school trip.

– How would you rate accommodation/ food/ guides/ overall organisation?
Accommodation can’t be faulted. The only chance we had of a pool was in Lima, but it was closed for renovations (and virtually a hot-tub, not a pool). Nobody minded.
Range of food was very good – even fussy eaters were ok. It was a buzz for us to eat piranhas that we had caught in the Amazon. Cuy (guinea pig) was another first.
Guides were all superb. We had a student vote once we had left the guides and the rainforest guides probably gained most votes. They were all especially good with the students.
I was really happy with the tour you put together – no difficulties despite a 3 hour late arrival into Puerto Maldonado, and a similar delay on the train from Agua Calientes – guides were always waiting for us. I don’t know how I’d improve on the itinerary we had – rainforest, homestay, biking, Inca Trail, Cusco, Lima – the rainforest disappointed a little in terms of wildlife (I was hoping for more insects, beetles, frogs, etc) but this was undoubtedly due to the dry season.

– Did you feel you benefited the local communities? Any additional comments on the homestays would be very interesting as this is the first time we have included this in our school programme.
-We definitely benefited local communities. This is partly why we chose a trip like this. One change we made during the Amazon section was to stop at a local (non-touristy) village (Infierno) during a boat trip – we bought a fair amount of juice here that probably made their week! In the homestay village, we were given the chance to buy local clothing that the villagers had made – often the families we stayed with. This was a nice souvenir and definitely added money to the local economy. Unless the students are expecting 5-star hotels (or perhaps even if they are) the homestay experience should be on a school trip itinerary. You are out of your comfort zone and are actually living.The interactions between the students and local children, with little language skills to speak of, were heartwarming. We played football and gave out football tops we had collected for the trip. It was obvious locals were delighted, especially if it was a Spanish top. The weaving and farming activities were fine, probably not a highlight for teenagers but still worthwhile.

– Knowing what you now know what would you like to do differently next time?

I thought about this a lot towards the end of the trip, and asked the tour guide if he thought we could have improved the trip. The conclusion I have is no. Sure, I’d like to fly over the Nazca lines, trek the longer routes to Macchu Picchu, visit Arequipa, see the sites in northern Peru, but this trip was excellent.
I made a photobook for the group, and always ask them for their favourite moment of the trip, which I add to the book. Here are some favourite moments:
– Playing football in the Homestay village at 3500m against a makeshift Peruvian side that featured a woman with a baby strapped to her back playing in defence.
– Being with the people of Willoq village and getting to dress up like them and take part in their way of life.
– Arriving at the Sungate and seeing the first glimpse of Macchu Picchu.
– Watching a tarantula emerge from it’s cave in the Amazon.
-The biking, as the route was very fast-paced and had amazing scenery left, right and centre.
– Getting down to the camp after a day hiking up and down dean Woman’s Pass. Just relaxing at the tent looking out over the valley was amazing.
– When I first thought I had caught my first piranha but unfortunately it fell off the hook before I could get it on the boat.

All the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Elar and Olivia were outstanding. Piero was a real character and we enjoyed his company during the Moon Temple Trek. The guide for Sacred Valley was a bit brisk and regimented, probably more accustomed to showing a large group around. The accommodation was good , we like Mamayacchi Guesthouse.

We could not find any fault with the organisation. We felt well looked after.  

Great accommodation as already advised. Food on the treks was very good, particularly the presentation. Food on the homestay was ok. Guides were good in all locations.

Overall organisation was good. We had contact with people but were left to do our own thing.

Just a quick note to tell you that my 4 days of trekking with your company were by far the best of my month long trip. Also, everyone on the staff was so kind, and Juan and Yamil were exceptional. Juan carried the gear I needed for the day hikes, and because we arrived back in Cusco at 5 and I was leaving the next morning at 4:30, Yamil ferried my laundry to someone who would do it for me and delivered it to my hotel.

Thanks again for a great trip with lovely and experienced people.

Thank you for a very very good organisation on your part. Our trip was exceptionally well constructed and we learnt and saw so much. Chino (Ruben) our local guide was quite exceptional. In all our various trips around the world we have never had such a super guide…kind, caring, knowledgeable. 

The food could not have been better and the Waikis (can’t spell!) were just lovely. Nothing could have been done better for our walk and I would like you to tell everyone  how much we enjoyed and appreciated everything about our trek. 

I would give it 5 stars. It was a truly amazing trip we were met at all our landings and saw awesome landscape . The falls were amazing . I felt heathy and well after the trek.

I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on !

The staggering scenery throughout the trek, and the sense of achievement reaching the tops of passes, especially to look at Machu Picchu… Superb!

Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

We had a great trip! It was so nice that everything was arranged and taken care off, so we could just enjoy it and spent time with the three of us. The whole trip was full of highlights and I could not name one thing I did not like.

Highlight would be the rainforest with equal recognition to Machu Picchu – even though it is much more heavily visited then when we visited in 1967, our two times up to the ruins were wonderful .

Food was very good everywhere we went Guides at the Amazon Lodge, Reserva Amazonica outstanding!

By far the best holiday we’ve ever been on, and everything worked perfectly. Seriously, it was all great. All the arrangements were as you’d suggested, everyone was standing waiting to meet us as planned wherever we went (in fact it was a bit of a let down when there was no-one with a board with our name on it when we got back to London ;-). 

There were no low points from my point of view as we had amazing weather .. even the guides were amazed by it!  I think the towers at Torres del Paine were my favourite , lying at the glacial lake in the sunshine !  The organisation was really good and the guides were amazing briefing us in three languages !!

Food – AMAZING!!!!! Inca Trail – AMAZING!!!! The guide assigned to us through you, Roger, was just wonderful! – He attended to all of our needs, was a wealth of knowledge, and had the ability to be available or give privacy at just the right times. We really enjoyed his company. The porters and cook were also just outstanding – we could not believe how well we ate or how well our every need was attended to!!!!

Our highlight was definitely the Inca Trail – hands-down! That was a completely amazing experience!!!! From the trail, to the guides, to the food and porters – exceeded our expectations! We had such a good time and greatly appreciate the work you put in to get it set-up.

We had an amazing trip.   I think the highlight was the Salkantay trek.  And Machu Pichu did not disappoint in any way.  Everyone was excellent  ,as was our guide Piero. The hotels were fine. I think the Midori in Cuzco was particularly good.

It was a truly wonderful trip and we have certainly fallen in love with Peru. 

 We did so many excellent and fun activities on this trip its hard to pin it down to one but I think for both of us the most enjoyable day was the half-day cactus valley trek in the Atacama.  The scenery was spectacular for the whole time we were in the desert and this walk gave us the opportunity to experience it at close hand, especially the cacti and local flora.  We also did a night sky astronomy trip (2-3hrs) which wasn’t included in the itinerary and was really excellent – I would recommend this to anybody as a “must do” whilst in San Pedro.

We had a wonderful time. Ecuador is a fantastically diverse country and we will definitely go back. So many highlights! Observing the courtship dance of the waved albatross on Espanola; the magnificence of Lake Quilotoa; Observing a feeding sloth in the Amazon; swimming with sharks and sea turtles; hummingbirds at Bellavista.

All our guides were excellent, extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.