How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Joana Alarcon was very professional and was great at her job. She had all the transportation, bus,train or taxis all lined up and on time for everything. When we arrived at our hotels everything went like clock work. She answered questions and explained about Peru and everything related to any tours.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

For sure take this tour. I would suggest taking the extra three days and go to the amazon.

Do you have anything else to add?

They should have a better hotel in Lima and Arequipa. One level higher would make all the difference in the world.

What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?

We enjoyed the whole tour, Peru is a land of contrast and spectaular beauty. The Peruvian people were very friendly and this was one of our most memorable trips. We were in a nice group of 10. The accommodation was very clean and comfortable. The transport was efficient and comfortable. All the places we visited were interesting and worth going to. It is difficult to highlight the most memorable moment when you visit Nasca and see the lines, or see the Volcanoes of Arequipa onroute to the Colca Canyon and then seeing 12 giant condors, or having stayed on taquile island and swim in Lake Titicaca after visiting the  uros islands, and of course the spectaular Machu Picchu. Peru is a must for people to visit and this trip is the best.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Nilton, who was our tour leader, was one of the best. He was fun,knowledgeable, helpful, and showed us everything with enthusiasm. Nothing was a bother and everything was well organised and calm.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go on this tour, its wonderful

Once again I was very lucky with the group and the tour leader. Everybody so nice, well travelled and the adventurous type!! The tour leader was very good and really helpful. We toured around most of the country, from Lima to Nazca to Arequipa to Lake Titicaca to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Hours and hours of a coach journey across the Nazca desert to reach the Nazca lines and other pre-Inca archaeological sites. Just after a few days I wanted to escape from the sand, wind and the absolute lack of the colour green. Then after a whole night of travel we reached 2400 m on the Andes and yet again a very desertic environment. Arequipa, the ‘white city’ is very interesting, in the middle of active volcanoes. We have met Juanita, the young girl sacrificed to the gods of Ampato volcano, whose body has been preserved intact because frozen. What sad story of her and many other children sacrificed to the Inca gods…We couldn’t go on with our plan to visit some islands on the Titicaca Lake as there were violent riots in Puno, the town we were due to take the boat from. So, we spent some time in a near-by town, infamous for all sorts of nasty things but we went on treks on mountains near-by. Finally we managed to reach the islands of Uros and Tequile and meet the rather primitive native people living on that immense lake at 4350 m!! Breathing was really challenging and many of the group were quite ill. From here after a whole journey on the Andes amongst pretty valleys and impressive canyons, other archaeological site Inca and pre-Inca, breathless views and luckily so much ‘greener’ we arrived to picturesque Cusco. From here we got the train to Machu Picchu, a wonderful journey with spectacular views of high mountains covered in snow and forests. Machu Picchu is a truly fascinating place which I will never forget. (QPS - 10th December 2010)