South America Tours and Trips

Our experience on the Inca Trail and Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain trip in June this year was very good. Our guide Ludwig was excellent - patient, helpful, organised and very knowledgeable. He took us to a number of places not on the itinerary, which was a great bonus, and knew the best times of the day for each site for maximum enjoyment (fewer people, sun in the optimum place etc). He managed the group and each member's individual abilities/weaknesses extremely well, whilst keeping us all to the timetable. Thanks to him, I am sure we all came away with a deep understanding and appreciation of Peru, its history and its people. He was also fantastically responsive and helpful - as were Explore's local agents Condor Travel, and the Explore London office - when my husband's passport was stolen in Cusco. The trainee guide, Dante, was also a charming bonus and very helpful to the straggler on the Trail. Lima was very damp and grey and rather miserable, but the visits to a small museum of street artist Jade Rivera's work, and the walk through Barranco to artist Victor Delfin's studio were brilliant. As was the coffee at Ciclos Cafe! Palccoyo Rainbow mountain was even more spectacular than expected and a real highlight. So was the optional train trip from Puno to Cusco - well worth the additional cost. Walking the Inca Trail was more challenging than expected (more aerobic training and many hours on a step machine before departure would have been advisable), but of course unmissable now I've survived it! The whole team on the Trail was amazing. It was so well organised, the porters were impressively indefatigable, the camping as comfortable as it could be and the meals produced at altitude on a small burner were nothing short of spectacular. The food was delicious, well balanced and nutritious and the presentation often worthy of a Michelin starred restaurant. Quite how the chef managed to make a multi-layered cake looking like it had come from an exclusive Parisian patisserie is a mystery. And it tasted so good. Machu Picchu was every bit as breathtaking as anticipated and arriving through the Sun Gate to see the site bathed in sunlight was an unforgettable experience. Ludwig's explanations brought the whole place to life. I would not recommend buying tickets to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain unless your guided tour of Machu Picchu itself is in the late morning/afternoon. There was insufficient time to do both, given the timing of our train back to Ollantaytambo.

Had the most wonderful family experience making core memories. Enjoyed by my family ranging from age 6 to 78. Cannot say enough great things about , our guide who made us feel welcome, safe, comfortable and was always one step ahead with information. He was complemented by a wonderful team of local guides each excited to share their culture and knowledge. Highlights were the food, tango, walking along the beach, sunrises in Rio, Christ the Redeemer (not too crowded), and the mist of Iguasu falls.

The itinerary certainly keeps you busy, but I want to see as much of the country as possible while there. Trafalgar’s coordination and efforts to make the trip effortless are impressive. Two inter country plane rides, two train rides, many many bus ride then a couple of transfer to vans when buses would not fit on ancient roads. It was amazing how well it worked. We had a small bump, when altitude sickness got the best of hubby. , our Trafalgar guide, was wonderful. Got us help ASAP. Hubby spent in night in a clinic but got to airport in Cusco in time to fly back with group to Lima. Thank you for keeping me informed and calm. This was my first trip with a travel group, but I can’t imagine anyone doing it better. We saw so much of beautiful Peru, participated in their culture, learned of their history, and ways of life past and present. Spent the money…..take the trip ….make the memories…

The beauty of Peru is something one must see. Traveling with Trafalgar makes this possible in a safe and enjoyable manner. From the Be Our Guests experiences to wonderful excursions our trip helped us gain knowledge of the Peruvian culture and history while having fun along the way.

Our family of four quickly split into two different hiking paces, fast and slow, on this trip. Jacqueline was incredibly patient and supportive with the altitude challenged hiker, and allowed the rest of the group to feel less guilty about charging ahead at a faster pace. Jacqueline’s gentle support allowed everyone to have a great trip at their own speed. Once we got to Agua Caliente, our friends and co-travelers upgraded to the InkaTerra hotel and invited us for dinner. We recommend this hotel for your final night of the trip.

Our guide Arturo was amazing. His knowledge of history and local traditions and customes was excellent. He was easy to understand and was very mindfull of some of the less able members of the group. He managed to balance the needs of everyone in our group to ensure they had the best time. Hi friendly and caring nature made the whole trip a real joy. I really feel that his love of his country and his involment really made the trip for me. Thanks.