Exactly the tour that I expected with this organization. No surprises, no disappointments, and worth the value you get. Always getan exceptional guide who is well-educated and enjoys his job.
AdventureActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Guest House
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca, T
Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca, Taganga, Tayrona National Park
32% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
For a traveler on a budget this is ideal. A week in the Ecuadoran highlands, exploring volcanoes, cloud forest and local communities followed by a week in The Galápagos.
Our land based island tour gave us freedom of movement within the itinerary, allowed for personal exploration, choices of restaurants and shopping opportunities. We met giant tortoises, some wandering freely, others in breeding centres. We walked to the top of the caldera of the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabella. There were snorkelling trips with colourful fishes and a walk round North Seymour Island where frigate birds were displaying and baby boobies were fledging. Yellow land iguanas, black sea iguanas and SallyLightfoot crabs were plentiful too.
Back on the main islands, sea lions were snoozing on the pavements by the harbour, pelicans and lava herons were catching tidbits from the local fishermen cleaning their catch.
It was wonderful!
We saw all the wildlife on the Galapagos list for October, except the flightless cormorant. If you are a specialist looking for differences between species on different islands, then cruising may be better. However for the non- biologists this trip ticked all the boxes. It was 😊 GREAT👍
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, Guayaquil, Sierra Negra
Quito, Guayaquil, Sierra Negra, Isla Santa Cruz, Santa Fe Island, Tortuga Bay, Otavalo, Laguna Cuicocha, Mindo, Cotopaxi National Park, Galapagos Islands, Puerto Villamil
9% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
This was a great trip with a good range of experiences, scenery, nature, culture, communities and food.
Our guide was very knowledgeable and great at spotting and identifying birds. She judged exactly the right pace for walks and exploring, enabling everyone to participate fully.
Ecuador is a wonderful country to visit and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Quito, Guayaquil, Riobamba, Cuen
Quito, Guayaquil, Riobamba, Cuenca, Otavalo, Peguche, Cotopaxi National Park, Tena, Misahualli, Misicocha, Banos
This was a fantastic trip that lived up fully to its billing, as we saw many spectacular and varied landscapes and we sampled many gorgeous wines. The guide Lucia was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout. My only observation is that it was a hard trip in terms of several very long days travelling of 8 or more hours - over 12 hours on one day - which meant we rarely had the chance to relax and/or enjoy the hotel facilities (e.g. pools in most hotels).
The Trip Notes highlighted this but even so, after more than a dozen Explore trips previously which we thought prepared us for a lot of time on the road , we were still surprised. Essentially the trip was 12 full days and we thought it could have been stretched to 14 to cover the same itinerary - maybe an extra day in Cafayate and in Cachi?
Why for example, did we travel from Mendoza to Aconcagua (a brilliant trip) but then back to Mendoza (3 hours each way) on one day, only to retrace our steps almost all the way back to Aconcagua on the next day, on the way to the next stop? This retracing of the same route wasted 6 hours, or almost a full day? Why did we not go from Aconcagua directly to the next stop, instead of back to Mendoza?
In summary, this is a great tour, but we recommend you review the itinerary and through better planning and some extra time make it a more relaxing tour spread over over one or two more days.
Active and outdoorFood tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Cafayate, Mendoza
Buenos Aires, Cafayate, Mendoza, Salta, Humahuaca, Barreal, Villa Union, Belen, Cachi
As a solo traveller, this was my first experience in a group, and it won't be my last. The whole tour exceeded my expectations and every day had a 'Wow' factor.
It was very full on and not a relaxing holiday, but when you're travelling that far, why would you not want to embrace everything that the whole country has to offer?!
The accommodation was all very good and in perfect locations for exploring the towns and cities. All were very clean and equipped with everything you could need during your stay.
Our guide, Pabel was excellent. Very friendly, helpful, accommodating to our needs and has a true passion for, and a very deep knowledge of his country. He deserves a huge pay rise!
A totally amazing trip and I'm already looking at my next destination.
Active and outdoorExplorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Sacre
Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Nazca, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Taquile Island
Our tour Leader was brilliant. He was engaging , knowledgeable, Apporachable and very patient. Made the Trip super fun.
Itinerary was full on and packed. Would like Explore to consider adding Rainbow Mountain to the Itinerary rather than an option. Did the Trip with my daughter who really enjoyed herself. So there could be a future Explore traveller!!
Active and outdoorRafting
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Home-stay
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Arequ
Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Sacred Valley
25% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Experience the best of Peru in a 15-day tour of the south of the country, one of the most privileged areas of our territory. Discover its natural treasures in Paracas and delight the palate with the intense flavors of our capital Gastronomy of Arequipa. Explore the Andes, visit fascinating towns on Lake Titicaca and get closer to our Millenary past and Inca history when you arrive in Cusco. A trip you will never forget!
Experience the very best of Peru on this fifteen-day tour of the south of the country, one of the most privileged regions of this unique territory. Discover natural treasures in Paracas and delight your palate with the intense flavours of the local cuisine in Peru’s capital of gastronomy, Arequipa. Explore the dizzying heights of the Andes and visit fascinating, traditional villages on Lake Titicaca. Of course, no trip to Peru would be complete without delving into its rich history, and the Incan archaeological sites you will witness as you travel along the Sacred Valley to Cusco are unrivalled. It is sure to be a trip you will never forget!
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Arturo was a fantastic leader and guide. Knowledgable, helpful, caring, experienced and amusing. This was my 11th Explore holiday and Arturo is up there with the best guides. The porters and cooks are heroes - we were very happy to tip them generously. The itinerary was perfect, though no one should underestimate the challenge of around ten hours walking on day three. Cusco hotel staff were fine but the layout around a central atrium means the rooms are very noisy. The hotel near Machu Picchu was lovely but the staff were rude, unhelpful and disinterested. Overall I’d fully recommend this trip - but be sure to get into shape beforehand and consider your kit carefully.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
