Great trip, it really was a contrast of the different parts of Colombia. My favourite part of the trip was staying in the coffee region and the day we went to the Coco Valley by an old jeep, played tejo and walked around Salento. I also enjoyed the cookery lesson and coffee tour. Overall highly recommended and a real insight in to Colombia.
Andres was a great guide, super kind and considerate. I felt really safe and well looked after by him on the tour.
The tour operator planned a fantastic trip from Buenos Aires to Iguazú Falls. I would highly recommend the two day tour that allows you to see the falls from Brazil as well as Argentina. Claudia and Julieta were a great team. They were always friendly and extremely responsive. They customize the tour and gave us exactly the experience we wanted. Five stars to these two great women.
Wow - this was a challenging hike! Not so much the terrain, definitely due to the hot weather. Putting the heat, sweat and fatigue to one side - this hike is unique and rewarding. Along the route there is lots to see and the destination is mind blowing! Our team (Stiwen, Brayan & Pinnochio) were attentive and did everything possible to make this a safe & memorable trip. The side journeys on this itinerary were all worthwhile and enjoyable. It was just the two of us for the duration of this trip and at all times we felt safe and everything ran without a hitch.
If you like to discover new cultures, customs and feel the peace of nature, this unique tour of Cusco and Machu Picchu is all you need. We hope you will join us for an experience that will change your life.
Right through the day or night, Cusco is a city that is full of charms and exciting tourist attractions. The mornings are ideal for strolling Inca streets, visiting colonial churches, visiting the legendary San Blas Artisan Quarter (craftsmen) or visiting Inca villages and archaeological remains.
In the evenings, the city dresses up with lights, discos, pubs and restaurants, and its main tourist attractions come alive for visitors. The nightlife in Cusco is fun, exciting and unique, and it's certainly enough to satisfy the most demanding national and foreign visitors.
The city of Cusco and Machu Picchu are without a doubt experiences you will cherish all your life.
This Inca Soul Peru tour package showcases the best of Cusco and the Sacred Valley before taking you on the journey of a lifetime along the short Inca Trail to the famous Machu Picchu. This Peru vacation is the perfect mix of culture, history, and adventure for the eager traveler.
You will start your adventure in Cusco, home to a fascinating mix of colonial and ancient architecture. Here you'll explore the city on an expert-guided Cusco city tour and then experience the surrounding areas with a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Once you have explored all that Cusco has to offer, head out on the famous short Inca Trail. This is more than a hike; it is an excursion into the past, where you can learn about Inca civilization, culture, and society.
Before the tour ends, you will have the time to visit the Rainbow Mountain.
We thoroughly enjoyed all the guides and all the towns and cities we visited. We saw some of the most beautiful landscapes we have ever seen and felt that everyday was an adventure. We are home now and already miss South America. Thank you again for a truly memorable experience.
Our travel agent, Lucila, designed the best trip ever. Everything was just perfect—from the hotels to the wild experiences. We enjoyed the trip so much; every day felt like a dream. I look forward to organizing a new adventure around the world with Lucila.
Everything was just AMAZING!
Thank you, Lucila and team!
Experience the best of Ecuador on an exclusive women's journey, blending cultural immersion with natural wonders.
From the vibrant markets of Otavalo to the tranquil Polylepis Lodge, enjoy spa treatments, Amazon adventures, and cultural engagements, immerse yourself in the heart of Ecuador's culture, history and natural beauty.
Explore Baños, Quilotoa, and Cotopaxi, and participate in hands-on experiences like cooking classes and rose plantation visits. Connect with like-minded women travelers, savor local flavors, and delve into indigenous traditions. Enjoy nature walks, wildlife encounters, photography sessions at stunning sites and relaxing spa services during this epic all-women Ecuador vacation.
See the itinerary section for more details.
This epic multi-sport expedition explores the culturally rich region near Cusco, Peru. The expedition combines trekking, biking, rafting, and zip lining in an unforgettable experience. Get a unique view of ancient archaeological sites, beautiful valleys, and stunning mountain glaciers before making your way to Machu Picchu.
Join as a solo traveler or with friends to experience these amazing destinations with fellow travelers from all over. We guarantee all group departure dates even if only one person is signed up. We recommend asking how many people are currently in your group before booking.
This small-group tour will take you on a magical adventure to some of the most popular attractions in South America! Begin your journey in Lima, from where you will fly over the breathtaking Andes Mountains to Cusco. Explore the ins and outs of this magnificent city as you visit the San Cristobal Plaza, taste the rich flavors of the San Pedro Market, and discover the Korikancha Temple. From there you will take a train to Machu Pichu, the most famous tourist attraction in Peru and one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Bask in the beautiful scenery of this extraordinary site, also known as the "Lost City of the Incas". Make your way back to Cusco, one of the most scenic and gorgeous overland trips in Peru. Stop at various sites along the way as you travel to Puno, including Racchi, the Temple of the Wiracocha God, and La Raya, a natural border between the two cities. Enjoy a breathtaking cruise of Lake Titicaca — the highest navigable lake in the world. From there you will head to Lima, and transfer to La Paz, via a tourist bus, to begin the second part of the trip. Explore La Paz's highlights, including cable car rides, the Valle de la Luna aka Moon Valley, and vibrant markets. Board an overnight bus to Uyuni and arrive for a traditional breakfast before venturing out to the famous Salt Flats of Bolivia. Discover the Train Cemetery, Colchani village, and unique salt formations. Visit Incahuasi Island, where giant cacti thrive amidst the salt and witness stunning sunset views before spending the night in Uyuni. From here, you’ll head back to La Paz and fly back to Lima, where this amazing tour of Peru and Bolivia will come to an end.
If you love big landscapes, deserts, rock formations, volcanoes, geysers, remoteness and views that go on forever, then this is the trip for you. This was combined with very friendly people, local culture and good wine, making for one of the best trips I've ever had.
This was my first trip with Explore. (All the other members of the group had travelled multiple times with them). I would say the trip exceeded my expectations in every respect. Judging by the comments of the rest of the group, it was one of the best many of them had been on too. I have taken away memories that will last forever and met some wonderful people along the way.
There were six travellers in the group (all solo travellers) as well as Andres our guide, local guides and drivers. This was the first trip run on a new itinerary or at least one which Explore has not sold for a number of years. So in that respect our group were the guinea-pigs for the trip. I felt the group got on very well. I would say six was a good group size for the minibuses. It gave us room to spread out with our bags and snooze if needed on the longer journeys.
Itinerary:
The itinerary covers a lot of ground in a short space of time so is definitely full-on. However, overall, I thought it was well-paced with well-timed rest periods. Given that this was a new itinerary, there are a couple of "tweaks" I would make (mentioned below). However, they are minor changes only to what I found to be a well-rounded and balanced trip.
HIghlights for me included the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. I loved the desert, lagoons, volcanoes, flamingoes, the salt hotel and of course, our meal with our wonderful Bolivian guides - which I'll never forget. Another highlight was the sunset and moonrise over the Atacama Desert near San Pedro. I felt the trip was a gift that kept on giving. Just when you had one experience which you thought could not be topped, along came another one. The trip was cleverly planned in that sense.
In terms of amendments, I would suggest the following:
HIgh altitude is a feature of this trip and perhaps needs to be emphasised and explained a little more fully in the trip notes so that travellers can take a view. However, for me, any discomfort was more than compensated for by the remoteness and beauty of the landscapes we saw.
I particularly loved Bolivia and perhaps Explore could consider adding that another day to this leg of the trip. This would allow more time to get to know this fantastic country and its people but would also allow more time to acclimatise.
We had a wonderful day in the wine region of Cafayate. Both wine and food were delicious and plentiful. However, I think we all felt the number of tours and tastings should be reduced a little to allow us to relax into one wine tour and the meal without worrying about time.
Guiding:
Andres was our Explore guide and I cannot speak highly enough of him. Most of the group had travelled extensively over the years with Explore and said that he was one of the best guides they had ever had. Andres was excellent in every respect - professional, knowledgeable, organised but relaxed and very person-centred, attending well to the different needs of the group. The trip ran very smoothly and to time. Andres paid close attention to detail, making small changes to the itinerary as needed, He found good places to eat, and timed visits to avoid any crowds in particularly popular places. As far as I am aware, there was one small logistical glitch during the whole trip. This was beyond Andres' control but he took it in his stride, dealt with it and it did not affect the group. Definitely 5* for Andres.
The local guides and drivers in each country were very friendly and efficient. I would say the guides in Argentina and Bolivia were particularly knowledgeable. The warmth and kindness shown to us was lovely. I would single out Wilbur in Bolivia for particular praise.
Accommodation:
Before the trip, I did not have particularly high expectations of the hotels, thinking that location would take priority over hotel standard and that budget hotels would be used to keep costs down. To a certain extent this proved to be the case. I would say in most places the standard was 3*. I found all of them were perfectly acceptable although some had variable hot water and wifi which is only to be expected really given the region. All hotels were very friendly and in a very good location. Some hotels stood out as having more character and better service than others. The Salt Hotel (Laguna Salada) on the Uyuni flats was something truly special. The stunning location, the hotel design and the friendliness of the staff there were something I will never forget. The Hotel Los Flamencos at the Laguna Hedionda was graded as "simple" and we warned to take warm sleepwear as it can get cold at night. However, I found the hotel to be warm and characterful and again, the location was stunning. Standing outside the hotel (albeit at about -5 degrees Celsius), watching the flamingos on the lagoon and the sun come up over the volcanoes behind was something truly memorable.
San Pedro de Atacama was the most touristy place we visited and I would say the hotel there reflected that. It felt a bit more generic than the others, although the barman was excellent and served some knockout Pisco sours.
Overall, I would give this trip 5* without hesitation. Unforgettable - in the best possible way. Any quibbles are very minor ones to me. I would highly recommend.
We saw the beauty and power of God's creation in Iguazu at the falls and at the bird park. Make sure to go to both the Brazil and Argentina sides of the falls. We took a helicopter ride and saw the birds on the Brazil side. If you don't have any physical disabilities, you can take a boat ride through the falls on the Argentina side. I highly recommend this trip.
Join us on this 5-day trip to the Colombian Amazon and get the chance to experience the stunning beauty and rich biodiversity of the world's largest tropical rainforest. The Amazon region makes up over a third of Colombia's total area and is home to a mind-blowing array of animal and plant species.
Start this trip with a pickup service from Leticia Airport to Tanimboca Natural Reserve. Go out on a nocturnal hike through the forest and see the animals that hide during the day. Walk through the forest to visit the Huitotos, an indigenous community living in the area.
Take a boat to Marasha, a natural reserve located in the Peruvian territory, and enjoy seeing a variety of wildlife before making your way to Mocagua, in Colombia. Walk through the forest and see woolly monkeys and other animal species. Travel to Parque Santander in Leticia to see thousands of parakeets and other birds.
Go beyond sightseeing and experience the Amazon in fun, active and exciting ways. Enjoy zip lining on the final day of the trip and fly from canopy to canopy before making your way back to Leticia Airport. For more about this trip, please go through the itinerary below.