Best of Peru - Premium Adventure

This is a first class itinerary which gave us five 'mega day' experiences of Peru, each of which was quite different from the others: seeing the wonderful condors in Colca Canyon; visiting the families on a reed island in Lake Titicaca; walking the last part of the Inca Trail and seeing Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate; seeing the great colonial religious art and architecture in Cuzco and spending time in the rain forest on a tributary of the Amazon. These memorable experiences were separated by other days travelling through scenic landscapes, visiting interesting sites and staying in some great hotels. The Colca Lodge and ICH Lodge on the river were both wonderful. Bar one that I've reported to Exodus, the others were all solid four star hotels with comfortable rooms and good food and locations. The food in Peru is generally good and we had tasty lunches and dinners out. I'll pass on the guinea pig next time though!

I spent the last year trying to decide what I wanted to do for my 50th birthday. I wanted to go someplace "different" and nothing lit a spark. I thought it might be fun to do Galapagos and Machu Picchu and I happened up on Exodus Travels while trying to find that exact trip, but after stumbling upon the Premium Peru itinerary I was hit with that spark I was looking for. This was a last-minute decision for us as we booked barely two months before departure and the Exodus folks and website were so easy to work. I was able to book it in a snap. The trip was perfectly planned with great hotels, food, transportation and experiences. We were spoiled from Day 1. We didn't have to worry about anything other than making sure we didn't leave anything behind, that our water bottles were filled, and we were on time for our next day's adventure. From the ocean to the mountains to the rainforest, we saw and learned about the rich history and culture of the Peruvian land and peoples. The itinerary was filled with fascinating stops, such as Arequipa, Lake Titicaca and Pun, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the rain forest. We learned about the ancient peoples and how their traditions continue today despite the European influences that have taken hold since the 1600s. The Peruvian culture is a beautiful blend of both. William, our phenomenal group leader, imbued us with his vast knowledge of the ancient and modern cultures all while ensuring our trip was all we had hoped for.

Just to reaffirm how much we enjoyed it. We have so many wonderful memories!

I really enjoyed this trip and would highly recommend it to anyone, my guide William and all of the local experts were so knowledgeable and really wanted to give us an authentic experience.

Peru is a fascinating country and this trip explores varied terrains including urban areas, mountains, high plains, lake and rainforest. The local people we met on the trip were extremely welcoming and friendly. The country does have an issue with litter on the roadside, even in the National Park areas which is sad to see. Hopefully in time this will improve.