Classic Peru

The trip was amazing - led by the brilliant tour leader Arturo! Such a varied itinerary, we got to experience and see so much of Peru. Highlights (alongside Machu Picchu) were the evening meal in Misminay and visiting the Uros Islands and Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca. It was a brilliant experience packed with incredible memories. Thanks Arturo for making it so great!

Amazing trip to Peru - definitely exceeded my expectations! The itinerary covered a wide variety, with the optional tours and suggestions from Darwin, our tour guide, to fill any spare time we had. The hotels were varied (did have a couple of cold showers) but I loved the quirkiness of some of them and all were comfortable. Darwin was superb: looking after us while we adjusted to the altitude, managing to get us into Machu Picchu (no mean feat) despite the protests, answering all our questions due to his extensive knowledge of his country and it's history and always being so cheerful! And a lovely group of people to holiday with - thank you all!

We added a day at the beginning to do Lima, which is worth a visit. Accomodation varied, was expecting it to be all 5*, but although everything very clean, and hotel staff very friendly, it could be a bit cold without heating in smaller hotels. Your leader, Darwin, excellent, full of enthusiasm for the history of Peru, and our itinerary was rearranged to ensure we didn't miss Machu Picchu despite industrial action there. Be prepared for cold mornings and hot days in some areas in September. Overall, exceeded my expectations, and well worth a visit.

Darwin, our guide, was simply superb. He was knowledgeable, approachable and fun. I can't praise him enough - he was excellelnt.

Darwin was a fantastic tour guide with a huge knowledge base, really interesting and very entertaining. We all loved him. The itinerary was very varied and comprehensive. I loved all of what Peru had to offer. The hotels were well located, but some were cold at this time of year and the hosted visit needed some showers and a warm lounge for socialising after dinner. Macchu Picchu was the highlight and we all appreciated the altered timings so that we were able to visit despite the strike and civil unrest.

Arturo - a great tour leader. Really knowledgeable, and passionate about his country. Made a great tour exceptional.

This tour was another excellent experience with Explore. Darwin, our leader, was superb and always went the extra mile to help with everything. He was amongst the best tour leaders we have experienced. The tour provided a very good introduction to the main attractions of the more visited parts of Peru. Highlights for us were Machu Pichu (of course) and the Uros and Taquile islands on Lake Titicaca, with the boat trip to get there. The whole tour was spent at high altitudes. This should be borne in mind by anyone who has any concerns about their ability to tolerate thin air and a dry atmosphere for long periods. The payoff for this though was superb views of the Andes every day! As we have come to expect with Explore tours, the accommodation quality was a bit variable. The Taquile Guesthouse was actually rather better than we expected, given the previous negative reviews that we had read. Yes, it was quite basic, but it was definitely worth it to experience the rustic way of life of the island, the hosts were very friendly and the welcome a warm one. The accommodation elsewhere on the tour was generally quite comfortable, although our hotel room at Arequipa was a little too noisy. A small point, but we would suggest that the visits from Ollantaytambo to the Maras salt mines and Moray Inca terraces should be included in the itinerary rather than being an optional extra. Everyone on our tour booked for this option rather than the alternatives of kayaking/paddle boarding (expensive and probably in rather cold water) and a craft brewery visit (something you can easily do in the UK, so not a particularly Peruvian experience). Overall, the tour comes highly recommended by us.

Darwin it was an amazing leader! He was caring, funny, intelligent with a deep knowledge of all the places we have been. I highly recommend this tour and Darwin. The best guide ever!

Very well organised . Guide was always available 24/7👍.Joseph is very knowledgable and helpful . Had great a time with group. Made lovely memories and thank you Explore for helping me tick my bucket list. Just one thing to mention about vegetarian food. It needs to be addressed so future travellers have a wider choice . Joseph took it on board and did manage to give us options .Much appreciated .

Excellent tour and introduction into Peru culture and the amazing Inca history. Our tour guide Joseph was fabulous, very knowledgeable about Peruvian history and culture, extremely patient with our group, kind and always concerned about the welfare and safety of our group. I give this tour an A+ as I do for Joseph and all the folks at Explore (especially Patricia and Vicky) who helped me with all my questions and concerns. The 3 San Antonio hotels we stayed at were fabulous, the hotel in Ollenaytambo was cute and right next to the City center, but the hotel in Machu Picchu was over the top. All had good breakfasts, clean rooms, pleasant and helpful staff and strong WIFI. About the only change I would suggest is adding 1-2 full days in Lima which has so much to offer. I also think the optional activities to Morass and Morey should just be included in the itinerary and pricing. I also did the 4 day extension to Inkaterra lodge in the Amazon and that was also wonderful, relaxing and my jungle guide Victor was terrific as were all the staff there.

A very full but interesting trip which included both cultural and historical aspects of Peru. The overnight stay on Lake Titicaca was particularly enjoyable, as was the Inti Raymi festival in Cuzco. Definitely recommended - pity it's only once a year!

The Peru tour was an excellent introduction to the country, its culture and history. I appreciated the range of sites visited and the different accommodations. The tour leader and individual guides were very knowledgeable and gave great insights into all aspects of the locations. I found that the range and quality of food was an unexpected bonus.

Julio was an amazing guide. He looked after us all, made sure we were where we should be, safe and happy. He was very knowledgeable and brought it all to life the best guide we have had with Explore.

Peru was absolutely fantastic. The tour incorporated many interesting experiences including floating islands, a beautiful convent, many Inca sites, engagement with local people and their culture, and some stunning scenery. The tour leader, Julio, was amazing. He was attentive to our needs but not overbearing. His knowledge was extensive, and always interesting. I would definitely recommend this trip, taking into consideration that there were some high altitudes involved.