Reviewed 26 Mar 2011 by Weng Yee
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The human, non-commercial elements were as rewarding as the fixed features like Machu Picchu, Islas Ballestas, Nazca, Titicaca; the chance to explore, interact, share a joke, have fun, bargain, to understand the frustrations and limitations, to take part in local living, if only briefly. The two homestays would have been better as one, for saying goodbye twice in 24 hours is not ideal. The ending of the trip in La Paz felt peremptory, more time, perhaps an extra day, should have been allowed to appreciate this destination in its own right.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's best to be prepared and acclimatised, the maximum altitude reached was 15180', a large part of the trip is at over 10000'. Medication helps, as does drinking or chewing coca, if sorochi does affect you, have reading and music on standby. This can also play havoc with your digestion, so a pack of your favourite remedy is advisable. Take a spare camera, as the altitude-pressure-temperature can cause electronic gadgets to malfunction. Since the distances travelled are significant, much time is spent in minivans and (comfortable) local buses. Railway options might have usefully been investigated. Learn some spanish and kichwa, it goes a long way in breaking barriers.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The transport, accommodation, food, shopping all benefited the local economy. Travel, no matter what shading of green, does have an environmental impact, but this solution has to be internally led. And as a tourist in a developing country, inevitably you are a walking dollar sign. Prices for commodities and services are a fraction of those at home, so it is effectively a win-win outcome.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One highlight of the tour was Patricia, our superb mamacita, who used her intelligence, knowledge, attention, care and humanity to kindly shepherd a group of Aussies (and one pom), to provide valuable insight into her remarkable homeland. These memories will grow on you, don't be surprised if you should return to Peru.
Reviewed 30 Jul 2010 by Sean Mcardell
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The incredible scenery over the Andean mountaintop passes.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The trip kitty is a rather slippery beast. Be wary of it. You are expected to pay for quite a few things so really look into what’s included and bring enough money.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I think it benefited local people, but I’m not sure a big lorry benefited the environment all too much. But how else would you go about such a trip? I would say that apart from that we left nothing harmed.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Thoroughly enjoyable, although not because of the tour operator. The guides were on the most part not interested or plain not there. The activities however were fantastic.
Read the operator's response here:
We're really glad that overall you had such a great trip. I'm sorry that you didn't think our guides provided the service you expected. On overland trips, we do have drivers who make sure everything runs smoothly rather than holiday guides - and then engage local guides at different points to provide further information. Our guides have the longest training in the overland industry - 10 weeks in the UK and then up to 6 months on the road. They do a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure smooth running of the trip and make sure that the group gets to see all that they came to see, as well as looking after the vehicle. So although you didn't see them as much as you would on other styles of trips, they were working hard to ensure your trip was enjoyable.
It is hard to ensure that overland trips can be sustainable and responsible, but we do make really hard to ensure that the community benefits from this, and the Inca Trail part of the tour won the AITO sustainable tourism award this year. Tarpuy Yachay is the name of our community-based tourism project in Peru. The project centres around two remote communities situated high in the Andes near Urabamba, close to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The project kicked off in 2005, having been set up as an integral part of our unique and pioneering “Community Inca Trek”. The Community Inca Trek is a genuinely sustainable and ethical trekking programme – i.e. It really does directly benefit the host communities we trek through via education, income generation, and environmental initiatives. The project also aims to help protect the communities from exploitation whilst giving them ownership over how their environment is used.
Finally, on the kitty amounts. Our trips have more inclusions than most, and we work really hard to strike the right balance between offering great value included activities, and providing the flexibility for travelers to tailor their trip to their own interests. The kitty includes accommodation, meals whilst camping, national park entrance fees and activities that the group take part in as a whole. Kitty prices are included on all the trip notes that we send out in advance of departure, and it is important to read this and understand what is and isn't included.
Reviewed 10 Jan 2010 by Tracey Lawrence
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Firstly we had a really great diverse group in both age and background so made some new friends. The Inca Trail was the most memorable experience for both negative and positive reasons. It rained a lot, some were ill, it was the most strenuous thing I've ever done and I thought I was fit! After 43km, 4 days, 4300m altitude, a 4am rise to see....mist! Macchu Picchu was lost in a cloud but as it cleared it was a magical experience and the pain of the trek eased into a sense of achievement. The food and service on the trek was unbelievable and all carried and cooked by porters and chefs 'our angels'. This is an adventure not a holiday....be prepared to muck in with food shopping, cooking, washing up, cleaning etc....and nearly all early starts (5 - 8am)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You need a good sleeping bag and hiking boots and be reasonably fit. Take your time on the trail...slow and easy. The overland trip is run by a different company and you travel in a truck which is well equipped but some slow and bumpy days on the road....so take a travel pillow, ipod and pack of cards to pass the time.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Minimum impact on the environment as we travelled in a group, however, the areas we stayed were very commercial and tourist and my preference would have been to see more culture close up that was not staged for a tourist visit. I felt the truck was on a timetabled mission from A to B with no flexibility to stop in the local and small communities. The tour leaders were both British and although nice guys were more like glorified truck drivers. My preference would be local guides who would be more informative about the country and the culture and be able to provide inside knowledge of the country and maybe some impromptu stops and places that they know off the beaten track.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had an amazing adventure with made some life long new friends. Highs, lows, tears, tantrums...and some partying!
Read the operator's response here:
85% of our trips have local leaders, who do offer the insider knowledge you mention. On the Inca adventure, this trip doesn't actually have guides, but instead the expedition team provide information and support. Keeping to schedule is a very hard balance to strike, especially on these shorter trips. While some passengers, like Tracey would rather be more flexible and stop off and make changes to the itinerary, others have a very strict schedule and must arrive promptly for flights home or other connections. There's such a lot to pack in to this trip, and we're really pleased that you had such a great adventure!
Reviewed 03 Nov 2009 by Claire Rivers
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Meeting new people and travelling round the country and talking to local people and learning new languages and cultures.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Read the itinerary fully. I wasn't prepared for the amount of sitting on buses and quickly transferring from place to place that went on in this holiday. Could have done with a few wind down days, especially at altitude.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The trip certainly supported local people and we had a chance to see what projects were being supported and we also had the change to give food ourselves to local communities.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good overview of Peru. The only down side was that it followed all the other tour operator so you felt like you were on a school excursion rather exploring a country in a small intimate group.
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