Machu Picchu Tour

The guides were knowledgeable and friendly; the cruise director was outstanding.

In Peru, the hotels were great--I could never have imagined how beautiful the Inca Terra or Sol y Luna grounds would be. The people who picked us up at the airport and at the hotels were totally punctual EVERY TIME! The hacienda we had lunch at the first day in the Sacred Valley was amazing and Mrs. Nilda's weaving place was fascinating. When I bought a modest table runner, they brought the lady who had woven it to meet me. She was so proud; it nearly brought tears to my eyes!

This trip was all we imagined, with fantastic accommodations, GUIDES, sites and just so much more!

The hotels were incredible; I have never been in hotels with this much character! I thought the guides went above and beyond, especially the guide in Lima. It was Independence Day in Lima and all of the tourist sites were closed. However, by talking to the policeman, she was able to get us in to get a view of the main square which was only filled with soldiers in dress uniform and members of their Congress. The guide in Cusco was very friendly and very knowledgeable. I couldn't have been more pleased!

Our Program Manager at ExpeditionTrips did a great job. I gave her our window of opportunity for Peru and she continued to work on it until she was able to get me into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. We met people who had waited two years to get into that hotel, so we felt lucky.

The only improvement, which is not your fault, was the white water rafting could have been more intense. Since you stated that it would be level II and III rapids, it did meet that. I just thought there would be more of them. There were only two III rapids. Since I have significant experience on rapids, this could have been better.

Staff, guides, crew were all truly wonderful...The knowledge of our guide Natalie in Cusco was extraordinary, she made everything come alive. Edison, our guide on the cruise ship was also very knowledgeable and great fun. We were well looked after and felt safe.

This trip was a special celebration 30-year anniversary, shared with friends and this was the trip we all wanted to do.

We were especially impressed with the 4 field guides...their passion for the Galapagos and the in-depth knowledge of the environment. The trip was memorable for our whole family.

Although we did not specifically book a family Galapagos trip, there was a nice mix of families and non families on our trip. Each day we learned more and more about the Galapagos from our extremely knowledgeable and personable guides.

The natural setting of the Galapagos and its multitude of marine, land, geological life�wow!! It�s tough to say what the most memorable part of our trip was, but it was probably being able to observe nature so up close. It was also great to have a contrast between the Inca culture of Peru and the natural wonders in Ecuador.

The daily visits to the islands were unbelievable. I snorkeled next to sea lions and amongst thousands of magnificent fish and sharks. Incredible!

Elga, our guide in Peru for three days was extraordinary. She was warm, caring, knowledgeable and even managed to arrange for us to have the front two seats on the train to Machu Picchu. All the hotels were first class and the connections worked out like clockwork.

Safety drill was given by Juan on the bow of the ship. Food was good home-style cooking and plentiful. For anyone who wants one, lower level cabin #2 (our cabin) has a large bathroom with toilet, 2 sinks, huge soaker tub (as well as the shower of course). Please continue reading to see my very detailed accounts about PERU, ECUADOR, MACHU PICCHU and hotels.

The only short coming, if it can be called that, was the fact that when we were planning our Galapagos / Machu Picchu trip, Lori had not yet been to Machu Picchu, so would not be able to give us first hand answers to any questions we might have about specific accommodation, or other aspects of that trip. Now we realize that it is not possible for everyone in your firm to have been to all the places you advertise, but it is too bad that there is not some way that a client can pick the brain of someone in your firm, who has actually stayed in the specific hotel to which you are sending us, or can answer specific questions about the trip. Maybe, whomever we are contacting in your firm can suggest that if we have specific questions about this trip, I can put you in touch with so and so in the firm. In this manner one could receive advice concerning specific hotel noise issues, etc. I am not suggesting that we be handed off to someone else in your firm, as given workloads, this is not always possible. Just a thought for future consideration.

ECUADOR:
Hotel Patio Andulaz in Quito (April 17 to 20): At $95- per night was best value of any hotel of the trip. Location very near old town was perfect. Staff friendly and helpful. Setting in Old Colonial style building with 2 interior courtyards was very pretty. Rooms were of generous size, and well appointed. Breakfast had many choices and was more than adequate. Thoughts: All rooms face into one of two interior courtyards. We are fairly sensitive to noise, and suggest that anyone staying here ask for an upper rear courtyard room. Front courtyard contains hotel restaurant and noise from same (some persons are eating at 5 am for early flights) would bother many trying to sleep. Rear courtyard is passive in nature and much quieter. Lower rooms in rear courtyard (our first room was here) are subject to very noticeable noise from a hotel water pump cycling on and off. Hotel should correct this problem, as it sounds as if the pump bearings are worn.

We had arranged our own transfers to/from Quito airport, so first contact we had with your contractors was trying to meet the �Enchanted Expedition� staff at the very chaotic domestic departure area, on our morning flight from Quito to Baltra (April 20).

Quito airport flight to Baltra: There were huge line ups and people milling about everywhere at this very crowded airport, and Enchanted staff were nowhere to be found. Were it not for our Grey- Line English speaking airport transfer person, we would have had great difficulty finding the 2 �Enchanted Expedition� people, who as it turns out, were standing at the front of a very long line, speaking to airport personnel. Only when our transfer agent located them at the beginning of this line, did the younger male �Enchanted� person hold up a sign which said �Enchanted Expeditions�. He had been holding the sign down by his side all the time we were trying to locate this firm. Suggestion: Enchanted staff need to hold their sign high in the air at all times.
However, from this point on, airline trip to/from Baltra and Enchanted trip aboard the Beluga went seamlessly. Naturalist guide (Juan) had 20 years experience, was friendly, helpful, huge knowledge of the islands, and a commanding knowledge of the English language. However, as we discovered, the guides for the most part, work under contract to ships, and Juan was only to be on the Beluga for 2 or 3 trips, so you really cannot know ahead of time who your guide will be.

Engine Noise: We were prepared for it from past experience on smaller ships, but you might tell prospective clients that smaller ships tend to have a fair amount of propeller shaft and engine noise evident when traveling at night (especially the lower level cabins).

Camera ruined: Also please tell clients to always pack their cameras in water tight plastic bags when transferring from / to ship on the pangas, as rogue waves at the beach during wet landings or departures can come over the gunnel of the panga, and if your camera is soaked (as was mine) it�s ruined. Luckily memory card was ok and we had a second camera for rest of trip.

Baltra to Quito (April 28): Seemless transfer from Beluga to airport to Quito to Veija Cuba Hotel.

Veija Cuba Hotel (April 28): We could not get reservation at Patio Andulaz upon our return, so you suggested this hotel instead for our one evening stay. Pleasant clean hotel, very small room, adequate breakfast. Area not as interesting as Patio Andulaz Hotel location, but made a nice change when we walked to huge local park and saw how the locals spent their Sunday. Also visited huge American style shopping centre, adjacent to park. No complaints considering we paid only $75- per night. However, had we only stayed at this hotel in Quito, we would have had a much different impression of the city.

SUMMARY: The Galapagos trip with your Enchanted Expeditions contractor and your Quito Hotels choices were great and met or exceeded our expectations.

PERU:
Arrived Lima April 29 from Quito about 8:30 pm and found Rainforest Travel personnel awaiting our arrival.
Could have missed our flight: When we first arrived in Lima, Rainforest Travel person mentioned that they would pick us up for our 9 am flight next morning to Cusco. I mentioned that we were booked on a 7 am flight to Cusco and pick up would need to be much earlier. Plans were changed on the spot to accommodate our earlier flight (thank goodness for cell phones). She apologized for the misunderstanding but said that they were using flight information supplied by Expedition Travel?

Hotel El Sonesta Bolivar April 29 (8 hr stay): Fanciest Hotel of our stay in South America. American style hotel with huge rooms with every amenity imaginable, including A/C of course. Situated in Embassy area of Lima. On our return to Lima May 06, we occupied a day room here and we walked from this hotel to the ocean in about � hour, passing through lovely city neighbourhood areas.

Lima to Cusco: In Lima, Rainforest person picked us up from hotel at appointed time and then accompanied us through all airport procedures, right up to �passengers only� area of airport. Lima has large modern airport.
Cusco to Sacred Valley: Rainforest person was waiting for us at Cusco Airport. She accompanied us on day trip of Sacred Valley and was friendly and very knowledgeable. Fancy lunch buffet at what once was an old mansion, was most enjoyable.

Wilka Tikka Lodge: Wonderful accommodation, located on huge extensively landscaped grounds. Vegetarian meals (that�s all they serve) were a nice change.

River rafting on the Urubamba river: River guide telephoned Wilka Tikka lodge evening before to confirm our reservations for the next day, and then followed through with pick up at appointed time. We were the only 2 persons in his raft, but we did go down river with 2 other rafts at the same time, for safety. All equipment needed was provided, including wet suits and jackets, life vests, and safety helmets. Both safety and �how to� instructions were given, prior to setting out on the river. Nice hot lunch at tiny Peruvian Village was provided at end of trip. For us it was a first time experience and most exhilarating. Only concern after the fact, was the realization that this river seems to be very polluted, as many toilet facilities seem to empty directly into it.
Train trip to Machu Picchu. The evening before, the Wilka Tikka Lodge staff did not confirm at what time they would take us to the train station the next day for our trip to Machu Picchu. We did finally obtain this information when we asked about 8 pm, prior to retiring for the evening. Our Rainforest guide was on the appointed train from Cusco, and the whole day she spent with us a Machu Picchu was first rate.

Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel (2 nights): First rate accommodation, with fancy restaurant with white tablecloths and waiters in uniforms. As we were aware that the train tracks run along the bottom of the property, we asked for and received a room at the top of the hill facing into the forest (the hotel sits on a hill running up from the railway tracks. Service and accommodation was good, and tour through uninhabited hotel property most informative. You might want to suggest that clients stay here a 2nd night if they can afford both the money and time (we are glad we did).

Sickness: Unfortunately Pueblo hotel was only place I got sick (from both ends). On 2nd day here, had Andean Trout for lunch at about 3 pm, and was sick to stomach and had diahrea by 7 pm. Front desk said anything could have caused this, but all my meals and fluids were taken at this hotel. With some insistence on our part, they allowed us to check out 1 hour later at 12 noon on last morning. Took about 2 days to start feeling right again.
Machu Picchu to Cusco: Train ride to Cusco was uneventful until train stopped and Peru Rail said we were about 20 minutes from Cusco and could go no further, due to repair vehicle broken down on tracks ahead of us. Staff took all travel agency phone numbers and said that those being picked up in Cusco, would now be picked up by their travel agency at this small station. We waited for over an hour, during which time, various travel agencies came by the various train cars yelling out names. Finally we were told we had to leave the train and that transportation arranged by Peru Rail, would take us to Cusco, as it appeared our Rainforest agency had not arrived. As we were leaving the train area and walking towards the Peru Rail bus, we saw our Rainforest people in the crowd waiting for us. Turns out they had been waiting for over 40 minutes for us to come to them, not realizing that we were waiting on the train for them to come to us. We, as with others, did not want to leave the train with our luggage, until we were guaranteed some sort of transportation to Cusco. Suggestion: Should a problem like this develop in future, please suggest to Rainforest that their personnel actively try to reach the person(s) they are trying to pick up at the train (as did other agencies), rather than waiting passively for them to appear by the buses. In the end �all�s well that ends well�, as the saying goes.

Cusco Novotel Hotel (3 nights): Nice hotel with upgraded Colonial rooms all facing to interior courtyard. Standard hotel rooms in separate wing away from central courtyard. We had paid for US $44- upgrade per night, for 3 nights stay, for a Colonial room (paid to Expedition Travel). Once we arrived, we realized that our Colonial Room faced a noisy interior courtyard, which contained both the main restaurant and lobby of the hotel. As well, live evening music was being played in the lobby. Because of the noise issue, we asked for and were given a standard room for all 3 of our evenings.

Cusco to Lima: Rainforest person picked us up at Hotel Novotel at appointed time and accompanied us to airport departure area and helped us obtain our boarding passes at the airline counter.
Lima airport to Hotel El Sonesta Bolivar to Lima Airport (day room). Rainforest person met us at airport and at hotel at appointed times for our transfers.

SUMMARY: The Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu trip with your Rainforest Expeditions contractor was first class and met or exceeded our expectations.

When all is said and done, our attitude towards traveling is, �If you expect everything to be just as it is at home, then stay home�.

Lori recommended the Machu Picchu extension and placed us in the very capable hands of their partner company in Peru. She booked us into fine establishments before, after and during our two week vacation....all giving us a flavor of the region and the people.

We wanted to visit one of the wonders of the world at Machu Picchu and to explore the land and sea wonders of the Galapagos. Our guide Melbin and our driver Hector in Peru treated us as family as did the establishments we stayed in. Who'd have thought we'd have five star hotels and gourmet food everywhere we went? THEN, once we arrived in the Galapagos Islands and saw our ship the Explorer II we were again very pleased. Once on board we were not disappointed. The staff and guides were highly professional and accommodating. Everything from the pleasant wake-up call each morning to the last sip of good wine before retiring was enjoyable. All the activities to and from and around the islands were organized perfectly to make the best use of time and opportunity to get a close up and personal look at the enchanted islands.

The trip was even better than I could have imagined. Being with a multi-age group was very good. The people were compatible, helpful and so much fun to be with. Melbin from Rainforest Expeditions was also a very good guide and helped so much with walking through Macchu Picchu.

If you receive any other requests from birders, please recommend Carlos as a guide. He knew all the birds by call, and we were able to identify about 150 species in Manu. We will definitely book through you in the future. Thanks for everything!

We were impressed with the choice of field trips, including the weavers at Chinchero, the orchids and birds at the Macchu Picchu Pueblo. Cusco was lovely, and there was a great balance of guided and free time.