Exploring Machu Picchu first with a guide and then several times on our own would have to be the highlight [of our trip]. Staying at the Belmond Sanctuary hotel made a huge difference, offering easy access and a great place to return and relax.

The trip was terrific! The Belmond Hotels we stayed in were great and Peruvian food was wonderful. The vistas and sites in the Valley of the Incas were a pleasant surprise. Machu Picchu is more amazing than we anticipated and we have a new, deep appreciation for the Incas and all they achieved before the Spaniards arrived.

It’s difficult to select one or several memorable parts of this fantastic trip. But without doubt - Machu Picchu is a standout in this lineup of wonderful sites. I had very high expectations from this trip, but the actual expedition was beyond my imagination. The ship's staff all were excellent - professional, knowledgeable, great communicators and very pleasant. ET was knowledgeable, experienced, quick to respond.

The trip exceeded expectations every single day. Every hike was a feast of wildlife, up close and unafraid of our presence. I can't tell you the thrill of snorkeling for the first time beside dozens of sea turtules. We couldn't believe our luck to catch the unusual mating rituals of the blue-footed boobies and the frigates. Then later the same week on San Cristobal we saw boobies protecting their eggs and new chicks. In Peru, we were awestruck by Moray, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. To actually be there where the Incas stood and to learn their architectural and agricultural genius was so inspiring. The places we stayed in Peru were the finest, and absolutely breathtaking. Couldn't ask for a better experience. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! ET answered all my questions and there were many. We were concerned about seasickness and you told us where to stay in the ship. We had no problem. Waters were calm and we got used to being aboard. We also received necessary reminders and felt totally comfortable we had sufficient information to know what was going to happen and when.

The most memorable parts were the up close interactions with the animals- swimming with the sea turtles, getting kissed on the hand by a sea lion, watching Blue Boobies guard their eggs from just a few feet away, etc.etc. The knowledge of our tour director and naturalists also really enhanced our trip. Macchu Pichu and the other Incan sites we visited, as well as the cultural experiences we had were wonderful! We were amazed by the depth of knowledge of our guide on a wide range of topics! The level of service was outstanding! All treated us as valued guests and were eager to help us have the best trip possible. I especially liked that the guides had specialized knowledge in specific areas as well as a broad range of knowledge of all the species and islands. Having a guide who was also a photography specialist really helped us improve the quality of our photographs so we came home with a great personal representation of our explorations along with our group slide show and cruise video. My husband and I are just naturally very detail oriented and therefore frequently ask many questions. The level of knowledge about the trip and the willingness (patience!) to answer our many questions made us very comfortable, as well as thoroughly prepared, for this wonderful trip.

The entire journey was magical, amazing! Words and pictures do not even begin to describe it. Peru is truly beautiful in so many ways: the people, the culture, the mountains, the food. The entire visit was just mesmerizing. The level of service was first-rate, top of class, impeccable, absolutely amazing. Every detail was seamless and perfect.

The whole trip was amazing, and Max is a great guide. Our guide, porters, cook, and staff were amazing. My son said he would follow Max anywhere after this experience. Max was fun but made sure we were safe and comfortable during the entire trip.

We are a busy working family that likes to travel but has little time to plan. We had a vision for our trip and what we wanted to do, how active we wanted to be and general itinerary. Olivia was very patient with us and created a top notch experience. The outings and hotels were fantastic and every detail was taken care of throughout the process allowing us to enjoy our 15 day vacation.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the Sacred Valley in Peru and was absolutely blown away by the beautiful landscape, the diversity of the food, and the richness of the Incan culture. The tour did a fabulous job introducing us to a genuine experience and it was especially eye opening for my children. Additionally, the hotel and services we received were phenomenal.

The ship's staff and naturalists wer absolutely first-rate. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and personable. They made the entire family feel very comfortable. Additionally, they really made the check-in and out of the airport seamless and this could be a challenging part of the travel experience. We were very happy with their flexibility to our needs and their level of service.

Each day was memorable in the variety of birds and animals discovered by our naturalists.

Each island is a unique experience...every day was a new Adventure! Everyone was friendly, accommodating, knowledgeable, and passionate about their work. Adding the two days in Mashpi was awesome.

The most memorable parts of this expedition were the scenery, the education, and the friendliness of the guides/porters.

The accommodations on the ship were like a fine hotel, but it was small and friendly. We got to know all the wonderful staff and fellow passengers. It was relaxed and informal. One hot evening the captan invited us to swim in the ocean off the stern of the ship. We jumped off the ship into the water, there were several Zodiacs hovering around with ladders so we could easily climb out of the water when we wanted. It was spontaneous and fun. The naturalists were young and enthusiastic and always among us, available and eager to answer questions and share their knowledge and experience. The islands themselves were life-changing to see: to sit on the observation deck at night and look at a body of land that is completely primal. No lights, no buildings, no people or any trace of civilization—the islands are just as nature made them. During our daytime visits to the islands we found wildlife with no fear of people. We could walk right up to a mother sea lion nursing her pup on the beach or a blue-footed booby sitting on her eggs. We swam with penguins and sea turtles. They were not afraid. The service was what you would find at a five-star hotel. The meals were excellent and included local foods and specialties. The staff was friendly and enthusiastic. It was easy to tell that they loved what they were doing and they enjoyed sharing their passion for the nature and history of these islands. The planning and logistics were impressive. When we moved from place to place a staff person made sure our luggage got where it needed to go, We were guided through busy airports and train stations by polite, experienced staff, and they got us access to accommodations and private places that are not available to ordinary travelers.

Peru is a beautiful country with so much to experience. The professionalism of the ExpeditionTrips group along with the wonderful guides and drivers who were with us made our trip as close to perfect as it could be.

"[The trip planning assistance was] better than I thought. I had not used a tour company before so did not know what to expect. But I was impressed with the thoroughness of the planning and the amount of help I was given throughout the process... I would definitely plan future trips with ExpeditionTrips and/or recommend ExpeditionTrips to friends, relatives, and colleagues."

The guides were excellent. They were knowledgeable and highly service-minded, with an understanding of our limitations.

The entire trip was amazing. ExpeditionTrips put together a great itinerary to include many sites and activities that I didn't even know existed.

Our guide Edgar was exceptional. He has a great knowledge base and explained all the sites to us in detail to make them come alive. He has a passion for sharing his country and its history. We could not have enjoyed it more. The trip far exceeded our expectations. We were pampered every step of the way. Our guide was always concerned with our safety and enjoyment. I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to the "old way" of making my own way through a vacation.

We were extremely pleased with the trip overall. I highly recommend doing the Galapagos and Machu Picchu together in early April. We were very fortunate that the weather was spectacular for the entire trip. Our naturalists in the Galapagos commented that we had some of the best water conditions, clarity, in all of our snorkel locations that they have ever seen. The ability to see and experience the marine life up close and personal was spectacular. I would highly recommend using the Enigma in Peru and the Eclipse in the Galapagos.

Jessica at ET was very patient with us as we worked through all the permutations and little issues that arose. Overall I would recommend and use Jessica for a trip to Peru or the Galapagos.

Visiting the Sacred Valley and then taking the train to Aquas Caliente before seeing Machu Picchu were all memorable and beautiful. Loved Ecuador and the people. The streets of Quito and Cuenca are so clean, the people are the nicest, scenery is beautiful, and prices are very reasonable. The Galapagos is an incredibly peaceful place with a beauty all it's own. My recommendation to anyone wanting to visit the Galapagos and who has the time, would be to take the 7 night itinerary.

I know that their job must be tiring but the naturalists were so informed and receptive to questions, they all had great personalities, and each day you looked forward to exploring with them again.

Jessica at ET was so receptive to our questions and always got back to us quickly with the answers. She assured us that the company in Peru was excellent and we were very impressed by their staff, from the people picking us up at the airports, to the knowledge of the guides and the friendliness of the drivers.

Excellent trip from start to finish! Exceeded our modest expectations. Well organized and trouble-free. La Pinta is a very comfortable ship with attentive staff and very knowledgeable naturalist guides.

Exceeded my expectations by far. Peru is a must visit country—what an adventure! The help and support from ET was outstanding and made us feel very special. ExpeditionTrips has it totally together, and are very well organized.

The trip was amazing. The Peru section was covered by very knowledgeable and pleasant guides. I saw and learned more than I expected. Lodging was wonderful in each location, and so was the food. This trip surpassed my expectations.

At so many points in planning our trip I appreciated the reminders I received from you about what the next steps were, and what decisions I needed to make and by what dates. The recommendation on our cabin choice on The Islander was exactly right for us. Thanks for making it painless to plan, and seamless and trouble free in every regard while we were traveling!

My husband and I consider our trip to the Galapagos Islands and the Sacred Valley/Mach Picchu truly "the trip of a lifetime". Every single aspect of our trip down to the tiniest detail was beyond outstanding: the destinations, the accommodations, the quality of the naturalists and guide, transfers -- each of these aspects far exceeded our expectations. Standout moments were swimming with the playful sea lions, exquisite snorkeling, and the abundance of Galapagos creatures so well fitted to their environments and unafraid of humans. Truly a standout experience in Peru was our ceremony with a Quechua shaman and Andean musician on a windswept terrace high above the Sacred Valley, and climbing Wynapicchu in the early hours of a misty morning. Sublime.

This trip exceeded my expectations! Our trip to the Galapagos and Peru was beyond amazing! Most memorable in the Galapagos was the animals of course! To be able to be so close to so many different kinds of animals was a chance of a lifetime! We swam with Galapagos penguins and boated next to a pod of Orcas! Can't top that experience! In Peru to be able to walk through Machu Picchu was also an experience of a lifetime as well!

Our trip was wonderful . . . every day was memorable. The service was fantastic and the trip was so much more than what I had expected!

Peru was a very diverse and interesting place—we saw a lot! The people are warm and welcoming, the food is wonderful, and the hotels were very nice indeed. Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca were the highlights for us, and the other archaeological sites we experienced added to our understanding of the Quechan / Incan history and culture. Machu Picchu was exceptional, like being in an M.C. Escher print! The mountains, jungle, archaeology, stonework and architecture were amazing. And Lake Titicaca is a special and beautiful place with its amazing colors, its vastness, its islands and ancient cultures.

We were inspired to take this trip because it's always been on our bucket list. Everything was just perfect. We didn't have to wait for anything. Everyone was where they should have been when they should have been there. Nothing for us to worry about. Most excellent trip with our good friends. Couldn't ask for anything better. Thanks.

I always wanted to go to the Galapagos and Machu Picchu. Darwin's Lake, the Sun Gate, the train to Machu Picchu were the most memorable parts of the expedition. The naturalists were well informed and the tour guides in Peru were wonderful.

Jessica did an outstanding job assisting us with our booking and many questions. Beth was a great help when Jessica was out of the office. We would definitely recommend ExpeditionTrips for our friends.

We have always wanted to visit Galapagos and Mach Picchu. We had very high expectations for this trip and they were met. ExpeditionTrips was very responsive to questions, and I asked a lot! Joy is great. The guides were terrific and had excellent English, and the cruise operator is fantastic! So glad we went with them! The hotels were fantastic.

I saw your website, was impressed, asked some questions, was more impressed with the answers and booked it; so glad we did! The whole trip was a dream come true! The Galapagos has been a place we have long dreamed of going to and it exceeded all our expectations. The animals were amazing. The ship's staff was all wonderful. 

ExpeditionTrips did a great job helping us plan for our trip. We especially liked how you responded to emails right away. The staff was excellent at every step, from the staff at ExpeditionTrips here in Seattle to the entire crew aboard the Flamingo. The trip met or exceeded our expectations. We loved every moment of it.

Not only did you meet our expectations, you rose above them! The reason for this trip was to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World and seeing Machu Picchu was the best part of the trip! The staff, guides and crew provided service way beyond our expectations. We would have to say Natali and our driver were 2 of our favorites.

Three of my greatest trips have been with your company and I continue to tell my friends about my experience working with you to plan Once in a Lifetime experiences. When I go on trips, I find it is best to have few expectations. However, as usual, this trip was beyond even my limited expectations.

The trip met and surpassed our expectations. I also appreciated working with ExpeditionTrips on adding the Peru extension to our Galapagos cruise. It was an excellent compliment to the whole trip! The Eclipse staff was terrific. It was our first cruise experience and everything seemed to go smoothly.

Thank you, thank you and thank you! We returned home last evening from our best vacation ever. Every minute of the trip was exceptional. We can't imagine that any other tour operator could offer the personal service and excellent arrangements that we received from you and your associates. The Explorer II was outstanding!

Working with ExpeditionTrips was very positive and we will highly recommend you to our friends and family. Lori did a perfectly fine job in making this one of the best trips we've had the pleasure to experience. She out sourced us to some of the best guides and facilities in Peru and Ecuador.

Not only would I book with you again, but would highly recommend your services to anyone who would listen. You were so patient with us and all our concerns and questions before the trip, and everything you set up ran easily and smoothly during the trip.

I would not hesitate to work with your group again. You were outstanding and deserve much credit for answering our multitude of questions, putting us at ease, and being very patient with these Spunky (but older) women. Having the guides and drivers who were all good, on time, polite and helpful was a marvelous way to travel.

Just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic trip! It was our best vacation ever and we've been a lot of places in the past 22 years. Your itinerary was excellent without a hitch (well...except for Peru Rail going on strike while we were at Machu Picchu).

We just returned last night from our absolutely wonderful trip. Thank you so much for a well thought out and planned trip to Ecuador and Peru. The Explorer II was a treat and the land tours all worked out well. Much appreciation for everything you did to make this trip so memorable! Thank you!

ExpeditionTrips.com provides excellent service and advice! The trip was better than anticipated, wonderful accommodations, terrific guide full of knowledge and concern for our well being. We had planned a Galapagos trip and decided to visit Peru on the way. It turned out that the Peru part was actually the most wonderful part of the whole trip!

We did have the “trip of a lifetime”! Everything went so smoothly that we just relaxed and enjoyed our fabulous trip. The hotels were perfect, and exploring Peru and Ecuador was fabulous. Thank you so much for all of your recommendations and the obvious coordination that went into planning our trip. If we can recommend your services, it would be our pleasure!