The High Inca Trail

Our Guide Silvia was excellent, very knowledgeable, great fun to be with and she knew her subject.

[Least enjoyed] Trip from Lake Titicaca to Cusco...10 hour coach trip with many other groups in a cramped bus..not what we signed up for...why on earth this was added to what was meant to be a private tour....very poor.

Tour itinery was changed prior to departure, which we were aware of but we were never sent the day by day detail of the revision....it would have been nice to know in advance what was expected in what was a 'strenuous' hike.

Should offer to provide upgraded accomadation, especially post trek...this is where clients might want extra comfort to relax after a week in a cramped tent.  Hotel was clean but cramped, especially in double room, with little room for kit ad people and small dark bathroom.

Fantastic, exceptional....

Mr H - Travelled in July 2012

***** Comment from The Adventure Company ******

We were expecting a charter bus to be used for the trip to Cusco. Our agent has now adivsed us the journey takes the same amount of time and using this bus has meant we have been able to keep the price of the trip lower. We have now updated our trip notes to advise that this journey may take place on a shared bus. 

On the clear days of the hike the views were fantastic, especially around Salkantay.  It was great to get to see Machu Picchu in the afternoon when we arrived at the Sun Gate and then have the opportunity to revisit the following day.  Our guide David was also excellent.

[Least enjoyed] There was a fair bit of "dead" time at various points: an organised trip around Lima in the afternoon might have been good; and in Puno and later Cusco we had afternoons with nothing much to do which felt as if the trip could have been reduced by a couple of days overall. Flying to Juliaca/Puno straight from Lima was quite tough with the altitude change.

[Itinerary] As said, there was quite a bit of dead time.  Although it's nice to see a bit of culture, with this trip in particular the main focus is the trekking and Inca ruins.  Lake Titicaca and the Altiplano were ok but hardly highlights - possibly a trekking trip in and out of Cusco might be a shorter option? Apparently our itinerary was slightly changed due to flights meaning we had the day in Cusco after the trek.  I think this would have been more interesting before the trek and would have allowed us the time to get last minute kit which we never really had.

The hotels were all pretty decent.  Notably the Machu Picchu hotel, described as "basic" in the trip notes, was just about as good as those elsewhere - certainly not basic. The Lima hotel was situated well for access to Miraflores but required a bit of public transport negotiation or a taxi to get into Lima centre making it seem a little isolated from anything of any interest.

David's knowledge of the trekking area, flora & fauna and the Inca history in general was excellent.  He showed great patience with all of us at times, especially the more difficult members of the group.  It was also great that he was willing to spend time with us in what might have been his own time - playing football at one of the camps and coming out for drinks in Cusco when he could have gone home.

Mr C - travelled in August 2012

The Base Camp team in Peru were exceptional.  Also the 7 day trek was superb.

Our group leader was exceptional.  His knowledge and ability to arrange that little bit extra was fantastic.

Mr P - Travelled in May 2012