Most Inspirational Moment
The boat trip to the floating islands on Lake Titicaca was incredible. We visited these people who lived such a simple life on these man-made reed islands with reed huts, fishing and hunting and ensuring their necessities. They held on to their traditions while embracing the modernity of trading on the mainland for other needs such as solar power and other foodstuff as well as ensuring their children had a good education. It was absolutely beautiful learning about their history and seeing how they live.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I can't say enough good things about William without sounding like I'm gushing. We are grateful to have had William as our group leader. He was attentive and kind. He went out of his way to ensure our trip was perfect. My husband and I were having a difficult time with the altitude and we couldn't do the one-day Inca trail hike. It would have been a nightmare. But he waited for us to make the call, and I am positive he would have supported us in whatever decision we made. I imagine had we gone, he would have patiently helped us every step of the way. But we did decide to not do it and William made sure we were well-cared for while he and our tour mate went on the hike. Not only that, but the next day during our trek to Machu Picchu, he went out of his way to make sure we had a special experience and view of the ruins. William also went above and beyond to add experiences that weren't on the itinerary -- stops for delicacies during our road trips, additional stops that he though were important like the salt pools and the circle terraces. He wasn't just going through the motions. Peru is his country and he wanted us to experience it as much as possible.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't overpack. Trust me, you won't need everything on the packing list.
Suggestions
This was a Premium adventure and it definitely felt like it. We ate so well -- breakfast, lunch and dinner -- and I'm not complaining at all. You definitely won't go hungry. I do think it might have been fun to experience more small-town street type food for lunches. Some of my favorite stops were the lamb and potatoes during one of our rest stops during a road trip, or the yummy sweet bread at a roadside vendor, or the fresh empanadas at the convenience store.